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Hickory Park gets five stars because I have fond college memories here with great friends and great food.
Hickory Park has a laid-back atmosphere and is almost always busy, so be prepared to wait. But, the wait is well worth while. Save room for ice cream because the ice cream menu is extensive.
A definite must-eat place in Ames.
I love the decor and old country feel vibe of this place. Great theme / ambiance.
HUGE Ice Cream / Dessert Menu! Sweet Potato Fries were good, for all you lovers out there.
The service was lack luster and food took forever, yet was served only "warm"....
Two Stars for now...'till next time....
The history alone makes Hickory Park amazing...
I lived in Ames for a few years as a little girl--we always ate at Hickory Park for special occasions (this was when it was in the old building--low ceilings, intimate rooms, the indian man statue at the front door). We frequented HP because the food was good, prices were cheap, and at that time they had some kids eat free deal (my dad was in grad school and it made it doable to take a family of 5 out on a tight budget).
We moved away when I was still small, yet everytime we went back to Iowa to see the extended fam we managed to fit in a trip to HP. Great news--my parents moved back to Ames! So now, every trip home is almost guaranteed a stop at HP :)
Top reasons to love HP:
-Ribs are my favorite food on earth...HP does pork ribs like they mean business.
-The ice cream menu is enough to make you want to vomit. Especially after the exorbitant amount of food you probably already ate.
-Kids can get stuff like "green river pop" and other delicious and slightly disgusting drinks.
-Great gluten free menu available for people with food allergies--they are very willing to work with you!
-Large parties are welcome
-Happy happy birthday may all your dreams come true. happy happy happy from hickory park to you HAPPY BIRTHDAY! They sing that song on your birthday with clapping and give you a free sundae. It's super.
Yes, the new warehouse style building is a tad large and you can get lost trying to find the bathroom....BUT--they kept the stained glass lamps, great food, quick service and charm.
Up 1 Star after dinner here last week with Gayle, my son, and my parents.
We came in on a Tuesday and Hickory Park was still busy! We were seated promptly and got a nice big middle booth. We were waited on promptly, the food came quickly out of the kitchen, and our service person was friendly and attentive throughout. Gayle and I enjoyed the special that included chicken and ribs. And it was a lot of food for $9.95.
But what Gayle, my son, and I enjoyed most, was just hanging out with my parents. They're interesting, funny, a bit quirky, and always a treat to be around. The meal, service, and ambiance of Hickory park made this family time extra special.
Sarah K.'s experience with Hickory Park pretty much matches mine, except that it's my parents who… Read more »
Every time my dad comes to visit, the first thing he asks is if we can go to "that bbq place." I think the homestyle food selection, generous portions, and cheap prices (not to mention the sundae menu) have sucked him in good.
Everyone once in a while I get a craving for a hot turkey sandwich and mashed potatoes, so I head on down to HP. I prefer to order carry-out, which is usually ready in 15-30 minutes, rather than wait to eat in the restaurant, which is always busy.
I like taking friends here when they visit just for the tourist experience!
I honestly never could figure out in my 5 years in Ames why people are always going gaga over Hickory Park. Sure it's a ridiculously large restaurant with a ridiculously large sundae menu, but every time I ate there my stomach was always pretty upset with me later. That combined with the insanely over-hyped popularity make HP a combination that I try to avoid.
So I always made a habit to avoid going here because there are tons of other more desirable and unique options in Ames. Plus, it goes without saying that your friends will drag you here at least once a year. Even without trying to go to HP I'm sure I ate there at least that many times, if not more.
I have mixed feelings about Hickory Park. It seems to be the place that everyone takes their parents because the portions are huge, the wait is short, and the prices are decent.
Hickory Park is good comfort food, but nothing overly awesome. The most amazing thing about the place is the service; they have so much staff, they churn through people really fast.
Overall, this place is good when you're missing home, but venture around Ames a bit to find other good places.
Get a saucy southerner and a sundae and you'll be happy. The fried appetizers are also better than usual. This place is good, fast, and cheap.
Don't go to Hickory Park if there's a big football game that day or if it's homecoming or parents' weekend. Hickory Park is too busy at these times are you'll have to wait an hour for a table.
First of all, know what to expect. You will be packed in like sardines, you will probably have to wait for a table. But they move people in and out of here very rapidly.
Know what to order. The ribs: fantastic. Sliced pork, still pretty good, but not peerless. The saucy southerner: please no. This one stinks.
Go here, get ribs, leave happy. Pretty good ice cream sundaes too.
With Ames being completely out of the way of most good bbq in Iowa, Hickory Park seems to fit the bill if you are not wanting to drive down to Des Moines.
The restaurant is a mix of soda fountain kid's birthday part decor with a giant restaurant to seat all of Iowa. The place is huge, but seems busy at all times of the day (that people are not at work). The trick to HP is to eat there for lunch or get there before the 6pm rush. Also, be sure to shy away from there on game day. People travel miles just to go. I don't know why, but they seem to love it.
