In my years on this earth, I have been fortunate enough to travel around quite a bit.

In that time, I have experienced everything from five course meals at five star restaurants in Czechoslovakia to lamb burgers from a street vendor on the streets of a very drunken London.

Through these experiences, I have taken away the following: A good meal is what you make of it, and sometimes it takes a little more than others.

With that said, I can honestly say this: the dining experience at Cafe Northwest is an effortless and very enjoyable experience, the way the best restaurants should be.

Let’s start with the atmosphere. I am not sure what look was really being attempted at its inception near the corner of Duff and Lincoln Way, but it is a little of this, a little of that.

I like the Rolling Stone magazine covers adorning the wall that greets you while waiting to be seated, even if some of the best covers are noticeably absent. Black and white tile is a nice touch, too; it says “cut offs and a T-shirt for lunch? Come on in,” but it isn’t too casual for the Ames High prom crowd.

Different times of the day will get you different crowds, but I highly recommend happy hour and Monday Night Football in the bar, especially if you like Bloody Marys.

And while those potent little devils will not only put you away (and if you’re not careful, stain your shirt), they sure do go well with one of my all-time favorite appetizers, Fried Dill Pickles.

I am not sure who came up with them, but man are they tasty. Arguably the best Homecoming hangover cure this side of Mom’s TLC. Another little gem I would highly recommend are the hot wings.

Like Feta cheese? Get the Greek Burger. How can you go wrong with a nice burger cooked to order, garlic, and salty cheese? Not a first date entree, but hell, how many first dates are there, really?

Going for dinner? I’d recommend the Filet, the Iowa Chop or the Chicken Prima Vera. Honestly, I don’t think there is one item on the menu I wouldn’t suggest; it is all that good.

No matter what the meal, you would be doing yourself a disservice by not ordering Baklava for desert.

For one thing, if it is a first date, it’s a great thing to share to get that whole intimacy thing going. If, however, you have been together for a while, tell your partner to get his or her own, because it’s just too damn good to share, unless you’re the one paying and are trying to be cheap.

And now that I have started down the dark and lonely road about price, let me assure all of you that unless you are completely out of student loan money, have no job and can’t give plasma, you can afford a meal for two at Cafe Northwest.

If you can’t, you shouldn’t be in the dating pool anyway. Besides, with the Cafe Northwest web site (members.aol.com/cafenw), you can print coupons for free stuff.

The only drawback about Cafe Northwest really is that you have to get in your car and give up that treasured campus parking space, but as the master of all cuisine, Ed Dibevic, once boldly stated, “Life’s too short to eat bad food.” So get in the car, and make the drive. It is most definitely worth it.

If you haven’t been to Cafe Northwest, go there, and if you already go, bring someone new. Good things are meant to be shared, and on that note, will somebody pass me the Fried Dill Pickles?

5 stars out of five

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Lane Baysden is a former Iowa State Daily columnist. He currently resides in Tempe, Az.