Olde Main Brewing Company & Restaurant
316 Main St, Ames, IA, 50010
Olde Main Brewing Company & Restaurant Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Ames for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
316 Main St
Ames, IA, 50010 - Phone (515) 232-0553
- Website https://oldemainbrewing.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
- Mon : 11:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Eric B.
Inspired by my parent's fitness (see Cub Foods review), Gayle and I went for a long walk yesterday. We walked from my parent's house to and around the Iowa State Campus, went down Lincoln Way to downtown and then back home. We figured that was about 7-8 miles. And then just before we got home, Mom and Dad picked us up to head out to Ada Hayden Park to meet up with my Sister and her family. Once there, we did the 3 mile loop around. Not a bad day's work. And there were mild temperatures, low humidity and no bugs! At the downtown portion of our hike, Gayle and I stopped in at the Olde Main Brewing Company for a pint and a nosh (a Midwest term BTW). We stayed on the Pub side and hence this review doesn't address the restaurant or the Sunday buffet. Gayle had the Amber Ale, I had a Stout and we split the chicken quesadilla appetizer (which was large enough for how much we wanted to eat). Everything was excellent and the apetizer was surprisingly tasty and fresh. The guy who served us was friendly and did a nice job of keeping us informed as the kitchen was a bit slow. The space was very comfortable and like Jaclyn P., I am soooo happy that Iowa has finally limited smoking indoors.
(4)Donald Y.
I have tried so hard to like Olde Main, I really have. I love microbreweries and I make any attempt possible to visit them no matter if it's around my home or when I am on vacation. Since Olde Main opened back in 2004 I have been here at least 15 times, maybe more and finally, I just gave up. Olde Main just doesn't hold up like the brew pubs in Des Moines. The beer here just isn't that good. Their regular lineup is uninspiring at best and I have had some seasonals from them that have been just downright repulsive. Their summer "Lemon Thyme" beer tastes like you think lemon PineSol would taste like. And last summer I tried their seasonal "Black Mamba" and it was probably the only beer I have ever ordered that I refused to finish. It smelled and tasted like dirty dishwater. The food, well, it's average at best. I don't remember each thing I have ordered in the past and maybe that's a testament to their averageness. I'm definitely not trying to say their food is bad but for me, with a microbrewery, the beer usually takes center stage and if the food is good, then outstanding! But here, the beer just doesn't make the grade, and that lack of tasty beer overshadows their food.
(2)Gregory B.
The beer is generally very good. I sampled them all. Kudos to the brewmaster. The food is not consistent, but at times is inspired. The roast chicken was delicious, delicately smoked, but raw inside. They roasted it more, but sheesh. The crab cakes were pretty good, with an amazing pear slaw. The server was perfect, but the frat boy/sorority girls at the front desk were uniformly clueless and surly. It was clear that no manager was around. When we arrived (the place was pretty empty), they seemed intruded upon. We had to wait while one checked her cell phone while conversing with two others. Finally, we got their attention. "We have a reservation." "Do you have a name?" was the annoyed reply. DO YOU HAVE A NAME? The owners need to attend to this. But it's worth it for the beer.
(4)Marlaine D.
Is it so hard to serve a French fry hot? Do you enjoy lukewarm fries? I do not!! Every calorie counts & a cold French fry is a true loser! We enjoy the beer but hesitate if they can not even get a fry hot!
(2)Bela S.
As a micro brewery, this place deserves five stars. Their specials, especially Tuesday and Wednesday are amazing. They essentially amount to $1 micro brew pints. Amazing. Seasonals are awesome. Reindeer fuel is unique. Horseman's revenge is wonderfully pumpkin-y. Man will I miss this place (no, not closing, we just moved). The food is ok. We have had dinner a few times, but later just went for apps and taps. The restaurant is nice and clean, and worth checking out. During their "specials nights" they do require a hand stamp, which is nice, because you are not stuck pulling out your wallet every time you go to get a pitcher refilled.
(4)Sarah C.
Service was wonderful, so that can't be faulted. But we were disappointed by the beer and the food. Beer was warm and flat all the way around the sampler. Chicken Saltimbocca was 2 big fat dry chx breasts on bread. No sauce or condiments. Fries were good though. Smoked Gouda Mac and cheese was soupy. Pasta was small elbow mac with too much sauce, not baked, though the sauce was tasty. Just too overpowering. My daughter liked the root beer! Restaurant mostly empty on an early Tuesday evening. It's not a lost cause; they have the infrastructure in place. Just work the food better, and chill and carbonate the beer better. We are from out of town, but big brew pub aficionados and hubby is a brewer as well, so we always try local craft beer. Keep going!
(2)Lenny J.
Except for the onion rings, friendly service, and the Oban 14 this was a complete miss. Caesar salad with onions, tomatoes, (huh)? A full pound of mashed potatoes aside a pitiful rib eye topped with what could only be described as blue cheese puree. Bitter and grainy. The bruschetta was passable, although the topping was unremarkable, but my chicken wing appetizer was undercooked. Keep the staff, and the Oban and rework everything else. I can't comment on the beer since I didn't try it.
(1)Pam K.
Wasn't sure after reading reviews. But our server Collin was very good and the food was very acceptable. Can't rate any higher because they didn't bring water or bread to the table or a plate for my mussel shells. We had the chicken scaloppine and mussels in clam sauce
(3)Michael P.
The atmosphere and Waite staff were okay, food was bland and prices were high.. Overall unimpressed...
(3)James W.
Second review.... I've been here at least 50 times and I don't know why. It just is so bad. The food is horrible and the beer is not good. My problem (and I assume everyone else's) is I have a few in me and I think, I wanna go to a nice local brewery. Every time I am disappointed. I come here and yearn for a real local brew pub every time. Tonight we got the spinach artichoke dip and we got a bowl of thick gravy with no spinach or artichoke. First time I literally could not finish my meal.
(1)Rachel Y.
Hate hate hate the new menu. Bring back the old nachos! I'll definitely not be eating here again. They are trying to turn it into a gastropub when the food is middle of the road at best.
(3)Haley R.
The food is good. Nothing spectacular, but solid. Service is almost always terrible. On Wednesday nights, you're better off going to the bar for a beer than expecting to ever be waited on. The beer is not great . Occasionally it tastes good, but most of the time it is okay at best. It seems to be slumping even more lately. However, pints cost $1 on Wednesday nights (and growlers, which are about five pints, are $5 on Thursday nights), which is nice. Unfortunately, much of the time on pint night the beer is brought to you in plastic juice tumblers. I understand they're busy and serving a lot of beer when they're only selling it for a dollar, but they're not doing themselves any favors. Even good beer tastes like shit out of a plastic cup.
(3)Ellen F.
The restaurant was freezing cold and according to a worker it's been like that. The new menu is very limited. We ordered the onion rings as an appetizer and they were awful! Even my 13 yr old couldn't stomach them. We ordered burgers medium. They were bleeding red in the center. And to top it off, it was a $11 burger!! Our server was dressed in jeans and gym shoes and looked sloppy. I don't know what management changes have occurred here, but we will never be back. The food and service have been slipping for awhile, not it has hit rock bottom.
(1)Terin C.
There are apparently a lot of brewing companies in Iowa. I didn't see the actual tanks here, but that's okay. They had "homemade root beer" listed on the menu, so that was proof enough for me. Speaking of the menu, I couldn't really eat much here, unfortunately. Sometimes, when the person across from me is eating delicious delicious lasagna, and I'm staring down my fork at a pile of lettuce... I hate life and everyone attached to it. Other times, though, I think "screw it", and I have a slice of chocolate cake for dinner. Which is what I did here. I had a slice of chocolate cake with a side of bread rolls. It was not a proud moment for me, friends, but it was a tasty one. You can judge me if you like, but it won't take away that slice of cake and basket of rolls that I ate. That memory is mine forever. By the way, the rolls were nothing short of awesome. They tasted like they may have been made from pizza dough, which is an inspired idea if you ask me. I mean, unless they weren't made from pizza dough, in which case, I will be doing that, and everyone will tell me how inspired an idea it was. Excellent. Looking back, I feel like I should have gotten a salad or something, because then I could have legitimately commented on the food. As it is, I can only tell you that the cake was okay, and wax poetic about the dinner rolls some more... which I will not be doing. If I stop by here again, I'm going to try some of their homemade root beer. I should have done that, too. Man, I failed this place as a consumer. Also, our server was a little on the cold side. That's okay, though. I did order cake for dinner. That could be construed as strange in some cultures. Perhaps I offended her. In any case, I'm done with this review now. You should seriously try the bread rolls. Okay, now I'm done.
(3)Matt E.
In my opinion Olde Main has single-handedly revitalized the downtown district of Ames. This place gave the community a reason to be on Main Street again in the evening. I do enjoy going here and it's one of the marquee establishments in the Ames area. The beer here is a great break from the norm of prevalent lagers and watered down beers of the mid-west. Olde Main is to be commended on bringing some depth to the beer drinking culture of Cyclone country. The beers are not world class and do tend to suffer from consistency issues. Their seasonals are their strongest offerings. The beer alone would garner a stronger review, but when coupled with the dining situation Olde Main ends up being just average. Our most recent visit here was with a group of 8. We had a 7:30 reservation and were not served our entrees until two hours later. Their menu has been improved to reflect the midwestern staples with a more sophisticated twist. They look great on the menu, but the proteins (salmon, pork) we received were pretty dry and over-cooked. I want to love Olde Main and applaud their efforts to give downtown Ames a kick in the pants with an enterprise that helps distinguish Ames as a community, but there are some issues here that keep visiting from being a completely enjoyable experience.
(3)Travis B.
The food here is pretty good. The Sunday Brunch is a step above the menu. The beer...well, it's inconsistent. Historically, I've been a big fan of the Clone Ale. It would seem that over the last year, they've attempted to ramp up their production and haven't gotten it right quite yet. Or something. I don't know. Wednesday nights you can get any Olde Main beer for $1 a pint. I prefer to get the same specials at DG's where you can still get a pint glass made of actual glass (Olde Main tends to run out on pint nights, serving in plastic tumblers instead). Thursday nights you can fill your growler for $5...so essentially a pint night to-go. I hope they get the beers fine tuned back in, because the Clone Ale was a good one.
(3)Alex H.
Good homemade beer. Their Nachos are delicious. I personally recommend trying their Sodbuster or any of their dark beer!! The staff is very friendly here. I recommend going there for some appetizers and a few drinks. Dollar pints on Wednesdays and $5 growlers on Thursdays! Can't beat those prices.
(4)Rosa K.
OMG I love love love the Sunday brunch. Plenty of actually tastefull food and variety. I was so pleasantly surprised of the quality of this brunch in Ames, Iowa. Customized omelets made fresh to order... Eggs, french toast, sausage, bacon, mashed potatoes and green beans, pasta, salmon, prime rib, honey ham, tons of fruit, and an amazing selection of desserts including gorgeous giant chocolate covered strawberries, champagne glasses of chocolate mouse, cheesecake, bread pudding and cookies! Yummy yummy yummy in my tummy!!! $16.95/ person.... TOTALLY WORTH IT! Though I wish I was under 10 or over 65... to take advantage of the kid and senior prices... I'll have to arrive in costume next time and wear a white wig. ;)
(5)Eric L.
The IPA was decent but the food was far below average. Stop by for a beer and go somewhere else to eat.
(2)Marcey S.
My family went there for Thanksgiving 2012 and I must say it was definitely subpar. They were set up more for Breakfast at 1:30 than Thanksgiving - cheesy eggs, bacon, sausage, sausage gravy and biscuits and an omelet station. Other than that there were yucky green beans, the standard mashed potatoes, marshmellow yams. etc. Basically, everything had the same texture and consistency. Of course there was also ham and turkey but without horseradish and only canned cranberry sauce. Plain and short everything was flavorless and bland. There was an attempt at a fruit bar but it just included a few melons and pineapple. The dessert table was mediocre, and had nothing for a gluten free person. This is a marked contrast from a few years back when we had gone for a prior Thanksgiving. During that visit, they had had several sides available, a great fruit bar and dessert table loaded full and even included chocolate mousse and chocolate covered strawberries. I am just saying that for $18+ a plate it should have been better. My family ended up spending a little over $120 not including the tip for my husband and I and four children. For the price, we could have had a catered Thanksgiving from Hy-Vee. At least then we would have been prepared for the kind of bland slop that only accompanies nursing home foods. We just expected more out of Old Main.
(1)Samantha S.
This place has the WORST service I've ever experienced. We went for Sunday brunch and the buffet is no longer there, and the new menu has a limited number of items. Out waitress, Jessica H, was a completely off putting and rude, and was sitting down the entire time we were eating and didn't serve us until we got up multiple times to ask to order. She brought us bread pudding that was completely cold, and when we asked them to possibly heat it up for us she sarcastically said "sure, into the microwave it goes." She and other wait staff were sitting watching television and we had to get up and ask for service. It was completely unacceptable and when we paid, the waitress was rude and had an attitude and then went back to sitting and watching tv like we had inconvenienced her. Never going back.
(1)Lee E.
I came for the locally brewed beer, and I left unimpressed. I tried the Gryphonbraü American Lager and the Long Face Amber Ale. The flavor of the beers were okay. But, neither tasted good enough to entice me to order another beer. Also, the beer was served in room temperature pint glasses. I prefer my beer served in a chilled or frosty cold glass.
(2)Bret H.
Went to ISU for a couple years and if the train were still around I would've been here way more often!! With that being said when I did get the chance to stop by for a few rounds they were some of the best times I had at ISU! By far the best beer in Ames can be found here! You can't beat the Dinky Wheat!! Food is top notch as well.
(5)Tom L.
Steak was kind of fatty. Potatoes and veggies were not good. Tap water tasted funny due to tap lines. Only place in Ames that brews their own beer. Very dead during the week.
(2)Samantha C.
Stopped in for lunch while walking down Main. I was stuck between the Chicken salad croissant, and the cheese tortellini. I ended up going with the croissant and it came with a choice of side so I got a salad. I was afraid I should have gone with the pasta, until the croissant came out and I took a bite. The chicken was juicy and chunky, not mixed into a paste like some places. The flavor was light and fresh, not bogged down in a bunch of mayo. Salad was just as good, they use fresh greens and spinach instead of the usual cheap iceberg. This place is huge so I wonder how service is during a rush, but it's really a neat restaurant.
(4)John N.
A friend of mine and I dined here for dinner. He had the Tequila Lime Chicken and I had the Andouille & Shrimp Pasta. It was clear that the kitchen cared to use fresh ingredients (crisp peppers and shrimp with firm mushrooms in mine). We both agreed at the end of the meal that Olde Main was a good find. As a homebrewer I enjoy a well-crafted beer as much as anyone, and Olde Main does a good job of putting together a suite of beers to appeal to a range of palates. Personally I am left wanting more hops in their pale ale, but I also know that my left-coast sensibilities toward pale ale (think Lagunitas IPA) don't always meet with what sells well in a midwest brewpub. All things being equal, the beer brewed here is very good.
