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!

Very fun place! A must-stop!…read more Cons: Soda is expensive. To the chef: On patty melts, the onions need to be plentiful and grilled, not raw and sparse. For $14.00 (no side,) it could use improvement. Overall a great place!

Nestled in a set of businesses halfway between Ames and Ankeny, Flight nailed my first visit with a…read moreterrific meal and great customer service. Plenty of parking and a comfortable interior, they enable diners to have a positive visit without being cramped or rushed. Noise isn't an issue. Opened with a sensational Onion Haystack, a unique dish that was aided by a pair of sauces, Chipotle ranch and buttermilk ranch. My burger was outstanding, The Classic, perfectly cooked and served on a delicious bun. I snagged some tasty sweet potato fries from my Way Better Half too! Coke products a plus too! Server Brooklyn was excellent, providing great guidance with a kind nature.

We went to Flight Bar + Grill in Huxley, Iowa to celebrate a family birthday. It was a great…read moreexperience. First, it was Fall graduation weekend at Iowa State University 8 miles up the road, so the place was packed. They told us we would have about an hour wait, but you could see the tickets were flying out of the kitchen, and that things were moving along nicely. We stopped in the bar for a drink, and I ordered a Manhattan up. It was very well made, and reasonably priced. In less than 45 minutes, we got our table. Flight has a variety of specialty smash burgers, and I chose the Crown Wagyu Burger. It's a double Wagyu patty smash burger with smoked gouda, hot pepper bacon jam, arugula, caramelized onion aioli + onion haystack. It was a fantastic burger, and the fries I had as a side were very nice too. The service was swift and friendly, and it was an overall great experience. The building itself is very clean With just the right lighting. It's got kind of an industrial look to it, and it is a nice space. It looked like there was a little banquet room off to the side for pre-scheduled gatherings. All in all, definitely two thumbs up for Flight!

Burgers are what they do best here! We've been here a few times and each time the food was…read morefantastic. One time I ordered buffalo pasta and would stick to the burgers next time as I think this is their bread and butter! Service was friendly , but can be slow at times as there's usually only two servers for the entire floor. This is the type of restaurant where you wait longer between ordering and getting your food. Be prepared to wait but it's worth it. Sad this place is closing because it really is a great spot!

What you see is what you get, the space is small but well lit and clean. There is a bartender and a…read moreserver, so I hope you're not in a hurry. Saturday beer special is $5 draft pints, and that sounds awesome if only the beer was cold. I was in a group of 8, watching a football game, and a couple of us actually ordered a glass of ice to add to our beer. Sounds awful, because it was. The menu is small. The bruschetta was soggy in the middle and had a tangy taste. Cheese curds are mid. We also ordered Brussels sprouts and they looked good...but hard as little cabbages to bite into. Burgers are overpriced.

I've passed Cole's many times and just kind of shrugged it off. It looks like a state fair food…read morestand that sits along the road. We rolled by it on our way home from a little day trip North today and decided to give it a try. There is no inside dining room. Just a walk up window and a pseudo-patio with a few picnic tables. Parking is tight, but there are a few adjacent spaces that can catch overflow if needed. I didn't know a lot about Cole's. A few pieces of Star Wars memorabilia, loud colored signs, a veterans mural and large battle cross on the storefront caught my eye. Being a veteran myself I decided to dig in a little bit and try to figure out what was going on with this place. The first thing I found... We were first timers, but people LOVE this place. There was a line. We were rubbernecking and watching food come out the window while waiting to order. The locals were friendly. More than once we heard "We've never had anything bad here. It's ALL good." Second. Cole's basically burned to the ground last year. The owner with support of the community of Slater rebuilt it. The third thing... Even more humbling for me than the story surrounding the rebuild. And the one that gave me the answer I was looking for about the veteran related pieces... The owner of Cole's (David Sturdy) named his restaurant after his son Brandon Cole Sturdy. Brandon joined the Marines and was lost to hostile fire in the Afghanistan War at the age of 19 on May 4, 2004. From this former sailor... Semper Fortis Marine. The food. We ordered a Cole's Super Tenderloin. Hand pounded and perfectly cooked. Topped with brisket, onion rings, dill pickles, and BBQ sauce. The Super Tenderloin was comboed out with some of the best onion rings I've ever had. Large. Whole onion rings...not minced. And again perfectly fried. The mound of shredded cheese is covering a boat of chili and hand cut fries hot out of the fryer. That and one scoop of hard chocolate ice cream in a bowl came to $27.50... Service at the window went well. The portions are HUGE. We split everything and were both more than full. If a little bit of a wait pisses you off... If you're not okay eating at a picnic table, in your car, or at a nearby park... This might not be the place for you. If you like good fair style food and ice cream... Grinders, various types of hot dogs, burgers, tenderloins, chicken strips, etc. Cyclones, hard pack ice cream, soft serve, banana splits and more.... See their Facebook page for a full menu. If you enjoy something new. Enjoy a short day trip. Enjoy time outside with your family on a beautiful day. This is a great spot. About seven weeks ago the owner made a post on Facebook that almost sounded like the restaurant's days might be numbered. Under it was a comment that added more detail. Like it may only be open on weekends for now... I know it was open today. And I know it would be a damn shame to lose another small town Iowa treasure like this with everything going on right now...

