Salad Bar alone would take me back here. While it's not as big as other salad bars (like Nicks in…read moreClive, IA) it's still a great salad bar. Cheese Curds: we like these because they were battered, not breaded. Piping hot, very good. Plain Burger: my son says it was good ‍ but wasn't interested in sharing so I didn't actually try it. Prime Rib: I ordered a medium rare but, unfortunately, it was super dry even with the au jus side. Lately, I've been disappointed more than not by prime ribs that are bland and dry. Sirloin: alternatively, this was very juicy and delicious. Great grill flavor and lovely side of mushrooms. Broasted Chicken: in true "me" fashion, I ordered two entrees. While my salad bar trip was great and my prime rib was so-so, this more than made up for it! Soooooo juicy and flavorful, highly recommend their broasted chicken. Chopped Steak: my husband loves a chopped steak. Don't ask me why, it's not at the top of my list but to each their own. He didn't love the demi glaze on this dish, and thought their beef gravy would be been much better. The demi was "too much wine" flavor. I can't say "too much red wine" is anywhere in my dictionary but whatever. We really enjoyed this dinner, even with the dry prime rib, and plan to go back for that salad bar and broasted chicken.

Don't blink or you'll miss it. I'm speaking of the entire town of Paton. This is a needle in the…read morehaystack of western Iowa. But a great find. Good quality homestyle food and a very large building. They seemed to be slightly understaffed on the Saturday night we visited as they were only seating half the restaurant. This led to a short 5 minute wait for a table. The in-laws just moved about 20 minutes away so I'm sure we will be back. Lots of things on the menu that I'd love to try!

Camping outside of Webster City, we always look for a local spot to try when we travel. Tonight,…read morelucky us, it was the Grid Iron. Be prepared to show a little grace, there were a lot of cars turning in there as we came up to it- from the food, I'm guessing they're always busy! My wife chose their mainline burger (no cheese) and house fries. Honestly, I think we could tell how good it was going to be when got out of the car and that awesome charbroil smell overwhelmed us. She loved it. I had the Chipotle Bacon cheeseburger on Texas toast, well done for me (they will prepare to your liking), which is charbroiled, then dunked in their home made bourbon sauce and served with Swiss cheese and jalapeños. The fries have some type of coating that makes them a little crispier and a little tastier. Even if you're cruising up I35, it's worth the detour into WC for a great meal. Plenty of tv's but even with a crowd, you can still have enjoyable conversation at your table. It's no wonder one whole wall is covered with "best of" awards. They deserve them. Bon Appetite!

We drove 45 miles to try the Sunday breakfast buffet and it did not disappoint. We enjoyed every…read moresingle bite and the customer service was fantastic. Our server was friendly and helpful, making sure we had everything we needed the entire time. The biscuits and gravy were a favorite! It's hard to find a good gravy but they nailed it. The options to choose from were great! You had everything from fruit to French toast to mashed potatoes and fried chicken. I can't say enough about the friend chicken! The skin was battered perfectly and it was incredibly crispy while the meat inside was still juicy and delicious. This is some of the best friend chicken we've ever had - hands down!! The only suggestions I would make is #1 get there early because it is a popular place and #2 A 'cook to order' option for the eggs in the buffet would push it over the top. We can't wait to go back!

Service was great but food was nothing better than something you could get down the road at…read moreCasey's. Beer was at least cold. 5.00 domestics during NFL Sundays.

A state tournament tradition. Filled with plenty of great sandwiches and sides. Juicy burgers but…read moreI opted for the next tier with a delicious hearty prime rib sandwich that came open face covering both sides of the bun. The optional mushrooms and onions really set the tone for a hunger ending performance. Lots of great sides. But one of the best is the lightly coated oozing gooey cheese balls.

The Talk Shop is an amazing place. Great people, fun atmosphere, awesome quality food that is…read moredescribed as elevated bar food, and a staff that is downhome and extremely friendly. They are famous for their Italian dishes, burgers, and they are creating one of the most exciting menus in America. I am a celebrity Chef with a presence in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and soon to be Des Moines / St. Charles because I fell in love with this place, the people, and of course ... the food. Jason and Renatta epitomize family owned and operated.

The place is awesome. Small farm town community with great personalities. There's always so much…read moregoing on here. Live music, slip and slide kick ball, bonfires... the list goes on.

Another fantastic visit to Nite Hawk Bar & Grill! We pedaled up the High Trestle Trail and were…read morerewarded with delicious, reasonably priced cocktails on their inviting patio. Our server Sarah was attentive and friendly, making sure our drinks stayed cold and even refilling our bike water bottles before we headed back out. Even on a Tuesday afternoon, this place has great energy and makes for the perfect turnaround spot during our 32-mile ride. If you're cycling the trail or just looking for a welcoming spot with good drinks and service, Nite Hawk is definitely worth the stop!