I tend to order one of the sandwiches and the beans or corn. The portions for the Turkey and Pork are good, and so are the prices.
If I am into something a bit bigger, their beef or pork ribs are a great deal and so is their dinner with a sampling of all the smoked meats.
Decent bbq but no award winners....but cheap as hell, so I will keep going back when I am in the mood for meat.
O yum. I had the pork bbq sandwich. It was some of the best pork of my life, but I'm from Seattle, so what do I know? The sundaes are so cute and good and it was hard to choose just one but I went simple and got butter pecan with hot fudge. Crazy atmosphere, and the waitstaff was professional and efficient, without being cold. Totally worth the caloric expenditure.
Long lines. Mediocre BBQ. Over-hyped. Nothing Special.
Some idiot in 1878 started a rumor that Hickory Park was THE place to eat in Ames, and for some unholy reason this rumor still has traction. If you have a very large family and you just want to keep them occupied, go to Hickory Park and stand in line. If you really care about the people you are with, take them somewhere great. Chinese Homestyle Cooking, Dublin Bay, and The Cafe come to mind. Maybe one star is too harsh, but it is necessary to compensate for all the sheep that rank this novelty restaurant so highly.
If you want BBQ, go to Battles. It's not great, but it's better.
I worked here in college and eaten here for years. Their food is decent and the prices are reasonable. It is not what I would call great BBQ. If you are in Ames and want quality BBQ check out Battle's in Campustown.
Hickory Park is to Ames what Casa Bonita is to Denver, CO. Large amounts of people eating affordable palatable food and standing in line for a long time do so. I don't enjoy eating here because of the crowds and business model of how it works. I feel like the meat that is being served. Food service procured Cattlemen's sauces are a disappointing shortcut in the craft of barbecue.
You will get a satisfying meal, at a good price here. I just don't enjoy the whole rigmarole in my free time.
Since the previous reviews have been pretty much limited to love and hate, I thought I'd give my relatively middle-of-the-road view.
Hickory Park is widely hyped as "the place" to eat in Ames. At one time, this may have been true - but now there are a lot more choices. Still, if you're looking for a casual BBQ dinner with big portions, this is still the place to go.
At Hickory Park, you'll generally case the parking lot a few times to grab a spot - it's very busy - but don't worry, people are always coming and going. You'll generally wait a long time in their stuffed-to-the-gills waiting area. Pick a nice day so you can wait outside, or go on a weeknight.
After your table is called, you'll be sent to wait for your waitron near the "Indian statue". This will put you right near the kitchen, which is loud and bustling all the time. Your waitron will come in a minute or two to hastily lead you to a table, drop menus, and flee to another table. It's loud, with long rustic tables and a wide-open room that make the place feel like a log-cabin cafeteria.
You have a wide selection of burgers, BBQ, and various sides. The portions are very ample and there are several choices for vegetarians. They also have a very wide selection of fountain sodas (e.g. "phosphates" and other concoctions), milkshakes, and ice cream sundaes. Service is friendly and prompt, but very bare-bones.
All in all, the food is decent and service is quick, but it feels like a bit of a factory experience - their business model is to get you in, fed, and out. Don't go expecting a leisurely meal, or for conversation, or you'll be sorely disappointed.
mmm pork ribs
Although it is a bit of a food factory in its current location, it still can't be beat.
My desert of choice is the merry-go-round with mint ice cream, fudge and animal crackers.
This place is usually always busy so be prepared to wait, however, the wait is usually never too long since the restaurant is huge. A great place to dine out as a couple or with a large group.
I've enjoyed everything I've tried off the menu and you can't beat the old fashioned desserts!
Hickory Park is an Ames institution, if you're visiting from out of town you absolutely have to stop here. I'm not actually a huge fan of the food (bbq-style isn't my fave), but the ribs (and the huge portions) are legendary. Also, their hot fudge sundaes are really yummy and they give you a free one on your birthday!
Great BBQ, not as good as Battle's BBQ but it still rocks. The mash potatoes are fantastic as well as the cheese balls. I recommend the smoked ham sandwich or the saucy southerner. They also have great ice cream for dessert if you still have room left.
Been here a bunch. Good if what you are looking for is cheap and reliable. Which for Ames is hard to come by. Sandwiches are good, but the meat on the beef ribs is slightly drier than the bones they came on.
This place isn't that good. It's just OK. But in a city that lacks in restaurants this is one of the few places to go, so everybody does. I don't know why everybody thinks it is so great. I guess because there's no place better to go. Because of this it is also very very crowded.
The ribs, bbq chicken, and saucy southerner are the best! Wide selection of desserts.
The BEST ribs ever! I miss this place!
The food here is pretty good. They acually have a great grilled cheese sandwich, and good pulled meat sandwiches. The ice cream selection is aweome- many time we would just go in for an ice cream treat! The wait is usually lengthy, but the proces are very reasonable!
Ames, IA
Category: Barbeque
