Never Again! I would avoid that place at all costs. I would rather get a bag of potato chips. At the CVS around the corner. The service was TERRIBLE and the manager did nothing about it. We waited 15 minutes to be seated. We were seated at 11:44 and we were not served our food until 1:40. It took us 20 minutes to just get coffee. I complained to the mgr and I guess after that they singled us out and made us wait for 2 hours. The waitress made so many mistakes with every table she had. I guess she was new and the mgr didn't help her. That is the last time I'll go there. If I could give negative stars I would read more

I had only had their coffee drinks for the longest time and decided to finally try out their food for dinner. Their coffee drinks are really good (the ice cream mocha is my fav!!!) but when I went for dinner I wanted turkey but the turkey sandwich came with a few things on it I didn't like and I noticed the ham sandwich looked good and asked my waitress if I could switch the ham for turkey and she acted like I literally just asked her for her last kidney. Didn't think it would be that hard considering their not pre-made. But she did it so whatever but when the sandwich came out I was shocked by the size. It was like a slider. An $8.50 slider.....it was good but I can't believe how small their portions are. I'm shook. read more

Stomping Grounds - Smallest $8.50 sandwich EVER & side of pretty good pasta salad - Bars Near Me - Ames, Iowa

Stomping grounds is a cute, artsy slightly hipster little cafe right in the heart of Iowa State's college town. It is one of the only restaurants in Ames with a patio; it is a peaceful Sunday-morning-brunch kind of patio. It is a great place to take your visiting parents, or the girl you met last night at the party for an impressive breakfast date. The prices are not McDonald's cheap, but they are reasonable for what you get. The food is very light, healthy and has a little French-Cafe feel to it (and did I mention--DELICIOUS). The winning attribute is the coffee. It comes out in a big decorative mug. It is a smooth, rich flavor, and they give you enough to leave you shaking. The service is a bit slow, but it is consistent with the relaxed and calming vibe Stomping Grounds gives off. If you are looking for a place to impress the girl you met on a bustling Saturday night in Ames, this is it. Take her for brunch, spend some time on the patio, sip your coffee and order one of their delectable crepes. read more

Stomping Grounds - Delicious crepe! Perfect combination of sweet and savory. New favorite dish! - Bars Near Me - Ames, Iowa

The food taste good but its portions are small compared to the price. They covered all the electric plugs so that you do not stay there more than what you supposed to. This unwelcoming behavior is complemented by bringing your check while you are only halfway through your food. They bring you tea in small jars which although cute the tea gets cold so fast. Besides the tea will not have enough time for to brew and does not have a good taste. read more

Stomping Grounds - Ginger tea (avoid it) - Bars Near Me - Ames, Iowa

They have all of their outlets blocked...boo to you stomping grounds. Great coffee, but why treat paying customers this way? I'm happy to deal with overpriced coffee and food, but then to be pushed out because my battery dies? It's simply cheap and not customer focused. Head over to Capanna instead - nice couches, great gelato, and PLENTY OF OUTLETS :) read more

Food: great Quality food, awesome atmosphere with a huge tea selection. Service: moderate. I've been there twice, once my server was very polite but the girl who sat us was a bit sassy and rude when we had asked some questions. The second time our server also had a bit of sass. Other than that he was well informed and had knowledge on the menu items read more

Have you ever stood at a counter, waiting to order a cup of coffee to go, in an empty restaurant, with someone behind the counter, and been completely ignored? You haven't been to stomping grounds. The service is the worst. My next visit was slightly better. The food isn't bad at all. The coffee is pretty good. But the service is dreadful. read more

These jackasses should make a distinction between restaurant and coffee shop. Not too long ago, they covered up all the plug-ins, so people better bring a fully charged battery with them if they want to stay longer than an hour. The food is okay...small portions and pretty expensive compared to what you would find at other restaurants with the same type of menu. I prefer Milo over this, not only for the people who work there, the management, and the fact that the place knows their identity in the town. The only reason this place got an extra star has to do with the coffee. They slowly hand-brew it by the cup. I like heavy coffee, so it is worth it to stop when I want a cup of good coffee. Other than that, I think this place is NOT worth the time or energy to visit. read more

