The best (and only good) Italian food in Ames. Great drinks. Mellow atmosphere. Great for lunch or dinner.

Excellent food, great service, and intimate atmosphere. The chef is truly amazing and knows how to make things I'd ordinarily hate (asparagus), amazing. I am thoroughly impressed with this restaurant and I'd highly recommend it to anyone looking for a romantic dinner place. I will say that Bar La Tosca portions are not like Perkins, Village Inn, etc. For me, that's perfect but I know a lot of people that like huge portions and you won't find that here. read more

This place is awesome... everything we had was very good ... the spaghetti sauce should be bottled.. great upscale little place .. we will be back .. the bee sting cocktail is a must read more

Wonderful Lunch Menu. I enjoy the Flatbread Pizza specials they have daily. Service is excellent as well! read more

This place reminds me of some of the classy bars in Iowa City. There aren't any other places like this in Ames. We've been here twice already since discovering it about a month ago--once for brunch and once for dinner. Both times, the cocktails were on point. The food was also pretty good as well. This was the first time I've had pork belly...and it won't be the last. They also have a unique spin on biscuits and gravy for brunch--tasty! We had pasta when we came for dinner. Nothing spectacular, but I'll keep coming back for the atmosphere and cocktails. read more

Bar La Tosca - Gnocchi on the left & Rigatoni on the right - Italian Near Me - Ames, Iowa

Wonderful atmosphere great food and cocktails. Little plates are great and pasta is on point!!! Definitely will be back!!!! read more

I need to correct myself on my review of Tosca. I was completely off on my presumptions. I've gone back for dinner with friends and it was a completely different experience! Fried Calamari is delicious and the salmon toast is so good.! It has become a great local restaurant! *writing this re review on a cell phone has keeping this short and me unable to delete my past review.* read more

It was just ok. I had the salmon which came with a potato puree and cherry tomatoes. It was 19.00. I thought the portion of the salmon was generous and cooked well, but everything else was minimal. And you did not get salad or bread or anything else with the entree. I thought the seating was also a little bit unusual as well. They had these large banquet style booths with small tables pushed in, and so you were sitting right next to somebody that wasn't even in your group. I won't go as far as to say that I was disappointed but I probably won't be back. If you want to stop in for a drink it looked like they had a nice bar area. read more

Ambiance is pretty modern, and service is friendly. We ordered the flatbread, pork belly, and calamari to start. The flatbread itself had good crunch and chew to it, and was topped with toasted chickpea puree (almost like a dried hummus). Fried shallots added a crispy bite to the top, and perfectly veggies finished the dish. The pork belly was melt in your mouth tender, but a little too salty. Calamari was delicious, but it wasn't mind blowingly spectacular. For my entree I had the squid ink pasta with scallops. Noodles were well cooked, and scallops were extremely tender and soft. however, the dish could have been elevated if the scallops were seared on both sides. Overall pretty good, but some items were overseasoned. I would definitely come back to try more! read more

La Tosca has a very pleasant layout, it's definitely the right place to hang out with friends. Our drinks were very tasty, just maybe a little weak. The appetizer, a flat bread with hummus and fried onion was yummy. The gnocchi is so so. Maybe more vegetarian options would be a good addition to the menu. read more

The Gale's root beer was an excellent way to start lunch. While racing from Minneapolis to Kansas City, my dad and I made a pit stop in Ames, Iowa. We found ourselves at Bar La Tosca hoping for fresh and locally sourced European fare. Jackpot! We had roasted beets in grapefruit juice with walnuts. They were cooked perfectly and brightly purple/red. I had calamari on flatbread which was sublime. The calamari was lightly breaded, something similar to tempura. The green side salad had a delightful citrus vinaigrette that tasted liked it had freshly squeezed Meyer lemon. The flatbread was lightly dusted with parmesan. My dad had a chicken sandwich on a cibatta bun that had a rustic look and appeared. He was happy with his selection. Sadly, we were on a scoot and didn't have the opportunity to sample their excellent offerings of local beers or mixed drinks. The décor was a bit dark yet charming. The facility was spotless. They had a great selection of music that was serious and relaxing, at the crossroads of Nick Cave and Delta Spirit. This is a lovely place to have dinner with your lifelong love. The bar overlooks Main street and a bright park area with tables. You are guaranteed to enjoy your visit to Ames' soon to be famous Bar La Tosca. read more

This place had hiccups, but it improved a lot. The chicken is amazing, and I rarely go for chicken since it is my least favorite. Appetizers are fabulous. The drinks are really good now, their main barman is fantastic. read more

Bar La Tosca has a great ambience and nice location on Main Street and the service is at least average. The cocktails and small plates we ordered were a major letdown, unfortunately. The old fashioned was mostly water and bitters, the salmon toast was not flavorful, the seafood in the cioppino was over cooked and under seasoned. The only decent food we got was the beet salad. It sucks to have to say it but for the price we paid, I expect a lot more. read more

Where do I begin...$50 for two people and you will most likely leave hungry.

