Matt "Broodwich" E.'s Profile

This is one of my favorite restaurants period.  It just happens to be in the back of an ethnic grocery store.  It is always near the top of the list as a go-to favorite for my wife and I, even from 20 miles away.

I've been to Middle-Eastern restaurants in much larger cities and this is the the yard stick by which all others are judged.  Sure it's in the back corner of a grocery store.  Yes, it's a no-frills dining area, and self-service drinks. The halal quality food here is the star, and it's so bright.  The owner is very helpful in guiding new patrons and old to what is good, and how it should be prepared.

The gyro meat here is the gold standard example of how it should work.  Artfully created by hand and carved off the rotisserie to order.  Couple this with exceptional tzatziki sauce, and some optional chili peppers and your are face-to-face with the most compelling gyro sandwich within hundreds of miles.  The falafels are the lightest, crispiest and best tasting I've found anywhere.  The consistency, freshness and mild flavor of the hummus here has ruined me for anything else.

They've ingeniously created several combos over the past year or so that allow patrons to experience their best items.  I first time visitors' best bet would be the Gyro with Falafel Dinner, or the Kofta, Hummus and Falafel.  My personal favorites are the Gyro and the chicken kebab.

This is one of the absolute must-try eateries in Ames.

I've tried Noodles & Co. several times since they first opened this past fall.  It has improved a lot since the first couple of visits I made.  Here's how it works, you pick a bowl size then one of their signature noodle mixes.  Can can also add a protein of tofu, shrimp, chicken or beef for an up-charge.   The trios here are a pretty good value, and include a soup or salad and a small bowl with a protein for around $8.   You can also choose from several sandwiches. You place your order, then endure a brief wait for your meal to arrive as they prepare it to order.  The Thai Curry soup has been the best offering I have sampled here.

You can traverse the globe via noodle here.  Thai, Indonesian, Japanese, Italian and American classics.   The problem here is that none of them really stand out.  They're decent for a lunch visit, but pale in comparison with the abundant offerings from Japanese, Thai, and Italian specific restaurants already in Ames.  You will find superior Udon and Pad Thai elsewhere in town.  I'm not going to seek out Noodles  & Co. when I get a craving for good Pad Thai or Yakisoba.   The Mac N' Cheese here is on par with something I recall being served from an ice-cream scoop in my youth.

The power with Noodles & Co. is that it appeals to a wide number of palettes.  It is a wise choice for lunches when you have people in your party with exotic tastes with those who are less adventuresome.  This is an easy go-to for picky eaters when choosing a place to eat as it's almost assured that everyone in your party would find something appealing.

This is a regular stop for breakfast when I am visiting the Chicago suburbs.  I'm a breakfast lover and Richard Walker's has always been reliable, and very easy to get in and out of on the weekends.

My personal favorite are the Spinach Crepes.  It is a little more expensive than a IHOP or Denny's, but this is the Chicago suburbs.  The deep menu and unique items help to offset some of the additional cost.

We made a spontaneous stop in here only for the gelato.  We haven't been to Italy, but consensus was that this was the creamiest, best example of gelato we've encountered.  Superb, and a great way to wrap up the evening here. An unexpected delight!

This is one of the better Japanese restaurants I've encountered in the mid-west. We sat at the counter prior to a concert at the Xcel Energy Center and enjoyed some of the most remarkable shiro maguro nigiri my wife and I have had.  Guys behind the counter were attentive and entertaining.

I think this place is a saloon first and a purveyor of pizzas second.  Our pizza was misshapen, floppy and very greasy.   Not a pie that should be attempted to be eaten by hand.  I think the intention here is to come for beer, with the option of a pizza snack.

No hand-towels in the mens room either.

We had a substantial problem with a water line in to our house this fall.  We sought estimates from several companies who could repair our leaky main line, and Jet Drain was substantially less.  Jet Drain was recommended by some neighbors who said they did good work at a fair price.

They did superb work and saved us nearly $700 over other local estimates.  The work has held up well over several months, they were punctual to their appointment and courteous.  They were a little difficult to schedule, but it appears that that was mostly due to demand.  From what we saved on their work, I am sure they are very popular.  Give these guys a call if you are having problem plumbing issues.

Jack Trice has evolved greatly from my time as an undergraduate at Iowa State.  The addition of press-boxes and an enormous video board have really helped to enhance the gameday atmosphere.

Jack Trice was built in the-mid 70s on a flood-plain.  It's a much more modern and simple design that utilizes a lot of formed concrete.  You won't see a lot of brick and mortar here that brings visions of guys in leather helmets, pants pulled up to almost their armpits in a flying-v formation.

Ticketholders enter through chain-link gates that envelop the facility at the perimeter, set far back from the facility itself.  Then a climb to the top of a small hill where the stadium sits.  It's a very open and airy setup. You won't be jammed in any foul-smelling small tunnels at the end of a quarter to make it back to the concourse, but there aren't a lot of places to hide from the wind in the colder closing months of football season.

A recent renovation provides ample restroom facilities. Vending here needs some work but is improving.

The best part about Jack Trice is its location on a flood plain.  There is a vast amount of parking immediately adjacent to the stadium.  It makes it easy to park and get to the game and also allows many to indulge in that most traditional of pre-game pastimes tailgating literally within feet of the stadium. While other stadiums nestled on other campuses force their fans to tailgate in nooks and crannies next to dental buildings and labs Jack Trice allows you meander in immediate proximity to the stadium and easily find parking and friends.

When we think seafood we think Waterfront.  When you arrive you'll see that most of the Des Moines area does too.  The parking lot is always jam-packed.

No other place in central Iowa does fish better, and this Ankeny location makes it much easier for us to indulge in fresh oysters, sushi and seasonal catches more often.

It's not world class but it's the best you're going to find in the middle of the country.  Always been impressed with the freshness of the selections here, and their wide variety of seasonal items that most Iowans would be hard pressed to find any where else.  There's a nice sushi bar, and a daily menu of specials served in a fairly casual environment.

One of the nicest things about this Waterfront location is the counter at the entrance.  We've picked up fish on the way home several times to grill at home.

The two Waterfront locations are a sure-bet for some of the best seafood for several hundred miles.

HuHot.  The Mongolian grill that started the thrill of Mongolian grills for me.  I enjoy this location much more than the West Des Moines "original" that brought this dining gimmick to central Iowa.  HuHot is one of the better options of the national chains that serve this style of food.  

Quality meats and vegetables, an easy to use menu system to help you build your entree sauces, and a much more relaxed and less crowded atmosphere from their other location make this a great stop to learn about or revisit the art of Mongolian BBQ.