This is a regular Tuesday spot that my husband and I frequently go to for breakfast. New owners…read morerevamped the menu and let me tell you they did their dang thing:)!!!! My husband gets the blueberry pancakes every time and switch between biscuits and gravy or country fried steak both are delicious:)!!!! The blueberry pancakes have so many fresh blueberries in them and the sausage gravy is full of flavor:)!!!! The servers know our drink order and have them waiting on the counter as soon as we arrive:)! That's great customer service:)!!!! It's just a nice relaxed breakfast/lunch spot:)!!!! When you walk in the door you feel like you're home:)!!!! I will continue to come here as long as I live in Boone:)!!!!

Unfortunately, we used to frequent the Whistle Stop Cafe on a very regular basis. We've been there…read moreonce since it changed hands. The menu changed almost completely & the food just isn't the same. The daily specials have changed (which many of them were a staple to people in the community & often they'd run out even before the lunch hour). Not having some of our old time favorites offered we just haven't been able to bring ourselves to going back. I wish them nothing but all the best wishes and know that many, many people are extremely satisfied with the changes but it just isn't for us anymore. Miss it for sure.

We met a niece for a long lunch during the week. Comfortable and casual vibe, and a nice menu…read moreselection. Breakfast available, so one in our party went with that, and that was the right choice for the day we were there. My wife and I each got a salad - I got the California Chicken, and she got the Chicken Harvest Apple Salad. The menu says they are each spring mix lettuce, but there wasn't much spring in either of ours - pretty much iceberg with a touch of darker greens. The chicken was thin and tasted fine, but didn't have a lot of seasoning. The bread was good, and if the lettuce had been closer to what we thought we were getting it would have made a significant difference. We just chose poorly. The breakfast platter looked amazing, and we saw a couple of wraps and sandwiches pass by that looked really good. Service was very pleasant and efficient, and our food came out in good time. They cleared our table as well and even though it pretty much counter service, there was more service provided than you might expect. We will try again and just stick to the sandwiches or breakfast. The lettuce mix may have been a substitute or may be what locals prefer; just wasn't what we thought we would be getting.

I am not from the area and was looking for a place to work for the day. After purchasing a cup of…read morecoffee from another establishment (who did not have ideal seating), I visited Queen Beans and asked if I could bring my outside coffee in if I purchased breakfast there. The staff member assured me it was no problem at all, so I bought breakfast and worked for the day. The next day, I followed the same routine (since I actually really enjoyed the other places coffee and I was already told it was no problem if I bring in outside drinks). However this time, a different staff member informed me that outside beverages were not allowed, but said I could stay if I poured my coffee into one of their cups. I completely understood and complied without any issue. 30 minutes later, the owner approached my table in an aggressive manner and began berating me for not following their rules. Despite explaining that I had received information from two employees allowing me to stay, the manager continued to reprimand me, stating it was common sense not to bring outside drinks. While I always respect the rules of any establishment, the owners disrespectful tone and demeaning language were shockingly disgraceful. I would not recommend dining here if you expect courteous and professional ownership or management.

We always try to eat here when we are in town to visit family. The menu is quite good but the…read morespecials are usually even better. We had the Baja Shrimp Taco special last Wed and restaurant week started so we had the entire Thai tasting menu on Friday. It was fabulous - please check it out. It is Midwest hot, not Thai hot. Staff is always great. We almost always end with carrot cake - I had ZoeBakes carrot cake in the Twin Cities and it was not anywhere close to as tasty as The Cafe's version. I would agree with some other posts that the lighting in some areas makes it very hard to read the menus or see your food. Updated lighting would be helpful. We try to come early and get a spot near the windows so that we can see better.

