Positives first: Dip trio and chips were good, drinks were cold, ambiance was good as well. The real scoop: My sister and her girlfriends booked a large reservation for our group and they were not prepared at all when we showed up. Not enough tables, not enough seats, it was messy. We ordered drinks, they staggered out. Mine was wrong, came out as a mule instead of a martini, the girl corrected it. My husband and I split the dip trio and the hot chicken sandwich for dinner with tots. (The photo of the onion rings is what my dad ordered as an app) The sandwich was unbearingly messy with sauce all over the place. We ended up picking it apart and eating it with a fork. Service was all over the place and I felt bad for the main girl serving us because the girl helping her could not be more unfriendly/helpful to her. I'm about 99% I wouldn't return here because I have no reason to go back to Ames. This place has potential but my sister and her friends said service and consistency here is an issue and that's obvious big time. read more

Sweet Caroline’s Kitchen & Cocktails - Dip trio - Sports Bars Near Me - Ames, Iowa

See all

Surprisingly good! I'm not from Ames, but travel for work and received mixed reviews about this location from a coworker. So maybe my low expectations helped to elevate the experience! Great fried chicken; excellent mashed potatoes and a warm inviting atmosphere. Great after a long day! read more

Sweet Caroline’s Kitchen & Cocktails - Sports Bars Near Me - Ames, Iowa

See all

Ambiance for the wings. Great vibe!! Service is wonderful. Large drink menu but geared toward young crowd- there is a whole page of mule options. The fried chicken was ok, a bit too bread and greasy. Chicken quality was fair 3 out of 5. The burgers were great 4 out of 5. The traditional wings were a 5 out of 5. So. Order a Beer (or mule) with wings and you are good to go!! read more

See all

We were in Ames to visit my daughter and needed a late meal. It was warm for a September evening and the outdoor patio was perfect. My wife had a Chardonnay and we both ordered salads. Since it was late we didn't need much. The side salad was your basic midwestern, salad with iceberg lettuce, cheddar cheese and the really good ranch dressing you only seem to get in restaurants. My wife had the chefs salad, basically a larger version of the side salad but with a boiled egg as well as the grilled breast of the chicken that laid it. Not gonna lie, however. The burgers and fries and the other tables looked delish. Service was fast and friendly, but what really made it for us was the patio. I'd come back just for that. read more

Warning to all Gluten Free customers, DO NOT GO HERE. The server was good and did her best to try and accommodate. I feel like the kitchen staff (basically the owners) are lazy and didn't want to do some slight modifications that many restaurants are able to easily do. Hey owners! You may have to spend a little money and get a few more menus that are actually readable. ALL the menus were in various states of I readability - scratches, bleached out, etc. I had to use two different menus to look at my options. Yeah, I will be telling others to avoid this place. I would not recommend. read more

Sweet Caroline’s Kitchen & Cocktails - Bleached out menus that are barely readable. - Sports Bars Near Me - Ames, Iowa

I cannot explain why I had never visited Sweet Caroline's earlier, as I've been in Ames quite frequently over the last few years. I'm glad a friend recommended we meet there for dinner because of its solid combination of food, atmosphere, good customer service, and location. Plenty of parking on Ames' Main Street makes this an easy spot. We selected inside seating and enjoyed a good meal, including Hushpuppies for an appetizer and a delicious burger for my main entree. Kind servers and clean bathrooms. I'll visit again! read more

Sweet Caroline’s Kitchen & Cocktails - Sports Bars Near Me - Ames, Iowa

Alee was a great server, multiple check ups great food as well. over all would come back

Great food, great service, great environment! Alee was a very quick and polite waitress!

Great place to bring family. Also a great place to watch your favorite cyclone games! Staff is always super friendly!

I ordered kids meal and i am dairy free and all kids meals had cheese except for chicken tenders. The lemonades were pretty awesome. They had so many flavors and varieties. The food was pretty good so was the service but also WTF I got a onion in my applesauce so they took it away and brought me a new applesauce, and they gave me a fork with it. That is straight up illegal. The ambiance was ok i mean it was in down town what do i expect read more

Sweet Caroline’s Kitchen & Cocktails - Onion - Sports Bars Near Me - Ames, Iowa

See all

Alee was an awesome waitress! Great spot for drinks and apps. Ordered the soft pretzels and a local sour. Would go here again.