Cole's American Tenderloin and Ice Cream Bar is one of those little places you drive by and think,…read more"bet the food is good there." Famous for its American Tenderloin, Cole's also offers old-fashioned shakes made with real ice cream, and huge tacos with a pound of meat. The tenderloin $12/tax) is the star, a hand-pounded piece of meat so juicy and tender it almost melts in your mouth. The French fries are fried in a special fat and covered with herbs. The flavor of Cole's fried food tastes outstanding and the portion sizes are easily enough for two people. This is traditional Americana roadside fried food at its finest. Inside dining is limited to just a few tables, most people probably pick up their ice cream treats outside "to go" in the summer. Not really much here for people with specific dietary needs. It's just not that kind of place but they often try new items for the menu. Today's new item was tater tots with beef, onions, sprinkled with cheese. Sometimes you're just really hungry for this kind of food.

Is this absolutely MY best (aka favorite) burger...? Is it the best burger I've personally had in…read moreIowa...? Probably not. BUT it is the best burger I've ever had out of a gas station in Iowa...! Actually... I'm not exactly sure which way this place actually goes... Is this a gas station that sells food... Or a restaurant that sells gas? Potato...potatoe! Lol And it IS a very good burger overall too...! But not only do they serve burgers... They have other menu selections... Mostly all deep fried and grill options... And ice cream! I've seen signs for Iowa's Best Burger Cafe for years while running back and forth on I-80 from the Des Moines metro... Kellogg is about halfway between Newton and Grinnell. We've never stopped here until this past weekend when we were on our way home from the What Cheer IA flea market... Iowa's Best Burger Cafe is just off the highway... The first thing I noticed as the GPS said our route was about to end... It looked like it ended at an Amoco gas station... Huh? And then I noticed the signage for the Iowa's Best Burger Cafe on the building... Oh... So we're here...? Not exactly what I expected..., but I eat at food trucks too so it wasn't going to stop me. I did glance at my girlfriend to see if I could tell whether she was feeling it or not... I think she was just really hungry at that point and didn't really care. Lol There's ample parking. As you enter the building it kind of looks like a standard gas station convenience store...until you turn and look to your Right. Red plastic booth seating. There are two counters and a case that sit adjacent to one another. The counter you order at also displays the ice cream. There's a case displaying some ready to eat options. The register is on a shorter counter closest to the entrance. It's an open kitchen. There is also another small room of seating further to the left as you face the counters. The tables are kind of faux marble. Napkins, salt, pepper, ketchup, and mustard are available in each booth. We were greeted as we walked and I let them know it was our first time there and we didn't know the drill. They let us know you order standing there at the counter. Take a seat. They bring the food out to you when it's ready. You pay at the register when you are done. Cash or card...and there is an ATM on site. They bus your table. There are a couple of menu placards on the counter where you place your order... The 16 flavors of ice cream selection are plainly labeled. The two ladies behind the counter were very helpful and were both personable! We ordered: 2x half pound burger combos (one with cheese, bacon, onions and pickles and one with cheese, onions, pickles, mayo, and lettuce) 1x upgraded side to garlic mushrooms 1x upgraded side to onion rings 2x fountain drinks (Coke products...comes with combo) 1x mozarella sticks 1x two scoop bowl of ice cream 1x single cone of ice cream The wait for food wasn't long. Everything was served hot and fresh! They'd asked us if we wanted ranch... My girlfriend always wants ranch! Not only did they bring us ranch... They brought us a HUGE squeeze bottle of ranch! This is how every restaurant should bring you ranch! While we dined in (as did a couple of other customers) most of the business appeared to be take out. One pro tip... The standard half pound burger comes with two patties. I heard a customer ask a guy, at the booth next to her, how many patties he had on his burger... Huh? He had four patties on his burger... A full pounder! So there has to be a way to add an additonal patty (or patties) too... If you want a bigger burger... Ask...! The bathrooms...not horrible. The food was all great. Good service. No complaints. I wouldn't hesitate to stop in here again! And I know what to expect next time...!

