As a noobie to Ames, Iowa, I wasn't sure what to expect of the nightlife here. Iowa State is a big…read morecollege campus, and on any given night, you can find youngsters like myself roaming the streets to find a good bar. Well folks, I think we found a keeper. My boyfriend insisted that Welch's makes the best White Russians (my absolute favorite drink of all time) , so we stopped into Welch's on a Saturday night around 11:30pm. For any other noobies like myself, you enter Welch Ave Station by going through the door and DOWN the stairs. The stairs that go up lead to a pizza place. When I entered, I saw that it wasn't too busy and on a Saturday night, that surprised me. I wasn't complaining though because that meant A) no nasty sweaty bodies everywhere and B) more breathing room for me! We immediately made our way to the bar. They have a variety of lit up signs that let you know what the drink specials are, and the different kinds of shots/drinks they make which was helpful! I saw names of drinks I'd never heard of before! We started with the infamous White Russians and went from there. The White Russians (we got the double) were delicious...creamy with just the right amount of vodka. I swear it tasted like a milkshake. We also got a round of Scooby Snack shots. I've never had them before, but I'm a big Scooby-Doo fan, and they were mega-tasty! If you're looking for a "shake-your-booty-to-booty-bumpin'-music" kind of energy, Welch's isn't the place for you. Welch's has a very laid back atmosphere. If you want to munch on some 50 cent popcorn, have conversations with your peers or play some pool, Welch's can do all of that for you. I enjoyed having a casual and relaxed night with some friends...nothing too crazy, but still a great time. Oh, and get the White Russians. Every. Time. P.S.- I heard they only used to accept cash, but they do accept both cash and card now!

Looking forward to another trip to Welch Ave on Saturday afternoon before students come back…read more Always good drinks and food from Pizza Pit. Only 2 people in the place sitting at bar eating and having drinks. Sat in normal "dining" area of the bar. Bartender watched us walk in and didn't even say "hello". Found a table easily but no waitress ever came. Finally went up to the bar to see what's up. "I'm the only one here". Oooookay? So the 2 people at the bar were going to ransack the place while you came over to our area to say "hey, sorry but I'm solo today. Would you mind coming to the bar to order?" Not too hard, but too difficult kind of multi-tasking for this guy. Decided to leave and walked down the street to have a sandwich and a drink. Lame! One of my favorite places to go but good help must be hard to come by on a slow Saturday. Maybe he didn't need the $10 tip he would have gotten for our drinks and meal??? You'd think on a slow day anything extra you could make would be a bonus. I know it's a college bar but it needs a cleaning. With it empty... the odor in the place was weird. So probably should have left for that reason. They need to get that addressed -HVAC or clean/replace carpets? Both?

My husband & I love this local speak easy vibes type cocktail bar! We went for my birthday in…read moreJanuary & it was such a nice time. Ambiance is exactly what you'd expect; intimate, petite bar, calming lighting & the cutest little tables whether high tops or lounge type. They make a delicious dirty martini & even hand stuff the bleu cheese olives. They always have a menu of other craft cocktails available. Service is always prompt and I've never had a cocktail I didn't enjoy here. For an added bonus; check out Cyclone Liquors selection. Very impressive!

YES so much fun to drink here. They also have a beer menu if cocktails aren't your thing. Great…read moreservice. Speakeasy.

Went on a party bus and stopped here, the staff were very kind and friendly! I tried ordering food…read morea little too late so they point in the direction of their snack fridge (genius idea) and I got to try the house made tortellini salad. 10/10 experience and I couldn't recommend it more!!

If you are riding the High Trestle Trial and need another watering hole and maybe a place to fill…read morethe tank? Flat Tire Lounge is a solid stop and could not be more convenient. They have ample bike parking for the average biking crowd out back and plenty of parking for the trucks and hogs out front. It is not uncommon to see the mix of leather and spandex at this place! They also have a self supported bicycle repair station with a pump! The place itself is an old steel kwanza hut, but with some ingenuity and creative craftsman they have converted it into a fun and 'divey' spot. Indoors there is a large expansive bar, a walkup counter to order food and plenty of high-top tables to spread out the patrons. While outside they have a massive deck and an outdoor bar and smokehouse. It's a great place to sit an soak up some sun and watch he bike, runners and even horse riders go by. We love the Moscow mule selection they have here, and always seem to need more than one. While we didn't eat this trip the food is always a solid choice. The waitress on this last visit was running and taking care of an ever growing crowd. She is calm cool and collected and even made time to check on us folks on the deck. If you are out and about and find yourself near Madrid, Iowa - make sure to check out this fun stop. If you want to really experience it when it is hopping, pick a night when they have a live band! So much fun and it gets LOUD! Come check it out!

