Staying at the Gateway Conference hotel for a conference. There's not much - nothing close by so had lunch the first day here. Nothing stood out to me so selected the BYO hamburger with fries. The fries were nice and crispy. I really enjoyed them. Now the burger, I requested medium well .. I normally do medium and should have stuck with it ... but this one was WELL done slightly burnt. The meat was not ground well and hard to chew. I should have just ordered fries! Thankfully our conference included meals or transportation to town so I didn't have to return. Maybe the other items are good - I will never know. read more

So unfortunately this was not a very good meal. We both ordered the Iowa Pork Tenderloin with the Loaded potato soup. the soup was very overly salted or it may be the case that there was a LOT of bacon in it so that made it saltier. The tenderloin was very thin but twice the size of the bun. It was dry and had very little flavor. read more

For breakfast, pretty standard Midwest hotel fare though they try to be gay. Avoid the avocado toast- bread was dry, avocado a bit old, poached egg hard-boiled, and big pea sprouts too big to eat gracefully. Also no yogurt in the menu if that's important to you. read more

Gayle and I took my Dad to the IowaStater for Breakfast last week. One reason we came was that I'd never been here and it had been awhile since Dad had visited. This restaurant is part of a larger hotel and conference center complex, all decked out in ISU colors where ever I turned. We came in during a weekday and were maybe one of 4 tables that were occupied. The floor staff were very attentive and friendly, but somewhat unresponsive to that fact that the order took "forever" to come out of the Kitchen. Our meal choices were all well portioned and tasty. At the same time, my mental bias is that food that takes too long to come out, and with somewhat casual staff concern, usually doesn't taste as good, no matter how delicious it might be. And this is sometimes where a 3 and a 4 Star review meet. read more

Since neither my husband nor I had ever eaten here before we decided this was a "go" for our rare date night. I was a little surprised by the atmosphere as I'd pictured it having a little more ambiance than it did. Bright lights & most people seated drinking at the bar. It was a little later so I guess I understood the lack of diners but noticed another foursome enter that were staying at the hotel enter and also comment sarcastically about how bright it was in there at that time. So knew I wasn't alone. The food was exceptionally good though! I had the petite sirloin with roasted asparagus with a lovely mashed potato dish. So good! I felt so bad for our young waiter when the table next to ours ordered a bottle of wine and he came out to open it for them and was clueless as to how to present it, open it, & pour for them. He had no clue. Showed a lack of training for sure. I've always thought of this restaurant as a bit higher class than it felt to us. But at least we know what to expect next time if we return for the good food. read more

What a tremendous disappointment. I did research the night before and was actually excited about a made to order omelet station I read about. I woke up with a little excitement. But the day took a steep nosedive when we got there. The staff was fine, though it is a buffet and so not much interaction was had with them, but they were nice. The food was absolute gutter trash garbage. The eggs were cold, the potatoes were undercooked (hard in the middle) and soggy (I'm not sure how you get that combination, possibly under heated fryer grease) the meat was room temperature. All the components came out of a bag somewhere, nothing fresh nothing cooked by anyone with skills beyond that of a fast food employee. All that said, I have had the exact same breakfast buffet at a Holliday Inn for free! And I mean exactly the same, same waffle mix and skillets, same bag-o-eggs, same frozen sausage patty , all of it is identical to what they give away at better hotels. And the kicker..... the prices were way up from what I had read online. This disgusting breakfast set us back more than I would have paid at a really good diner. Oh, and I almost forgot, no omelet station. There was a sign that said I could order one for an up charge of ANOTHER $2 dollars over the $16.00 I was already paying. I may have said some expletives under my breath when I read that. read more

The IowaStater Restaurant - A plate of disappointment - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Ames, Iowa