(4)Jeff E.
I really enjoy the ambiance of Olde Main - it's a nice restaurant but also has a separate area for the brewery/bar. The food is good but I've always thought the prices were a little high. However, you can't beat $1 pint night on Wednesday's for some good local beer! Great for groups, a nice dinner with family or for a date.
(3)Faith Q.
Has the potential to be very good....I would give it a 5 for atmosphere and the seasonal Oktoberfest I got on $1 pint night (Wednesdays) but a 1 for food. I got the southwest steak salad....the steak was coated in something but was virtually tasteless. It was cooked well, though....the staff was nice, but that salad had absolutely no flavor :(....since I travel so much for work, I try to watch my weight and eat tasty food at the same, so I thought this might be a safe bet with the black beans, corn, cilantro, and cilantro-lime vinaigrette (which was oddly sweet???)....I didnt find what I wanted here...but the Oktoberfest is top notch!
(3)CHRIS C.
Pumpkin ale is pretty good but disappointed in the oktoberfest. Overall not very impressed with their beer compared to other breweries that I've been too.
(2)Trevor F.
Tonight this place was five stars great service! Food and beer was exceptional! By far the best place on main street tonight. The nachos where so good the beef and bean dip is like a chilli and now I want more! If your looking for beers that you won't find most other places this is the place to come!
(4)K. B.
A very good brewery and a great place to meet friends. There menu is good and you'll like the food. This is a very good place to meet downtown
(4)Ben M.
Food items have improved with the new menu and cook. Always been a fan of their brews as well. Off Kilter and Dinkey Wheat are my favorite of their year-round brews.
(4)Jennifer O.
My mom and I used to sit on the pub side and play cribbage, but they got rid of the stack of games they had. They also got rid of some good vegetarian items on the menu. But I am no longer a vegetarian, so I don't mind so much! Olde Main has some great food and awesome house made root beer. Not a beer drinker, but my mom always gets the Dinkey when we're there. I always want to hit up Sunday brunch, but it just seems a little too expensive. The rest of the menu is fairly priced though.
(4)Douglas C.
Olde Main , in its relatively few years here, has become an institution. It's a favorite in town for both beer and food, and the amount of space it offers makes it a natural place to gather for the students and the community. It's a place that Ames needed, and it filled that need, and continues to fill it. That being said. I'm not the biggest fan. The beer is alright. It's drinkable, affordable, and they offer a lot of variety. It is, however, over-flavored and lacks the grace and subtlety of other great microbrews. When compared to Bud Light, it's amazing. When compared to other microbrews, it's kind of a crime. The food is also disappointing. They have a huge menu that covers just about anything that you might want to eat at a pub, yet strangely I never really feel like eating anything they're offering. You expect, given the prices, that you would get something better or more exotic than you would at a sit-down chain. But in reality, though impressive sounding as the menu items are, they're just not that great. Even the burger is bad. It's overcooked, bland, and lost in the gigantic, dry, and flavorless buns. Still, it's not all bad. The service is quick considering how busy it can get, and the staff are friendly. More than anything though, it is the surplus of space that makes Olde Maine a fun place. It accommodates large parties easily. The only more spacious establishment is Hickory Park.
(2)edmond t.
What can you say about the only brewery in Ames? Their beer is great and I always recommend The Dinkey! The food is pretty good, but there are better places to eat in Ames, so stick with an appetizer and enjoy their beer. They have a great brewery atmosphere and when they have live music, it is always a good time!
(4)Jed B.
Good beer and good food. Kind of down to earth grub. Not a lot of cutting edge menu items but what they offer is very good. And top it off with a beer or two...or three.
(4)Goos Y.
Amber ale us good. Food was ok. Service bumped it to 4 stars
(4)Dave A.
The beer is good, the food is good, the staff is friendly. Don't miss this place if you are in Ames.
(5)Josh S.
Back when I was a student at Iowa State, Olde Maine Brewing (316 Main Street, Downtown Ames) was just opening. At the time, you would expect the food, service and even the craft beer to be just average at best. It wasn't half bad. I remember my parents taking me out for dinner or for Sunday Brunch and it was alright... when I wasn't paying for it. Back then, being a college student, I didn't like having to pay $20 for a main dish and a halfway decent beer. Any money I did have from working my part time job went to either a) my car, b) my apartment or c) Krystyn. Ironically, answer "c" still gets a good portion of my money on a daily basis. We ate out on "date night" which happened only once every two weeks or so, and even then, we didn't eat at a restaurant this expensive. Now that I'm an adult, have an income and can afford to buy the food and beer at Olde Main, I don't want to. They have gone backwards since they opened. The food is worse, the beer is worse and the service, which used to be really good, is now okay at best. We decided to take our Moms out the weekend before Mother's Day this year because we couldn't be there (had a wedding to attend) and we figured even if we could have been there, we wouldn't get a table. Seeing as how graduation had come and gone, we figured it would be a good time to eat at Olde Main. Upon arrival, we stood at the "please wait to be seated" area for almost ten minutes before someone came up to seat us. When they did arrive, they told us it would be a fifteen minute wait. We were stunned by this since the restaurant was practically empty. When we asked why, they told us it was "because we're swamped right now." Swamped? Do you only have one person cooking, bartending, waiting and hosting? I can't imagine how horrible the wait must be on a night when they actually are busy. He then went on to say "it was because you have a larger group." SIX people are a large group? Once he finally did seat us, things moved along pretty quickly. They took our drink orders and food orders within five minutes. We ordered drinks (mostly beer and a few waters). I ordered their "Sodbuster" because I love a good, hearty stout beer when I do get beer. Not impressed. It had very little flavor. So, I decided to order a second, different beer and tried the Off Kil'ter (a Scottish Ale) and again, extremely unimpressed with the flavor. Seriously, if you advertise "craft" beer and it is brewed on sight, you'd better make sure it is REALLY good, especially if that is what you are supposedly known for. I got the chicken tortellini with bacon and pesto. Nice to see this was still on the menu since this was a favorite of mine back in the days when we used to go here a few years ago. This wasn't as good as I remembered it. The portion was small, the bacon was pretty much all fat and no meat and the food arrived cold. Our waitress took it back and zapped it in the microwave for a few seconds and brought it back out. You could tell it was microwaved. Not what I would expect for a meal that costs $16. The place was clean and the décor is still pretty cool (you can see the brewing tanks through the glass behind the bar) but other than this, Olde Main isn't very good. I am sorry that I returned to this place and I have learned my lesson. Our mothers deserve more for Mother's Day than what they got at Olde Main. My mom told me she would have had a better meal if she would have gone down the block and eaten at Great Plains... and I agree 100%. Don't waste your money here. Overpriced food, slacking service and flavorless beers. "Meh" pretty much sums up our FINAL experience at Olde Main. I don't know how this place stays open.
(2)Cheryl A.
In Ames for a Dance Competion. Had an hour and a half to kill, so we thought we would try them out. The place looks very nice and upscale pub kind of look inside. We had high hopes. It was a Saturday around 2PM. Not busy at all. Should have been our first clue. Besides a state wide dance comp in town , also the #4 Cyclones had just finished a dual wrestling meet with #3 Oklahoma, and being in a Big 12 School town, you would have thought it would be packed in here. But it wasn't. We ordered 2 Clone Ales , 1 Mt Dew, and 1 Root Beer, along with 2 burgers and chips and 2 salads. The Mt Dew was there with in a couple of minutes. It was 15 minutes before the 2 beers and the root beer arrived. Since it was already established that the service was going to be slow on a day when they were not busy, I told our waitress to bring us 2 more Clone Pale Ales, thinking they would arrive about the time we finished the first 2. The Clones weren't bad, but weren't very good pale ales either. I should have taken the time to taste before I ordered us 2 more, but that was on me. Anyway we finished our beers 15 minutes later, and did not have the new beers ordered delivered to our table yet, and no food. I flagged the waitress down and asked about our other 2 beers, and she forgot to put the order in. She apologized and went to put the order in. They came in 10 minutes, faster than the first 2 but still no food. We finished those 2 beers 15 minutes later and still no food. By this time we had been there 45 minutes and no food. We flagged the waitress down again and told her to change our order to go because we had to get back to the dance comp or miss our daughters next dance. We finally received our food after an hour from ordering. 2 hamburgers and 2 salads, and it takes an hour?? Ate our meals back at Stephens Auditorium. Salads were just salads nothing special, and the hamburgers were dry and under seasoned. Next time I would just go to Casey's. Get faster service, better craft beer selection and definitely a better burger. Place needs new management and a better brewer and it would have some possibilities .
(1)Nicholas T.
Beer and sprits selection is good, but the food needs a major upgrade, which is sad since Main Street needs help on the bar food front. Please Please Please get a newer Golden Tee machine - 1987 called and they want it back.
(3)JJ D.
In Ames, IA, restaurants seem to close between 2:00 (late lunch) and 5:00 (early dinner). A friend and I were in Ames, wanted to eat around 3:00. This was all we could find open. However, we had to eat in the bar, but that's ok. Waiter gave us menus, but he was also bartending and kind of "forgot" us. I had to hunt the waiter down to take our order. I ordered Pork Tenderloin sandwich, friend ordered Classic Burger. when the order was taken, the waiter asked if I wanted fries or a salad. I asked if the salad was included (instead of fries) or was it "extra." I swear the waiter said "included." So I ordered salad instead of fries. (My friend ordered fries, they were the good hand cut ones!) However, when I got my bill, I was charged $1 for the salad. I protested this to the waiter. Instead of ringing it up again, he just said he would "pay" it. Ok, so I subtracted $1 from the total and gave a tip based on that. Took awhile for our sandwiches to come. Food was ok. Pork Tenderloin was fried/breaded. Salad that came with it was decent sized, 1000 Island dressing was good! I drove here in a rental car. No place to park RV's, this is down town Ames. Sandwiches were a bit pricey, but the entrees were really pricey. They have Wi-Fi.
(3)Fabricio D.
The brewpub was nice looking inside. The pros were: the food was good, nothing spectacular but good. The beers on tap were also good, nothing that wowed me. Cons: I think my experience could had been better if the server was good. She dropped the sampler off without telling us what was what. Therefore we had to guess. When we placed out order it appeared she did not know the menu and we wanted GF option and told us she did not have any. Yet, the website for olde main says they have GF option. Overall: 2 stars out of 5. Service was poor.
(2)Lauren F.
Great food, usually good beer. Our family had an incident where the beer had obviously gone bad and the server and the bartender both denied it (they obviously didn't bother to taste it). They refused to replace the pitcher and insisted the beer was fine. Incredibly unprofessional in my opinion. Aside from that incident we haven't had any issues but that has left a sour taste in our mouths. The maple wood smoked salmon is great, along with the quesadillas, sandwiches, and really everything we've eaten. The incident won't stop us from coming back but I'd hope they'll adjust their attitudes and improve upon their customer service.
(3)Adrienne M.
I'm really not a fan of this place, or at least their Sunday buffet. For some reason, my parents love it, and want to eat there every time I'm in town. The first time I went to the buffet, I was just kind of underwhelmed, and not really turned off. However, the most recent time was really disappointing. The roast beef was STILL ALIVE. It was so thick, red, and bloody that even my dad (who loves rare prime rib) was incredibly grossed out. The scrambled eggs & omelets were also undercooked, which didn't necessarily taste bad, but might be a health issue. The rest of the buffet-style entrees were standard (bacon and sausage, biscuits, waffles, etc) and were generally bland and cold. Also, service was fairly poor, but that's not unusual at a buffet. The one redeeming thing about the buffet is the desserts, which were pretty decent. I especially recommend the chocolate mousse (which, unlike other chooclate mousses I've had was not so saturated in rum that you could no longer taste the chocolate) and the chocolate covered strawberries. Once again, this is just a comment on the buffet, and for all I know the normal meals are ok.
(2)Drew B.
Had the buffalo chicken salad it was good and we got our food fast. service dropped rating to a 3 when i ordered the "buffalo chicken salad" and she asked, "did you want the chicken with buffalo sauce?"....? later ordered the same round of drinks twice, when the bartender blew it off the first time. Just a few examples, maybe hit em on a rough night? Food was good but had a lame experience.
(3)Roz S.
I've been to Olde Main a few times and have been underwhelmed every time. While the food off the menu isn't bad per se, it is quite overpriced for the food quality. I enjoyed the vegetarian polenta, but it was nothing special. The Sunday brunch was so bad that we actually walked out - there were few selections and most of them had been ravaged by children and had not been cleaned up. The salad bar had stray food everywhere. Head to the Gateway for a good Sunday brunch (about four times the choices for about the same price). The Olde Main brews their own beer, but whenever we have gone, they have had few available selections. Most of the beers on the menu were sold out.
(2)Jaclyn P.
Good place to go for a drink. We had my mom's 60th b-day party there and the food was decent. I liked being able to go have a drink there and not come home smelling like an ash tray. I'm so excited that Iowa passed the bill about no smoking in certain establishments. I love it, I love it, I love it. Sorry about rambling on about the no smoking thing. This is a nice place to go. Something a little different for the Ames folk.
(4)Steve T.
My wife and I were in Ames for a night, and thought some fresh beer would be just the thing for us! First we were perplexed why there are two separate entrances. We walked in the set of doors on the right, which must have been the restaurant. The host just said "two?" and sat us at a table, which was quiet and boring, not quite the experience we were hoping for, but we were really there for some good beer and food, so atmosphere was secondary. We each ordered a pint of Long Face, their amber ale, not only did it smell funny, but it tasted flat and stale as well. While drinking the beer, we tried the Jalapeno cheese bread, which was a nice surprise. For our second beer, she had a Dinkey, and I a Clone. While my Clone was fresh, and a huge improvement over the Long Face, the Dinkey had a stale flavor to it, luckily the orange it was served with made it bearable. Beeing a beer geek, I had hoped we would have a few beers, a few apps, and leave with a growler. After our 3rd stale tasting beer, we cut our eating short, to head for a place with better beer, which is a slight disappointment, because the jalapeno bread had me excited to order another plate off the menu.
(2)Brianna B.
We have been to Olde Main a couple of times. Their beer is great, but their food is terrible. The basic pub food is mediocre at best. The cheese fries were drowning in cheese sauce (like the kind you would get from a pump in a convenience store) and the wings were flavorless. The appetizers were so bad that our friends from out of town asked if we could go to another place! Definitely not the best bar food.
(1)Doug P.