We stopped on a Saturday during hot, hot weather. Farmers Market was going on but it was too hot to eat outside. The atmosphere was quaint and hip. The service was friendly, considerate and prompt. The food was tasty with a great combo of flavors. The calamari was unbreaded and maybe a bit chewy but the aioli rocked and the raw jalapenos gave a bit of a little zing. The flat bread with grilled veggies, fresh mozzarella and pesto did not disappoint. The fettucinne with mushroom cream sauce was something that could make you slink down in your seat and be your new security blanket. read more

Had a great night here last Saturday. Was parents weekend at Iowa State and they were very accommodating with our slightly changing reservation numbers and time. I Love the ambiance so cozy, felt like you wanted to hang out there all night. The food was delicious! My husband had the bolognese which was amazing and my son and the lamb pasta dish( forget the name now) also yummy. Will definitely go back next time we are in town. read more

Had hopes of a new place in Ames to eat when visiting but this is not it. In short, weak drinks, slow service and tough food. Two of us had the pan roasted chicken. One was good and the other ok but a bit tough. One of us had the braised meat which was pork. It was tough all the way around. The table next ours had issues as well. Unless rave reviews start appearing I won't be back. read more

After returning from a trip to Spain I had a hankering for tapas like none other. Eating toasted bread and cheese just wasn't cutting it anymore, so I went online and tried to find a place near Ames serving tapas or something similar. That's when I discovered Bar La Tosca. Before this I'd never heard of the place, nor seen it all the times I'd been on Maine Street. But I gathered my fellow Spanish adventurers and we headed right there to order every single "small plate" they offered. Every single one was delicious. I don't think I could pick a favorite if I'd tried. It was the closest thing to tapas I've had since being to Spain. Even if you haven't been to Spain to experience tapas in their homeland, you can get an authentic experience at Bar La Tosca. If you have a large group, grab a bunch of small plates and pass them around! read more

Bar La Tosca is a bar serving gourmet foods. The atmosphere, ambience, and food choices tend to draw an older crowed for those looking for an intiment main street hangout without the college party vibe. One of their specialties are Topas and they are excellent with the exception of their toast or bread with various spreads or toppings. For some reason none of there Topas with spreads or toppings on toast are very tasty even if you love all the ingredients inside. One of my favorite topas is the asparagus with goat cheese. I highly recommend the "Alluvial Beer Dinner" which is a (by advanced reservation only) five course gourmet dinner with perfectly matched beers from the local Alluvial Brewing Company. Even if you aren't a beer lover, this experience is worth the time and money. My favorite of the five courses was the Goat Cheese Gnocchi and my partners was the Chilled Seafood Salad. It was hard to choose favorites though, because it was all so delectable. read more

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The atmosphere is very up scale and feels as if it belongs in much larger city. The service was excellent, drinks were very well made and the food was delicious. It is a little on the pricey side for frequent visits. I think there needs to be something to celebrate for the prices. read more

My wife and I dined here one evening earlier this year as part of an alumni visit to the University. Years ago I used to frequent the restaurant at this location run by the previous owners (Lucullan's), and thus this was sort of a nostalgic visit for me. While not everything worked perfectly, we found the food to be quite good, creative and the atmosphere very enjoyable. Since it is a byob place we brought our own nice bottle of wine to enjoy with the meal. Ames needs some cool places like this so I am pulling for these guys. Best of luck! read more