Met some friends out here on a Friday evening and the place was packed. The boasted chicken was…read morefantastic and the service was excellent. It's a little out of the way for us to get there but there is no doubt in my mind that we will be heading back.

Good homemade tavern food. I had a plate of battered onion rings with ranch. They are all in with…read morethe Norse feel. Clean. Quaint. Cozy. They even have free guest WiFi. Just ask for the password. When we came in it was 'goodbeer'

Inside is beautiful! Service was fabulous and the food was delicious!! Would definitely go back…read morewhen in the area.

About an hour and a half drive but well worth the trip!…read moreSaturday early afternoon and it was packed...about a half hour wait for seating was the only downside. Service was outstanding and the staff seemed to be handling multiple aspects of the jobs and helping each other out...no one just did one thing and I think that really sped up the service. Katie was our primary server and was outstanding! We ordered up a two and a three meat deal and had Campground Beans, Creamy Coleslaw, Cheesy Potatoes,, and Mac & Cheese as sides as well as a slice of Texas Toast and Cornbread as sides....oh, and Golden Corn Nuggets as an appetizer. The Corn Nuggets were good and sweet and served up with honey and a ranch sauce for dipping. The meat choices were 3) Ribs, Pork Loin, and Turkey Breast....and 2) Pork Loin and Turkey Breast. The smoke on everything was amazing and just the right amount for excellent flavors..the ribs were very meaty. Some places ribs leave you wanting but not at Watcha Smoking! The Pork Loin and the Turkey Breast were both very good as well...still tender and not dried out. I liked the Neck of the Woods sauce the best (mild tomato based) as well as the Carolina Gold sauce...it had nice kick to it. The sides were all good but the only issue was the Cheesy Potatoes were a bit dry.....I'm thinking that it must've been towards the end of the batch and had been sitting around for a bit. Cornbread was excellent, Texas Toast tops, Coleslaw was a good shredded, wet slaw, the Mac and Cheese very good, and the Campground Beans were the preferred side as they had some good chunks of smoked meats mixed in. Fantastic place, great for small groups and large groups as well...great food and great service...Definitely worth the trip!

Whatcha Smokin' continues to be our go to BBQ within reach of the Des Moines IA metro!…read more We tend to slide in early on Saturdays for lunch right after open (1100 AM) to avoid a line or a crowd. The main entrance is along Hwy 17; that's where you'll find the host/hostess station. They built a HUGE parking lot just to the North a couple years back to accommodate capacity. The restaurant now has three sections. The main building. The clubhouse (an extension of the main restaurant). And the grain bin (offers walk up ordering for outdoor seating)... You're greeted at the host/hostess station and someone takes you to your table. Both low and high top tables and chairs inside. Picnic tables outside. We prefer the main building... The clubhouse is okay, but the acoustics kind of suck in there. It's got very high ceilings (think machine shed)... One loud party in there can ruin your dining experience if you're not in the mood for a ruckus. They can be across the room and it still sounds like they are sitting at your table. Standard table service. Your server takes care of your drink and food order. They bus your table, present you with your bill, and take your payment at the end of the meal. Cash or card. The food all comes out of the main building. They have runners to take the covered trays wherever the party is sitting. There are fountain drink stations (Coke products) and bars in both the buildings. My girlfried absolutely loves the sliced smoked turkey and the cheesy potatoes. I go for the two meat plate (up charge both meats to the quarter rack of ribs) with a salad and cottage cheese. Choice of cornbread or Texas toast. Some of the best pork ribs you will ever have! The meat doesn't really need sauced, but they have it if you want it. Mix a little of the Sticky & Sweet and the Wildfire together... You can thank me later! There's something on their menu for everyone (standard BBQ items, wings, nachos, sandwiches, burgers, salads, family platters, etc.). Make sure you check out their daily specials! And they cater too! Service is always attentive and personable! There's a reason we are still going back on a regular basis (at least monthly) years after our first visit here...! If you're browsing Yelp for a place to eat and haven't been to Whatcha Smokin'... Stop right here! Stop scrolling! You really don't have to look any further... Plan your visit out if needed. BUT if you're in the area, they're open, and you are hungry... Just hit Go on your GPS and head over to Luther...! You won't be disappointed! https://www.whatchasmokinbbq.com/

Terrible food, do not recommend Ordered two burgers- they…read morewere ok. One had a plastic flavor French dip had a strong plastic flavor and was a chopped steak with little flavor Pick three app tasted like old grease Boneless wings were two flavors mixed together. Over cooked Overall, $100 in food and most went into the trash.