I debated between 2 and 3 stars but went with 3 because the ambience is nice l, it was pretty cheap compared to other restaurants and our waitress was kind and it did USED to be really good so hopefully can turn it around again. The salads that came with meal were best part but rest of food was worst meal we had in awhile. We started with bruschetta appetizer and it was VERY odd. They put it on what appeared to be Garlic Texas toast bread. Flavors didnt necessarily flow well together with the guacamole, tomato's and balsamic. My daughter ordered a classic chicken Caesar salad. Chicken was VERY dry and not a traditional creamy Caesar that you typically find but oil based. My husband tried the caprese chicken and the cous cous had no liquid left so ever. He couldn't even eat it all. I tried the filet. Luckily it was very salted. It reminded me of those beefs restaurants use when they microwave a steak which is what it tasted like. Mashed potatoes very salty and processed out of box but asparagus was good. We opted for no dessert and drove through Dairy Queen. I'm hoping they turn this restaurant back around as 15 years ago it used to be one of our favorite. For now though you may want to skip or just have a drink and go somewhere else. read more

Let me preface this by saying that this is a restaurant in a hotel in Ames. To the people who've left negative reviews, are you expecting a Michelin star or what? The food was great. Particularly, I enjoyed the Brussels sprouts with the Greek yogurt sauce. Really dang good. The local ipa was tasty, but it's worth mentioning that they had a solid lineup of drinks. Also, much respect to the whiskey selection they have. It's not numerous, but the quality ones they have are fantastic. Savanna was my bartender and she was very funny and pleasant, all while working very hastily to handle a rush right before closing. Great attitude and could tell she was keeping the ship running well. Shoutout to the cooks in the back keeping everything moving, as my to go order went in and came out in a reasonable time given the mass amount of people who ordered dinner within 45 minutes of closing. Respect. read more

An absolute joke for breakfast. They're going to charge you $16 for a continental breakfast you can get free at your local Best Western, they also ran out of Bloody mix after our table ordered just 2 of them, halting the only thing of value The Iowa Stater had to offer. Keep driving, go wait at Provisions, a place actually worth your time. read more

Worst three meals we have ever had in a restaurant. Drove 4 hours and checked into the hotel. 1/31/2025. Arrived at restaurant at 7 p.m. After waiting for an hour and 20 minutes with no food we finally asked waitress to make it to go. Still waited. Never once in that time did the waitress offer to refill a glass. There were three of us. Myself who ordered a cup of leak soup. My daughter who ordered chicken strips, and my 12 year old granddaughter who ordered a hamburger and fries. My soup was as thick as mashed potatoes with no texture. No flavor just came out of cup in a big lump. My granddaughters hamburger was raw inside. Children should never eat rare anything. My daughter had to take it back as it was not well done as we asked. After bringing it back to the room both sides of burger were black and crisp. This was done on purpose. It went into the trash. We all ended up eating the chicken tenders and fries. Not even a napkin put in the to go bag. Should have taken photos. The restaurant had two other tables occupied in the room we were in. Evidently the chef only cooks one plate at a time. Worst food and service we ever had. Good thing my daughter paid the bill. They should have never received a tip. read more

The place is pretty and I loved the little flowers on the tables. The food was sub par. Could have made better in a dorm room. Everything out of a bag and my mom had to eat oatmeal out of mug because there was no bowls. We saw the hostess twice, when we first got there and when we were trying to pay. Dirty tables everywhere and her sitting down talking to friends. Maybe dinner is better but do not go for breakfast. read more

We went here Sunday and I had the breakfast buffet. I also tasted the caramel pecan French toast and it was ok. The buffet has the basics. Thick bacon(but flavorless), sausage patties, scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, omelet bar(seen in pics), limited pastries, oatmeal,fruit, juices, coffee and make your own waffles, like at a hotel. $12.50 for adults. Full east facing windows show a beautiful nature scene. Clean. Friendly staff. Family friendly. Lot parking. Marcy'sDinerTantrumScale 5/5- NoScreamingKids. We will probably come back sometime. It was ok. read more

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Nice staff. Worst service I can remember. Could not keep an order straight. Never got a salad that was ordered. Couldn't relay a drink order without mixing it up. Food was ok. One review said you're in a college town so don't expect too much. My experience in college towns has been good service by students who want to make a little money. I don't think Iowa has stupid students, but the brightest students are not working here. The reviews are accurate even after all the years. read more

