We really enjoyed our visit to Boone over Easter weekend. One of the stops was at the Whistle Stop…read moreCafe for breakfast with friends. The place was really busy but, the staff were kind, helpful and happy. Making our time with our friends even more enjoyable. The food was great - felt like home cooking. We will definitely go back the Whistle Stop when visiting Boone in the future.

This is a regular Tuesday spot that my husband and I frequently go to for breakfast. New owners…read morerevamped the menu and let me tell you they did their dang thing:)!!!! My husband gets the blueberry pancakes every time and switch between biscuits and gravy or country fried steak both are delicious:)!!!! The blueberry pancakes have so many fresh blueberries in them and the sausage gravy is full of flavor:)!!!! The servers know our drink order and have them waiting on the counter as soon as we arrive:)! That's great customer service:)!!!! It's just a nice relaxed breakfast/lunch spot:)!!!! When you walk in the door you feel like you're home:)!!!! I will continue to come here as long as I live in Boone:)!!!!

We met a niece for a long lunch during the week. Comfortable and casual vibe, and a nice menu…read moreselection. Breakfast available, so one in our party went with that, and that was the right choice for the day we were there. My wife and I each got a salad - I got the California Chicken, and she got the Chicken Harvest Apple Salad. The menu says they are each spring mix lettuce, but there wasn't much spring in either of ours - pretty much iceberg with a touch of darker greens. The chicken was thin and tasted fine, but didn't have a lot of seasoning. The bread was good, and if the lettuce had been closer to what we thought we were getting it would have made a significant difference. We just chose poorly. The breakfast platter looked amazing, and we saw a couple of wraps and sandwiches pass by that looked really good. Service was very pleasant and efficient, and our food came out in good time. They cleared our table as well and even though it pretty much counter service, there was more service provided than you might expect. We will try again and just stick to the sandwiches or breakfast. The lettuce mix may have been a substitute or may be what locals prefer; just wasn't what we thought we would be getting.

I am not from the area and was looking for a place to work for the day. After purchasing a cup of…read morecoffee from another establishment (who did not have ideal seating), I visited Queen Beans and asked if I could bring my outside coffee in if I purchased breakfast there. The staff member assured me it was no problem at all, so I bought breakfast and worked for the day. The next day, I followed the same routine (since I actually really enjoyed the other places coffee and I was already told it was no problem if I bring in outside drinks). However this time, a different staff member informed me that outside beverages were not allowed, but said I could stay if I poured my coffee into one of their cups. I completely understood and complied without any issue. 30 minutes later, the owner approached my table in an aggressive manner and began berating me for not following their rules. Despite explaining that I had received information from two employees allowing me to stay, the manager continued to reprimand me, stating it was common sense not to bring outside drinks. While I always respect the rules of any establishment, the owners disrespectful tone and demeaning language were shockingly disgraceful. I would not recommend dining here if you expect courteous and professional ownership or management.

Love the cozy atmosphere, and the food never disappoints. Service was great too, everyone is very…read morefriendly and accommodating! My favorite place to eat, and when my son is visiting from Oregon, it's his favorite as wellñ

Disappointed... I came here for restaurant week to try their Thai Menu. It looked good online and…read morethought I'd give them a try. The Cafe has been on my list for a while now. Disappointed to say the least, I came in the back door not realized there was a correct door and was rudely cut off by other patrons at the front desk. I had to wait several minutes to be waited on and the place had plenty of spots. Maybe because I was a party of 1... they didn't seem to care. After I shared what drink I wanted, I learned they were out... fine no problem. I asked about the Thai specials, the waitress was clueless. I had to ask for the restaurant week menu and ask about the specials. She said they looked good but couldn't describe them and hasn't tasted them. I got the salad on special, but get this... they were out of the main restaurant week special... such a let down. The ambiance was mixed, one corner was a cute date night the other corner was crying children. All dimly lit and outdated decor. The whole experience was off, I ended up leaving after my one drink and salad. I hope to give this place a second chance sometime but hope they aren't out of dishes and I can get a trained server. Maybe another night for sure!

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/

Love this place. Stopped by between Des Moines and Sioux City and had a deliciously disgusting…read moremeal. Everything was yummy and so unhealthy. Garlic cheese ball and tater tot poutine? Amazing. The tenderloin was massive. And the broccoli cheese soup was a star. Tried the peach pie as well which I thoroughly enjoyed. The wait staff was super friendly and the ambiance was exactly what I was hoping for, a quality local establishment. Throughly enjoyed it.

The gf wanted to check out I-80 MetalArt and we found the Chuckwagon Restaurant right across the…read morestreet. We arrived pretty much at straight up noon on a Saturday. I fully expected the place to be packed as it appears to be pretty much the only show in town as far as a sit down restaurant. There was a please wait to be seated sign there as we walked in. We were greeted right away and seated in minutes. It's old school wood tables and chairs and I think there was a counter available. Ordering is done at the tables as well as settline your bill up with your server. Surprisingly the speed of service continued throughout the visit. After drinks we ordered the rodeo burger and fries, a tenderloin with chili cheese fries, and the garlic cheeseballs. The cheeseballs came with marinara and ranch. Fresh, hot, and fantastic! I've eaten a lot of tenderloins. Many that have been highlighted as Iowa Tenderloin Trail winners or participants... This is one of the better tenderloins I've had in the state! Obviously hand made, breaded, and fried. Not too thick and not too thin. Drained properly. Served with the essential condiments including the holy trinity (onions, dill pickles, and mustard). The gf liked her burger. It could have used more of the featured ranch and bbq sauce. The fries... Neither of us cared for them. Obviously hand made, but almost too thin and too greasy. We'd both opt for a different side next time. To each our own though. Almost every small town along this stretch of I-80 has a pub & grill. The menus vary a little, but are very similar in a lot of aspects. The quality of service and the cooks make the biggest differences. The Chuckwagon hit five stars in some aspects of both. Work on those fries and the flavor of the chili (horribly bland) and this review would have been five stars. I'm going to emphasize this again. Truly one of the best tenderloins I've had in the state! Keep doing what you are doing!