We chose to go to Bar la Tosca this evening for a birthday occasion meal. We had never been here before and thought we would try something different. We were greeted the moment we entered the restaurant and seated immediately. We were in a cozy booth, which, for the three of us seemed a bit small but worked out to be fine. The waitress was quick to take drink orders and arrived with cold beverages shortly after. The menu might be considered slight as there aren't a lot of choices. However, the choices that are available cross a wide range of flavor from seafood to chicken to pork and beef. We each ordered something different. The Chicken Fettuccini was fantastic as was the Rigatoni with both beef and pork had a very unique flavor that was excellent. The Bucatini had a great guanciale (Italian bacon) and creamy tomato sauce with a little bit of heat from the chilis. We received a few pieces of bread after our pasta had been served. Almost seemed like an afterthought but we were glad we had something to soak up the pasta sauces. The quantity of our meals was good. Allowed enough room for dessert.;-) We finished our meal with a couple desserts. One Chocolate Cayenne Cake and one Cherry Turnover with rum sauce. Both were exceptional. We will return for more authentic Italian food. read more

Great small plates and atmosphere! Love the beet salad, the antipasti platter and the salmon toast! Definitely going again!

I hosted a Bridesmaid Luncheon here and we had a beautiful day. The food was outstanding. We tried several small plates; our favorites included the marinated beets, salmon toast, gnocchi fritti and the flatbread pizzas. The ambiance was peaceful and a perfect afternoon for some relaxing girlfriend stories before the big wedding day. read more

Took my mom here while she was in town because she loves pasta and liked Lucallan's way back when my oldest sibling went to ISU. The atmosphere is nice and trendy, but there's not much room between the tables. I'm not a large person and I had to wiggle out between the full tables to get through. That would have been more annoying had we not started talking to the couple next to us and made friends with them, so it all worked out. We ordered the marinated beets and braised pork belly to start. You get a lot more beets than I expected, but the pork serving is pretty small, which I also expected. The beets were perfectly done and were uniquely combined with Gorgonzola and grapefruit, which I loved. The pork belly was so tender and came with a lovely sauce. The couple next to us ordered the salmon toast (which I was considering) and didn't like it too much, so they gave it to us. It wasn't as good as I expected either, just to forewarn you all. For entrees, my S/O got gnocchi, which was good. My mom got the seafood risotto and enjoyed it. My favorite dish happened to be the one I ordered...the chicken and mushroom fettuccine. The pasta was perfectly al dente, the mushrooms were great, the sauce was so rich that I had to take breaks. I don't know if they have the option to add meat to the other pastas, but that was my main complaint with the menu and half the reason I chose my dish. I'm personally not trying to eat all carbs and cream sauce for dinner! My dish had a ton of chicken, though, and I absolutely loved it. My boyfriend really liked the coco stout he had and my Bloody Mary was sufficiently spicy. This place has been on my list for over a year and I kept forgetting about it somehow! It would be a great atmosphere for the date. I love the small plate offerings and it was the best food I've eaten in a while. Everyone sitting around us had delicious looking food as well! If you want huge portions for cheap, this is definitely not a place for you. If you like creative but not over-done dishes that are done incredibly well and enjoy an intimate atmosphere, I would highly recommend. read more

In town for a college visit. Food and service were excellent. We had the Rigatoni, Fettucine and Gnocchis. All were delivered hot and fresh. Atmosphere is a little dark. Amazing find in Ames! read more

We are out of town and wanted something a little sophisticated for our last night in Iowa. Picked this place for the good reviews and got a bit disappointed. Inattentive and slow service for one, hit or miss food for another. My son's pasta had hot and cold spots (microwaved?), my dessert cherry rum was dry without any cream. The small plates were ok. The place is dark but does have a pleasent vibe. read more

Great choice for dinner - Excellent food and cool atmosphere. There are also a few tables for sidewalk seating. We had a small plate of cioppino to split as an appetizer- plenty for the three of us & just the right amount of spice. It was loaded with smoked salmon, diver scallops, shrimp and calamari. We had fettuccine, radiatore and seafood risotto. All very well prepared. The service was a bit slow and had to ask for bread and water a couple of times but she was very pleasant. I would recommend and return for another excellent meal. read more

I had the salmon, she had a pasta dish. Both were OK. Good service and atmosphere. Overpriced and just OK food makes me believe their future is limited. read more

We were immediately greeted by the owner. Fantastic drink selection that is not your usual fare. Interesting red wines, fun old fashioned cocktails. We were treated to hors doerves on the house which were super tasty! Beautiful setting and ambiance. Music selection was fun. Great place to catch up with old friends! The owner kept the joint open til past 1am just for us! read more

