Olde Main Brewing Company is the first upscale brewing pub and restaurant Ames has seen in at least four years. The Daily’s dining reviewers took a look at the highly anticipated restaurant a few weeks after it opened. The beer — which had to be put on another tab to keep it under $10 — was pretty good, but the food was a whole different story.

Atmosphere:

KB: This place reminded me of most other brewing companies I’ve been in. There was some great jazz playing, and the whole restaurant was open, with cozy booths and dimmed lighting. The bar area — which even has a separate door — is just as nice. This would be a great place to take the parents for graduation.

KF: I almost felt bad for wearing jeans. The nouveau look of over-simplicity and dim lighting was used in large amounts, and I got the impression that this was the place you take someone you are just beginning to date, before you try to stop impressing them and start going to places like Perkins.

Service:

KB: The wait for our table was long, and so was the wait for our food. However, it made sense, as the place was pretty busy. It’s the kind of place where you expect to wait a bit, so we didn’t really mind. Our drinks were brought out quickly, at least.

KF: We waited a long time to get seated — long enough for Kim to tell me her entire dating history. After we were finally seated, our waitress was very nice, and asked us if we were “doing all right” two times, instead of just the usual once.

Quantity/Value:

KB: Here is where a place like Olde Main differs from most Campustown establishments. On Welch Avenue, you’re paying for speed and quantity of food. In a swank joint like this, you’re paying for presentation and quality. My sandwich was presented nicely, with a good portion of fries. It’s less than you’d get from Hickory Park, but about the same as The Caf‚.

KF: My food was overpriced. At other establishments, a salad costing $8 would usually come in a bread bowl, or include enough calories in other ways to make up for the fact that you are getting a salad. This salad, while pretty, wasn’t worth the money I paid for it.

Quality/Taste:

KB: However beautiful the decor of Olde Main was, it didn’t make up for the food. For a nicer restaurant I wanted well-cooked and nicely spiced fish with a unusual sauce on tasty bread. I got some bland walleye, breaded with no spice on decent bread. It was like a big fishstick on a hoagie. My fries were pretty good, but at the scale it appeared Olde Main wanted to be on, they really shouldn’t be screwing up fries. I was really disappointed with the lack of flair for a simple sandwich.

KF: I am a caesar salad connoisseur. My salad was sub-par. The chicken was plainly grilled and placed atop my lettuce when it was too warm, causing it to wilt. The only good thing to come of it was the fresh Parmesan cheese melting a little too. But I would take raw cheese over wilted lettuce.

Olde Main Brewing Company

316 Main St.

(515) 232-0553

11 a.m. to 3 p.m. lunch hours,

appetizers begin at 4 p.m.,

5 p.m. to 9 p.m. supper weekdays,

5 p.m. to 10 p.m. weekends

Kate’s Meal:

Classic Caesar Salad with Chicken

$8.29

Kim’s Meal:

Walleye Sandwich, water

$8.89

Final Say:

Kim 2 out of 5 forks

Kate 2.5 out of 5 forks