Delicious coffee, tea, and food! Great local cafe and location. I go here at least twice a month and it's one of my favorite places in Ames! When I'm making plans with a friend, this is a popular choice. It's in campustown and relatively close to campus. It's also refreshing to go to a local place like this instead of a big chain. It's a hip and trendy cafe for a small city like Ames. The menu here is awesome! All tea selections are great. They provide you tea strainers and put the loose leaf tea in it for you so you can pour hot water over it. Coffee drinks are good as well. What I adore most if the FOOD! My favorites are the tomato basil bisque soup, all the crepes, and grilled cheese sandwich! All sandwiches comes with a choice of salad, pasta salad, or fruit. This is a great spot for any occasion-- a date, studying, brunch, breakfast, etc. It's also the cafe that's open the latest, which is a major bonus for college students that want to stay out late. My major complaint is the absence of power outlets! I understand that eliminating power outlets is supposed to encourage a more socially friendly and bonding environment, but it's hard to use a laptop to study sometimes. Overall, i highly recommend this cute cafe! read more

I really have nothing bad to say about Stomping Grounds. It is a business of many faces and I like that I can rely on it for so many occasions in my life. I have just stopped in quickly for a tea or coffee to go. It is always reasonably priced and the service is always quick, even if there is a line. I've gone in just to sit alone and study or read. Whether I had a meal or just a coffee, again, the service has always been great! The staff here is so nice! The food is really what makes this place a gem. They have a small, yet expansive menu with breakfast all day and lunch starting at 11. This is a great lunch spot to bring groups who are new to or are visiting Ames. I love bringing my out of town family here. Do you ever try to take a group of people out and some people are hungry, but one person isn't, and one person just wants a drink, and another person needs to eat something that appeals to their strict diet... and all that stuff? This place is perfect. Hungry people can get their full meals and not hungry people can get a nice, small baked good or dessert. The other super great feature? Wine and beer. Maybe you just want a quiet place with good light to study and drink a brew. Or maybe you just want to start your morning off with mimosas with friends. This is your place! If you're lucky, you might even show up on a night they have live music. My favorite things in life are brews, tunes, and brews, so this place gets 5 stars from me! read more

This is easily the best coffee/cafe in campus town in Ames! And has been since it opened! They were the first in Ames to offer pour over coffee, they have great apple cider in the fall, and the soy lattes are amazing. I dig the weird mugs they give you, that look like they might have been apart of some MUG MAKING college course over the years at Iowa State! They have my favorite outdoor seating in all of Ames, perfect for eating lunch and watching the leaves fall on an autumn day! The interior is great too, plenty of seats, great local art on the walls and random games and books to be played or read. Free Wi-Fi as well! The food options here are great! They have local and regional craft beer, and wine also! I really dig their salads they are huge, and come with some fantastic homemade bread! They also have ABC Cookies (Vegan)! They also have live music! Only weird thing about the place is the bathroom's are out of the coffee shop and down the hall! But that's no biggie, and this place is still and has always been a 5 star place to me! Keep up the greatness and other coffee shop/cafe's take note! read more

Stomping Grounds is a pretty good place. I don't particularly care for coffee (blasphemy for a student, I know) so my review doesn't hinge on that aspect. Their food is quite tasty but slightly overpriced for the portion (hence the 4/5 stars). I'm a favorite of the grilled cheese and tomato basil bisque soup (I could seriously down a vat of this soup), which they generally offer every day year-round (vegetarians: I heard that the bisque is made using chicken stock, but you may want to ask a waitress just to clarify). Their crepes are amazing and their non-coffee drinks are great! I recommend smoothies in the summer and cider in the winter. They also go above and beyond by offering a whole host of loose-leaf teas. It seems as if recently, there are more waitresses working (a very welcome sign) but that could be because it's summer and the patio is open and very often full. With that being said, in the past, I have waited for over 20 minutes just to receive a menu. My friends and I tend to reserve a half an hour more for lunch if we choose this place. The art on the walls switches about every few months or so and adds to the chill vibe. I'm slightly surprised they don't bring in local jazz musicians on weekend evenings or something. It's nice that they have the outdoor patio, but bees and bugs can be a problem (so take note, parents with little ones and people afraid of bees). I've heard a lot of griping about the management covering up the plugs, but I'm okay with this. I have been in there many times where it was difficult to find a table to sit at because people were studying (maybe occasionally ordering a coffee). It is a business after all. Make way for people who want to pay for a meal and help the owners pay the electric bill you loiterers keep racking up. read more

