Restaurants

Family Weekend at Iowa State is just a few short days away, and entertaining a family in a college town can be tricky business.

If your big plans include fixing them a gourmet bowl of Easy Mac in your dorm room and then taking them by your buddy’s “booze bus” over in the student tailgate lots, you may be in trouble.

If your visiting party includes not only your parents, but your Uncle Bob and his family, and maybe even a few second and third cousins, then Hickory Park on South Duff Avenue is the place to go.

With huge dining rooms and great barbecue at reasonable prices, the whole family will love the old-time feel of this place. Uncle Bob and the kids will get excited about the ice cream menu that includes dozens of sundaes, sodas, and malts. Don’t worry if the line seems too busy, it’s a huge place and you won’t wait long.

Just across the street from Hickory Park is recently-opened Old Chicago, another parent-friendly restaurant. Go here for Chicago-style deep-dish pizza, or pasta, salads, calzones and burgers. They also carry 110 different kinds of beer from around the world.

For a more tranquil atmosphere try Cafe Shi in Campustown. The prices are a little more expensive, but the international fine dining and candle light will delight and impress most parents. Try the spring rolls with avocado dip or the shrimp pad thai.

Another pricier restaurant is The Cafe, which is located out on the Northridge Parkway. They have sophisticated flavors and a good selection of wine and desserts.

Last, but not least, on the list of good restaurants for parents is Cazador. Ames has a variety of Mexican restaurants, but this is the place to be. The food is hot, fast and inexpensive. Cazador is also great for big groups.

Bars

Are your parents the type that you can drink a beer or two with, or who might like to get down and have some fun during the game? You won’t want to take them to Welch Avenue to hang out with the college crowd, but don’t worry, Ames has plenty of parent-friendly bars.

First, there’s Legends on the top floor of Legacy Tower apartments on Stanton Avenue. If you want to impress an out of town visitor, this is the place to take them. It has huge windows, with a view of campus from every seat in the restaurant. You can watch the game on any of their huge flat screen, high definition televisions while you enjoy $6.50 buckets of beer or $4.50 pitchers. If that’s not enough ask for a booth, and control your own little built in flat screen.

Downtown Ames is also host to a couple of great parent-friendly bars: The Olde Main Brewing Company and the 212 Main St. Pub and Grill. Both are serving drink specials during the game and your parents won’t have to deal with the Campustown crowd.

At Olde Main you can listen to a live band on Friday night or enjoy their own freshly brewed beer and “red monkey” root beer during the game. They serve appetizers all day and late into the night. There is also a weekend brunch buffet from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m..

Lastly, there is Wallaby’s and Okoboji Grill out on Grand Avenue. Both have a sports bar atmosphere with a variety of food and drink specials during the game. At Okoboji try the ‘boji fries; at Wallaby’s try Cy’s lemonade, which is made with cherry UV vodka.