Sure we have fish. I'll just ask the cook (who's a nineteen year old college student) to defrost that baby in the microwave until it has the texture of rubber, then we'll fry it up for you. If you chew long enough, it'll eventually be able to be swallowed. Oh, please don't mind if we give you lousy service along the way.
(1)Jeremiah E.
Great beer!!!! Far superior to Raccoon River or Court Ave in Des Moines. Bar tenders are great. Good place to go on quiet weekday nights, except for Wednesdays ($1 drafts). Food is great too. Try the chicken alfredo.
(5)Sophia P.
The ambiance is warm and inviting, but the food is merely so-so. I had the Chicken Napoli; it was okay, but I expected more. The "feel" of the restaurant is way better than the actual menu. Usually, their Red Monkey Root Beer is great, but on this particular visit, it had too much vanilla, and neither I nor my children (who LOVE root beer) could finish it. Note that there is no separate lunch menu, so it can get expensive for a family of 4.
(3)T F.
I was able to visit my alma mater this weekend and had the privilege to stop in and have a sandwich and pint or 2 or 3 at Olde Main Brewing Co. & Restaurant. I had the Jalapeno Jack burger and it was very good. I also had a pint of the Off kilter Scotch ale and the Gryphonbraü. I was able to sample the Sod buster, Long Face, Cyclone Pale Ale, and the root beer. I was very pleased with all of the beers that I had. The bartenders and servers that I talked with were also very nice.
(4)Kent M.
First time in here, or most anywhere else in town. Fab good food items here. Am having the Bread Pudding dessert first and is quite good, but not the best I have eaten...but real good, and then a burger and handcut fries. Rootbeer is great, which is made here also. Same for the beers. I did not sample any drink except the rootbeer. Perfect service with Tim to assist. Thanks folks. Well done. I hope to return another time.
(5)Kendall D.
Still waiting for my food after 2 hours. Went out to eat after graduating with my family. Normally I wouldn't mind but the place is nearly empty.
(1)Mike O.
Have always enjoyed the food and beer here, and was looking forward to trying their new menu. A disappointment all around. Food quality has gone way downhill. There are too many good restaurants in Ames to bother coming back.
(2)Mark H.
This is an update to an update. Almost two years ago, Olde Main did away with their Sunday brunch buffet and replaced it with a brunch menu. Now they have resumed their Sunday buffet, but it's a bit different than it was previously. For one thing, it's more expensive (20 dollars,18 for seniors), and the carving station, which was the centerpiece of the original buffet, is now an extra charge of five dollars. The "basic" buffet still contains made-to-order omelets, and a serving line containing pre-made eggs and potatoes (the hash browns have changed, and are no longer the cheesy ones they used to have; I like the new ones more), salmon (although my wife had trouble finding a piece that was thoroughly cooked); and a hot meat dish (today it was Cajun beef tips, which were excellent). In addition, it now contains a variety of made-to-order grilled cheese sandwiches (both of us were too full to try these) and a waffle bar. The dessert selection has been severely reduced and no longer contains much that I liked (so long, chocolate mousse and chocolate-covered strawberries); I had a Belgian waffle for dessert, but it was so huge that I left over a quarter of it. The add-on carving station contains prime rib, ham and pork loin. I like my prime rib rare, which is a good thing, because the one you get here is quite rare indeed. (My daughter once described it as "still alive", but as I recall that was on a particularly unfortunate day; today it was rare but well within the standard definition of that term. Perhaps you could get a more well-done piece by asking for it.) I asked the waitress if the meats would change from week to week; she checked and said these three would likely be the standard choices. Too bad, we were hoping turkey might show up; the waitress said this would likely only happen around Thanksgiving. There is also another optional add-on: a Bloody Mary bar. Neither my wife nor I drink, so we didn't partake of this. At the risk of sounding prudish, I have to say I question the wisdom of having an all-you-can-drink option in a town with a large college student population. I'm also surprised that Olde Main made such a significant change with no advertising to speak of. In fact, as of this writing, their webpage still advertises the old brunch menu. My wife and I would not have known of the resurrection of the buffet had we not come in on the spur of the moment, since the restaurant we were planning to eat at, The Mandarin, didn't open until 11:30 AM, even though their website announces an 11 AM Sunday opening. (Why do restaurants bother with webpages if they're not going to keep them up to date? The whole point of a webpage, I always thought, is that it can be changed as circumstances require. Having a factually incorrect webpage is false advertising.) Verdict: the return of the buffet is a change for the better. It's a bit overpriced, though.
(4)Bella C.
A must visit while in Ames, not for the food but for the beer. The House Brew Sampler for $8 is a bargain. Good appetizer but main course? I would always skip. Never had their dessert, who would go to a beer house to eat dessert anyway?! Service is appropriate.
(3)Curt B.
I enjoyed the beer, I had Sodbuster Stout and then finished with a Dinkey Wheat. I enjoyed both. My guest had a mixed drink of Jaeger and root beer called a monkey bomb that was delicious. She also had a nice vegan dish with hummus that she enjoyed. I had the pork tenderloin that was good. Additionally I can say great Happy Hour Specials as well as good service!!
(4)Jon T.
On my way through Ames, I stopped in at Olde Main for a burger. I chose Olde Main to try a local beer, hoping that they do actually brew. I drank a Sodbuster Stout. It was OK, but I felt it lacked the depth and full flavors that good craft stouts can have. Nevertheless, it was better than Guinness. I had a Classic Burger and some O-rings. The food was kind of on a par with the beer, OK, not special. Service was also of that caliber, just a little inattentive and they were not busy. I had to ask for some things twice. I had hoped for a better seasoned and prepared burger in Iowa. I guess I would try the place once more, but it was a little underwhelming. This is a weak three stars. Not bad just on the edge of OK.
(3)Kenzie T.
I love Ames and I love Main Street, but Olde Main is always a spot I try to avoid when I'm going out to eat. The menu has changed quite a bit since I first came, but one thing that hasn't changed: hardly any vegetarian options. I can honestly go to a Barbeque place and have a better time finding something I can eat. They used to have an option where you could get a mushroom burger (which I never found that great) but that's gone now. You could get pasta, but the only meatless dish was about 16 dollars a plate! Recently I celebrated a friends birthday there and discovered they have a mac and cheese dish, which was really quite good. Still, my only meal options are either that or a side salad, and I really don't like having such limited options. As for beer, the dollar pint nights are a pretty fun deal. Quite frankly, it's just not my favorite beer. There are far better places in town, in my opinion.
(2)Patrick T.
Love the 1 dollar beer nights, when I used to live in Ames. Although I'm not a huge fan of the beer they make in general it has gotten way better over the years. And the root beer is really great! I have had some 4 star experiences here and I have had some 2 star experiences here as well.. Mostly due to the servers not being A. Nice B. Well versed in the menu C. Not trying to accommodate a vegan eater. They do have a really good Portabello burger that is vegan without the cheese, I would get that if you are looking for a Vegan option. The brunch on Sundays is pretty fun, but a little over priced for what you get. I used to go here quite a lot to watch sports events in the bar they do have NFL ticket and MLB Package so it a good spot to get a bite to eat and have some drinks!
(3)Lynn T.
Lots of great deals here. The sandwich and fries are great. The wings are okay. A little heavy on the breading.
(4)Maeraj S.
Awful, just awful beers. Everything about this place can be summed up in one word--meh. If it burned to the ground, I don't think it would be missed.
(2)Crys L.
We haven't fully explored the menu yet, but everything we've had so far has been great -- drinks and food both. Service has been friendly, attentive, and quick each time we visited. The only downside, really, is that there's not much "atmosphere" ... the place is just so huge, and that makes it feel kind of open and empty. Not enough to lose it a star, I just wish they could get a better ambiance going. Portions are large, food quality is good, and the menu offers lots of options. Great space for groups.
(5)Susan J.
wow, this place doesn't get much traffic on tuesday noon for lunch. i ordered the muffaletta with an extra side of olive spread. the foccacia that came with this was rock hard whereas the foccacia that came with my coworkers food was fluffy soft. i asked if i could get another not so toasted piece of bread and he advised saying that foccacia is a harder bread. uhm, i know, but seriously not rock hard? anyway, the best thing was that he brought me a toasted brioche bun. now why couldn't they serve this sandwich first off with a bioche bun. the foccacia just didn't fit, but with a brioche bun (but needed all the extra olive spread) and this sandwich was pretty darn tasty for a bar/pub food item. overall, just a-ok, nothing really stood out.
(3)Kate D.
This used to be a pretty good restaurant, but the new menu is not great. They got rid of a lot of my husband and I's favorite menu items - including the ribs. I haven't had anything on the new menu that has made me want to order it again - and the menu seems pricier than it was before (for worse tasting food). They also got rid of the Sunday brunches we used to love - just really disappointed with the new changes. The location is great, and the atmosphere used to be great, but I have noticed it is much less busy since things have changed. It's okay if you want dollar pints on Wednesdays, but other than that, I'm not sure there's much appeal left as a restaurant with the menu change. I would just skip the restaurant enjoy the bar - I especially like the shuffleboard table on the loft.
(2)Ben L.
My wife and I used to thoroughly enjoy coming to Olde Main. We loved trying their specialty brews and sharing some of their more popular dishes. We also really enjoyed their Sunday Brunch. None of these exist here anymore. Their wait staff is great. I have never had an issue with a rude employee there. Their bartenders are friendly and approachable. Every time we've ate in the restaurant, service has been fantastic. I wanted to point that out because that is rare nowadays to find a place with continuously great service. Since their lead brewer and chef left this place it has lost almost all appeal to me. The no longer make specialty brews, which was one of the main reasons I would go. Their standard beers are nothing to write about. All of them taste very similar with minor style differences. I would drink them for a dollar but not much more than that. Their food used to be fantastic. I loved the Sunday Brunch selections and their menu was a lot more diverse. I loved their chicken tortellini, but they have now dropped the portion size. They also make us pay extra for the chicken portion. Unfortunately, even if the people are great we're paying for the food and drinks to be there. One of our weekly standbys for a nice evening is quickly becoming that "we have no where else to go... sigh, might as well."-place.
(2)Lynn T.
Lots of great deals here. The sandwich and fries are great. The wings are okay. A little heavy on the breading.
(4)Maeraj S.
Awful, just awful beers. Everything about this place can be summed up in one word--meh. If it burned to the ground, I don't think it would be missed.
(2)Bella C.
A must visit while in Ames, not for the food but for the beer. The House Brew Sampler for $8 is a bargain. Good appetizer but main course? I would always skip. Never had their dessert, who would go to a beer house to eat dessert anyway?! Service is appropriate.
(3)Curt B.
I enjoyed the beer, I had Sodbuster Stout and then finished with a Dinkey Wheat. I enjoyed both. My guest had a mixed drink of Jaeger and root beer called a monkey bomb that was delicious. She also had a nice vegan dish with hummus that she enjoyed. I had the pork tenderloin that was good. Additionally I can say great Happy Hour Specials as well as good service!!
(4)Jon T.
On my way through Ames, I stopped in at Olde Main for a burger. I chose Olde Main to try a local beer, hoping that they do actually brew. I drank a Sodbuster Stout. It was OK, but I felt it lacked the depth and full flavors that good craft stouts can have. Nevertheless, it was better than Guinness. I had a Classic Burger and some O-rings. The food was kind of on a par with the beer, OK, not special. Service was also of that caliber, just a little inattentive and they were not busy. I had to ask for some things twice. I had hoped for a better seasoned and prepared burger in Iowa. I guess I would try the place once more, but it was a little underwhelming. This is a weak three stars. Not bad just on the edge of OK.
(3)Kenzie T.
I love Ames and I love Main Street, but Olde Main is always a spot I try to avoid when I'm going out to eat. The menu has changed quite a bit since I first came, but one thing that hasn't changed: hardly any vegetarian options. I can honestly go to a Barbeque place and have a better time finding something I can eat. They used to have an option where you could get a mushroom burger (which I never found that great) but that's gone now. You could get pasta, but the only meatless dish was about 16 dollars a plate! Recently I celebrated a friends birthday there and discovered they have a mac and cheese dish, which was really quite good. Still, my only meal options are either that or a side salad, and I really don't like having such limited options. As for beer, the dollar pint nights are a pretty fun deal. Quite frankly, it's just not my favorite beer. There are far better places in town, in my opinion.
(2)Patrick T.
Love the 1 dollar beer nights, when I used to live in Ames. Although I'm not a huge fan of the beer they make in general it has gotten way better over the years. And the root beer is really great! I have had some 4 star experiences here and I have had some 2 star experiences here as well.. Mostly due to the servers not being A. Nice B. Well versed in the menu C. Not trying to accommodate a vegan eater. They do have a really good Portabello burger that is vegan without the cheese, I would get that if you are looking for a Vegan option. The brunch on Sundays is pretty fun, but a little over priced for what you get. I used to go here quite a lot to watch sports events in the bar they do have NFL ticket and MLB Package so it a good spot to get a bite to eat and have some drinks!
(3)Josh S.
Back when I was a student at Iowa State, Olde Maine Brewing (316 Main Street, Downtown Ames) was just opening. At the time, you would expect the food, service and even the craft beer to be just average at best. It wasn't half bad. I remember my parents taking me out for dinner or for Sunday Brunch and it was alright... when I wasn't paying for it. Back then, being a college student, I didn't like having to pay $20 for a main dish and a halfway decent beer. Any money I did have from working my part time job went to either a) my car, b) my apartment or c) Krystyn. Ironically, answer "c" still gets a good portion of my money on a daily basis. We ate out on "date night" which happened only once every two weeks or so, and even then, we didn't eat at a restaurant this expensive. Now that I'm an adult, have an income and can afford to buy the food and beer at Olde Main, I don't want to. They have gone backwards since they opened. The food is worse, the beer is worse and the service, which used to be really good, is now okay at best. We decided to take our Moms out the weekend before Mother's Day this year because we couldn't be there (had a wedding to attend) and we figured even if we could have been there, we wouldn't get a table. Seeing as how graduation had come and gone, we figured it would be a good time to eat at Olde Main. Upon arrival, we stood at the "please wait to be seated" area for almost ten minutes before someone came up to seat us. When they did arrive, they told us it would be a fifteen minute wait. We were stunned by this since the restaurant was practically empty. When we asked why, they told us it was "because we're swamped right now." Swamped? Do you only have one person cooking, bartending, waiting and hosting? I can't imagine how horrible the wait must be on a night when they actually are busy. He then went on to say "it was because you have a larger group." SIX people are a large group? Once he finally did seat us, things moved along pretty quickly. They took our drink orders and food orders within five minutes. We ordered drinks (mostly beer and a few waters). I ordered their "Sodbuster" because I love a good, hearty stout beer when I do get beer. Not impressed. It had very little flavor. So, I decided to order a second, different beer and tried the Off Kil'ter (a Scottish Ale) and again, extremely unimpressed with the flavor. Seriously, if you advertise "craft" beer and it is brewed on sight, you'd better make sure it is REALLY good, especially if that is what you are supposedly known for. I got the chicken tortellini with bacon and pesto. Nice to see this was still on the menu since this was a favorite of mine back in the days when we used to go here a few years ago. This wasn't as good as I remembered it. The portion was small, the bacon was pretty much all fat and no meat and the food arrived cold. Our waitress took it back and zapped it in the microwave for a few seconds and brought it back out. You could tell it was microwaved. Not what I would expect for a meal that costs $16. The place was clean and the décor is still pretty cool (you can see the brewing tanks through the glass behind the bar) but other than this, Olde Main isn't very good. I am sorry that I returned to this place and I have learned my lesson. Our mothers deserve more for Mother's Day than what they got at Olde Main. My mom told me she would have had a better meal if she would have gone down the block and eaten at Great Plains... and I agree 100%. Don't waste your money here. Overpriced food, slacking service and flavorless beers. "Meh" pretty much sums up our FINAL experience at Olde Main. I don't know how this place stays open.