The quality of the food is consistent with the quality of the rest of the hotel. It is below average and it does not appear that the establishment really cares about being anywhere near above average. If not connected to a hotel, I'm not sure how this place would survive. Extremely unsatisfying. For a location that is so close to ISU campus and the stadium, I expected much better quality. read more

No idea if the food is good or not. After waiting over an hour and a half for our food, we cancelled our order and left

The food was decent but the wait staff was not very attentive despite being 1:30 PM. The salad was basic and the gumbo tasty but nothing special. The pulled pork was basic but had deep fried avocado. Why deep fry avocado?!? Good place if you're staying at the Gateway. read more

The IowaStater suffers from some problems that are common in hotel based restaurants. Mainly, it's a bit pricey for an Ames eatery. It does, however have a few things going for it. First and foremost, it has a family friendly breakfast buffet. Kids five and under eat free! "Free" seldom equates with "delicious," but you won't be disappointed if you focus on the made to order omelet station. On our recent visit, the omelets could perhaps only be criticized for being overloaded with ingredients. The rest of the buffet is basic: a waffle maker, an assortment of rolls and sticky buns, scrambled eggs, bacon, juice, coffee... All standard hotel breakfast fare. One breakfast menu item, the caramel pecan French toast, does deserve a try if you have a sweet tooth and you are not afraid of calories. I'd recommend sticking to brunch/breakfast, as the menu becomes more expensive/uninspiring as the day progresses. At $11.75 per adult, $7 per child, free for age five and under, the breakfast buffet can be quite a bargain depending on your demographic profile. Another positive trait is the restaurant's close proximity to the Green Hills Retirement Community. It is within walking distance and can be a convenient treat if you are visiting a Green Hills resident. They are very accommodating when receiving patrons in wheel chairs... Finally, the preschoolers in our recent party of six loved the Gateway Hotel elevators. Promise a ride in exchange for a clean plate. The best elevators in Ames. Granted, I've not completed a comprehensive examination of all elevators in the greater Ames metropolitan area, but they'll seem the best to your five year old! read more

Whenever I'm in another state, I try to eat some of the local specialties. So when I saw that there was a restaurant named the IowaStater that offered an appetizer named the Iowa Slate, I had to give it a try. The slate was a nice charcuterie plate that featured prosciutto, glazed bacon, white cheddar, herbed cheese curds, and a do-it-yourself bruschetta. A bit pricey at $16, but the Prairie Breeze cheddar had a nice salty kick, and I could eat that sweet-savory Slater bacon all day. (A plate of THAT, please!) They had some Iowa-produced beer, wine, and liquor, but the waitress told me the Iowa red was sweet, so I just got a California pinot noir to go with my charcuterie. Pretty good pour, and reasonable at $8. The restaurant itself is hidden away in a hotel-convention center complex. But it's worth seeking it out if you want to try some Iowa-produced fare and you're looking for a bit more than corn and pork tenderloin. read more

The IowaStater Restaurant - Welcome to Ames! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Ames, Iowa

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We decided to try breakfast at the Iowa Stater this morning after hearing such good things about it. French toast was delicious, but tasted more like a dessert than a breakfast with the caramel sauce. Again, no side came with the meal so I ordered fruit with it for an extra charge. Coffee was luke warm when I had my first cup. I mentioned it to our waitress and after that it was warmer, but not hot like it was fresh. Breakfast quesadilla was good, not the best we've had. Also came without a side so we added hashbrowns, they were what you'd get at any breakfast chain. Service like last time was somewhat lacking in enthusiasm. I think this will be our last trip to the Iowa Stater, the food is good, but the vibe we get here is something we don't care to return to. read more

The IowaStater Restaurant - French Toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Ames, Iowa

