Another fantastic visit to Nite Hawk Bar & Grill! We pedaled up the High Trestle Trail and were rewarded 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! read more

See all

Met some friends out here on a Friday evening and the place was packed. The boasted chicken was fantastic and the service was excellent. It's a little out of the way for us to get there but there is no doubt in my mind that we will be heading back. read more

Nite Hawk is an ideal place to stop if you're riding the High Trestle Trail. It is just off the trail in Slater and combines a bike-friendly atmosphere with good food and live music. We saw it on the ride up from Ankeny and decided it would be our rest stop after cycling the High Trestle Bridge in Madrid. It was so bike-friendly that most patrons cycled the trail. Due to the good vibes and remote location, many didn't lock their bikes. I thoroughly enjoyed my burger and fries, and the cole slaw was yummy. Thanks to the manager for filling up my water bottle on a hot day. There was also good live music going on that afternoon. read more

See all

Had the Idaho Nachos. Well seasoned crispy waffle fries smothered in all the best classic nacho toppings!! read more

Nite Hawk Bar & Grill - Idaho Nachos!! Great seasoning on crispy waffle fries topped with all the nacho classics - Pubs Near Me - Slater, Iowa

The best bar in the area. Good food, Cheap drinks, great entertainment such as live music, pool table and darts. The heart of Iowa bike trail leads right up to it. Great people great times at the HAWK! read more

Good food, great atmosphere and friendly staff, worth the most. I had the tenderloin and the broasted chicken. Would %100 recommend .

Their food is delicious and they have a good variety of foods on their menu. We just tried their pizza and it is to die for ‼ The Manager and staff are awesome.. fun place. And if you are a bicyclist this is right on the High Trestle Trail great place to stop read more

Nite Hawk Bar & Grill - This is their Large Supreme Pizza - Pubs Near Me - Slater, Iowa

See all

My Dad and I stopped by the Nite Hawk Bar & Grill last week during my visit to his place in Ames. Take the main road into town, turn right through Downtown Slater, and soon you'll find the Nite Hawk on the far West End of Town. There's really 2 parts to this establishment: - The main restaurant/bar with a front and back entrance. - A separate bicyclist bar building and patio, convenient located next to the community bike path. The bike facilities weren't open as it was a weekday on a fairly cold April evening. The main bar/restaurant on the other hand was fairly busy, mostly appearing to be after work folks. During our stay, that crowd eventually thinned out in favor of couples and families enjoying supper. Dad and I were immediately welcomed and shown a nice table near the front, but far enough away from the bar. We really enjoyed our sandwiches (Reuben for me - Burger for him - plus fries), plus the adult beverages of our choice. The menu offered other options that I'd love to try the next time I'm here, like their pork tenderloins. Another Iowa tradition of course is Ranch dressing that goes with almost everything. Just remember: If like gives you lemons, dip them in Ranch. :) I didn't ask, but our experience felt very much like a family operation, right down to the "college age" woman who took our order, plus "Mom" following up on some of our selection questions, and "Dad" later making sure that everything was fine. This is the kind of neighborhood bar with food and community that my parents were raised on and that our family still treasures. read more

Their Tenderloin's are truly what dreams are made of. Nothing better and another plus is you don't have to cook or do dishes!! Yummy!! read more

Happened to stop in for the first time on a cheeseburger special day and we were so glad we did. One of the best cheeseburgers I've ever had and the only reason I didn't give 5 stars was because I thought the fries were too salty. The waitress was very friendly and place is very clean. Would definitely recommend. read more

Nite Hawk is a fantastic local grill pub directly on the confluence of the High Trestle Trail (a cycling must see) and the Heart of Iowa Rail Trail. The staff was very friendly and fast. Food is great. I had a pork tenderloin sandwich with all the fixings and the pork was very generous, cooked perfect, and the veggies toppings were crisp and fresh. They have a decent selection of tap and can/bottle beer. This is an incredibly bicycle friendly place with a very large outdoor seating area, bike racks, and a free 24x7 water supply for cyclists to refill bottles. read more

Nite Hawk Bar & Grill - Outdoor area and free water supply - Pubs Near Me - Slater, Iowa

Nice place right on the high trestle trail. We will be back. Food and beer were great after a ride this evening read more

Nite Hawk Bar & Grill - Spicy southwest burger, nachos, mushroom Swiss burger - Pubs Near Me - Slater, Iowa

the only good part about this bar was one of the bartenders. Was treated terribly as soon as I walked in.