When I'm in Ames visiting my 95 year-old Dad, he loves road trips and dining out with his kids and…read moregrandkids. Boone is only 18 miles away, which isn't much of a drive, but there are some interesting places to eat here. One challenge though, is finding a place where Dad hasn't previously visited. So on my Brother's recommendation, we tried Roosters last week. It's just off Boone's main street and looks more like a corner bar from the outside. It's actually more like a sports bar that happens to serve breakfast in the morning. However, I don't think that their bar and breakfast hours run together. Or at least I didn't notice any local fixtures at the bar. As an aside, I know a friend that did that, which turned out to be beer and donuts at 5 AM. CONS - Relatively slow table service. +/- Folger's Plus type of coffee PROS - Easy street parking, which is basically true anywhere in Boone. - Nice Community vibe with a local "Men's Club" meeting at the next table. - Good Midwest comfort food in large portions. - A relatively inexpensive meal. -

In town for a football game. Stopped for beer and food. When we walked in the bartender told us…read morethey had closed the kitchen. We asked if they had any type of food available. The server was very nice and gave us some options. We ordered chicken strips, fish sticks, and onion rings. They were all good. The place is small, clean, reasonably price, and very friendly. I will be back next time I am in town.

Damn good bar food and a friendly staff. Beer is cheap here. Don't expect a warm welcome from the…read morelocals at the bar if "you ain't from 'round here". Quality people watching on race night and the patrons have an entire set of teeth between them.

Went here on the recommendation of three locals after working a basketball game. I misheard them…read moreat first; I thought they said "Tempe" and we were looking for a Mexican restaurant. Anyhow, we arrived and elected to sit at the bar versus a booth. Took a couple minutes to get noticed and we were asked to sit at the other end of the bar due to some clutter... Prices are very reasonable at this establishment. A flight was $7.50...if you were in WDM or Waukee, you would probably be looking at double that. They also brew their own beer and cider here; I'm not sure why that's not advertised heavier. Its called the "Gamble Block Brewery". I had Fear the Beard, the Baja Lager, the Maple Pumpkin Ale, and a cinnamon apple cider. The Maple pumpkin ale was delicious--the maple definitely hit on the back end. I was not a fan of the cider--they used a rather tart apple. The Fear the Beard (comparable to Blue Moon) and the Baja lager were OK. For food, I had the chicken tender basket with a 1/2 order of Texas Fries. I actually thought the ranch seasoning detracted from this dish--the queso was quite good and the bacon was plentiful. The downside to getting "sampler" versions of items was none of the accompaniments were included. My friend who got a full order of the Texas Fries was given sour cream with his food--mine did not. Also, on the beer sampler fruit wedges are served with the full size versions but not on the flight. The chicken tenders were very good and had the right breading/chicken ratio. The buffalo sauce packed a punch but was not obnoxiously spicy. The ranch that came with it was very good and was clearly made in-house. More of a 3.5 star review.

We used to LOVE the comfort food at Wobbly Boots when it was open in Clive (the old Cheddar's and…read morenow a sushi joint...not sure if the sushi spot is open yet or not).... Wobbly Boots closed 3+ years ago. I remember shortly before Wobbly Boots closed they had mentioned possibly opening a sister location in Perry, but I kind of forgot about it. I thought about it again in the last year or so when I started making my own version of a crab rangoon pizza at home. It's been a few months since, but Tin Pig had come back on my radar as that venture. I found Tin Pig online and sure enough the menu looked VERY similar with some of my old favorites. Today we made the drive over on 141 to Perry. We walked in and the feel was very much Wobbly Boots. A counter where staff greeted us up front, low and high tables and chairs, a few booths, and a bar to the Left. Same general motif. Rustic with a lot of wood, advertising pieces.... And the longhorns! TVs over the bar and on pillars down the middle of the dining room. I really didn't need a menu. It was that similar to the one I'd used for years...with a couple omissions but with a couple new additions too. We ordered the catfish BLT ($13), the crab rangoon flatbread ($14), a half order of the Texas fries ($6), a soda ($2.50?), and a water. Service was stellar! From being greeted as we walked in, throughout our visit, to when our payment was taken. Refills were prompt and we were checked on, but not bothered! The one little thing... While it was enough to fill us... The portion sizes are smaller. At least for the entrees we ordered. Granted we are 3+ years down the road and we all know things have changed. Businesses have fought to survive and the cost of everything has gone up. Don't let the mention of smaller portions detract you from making the short drive to Perry. It's worth the trip! But if you remember the truly massive portions served at Wobbly Boots it's something you will want to be aware of. The food tasted great! The catfish was cooked perfectly. The mac n cheese is still second to none! The toppings on the crab rangoon flatbread seemed a little thinner, but it was wonderful too. It was good to revisit this familiar food as my girlfriend and I have some really great memories of Wobbly Boots! https://tinpigtavern.com/