Loved the new mimosa flights! Dill cheese curds were unique and very good. Service by Alee was superb!

We sat down and waited, but no one came to greet us. We even double-checked with the hostess to make sure we were in the right section, and she confirmed we were. There were only three other tables in the entire restaurant, yet our waitress spent most of the time at the bar on her phone, cleaning her white coat, or drinking. After placing our drink and appetizer order, she didn't return to take our entrée order--we had to wait until the appetizers were brought out before we could place it. Our waters were never refilled. The entire experience took about an hour, despite how slow it was. When we finally asked for the check, she handed it back and simply said, "Have a good rest of your day and safe travels." Unfortunately, that was the most interaction we received from her the whole meal. read more

We chose to sit in the outdoor area and the server welcomed us warmly and told us to sit wherever we liked. We ordered the loaded tots and they were perfect. The entrees were a different story. The Mac and cheese side was delicious. My shrimp po boy was tasty but the bun was not too fresh. The worst thing was the tenderloin sandwich my husband ordered. The meat was pounded way too thin and then it was fried so hard that he couldn't get a knife through it. It was inedible. Our server was lovely and concerned and the manager discounted the sandwich. All in all the place was nice but the food was iffy. read more

See all

About 80 percent of the menu is fried food. The main reason this place is great is the seating. This place is massive. If there's a game this is a go to. Average bar food. Their fries are good. Always seats. Good drink selection. Everything is a little pricey but fine. I've been here a couple times and it is reliable. Some other gripes are the touch tunes they run. So ppl can buy songs. Idk why but it's like the volume of the touch tunes is on a different volume system than their generic playlists. So when someone plays a song it's just is loud sometimes. When I was eating. The songs would just be randomly loud and I could hear them manually adjusting the volume cause it's all over the place. And they cut in and out a lot. They need to get it together cause I feel on edge when music is just randomly getting louder and louder to quiet to no music playing cause someone is messing with the controls. The default music was like early 2000s dance pop when I was there which is a little annoying. I tried playing a song and since the volume was so bad the just skipped the song! It was a very tame normal song and they just skipped it so there goes my money. Idk why they are even allowed to do that that's literally the whole point of purchasing a song. Dude just skipped it. Another thing when I moved my chair to sit down it came apart. The cushion was completely separate from the frame. I feel like it could have easily injured someone. read more

Sweet Caroline’s Kitchen & Cocktails - Blue cheese burger - Sports Bars Near Me - Ames, Iowa

See all

Onion rings were the worst I've ever had anywhere. It was a pile of greasy breading, barely any onions. The boneless wings were the best thing we had. Service was marginal at best. Never experienced great service here. Expensive for the quality of food and service you receive. read more

Put our name in and we're told 40 minutes. An hour in we checked and were told they were seating reservations first (would have been good information an hour ago). Another 40 minutes, still 3rd on the list and wax told "we are almost through our reservations and then will work on the list you are on". What? I was told 40 minutes. Now have an hour and 40 minutes invested with no explanation or care. Need a better system. Can I give zero stars? read more

Wait staff was nice but food was not good. Margarita Chicken was dry and the rice was inedible. Tasted like they dumped garlic oil in it. Mouth was on fire!! Told waitress who spoke to kitchen and manager. Explanation was because they were at the bottom of the bag for the margarita chicken???? Meatloaf slice was THIN and chicken dumpling soup had two small dumplings. Will never eat there again. read more

Only been open since September so I have hope it will get better. It's first come first serve sitting (no big deal) the 4 of us sat at the bar. Huge place with a lot of TVs for all the sports which is what we wanted to watch. My daughter and I ordered the breaded chicken sandwich with fries, my husband the small white fried chicken with corn and mashed potatoes and then my son in law got the nachos. This is where it goes down hill...it was hard to get the bartender to notice your drink was empty or come back around. He wasn't that friendly to customers but very much liked to complain to his coworker in front of everyone. It took an hour to get our food, we saw a lot of people get theirs before us so it was frustrating. When our food was brought out there were no nachos so he had to wait for his. The bartender never went and checked on it either. On to the food, the chicken sandwich was decent I should say the chicken was good because the bun could be used as a hockey puck. The white chicken meal was good but he ordered the spicy and it had no heat to it both the corn and mashed potatoes were good. The late nachos came cold and the chips were stale for the price they were horrible. The shredded cheese on top wasn't even melted. The worst part is during all of this our server/bartender never asked how things were. There seemed to be no management in the place just a bunch of 20 year olds running around. I will try again but once things are more established this place could be a great hang out but it needs a lot of work. read more