Fun place, great service, and a fun staff. The drinks were good and great prices. Tucked away on the edge of town close to the High Trestle Trail read more

Great food and service, fair prices. Get the tenderloin!! Tried the pizza too and it was also amazing

After a long bike ride on the High Trestle Trail you have to stop by for a drink or two! This place welcomes all bike riders and has a great parking spot and patio also a place to fill up your water ball if needed. The decor is very sports bar like so expect that kind of atmosphere with several beers including local. I got an order of nachos and my friend kept raving about the tenderloin. I respect his taste palette so I say try it out, especially with all of the calories you burn during your bike ride it'll be all worth it. This was a nice oasis I will go again after a big bike ride to the bridge. read more

Love, love, love the Nite Hawk! Great tenderloins, good selection of beer, fantastic customer service and a great place to meet up with friends. I always hit up the Nite Hawk when we are back in town for a visit. Everything is greater in Slater :) read more

Just a very nice place along the High Trestle Trail. My cousin & I stopped here along our ride & it was fairly empty (it was a weekday afternoon). We sat right down & was greeted immediately. With so many options to choose from we chose something lighter so we could make it back to my car. We decided to eat out on the patio, which we had all to our selves. I went with the cheese balls for our appetizer & grilled cheese and onion rings for my meal. My cousin ordered a grilled chicken sandwich and fries for his. Within 10 minutes our appetizer arrived & was great. A couple minutes later our meals arrived. The onion rings reminded me of another place that I love & the grilled cheese was fantastic! My cousin brought up how his grilled chicken sandwich was amazing. The toppings were all fresh cut & so we're the fries. Our waitress was great & a lot of other options on the menu we will definitely be back again. read more

Nite Hawk Bar & Grill - Cheese balls for our appetizer. Grilled cheese with onion rings for me & a grilled chicken sandwich with fries for my cousin. - Pubs Near Me - Slater, Iowa

See all

Forever my favorite restaurant to visit near the site. Anytime we have a new comer we have to take them out and give them the Nite Hawk showing. It's our favorite little bar and I even visited them after my rehearsal dinner. The entire staff is like family, they know your order by heart on the third time, they're extremely fast and efficient, reasonably priced and the place may feel like a hole in the wall but is so incredibly welcoming. A must in the Slater area. read more

I have had the pleasure of using this bar a couple times. The great news is its right on the bike trail. It is the best spot of being half way from the beginning and end of the trail head. Which is the best because when you need a break this is a perfect stop. There is a water station for bikers to use to fill up on water. If you are hungry there is a good menu of bar food plus a little more. I did have a stop by the other day when I rode the trail. They had the doors open and the tvs on for the football game. I let the bar that i was sitting outside and they came out shortly to bring me a drink. I then ordered some chicken strips and sat deep into my chair to relax. I relaxed for awhile and my food came out super hot and fresh. I think the food was decently priced and I think that if you are riding a bike you should stop on by cause its one of the few places to hit while on the move. read more

Wonderful neighborhood bar and grill. Good pizza! Famous tenderloins! Especially fun to sit on their patio and enjoy the bike trail traffic. read more

Only eaten there twice but I would recommend the breaded tenderloin. Just a nice local place where you can sit back and relax.

We have always enjoyed tenderloins at the Nite Hawk. Felt that they were the best in the area. Last night was a disappointment. Thought we were ordering a tenderloin basket (tenderloin $10.50 plus $2.50 for the fries). When the bill came, the tenderloin was $10.50 plus $6.00 for the fries. When I asked about it, I was told the menu had changed. Not a good experience. Very disappointing. If the menu has changed, give me a menu that reflects the prices so I am not surprised. read more

Stopped while riding the trail, stopped while driving through town and I'd agree with other reviewers. Average food at a reasonable price. I've mostly had beers while riding the trail. On one occasion we stopped in for their taco night. The price was right but the taco was marginal. They fry the shell then fill it with normal taco ingredients. It was dry and loaded with lettuce and cheese. I'd stick to the usual lounge food here, burgers and wings. You can never go wrong with something from the flat top or fryer. I love the back patio it is huge and can accommodate our whole biking team. The staff are great with making sure you have a cold beer. I don't think we went up to the bar once and the place is almost always busy. Cold water in a cooler to fill your water jug as you headed back out on the trail. We always stop here when we ride the High Trestle Trail. read more

See all

The Nite Hawk is a nice stop for us on the bike trail. Had been here a few times but had yet to eat here, had wanted to try their broasted chicken. Stopped once and they were out of chicken at 5:30 which they don't start serving until 5, seemed a bit weird but that was a couple years ago. On our most recent trip we got the fried chicken a four piece, was 3 breast and a wing, we asked for all white meat too. This chicken is some of the best we've had, tender and juicy. We ordered fries and potato salad(red potatoes with bacon) really good. We sat in the outdoor area, only downside was there were flies everywhere. The inside bar area is nice, great feel to it. Overall a good place to stop at while biking or wanting some good food read more

Nite Hawk Bar & Grill - Fried chicken, fries, and potato salad - Pubs Near Me - Slater, Iowa

Top shelf food, prepared promptly for both eat in and care out! Also has excellent specials.

