Very good dinner,We like the food and the service is great. They have one of the best patty melts…read moreI've had. I give it 5 stars.

Who doesn't love a small town diner? It appears this place has been here a long time. The plexi…read moreprotection still hangs in place between the booths. The chairs have all but given up on the patting for your backside. You come in a double door and walk right past the kitchen. I actually like this cause you can see all the hard work going on. One gentleman is working the kitchen as another gets us seated. The menu is full of fine options. It is early in the day so the breakfast is what I am after. I go for the Mexican skillet and the waiter gives me the heads up it's spicy. My husband orders the chicken fried steak. Side of pancakes. You better be hungry cause the portions are no joke. Food took the appropriate time considering one cook for our four top. The restaurant that was quiet started to pick up. You can tell most were loyal locals by the cut chat with the waiter and cook when they came in. My skillet was hot and I enjoyed our. My husband stole me my side of pancakes and ate his big meal too. Good overall experience. I love small town places like this.

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/

What a great stop! Someone in our party had a gluten allergy. She has been here before and loved…read morethat the entire menu was catered for gluten free. Street parking right outside and we walked in and was greeted warmly. Main street almost hides this little gem. The name of the restaurant illuminated on the floor. We grabbed a great seat and got a full run down of the menu and specials. Table of 4 and we were treated like royalty. The ambiance is warm here. The chef is an artist. They are super careful that all the foods don't come into contact with gluten. I have to say that if you walked in and ordered not knowing anything I mentioned above, you would never know that the entire menu is gluten free. It was a brunch for us. I was very excited with the menu options. It was selective and well described. My mom was super excited about the chocolate chip pancakes and the waitress talked up the cinnamon roll. The Slap Jack meal was three chocolate chip pancakes. How can a pancake by fluffy and plump at the same time? You get the meat of your choice on top of that. I picked the sausage and it was full of flavor. The other two at the table got The Early bird Shakedown. A very generous helping of hash browns, slow cooked brisket, cheese, white gravy, and eggs. The brisket on breakfast is divine. I stole a few bites from the hubby and it was savory and melted in my mouth. The waitress was friendly and attentive. Although it was a little quiet, people started feed in. It's a great restaurant and I hope it gets the traffic it deserves. We about rolled out of there full and happy.

Great location that's easy to find. We were created as soon as we walked in for Sunday brunch. I…read morehad the special which was a breakfast bowl with my favorite addition, BRISKET. Came out quick and was absolutely the best tasting breakfast I've had in a long time. 10/10 recommend this place I was full and very happy when I left.

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.

The service was great! We had the special burrata appetizer, which was so delicious! The fresh…read morepeaches really made it taste so good. We also had the raspberry chipotle chicken sandwich which was fire! Will definitely come back. I want to try their burgers and tenderloin next!

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!

Checks ALL the boxes - friendly staff…read more- outstanding food - best hamburger in Des Moines Love this place

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 place if you need a quick, grab and go breakfast. The biscuit sandwiches are amazing. The…read morehomemade biscuits are to die for! Sit down breakfast is available, too. You can't leave without trying the fresh, homemade scones.

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.

Nice place with friendly staff. But did it live up to my expectations after all of the rave 5-star…read morereviews? Maybe not... We sampled our way through the Reuben & Gobbler panini sandwiches with sides of chips and baked beans. Both were good, but neither was amazing. Typically I'd expect a panini to be oh so warm, melty, soothing (in a sandwich way). These were more what I'd title as toasty sandwiches... bread sizes were vastly different, which resulted in different portions. And on the Reuben specifically, where's the meat? The kids meals (and everything else) were very reasonably priced. But I was a little disappointed that the "treat" was a pack of fruit snacks at a place apparently known for their baked goods. Our toddler was unsurprisingly very pleased with the fruit snacks. I wanted to love it, but didn't. Ultimately it was an entirely adequate dinner. Good. Sadly not exceptional.

CLOSED PERMANENTLY as of last Friday according to sign on door…read more Had yesterday off so did the wife I decided we should drive up to Story Chitty and check this place out for lunch. 1215 pull up front sign on door states closed. I just looked at their website at the menu & hours would have been awesome of the owner to put something on the site about NOT BEING OPEN ANYMORE...

The pub was pretty busy on a Saturday afternoon at 2pm. They have an outdoor seating area. The…read morepub is decorated with British signs and posters. The service was very good for how busy it was inside and out. The food was delicious! We had the cod & chips (added coleslaw) and the German platter (a bratwurst, weisswurst, pork schnitzel, mashed potatoes & gravy, red cabbage and sauerkraut). There were various other items we'd like to try, so we will have to come back! It seemed a little high priced, but it is Ames.

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.

This would definitely be a place I would frequent if I lived in this area…read more Good burgers, fast service, and a really cool atmosphere. Very popular local hangout. 11:30 AM on Saturday morning and already filling up with patrons. The local is know where to go.

We had a great time here. The decor is fun like being in an old fashioned gas station. Lots of…read moreburgers to choose from. The quarter pound burger was plenty. I had the hot rod that had pepper jack cheese and jalapeños. I ordered a side of tots, which were nice and crispy. My friend had the fish sandwich with waffle fries. She thought it was very good. The waitress recognized my friend and remembered her drink order.