Sweet Caroline’s Kitchen & Cocktails - Small white chicken meal with mashed potatoes and corn - Sports Bars Near Me - Ames, Iowa

See all

We went here after seeing a tv commercial for it. We got there around 11:45 on a Saturday. Walked right in and sat down. We were greeted after a few minutes. Our waitress was very friendly. Getting drinks took a little longer than I would have thought, considering how not busy it was, but service was fine. Food was good, portions were pretty big. TV's everywhere to watch whatever sports are on. When we left, the place was pretty full. I don't have anything bad to say about this place. If I lived in Ames, I'd probably frequent this place quite a bit. I'm stingy with giving 5 stars. Only the best get that rating from me. This place is solid and deserves to be tried. read more

See all

I had the pleasure of hosting members of the Ames High School Class of 1994 on the 12th of July, and we had our Friday meet-and-greet at Sweet Carolines. It was Ah-Mazing!! Chelsey and her team did such a great job making me and my classmates feel welcomed and took care of us all night. Their party room is a top-notch event space. There was plenty of room, the decor is fun, yet adaptable. I am so thankful that we had the chance to gather on Main Street, and although Sweet Caroline's wasn't around when we were in high school, Chelsey and her team treated us all like royalty and indulged us as we regaled her and her staff with tales of our youth. Bravo! I'll definitely reach out when our 40th approaches. read more

No offense to Old Main but this place is a much better use of the space. Food was great! Large portions and well seasoned/spiced. Great atmosphere, with games and promotional nights, things like trivia and monthly food/drink promos. Bathrooms were clean and warm. Our server seemed a bit distracted but the food came out on time and complete so no shade to her. This place has a lot of potential for locals but I think they might have trouble getting the students to come downtown from campus. Overall a great spot! I'd go back. read more

See all

Food was bland, chicken was super dry and really greasy. Deviled eggs tasted like they were made with vinegar. Service sucked, super slow. Would not go again . Was not worth the money that was spent. read more

Fun ambiance, especially for game day. Board games available. Excellent service. Really good appetizers!

Stopped by for lunch. The drink was good they had some great selections at the full bar ! Something for all tastes. I ordered the breaded chicken sandwich which was delicious! Service was good! 5/5 Highly recommend them The restaurant is large and loud music plays. Definitely not for kids, but good for alone or just friends having fun. Thanks for your Iowa hospitality. God Bless You read more

Sweet Caroline’s Kitchen & Cocktails - Henny and Coke - Sports Bars Near Me - Ames, Iowa

See all

Arrived at 1:30 on a Friday in summer so not busy, with that being said it took a while to get service. The food was good, we had the hot honey chicken sandwhich, mac and cheese, fries and kids meals. The food took quite a while to come out, luckily the TVs are a good assortment to keep the kiddos entertained. All in all was a beautiful space and good food but wouldn't recommend if in a hurry. read more

I really enjoyed eating here! The atmosphere was great with plenty of seating and a nice ambiance, the service was friendly, and I liked the food I got! read more

Sweet Caroline’s Kitchen & Cocktails - Bacon Chicken Ranch Burger - Sports Bars Near Me - Ames, Iowa

Super fun atmosphere. I had the Nashville hot chicken strips... they were good, but I wouldn't call them hot... the Brussel sprouts were amazing!! read more

The 2 star rating is not for the food but it is for the "chicken wing policy ". Let me explain : normally when you buy chicken wings a condiment or dip is included with the wings. Not at Sweet Carolines. I wanted to order 20 wings for $19.99. When I found out that I have to pay for the ranch or blue cheese dip. I canceled the order. HINT: I would pay a little more if the dip was included. It's the principle of the thing. Jethro's offers unlimited dips with their wings. I got the shrimp poboy. A little pricey but tasty. My wife got the ribeye sandwich which was too spicy but tasty. read more

