Been many years since I've been here and I remember not being impressed so I was hesitant to eat here again by son was too young to remember the last time so he wanted to go. I was pleasantly surprised that my meal (especially the beef) were good and I now look forward to going again. read more

They're taking the social distancing thing serious; however food was mediocre. Mac and cheese was barely warm and even after advising the server, the replacement wasn't warm either, so the kids just didn't eat it. The cheeseburger, chicken tenders, BLT, and Reuben were good. The server wasn't very attentive and didn't bother to follow up on refills until after food was gone. After one dessert, the server brought our check, and I paid via credit card. However, on our way out, the server stopped me and accused me of not paying. Fortunately I had a copy of the receipt still in my hand and I advised the server that their copy was on the table. She did apologize, but that doesn't alleviate the embarrassment from the accusation to begin with. It was embarrassing to say the least. While I feel the quality of food equals the price, it's not a place I would go out of my way to frequent. read more

With the reopening of restaurants Hickory Parks genius idea of the Yelp waitlist was perfect. Super fast seating was a surprise since HP is always so busy. Side note is that they do not have condiments on the table so be sure to ask for your fav BBQ sauces and such. Thanks HP for being safe, fast and amazing as always! read more

Was my first time here today and I will never come back. Our server sat us and then sat 2 other parties 10 minutes after us.. both of those parties received their food and we still had not. I had to ask the server myself what was taking so long. Only to find out our order was lost and never put in. They didn't even offer to comp our meal so we left. read more

I have never experienced such great barbecue at such a reasonable price. Service was as fast as I've ever had at any "sit down" restaurant. Highly recommended if you are in town. read more

Energetic barbeque restaurant in Ames. Logistics - Located very close to Iowa State University and very close to I-35. Parking is easy since they have their own lot. Atmosphere - Energetic and enthusiastic. Wait staff puts on a good show making you feel welcome and as if you have been here before. Food - Came here for my bud's 21st for dinner. Limited beer selection, so do not come here looking for craft beer. Large selection from the menu. Slight concern over how my friends who go to Iowa State were saying to only order what was highlighted on the menu (only 2 items). I ordered the Saucy Southerner (one of the highlighted items) and it was very good! You get one side with it so i got the Hot Apple Sauce which was good as well. Dessert is a must here as well since it is reasonably priced and they have so many options to choose from! Overall a very fun and energetic restaurant that caters to all group sizes. Only reason I give it 4 stars instead of 5, besides the concern over the highlighted food items, is because it felt like I was at a theme park with when you enter people are directing you where to go such as "go to the flashing light bulb" and how some of the wait staff have on ear pieces and keep shuffling you down the aisle to someone else. We were here for the food though and it was superb, so I would recommend this to anyone looking for a well priced restaurant that has good food as well. read more

While Hickory Park isn't my favorite restaurant in Ames, I am never disappointed by it. The food and service are good. It is typically very busy but it usually doesn't take long to get a table. Excellent family environment! read more

I have been going to Hickory Park since before the new, larger location opened in 1997. I have always loved the service, portion size was great, and the food was always good. I was very disappointed on my last visit. There was a longer wait time then what was communicated, my server was nonexistent, and my meat was cold (along with my daughter's fries being overcooked to the point that they were burnt). Also, my side of green beans was about 6 beans. My mashed potatoes were good and so was the ice cream. Not sure what has changed recently but this isn't the Hickory Park I am used to. I hope this is an anomaly and not a new direction. read more

Stopped here for lunch with a coworker while working in Ames. When the waitress recommended BBQ I told her I was from Memphis and probably wouldn't be impressed...boy was I wrong! I had the half BBQ chicken with vegetables and cottage cheese as the sides. It was outstanding! The facility is impressive, it's huge and very clean, nice, and unique. Staff is also very friendly and hospitable. Very glad I stopped by here during my first visit to Iowa, and I recommend this place to anyone looking to eat in the Ames area. read more

I was visiting my partner's family in IA and we went here for Father's Day. I anticipated that it would be hell. I was right. The place was packed full of cranky looking families. We had to take a number and wait outside for at least 30 minutes. We expected that, no big deal. I didn't expect the inside of the restaurant to be so overwhelming and yet so basic. It was like Cracker Barrel and Splash Mountain conceived a corporate Damien. I probably would have loved it as a child, honestly. The food was bland and it made me sad, because there were actual good BBQ places not too far away. Never again. read more

I personally LOVE this place!! It has great food and good ice cream. I come here a lot with family and the environment is so friendly. This is an amazing place to come to! read more