(2)Susan J.
wow, this place doesn't get much traffic on tuesday noon for lunch. i ordered the muffaletta with an extra side of olive spread. the foccacia that came with this was rock hard whereas the foccacia that came with my coworkers food was fluffy soft. i asked if i could get another not so toasted piece of bread and he advised saying that foccacia is a harder bread. uhm, i know, but seriously not rock hard? anyway, the best thing was that he brought me a toasted brioche bun. now why couldn't they serve this sandwich first off with a bioche bun. the foccacia just didn't fit, but with a brioche bun (but needed all the extra olive spread) and this sandwich was pretty darn tasty for a bar/pub food item. overall, just a-ok, nothing really stood out.
(3)Kate D.
This used to be a pretty good restaurant, but the new menu is not great. They got rid of a lot of my husband and I's favorite menu items - including the ribs. I haven't had anything on the new menu that has made me want to order it again - and the menu seems pricier than it was before (for worse tasting food). They also got rid of the Sunday brunches we used to love - just really disappointed with the new changes. The location is great, and the atmosphere used to be great, but I have noticed it is much less busy since things have changed. It's okay if you want dollar pints on Wednesdays, but other than that, I'm not sure there's much appeal left as a restaurant with the menu change. I would just skip the restaurant enjoy the bar - I especially like the shuffleboard table on the loft.
(2)Crys L.
We haven't fully explored the menu yet, but everything we've had so far has been great -- drinks and food both. Service has been friendly, attentive, and quick each time we visited. The only downside, really, is that there's not much "atmosphere" ... the place is just so huge, and that makes it feel kind of open and empty. Not enough to lose it a star, I just wish they could get a better ambiance going. Portions are large, food quality is good, and the menu offers lots of options. Great space for groups.
(5)Ben L.
My wife and I used to thoroughly enjoy coming to Olde Main. We loved trying their specialty brews and sharing some of their more popular dishes. We also really enjoyed their Sunday Brunch. None of these exist here anymore. Their wait staff is great. I have never had an issue with a rude employee there. Their bartenders are friendly and approachable. Every time we've ate in the restaurant, service has been fantastic. I wanted to point that out because that is rare nowadays to find a place with continuously great service. Since their lead brewer and chef left this place it has lost almost all appeal to me. The no longer make specialty brews, which was one of the main reasons I would go. Their standard beers are nothing to write about. All of them taste very similar with minor style differences. I would drink them for a dollar but not much more than that. Their food used to be fantastic. I loved the Sunday Brunch selections and their menu was a lot more diverse. I loved their chicken tortellini, but they have now dropped the portion size. They also make us pay extra for the chicken portion. Unfortunately, even if the people are great we're paying for the food and drinks to be there. One of our weekly standbys for a nice evening is quickly becoming that "we have no where else to go... sigh, might as well."-place.
(2)Cheryl A.
In Ames for a Dance Competion. Had an hour and a half to kill, so we thought we would try them out. The place looks very nice and upscale pub kind of look inside. We had high hopes. It was a Saturday around 2PM. Not busy at all. Should have been our first clue. Besides a state wide dance comp in town , also the #4 Cyclones had just finished a dual wrestling meet with #3 Oklahoma, and being in a Big 12 School town, you would have thought it would be packed in here. But it wasn't. We ordered 2 Clone Ales , 1 Mt Dew, and 1 Root Beer, along with 2 burgers and chips and 2 salads. The Mt Dew was there with in a couple of minutes. It was 15 minutes before the 2 beers and the root beer arrived. Since it was already established that the service was going to be slow on a day when they were not busy, I told our waitress to bring us 2 more Clone Pale Ales, thinking they would arrive about the time we finished the first 2. The Clones weren't bad, but weren't very good pale ales either. I should have taken the time to taste before I ordered us 2 more, but that was on me. Anyway we finished our beers 15 minutes later, and did not have the new beers ordered delivered to our table yet, and no food. I flagged the waitress down and asked about our other 2 beers, and she forgot to put the order in. She apologized and went to put the order in. They came in 10 minutes, faster than the first 2 but still no food. We finished those 2 beers 15 minutes later and still no food. By this time we had been there 45 minutes and no food. We flagged the waitress down again and told her to change our order to go because we had to get back to the dance comp or miss our daughters next dance. We finally received our food after an hour from ordering. 2 hamburgers and 2 salads, and it takes an hour?? Ate our meals back at Stephens Auditorium. Salads were just salads nothing special, and the hamburgers were dry and under seasoned. Next time I would just go to Casey's. Get faster service, better craft beer selection and definitely a better burger. Place needs new management and a better brewer and it would have some possibilities .
(1)Kent M.
First time in here, or most anywhere else in town. Fab good food items here. Am having the Bread Pudding dessert first and is quite good, but not the best I have eaten...but real good, and then a burger and handcut fries. Rootbeer is great, which is made here also. Same for the beers. I did not sample any drink except the rootbeer. Perfect service with Tim to assist. Thanks folks. Well done. I hope to return another time.
(5)James W.
Second review.... I've been here at least 50 times and I don't know why. It just is so bad. The food is horrible and the beer is not good. My problem (and I assume everyone else's) is I have a few in me and I think, I wanna go to a nice local brewery. Every time I am disappointed. I come here and yearn for a real local brew pub every time. Tonight we got the spinach artichoke dip and we got a bowl of thick gravy with no spinach or artichoke. First time I literally could not finish my meal.
(1)Rachel Y.
Hate hate hate the new menu. Bring back the old nachos! I'll definitely not be eating here again. They are trying to turn it into a gastropub when the food is middle of the road at best.
(3)Bela S.
As a micro brewery, this place deserves five stars. Their specials, especially Tuesday and Wednesday are amazing. They essentially amount to $1 micro brew pints. Amazing. Seasonals are awesome. Reindeer fuel is unique. Horseman's revenge is wonderfully pumpkin-y. Man will I miss this place (no, not closing, we just moved). The food is ok. We have had dinner a few times, but later just went for apps and taps. The restaurant is nice and clean, and worth checking out. During their "specials nights" they do require a hand stamp, which is nice, because you are not stuck pulling out your wallet every time you go to get a pitcher refilled.
(4)Mark H.
This is an update to an update. Almost two years ago, Olde Main did away with their Sunday brunch buffet and replaced it with a brunch menu. Now they have resumed their Sunday buffet, but it's a bit different than it was previously. For one thing, it's more expensive (20 dollars,18 for seniors), and the carving station, which was the centerpiece of the original buffet, is now an extra charge of five dollars. The "basic" buffet still contains made-to-order omelets, and a serving line containing pre-made eggs and potatoes (the hash browns have changed, and are no longer the cheesy ones they used to have; I like the new ones more), salmon (although my wife had trouble finding a piece that was thoroughly cooked); and a hot meat dish (today it was Cajun beef tips, which were excellent). In addition, it now contains a variety of made-to-order grilled cheese sandwiches (both of us were too full to try these) and a waffle bar. The dessert selection has been severely reduced and no longer contains much that I liked (so long, chocolate mousse and chocolate-covered strawberries); I had a Belgian waffle for dessert, but it was so huge that I left over a quarter of it. The add-on carving station contains prime rib, ham and pork loin. I like my prime rib rare, which is a good thing, because the one you get here is quite rare indeed. (My daughter once described it as "still alive", but as I recall that was on a particularly unfortunate day; today it was rare but well within the standard definition of that term. Perhaps you could get a more well-done piece by asking for it.) I asked the waitress if the meats would change from week to week; she checked and said these three would likely be the standard choices. Too bad, we were hoping turkey might show up; the waitress said this would likely only happen around Thanksgiving. There is also another optional add-on: a Bloody Mary bar. Neither my wife nor I drink, so we didn't partake of this. At the risk of sounding prudish, I have to say I question the wisdom of having an all-you-can-drink option in a town with a large college student population. I'm also surprised that Olde Main made such a significant change with no advertising to speak of. In fact, as of this writing, their webpage still advertises the old brunch menu. My wife and I would not have known of the resurrection of the buffet had we not come in on the spur of the moment, since the restaurant we were planning to eat at, The Mandarin, didn't open until 11:30 AM, even though their website announces an 11 AM Sunday opening. (Why do restaurants bother with webpages if they're not going to keep them up to date? The whole point of a webpage, I always thought, is that it can be changed as circumstances require. Having a factually incorrect webpage is false advertising.) Verdict: the return of the buffet is a change for the better. It's a bit overpriced, though.
(4)Fabricio D.
The brewpub was nice looking inside. The pros were: the food was good, nothing spectacular but good. The beers on tap were also good, nothing that wowed me. Cons: I think my experience could had been better if the server was good. She dropped the sampler off without telling us what was what. Therefore we had to guess. When we placed out order it appeared she did not know the menu and we wanted GF option and told us she did not have any. Yet, the website for olde main says they have GF option. Overall: 2 stars out of 5. Service was poor.
(2)Nicholas T.
Beer and sprits selection is good, but the food needs a major upgrade, which is sad since Main Street needs help on the bar food front. Please Please Please get a newer Golden Tee machine - 1987 called and they want it back.
(3)Samantha C.
Stopped in for lunch while walking down Main. I was stuck between the Chicken salad croissant, and the cheese tortellini. I ended up going with the croissant and it came with a choice of side so I got a salad. I was afraid I should have gone with the pasta, until the croissant came out and I took a bite. The chicken was juicy and chunky, not mixed into a paste like some places. The flavor was light and fresh, not bogged down in a bunch of mayo. Salad was just as good, they use fresh greens and spinach instead of the usual cheap iceberg. This place is huge so I wonder how service is during a rush, but it's really a neat restaurant.
(4)JJ D.
In Ames, IA, restaurants seem to close between 2:00 (late lunch) and 5:00 (early dinner). A friend and I were in Ames, wanted to eat around 3:00. This was all we could find open. However, we had to eat in the bar, but that's ok. Waiter gave us menus, but he was also bartending and kind of "forgot" us. I had to hunt the waiter down to take our order. I ordered Pork Tenderloin sandwich, friend ordered Classic Burger. when the order was taken, the waiter asked if I wanted fries or a salad. I asked if the salad was included (instead of fries) or was it "extra." I swear the waiter said "included." So I ordered salad instead of fries. (My friend ordered fries, they were the good hand cut ones!) However, when I got my bill, I was charged $1 for the salad. I protested this to the waiter. Instead of ringing it up again, he just said he would "pay" it. Ok, so I subtracted $1 from the total and gave a tip based on that. Took awhile for our sandwiches to come. Food was ok. Pork Tenderloin was fried/breaded. Salad that came with it was decent sized, 1000 Island dressing was good! I drove here in a rental car. No place to park RV's, this is down town Ames. Sandwiches were a bit pricey, but the entrees were really pricey. They have Wi-Fi.
(3)Kendall D.
Still waiting for my food after 2 hours. Went out to eat after graduating with my family. Normally I wouldn't mind but the place is nearly empty.
(1)Mike O.
Have always enjoyed the food and beer here, and was looking forward to trying their new menu. A disappointment all around. Food quality has gone way downhill. There are too many good restaurants in Ames to bother coming back.
(2)Fabricio D.
The brewpub was nice looking inside. The pros were: the food was good, nothing spectacular but good. The beers on tap were also good, nothing that wowed me. Cons: I think my experience could had been better if the server was good. She dropped the sampler off without telling us what was what. Therefore we had to guess. When we placed out order it appeared she did not know the menu and we wanted GF option and told us she did not have any. Yet, the website for olde main says they have GF option. Overall: 2 stars out of 5. Service was poor.
(2)Lauren F.
Great food, usually good beer. Our family had an incident where the beer had obviously gone bad and the server and the bartender both denied it (they obviously didn't bother to taste it). They refused to replace the pitcher and insisted the beer was fine. Incredibly unprofessional in my opinion. Aside from that incident we haven't had any issues but that has left a sour taste in our mouths. The maple wood smoked salmon is great, along with the quesadillas, sandwiches, and really everything we've eaten. The incident won't stop us from coming back but I'd hope they'll adjust their attitudes and improve upon their customer service.
(3)Sarah C.
Service was wonderful, so that can't be faulted. But we were disappointed by the beer and the food. Beer was warm and flat all the way around the sampler. Chicken Saltimbocca was 2 big fat dry chx breasts on bread. No sauce or condiments. Fries were good though. Smoked Gouda Mac and cheese was soupy. Pasta was small elbow mac with too much sauce, not baked, though the sauce was tasty. Just too overpowering. My daughter liked the root beer! Restaurant mostly empty on an early Tuesday evening. It's not a lost cause; they have the infrastructure in place. Just work the food better, and chill and carbonate the beer better. We are from out of town, but big brew pub aficionados and hubby is a brewer as well, so we always try local craft beer. Keep going!
(2)Pam K.
Wasn't sure after reading reviews. But our server Collin was very good and the food was very acceptable. Can't rate any higher because they didn't bring water or bread to the table or a plate for my mussel shells. We had the chicken scaloppine and mussels in clam sauce
(3)Lenny J.
Except for the onion rings, friendly service, and the Oban 14 this was a complete miss. Caesar salad with onions, tomatoes, (huh)? A full pound of mashed potatoes aside a pitiful rib eye topped with what could only be described as blue cheese puree. Bitter and grainy. The bruschetta was passable, although the topping was unremarkable, but my chicken wing appetizer was undercooked. Keep the staff, and the Oban and rework everything else. I can't comment on the beer since I didn't try it.
(1)Terin C.