Disappointed... I came here for restaurant week to try their Thai Menu. It looked good online and…read morethought I'd give them a try. The Cafe has been on my list for a while now. Disappointed to say the least, I came in the back door not realized there was a correct door and was rudely cut off by other patrons at the front desk. I had to wait several minutes to be waited on and the place had plenty of spots. Maybe because I was a party of 1... they didn't seem to care. After I shared what drink I wanted, I learned they were out... fine no problem. I asked about the Thai specials, the waitress was clueless. I had to ask for the restaurant week menu and ask about the specials. She said they looked good but couldn't describe them and hasn't tasted them. I got the salad on special, but get this... they were out of the main restaurant week special... such a let down. The ambiance was mixed, one corner was a cute date night the other corner was crying children. All dimly lit and outdated decor. The whole experience was off, I ended up leaving after my one drink and salad. I hope to give this place a second chance sometime but hope they aren't out of dishes and I can get a trained server. Maybe another night for sure!

Had the mini beer shot, just like the the ones in Cancun. Crab Rangoon with chicken is a great…read morepizza to try.

Went here on the recommendation of three locals after working a basketball game. I misheard them…read moreat first; I thought they said "Tempe" and we were looking for a Mexican restaurant. Anyhow, we arrived and elected to sit at the bar versus a booth. Took a couple minutes to get noticed and we were asked to sit at the other end of the bar due to some clutter... Prices are very reasonable at this establishment. A flight was $7.50...if you were in WDM or Waukee, you would probably be looking at double that. They also brew their own beer and cider here; I'm not sure why that's not advertised heavier. Its called the "Gamble Block Brewery". I had Fear the Beard, the Baja Lager, the Maple Pumpkin Ale, and a cinnamon apple cider. The Maple pumpkin ale was delicious--the maple definitely hit on the back end. I was not a fan of the cider--they used a rather tart apple. The Fear the Beard (comparable to Blue Moon) and the Baja lager were OK. For food, I had the chicken tender basket with a 1/2 order of Texas Fries. I actually thought the ranch seasoning detracted from this dish--the queso was quite good and the bacon was plentiful. The downside to getting "sampler" versions of items was none of the accompaniments were included. My friend who got a full order of the Texas Fries was given sour cream with his food--mine did not. Also, on the beer sampler fruit wedges are served with the full size versions but not on the flight. The chicken tenders were very good and had the right breading/chicken ratio. The buffalo sauce packed a punch but was not obnoxiously spicy. The ranch that came with it was very good and was clearly made in-house. More of a 3.5 star review.

Love this place. Stopped by between Des Moines and Sioux City and had a deliciously disgusting…read moremeal. Everything was yummy and so unhealthy. Garlic cheese ball and tater tot poutine? Amazing. The tenderloin was massive. And the broccoli cheese soup was a star. Tried the peach pie as well which I thoroughly enjoyed. The wait staff was super friendly and the ambiance was exactly what I was hoping for, a quality local establishment. Throughly enjoyed it.

The gf wanted to check out I-80 MetalArt and we found the Chuckwagon Restaurant right across the…read morestreet. We arrived pretty much at straight up noon on a Saturday. I fully expected the place to be packed as it appears to be pretty much the only show in town as far as a sit down restaurant. There was a please wait to be seated sign there as we walked in. We were greeted right away and seated in minutes. It's old school wood tables and chairs and I think there was a counter available. Ordering is done at the tables as well as settline your bill up with your server. Surprisingly the speed of service continued throughout the visit. After drinks we ordered the rodeo burger and fries, a tenderloin with chili cheese fries, and the garlic cheeseballs. The cheeseballs came with marinara and ranch. Fresh, hot, and fantastic! I've eaten a lot of tenderloins. Many that have been highlighted as Iowa Tenderloin Trail winners or participants... This is one of the better tenderloins I've had in the state! Obviously hand made, breaded, and fried. Not too thick and not too thin. Drained properly. Served with the essential condiments including the holy trinity (onions, dill pickles, and mustard). The gf liked her burger. It could have used more of the featured ranch and bbq sauce. The fries... Neither of us cared for them. Obviously hand made, but almost too thin and too greasy. We'd both opt for a different side next time. To each our own though. Almost every small town along this stretch of I-80 has a pub & grill. The menus vary a little, but are very similar in a lot of aspects. The quality of service and the cooks make the biggest differences. The Chuckwagon hit five stars in some aspects of both. Work on those fries and the flavor of the chili (horribly bland) and this review would have been five stars. I'm going to emphasize this again. Truly one of the best tenderloins I've had in the state! Keep doing what you are doing!

