I met a group for lunch at the restaurant at the hotel and I had the honey sriracha cauliflower…read moreappetizer and while it was very good (think it was a whole head of cauliflower!) I wish there were more vegetarian options. Our server was excellent (sorry did not catch her name). But where this place shines is the historic atmosphere of the hotel. I did not stay there but after lunch, Wyatt gave our group a tour of about half dozen unoccupied rooms along with some history of the hotel. There are 40 rooms, each with a different theme reflecting an aspect of Iowa's history. There were originally 77 rooms with only 23 of them with indoor plumbing! The rooms are well-appointed and reasonably priced at an average of $200. I had no idea this gem existed so close to home!

Enjoyed a night out in our small town for dinner and the beautiful Hotel Pattee. The lobby was…read morebeautifully decorated for Christmas with a poinsettia tree in the lobby and an enormous Christmas tree with a Samara and sleigh and a reindeer near their wood burning fire place. We had the Brie appetizer and filet for dinner. Everything was cooked to perfection. The flavor was delicious. Juicy steak. Broccoli wasn't too soft or hard. All staff was very friendly and accommodating. We will definitely be going back!

Had a super dog as part of a private party and 10/10 would recommend. Great service and very unique…read moreflavors. Very fun memory for the event. I got a regular ketchup and mustard dog but the ones with cheese come toasted and I would absolutely recommend that!

From the owner: The one and only Superdog! A must-have while you're in Ames.read more

The food was wonderful. Fresh, hot, and fair prices found here! The organization could be a bit…read morebetter. The truck and owner might be present at 11am, but that doesn't mean they're ready to take orders. If you have quite a bit of time, stop on by. I've never been to Chicago, and during a pandemic travel is not a safe option. I was impressed either way with most items. I only tried the items on the Chicago side.

I went to Billy's ice cream recently, I got a cookie dough chilli billy, I got about half done with…read moremy medium cookie dough chilli billy, and what do I notice, NO MORE COOKIE DOUGH. I am highly disappointed in you guys. Will not be returning here. Sincerely Dorris Smith

We just enjoyed wonderful ice cream cones at Billy's. Excellent ice cream, and well-packed in the…read moreold style of ice cream parlors. We all enjoyed our cones-- totally worth it to drive a few miles off I-80 to satisfy our ice cream desire. The experience was enhanced by the friendly, polite, and well-trained staff. They created a nice atmosphere, and adding to the experience was watching the very happy customers.

In town for some personal business and had time to kill so we decided to find a local place for…read morelunch. Per my usual when it comes to deciding factors, the name drew us in to The Flying Elbow. Super cute place - simple. Very clean. Straightforward. The menu is on the wall, above the same counter where you order. Staff was helpful and friendly. My husband got a burger - The Patterson. The gentleman taking his order was kind enough to switch out the bread since my hubs isn't a fan of jalapeño. He recommended Texas toast, which the hubs was grateful for and he LOVED it. It was just the right amount of messy, juicy, and YUM. I got the all-beef hotdog with chili, cheese, and green onions. It was delicious. My only recommendation would be putting the cheese under the chili so that it melts (or run it under the broiler for a sec) and gets super gooey. Otherwise, the chili was awesome and tasted great with the dog. I'd definitely get it again. BUT, the kicker of the whole meal, the absolute "must go back" item was the tots. HO. LY. COW. We got one order to share and just figured we were getting regular old tator tots. But NO. The order was six tots that were each about the size of a ping pong ball and they were the MOST epic little flavor bombs. I know they had potato, cheese, and bacon in them ... not sure what else they add to create that little ball-o-flavor but MAN. If you're in the area, this place should be on your list of "must try." If you're not, those tots are worth the trip.