Sweet Caroline’s Kitchen & Cocktails - Sports Bars Near Me - Ames, Iowa

First time visit for my wife and I.... Instant fans! -Great selection -Great quality -Dine Al Fresco option -Awesome interior -Decent beer selection Will be coming back as we visit our daughter at ISU! read more

Sweet Caroline’s Kitchen & Cocktails - Chicken and buttermilk biscuit dumplings - Sports Bars Near Me - Ames, Iowa

See all

Pleasantly surprised by excellent catfish, and nice breading on shrimp basket. The Brussel Sprouts were perfectly cooked with a "come again" or roumalade sauce, and cucumber salad a refreshing contrast. Good Southern cooking, good service, and good selection of local and national draft beers. Only issue we short women had was that there are only 4-5 regular tables and all the rest are high tops we'd need a ladder to climb into! read more

Sweet Caroline’s Kitchen & Cocktails - Breaded shrimp with cucumber salad & brussel sprouts In come again sauce - Sports Bars Near Me - Ames, Iowa

See all

Nice bar staff and quick service. Amazing cauliflower bites as well. Remember when you are going to a sports bar in a college town, you can't have champagne expectations. Some of these reviews are ridiculous. It is what it's supposed to be. read more

Food is good but service is absolutely terrible. Half of the staff just walks back and forth doing nothing while the rest of the workers attempt to manage the whole place. messed up orders, waiting to be served, and terribly long waits for food when they aren't even busy. Don't recommend read more

Every time my husband and I eat here the food is fantastic. The service is always great, even when they are slammed. The tvs around the restaurant make it possible to catch the games! The only thing I would have to say that I don't prefer is that in the evenings, it's a little dark when trying to eat read more

My family and I all had a nice dinner. The waitress was very friendly. I also loved my burger and I am very picky about burgers. I took off one star because my husband didn't like his wings. I believe the wings were dry rubbed vs tossed in sauce so just keep that in mind. read more

Sweet Caroline’s Kitchen & Cocktails - Burger and tots - Sports Bars Near Me - Ames, Iowa

See all

Went for dinner on a Saturday- school was out so the crowd was manageable. Love the Cyclones theme. Very good service, nice menu selection. Music was bumping a bit - so if that's not your thing beware. Cool bar. Good burgers. Need bigger plates. Will go back. Enjoyed seeing the athletes signatures on the Ames Lager sign! read more

Good entrees and appetizers, but service can be slow and the live music a bit too loud for the space. Still, nice to have this in downtown Ames. read more

Super good! Brussel sprouts are a must here! Super crispy and the sauce was so good. Cauliflower wings were good, super crispy! I ordered the sweet and spicy, turned out it was just sweet. It was fine with me just a warning if you want something actually spicy! Tons of seating in this place read more

Sweet Caroline’s Kitchen & Cocktails - Cauliflower Wings and bushel sprouts - Sports Bars Near Me - Ames, Iowa

Food & service were good. We enjoyed sitting on the patio and will definitely be back. Large portions and we all took home a to go box.

Sweet Caroline's first timer here! My boyfriend & I went on a Sunday recently for brunch. Local to the area, we had not yet tried out brunch at this spot. A few things that peaked our interest were: Draft selection, brunch options for food, and the games/to do. Ames really needed a spot like this with the loft style game Area & huge selection of games for the table! There are so many "bars with pool tables" in Ames but none like Sweet Caroline's. They also have a separate room off the back/side & patio off the bar area. The place is enormous. The ambiance is a cool mixed crowd with lots to do to entertain yourself. We had some basic apps. Soft pretzels, cheese curds & hushpuppies. All were good but the soft pretzels my favorite. I got 10 old bay wings, nice and crispy! It's been quite difficult to find decent wings in the area but I do recommend trying these out. They have plenty of flavors/sauces. All the craft cocktails on their holiday menu were DELICIOUS! Our server (I think her name was Amy?) hadn't stopped hustling the whole time. She made many recommendations & really did a swell job. Overall we can't wait to come back & enjoy the patio in nice weather ! read more