There are apparently a lot of brewing companies in Iowa. I didn't see the actual tanks here, but that's okay. They had "homemade root beer" listed on the menu, so that was proof enough for me. Speaking of the menu, I couldn't really eat much here, unfortunately. Sometimes, when the person across from me is eating delicious delicious lasagna, and I'm staring down my fork at a pile of lettuce... I hate life and everyone attached to it. Other times, though, I think "screw it", and I have a slice of chocolate cake for dinner. Which is what I did here. I had a slice of chocolate cake with a side of bread rolls. It was not a proud moment for me, friends, but it was a tasty one. You can judge me if you like, but it won't take away that slice of cake and basket of rolls that I ate. That memory is mine forever. By the way, the rolls were nothing short of awesome. They tasted like they may have been made from pizza dough, which is an inspired idea if you ask me. I mean, unless they weren't made from pizza dough, in which case, I will be doing that, and everyone will tell me how inspired an idea it was. Excellent. Looking back, I feel like I should have gotten a salad or something, because then I could have legitimately commented on the food. As it is, I can only tell you that the cake was okay, and wax poetic about the dinner rolls some more... which I will not be doing. If I stop by here again, I'm going to try some of their homemade root beer. I should have done that, too. Man, I failed this place as a consumer. Also, our server was a little on the cold side. That's okay, though. I did order cake for dinner. That could be construed as strange in some cultures. Perhaps I offended her. In any case, I'm done with this review now. You should seriously try the bread rolls. Okay, now I'm done.
(3)Haley R.
The food is good. Nothing spectacular, but solid. Service is almost always terrible. On Wednesday nights, you're better off going to the bar for a beer than expecting to ever be waited on. The beer is not great . Occasionally it tastes good, but most of the time it is okay at best. It seems to be slumping even more lately. However, pints cost $1 on Wednesday nights (and growlers, which are about five pints, are $5 on Thursday nights), which is nice. Unfortunately, much of the time on pint night the beer is brought to you in plastic juice tumblers. I understand they're busy and serving a lot of beer when they're only selling it for a dollar, but they're not doing themselves any favors. Even good beer tastes like shit out of a plastic cup.
(3)Michael P.
The atmosphere and Waite staff were okay, food was bland and prices were high.. Overall unimpressed...
(3)Donald Y.
I have tried so hard to like Olde Main, I really have. I love microbreweries and I make any attempt possible to visit them no matter if it's around my home or when I am on vacation. Since Olde Main opened back in 2004 I have been here at least 15 times, maybe more and finally, I just gave up. Olde Main just doesn't hold up like the brew pubs in Des Moines. The beer here just isn't that good. Their regular lineup is uninspiring at best and I have had some seasonals from them that have been just downright repulsive. Their summer "Lemon Thyme" beer tastes like you think lemon PineSol would taste like. And last summer I tried their seasonal "Black Mamba" and it was probably the only beer I have ever ordered that I refused to finish. It smelled and tasted like dirty dishwater. The food, well, it's average at best. I don't remember each thing I have ordered in the past and maybe that's a testament to their averageness. I'm definitely not trying to say their food is bad but for me, with a microbrewery, the beer usually takes center stage and if the food is good, then outstanding! But here, the beer just doesn't make the grade, and that lack of tasty beer overshadows their food.
(2)Gregory B.
The beer is generally very good. I sampled them all. Kudos to the brewmaster. The food is not consistent, but at times is inspired. The roast chicken was delicious, delicately smoked, but raw inside. They roasted it more, but sheesh. The crab cakes were pretty good, with an amazing pear slaw. The server was perfect, but the frat boy/sorority girls at the front desk were uniformly clueless and surly. It was clear that no manager was around. When we arrived (the place was pretty empty), they seemed intruded upon. We had to wait while one checked her cell phone while conversing with two others. Finally, we got their attention. "We have a reservation." "Do you have a name?" was the annoyed reply. DO YOU HAVE A NAME? The owners need to attend to this. But it's worth it for the beer.
(4)Marlaine D.
Is it so hard to serve a French fry hot? Do you enjoy lukewarm fries? I do not!! Every calorie counts & a cold French fry is a true loser! We enjoy the beer but hesitate if they can not even get a fry hot!
(2)Travis B.
The food here is pretty good. The Sunday Brunch is a step above the menu. The beer...well, it's inconsistent. Historically, I've been a big fan of the Clone Ale. It would seem that over the last year, they've attempted to ramp up their production and haven't gotten it right quite yet. Or something. I don't know. Wednesday nights you can get any Olde Main beer for $1 a pint. I prefer to get the same specials at DG's where you can still get a pint glass made of actual glass (Olde Main tends to run out on pint nights, serving in plastic tumblers instead). Thursday nights you can fill your growler for $5...so essentially a pint night to-go. I hope they get the beers fine tuned back in, because the Clone Ale was a good one.
(3)Matt E.
In my opinion Olde Main has single-handedly revitalized the downtown district of Ames. This place gave the community a reason to be on Main Street again in the evening. I do enjoy going here and it's one of the marquee establishments in the Ames area. The beer here is a great break from the norm of prevalent lagers and watered down beers of the mid-west. Olde Main is to be commended on bringing some depth to the beer drinking culture of Cyclone country. The beers are not world class and do tend to suffer from consistency issues. Their seasonals are their strongest offerings. The beer alone would garner a stronger review, but when coupled with the dining situation Olde Main ends up being just average. Our most recent visit here was with a group of 8. We had a 7:30 reservation and were not served our entrees until two hours later. Their menu has been improved to reflect the midwestern staples with a more sophisticated twist. They look great on the menu, but the proteins (salmon, pork) we received were pretty dry and over-cooked. I want to love Olde Main and applaud their efforts to give downtown Ames a kick in the pants with an enterprise that helps distinguish Ames as a community, but there are some issues here that keep visiting from being a completely enjoyable experience.
(3)Alex H.
Good homemade beer. Their Nachos are delicious. I personally recommend trying their Sodbuster or any of their dark beer!! The staff is very friendly here. I recommend going there for some appetizers and a few drinks. Dollar pints on Wednesdays and $5 growlers on Thursdays! Can't beat those prices.
(4)Rosa K.
OMG I love love love the Sunday brunch. Plenty of actually tastefull food and variety. I was so pleasantly surprised of the quality of this brunch in Ames, Iowa. Customized omelets made fresh to order... Eggs, french toast, sausage, bacon, mashed potatoes and green beans, pasta, salmon, prime rib, honey ham, tons of fruit, and an amazing selection of desserts including gorgeous giant chocolate covered strawberries, champagne glasses of chocolate mouse, cheesecake, bread pudding and cookies! Yummy yummy yummy in my tummy!!! $16.95/ person.... TOTALLY WORTH IT! Though I wish I was under 10 or over 65... to take advantage of the kid and senior prices... I'll have to arrive in costume next time and wear a white wig. ;)
(5)Eric L.
The IPA was decent but the food was far below average. Stop by for a beer and go somewhere else to eat.
(2)Marcey S.
My family went there for Thanksgiving 2012 and I must say it was definitely subpar. They were set up more for Breakfast at 1:30 than Thanksgiving - cheesy eggs, bacon, sausage, sausage gravy and biscuits and an omelet station. Other than that there were yucky green beans, the standard mashed potatoes, marshmellow yams. etc. Basically, everything had the same texture and consistency. Of course there was also ham and turkey but without horseradish and only canned cranberry sauce. Plain and short everything was flavorless and bland. There was an attempt at a fruit bar but it just included a few melons and pineapple. The dessert table was mediocre, and had nothing for a gluten free person. This is a marked contrast from a few years back when we had gone for a prior Thanksgiving. During that visit, they had had several sides available, a great fruit bar and dessert table loaded full and even included chocolate mousse and chocolate covered strawberries. I am just saying that for $18+ a plate it should have been better. My family ended up spending a little over $120 not including the tip for my husband and I and four children. For the price, we could have had a catered Thanksgiving from Hy-Vee. At least then we would have been prepared for the kind of bland slop that only accompanies nursing home foods. We just expected more out of Old Main.
(1)Samantha S.
This place has the WORST service I've ever experienced. We went for Sunday brunch and the buffet is no longer there, and the new menu has a limited number of items. Out waitress, Jessica H, was a completely off putting and rude, and was sitting down the entire time we were eating and didn't serve us until we got up multiple times to ask to order. She brought us bread pudding that was completely cold, and when we asked them to possibly heat it up for us she sarcastically said "sure, into the microwave it goes." She and other wait staff were sitting watching television and we had to get up and ask for service. It was completely unacceptable and when we paid, the waitress was rude and had an attitude and then went back to sitting and watching tv like we had inconvenienced her. Never going back.
(1)Ellen F.
The restaurant was freezing cold and according to a worker it's been like that. The new menu is very limited. We ordered the onion rings as an appetizer and they were awful! Even my 13 yr old couldn't stomach them. We ordered burgers medium. They were bleeding red in the center. And to top it off, it was a $11 burger!! Our server was dressed in jeans and gym shoes and looked sloppy. I don't know what management changes have occurred here, but we will never be back. The food and service have been slipping for awhile, not it has hit rock bottom.
(1)Tom L.
Steak was kind of fatty. Potatoes and veggies were not good. Tap water tasted funny due to tap lines. Only place in Ames that brews their own beer. Very dead during the week.
(2)Eric B.
Inspired by my parent's fitness (see Cub Foods review), Gayle and I went for a long walk yesterday. We walked from my parent's house to and around the Iowa State Campus, went down Lincoln Way to downtown and then back home. We figured that was about 7-8 miles. And then just before we got home, Mom and Dad picked us up to head out to Ada Hayden Park to meet up with my Sister and her family. Once there, we did the 3 mile loop around. Not a bad day's work. And there were mild temperatures, low humidity and no bugs! At the downtown portion of our hike, Gayle and I stopped in at the Olde Main Brewing Company for a pint and a nosh (a Midwest term BTW). We stayed on the Pub side and hence this review doesn't address the restaurant or the Sunday buffet. Gayle had the Amber Ale, I had a Stout and we split the chicken quesadilla appetizer (which was large enough for how much we wanted to eat). Everything was excellent and the apetizer was surprisingly tasty and fresh. The guy who served us was friendly and did a nice job of keeping us informed as the kitchen was a bit slow. The space was very comfortable and like Jaclyn P., I am soooo happy that Iowa has finally limited smoking indoors.
(4)K. B.
A very good brewery and a great place to meet friends. There menu is good and you'll like the food. This is a very good place to meet downtown
(4)Ben M.
Food items have improved with the new menu and cook. Always been a fan of their brews as well. Off Kilter and Dinkey Wheat are my favorite of their year-round brews.
(4)Jennifer O.
My mom and I used to sit on the pub side and play cribbage, but they got rid of the stack of games they had. They also got rid of some good vegetarian items on the menu. But I am no longer a vegetarian, so I don't mind so much! Olde Main has some great food and awesome house made root beer. Not a beer drinker, but my mom always gets the Dinkey when we're there. I always want to hit up Sunday brunch, but it just seems a little too expensive. The rest of the menu is fairly priced though.
(4)Trevor F.
Tonight this place was five stars great service! Food and beer was exceptional! By far the best place on main street tonight. The nachos where so good the beef and bean dip is like a chilli and now I want more! If your looking for beers that you won't find most other places this is the place to come!
(4)Lee E.
I came for the locally brewed beer, and I left unimpressed. I tried the Gryphonbraü American Lager and the Long Face Amber Ale. The flavor of the beers were okay. But, neither tasted good enough to entice me to order another beer. Also, the beer was served in room temperature pint glasses. I prefer my beer served in a chilled or frosty cold glass.
(2)Bret H.
Went to ISU for a couple years and if the train were still around I would've been here way more often!! With that being said when I did get the chance to stop by for a few rounds they were some of the best times I had at ISU! By far the best beer in Ames can be found here! You can't beat the Dinky Wheat!! Food is top notch as well.
(5)John N.
A friend of mine and I dined here for dinner. He had the Tequila Lime Chicken and I had the Andouille & Shrimp Pasta. It was clear that the kitchen cared to use fresh ingredients (crisp peppers and shrimp with firm mushrooms in mine). We both agreed at the end of the meal that Olde Main was a good find. As a homebrewer I enjoy a well-crafted beer as much as anyone, and Olde Main does a good job of putting together a suite of beers to appeal to a range of palates. Personally I am left wanting more hops in their pale ale, but I also know that my left-coast sensibilities toward pale ale (think Lagunitas IPA) don't always meet with what sells well in a midwest brewpub. All things being equal, the beer brewed here is very good.
(4)Jeff E.
I really enjoy the ambiance of Olde Main - it's a nice restaurant but also has a separate area for the brewery/bar. The food is good but I've always thought the prices were a little high. However, you can't beat $1 pint night on Wednesday's for some good local beer! Great for groups, a nice dinner with family or for a date.
(3)Faith Q.
Has the potential to be very good....I would give it a 5 for atmosphere and the seasonal Oktoberfest I got on $1 pint night (Wednesdays) but a 1 for food. I got the southwest steak salad....the steak was coated in something but was virtually tasteless. It was cooked well, though....the staff was nice, but that salad had absolutely no flavor :(....since I travel so much for work, I try to watch my weight and eat tasty food at the same, so I thought this might be a safe bet with the black beans, corn, cilantro, and cilantro-lime vinaigrette (which was oddly sweet???)....I didnt find what I wanted here...but the Oktoberfest is top notch!
(3)CHRIS C.
Pumpkin ale is pretty good but disappointed in the oktoberfest. Overall not very impressed with their beer compared to other breweries that I've been too.
(2)Douglas C.
Olde Main , in its relatively few years here, has become an institution. It's a favorite in town for both beer and food, and the amount of space it offers makes it a natural place to gather for the students and the community. It's a place that Ames needed, and it filled that need, and continues to fill it. That being said. I'm not the biggest fan. The beer is alright. It's drinkable, affordable, and they offer a lot of variety. It is, however, over-flavored and lacks the grace and subtlety of other great microbrews. When compared to Bud Light, it's amazing. When compared to other microbrews, it's kind of a crime. The food is also disappointing. They have a huge menu that covers just about anything that you might want to eat at a pub, yet strangely I never really feel like eating anything they're offering. You expect, given the prices, that you would get something better or more exotic than you would at a sit-down chain. But in reality, though impressive sounding as the menu items are, they're just not that great. Even the burger is bad. It's overcooked, bland, and lost in the gigantic, dry, and flavorless buns. Still, it's not all bad. The service is quick considering how busy it can get, and the staff are friendly. More than anything though, it is the surplus of space that makes Olde Maine a fun place. It accommodates large parties easily. The only more spacious establishment is Hickory Park.
(2)Adrienne M.