8/6/26 11:45 p.m…read more This little bar is a diamond in the rough for sure! It's small, fun, and perfect for locals that aren't into large college kid crowds. The prices are phenomenal, and the apple pie shots are pretty darn delicious. The bartender on shift when we went in, Leah (I don't know how to spell her name, but that's how she pronounced it lol), was so much fun! She enjoyed herself and engaged with everyone in there without overindulging or breaking the rules. She has a great personality and definitely made our experience there far more enjoyable. They do not have a kitchen anymore, so there are no food options, unfortunately. But everything else definitely makes it worth it. There are also gambling machines for those who enjoy that as well as a pool table.

Leah was incredible! She was so welcoming and attentive. I will be back as soon as we are back in…read moreIowa! Highly recommend for a late night spot!

I am here currently and I asked to play pool with the guys playing. I was told no. it seems locals…read morehave it shut down for travelers. It is not a good bar to visit if you are looking for something to do in the area.

Best dive bar in Ames…read more Good prices drinks Daily deals Friendly staff 10/10 would recommend going here if you like dive bars

6/13/26 9:15 p.m…read more What a great little spot! When we arrived, it was almost completely empty except for 2 other customers, which we didn't mind lol. We were greeted by the bartenders with a smile and a "Welcome in!". The staff were really nice and even when the bar picked up a little later, they were attentive, efficient, and polite. They definitely didn't "crack under pressure" lol. Inside, the bar and tables were very clean and organized. There is a pool table, but only one :/ I do wish they had a few more because when the bar got busy, everyone wanted a turn. The prices are amazing and the specials are so fun! It's also nice that they're open during the summer, since most bars in Ames seem to close for summer vacation.

Gayle, Scott, Dad, and I had just experienced a forgettable meal experience at the nearby HyVee…read moreCafe. Instead of heading straight home, Scott suggested that we drive past our former Ames house and then stop for a drink at Mother's Pub, which was known as Dugan's Deli when he attended ISU. We had a nice time, as we ordered our drinks, took them to the patio outside, and let Scott reminisce about his college days. And even though I graduated as a Hawkeye, I could tell my own Ames stories, like the time Bob Merrill and I stormed onto the old Clyde Williams Field with others to cheer the ISU football team during coin toss. As ISU is not in session, Mother's Pub was a bit quiet, like we were almost the only ones there. I wouldn't mind coming back to hear some live music and hanging out with family again.

Great service and food! Try the side of cheese sauce for the…read morescoops! It's bar food but super yummy and my husband's favorite.

I gave them a bad review last time I was here...years ago. My husband & I decided to try it again…read more I'm glad we did! Way better than last time! Food was great and our waitress Ann was the sweetest. Loved the sweet potato fries and homemade onion rings. We will be back!

Always a fan favorite. Service with a smile makes a restaurant. It's always part of 209 Main. The…read morefood is good. Their burgers rock. Tenderloins too. I really miss the salmon Ruben but the pasta salad is like what my mom used to make so that compensates some. Definitely worth the drive to Paton.

Salad Bar alone would take me back here. While it's not as big as other salad bars (like Nicks in…read moreClive, IA) it's still a great salad bar. Cheese Curds: we like these because they were battered, not breaded. Piping hot, very good. Plain Burger: my son says it was good ‍ but wasn't interested in sharing so I didn't actually try it. Prime Rib: I ordered a medium rare but, unfortunately, it was super dry even with the au jus side. Lately, I've been disappointed more than not by prime ribs that are bland and dry. Sirloin: alternatively, this was very juicy and delicious. Great grill flavor and lovely side of mushrooms. Broasted Chicken: in true "me" fashion, I ordered two entrees. While my salad bar trip was great and my prime rib was so-so, this more than made up for it! Soooooo juicy and flavorful, highly recommend their broasted chicken. Chopped Steak: my husband loves a chopped steak. Don't ask me why, it's not at the top of my list but to each their own. He didn't love the demi glaze on this dish, and thought their beef gravy would be been much better. The demi was "too much wine" flavor. I can't say "too much red wine" is anywhere in my dictionary but whatever. We really enjoyed this dinner, even with the dry prime rib, and plan to go back for that salad bar and broasted chicken.