Bonjour friendly folks. Several friends and I took advantage of our day off last Monday by driving to the city — Story City, that is.

We had reservations at seven, for seven at The Cottage on Broad. The remodeled house from 1880 specializes in fine steak, seafood & pasta and promises excellence in fine dining.

So, were these “Great Expectations” met? Let’s just say that when the chef comes down to personally talk to your table, you know a restaurant is off to a great start.

After being seated we were told that January is seafood month and the Surf & Turf for $32.00 is especially delicious. Seafood has never been my bag, so I opened a menu.

We started with a Spinach & Artichoke Dip appetizer for $5.99. Now, I don’t particularly like Popeye and I certainly don’t enjoy spinach, so I almost didn’t try any of the homemade pitta chips and dip served in a hollowed out bread bowl.

Good thing I was easily swayed to the dark side — it was delicious! There was so much creamy garlic and other distractions that I didn’t even realize I was eating spinach.

I indulged in a $4.75 Cottage Lemonade. Absolut Citron, Triple Sec and fresh lemonade blended together for an absolutely wonderful concoction.

Someone said the word “opulent” and our conversation immediately turned to big words we knew. My friends and I particularly enjoy the sound of conglomerate, omnipotent, exfoliate, hasenpfeffer and ambiance.

Speaking of ambiance, The Cottage on Broad has a very cozy and romantic atmosphere. When you walk into the old house you pass a sofa and comfy chairs and a small bar in the corner. Then continue back into the dining room for more flowers, candle-lit tables and wanna be antiques.

There is a fireplace upstairs in the dining room reserved for (undoubtedly romantic) intimate dinners for two or private parties. How cozy is it?

My roommate summed it up best when she said, “I wish I had a boyfriend.”

All dinners include a house salad or soup of the day and a baked potato, fettuccine alfredo or rice pilaf. When our waitress began putting fresh ground pepper on our salad, I had to restrain myself from shouting, “Garcon!”

But seriously, folks, The Cottage prepared one of the best salads I’ve had in a long time. There were lots of fresh vegetables loaded with delicious ranch dressing and several giant croutons. Very good.

Our main courses were served just before 8 o’clock, and my eyes nearly popped out of their sockets when I saw the size of my dinner.

My 10 oz Prime Rib dinner for $12.99 (garnished with an orange, lime and something that looked like it fell off my old Christmas tree) was incredibly delicious. The meat was so tender that you didn’t have to put any effort into cutting it.

Between my 10 oz entr‚e and my more affluent (another big word) friend’s 22 oz Prime Rib, I bet we ate a cow’s entire leg! Or at least its calf …

OK— be sure to bring lots of dough or a credit card when you eat here — in case you hadn’t noticed, The Cottage on Broad is not at all inexpensive for dinner.

I’m sure that lunch prices are more reasonable. But don’t let the prices discourage you; the Cottage is a perfect place for a nice evening and a great place to celebrate a special occasion.

The Cottage on Broad is located about 15 miles North of Ames at 410 Broad Street in Story City.

4 1/2 stars out of five.

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Kim Zangger is a senior in advertising from Mt. Vernon.