About an hour and a half drive but well worth the trip!…read moreSaturday early afternoon and it was packed...about a half hour wait for seating was the only downside. Service was outstanding and the staff seemed to be handling multiple aspects of the jobs and helping each other out...no one just did one thing and I think that really sped up the service. Katie was our primary server and was outstanding! We ordered up a two and a three meat deal and had Campground Beans, Creamy Coleslaw, Cheesy Potatoes,, and Mac & Cheese as sides as well as a slice of Texas Toast and Cornbread as sides....oh, and Golden Corn Nuggets as an appetizer. The Corn Nuggets were good and sweet and served up with honey and a ranch sauce for dipping. The meat choices were 3) Ribs, Pork Loin, and Turkey Breast....and 2) Pork Loin and Turkey Breast. The smoke on everything was amazing and just the right amount for excellent flavors..the ribs were very meaty. Some places ribs leave you wanting but not at Watcha Smoking! The Pork Loin and the Turkey Breast were both very good as well...still tender and not dried out. I liked the Neck of the Woods sauce the best (mild tomato based) as well as the Carolina Gold sauce...it had nice kick to it. The sides were all good but the only issue was the Cheesy Potatoes were a bit dry.....I'm thinking that it must've been towards the end of the batch and had been sitting around for a bit. Cornbread was excellent, Texas Toast tops, Coleslaw was a good shredded, wet slaw, the Mac and Cheese very good, and the Campground Beans were the preferred side as they had some good chunks of smoked meats mixed in. Fantastic place, great for small groups and large groups as well...great food and great service...Definitely worth the trip!

Really enjoyed the premier BBQ joint in the greater Des Moines area in my visit to Whatcha Smokin'…read morein the midst of a rural backdrop, this place was definitely worth the 45 minute trek from the state capital for delicious brisket, corn, slaw and sweet tea at a very affordable price. I appreciated the dual restaurant ambiance for a service side with waiters or a order at the register style. All BBQ restaurants have one or the other but not both. The meet was tender and juicy and as their name would suggest - smoked to perfection. I don't know if I'll find myself in Iowa ever again but if I do I will definitely make another pilgrimage to Whatcha smokin for the states best BBQ

We stopped in for dinner before an event at Stevens auditorium. We were seated right away and got…read moreour orders in. It's a very relaxing Irish pub vibe with a variety of seating options and lots of TVs. Our drinks came out quickly and the food followed shortly thereafter. I got a martini and it was very well prepared. My wife got a glass of wine from their decent wine list. For dinner, I had the lamb burger, which was quite tasty. It was a good combination of flavors and the fries were hot and crisp. My wife got a naked burger with a side salad. The creamy Parmesan was very tasty and it was a nice bed of greens. A table next to us had some sort of a problem with one of the dinners and the server tried many many times to get the customer to order a replacement, but he said he was OK with what he got. When she brought the check to them she made sure to take that off since he did not eat it and would not accept a replacement. They seem shocked at this, but I wondered why they just didn't get a replacement! Great service by that server. She was also our server and did a fantastic job with us. We had very tasty food and great drinks , so I would definitely recommend it and would go back if I was in the area.