A delightful restaurant in Campustown worth taking your parents and out of town visitors to. The coffee and tea selection is impressive, seats are bountiful, and there's a nice outdoor patio for use in nice weather. Portion sizes are appropriate, not excessive. I almost invariably order the same thing: the croque Monsieur sandwich. I love perfectly toasted bread and the yummy beshamel sauce. I also like to get it with a side of their pasta salad. Other dishes I have had have been very good as well. The French toast is a wonderful breakfast option that isn't too large. The fruit crepe is also quite good. read more

Their servers need some serious training on service. Beginning a college student and only work on weekends is not the excuse. Tables are not properly cleaned before the setting up for the next group of customers, forgot the straws we asked for the cold drinks, took 20 min to get the coffee but forgot the coffee cream, despite repeat requests for coffee cream it was still forgotten...... read more

Stomping Grounds - Crepe Monsieur - Bars Near Me - Ames, Iowa

I want to like this place. I really do. The food is good, the drinks are tasty, but the service... I can't tell if it's unintentionally bad, or if I'm not hipster enough to eat here and the wait staff is giving me a subtle hint to that effect. If the first, they should find a new manager. If the latter, I don't understand the pretension from a coffee shop in f-ing Iowa. In either case, if it's a nice day, sit outside and enjoy the patio while you wait a ridiculous length of time for someone to acknowledge you. Just make sure you have time for a European-style supper out. The kind where everything seems to take twice as long as it should. read more

Positives... they have a solid tea menu with a lot of great options. The menu has some great unique food options like the Croque Monsieur - I haven't found this anywhere else other than in France. Their soup/sand-which combo is also a nice light option. Their patio is great for soaking up the sun on a nice day with one of the refreshing craft brews they offer. Negatives... They are open late and have free WiFi so this attracts a lot of studying students but they do not let you access the outlets!? Huge turn off for me. As for food they have not changed their menu since I started going to school in Ames (3 years ago). Management needs to add something fresh or at least have weekly specials. read more

Yummy, yummy, yummy iced coffee. I am not usually one for coffee, but this just may turn me into an addict. Service was great and they had hefty meal portions. I will definitely be making my way down there again for their delicious French toast and friendly service! read more

I would say I pay for the ambience and the in Stomping Ground The atmosphere in this cafe is top notch. It is the perfect place to have a conversation, a date, or lunch/brunch. There is outdoor pation and the place is spacious with a lot of natural lighting from the huge windows. However, there is no outlets in here so it is NOT the place for studying!!! Their beverage is super super good. They have a vast collection for different kinds of tea. Also, Chai Latte, Mocha, and Hot Chocolate probably are the best in Ames. Cheesecake and tiramisu are okay. Could have been better but what can you do if you are craving cakes late night and lives around campus.. With food, it is consistent and well-prepared but the portion is a little bit small for the price. But since this is a more upscale cafe is I guess that is what they are aiming for. It is still reasonable though. Their food is generally good but I would strongly recommend their tomato bisque soup! I used to dislike tomato soup until my friend let me try his and then I'm hooked. Service could be so terrible sometimes though maybe because they mostly hire students. So just be prepared to be a little bit more patient if you get a table in here. read more