This place is very popular in Ames, and judging from how quickly they got us in the door on a Saturday night, shows how they well they manage it. Got here and did have to wait 15 or so minutes. Once buzzed, got whisked off to our table, located in one of the many dining rooms. This place is large and probably seats several hundred at once, or so it seems. I ordered the Smoked Turkey sandwich and this came with one side of choice (cole slaw). The meat was well cooked and it was a good portion given the price. This place is very reasonable, as the dinner prices are like lunch prices at most other places. They also have ample selections of ice cream for dessert, and an old fashioned penny candy selection for your children to beg you to have them purchase from on the way out. Service was great, and I would say I would definitely return if in the market for some BBQ in Ames. read more

For a place known for barbecue it is absolutely a hit and a miss. I ordered the speciality or house favorites which comes with the favorites: chicken and rack of ribs. The chicken was so dry, I shall call it cardboard chicken or maybe layered paper chicken. It had no flavor, tenderness and moisture or juice. It was rough to cut through and the meat was just like chomping on bland layers of dryness. The chicken held no juice or flavor. The rack of ribs was also very dry and tasteless. I cut the chicken in half and took several bites and couldn't finish it. I ate two pieces of the ribs and just left it. The ribs just tasted like it had been left in the grill/oven for way too long. Gosh it was so dry and flavorless. Overall the meats were over cooked and beyond well done. I can't even describe how dry the chicken and ribs were. It was like eating jerky for both items. The macaroni was not fresh and definitely frozen. It came from Stouffers or some other frozen plastic packaging and nuked in a microwave and put on a small plastic plate for presentation. The corn was decent, hard to mess up corn thing. Also, the sweet potatoes fries were crunchy and decent. The pulled pork sandwich or saucy southerner was alright. It wasn't as dry, but the flavor wasn't there and the juiciness wasn't either. It was just meh. I wasn't wowed by the pulled pork it felt like something you could grab from a fast food place like Arbys or a gas station. It wasn't inedible like the chicken or ribs. Service was friendly. The people here care. Plenty of seating inside the restaurant. The restaurant has outdoor seating also. Good for kids as they provide kids menu, crayons and drawing place mat. The lady and girl that served us were sweet and helpful. Service is good here, food not so much. Unfortunately, the food is could use a massive improvement. Definitely not what I had in mind for a place that is known for their barbecue. The ribs and chicken was just awfully dry, under seasoned/bland and way too over cooked. The hype is overblown, which doesn't make any sense to me as the quality of the food does not back it up. I cannot get over how dry the meats were. Ugh. Also, it's important to note that it is not traditional barbecue that uses a dry rub and is smoked for hours, they really just hyper cook the meats and slather the sauce. I will not be coming back here as the impression I have of this restaurant is food is made quick/fast and not fresh. I don't care to pay for microwaved sides or overcooked meats that is dry like the desert and tastes uninspired read more

Growing up with parents that are ISU alum I spent a lot of dinners here and it will always hold a special place in my heart. The food is good, filling midwestern staples and one of my favorite things about hickory park is ending the meal with one of their signature sundaes, which are unbeatable. The prices are low and you get plenty of food for your dollar, so it's a great place to bring a big family. The only thing that makes them lose a star for me is that they lack a lot of non-meat heavy entrees and sometimes eating a pile of meat will just make you feel like crap an hour later. read more

Wait time was shorter than estimated, highly recommend joining wait list from the Yelp app. Diligent service!! Our food came out quick and it was delicious. Dessert menu is extensive with an option for everyone. Although they had to close due to technological difficulties, the staff managed the problem well and addressed any questions we had. Great place for families or groups! read more

service is always impeccable and the food is great! the burgers are awesome and always fresh. It is always loud in there but if you don't mind a lot of people and the happy birthday song sang maybe more than twice during your stay then this is a good place to have lunch or dinner read more

Hickory park has great value for the quality food that you get! Typical cost per entree is 5-9 dollars. Get ready for a long wait, although my odd visit at 3 pm - I got a seat immediately. I love their chicken, but their dinner entrees look terrific! Hickory park catered my wedding too for about 8 bucks a person. Great business, I can't recommend them enough read more