This is definite dive bar food at its best. The outside patio is open and relaxing to sit at. The burgers were juicy and plentiful! I will for sure go back next time I am in Ames. read more

I've been to the Nite Hawk several times and never had a bad experience. This is a great place to spend an afternoon or evening. They have a fairly unique setup here. First off, it's right off of the bike trail and they do get a lot of bicycle patrons here. They have two buildings - the main bar/restaurant area and then an outside "garage" area that they have turned into a second seating and serving area. The back building has a door that opens when the weather is nice. It's a cool concept. The have a nice selection of beer here, especially local beers. I appreciate that they offer so many local brews, including Exile Ruthie, one of my favorites! They also serve bottled beers and if you're into the cheap brews, they have that too, of course. The food that I've had is really good. They have some really good fried pickles on the appetizer menu and their fried cauliflower is also quite yummy. They offer pizza here, but I really like their breaded pork tenderloin. It's good-sized but not too big. If you want something larger, they do have a tenderloin with ham and bacon on top of it as well. I can't remember the name they give this, but it's a mouthful! Everything I've eaten here has been great. The service is great, too! Our server has always been polite as have the bartenders and owner, who takes the time to ask patrons about their experience. Not all owners care enough to do that! Nite Hawk in Slater is great - give them a try and you'll be back again! read more

Nice place to visit. Met some of the locals and they were all nice. Decent prices and they have an extra room to open when needed but hours may very. It was cold out the night I visited and they kept it warm enough inside to keep everyone happy. I had some food as many locals seem to be coming in only for that. the Patty melt was great and satisfied my hunger. I really liked that I could exchange my fries with cheese balls. read more

This place has the worst service ever and the bar tender is horrible. He's a tall white dude and very rude

When I do a review I try to base it on what the place "is" or what the place is trying to accomplish. That being said, Night Hawk is a nice, clean small-town neighborhood bar. It is located right off the High Trestle Trail. I am an avid bicycle rider and rate this place AWESOME! You may he wondering why not five stars. To be honest, during peak times they are understaffed. Even when they are super busy the staff is still friendly and they hustle. It just may take you longer than you are used to, to get a drink. I've had a quick bite here on occasion the food rates high for pub food. Good value and consistent. If you are in Slater for some reason or you are on the trail, make a pit stop at The Night Hawk. read more

Nite Hawk Bar & Grill - Nice High Trestle Trail pit stop - Pubs Near Me - Slater, Iowa

The Nite Hawk is one of many popular stopping points on the highly popular High Trestle Trail. It is your best bet for sustenance and refreshment in Slater, Iowa since the demise of another Bar & Grill in the area due to fire. Nite Hawk has two seating areas. An indoor area that seems geared toward the "townies" and an outdoor bar that serves patrons adjacent to the trail through several open garage doors and patio furniture in a shady area. Bicycle parking is available as a rope. I've found the beer selection here to be limited to domestics. This is one of two locations adjacent to the bike trail to offer waiter service to bikers, and on both occasions I've found the service to be slow during fairly average levels of activity. Notable hot wings, and solid burgers here off a single page menu of standard fare. Good for a respite and refreshment on the trail, or a solid meal if you happen to be in Slater. read more

Stopped in here for the first time last night. There are two separate buildings for the same establishment. Which was awesome because it didn't feel over crowded. Ordered the Idaho Nachos and they were very tasty. And the food I saw ordered around me looked tasty as well. The crew behind the bar was very friendly. And there wasn't a hostile or aggressive feeling that you sometimes get in a smaller "dive" bar. Very pleased and I will return again read more

The Nite Hawk is a friendly local bar cleverly perched along the Slater High Trestle Trail. There is nothing fancy about this pub, the food is average at best, but there is a nice laid back vibe and good drink selection. Staff always friendly and helpful. Good place for a relaxing drink. Would be a great place with a creative chef. read more

As far as bike bars go, Nite Hawk is great. Decent beer selection and the menu has quite a lot of selection at very reasonable prices. If you're on the High Trestle Trail, it's definitely worth a stop. We always meet lots of other very friendly bikers as we share picnic tables. Some of the best tater tots I've had in a long time! read more

Great small town bar with upscale feel. Fun place right on the bike trail. The food is excellent. A great place to hang after a ball game. read more

The staff at the Nite Hawk has always been friendly and attentive. Great location on the bike trail. One of the best tenderloins I've had and their homemade chips were great too. read more

Two years ago I would have given them 1 star for poor service but they have really cleaned that up and become a must stop on the trail. Decent food, usually a cheap special. Inside or outside seating option and fair beer selection. Not the Iowa Tap Room, but better than your average small town bar. Pull off the trail and give them a try. One wish is that they opened earlier on weekend mornings for us early risers read more

LOVE the nite hawk. Best place to eat in Slater. The food is good, staff is always friendly, and it is a nice clean bar. Would recommend to anyone in the area. read more

U have got to be there. This place is friendly and the owner is a cool guy who enjoys serving his customers the best service the bussiness can offer at an affordable price. read more