"I do not disagree with their name," says my friend visiting from out of state after enjoying his…read moreburger and fried mushrooms. I had the delicious BBQ pork burger with cheese and enjoyed its glorious Smokey flavor. I can't say I've been to that many burger cafe's but this was definitely a great experience. The staff/cook crew were extremely friendly. I was nervous by the long line, but they grilled the food up pretty quick and it was all fab. Enjoyed drinks came with meal. Definitely recommend!

We love Fenceline! Such great people, crafted brews, variety, and fresh ingredients. We enjoy the…read morepatio, and the unique seating inside. Their use of the grains from their brewing makes for some excellent combinations and positive upscaling!

Best place in town to relax and have some beers, food is excellent. Come here often never…read moredisappointed staff is super friendly.

Another visit and another great burger! This trip we ordered…read moreup The Vinnie and a Brisco Burger with Vader Tots and Fries as our sides. Fantastic smashburger style burgers each with its own unique flair and some old video footage of The Ultimate Warrior vs Hulk Hogan (R.I.P) playing on the televisions. Still one of the Best Burger Places we've ever been to! Service as prompt as ever as well...not a long wait at all.

A little outside of my normal home base of the Des Moines metro, but Marshalltown is an easy…read moredrive... The short. The food is really good...! And it was worth the trip. See the pictures. Now to the long part. If you want to skip that feel free and just go on what is above this line. I grew up a wrestling fan back in the 70s and 80s... When the NWA used to do house shows and setup in high school gymnasiums. I remember the Attitude Era well (1997-2002) and watched it a lot at the time. I took my son to RAW and Smackdown shows at the Well when he was younger... Today I'm not an avid fan, but if I told you I didn't follow things at all...I'd be lying. I mean AJ Lee's epic return alongside her husband CM Punk...! C'mon! The Flying Elbow has been on my list a long time... As "a fan" I wanted to check it out soooo bad. And even though they were awarded Iowa's best burger in 2022... I wondered it was just another gimmick to draw people in to mid food... I don't put a lot of stock in contests. As you walk in the front door there is a small bar directly to your Left. Classic wrestling was playing on one of the TVs above the bar. Football on the other. You'll see a combination of low top tables and chairs and a few booths in front of you and to your Right. There's an Order Here sign at the end of the long counter. The fountain drink station is at the end of the room (Coke products). From the fountain drink station the entrance to the patio is to the Right. Restrooms to the Left. It's order and pay at the counter. Cash or card. It's seat yourself and they bring your food to you when it's done being prepared. Bus your own table when you're done. Staff was quick to clean up as people left to prepare for their next guest. I ordered the following: 24 oz fountain drink (free refills) 3:16 chili dog (all beef) with cheddar cheese and white onion -- Choose up to three toppings: Cheddar, pepper jack, and nacho cheese. Sour cream, nacho Doritos, and chili cheese Fritos. White, red, or green onions... Fried cheesecurds An order of six smoked bone-in chicken wings with buffalo sauce -- Sauce choices. Plain BBQ, buffalo, Korean BBQ, raspberry chipotle BBQ, People's BBQ. and Asian peanut A Bang! Bang! burger as advertised (no modifications) off the Attitude menu -- Pepper Jack, caramelized onion, cactus steak sauce, 4 Horsey sauce, fried jalapeño chips The burgers are smash style and have great flavor. I got the single burger and was wishing I'd gotten the double. Same with the 3:16 chili dog... They offer an Andre sized dog (+$2). But I'd ordered a lot of food...! The buns here! So good. The hamburger bun was a classic sesame seed bun that met the size of the burger. The meat peeked out the edges. The bun for the dog was a potato style...not a cheap flimsy bun. The bun seemed a little big for the regular dog, but I bet it would be perfect for something Andre sized. It held the chili well without falling apart. The smoked wings have a light smoke to them...not too heavy. They are big and meaty. The ranch that came with the cheesecurds was fire. I ordered some blue cheese with the wings. In hindsight I would say that one of the BBQ sauces would probably pair better with the smoked wings v. the buffalo. That's on me. I hit them right in a Saturday lunch rush and fortunately was able to grab a seat as someone else was getting up to leave. Staff was friendly and patient. If you're not patient...I'd probably not hit them right at peak lunch hour on a Saturday. Seating in the main dining area and on the patio was full. Service was great! The food was great! Is the wrestling thing kind of a gimmick? Yes. Yes it probably is. But it's a fun gimmick that hits home for a lot of us! I liked seeing the references that remind me of entertainment I grew up with and enjoyed. It's no different from a 50s diner theme, railroad, or zombies. And they back it up with good food! For me it's kind of like going to Prairie City for Goldie's or going up to Whatcha Smokin' in Luther... I spend a lot of money locally right here in the Des Moines metro, but sometimes it's a good thing to just hit the road and explore our neighbors a little. The Flying Elbow is the worth the drive to check out! And if you're a wrestling fan... It's a destination...enjoy the experience! https://www.facebook.com/theflyingelbow https://flyingelbowfood.com/