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Long lines. Mediocre BBQ. Over-hyped. Nothing Special. Some idiot in 1878 started a rumor that Hickory Park was THE place to eat in Ames, and for some unholy reason this rumor still has traction. If you have a very large family and you just want to keep them occupied, go to Hickory Park and stand in line. If you really care about the people you are with, take them somewhere great. Chinese Homestyle Cooking, Dublin Bay, and The Cafe come to mind. Maybe one star is too harsh, but it is necessary to compensate for all the sheep that rank this novelty restaurant so highly. If you want BBQ, go to Battles. It's not great, but it's better. read more

Amazing staff and food! Thank you for a great first experience. I got a few appetizers and they were amazing along with my entree of a burger as well! Went with some friends and had a great environment. read more

The history alone makes Hickory Park amazing... I lived in Ames for a few years as a little girl--we always ate at Hickory Park for special occasions (this was when it was in the old building--low ceilings, intimate rooms, the indian man statue at the front door). We frequented HP because the food was good, prices were cheap, and at that time they had some kids eat free deal (my dad was in grad school and it made it doable to take a family of 5 out on a tight budget). We moved away when I was still small, yet everytime we went back to Iowa to see the extended fam we managed to fit in a trip to HP. Great news--my parents moved back to Ames! So now, every trip home is almost guaranteed a stop at HP :) Top reasons to love HP: -Ribs are my favorite food on earth...HP does pork ribs like they mean business. -The ice cream menu is enough to make you want to vomit. Especially after the exorbitant amount of food you probably already ate. -Kids can get stuff like "green river pop" and other delicious and slightly disgusting drinks. -Great gluten free menu available for people with food allergies--they are very willing to work with you! -Large parties are welcome -Happy happy birthday may all your dreams come true. happy happy happy from hickory park to you HAPPY BIRTHDAY! They sing that song on your birthday with clapping and give you a free sundae. It's super. Yes, the new warehouse style building is a tad large and you can get lost trying to find the bathroom....BUT--they kept the stained glass lamps, great food, quick service and charm. read more

Great place! Extra big menu! Lots to choose from! Service is great! The price is not bad for the portions you get. Fantastic comfort food! Every time I go there I leave stuffed and still have food to take home. The down side... It gets way too loud at times but what can you expect when they constantly have a full house! The wait time is about 20 to 30 minutes when they are full. Not bad for a locally owned establishment! read more

If I were rating this place solely on ice cream sundaes and novelty fountain drinks, it would be a 4-5 star rating. However, they call themselves a restaurant and not a soda fountain, so away we go. Hickory Park, as others have said, is probably the most popular place in town on parents' weekend. It's always crowded with undergrads and their visiting families. I'm not sure if it's because it's easy, or if it's because it's so loud in there that you can avoid answering your mother's awkward questions about your weekend activities and your father's demands about where all of his money is going. The wait is long. The building is loud and somewhat sterile-feeling. The meat is dry. The sauce is nothing special. I wouldn't put up a fight if someone wanted to go here, but it's not great. read more

I worked here in college and eaten here for years. Their food is decent and the prices are reasonable. It is not what I would call great BBQ. If you are in Ames and want quality BBQ check out Battle's in Campustown. Hickory Park is to Ames what Casa Bonita is to Denver, CO. Large amounts of people eating affordable palatable food and standing in line for a long time do so. I don't enjoy eating here because of the crowds and business model of how it works. I feel like the meat that is being served. Food service procured Cattlemen's sauces are a disappointing shortcut in the craft of barbecue. You will get a satisfying meal, at a good price here. I just don't enjoy the whole rigmarole in my free time. read more

Why can't we have this place in Denver? I loved my meal at Hickory Park and would come back in a heartbeat if it wasn't two states away. After some light shopping in Ames, the bf, his mama, and I stopped in here for lunch. This place is huge and there are a lot of interesting things to look at. Their waiting area has a Cracker Barrel feel to it minus the gift shop--perhaps White Fence Farm would be the better reference. Let's fast forward to the best part...the FOOD! I had their open face pork tenderloin sandwich with mashed potatoes and corn. Good God this is good! I would recommend this for sure and, I am certain, will spend many a late night trying to perfect a recipe similar to theirs. Until next time, Hickory! read more

we ate at HPR on 6/6/2020 , everything was perfect ! we have been enjoying HP food for 50 years and we are still very pleased with everything. I do not think I can think of any other business that I can say that about. Kris and Barbara Henning , Ogden Iowa , read more