First time dining here & the food was excellent. Had the fettuccine with chicken & cream of mushroom sauce - to die for. Chicken was moist & tender and the mushrooms were bursting with flavor. Pasta itself was very tasty & cooked just perfectly. Had one tap beer and it was the perfect temperature, not too cold but not warm either, great temp for a thick brew. read more

This is easily the best Italian restaurant in Ames. Very good pastas with strong flavor. The restaurant is also conveniently located within range of three pokestops, allowing you to put down some lures while you enjoy some top quality Italian food with a glass of wine. I even managed to get a squirtle during dinner. We will be returning to try other dishes from their menu. read more

I ate at this restaurant on a weekend. When walking in I saw it was busy. . The bar seemed to be the main attraction which was to be expected. The place is small but didn't feel cozy. Tables and seating were very crowded and you had to like rubbing elbows with the people next to you. I ordered beef flank because it was one if not the only beef dish. I was upset when I took the first bite and had to chew it the better part of a minute to get it down.. It was impossibly tough. I was treating a birthday girl to dinner so I wasn't going to be grumpy and ruin it for her by complaining about the dinner. I patiently cut tiny bites and managed to get through the meal with a smile. The sauce was very good. I ordered the beef medium which I don't recommend. Rare is maybe more tender in a flank cut. Dessert wasn't bad. I had the rum and cherry turnover which was good. It was more like what we Midwesterners would call cherry upside down cake. Two cupcake sized cakes with yummy hot cherries and rum. I insisted the birthday girl get something and so she got the blueberry tart. It was a slice of a large tart She hacked at it a couple times unable to cut through the crust. I wanted to try it and had to stab it with a fork to separate a piece from the tart.The crust was like thick dense cardboard. She liked her meal which was flat bread ratatouille, and a braised pork belly dish. The small plates are a good size. One with a dessert would be plenty filling. The prices are reasonable (if the food is good which mine was not.) The menu and prices are online. So if you have a hard time making decisions on what to get take a look at the menu before you go. I won't likely return. The food isn't my style and a bad experience like this one usually means I'm finished with a restaurant. read more

What a wonderful spot for a nice, relaxing dinner. Great service! The Cioppino is fantastic! read more

Stopped in for a quick late weeknight meal with my daughter. The restaurant has a very comfortable feel. The menu was simple but with good selections. I ordered the penne with pork shoulder and it was delicious. My daughter ordered the strozzapreti and also thought it was delicious. We would definitely come back. read more

I have never written a YELP review before but felt compelled after eating at La Tosca. My wife, son, and I had the tremendous pleasure of stumbling upon this new Italian restaurant in the old historic downtown in Ames. It was SO good we ate their on 2 successive nights. First, the staff including the host, bartender, and waitresses were incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and well trained More importantly the food was most definitely the star of the show. The flatbread was "Middle East meets Italy"with hummus and Ratatouille with goat cheese--yummy. The Canederle appetizer is too hard to explain - just get it -you will be moaning and sopping up the leftover broth. Beet salad was excellent as well. Pastas were outstanding especially Bacatini Amatrciana with guaincale. Salmon was some of thebest we've ever eaten and the shellfish stew in Fennel broth was PERFECT! No room for deserts but can verify the bartender knows how to make a Perfect Manhattan and great Old Fashion!! Go taste the food- you will return soon!!! read more

Came here for my birthday and the food was amazing! Everyone was nice except for our waitress who was extremely rude, demeaning and unprofessional. She barely said a word to us and was rude when we asked questions. Also told us we couldn't take pictures after the manager had told us we could. Would have rated this a 5 Star but this waitress ruined our experience at Bar la Tosca. read more

Great cocktails, decent ambiance, consistently good food. Ames really needed a place like this--it fills a niche!

Was delighted with my first visit to La Tosca. Service was impeccable, even during weekday lunch. The menu is like nothing one normally sees in Iowa--fresh, interesting, and a unique hybrid of Italian, Greek and Mediterrain flavors. My lunch entree was very good, but the olive oil lemon cake and great coffee was the perfect end to midday dining experience at Bar La Tosca. I hope has a long future in Ames. read more

This is the only place of this kind in Ames. The barstools are padded and have backs, suitable for mature drinkers. Probably nobody would look at you funny if you were reading a book, unless there were other people waiting to be seated. The beers on tap are a limited and knowledgeable selection of Iowa microbrews. The food ingredients are local. Large people like ISU football players would probably not get enough to eat here, though. That's what they mean by European style. read more