We went to Boulder Tap House in Ankeny with a party of five and a half -- Kim and I, three of my…read morekids, and my one-month-old granddaughter. We sat at a high top with a bench, and it actually worked really well for having the baby with us. Drinks and waters came out efficiently, and our waitress was kind and courteous. The food did take a little while, but everything came out together, which I appreciate with a larger table. My fries were room temperature when they arrived, but they quickly replaced them with piping hot ones, so no real complaint there. Our table had a good mix: the Pulled Pork Sandwich for $12.99, Crispy Chicken Wrap for $14.99, Tequila Lime Chicken Tacos for $14.99, BTH Classic Smash Burger for $14.99, and a medium order of house-made boneless wings for $16.99. No one complained, which is usually a pretty good sign with our crew. The restaurant was clean, fairly busy, and all the staff we interacted with were friendly. Drink prices seemed reasonable too. We were also able to hang out and visit for quite a while without feeling rushed, which made it a really nice family stop. It is close to home, the food was good, and my daughter picked up the bill for Father's Day, so that made it taste even better. We will definitely be back.

Big menu, options for all diet types. Your typical bar food but good quality. Good place to go for…read morea work lunch. Not too crowded or loud. Service is quick.

The Filling Station is a gas station, an extra stocked convenience store, a breakfast/lunch food…read morecounter, and a tables inside and out to enjoy your refreshments and the view. Gayle and I stopped in today after reading about it within some "48 hours in Ames" article. I ordered a brisket grilled cheese sandwich, while Gayle chose a similar one with blackberry flavoring. We split a can of Guinness off the convenience store fridge, and then sat outside for our street and car wash view. We had nice shade on a not too hot day and took the opportunity to hang out bit after we finished our meal. This was a tasty and pleasant experience of good value overall.

Was nearby for an early meeting and had a gap before my next one. Decided to grab breakfast and…read morerolled the dice and just went here for a quick bite. Wow, it is a lot more than a quick breakfast at a gas station! The kitchen was complete and had a full menu offered up. It was also a commercial bakery... multiple bakers working on cinnamon rolls that looked divine! I had a breakfast quesadilla. It had real flavor in it with candied jalapeños. It was a lot but judging from all the plates I saw come out of the kitchen everything there was solid in serving size. The chai latte was good too. And the folks were nice. They definitely have loyal fans locally, folks were ordering for tailgates!

Amazing food with the family. Real food at awesome prices. Family loves their meals. Definitely a…read moreplace to make as a regular food stop

Great service! Great food options! Cool atmosphere and clean…read more Will return when back in town!