Hickory Park is always the go-to restaurant for people visiting Iowa State and that should really stop. Their BBQ is mediocre at best. When you inquire about the sides, they acknowledge that the beans, mashed potatoes, gravy, and mac and cheese just come in a bucket that they heat up. They're not truly making much of anything except the main dish. The one star doesn't even begin to cover the service. The wait staff is expected to push families in and out as quickly as possible. Any possible lingering and they will clear your table, take your check, and stop refilling drinks. This restaurant is huge and not exactly offering cheap food; there is no need to push people out the door. I understand the staff is just doing as management expects and they are otherwise very sweet. But I can't get over the rushed mentality of this entire place. read more

It's really just overhyped, not good food tbh.. it just is not good. Then to add insult to injury, it puts my digestive system through world war 2... gotta find a bathroom within 30 minutes of eating so I can piss out of my butthole. Entirely overrated just because the novelty of the place... but the food isn't good.. except the green beans. I personally do not recommend. read more

I had the combination which has some of all their meats. I am a healthy eater, but it was way more than I could eat, at an excellent price too. The server was great. She is really good at her job, with just the right amount of talk and laughing to make you feel right at home. read more

I wish someone would of WARNED me how bad this place really was before I was invited by locals to try it. I had to come out here for some business and had no idea where to eat. Being that I love fresh, flavorful foods - this place disappointed me on EVERY level. The quality of the meat was horrendous ! I immediately thought of the 5 Freeway going North and of all the mass produced beef farms. Can someone explain why there is SOOOOO much land available and cows have to be smashed together in a stinking, hot, manure everywhere tiny area ? Oh yes that's right so that they can sell cheap meat to places like Hickory Park. Do yourself and the over crowded, beef farms a favor and go and eat somewhere where you get what you pay for. I will NEVER return ! read more

Average BBQ, but nothing great. This place is massive and has a nice selection on the menu. The food is the same everytime. Average. The food has never been served very hot though. Service was good even though they were in a middle of a shift change. Overall good food, but there are better places in Des Moines to eat. read more

When I get back to Ames, this is tops on my list of places to eat. Worked here in college and finally got to take the family. Love the ribs, Saucy Southerner on an onion bun, and can't ignore the ice cream. We couldn't decide so we ordered a bunch of everything. read more

Been here twice. Good bbq and cheap. Next time I will get dessert for sure. I hear it's really good.

There's a reason why this is one of the most popular restaurants in the whole state of Iowa! and the most popular place in Ames! If you reside in Ames, you've heard of Hickory Park. No doubt about it. When you walk inside the restaurant, you will be astounded at how HUGE this restaurant is. It is seriously one of the biggest restaurants I've ever been in. There's sort of a country old-style kind of vibe to this place. This place caters to families and BBQ/Meat lovin' folk. However, that doesn't mean vegetarians can't eat here! They also sport a pretty tasty black bean burger that you can substitute in ANY burger. Booths and tables can accommodate groups and people of all sizes! There are big booths that can easily sit up to 10 people! Food: Top choices: - Sweet Potato Fries with Chipotle Ranch Sauce. (Mmmmmm!) - Swiss and Mushroom Burger - Garbage Burger -HICKORY PARK SPECIAL (for 9.99-- 1/4 BBQ chicken, 4 bone sample of baby back ribs + 2 sides) - this is a huge bargain and a great meal! If you are a meat lover, the ribs, pork loins, chicken are all to die for!! Veggies like me adore the Black bean burger substituted in any burger here :) Dessert: Hickory Park boasts a MASSIVE dessert menu ranging from sundaes, shakes, ice cream, to malts. My personal favorite is the brownie sundae where they put two scoops of vanilla ice cream over a moist delicious brownie. Overall, you need to try this place at least once! Tip: Arrive on your birthday and you will get $2.50 credit applied to any dessert of your choice plus a wonderful Hickory Park rendition of Happy Birthday joyfully sung to you by the waitstaff read more

Food was amazing as usual. Our waitress, Grace, did great for our big group. Was so nice to be able to sit in a restaurant again with family and enjoy ourselves! read more

It's not as good as it used to be, and the new building lacks the charm of the previous location, though it offers substantially more seating, which was their goal. Unfortunately, the coziness has become more of a barn type atmosphere, and even when it's not busy, the building has a baseline noise level that necessitates talking very loudly. Pro Tip #1: If you just want burgers, this is the place. I take my kid here now and then, he loves their hamburgers, and it's cheaper than getting a couple value meals at McDonald's, not to mention it's actual beef in the hamburger. Pro Tip #2: Their chicken re-heats REALLY well. I usually get the Hickory Park special, which is ribs and 1/4 chicken. I eat the ribs and the sides at the restaurant and take the chicken home for the next day's lunch. Two meals for a very fairly priced one meal. Pro Tip #3: Most areas of Hickory Park are a cellular black hole, which may or may not be a good thing. read more