I'm really not a fan of this place, or at least their Sunday buffet. For some reason, my parents love it, and want to eat there every time I'm in town. The first time I went to the buffet, I was just kind of underwhelmed, and not really turned off. However, the most recent time was really disappointing. The roast beef was STILL ALIVE. It was so thick, red, and bloody that even my dad (who loves rare prime rib) was incredibly grossed out. The scrambled eggs & omelets were also undercooked, which didn't necessarily taste bad, but might be a health issue. The rest of the buffet-style entrees were standard (bacon and sausage, biscuits, waffles, etc) and were generally bland and cold. Also, service was fairly poor, but that's not unusual at a buffet. The one redeeming thing about the buffet is the desserts, which were pretty decent. I especially recommend the chocolate mousse (which, unlike other chooclate mousses I've had was not so saturated in rum that you could no longer taste the chocolate) and the chocolate covered strawberries. Once again, this is just a comment on the buffet, and for all I know the normal meals are ok.
(2)Drew B.
Had the buffalo chicken salad it was good and we got our food fast. service dropped rating to a 3 when i ordered the "buffalo chicken salad" and she asked, "did you want the chicken with buffalo sauce?"....? later ordered the same round of drinks twice, when the bartender blew it off the first time. Just a few examples, maybe hit em on a rough night? Food was good but had a lame experience.
(3)Jed B.
Good beer and good food. Kind of down to earth grub. Not a lot of cutting edge menu items but what they offer is very good. And top it off with a beer or two...or three.
(4)Goos Y.
Amber ale us good. Food was ok. Service bumped it to 4 stars
(4)Dave A.
The beer is good, the food is good, the staff is friendly. Don't miss this place if you are in Ames.
(5)edmond t.
What can you say about the only brewery in Ames? Their beer is great and I always recommend The Dinkey! The food is pretty good, but there are better places to eat in Ames, so stick with an appetizer and enjoy their beer. They have a great brewery atmosphere and when they have live music, it is always a good time!
(4)Roz S.
I've been to Olde Main a few times and have been underwhelmed every time. While the food off the menu isn't bad per se, it is quite overpriced for the food quality. I enjoyed the vegetarian polenta, but it was nothing special. The Sunday brunch was so bad that we actually walked out - there were few selections and most of them had been ravaged by children and had not been cleaned up. The salad bar had stray food everywhere. Head to the Gateway for a good Sunday brunch (about four times the choices for about the same price). The Olde Main brews their own beer, but whenever we have gone, they have had few available selections. Most of the beers on the menu were sold out.
(2)Jaclyn P.
Good place to go for a drink. We had my mom's 60th b-day party there and the food was decent. I liked being able to go have a drink there and not come home smelling like an ash tray. I'm so excited that Iowa passed the bill about no smoking in certain establishments. I love it, I love it, I love it. Sorry about rambling on about the no smoking thing. This is a nice place to go. Something a little different for the Ames folk.
(4)Steve T.
My wife and I were in Ames for a night, and thought some fresh beer would be just the thing for us! First we were perplexed why there are two separate entrances. We walked in the set of doors on the right, which must have been the restaurant. The host just said "two?" and sat us at a table, which was quiet and boring, not quite the experience we were hoping for, but we were really there for some good beer and food, so atmosphere was secondary. We each ordered a pint of Long Face, their amber ale, not only did it smell funny, but it tasted flat and stale as well. While drinking the beer, we tried the Jalapeno cheese bread, which was a nice surprise. For our second beer, she had a Dinkey, and I a Clone. While my Clone was fresh, and a huge improvement over the Long Face, the Dinkey had a stale flavor to it, luckily the orange it was served with made it bearable. Beeing a beer geek, I had hoped we would have a few beers, a few apps, and leave with a growler. After our 3rd stale tasting beer, we cut our eating short, to head for a place with better beer, which is a slight disappointment, because the jalapeno bread had me excited to order another plate off the menu.
(2)Brianna B.
We have been to Olde Main a couple of times. Their beer is great, but their food is terrible. The basic pub food is mediocre at best. The cheese fries were drowning in cheese sauce (like the kind you would get from a pump in a convenience store) and the wings were flavorless. The appetizers were so bad that our friends from out of town asked if we could go to another place! Definitely not the best bar food.
(1)Doug P.
Sure we have fish. I'll just ask the cook (who's a nineteen year old college student) to defrost that baby in the microwave until it has the texture of rubber, then we'll fry it up for you. If you chew long enough, it'll eventually be able to be swallowed. Oh, please don't mind if we give you lousy service along the way.
(1)Jeremiah E.
Great beer!!!! Far superior to Raccoon River or Court Ave in Des Moines. Bar tenders are great. Good place to go on quiet weekday nights, except for Wednesdays ($1 drafts). Food is great too. Try the chicken alfredo.
(5)Sophia P.
The ambiance is warm and inviting, but the food is merely so-so. I had the Chicken Napoli; it was okay, but I expected more. The "feel" of the restaurant is way better than the actual menu. Usually, their Red Monkey Root Beer is great, but on this particular visit, it had too much vanilla, and neither I nor my children (who LOVE root beer) could finish it. Note that there is no separate lunch menu, so it can get expensive for a family of 4.
(3)T F.
I was able to visit my alma mater this weekend and had the privilege to stop in and have a sandwich and pint or 2 or 3 at Olde Main Brewing Co. & Restaurant. I had the Jalapeno Jack burger and it was very good. I also had a pint of the Off kilter Scotch ale and the Gryphonbraü. I was able to sample the Sod buster, Long Face, Cyclone Pale Ale, and the root beer. I was very pleased with all of the beers that I had. The bartenders and servers that I talked with were also very nice.
(4)Mark H.
This is an update to an update. Almost two years ago, Olde Main did away with their Sunday brunch buffet and replaced it with a brunch menu. Now they have resumed their Sunday buffet, but it's a bit different than it was previously. For one thing, it's more expensive (20 dollars,18 for seniors), and the carving station, which was the centerpiece of the original buffet, is now an extra charge of five dollars. The "basic" buffet still contains made-to-order omelets, and a serving line containing pre-made eggs and potatoes (the hash browns have changed, and are no longer the cheesy ones they used to have; I like the new ones more), salmon (although my wife had trouble finding a piece that was thoroughly cooked); and a hot meat dish (today it was Cajun beef tips, which were excellent). In addition, it now contains a variety of made-to-order grilled cheese sandwiches (both of us were too full to try these) and a waffle bar. The dessert selection has been severely reduced and no longer contains much that I liked (so long, chocolate mousse and chocolate-covered strawberries); I had a Belgian waffle for dessert, but it was so huge that I left over a quarter of it. The add-on carving station contains prime rib, ham and pork loin. I like my prime rib rare, which is a good thing, because the one you get here is quite rare indeed. (My daughter once described it as "still alive", but as I recall that was on a particularly unfortunate day; today it was rare but well within the standard definition of that term. Perhaps you could get a more well-done piece by asking for it.) I asked the waitress if the meats would change from week to week; she checked and said these three would likely be the standard choices. Too bad, we were hoping turkey might show up; the waitress said this would likely only happen around Thanksgiving. There is also another optional add-on: a Bloody Mary bar. Neither my wife nor I drink, so we didn't partake of this. At the risk of sounding prudish, I have to say I question the wisdom of having an all-you-can-drink option in a town with a large college student population. I'm also surprised that Olde Main made such a significant change with no advertising to speak of. In fact, as of this writing, their webpage still advertises the old brunch menu. My wife and I would not have known of the resurrection of the buffet had we not come in on the spur of the moment, since the restaurant we were planning to eat at, The Mandarin, didn't open until 11:30 AM, even though their website announces an 11 AM Sunday opening. (Why do restaurants bother with webpages if they're not going to keep them up to date? The whole point of a webpage, I always thought, is that it can be changed as circumstances require. Having a factually incorrect webpage is false advertising.) Verdict: the return of the buffet is a change for the better. It's a bit overpriced, though.
(4)Bella C.
A must visit while in Ames, not for the food but for the beer. The House Brew Sampler for $8 is a bargain. Good appetizer but main course? I would always skip. Never had their dessert, who would go to a beer house to eat dessert anyway?! Service is appropriate.
(3)Ben L.
My wife and I used to thoroughly enjoy coming to Olde Main. We loved trying their specialty brews and sharing some of their more popular dishes. We also really enjoyed their Sunday Brunch. None of these exist here anymore. Their wait staff is great. I have never had an issue with a rude employee there. Their bartenders are friendly and approachable. Every time we've ate in the restaurant, service has been fantastic. I wanted to point that out because that is rare nowadays to find a place with continuously great service. Since their lead brewer and chef left this place it has lost almost all appeal to me. The no longer make specialty brews, which was one of the main reasons I would go. Their standard beers are nothing to write about. All of them taste very similar with minor style differences. I would drink them for a dollar but not much more than that. Their food used to be fantastic. I loved the Sunday Brunch selections and their menu was a lot more diverse. I loved their chicken tortellini, but they have now dropped the portion size. They also make us pay extra for the chicken portion. Unfortunately, even if the people are great we're paying for the food and drinks to be there. One of our weekly standbys for a nice evening is quickly becoming that "we have no where else to go... sigh, might as well."-place.
(2)Cheryl A.
In Ames for a Dance Competion. Had an hour and a half to kill, so we thought we would try them out. The place looks very nice and upscale pub kind of look inside. We had high hopes. It was a Saturday around 2PM. Not busy at all. Should have been our first clue. Besides a state wide dance comp in town , also the #4 Cyclones had just finished a dual wrestling meet with #3 Oklahoma, and being in a Big 12 School town, you would have thought it would be packed in here. But it wasn't. We ordered 2 Clone Ales , 1 Mt Dew, and 1 Root Beer, along with 2 burgers and chips and 2 salads. The Mt Dew was there with in a couple of minutes. It was 15 minutes before the 2 beers and the root beer arrived. Since it was already established that the service was going to be slow on a day when they were not busy, I told our waitress to bring us 2 more Clone Pale Ales, thinking they would arrive about the time we finished the first 2. The Clones weren't bad, but weren't very good pale ales either. I should have taken the time to taste before I ordered us 2 more, but that was on me. Anyway we finished our beers 15 minutes later, and did not have the new beers ordered delivered to our table yet, and no food. I flagged the waitress down and asked about our other 2 beers, and she forgot to put the order in. She apologized and went to put the order in. They came in 10 minutes, faster than the first 2 but still no food. We finished those 2 beers 15 minutes later and still no food. By this time we had been there 45 minutes and no food. We flagged the waitress down again and told her to change our order to go because we had to get back to the dance comp or miss our daughters next dance. We finally received our food after an hour from ordering. 2 hamburgers and 2 salads, and it takes an hour?? Ate our meals back at Stephens Auditorium. Salads were just salads nothing special, and the hamburgers were dry and under seasoned. Next time I would just go to Casey's. Get faster service, better craft beer selection and definitely a better burger. Place needs new management and a better brewer and it would have some possibilities .
(1)Rachel Y.
Hate hate hate the new menu. Bring back the old nachos! I'll definitely not be eating here again. They are trying to turn it into a gastropub when the food is middle of the road at best.
(3)Kent M.
First time in here, or most anywhere else in town. Fab good food items here. Am having the Bread Pudding dessert first and is quite good, but not the best I have eaten...but real good, and then a burger and handcut fries. Rootbeer is great, which is made here also. Same for the beers. I did not sample any drink except the rootbeer. Perfect service with Tim to assist. Thanks folks. Well done. I hope to return another time.
(5)Kendall D.
Still waiting for my food after 2 hours. Went out to eat after graduating with my family. Normally I wouldn't mind but the place is nearly empty.
(1)Haley R.
The food is good. Nothing spectacular, but solid. Service is almost always terrible. On Wednesday nights, you're better off going to the bar for a beer than expecting to ever be waited on. The beer is not great . Occasionally it tastes good, but most of the time it is okay at best. It seems to be slumping even more lately. However, pints cost $1 on Wednesday nights (and growlers, which are about five pints, are $5 on Thursday nights), which is nice. Unfortunately, much of the time on pint night the beer is brought to you in plastic juice tumblers. I understand they're busy and serving a lot of beer when they're only selling it for a dollar, but they're not doing themselves any favors. Even good beer tastes like shit out of a plastic cup.
(3)Michael P.
The atmosphere and Waite staff were okay, food was bland and prices were high.. Overall unimpressed...
(3)Mike O.
Have always enjoyed the food and beer here, and was looking forward to trying their new menu. A disappointment all around. Food quality has gone way downhill. There are too many good restaurants in Ames to bother coming back.
(2)Curt B.
I enjoyed the beer, I had Sodbuster Stout and then finished with a Dinkey Wheat. I enjoyed both. My guest had a mixed drink of Jaeger and root beer called a monkey bomb that was delicious. She also had a nice vegan dish with hummus that she enjoyed. I had the pork tenderloin that was good. Additionally I can say great Happy Hour Specials as well as good service!!
(4)Jon T.
On my way through Ames, I stopped in at Olde Main for a burger. I chose Olde Main to try a local beer, hoping that they do actually brew. I drank a Sodbuster Stout. It was OK, but I felt it lacked the depth and full flavors that good craft stouts can have. Nevertheless, it was better than Guinness. I had a Classic Burger and some O-rings. The food was kind of on a par with the beer, OK, not special. Service was also of that caliber, just a little inattentive and they were not busy. I had to ask for some things twice. I had hoped for a better seasoned and prepared burger in Iowa. I guess I would try the place once more, but it was a little underwhelming. This is a weak three stars. Not bad just on the edge of OK.
(3)Kenzie T.
I love Ames and I love Main Street, but Olde Main is always a spot I try to avoid when I'm going out to eat. The menu has changed quite a bit since I first came, but one thing that hasn't changed: hardly any vegetarian options. I can honestly go to a Barbeque place and have a better time finding something I can eat. They used to have an option where you could get a mushroom burger (which I never found that great) but that's gone now. You could get pasta, but the only meatless dish was about 16 dollars a plate! Recently I celebrated a friends birthday there and discovered they have a mac and cheese dish, which was really quite good. Still, my only meal options are either that or a side salad, and I really don't like having such limited options. As for beer, the dollar pint nights are a pretty fun deal. Quite frankly, it's just not my favorite beer. There are far better places in town, in my opinion.
(2)Patrick T.
Love the 1 dollar beer nights, when I used to live in Ames. Although I'm not a huge fan of the beer they make in general it has gotten way better over the years. And the root beer is really great! I have had some 4 star experiences here and I have had some 2 star experiences here as well.. Mostly due to the servers not being A. Nice B. Well versed in the menu C. Not trying to accommodate a vegan eater. They do have a really good Portabello burger that is vegan without the cheese, I would get that if you are looking for a Vegan option. The brunch on Sundays is pretty fun, but a little over priced for what you get. I used to go here quite a lot to watch sports events in the bar they do have NFL ticket and MLB Package so it a good spot to get a bite to eat and have some drinks!