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Let me start out by saying that I'm from Hawaii and the reason I'm in Iowa is for my wife who is attending Iowa State school of Vet Med. Prior to coming here I've only been as far as the west coast. Iowa would be my first mid west experience. The Iowa Stater was our first dining experience. The food was great, the price was affordable and the service awesome. The first time we dined here I had Reuben. My wife had the pork tacos and a salad. We both got light beers cause we were a little jet lagged. Price was right and what stood out the most to me was the customer service. Coming from the "Aloha State" customer service is a big deal. Well it was great. I wish more hawaii folks were like the mid westerners. The food was a solid 4 stars but the service a solid 5. Fast forwarding to a year later this place has become a reg stop for my wife and I. We've had the tour of Iowa and yes there are better places to go but this place feel like home for us. Tonight our server was Justin. He was very attentive and had great suggestions even though he new we had been here before. I got the Pork tenderloin and my wife got the flat bread special and a house salad. We warmed up some craft beers the red rambler was out (which is one our favs) so we got the blonde lager and we closed it out with some bloody Mary's. Once again the service was awesome. The whole experience flowed like it should and Justin seemed to check on us at the perfect time. If you come to Iowa and you want a place to ease you in then the Iowa stater is a great start. I've never been disappointed. read more

The IowaStater Restaurant - Pork Tenderloin. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Ames, Iowa

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We went for the buffet on a Sunday afternoon and wold not recommend this for brunch. All of the food was cold the burners had went out and apparently no one noticed. The manager was notified and we were told they were bringing out warm food from the kitchen however it too was cold. There was no Bloody Mary bar and the one we received was all tomato juice. read more

I'm a big fan of the Iowa Stater. Their weekend and holiday breakfast brunches are awesome. I firmly believe they have the best bacon in Iowa, and that's saying something! Their lunch and dinner menu is varied and everything I've had is tasty. The Mac and cheese with chicken or bacon is great. The chicken is really flavorful! Service can be a little slow, and it can be hard getting in and out over lunch hour. They've been helpful running the receipt early and such, so we can get back from lunch in time, if asked, though. We also utilize the Iowa Stater for a lot of business interviews. They have a couple private rooms and it's attached to the Gateway Hotel, which is convenient if you have a candidate in for an interview. read more

Wonderful inviting staff, full of smiles and looking to meet your needs. Try the Iowa Garden Omlette, it is filled with fresh vegetables. read more

The Des Moines Register, our local newspaper, is in the middle of running a contest to determine the best hamburger in Iowa, and they recently announced the top 10 finalists. Somewhat surprisingly, two of the 10 places are here in Ames, and one of them is the Iowa Stater. So naturally, I had to check this out. My wife and I have not been to the Iowa Stater for quite a while, because when we last came, several years ago, the breakfast we had was not memorable. But we now decided to give the restaurant a try for lunch. I, of course, had the hamburger the Register mentioned in their article, called (imaginatively) the IowaStater burger. I don't know if it's one of the ten best in Iowa, but it was very good. It consisted of a juicy hamburger on a Brioche roll, with cheddar cheese and "sweet and spicy Stater glazed bacon". I'm not sure just what makes up the glaze, but the bacon was excellent: it was, first of all, thick-sliced (my preference), was perfectly cooked (not raw and floppy, but not burned: a difficult needle to thread), and whether it was the mysterious glaze or something else, had a really good flavor. The combination of ingredients made for an excellent burger. The burger came with a choice of sides, and I had the french fries, which were also very good. It was clear from the appearance (and taste) that these were not taken from an Ore-Ida freezer bag and fried; they seemed clearly hand-cut. I splurged and paid an extra dollar for an upgrade to the "Cy's fries", which were tossed with herbs and coated with parmesan. These fancy fries came with curried ketchup, which I didn't much like, but the fries were tasty enough that no ketchup was required. (In any event there was, of course, regular ketchup on the table.) At 13 dollars (14 with the upgraded fries) the burger was perhaps slightly on the overpriced side, but nothing really outrageous. My wife had the salmon club ($14), which she thought was excellent. It consisted of grilled salmon, bacon, herbed mayo, lettuce and tomato, served on what she described as a very good focaccia roll. Not being a seafood person, I didn't try any of it, but I did get a spoonful of her side dish, a cup of Iowa corn chowder. We both agreed that this was wonderful (which explains why I only got a spoonful of it). So, thanks to the Register's contest, we now have a new place to frequent on our weekly lunch dates. There's at least one other item on the menu (a roasted turkey panini (also with Stater bacon and cheddar cheese) that looks good to both of us. read more

