Updated Rec's for Des Moines/Ames Area?

After doing a search, most are 1-2 years old. Unless my old age has kicked in and I'm missing something.

We're heading to Ames for my sons college orientation. So Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner are open and prefer to stay away from chains.

Iowa ay? I figure it's all loose meat and pork tenderloin sandwiches for you, with a Quad Cities pizza and a Rip's Tavern fried chicken stop along the way.

Just kidding, I have no idea what's there. Couldn't resist.

Get Your Tacos Here Antojitos Mexicanos Truck on MLK in Des Moines, Iowa by Tyrgyzistan, on Flickr

Menu Antojitos Mexicanos Truck on MLK in Des Moines, Iowa by Tyrgyzistan, on Flickr

Chicharrón Preperado from Antojitos Mexicanos Truck on MLK in Des Moines, Iowa by Tyrgyzistan, on Flickr

I was just up in Ames visiting Reiman Gardens last week. I'd suggest Vesuvius Wood-Fired Pizza for lunch. They bill themselves as a Neapolitan-style pizza place, and while you can argue about that, they do serve simple, very tasty pizza.

Right in Ames is Battle's Bar-B-Q, which serves excellent Texas-style barbecue, and makes their own sides, a real surprise in Iowa.

Vesuvius Wood-fired Pizza
1620 S. Kellogg
Ames, IA 50010
http://www.vesuvius-wfp.com/Vesuvius_Wo ... omise.html

Battle's Bar-B-Q
218 Welch Ave
Ames, IA 50014

Des Moines has more options. If I were there on a Saturday morning, I'd have breakfast at the downtown Des Moines Farmers Market. They open pretty early, so you could stop there on your way up to orientation, if you're all early risers.

Thank you all.

I'll make sure to take notes.

I would just add that +39 is the new Italian place in Ames, and Hickory Park is where most students eat with their parents. Cafe Boudelaire probably has some World Cup specials. The "Hooray For Ames" video has disappeared from the internet.