Thursday evening. Meeting up with some friends for a double date…read more One of them has a gluten allergy and suggested this stop since they had some good options for her. Pulled into the parking lot and it was packed. Walking from the car was nice on this warm January evening, however if you have problems with mobility or it just took old and want to be dropped at the door then they have a nice pull up drive to the door. We got a text that our date had already arrived and was at booth at the bar. We walked in past the hostess and rounded the corner to meeting them at the booth. We slid right in and the waitress was there to help us with our drinks and menus. She had already been talked up by our friends and everyone was smiling and enjoying their time. The set up in this area was nice. It was a bar with high top tables and with booth also. The staff were all very friendly and you could see others sitting up at the bar enjoying their meals. The lamb burger was our choice for the meal tonight. We got one to share with a side of Brussels sprouts. Like we were told, the Brussels sprouts were really good. I ate them like candy as they had a nice fresh taste to them. Then I bit into the lamb burger. - Drool. Can I please go have another? The flavor of the meat was really good. It was a nice juicy burger with a great taste. I also got to taste the spinach artichoke dip. It also was good. While we were talking our friends told us that the last few years at this restaurant there has been a turn around on the menu and food quality. While I don't know details about that, I can share our over all experience was perfect. Good food, good service, good drinks, good attitude all around. The atmosphere on the bar side is lots of Irish beer decorations and lots of fun stuff on the walls and decorations everywhere you look. If you haven't been here, I recommend.

Love this place. Outstanding service and the food was outstanding. Great place for a game watch or…read morea casual drink or meal. German platter is fabulous.

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'm so glad we stumbled upon Hot Off The Presses while passing through on our way to…read moreMinneapolis--this place is an absolute gem. We were just here a few weeks ago and I am so bummed to see they permanently closed!! We came during lunch and took advantage of their weekday lunch combo (Tues-Fri, 11am-2pm), which includes soup and a half grilled cheese. You can choose from the OG, Kick in the Cheese, or Fancy grilled cheese, plus either tomato basil bisque or the soup of the day. Honestly? A dream setup. I ordered the tomato basil bisque with a half OG grilled cheese, and wow... just wow. The soup was rich, flavorful, and perfectly balanced, and the grilled cheese delivered that classic, beautiful cheese pull moment you hope for (and rarely actually get). The cheese had the perfect amount of sharpness and subtle bitterness, balancing everything out so well without being overwhelming.. I seriously could go for one right now! Every bite was comforting and delicious, and I immediately wished I had ordered a full OG sandwich because it was that good. The combo was mouth‑watering, satisfying, and wildly exceeded expectations for a quick lunch stop.

Easily the best sandwich place that I have visited in the DSM Metro area, Hot Off The Presses…read morecombines friendly customer service with quality menu items, and their owner, Jed, is a helluva kind person! I have visited twice, and have been impressed by their efficiency, timing, and pricing. Plenty of free parking on site. Lots of seating inside. I have enjoyed their Chicken Caesar wrap and their Chicken Bacon Ranch wrap, both with terrific taste, made to order, and plentiful. I explored more of the menu and have a lot of other things to try. I also enjoyed their homemade soup and their cookies.

Very cute place in valley junction. We went for lunch- excellent vibe, friendly service. I had the…read morelunch combo and did all the specials - a turkey roast beef sandwich, a cup of roasted red pepper soup, and the cordon bleu egg rolls. I also had the two idiots walk into a bar cocktail which was essentially a Paloma but light and fresh and delicious. I would definitely go back here again.

It's lunch and now you find yourself driving toward that icon spot of Cooper's on 5th in Valley…read moreJunction to savor that delicious Cajun Meatloaf Meltdown Sandwich- Simply Delicious. My only issue is food temperature---while served eye appealing it was just warm -- work on food temperature control -- the sweet potato fries were awesome and the egg rolls with barbecue sauce and sausage were solid. Jeffrey -- my wait staffer-- bar mixologist-- made me a Lavender Lemonade Mocktail and it was every bit as good as a "Mr Pibbs." The soft music cascading in the background provided the serene feeling to allow me to play message catch up by iPhone and a tab, or utilize the quiet spot to socialize with great company. This space gives you a choice for fun socialization.