(3)Lynn T.
Lots of great deals here. The sandwich and fries are great. The wings are okay. A little heavy on the breading.
(4)Maeraj S.
Awful, just awful beers. Everything about this place can be summed up in one word--meh. If it burned to the ground, I don't think it would be missed.
(2)Josh S.
Back when I was a student at Iowa State, Olde Maine Brewing (316 Main Street, Downtown Ames) was just opening. At the time, you would expect the food, service and even the craft beer to be just average at best. It wasn't half bad. I remember my parents taking me out for dinner or for Sunday Brunch and it was alright... when I wasn't paying for it. Back then, being a college student, I didn't like having to pay $20 for a main dish and a halfway decent beer. Any money I did have from working my part time job went to either a) my car, b) my apartment or c) Krystyn. Ironically, answer "c" still gets a good portion of my money on a daily basis. We ate out on "date night" which happened only once every two weeks or so, and even then, we didn't eat at a restaurant this expensive. Now that I'm an adult, have an income and can afford to buy the food and beer at Olde Main, I don't want to. They have gone backwards since they opened. The food is worse, the beer is worse and the service, which used to be really good, is now okay at best. We decided to take our Moms out the weekend before Mother's Day this year because we couldn't be there (had a wedding to attend) and we figured even if we could have been there, we wouldn't get a table. Seeing as how graduation had come and gone, we figured it would be a good time to eat at Olde Main. Upon arrival, we stood at the "please wait to be seated" area for almost ten minutes before someone came up to seat us. When they did arrive, they told us it would be a fifteen minute wait. We were stunned by this since the restaurant was practically empty. When we asked why, they told us it was "because we're swamped right now." Swamped? Do you only have one person cooking, bartending, waiting and hosting? I can't imagine how horrible the wait must be on a night when they actually are busy. He then went on to say "it was because you have a larger group." SIX people are a large group? Once he finally did seat us, things moved along pretty quickly. They took our drink orders and food orders within five minutes. We ordered drinks (mostly beer and a few waters). I ordered their "Sodbuster" because I love a good, hearty stout beer when I do get beer. Not impressed. It had very little flavor. So, I decided to order a second, different beer and tried the Off Kil'ter (a Scottish Ale) and again, extremely unimpressed with the flavor. Seriously, if you advertise "craft" beer and it is brewed on sight, you'd better make sure it is REALLY good, especially if that is what you are supposedly known for. I got the chicken tortellini with bacon and pesto. Nice to see this was still on the menu since this was a favorite of mine back in the days when we used to go here a few years ago. This wasn't as good as I remembered it. The portion was small, the bacon was pretty much all fat and no meat and the food arrived cold. Our waitress took it back and zapped it in the microwave for a few seconds and brought it back out. You could tell it was microwaved. Not what I would expect for a meal that costs $16. The place was clean and the décor is still pretty cool (you can see the brewing tanks through the glass behind the bar) but other than this, Olde Main isn't very good. I am sorry that I returned to this place and I have learned my lesson. Our mothers deserve more for Mother's Day than what they got at Olde Main. My mom told me she would have had a better meal if she would have gone down the block and eaten at Great Plains... and I agree 100%. Don't waste your money here. Overpriced food, slacking service and flavorless beers. "Meh" pretty much sums up our FINAL experience at Olde Main. I don't know how this place stays open.
(2)Susan J.
wow, this place doesn't get much traffic on tuesday noon for lunch. i ordered the muffaletta with an extra side of olive spread. the foccacia that came with this was rock hard whereas the foccacia that came with my coworkers food was fluffy soft. i asked if i could get another not so toasted piece of bread and he advised saying that foccacia is a harder bread. uhm, i know, but seriously not rock hard? anyway, the best thing was that he brought me a toasted brioche bun. now why couldn't they serve this sandwich first off with a bioche bun. the foccacia just didn't fit, but with a brioche bun (but needed all the extra olive spread) and this sandwich was pretty darn tasty for a bar/pub food item. overall, just a-ok, nothing really stood out.
(3)Kate D.
This used to be a pretty good restaurant, but the new menu is not great. They got rid of a lot of my husband and I's favorite menu items - including the ribs. I haven't had anything on the new menu that has made me want to order it again - and the menu seems pricier than it was before (for worse tasting food). They also got rid of the Sunday brunches we used to love - just really disappointed with the new changes. The location is great, and the atmosphere used to be great, but I have noticed it is much less busy since things have changed. It's okay if you want dollar pints on Wednesdays, but other than that, I'm not sure there's much appeal left as a restaurant with the menu change. I would just skip the restaurant enjoy the bar - I especially like the shuffleboard table on the loft.
(2)Crys L.
We haven't fully explored the menu yet, but everything we've had so far has been great -- drinks and food both. Service has been friendly, attentive, and quick each time we visited. The only downside, really, is that there's not much "atmosphere" ... the place is just so huge, and that makes it feel kind of open and empty. Not enough to lose it a star, I just wish they could get a better ambiance going. Portions are large, food quality is good, and the menu offers lots of options. Great space for groups.
(5)Bela S.
As a micro brewery, this place deserves five stars. Their specials, especially Tuesday and Wednesday are amazing. They essentially amount to $1 micro brew pints. Amazing. Seasonals are awesome. Reindeer fuel is unique. Horseman's revenge is wonderfully pumpkin-y. Man will I miss this place (no, not closing, we just moved). The food is ok. We have had dinner a few times, but later just went for apps and taps. The restaurant is nice and clean, and worth checking out. During their "specials nights" they do require a hand stamp, which is nice, because you are not stuck pulling out your wallet every time you go to get a pitcher refilled.
(4)Lauren F.
Great food, usually good beer. Our family had an incident where the beer had obviously gone bad and the server and the bartender both denied it (they obviously didn't bother to taste it). They refused to replace the pitcher and insisted the beer was fine. Incredibly unprofessional in my opinion. Aside from that incident we haven't had any issues but that has left a sour taste in our mouths. The maple wood smoked salmon is great, along with the quesadillas, sandwiches, and really everything we've eaten. The incident won't stop us from coming back but I'd hope they'll adjust their attitudes and improve upon their customer service.
(3)James W.
Second review.... I've been here at least 50 times and I don't know why. It just is so bad. The food is horrible and the beer is not good. My problem (and I assume everyone else's) is I have a few in me and I think, I wanna go to a nice local brewery. Every time I am disappointed. I come here and yearn for a real local brew pub every time. Tonight we got the spinach artichoke dip and we got a bowl of thick gravy with no spinach or artichoke. First time I literally could not finish my meal.
(1)Donald Y.
I have tried so hard to like Olde Main, I really have. I love microbreweries and I make any attempt possible to visit them no matter if it's around my home or when I am on vacation. Since Olde Main opened back in 2004 I have been here at least 15 times, maybe more and finally, I just gave up. Olde Main just doesn't hold up like the brew pubs in Des Moines. The beer here just isn't that good. Their regular lineup is uninspiring at best and I have had some seasonals from them that have been just downright repulsive. Their summer "Lemon Thyme" beer tastes like you think lemon PineSol would taste like. And last summer I tried their seasonal "Black Mamba" and it was probably the only beer I have ever ordered that I refused to finish. It smelled and tasted like dirty dishwater. The food, well, it's average at best. I don't remember each thing I have ordered in the past and maybe that's a testament to their averageness. I'm definitely not trying to say their food is bad but for me, with a microbrewery, the beer usually takes center stage and if the food is good, then outstanding! But here, the beer just doesn't make the grade, and that lack of tasty beer overshadows their food.
(2)Nicholas T.
Beer and sprits selection is good, but the food needs a major upgrade, which is sad since Main Street needs help on the bar food front. Please Please Please get a newer Golden Tee machine - 1987 called and they want it back.
(3)JJ D.
In Ames, IA, restaurants seem to close between 2:00 (late lunch) and 5:00 (early dinner). A friend and I were in Ames, wanted to eat around 3:00. This was all we could find open. However, we had to eat in the bar, but that's ok. Waiter gave us menus, but he was also bartending and kind of "forgot" us. I had to hunt the waiter down to take our order. I ordered Pork Tenderloin sandwich, friend ordered Classic Burger. when the order was taken, the waiter asked if I wanted fries or a salad. I asked if the salad was included (instead of fries) or was it "extra." I swear the waiter said "included." So I ordered salad instead of fries. (My friend ordered fries, they were the good hand cut ones!) However, when I got my bill, I was charged $1 for the salad. I protested this to the waiter. Instead of ringing it up again, he just said he would "pay" it. Ok, so I subtracted $1 from the total and gave a tip based on that. Took awhile for our sandwiches to come. Food was ok. Pork Tenderloin was fried/breaded. Salad that came with it was decent sized, 1000 Island dressing was good! I drove here in a rental car. No place to park RV's, this is down town Ames. Sandwiches were a bit pricey, but the entrees were really pricey. They have Wi-Fi.
(3)Matt E.
In my opinion Olde Main has single-handedly revitalized the downtown district of Ames. This place gave the community a reason to be on Main Street again in the evening. I do enjoy going here and it's one of the marquee establishments in the Ames area. The beer here is a great break from the norm of prevalent lagers and watered down beers of the mid-west. Olde Main is to be commended on bringing some depth to the beer drinking culture of Cyclone country. The beers are not world class and do tend to suffer from consistency issues. Their seasonals are their strongest offerings. The beer alone would garner a stronger review, but when coupled with the dining situation Olde Main ends up being just average. Our most recent visit here was with a group of 8. We had a 7:30 reservation and were not served our entrees until two hours later. Their menu has been improved to reflect the midwestern staples with a more sophisticated twist. They look great on the menu, but the proteins (salmon, pork) we received were pretty dry and over-cooked. I want to love Olde Main and applaud their efforts to give downtown Ames a kick in the pants with an enterprise that helps distinguish Ames as a community, but there are some issues here that keep visiting from being a completely enjoyable experience.
(3)Sarah C.
Service was wonderful, so that can't be faulted. But we were disappointed by the beer and the food. Beer was warm and flat all the way around the sampler. Chicken Saltimbocca was 2 big fat dry chx breasts on bread. No sauce or condiments. Fries were good though. Smoked Gouda Mac and cheese was soupy. Pasta was small elbow mac with too much sauce, not baked, though the sauce was tasty. Just too overpowering. My daughter liked the root beer! Restaurant mostly empty on an early Tuesday evening. It's not a lost cause; they have the infrastructure in place. Just work the food better, and chill and carbonate the beer better. We are from out of town, but big brew pub aficionados and hubby is a brewer as well, so we always try local craft beer. Keep going!
(2)Lenny J.
Except for the onion rings, friendly service, and the Oban 14 this was a complete miss. Caesar salad with onions, tomatoes, (huh)? A full pound of mashed potatoes aside a pitiful rib eye topped with what could only be described as blue cheese puree. Bitter and grainy. The bruschetta was passable, although the topping was unremarkable, but my chicken wing appetizer was undercooked. Keep the staff, and the Oban and rework everything else. I can't comment on the beer since I didn't try it.
(1)Pam K.
Wasn't sure after reading reviews. But our server Collin was very good and the food was very acceptable. Can't rate any higher because they didn't bring water or bread to the table or a plate for my mussel shells. We had the chicken scaloppine and mussels in clam sauce
(3)Terin C.
There are apparently a lot of brewing companies in Iowa. I didn't see the actual tanks here, but that's okay. They had "homemade root beer" listed on the menu, so that was proof enough for me. Speaking of the menu, I couldn't really eat much here, unfortunately. Sometimes, when the person across from me is eating delicious delicious lasagna, and I'm staring down my fork at a pile of lettuce... I hate life and everyone attached to it. Other times, though, I think "screw it", and I have a slice of chocolate cake for dinner. Which is what I did here. I had a slice of chocolate cake with a side of bread rolls. It was not a proud moment for me, friends, but it was a tasty one. You can judge me if you like, but it won't take away that slice of cake and basket of rolls that I ate. That memory is mine forever. By the way, the rolls were nothing short of awesome. They tasted like they may have been made from pizza dough, which is an inspired idea if you ask me. I mean, unless they weren't made from pizza dough, in which case, I will be doing that, and everyone will tell me how inspired an idea it was. Excellent. Looking back, I feel like I should have gotten a salad or something, because then I could have legitimately commented on the food. As it is, I can only tell you that the cake was okay, and wax poetic about the dinner rolls some more... which I will not be doing. If I stop by here again, I'm going to try some of their homemade root beer. I should have done that, too. Man, I failed this place as a consumer. Also, our server was a little on the cold side. That's okay, though. I did order cake for dinner. That could be construed as strange in some cultures. Perhaps I offended her. In any case, I'm done with this review now. You should seriously try the bread rolls. Okay, now I'm done.
(3)Gregory B.
The beer is generally very good. I sampled them all. Kudos to the brewmaster. The food is not consistent, but at times is inspired. The roast chicken was delicious, delicately smoked, but raw inside. They roasted it more, but sheesh. The crab cakes were pretty good, with an amazing pear slaw. The server was perfect, but the frat boy/sorority girls at the front desk were uniformly clueless and surly. It was clear that no manager was around. When we arrived (the place was pretty empty), they seemed intruded upon. We had to wait while one checked her cell phone while conversing with two others. Finally, we got their attention. "We have a reservation." "Do you have a name?" was the annoyed reply. DO YOU HAVE A NAME? The owners need to attend to this. But it's worth it for the beer.
(4)Travis B.
The food here is pretty good. The Sunday Brunch is a step above the menu. The beer...well, it's inconsistent. Historically, I've been a big fan of the Clone Ale. It would seem that over the last year, they've attempted to ramp up their production and haven't gotten it right quite yet. Or something. I don't know. Wednesday nights you can get any Olde Main beer for $1 a pint. I prefer to get the same specials at DG's where you can still get a pint glass made of actual glass (Olde Main tends to run out on pint nights, serving in plastic tumblers instead). Thursday nights you can fill your growler for $5...so essentially a pint night to-go. I hope they get the beers fine tuned back in, because the Clone Ale was a good one.
(3)Alex H.
Good homemade beer. Their Nachos are delicious. I personally recommend trying their Sodbuster or any of their dark beer!! The staff is very friendly here. I recommend going there for some appetizers and a few drinks. Dollar pints on Wednesdays and $5 growlers on Thursdays! Can't beat those prices.
(4)Rosa K.