Okay food, HORRIBLE service. Seriously. I got to Stomping Grounds with a friend around 11:45am on a Saturday and it was not very busy. We decided to sit outside on the patio. A server brought us water and menus for us to look them over. Our waitress came and brought us our drinks and asked if we needed more time. I told her, "I only need like, one more minute!" Our waitress came back about 15 minutes later to take our order, and she even poked her head outside several times before that and didn't come help us. When she came to take our order, I (needing to watch my wallet) asked her if I could get JUST a half sandwich with nothing else - no combo. She said I could and asked if I wanted it with the salad or just by itself, and I said by itself. Another 15 minutes later she brought our food out and all was well. We ate, and another 10 minutes later she finally brought our bills - and mine was charged as a combo! It, AGAIN, took her forever to come get the bill and I told her about the mistake on the bill. She told me that that was the only way she could charge it because it came with the salad. She never told me that when I ordered! She could have told me that it's charged as a combo!! I told her that she should have told me it was charged that way, and she half heartedly apologized. She brought me the combo salad to go, but I was still ticked. I will be calling management on Monday. read more

I am here to argue that the Stomping Grounds is the best location in Ames. My favorite reasons for going here: Studying (too bad they covered up the outlets), People-watching (the regulars inside or the Campustown passersby outside), Art (always an interesting exhibition distributed on the walls), Big delicious salads (too bad they no longer serve them in giant bowls), Crepes (banana nutella!), Turkey avocado sandwiches (or any of them), Olivia's drinking chocolate (rich chocolate with different flavors), Locally grown foods, Friendly and knowledgeable staff, Ice cream cappuccinos, and Coffee freshly ground and brewed for each cup. I've been coming here since it was a tiny coffee shop. Since then its renovations to include a full kitchen, patio, and wine/beer menu have only improved its allure. Long live the Stomping Grounds. read more

The place is good nicely kept. Always crowded. I would go anytime of the day & it is packed. The place is nice & quiet sometimes with crazy people to ruin your day. I mainly go there to stay away from every day's fatigue & sit alone & have my me time. I like their pricy foods & sandwich & beers. I love their tomato basil soup. I have had issues with servers before but that was long time ago. Overall this place has value to relax read more

For a place in Ames, IA, this is a very good establishment as far as food goes. The place is casual and may cause some inspiration and good conversation. Nice artwork on the walls too usually it seems. The place features some excellent items such as sandwiches, crepes, salads, desserts, teas, beers, wines, etc. Really not sure you can go wrong with any of the menu items and the tea, beer, and wine selection is really good (some real beers on the menu). The service sometimes can be a little bit lax. I have been in here when it's both busy and quiet and service seems to be about the same. I think they may be trying the "don't annoy the customer too much" approach, but they should probably pay more attention to when I'm done with my food sometimes. Another plus though? The menu is pretty inexpensive. I remember on my last visit to Ames getting a pretty good Brie & Salami sandwich, a Young's Double Chocolate Stout, and a very good Banana & Nutella Crepe for maybe $17 or $18 after tax. Great deal. Overall, very good place especially for where it's located. It might not be for everyone in Ames, but for those who are a little more *ahem* cultured ..I recommend it. read more

I've been to Stomping Grounds multiple times, and so far I haven't seen any of the unfriendly service other reviewers have mentioned. Everyone I've dealt with there has been friendly. Sometimes they seem to be a bit distracted and take longer than I'd've expected to take an order, but that's kind of how I like my baristas. Actually, I'm coming from having lived in San Francisco and I'd be okay with some classic snooty barista 'tude (make me feel at home!), but alas, they've all been nice to me so far. I've mostly tried their basic coffees and their hot and iced lattes (my drink of choice); they've been consistently good. I look forward to trying some of their food options -- and their beer, as the selection is very decent. It's a little unclear whether you can pull up a chair and sit down, or whether you're supposed to wait and be seated. That makes for a bit of awkward standing-around at first -- wish they'd fix that. read more

Best coffee in Ames! A great place to hang out, sipping coffee or hanging out with friends. The patio is FABULOUS in nice weather! Food is delicious and healthy. They use many local ingredients, especially the eggs (which are amazing in many dishes). Highly recommend this place! read more