Hickory Park is a shining example of a place where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. * Is Hickory Park the best barbecue in Central Iowa? No. * Does Hickory Park have exceptional table service? No, but it's always above average -- the servers do a nice enough job. * Is it easy to get a table at Hickory Park? Hahahahaha... no. You will wait. Always. No matter what time of day it is. * Does Hickory Park have the best food in Ames? Debatable, but probably not. Okay, then what's the big deal? Why are people certifiably nuts about this place? * It's an Ames institution.That word gets thrown around freely sometimes, but it has never applied to any place more than Hickory Park. People have been coming to Ames and going to Hickory Park for decades. It's woven into the city's fabric. * The building itself is special. From the cavernous waiting area, to the church pews, to the flashing arrow, to the Native American statue, and all the different rooms to eat in, no two trips to Hickory Park are the same. There are so many things to see. * The logistics of the place are fascinating. There's a team of what seems to be hundreds working, day and night to keep this place humming at peak efficiency. It is truly epic how many people can be fed at this restaurant in one hour. It's a beautiful ballet of restaurant operations like you've never seen before. The unique way you're seated, to how quickly your food is served, and everything in between is just special. * The food is very good, the menu is wide and varied, and the costs are incredibly reasonable. Hickory Park is a tremendous value where a family can have a special night out and not break the bank. Even with dessert! * Did I mention dessert? You should have dessert. You deserve it. No trip to Hickory Park is complete without a nice ice cream sundae, made with Iowa's finest Blue Bunny ice cream straight out of Le Mars. Very good food, tremendous value, quick service, unique atmosphere, and being part of a long standing legacy -- all reasons why Hickory Park remains a five star eatery. read more

Hickory Park is massive! Great meals! Also massive! ! Great prices! Not at all massive! I love the BBQ sauce, both the regular and the hot. The chicken dinner is also a family favorite. A perfect place to go if you're on a meat intensive high protein diet! Seating arrangements can accommodate groups of all sizes. The selection of Sundaes, all made with Blue Bunny ice cream, is diverse and reasonably priced. Tell the kids to try the scooper hero flavor. Guaranteed to turn their tongues blue! Yes, Hickory Park can be a little noisy. Yes, there can be a wait if you show up at a peak time or on game day. Small inconveniences far outweighed, however, by the price, quality and atmosphere. read more

This is a REALLY good place to eat!!!!! Yeah, some of you guys go during their bad hours and feel you are treated like crap... BUT, you have to remember that there are a TON of tables there!! (I'm guessing about 200-250) I know the owner of this fine place! :) You had better come early, if you want to get right in!! ***YOU SHOULD EXPECT A WAIT TIME OF 30 MIN. DURING THE HOURS OF 4-8 PM*** read more

Let me start off with the negatives about Hickory Park. It's incredibly noisy, so if you're an introvert/are overwhelmed by noise/want to have a conversation at a volume less than a shout, this place may be too much for you. It's a very popular place, and if you're unlucky you'll arrive just after a busload of people arrive so you may have a bit of a wait. And then there's the birthday song...I know some people like hokey stuff like that, but I cringe every time I see a bunch of the waiters swarm a table and sing the birthday song. Not my thing, but your mileage may vary. Now for the good stuff: There's a wide array of food to choose from, even if you aren't a fan of barbecue sauce (like me) the smoked meat is delicious. If you don't want to deal with the noise, you can do carry out, and although the place is packed the wait is usually very reasonable. They can also seat a whole bunch of people so it's great for large boisterous groups. The servings are huge, I always end up with leftovers that last a day or two. They have a huge selection of sodas and ice cream (although I have to say, I've never had their ice cream because I've been too stuffed!) If you're going through Ames you really must give them a try. read more

I wasn't aware that Iowa had BBQ this good. I was seated almost immediately upon entering and had some of the best service by a young wait staff that I have had in the past year including restaurants with much higher price points. Ribs were cooked to perfection; moist, tender and just a touch of sauce. The baked beans had a smoked flavor and really complemented the meat flavor. Chicken was moist and tender. Get the three-bean salad. They brought it by accident instead of cole slaw but it was really good. I will certainly be back whenever I am in the area! read more

Hickory Park Restaurant Co. - Combination plate with baked beans and three bean salad - American Near Me - Ames, Iowa