OMG I love love love the Sunday brunch. Plenty of actually tastefull food and variety. I was so pleasantly surprised of the quality of this brunch in Ames, Iowa. Customized omelets made fresh to order... Eggs, french toast, sausage, bacon, mashed potatoes and green beans, pasta, salmon, prime rib, honey ham, tons of fruit, and an amazing selection of desserts including gorgeous giant chocolate covered strawberries, champagne glasses of chocolate mouse, cheesecake, bread pudding and cookies! Yummy yummy yummy in my tummy!!! $16.95/ person.... TOTALLY WORTH IT! Though I wish I was under 10 or over 65... to take advantage of the kid and senior prices... I'll have to arrive in costume next time and wear a white wig. ;)
(5)Eric L.
The IPA was decent but the food was far below average. Stop by for a beer and go somewhere else to eat.
(2)Marcey S.
My family went there for Thanksgiving 2012 and I must say it was definitely subpar. They were set up more for Breakfast at 1:30 than Thanksgiving - cheesy eggs, bacon, sausage, sausage gravy and biscuits and an omelet station. Other than that there were yucky green beans, the standard mashed potatoes, marshmellow yams. etc. Basically, everything had the same texture and consistency. Of course there was also ham and turkey but without horseradish and only canned cranberry sauce. Plain and short everything was flavorless and bland. There was an attempt at a fruit bar but it just included a few melons and pineapple. The dessert table was mediocre, and had nothing for a gluten free person. This is a marked contrast from a few years back when we had gone for a prior Thanksgiving. During that visit, they had had several sides available, a great fruit bar and dessert table loaded full and even included chocolate mousse and chocolate covered strawberries. I am just saying that for $18+ a plate it should have been better. My family ended up spending a little over $120 not including the tip for my husband and I and four children. For the price, we could have had a catered Thanksgiving from Hy-Vee. At least then we would have been prepared for the kind of bland slop that only accompanies nursing home foods. We just expected more out of Old Main.
(1)Samantha S.
This place has the WORST service I've ever experienced. We went for Sunday brunch and the buffet is no longer there, and the new menu has a limited number of items. Out waitress, Jessica H, was a completely off putting and rude, and was sitting down the entire time we were eating and didn't serve us until we got up multiple times to ask to order. She brought us bread pudding that was completely cold, and when we asked them to possibly heat it up for us she sarcastically said "sure, into the microwave it goes." She and other wait staff were sitting watching television and we had to get up and ask for service. It was completely unacceptable and when we paid, the waitress was rude and had an attitude and then went back to sitting and watching tv like we had inconvenienced her. Never going back.
(1)Marlaine D.
Is it so hard to serve a French fry hot? Do you enjoy lukewarm fries? I do not!! Every calorie counts & a cold French fry is a true loser! We enjoy the beer but hesitate if they can not even get a fry hot!
(2)Ellen F.
The restaurant was freezing cold and according to a worker it's been like that. The new menu is very limited. We ordered the onion rings as an appetizer and they were awful! Even my 13 yr old couldn't stomach them. We ordered burgers medium. They were bleeding red in the center. And to top it off, it was a $11 burger!! Our server was dressed in jeans and gym shoes and looked sloppy. I don't know what management changes have occurred here, but we will never be back. The food and service have been slipping for awhile, not it has hit rock bottom.
(1)Eric B.
Inspired by my parent's fitness (see Cub Foods review), Gayle and I went for a long walk yesterday. We walked from my parent's house to and around the Iowa State Campus, went down Lincoln Way to downtown and then back home. We figured that was about 7-8 miles. And then just before we got home, Mom and Dad picked us up to head out to Ada Hayden Park to meet up with my Sister and her family. Once there, we did the 3 mile loop around. Not a bad day's work. And there were mild temperatures, low humidity and no bugs! At the downtown portion of our hike, Gayle and I stopped in at the Olde Main Brewing Company for a pint and a nosh (a Midwest term BTW). We stayed on the Pub side and hence this review doesn't address the restaurant or the Sunday buffet. Gayle had the Amber Ale, I had a Stout and we split the chicken quesadilla appetizer (which was large enough for how much we wanted to eat). Everything was excellent and the apetizer was surprisingly tasty and fresh. The guy who served us was friendly and did a nice job of keeping us informed as the kitchen was a bit slow. The space was very comfortable and like Jaclyn P., I am soooo happy that Iowa has finally limited smoking indoors.
(4)K. B.
A very good brewery and a great place to meet friends. There menu is good and you'll like the food. This is a very good place to meet downtown
(4)Ben M.
Food items have improved with the new menu and cook. Always been a fan of their brews as well. Off Kilter and Dinkey Wheat are my favorite of their year-round brews.
(4)Jennifer O.
My mom and I used to sit on the pub side and play cribbage, but they got rid of the stack of games they had. They also got rid of some good vegetarian items on the menu. But I am no longer a vegetarian, so I don't mind so much! Olde Main has some great food and awesome house made root beer. Not a beer drinker, but my mom always gets the Dinkey when we're there. I always want to hit up Sunday brunch, but it just seems a little too expensive. The rest of the menu is fairly priced though.
(4)Trevor F.
Tonight this place was five stars great service! Food and beer was exceptional! By far the best place on main street tonight. The nachos where so good the beef and bean dip is like a chilli and now I want more! If your looking for beers that you won't find most other places this is the place to come!
(4)Lee E.
I came for the locally brewed beer, and I left unimpressed. I tried the Gryphonbraü American Lager and the Long Face Amber Ale. The flavor of the beers were okay. But, neither tasted good enough to entice me to order another beer. Also, the beer was served in room temperature pint glasses. I prefer my beer served in a chilled or frosty cold glass.
(2)Bret H.
Went to ISU for a couple years and if the train were still around I would've been here way more often!! With that being said when I did get the chance to stop by for a few rounds they were some of the best times I had at ISU! By far the best beer in Ames can be found here! You can't beat the Dinky Wheat!! Food is top notch as well.
(5)Tom L.
Steak was kind of fatty. Potatoes and veggies were not good. Tap water tasted funny due to tap lines. Only place in Ames that brews their own beer. Very dead during the week.
(2)Samantha C.
Stopped in for lunch while walking down Main. I was stuck between the Chicken salad croissant, and the cheese tortellini. I ended up going with the croissant and it came with a choice of side so I got a salad. I was afraid I should have gone with the pasta, until the croissant came out and I took a bite. The chicken was juicy and chunky, not mixed into a paste like some places. The flavor was light and fresh, not bogged down in a bunch of mayo. Salad was just as good, they use fresh greens and spinach instead of the usual cheap iceberg. This place is huge so I wonder how service is during a rush, but it's really a neat restaurant.
(4)John N.
A friend of mine and I dined here for dinner. He had the Tequila Lime Chicken and I had the Andouille & Shrimp Pasta. It was clear that the kitchen cared to use fresh ingredients (crisp peppers and shrimp with firm mushrooms in mine). We both agreed at the end of the meal that Olde Main was a good find. As a homebrewer I enjoy a well-crafted beer as much as anyone, and Olde Main does a good job of putting together a suite of beers to appeal to a range of palates. Personally I am left wanting more hops in their pale ale, but I also know that my left-coast sensibilities toward pale ale (think Lagunitas IPA) don't always meet with what sells well in a midwest brewpub. All things being equal, the beer brewed here is very good.
(4)Jeff E.
I really enjoy the ambiance of Olde Main - it's a nice restaurant but also has a separate area for the brewery/bar. The food is good but I've always thought the prices were a little high. However, you can't beat $1 pint night on Wednesday's for some good local beer! Great for groups, a nice dinner with family or for a date.
(3)Faith Q.
Has the potential to be very good....I would give it a 5 for atmosphere and the seasonal Oktoberfest I got on $1 pint night (Wednesdays) but a 1 for food. I got the southwest steak salad....the steak was coated in something but was virtually tasteless. It was cooked well, though....the staff was nice, but that salad had absolutely no flavor :(....since I travel so much for work, I try to watch my weight and eat tasty food at the same, so I thought this might be a safe bet with the black beans, corn, cilantro, and cilantro-lime vinaigrette (which was oddly sweet???)....I didnt find what I wanted here...but the Oktoberfest is top notch!
(3)CHRIS C.
Pumpkin ale is pretty good but disappointed in the oktoberfest. Overall not very impressed with their beer compared to other breweries that I've been too.
(2)Douglas C.
Olde Main , in its relatively few years here, has become an institution. It's a favorite in town for both beer and food, and the amount of space it offers makes it a natural place to gather for the students and the community. It's a place that Ames needed, and it filled that need, and continues to fill it. That being said. I'm not the biggest fan. The beer is alright. It's drinkable, affordable, and they offer a lot of variety. It is, however, over-flavored and lacks the grace and subtlety of other great microbrews. When compared to Bud Light, it's amazing. When compared to other microbrews, it's kind of a crime. The food is also disappointing. They have a huge menu that covers just about anything that you might want to eat at a pub, yet strangely I never really feel like eating anything they're offering. You expect, given the prices, that you would get something better or more exotic than you would at a sit-down chain. But in reality, though impressive sounding as the menu items are, they're just not that great. Even the burger is bad. It's overcooked, bland, and lost in the gigantic, dry, and flavorless buns. Still, it's not all bad. The service is quick considering how busy it can get, and the staff are friendly. More than anything though, it is the surplus of space that makes Olde Maine a fun place. It accommodates large parties easily. The only more spacious establishment is Hickory Park.
(2)Adrienne M.
I'm really not a fan of this place, or at least their Sunday buffet. For some reason, my parents love it, and want to eat there every time I'm in town. The first time I went to the buffet, I was just kind of underwhelmed, and not really turned off. However, the most recent time was really disappointing. The roast beef was STILL ALIVE. It was so thick, red, and bloody that even my dad (who loves rare prime rib) was incredibly grossed out. The scrambled eggs & omelets were also undercooked, which didn't necessarily taste bad, but might be a health issue. The rest of the buffet-style entrees were standard (bacon and sausage, biscuits, waffles, etc) and were generally bland and cold. Also, service was fairly poor, but that's not unusual at a buffet. The one redeeming thing about the buffet is the desserts, which were pretty decent. I especially recommend the chocolate mousse (which, unlike other chooclate mousses I've had was not so saturated in rum that you could no longer taste the chocolate) and the chocolate covered strawberries. Once again, this is just a comment on the buffet, and for all I know the normal meals are ok.
(2)Drew B.
Had the buffalo chicken salad it was good and we got our food fast. service dropped rating to a 3 when i ordered the "buffalo chicken salad" and she asked, "did you want the chicken with buffalo sauce?"....? later ordered the same round of drinks twice, when the bartender blew it off the first time. Just a few examples, maybe hit em on a rough night? Food was good but had a lame experience.
(3)Jed B.
Good beer and good food. Kind of down to earth grub. Not a lot of cutting edge menu items but what they offer is very good. And top it off with a beer or two...or three.
(4)Goos Y.
Amber ale us good. Food was ok. Service bumped it to 4 stars
(4)Dave A.
The beer is good, the food is good, the staff is friendly. Don't miss this place if you are in Ames.
(5)edmond t.
What can you say about the only brewery in Ames? Their beer is great and I always recommend The Dinkey! The food is pretty good, but there are better places to eat in Ames, so stick with an appetizer and enjoy their beer. They have a great brewery atmosphere and when they have live music, it is always a good time!
(4)Roz S.
I've been to Olde Main a few times and have been underwhelmed every time. While the food off the menu isn't bad per se, it is quite overpriced for the food quality. I enjoyed the vegetarian polenta, but it was nothing special. The Sunday brunch was so bad that we actually walked out - there were few selections and most of them had been ravaged by children and had not been cleaned up. The salad bar had stray food everywhere. Head to the Gateway for a good Sunday brunch (about four times the choices for about the same price). The Olde Main brews their own beer, but whenever we have gone, they have had few available selections. Most of the beers on the menu were sold out.
(2)Jaclyn P.
Good place to go for a drink. We had my mom's 60th b-day party there and the food was decent. I liked being able to go have a drink there and not come home smelling like an ash tray. I'm so excited that Iowa passed the bill about no smoking in certain establishments. I love it, I love it, I love it. Sorry about rambling on about the no smoking thing. This is a nice place to go. Something a little different for the Ames folk.
(4)Steve T.
My wife and I were in Ames for a night, and thought some fresh beer would be just the thing for us! First we were perplexed why there are two separate entrances. We walked in the set of doors on the right, which must have been the restaurant. The host just said "two?" and sat us at a table, which was quiet and boring, not quite the experience we were hoping for, but we were really there for some good beer and food, so atmosphere was secondary. We each ordered a pint of Long Face, their amber ale, not only did it smell funny, but it tasted flat and stale as well. While drinking the beer, we tried the Jalapeno cheese bread, which was a nice surprise. For our second beer, she had a Dinkey, and I a Clone. While my Clone was fresh, and a huge improvement over the Long Face, the Dinkey had a stale flavor to it, luckily the orange it was served with made it bearable. Beeing a beer geek, I had hoped we would have a few beers, a few apps, and leave with a growler. After our 3rd stale tasting beer, we cut our eating short, to head for a place with better beer, which is a slight disappointment, because the jalapeno bread had me excited to order another plate off the menu.
(2)Brianna B.
We have been to Olde Main a couple of times. Their beer is great, but their food is terrible. The basic pub food is mediocre at best. The cheese fries were drowning in cheese sauce (like the kind you would get from a pump in a convenience store) and the wings were flavorless. The appetizers were so bad that our friends from out of town asked if we could go to another place! Definitely not the best bar food.
(1)Doug P.
Sure we have fish. I'll just ask the cook (who's a nineteen year old college student) to defrost that baby in the microwave until it has the texture of rubber, then we'll fry it up for you. If you chew long enough, it'll eventually be able to be swallowed. Oh, please don't mind if we give you lousy service along the way.
(1)Jeremiah E.
Great beer!!!! Far superior to Raccoon River or Court Ave in Des Moines. Bar tenders are great. Good place to go on quiet weekday nights, except for Wednesdays ($1 drafts). Food is great too. Try the chicken alfredo.
(5)Sophia P.
The ambiance is warm and inviting, but the food is merely so-so. I had the Chicken Napoli; it was okay, but I expected more. The "feel" of the restaurant is way better than the actual menu. Usually, their Red Monkey Root Beer is great, but on this particular visit, it had too much vanilla, and neither I nor my children (who LOVE root beer) could finish it. Note that there is no separate lunch menu, so it can get expensive for a family of 4.
(3)T F.
I was able to visit my alma mater this weekend and had the privilege to stop in and have a sandwich and pint or 2 or 3 at Olde Main Brewing Co. & Restaurant. I had the Jalapeno Jack burger and it was very good. I also had a pint of the Off kilter Scotch ale and the Gryphonbraü. I was able to sample the Sod buster, Long Face, Cyclone Pale Ale, and the root beer. I was very pleased with all of the beers that I had. The bartenders and servers that I talked with were also very nice.
(4)