The IowaStater Restaurant - Iowa Stater burger, and salmon club - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Ames, Iowa

I have only been to the Iowa Stater during breakfast for their buffet/brunch. It's a pretty standard buffet - scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, french toast and an omelette bar. You can eat that or you have a small other menu with a few other choices on it. Prices are a tad high for the Ames market, but not over the top. The buffet costs $11 and the menu items were in the $9-10 range. The omelette bar was nice - a made-to-order omelette that was really tasty. The bacon was chewy and flabby. I prefer it to be crispier, but they aren't making it for my tastebuds only. The scrambled eggs, sausage and potatoes were all pretty standard and the french toast was humdrum and flavorless. Not the best french toast I've ever eaten. Overall, not a bad experience. The service was pretty good considering it was busy that morning. They brought us what we asked for with a smile and in a courteous manner. Same was true for the individual running the omelette station. Overall, I was not turned off by anything. The food was alright and the service was good, the prices decent. It was also nothing to write home about. Not really that memorable. I would be curious to see what their dinner service is like sometime. read more

I woke up on Sunday morning starving, so naturally I pulled out my Yelp app to see what was nearby. Two options came up - one was a cafe type place (I did go there the next day for a bagel) and the IowaStater, which had more appeal as it was a sit down sort of place. We dragged my brother out of bed and were on our way. First thing to note - this restaurant is inside a hotel, and since it was a busy football weekend, the hotel was pretty packed. We managed to get sat immediately, but there was long line waiting when we left. For breakfast this place does a buffet for ~$11 or you can order three different items off the menu in the ~$9 range. The menu items were all way too sweet sounding for me, so I went with the buffet. I did try a bite of the caramel french toast my brother got, and it was pretty damn good, especially when compared to the miserable french toast on the buffet. Buffet was your standard - scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, make your own waffles, cereals, pasties, biscuits and gravy, and an omelet station. I didn't do an omelet, but there was a long line of people waiting to have their's created. Overall, the service was friendly, and the buffet was pretty good considering the price. read more

Here's the deal: This restaurant is in Ames, Iowa. Ames is an absolutely wonderful town -absolutely dominated by the presence of Iowa State University. Without the University, there would be no Gateway Hotel (in which the IowaStater resides), no IowaStater, and honestly, very little else. Ames is a college town, pure and simple, and the dining options reflect that. If you find yourself visiting, your will find your "classy dining" choices reduced to a Benny Hanna-esque sushi bar, a nice hole-in-the-wall Thai place, and the IowaStater. Beyond that you're looking at Buffalo Wild Wings and on down. The food here is excellent. The service is slow. The drinks are expensive, but the convenience more than makes up for it -since if you're visiting, you're probably staying at the Gateway Hotel anyway, right? read more

I've been meaning to write an update to my previous review. I still love the IowaStater's creme brulee french toast, but after my last dinner there I owe to inform my fellow yelpers that this is just an "ok" restaurant. I think I was so amazed when I wrote my first review because of the creme brulee french toast. I feel that the chef is way too slow, and the other foods are not spectacular. The corn chowder is pretty delicious though, and you get a pretty filling bowl for $5. read more

Had a reservation for Christmas Eve with family flying in from out of state to celebrate with our 93 yo mother/grandmother/great-grandmother. But, on December 2nd, they CANCELLED!!!!! All the other places are booked, and now we have no place to spend Christmas with our mother. So do not plan on them upholding their agreement with you. Go someplace else. Our holidays are RUINED because of this incompetent, unreliable venue. read more

I recently had a business lunch here. I decided on the omelet for lunch. It tasted very good and was a large portion size. The side of fruit was great. It wasn't just cantaloupe & melon like many places. My colleague loved her salmon salad. The waitress knew the menu very well and answered all of our questions. She was prompt in refilling our glasses. BTW - the carrot cake is delicious! I will definitely be returning. read more