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/

Dublin Bay is an Ames long time favorite. Locally owned and operated Dublin Bay has a great bar…read morearea and quieter restaurant section. I love their food including Ruben, fish and chips, shepherds pie and Club Sandwich. I highly recommend Dublin Bay.

We stopped in for dinner before an event at Stevens auditorium. We were seated right away and got…read moreour orders in. It's a very relaxing Irish pub vibe with a variety of seating options and lots of TVs. Our drinks came out quickly and the food followed shortly thereafter. I got a martini and it was very well prepared. My wife got a glass of wine from their decent wine list. For dinner, I had the lamb burger, which was quite tasty. It was a good combination of flavors and the fries were hot and crisp. My wife got a naked burger with a side salad. The creamy Parmesan was very tasty and it was a nice bed of greens. A table next to us had some sort of a problem with one of the dinners and the server tried many many times to get the customer to order a replacement, but he said he was OK with what he got. When she brought the check to them she made sure to take that off since he did not eat it and would not accept a replacement. They seem shocked at this, but I wondered why they just didn't get a replacement! Great service by that server. She was also our server and did a fantastic job with us. We had very tasty food and great drinks , so I would definitely recommend it and would go back if I was in the area.

Love this place. Outstanding service and the food was outstanding. Great place for a game watch or…read morea casual drink or meal. German platter is fabulous.

I wanted to love this place. I really did. The atmosphere is a perfect combo of British style pub…read moreand Midwest bar and grill. The wide availability of British goods for purchase/take home (teas, sauces, biscuits etc) is adorable. The service was first class. The UK beer choices were wonderful despite not having Speckled hen available. I was torn between the fish and chips and the pork vindaloo having been a fan of across the pond fare for decades. I opted for the former. While the chips were perfect and the curry sauce second to none, midway through the meal I realized why I didn't love the fish. The batter. On advice of other reviewers I ordered the dish crispy and I think that helped but I finally realized not only did I not love the fish-the batter made me hate it. I finished the latter half inside out if you will and that made it acceptable. Maybe the vindaloo will turn my opinion but in inquiry I was told it was a medium hot-which in the Midwest typically means mild. Maybe next time.

I'm so glad we stumbled upon Hot Off The Presses while passing through on our way to…read moreMinneapolis--this place is an absolute gem. We were just here a few weeks ago and I am so bummed to see they permanently closed!! We came during lunch and took advantage of their weekday lunch combo (Tues-Fri, 11am-2pm), which includes soup and a half grilled cheese. You can choose from the OG, Kick in the Cheese, or Fancy grilled cheese, plus either tomato basil bisque or the soup of the day. Honestly? A dream setup. I ordered the tomato basil bisque with a half OG grilled cheese, and wow... just wow. The soup was rich, flavorful, and perfectly balanced, and the grilled cheese delivered that classic, beautiful cheese pull moment you hope for (and rarely actually get). The cheese had the perfect amount of sharpness and subtle bitterness, balancing everything out so well without being overwhelming.. I seriously could go for one right now! Every bite was comforting and delicious, and I immediately wished I had ordered a full OG sandwich because it was that good. The combo was mouth‑watering, satisfying, and wildly exceeded expectations for a quick lunch stop.

Easily the best sandwich place that I have visited in the DSM Metro area, Hot Off The Presses…read morecombines friendly customer service with quality menu items, and their owner, Jed, is a helluva kind person! I have visited twice, and have been impressed by their efficiency, timing, and pricing. Plenty of free parking on site. Lots of seating inside. I have enjoyed their Chicken Caesar wrap and their Chicken Bacon Ranch wrap, both with terrific taste, made to order, and plentiful. I explored more of the menu and have a lot of other things to try. I also enjoyed their homemade soup and their cookies.

It's lunch and now you find yourself driving toward that icon spot of Cooper's on 5th in Valley…read moreJunction to savor that delicious Cajun Meatloaf Meltdown Sandwich- Simply Delicious. My only issue is food temperature---while served eye appealing it was just warm -- work on food temperature control -- the sweet potato fries were awesome and the egg rolls with barbecue sauce and sausage were solid. Jeffrey -- my wait staffer-- bar mixologist-- made me a Lavender Lemonade Mocktail and it was every bit as good as a "Mr Pibbs." The soft music cascading in the background provided the serene feeling to allow me to play message catch up by iPhone and a tab, or utilize the quiet spot to socialize with great company. This space gives you a choice for fun socialization.

It's been 3 years since I last reviewed here, but it's still one of our regular stops and doesn't…read moredissapoint! Intimate, dark atmosphere inside, and brighter (and often warmer!) out back on the patio. Meatloaf and Salmon entrees are regulars for us, but we've tried almost every sandwich and many of the other entrees, and they are always full of flavor and delicious. Salads are fresh and have very good quality lettuce and veggies. Dressings are good as well. Small bar with drop in seating, but it pays to get a reservation. They currently use Toast to take reservations and you'll get a reminder the day prior to your visit. Walk in's often find it challenging to squeeze in here! Service is always good and the bartenders make a good drink.