I used to come here all the time, buy a sandwich and some coffee, plug in my laptop, and study for a few hours. Then, during a renovation, they covered up the outlets, leaving only one near the stage open. If you plug in there, they'll yell at you. So, in the span of a week, I went from being a regular customer to hardly ever going there. Maybe once every couple months. It feels like they'd rather be known as a bistro than a place to relax and study. Having said that, their food is delicious and it's a good place to go now and again. Try the Pain Bagnat or the Roast Beef and Bleu Cheese sandwiches. Also: their quiches and crepes, especially the banana nutella or whatever fruit is in season. Be brave! Their menu has no flaws that I've found. Parking can be an issue during peak times, but it's usually not too bad, and it's on the brown route in Campustown, so accessibility is no problem. If you go there in winter, here's a tip: ask for the Olivia's hot chocolate. If you're daring, have them add some cayenne pepper: A++ would drink again. read more

Stomping ground is definitely stomps the competition. No doubt one of the top 3 Cafes in Ames. The coffee was good and the servers were extremely nice. Why I believe stomping ground is not the best in town and didn't get the 5 stars is because there are no outlets. I go to Cafes a lot to do homework and get coffee. It was a bummer to find a great cafe but to find out I can't study there for long hours or right after class when my laptop battery has already been drained. However it is convenient for college students since it's close to campus and open for long hours and on weekends. I would recommend to friends for dates, quick study sessions, or to meet up with friends. read more

Next to the Cafe, one of the only decent eateries in Ames. The crepes are out of this world and I've never had to wait for a table. I really appreciate the seasonal selections and the efficient staff. Great for brunch, studying, visiting families, and date nights. read more

I met family and friends at The Stomping Grounds for dinner and drinks. The menu looked good although it was very limited. Service was very good and very knowledgeable of the bar and restaurant menu. When the food arrived I was extremely disappointed. I had ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo. The meal portion was extremely small. The dish was dry and bland. The chicken was in cubes and also very bland. The meal was very expensive and could not have cost more than a US dollar to create. I really do not mind paying for a good meal but I hate paying gourmet prices and wishing I had gone to McDonald's instead. read more

When this place opened...it was like no other Cafe in Ames. Its like a Cafe, Bistro, Art Gallery, Pub, Faculty Dive, Study Hot Spot...ALL ROLLED INTO ONE... I found myself drawn to it...I had to study there...Get coffee there...mingle...it was cool cause you got the benefit of the cafe vibe and atmosphere but could also throw back a beer or a few and still hear/chat with the people around you... The competition is starting to see where they need to step up...Its just about time we got some where cool to chill.... read more

I came to Stomping Grounds for the first time this past weekend with a girlfriend on recommendation of my boyfriend who had great things to say himself of this place. I came in for brunch and at first it was a little hard to find but we managed. We sat ourselves and I ended up getting the french toast that came with a variety of fruit on the side and my friend got the grilled cheese with a side salad. We were honestly in awe of the presentation and taste of the food. The french toast i had was HUGE and so filling. Tasted like a cinnamon donut so it was on the sweeter side than I would normally prefer, but nonetheless still so yummy The grilled cheese looked pretty delicious as well. The staff was very helpful with knowledge of the menu and was very kind and positive so the vibe was uplifting for a gloomy rainy day. I would definitely come here again!! read more

After having an awful dinner - this place really cheered me up - Very laid back atmosphere which is perfect for the morning and a great cup of coffee with a small breakfast. This is my first visit to Ames, IA and I would recommend this little spot - it is also a great place to local watch as it seems a lot of people know one another. read more

Stopped by this place while in Ames for my wife's conference. Sole reason that we chose this one was for the crêpes; can't find those just anywhere. The waitress was friendly, but I can see the place being slow if busy as there were only two that I saw. The hot drinks were good. The crêpes were subpar compared to France but about what I was hoping for in the middle of Iowa. read more

Best lattes in Ames - I have not been disappointed in my visits here. The food is also pretty good with excellent crepes. read more

