Aunt Maude's — Restaurant in Ames

This was the top rated restaurant for Ames so we decided to come here for dinner tonight. The two of us arrived around 6:30 and were seated right away. The interior was...cozy. The tables were a little close to each other. It made getting to the restrooms a challenge when all the tables were occupied.

The food was really disappointing, though. We started out with the New Orleans BBQ shrimp which was 41-50 sized shrimp doused in Worcestershire sauce. No...Just, no. New Orleans style should have the shell and head still on--that's where all the flavor lies. A more appropriate sized shrimp would have been 16-20. And, the sauce...yuck. Straight salty. I was between the grilled pork loin and steak sandwich for my main dish. I got the steak sandwich at the server's suggestion. It's sliced tri-tip topped with a bleu cheese slaw and slivered potatoes on rye bread. The steak was decent but I didn't enjoy it tepid. I feel like it should have been properly reheated without compromising the cook on the steak. I also could not detect any bleu cheese in the slaw. I ate it by itself just to see if the other flavors overtook the dish. I don't feel like the shoestring potatoes added anything to the sandwich. Just made it messier. BOTH sides of the bread were also extremely soggy. It was either not toasted properly or sat in liquid. Our other entrée was the burger which was really just underwhelming, overall. We were planning on getting dessert but decided to skip because of the other three dishes. We feared further disappointment. I'm pretty easy-going when it comes to food. But, this is the first time I've ever wondered "what the hell did I just eat?" Neither one of us felt like complaining to our server. It wasn't his fault the food sucked. And, we also didn't want to have anything remade. It wouldn't have changed anything. The flavors were just a complete bust. We also ate a good portion of the food because we didn't have lunch so we couldn't justify whining about it. The price point also did not align with the quality of ingredients or execution. I don't mind spending a fortune on good food, but this was not good food. Really bummed that we drove 30 minutes and wasted our weekly date night on this meal.

Our server was great, though. He was extremely professional, attentive, and was pleasant the whole way through. That was the only positive aspect. I feel bad lying to him about the food being okay. But, as I said earlier, it's not his fault. Plus, he was busy...

Now this is on me for not doing my homework I guess. I've always wanted to eat here. It's my fault for assuming it was a steak house to begin with but let me tell you..it's not. The service was wonderful so I don't want to take anything from those folks. But the menu was really lacking in diverse options. I'm not sure what their specialty is but I assume sea food as there were fish adoring the wall that I was viewing from my seat although I couldn't see them very well because it was so dark in there. I get that's the ambience they are trying to set but maybe it was just because of my frustration of anything that looked appealing on the menu that it unnerved me. So I went there with my college age daughter. She had the special which was shrimp on I believe some kind of tomato paste on top of grits...yes you read that right. Grits. She was trying to be adventurous and save me money by getting the special even though I told her don't worry about. Anyway she was very much not impressed. I asked if they served steak. There was one option. I don't remember the name but it was basically three small very thin slices of a great tasting steak that amounted to the size of a golf ball with a small serving of stir fry vegetables and here's the best part. FRENCH FRIES!!! Yup. Most expensive place in town and they give you French fries with their overpriced dainty pittance of steak. This place was a disappointment. From the lacking menu to the joke of a meal. And for all of this with water for her and a soda for me we paid just south of 100 bucks!!! 80 something but to be fair that also included the tip. You know I had a Great Aunt Maude and of all of my older relatives she was the most feisty. There's no doubt that if she thought something like this was happening in her house, heads would roll and you would not only hear about it outside, but you would hear about it with colorful language til the day she died. Look it's up to you if you want to blow money there to try to impress a prom date or something like that, but trust me when I say she won't...

I walked into Aunt Maude’s and was seated immediately at the bar. I started with a beer, and right away, I could tell this place is a local favorite—there was a fun, lively vibe, and everyone seemed to know each other. The ambience feels like a cozy, upscale pub with a warm atmosphere and comfortable seating.

I ordered the chicken breast dinner with basmati rice, and it was quite tasty and well-prepared. The service was spot-on, friendly, and attentive without being rushed. I also noticed the wagyu meatballs on the menu, which caught my eye—I’ll definitely be back to try those next time.

Located right in downtown Ames, Aunt Maude’s is a great place to enjoy good food, relax at the bar, or sit outside on a nice day. After dinner, it’s perfect for a leisurely walk through downtown to soak in the local energy.

Highly recommend if you’re in Ames and want a great meal in a lively, welcoming setting.

Came in a second time and it was even better

I had a really nice time at Aunt Maude’s — it’s such a cool and welcoming place. I was here with my wife and my son, and we all loved the food. I ordered the Wagyu meatballs, which were incredibly tasty and full of flavor. My son had the salmon with basmati rice and vegetables, and everything on his plate was perfectly cooked and delicious. My wife ordered the chili and spring rolls, and both were excellent.

We also got the homemade cookies to go, and they were an awesome way to end the meal. The ambience was cozy and inviting, and the service was absolutely stellar. From the moment we walked in, we were seated right away and really well taken care of. Our server was fantastic — friendly, attentive, and professional.

Overall, it was a wonderful dining experience. I’d highly recommend Aunt Maude’s if...