Hungry on Cy-Hawk gameday? Here are some of Ames' favorite restaurants
Part of the fun of football season is the great food and drinks.
If you're looking for a place to grab a meal before Saturday's Cy-Hawk game between Iowa and Iowa State at Jack Trice Stadium or to celebrate afterward, here's a list of some favorite Ames restaurants.
Hickory Park
Address: 1404 S. Duff Ave.
Saturday hours: 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Other details: Since it opened in 1970, Hickory Park has been a popular place for out-of-towners and locals alike. With a large menu and large portions, the specialty is hickory-smoked meat but don't forget to save room for an old-fashioned ice cream sundae.
Website: hickoryparkbbq.com
Wallaby’s Bar & Grille
Address: 2733 Stange Road
Saturday hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Other details: With daily drink specials and a rooftop patio, Wallaby’s has been a favorite sports bar in Ames since it was founded in 1988. Wallaby's has more than 30 TVs for watching the game as well as an an extensive menu of great food and drinks.
Website: wallabysbarandgrille.com
West Towne Pub
Address: 4518 Mortensen Road
Saturday hours: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday. Kitchen closes at 10 p.m.
Other details: With plenty of patio seating, this restaurant is conveniently off Highway 30. West Towne was listed in the top 10 for Best Burger in Iowa in 2022.
Website: westtownepub.com
Sweet Caroline’s Kitchen & Cocktails
Address: 316 Main St.
Saturday hours: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Other details: It's name is a nod to Iowa State’s victory song. You can find Southern comfort food and adult milkshakes with plenty of seating, including a courtyard patio.
Website: sweetcarolinesames.com
More: With a Nashville vibe and comfort food on the menu, Sweet Caroline's opens in downtown Ames
Dublin Bay Irish Pub & Grill
Address: 320 S. 16th St.
Saturday hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Other details: With corned beef and cabbage on the menu daily, Dublin Bay is the No. 1 seller of Guinness in Iowa. Dublin Bay has a great patio area if you want to eat and drink outside.
Website: dublinbayames.com
Pasta Al Forno
Address: 2601 E. 13th St.
Saturday hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Other details: One of Ames' newest restaurants, Pasta Al Forno features Italian food, with recipes passed down through generations. Located in the Quality Inn & Suites, the restaurant is convenient for motorists traveling Interstate 35.
Website: pasta-alforno.com
More: A chef's touch: Pasta Al Forno opens in Ames with Italian recipes passed down through generations
Aunt Maude’s
Address: 547 Main St.
Saturday hours: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The lounge opens at 4 p.m.
Other details: Aunt Maude’s has been synonymous with fine dining in Ames since the 1970s. You can call for reservations if your party is five people or more, 515-233-4136.
Website: auntmaudes.com
Es Tas Bar and Grill
Address: 216 Stanton Ave.
Saturday hours: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Other details: Es Tas has been serving tacos and specialty drinks to the Ames community since 2003. With a Campustown location, the kitchen stays open until 2 a.m.
Website: estastacos.com
Ichiban Japanese Restaurant
Address: 117 Welch Ave.
Saturday hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Other details: Owned by a former pro hockey player, Ichiban opened in Campustown in 2021. The ramen and sushi are favorites with patrons, and the Crab Rangoon Mozzarella Sticks were featured in the Ames Tribune and the New York Times.
Website: ichibanames.com
The Mucky Duck Pub
Address: 3100 S. Duff Ave.
Saturday hours: 8 a.m. to midnight
Other details: The Mucky Duck is a British-style pub serving locally famous fish and chips. It rounds out its menu with other dishes from Great Britain, Ireland and America. Patio seating is also available.
Website: themuckyduckpub.com
Cornbred
Address: 526 Main St., Suite 106
Saturday hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Other details: Located in downtown Ames’ historic train depot, Cornbred has earned more than 250 barbecue awards, including 35 grand championships. It's the four-time winner of the Iowa BBQ Team of the Year title.
Website: cornbredbbq.com.
El Azteca
Address: North location is at 2727 Stange Road. South location is at 2120 Isaac Newton Dr.
Saturday hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Other details: With two locations, including a restaurant just off Highway 30, El Azteca is a family-owned Mexican restaurant with more than a decade of service in Ames. The south location offers the option of patio seating.
Website: elaztecaames.com
More: 'It’s been pretty crazy': In Ames, Cornbred Barbecue's 'Gigantoroll' is Facebook famous
The Café
Address: 2616 Northridge Parkway
Saturday hours: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Other details: The Café's menu focuses on local, seasonal ingredients, hand-made bread and made-from-scratch desserts. There’s a waitlist you can join before you arrive online at thecafeames.com.
Website: thecafeames.com.
Provisions Lot F
Address: 2400 N. Loop Drive
Saturday hours: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Other details: A sister location to The Café, Provisions Lot F continues the emphasis on local ingredients and house-made desserts. They don’t take reservations, but you can join the waitlist on its website, provisionsames.com.
Website: provisionsames.com
Celaya Tex-Mex
Address: 217 S. Duff Ave.
Saturday hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Other details: One of Ames' newest restaurants, Celaya Tex-Mex is owned and operated by cousins who are sons of Mexican immigrants from Celaya, Mexico. Their logo includes the Mexican community's water tower, which is fabled to be filled with Mexican caramel, known as cajeta.
Website: celayatex-mex.com
More: Celaya Tex-Mex combines 'new generation' with old family favorites
Wasabi
Address: 926 S. 16th St.
Saturday hours: 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Other details: With a wide array of sushi and other Asian dishes, Wasabi is part of a Des Moines chain that began as Wasabi Chi in 2011 and expanded to Ames in 2020. Reservations are available through their website.
Website: wasabiames.com
Ronna Faaborg covers business and the arts for the Ames Tribune. Reach her at rlawless@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Favorite Ames restaurants for Cy-Hawk gameday range from BBQ to Italian