I stopped in here mid afternoon with some friends for a coffee and a couple of beers. The ambiance was nice. There's art hanging for sale on the walls which was a nice conversation starter being that I was with two design majors. The latte was delicious and they have a great selection of bottle beers. The service however was shockingly slow. The place wasn't super crowded but we sat at a table and got waitress service because that is the only way to get beer. Man, I couldn't get her to bring the check for the life of me. Even the other three girls behind the table were oblivious. The waitress apologized but I definitely wouldn't go here if you were in a hurry. read more

Nice atmosphere, friendly staff, and the food was actually good.... the coffee as well. However.. the portions are ridiculous. I ordered biscuits and gravy. It arrived on a side salad plate, one small biscuit, covered in sausage gravy. For $11.00. I seriously asked if I accidentally ordered a side dish... nope. This was the full order. At these prices you would think they could afford a sign on the front of their building at least. Extremely skimpy portions. read more

Step inside Stomping Grounds and you are immediately embraced by the warm sounds, modern décor, and polished staff and customers. The vibe you hear inside is an ensemble of drinks steaming, coffee being ground, people moving, interesting music and of course vibrant conversations. Starting out as a small custom coffee shop in 2003, Stomping Grounds has expanded greatly, adding a kitchen, and significantly raising prices and quality since they opened. Stomping Grounds is a shining star on the southern end of the otherwise dismal looking Welch Ave business district. Beside the regular student population, you will often find the who's who is Ames stopping by, from ISU profs, to local writers and businesspeople. A rotating local art collection clads the walls that are not windows. A shaded outdoor patio area looks over mostly students coming back from class or going to the bars. Stomping Grounds boasts, freshly ground coffee from around the world, excellent lattes, a wine menu, beer list, plus a small lunch and dinner menu. Snakes such as chocolate chip muffins (my fav), cookies, croissants, and even cheesecake are available all day by their particularly attractive, mostly female staff. You may order yourself, or be waited on. Reservations can be made for the large eight person table. Prices are a bit on the high side and service can be disappointing at times (but is improving), but the incredible atmosphere makes up for it. Open 7 to midnight on weekdays, and 8 to midnight on weekends, this is my favorite café in Ames. This big little gem is a great place to study, excellent place to meet people for conversation, or begin the night. read more

Stomping Grounds - Right on the first floor, the front patio is visible here (it looks much better in real life) - Bars Near Me - Ames, Iowa

LOVE this place! It offers sandwiches, soups, salads and so much more! They make a crazy good latte and have even better desserts :) My favorite thing is their greek salad (I order that pretty much every time I'm there) but I always go for dessert and have had many of their selections! Chocolate cake being my favorite, of course. This place is a go-to for me and everyone should try it! Catch up with your friends over coffee at stomping grounds, the atmosphere is perfect for it! read more

Stopped by on a whim while on a business trip to find some wi-fi and food. For a cafe, this place fails to deliver on the basics. There are no power outlets, and on my visit the wi-fi was dial-up speed (download speed tested at 0.82 mbps on my laptop and 0.86 mbps on my phone - that's slow!). It's a nice enough atmosphere, but the food (I got a caprese sandwich) is bland and left me feeling as hungry as I was when I arrived. I can't speak for the coffee, as I had to drive down the street to Starbucks to get some decent wi-fi. read more

Went here with a Bumble date - such a great place to meet up, coffee and sandwiches were delicious! Their crepes are also very good.

This review is for Stomping Grounds as a coffee shop. As Ames' oldest coffee shop (est 1993) it has my loyalty. Even now that there is competition from national chains that have finally decided it is worth their investment to come to this little college town, Stomping Grounds continues to serve great coffee, teas, and espresso drinks in a cozy atmosphere. Stomping grounds carries quality beans and loose leaf teas and trains its staff in the arts of coffee, espresso and tea making. Service is friendly and efficient, and I always feel welcome here. All the teas and lattes I have had here have been very good. Thanks Stomping Grounds for providing a quality coffee shop on Welch Avenue. read more