After seeing a Groupon for this restaurant, I checked out the menu and decided it sounded pretty darn good. Went for my birthday in August - the waiter must have been new because he got flustered when I asked for something not specifically on the menu. I ordered the Peppercorn Turkey Croissant, but really wanted the Strawberry Salad too. When I asked if I could get that as my side instead (and that I'd pay extra if I needed to), he still wasn't sure. The food was okay. We ordered the Buttermilk Onion Rings, which seriously needed salt. The sandwich was good, but the rind was left on the brie, which just gave it an off taste (I brought home half of it and took off the rind which made it better, but by then the cranberry aioli had made it pretty soggy). The salad, on the other hand, was delicious! My mom ordered the Iowa Omelet, which was a little dry. Her boyfriend and my friend ordered some ravioli, which looked pretty good. It was okay, but I don't think I'll return with all the other better options in town. read more

This is my favorite Irish restaurant! The staff is very friendly. The food is to die for! I love the corn beef and cabbage! I will definitely go back! read more

I had two business dinners at the IowaStater in the past three months, each time the food was decent, but service was very, very slow each time. We had to go find our waitress for our bills, well after an hour after we finished our meal. Ordering was also pretty slow. Considering they were not very busy during the middle of the week, one would expect more prompt service. The first time I dined at the IowaStater I had the Pulled Pork Sandwich, which was pretty good. Meat and sauce was good, along with the slaw. The side salad was pretty minimalist. This evening I had the Sirloin Hamburger with bacon and blue cheese, with special request on pretzel roll instead of the kaiser roll (another menu item had the pretzel). The burger was okay, and the pretzel roll was not a pretzel roll. Again, salad was very minimalist. The beer menu is pretty poor, only 4 on tap, and otherwise predominately mass-market bottles. Overall, it is a decent place for a hotel restaurant. Food is okay, and not overpriced. However, I would certainly not go there unless myself or colleagues were staying in the hotel - far better places in Ames to frequent. read more

Terrible experience! We waited over an hour and our food never came. A group came in 30 min after us and got their food before we were served. Waitress stopped once and said food would be out soon...we never saw that food! After an hour and half of waiting we left hungry and very displeased. read more

Excellent! Perfect! Delicious! Sunday breakfast buffet is outstanding! All the drinks and food items you love! The omelette bar has marvelous variety and tends to vegetarian needs as well! In addition, the window was gleaming with sunshine which contributed to this fantastic experience! Great job! read more

Breakfast buffet was really good today. Our waitress was excellent. Very reasonably priced at 11.75 including your drink. We will be back. read more

Not a big selection. Soup was good. Salad was okay. A bit pricey for cup of soup and side salad. The service is great though.

My family and I attended the IowaStater a few weeks ago to meet with extended family. We planned ahead and made a reservation because we have a pretty large family. When we got there it was fairly quiet, and there was a sophisticated atmosphere. A quaint proximity if you will. We swerve sat at a large table and ordered some apps- we were most excited about the cheese balls. When the cheese balls arrived, an immediate stench of oil and greasy grease protruded all of our nostrils, which even caused my grandfather to throw up. As my fourteen year old son bit into one, an ominous liquid squirted onto his sister across from him. They smelled distinctly cheesy- not in a good way. Would not recommend the cheese balls. read more

If you're staying at the Gateway, it's perfect because of its location. Usually, there is no wait, which is nice. The food is your standard hotel restaurant food (burgers, salads, some sort of special). There is a buffet at breakfast, which is edible, but lacks any healthy options. The "bar" is always empty, but I've yet to see or experience a bartender that has a memorably outgoing personality. I'd suggest embracing the fact that this is a relaxing bar area by having a dedicated bar tender, and then someone who is running orders and making drinks for the tables. read more

So far everything I've eaten has been really good! Veggie burger - really tasty, corn chowder - so yummy! I'm not sure why people are complaining about the price- so far it's been worth every dollars! read more