Love everything about Flying Elbow! Their portions are huge! I usually end up taking some home…read more We live outside of Marshalltown but gladly drive the extra miles to go there

I had to stay in Ames for an extended period due to a family member's medical issues, and knowing…read morethis epicenter of everything was walking distance from me for the ten days comforted me and proved incredibly helpful when situations consistently arose during my stay. From really good food options to snacks and drinks to toiletry needs, Kwik Star delivers, even on a holiday like Christmas. I'm grateful for their elite customer service and cleanliness.

I want to give a special shoutout to Amanda who works at Quick Star. She is always friendly and…read moresmiling every time I come in. On Monday at midnight, I had an issue at the station and Amanda went above and beyond to help me. This is not the first time I've seen her go out of her way to assist customers. She is truly an example of an outstanding employee. Thank you, Amanda!

# Ted's Coney Island: Where Hot Dogs Go to Party!…read more Hey food lovers! Wanna know where to score some seriously awesome grub? Buckle up, 'cause I'm about to spill the beans on Ted's Coney Island! ## Location, Location, Location Just a hop, skip, and a jump from downtown. Perfect for when those hot dog cravings hit (and we all know they do)! ## The Goods - Coney dogs that'll make your taste buds do a happy dance - Traditional hot dogs that are anything but basic - Gyros so good, you'll think you've teleported to Greece (Opa!) ## Why Ted's Rocks 1. Service with a smile (and maybe a cheesy hot dog joke or two) 2. Food that arrives faster than you can say "I'm hungry" 3. Prices that won't make your wallet cry 4. Old-school A-frame building that's like stepping into a time machine (minus the flux capacitor) ## Spice It Up! Feeling adventurous? Ask for extra peppers and turn that meal into a flavor fiesta! Look, life's too short for boring food. So next time you're in the mood for a good ol' fashioned hot dog (or three), head to Ted's. It's where the cool kids go to get their coney on! P.S. If you don't yelp your perfectly topped dog, did you even really visit? Just saying! . I swear I was there...

You gotta love the chilly goodness of an old fashioned "Coney Dog." The taste of a fair favorite…read morewith onion rings puts you in the spirit of sitting back and dreaming of all the fun foods of your childhood. The "Coney Meal" allows you to sample delicious onion rings and very saucy cold slaw with a twist of satisfying flavors. Service at the drive thru is quick and dished out with a wholesome voice that resonates welcome and do come again.

I'm not sure what to make of the "new" Campus Town (at least on the East side of Welch Avenue)…read more I've been visiting Ames since my first campus visit in High School and I still remember that old tobacco/news shop on the corner of Welch and Lincoln way and the home town nature of this area (if you don't count the XXX Theater that once existed). I guess it's the West side's turn very soon and I hope for my Son's sake that Mayhem Comics survives. Anyway, the new Corporate Campus Town has a lot of new things including fun and friendly places to grab a relatively quick meal. Freddy's Frozen Custard and Steak is one of those establishments, and I had a really great cheeseburger and fried combination there recently. A beer would have been great with this, but this isn't that kind of place. So I settled for a soft drink and wished I would have gone all in with some frozen custard.

The food was wonderful and the staff was amazing! Everything we got tasted great. Size to cost…read moreratio is also really fair. It's kind of loud inside, but nothing bothersome. The staff also keeps it very well maintained.

Traveling thru ........ Deceiving the outside signage that…read moresays burgers on the partially lit sign, they serve so much more, chicken, hot beef, variety of potatoes, kids size too, also pork loin dinner, half orders! Try it super friendly owner and staff

I enjoyed my breakfast stopped by to take a break from the rain the food was reasonably priced and…read morethe donuts look delicious, but I had to pass Road Tripping with Dave's Crazy Trailer

This was a great place to go to get away, watch some football, and have a beer. The golf looked fun…read morebut I didn't have a chance to try it.

Great place to grab a beverage and play some games. The golf simulators are a fun way to spend…read moresometime after work or on the weekends. Ned's also has a good selection of grub to go with their selection of beers on tap and cocktails. The Chocolate Martini is a must try.