People either go there or Wallabys if they go to eat in North Ames
Only went to oddfellows twice so not so sad that it's gone
So long, Oddfellows
- Thread starter theshadow
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Only went to oddfellows twice so not so sad that it's gone
Agreed. Was there a couple times and we were basically the only ones there so not too shocked.
I'm not calling you a liar but that doesn't sound too believable for most of us that's been to HP before. Wait times can get bad but by the time you are seated, I'd say a waitress is there on average in a matter of 1-2 minutes.
Hickory Park wants to move you as fast as possible thru there. They don't want any lag in time.
I've never been to +39. I haven't been to the Cafe in years. El Azteca is usually always busy.
We don't go there frequently, but every time we HAVE gone, it's been packed. Last time, there was a 20 minute wait (and we didn't feel like waiting), so we walked across the street to Wallaby's instead and were seated immediately. Anyway, I'd say Brick City was doing pretty well.
Oddfellows never impressed me. The food was adequate, but that's about it. Like Angie said, the food was just bland. That was the problem I had with the guy's Italian place - ZERO seasoning on food. I don't like it to be super spicy or have a ton of heat, but I like it to taste like something.
We went to +39 not too long after it opened and couldn't find a lot wrong with it. Personality wise, I thought some of it kind of over lapped with the Cafe so the two restaurants being close together can be a benefit or non-benefit.
Isn't the Cafe also opening something up by the Research Park?
El Azteca is one of the best run Mexican restaurants I've been to in the Midwest.
If you go right at 5pm you will generally have no issues at all. I know a lot of people don't eat that early but you miss the giant 6pm rush if you go at 5. When my parents are in town its our go to because of how quick you get your food and the cost/benefit can't be beat IMO.
I just want four orders of cheeseballs and a gallon of their homemade ranch from Hickory Park right now and I'll be happy.
I had a friend in town on a Friday night. He, my wife, and I went out to get something to eat. Our first stop was The Cafe. The wait was 45 minutes. Which I would usually wait out but we wanted to get to the ISU basketball thingy that was going on at Hilton later that night so we left. We then went to +39. Same wait time. Brick City, same thing. Wallaby's. Same. Drove to Odd Fellows. Got right in and had a nice meal (noting special but no complaints) and good service. I think location is probably what did them in more than anything as I don't think the restaurant scene in Ames is even close to saturation yet.
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I've only been twice, and it was absolutely packed both times.
The burgers were awesome too.
It was packed when I went there as well but that was pretty close to when it opened. We'll have to go there soon and try it out again.
the tv situation at oddfellows was abysmal. And i dont think northen lights will be good for battles. not enough businesses in that area plus isn't there another bbq place coming to town?
- Mar 27, 2006
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The really sad thing about Oddfellows is that it replaced an absolutely amazing restaurant, Cafe Shi which had to close due to the owner's health problems if I recall correctly. I wanted OF to be a good place, because of how unique it was. It just wasn't, unfortunately.
Like I said, its been 3 years. My guess is a lot has changed in their wait staff, and other things. Again I wouldn't have cared about the wait if my food was even remotely close to warm. I think I went once with my family and the other 4 times with friends. My family won't go back because of that experience, and every time I went with friends they couldn't understand it either but they have gone back and said it wasn't as bad as when we all went. I always loved battles when it was near campus and that would always be my recommendation for bbq in Ames.
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My favorite purchases there were Miller High Life Light Low Carb cases for $4.99. Worth every penny. Also $25 for some Bacardi Raz knockoff brand pony kegs was always a solid investment for high female retention rate at parties.