Brownie's Drive-In — Restaurant in Ida Grove

Eh…. Is there another option around? Even a less preferred chain location, like Dairy Queen? Sonic? Anything? I’d opt for something different.

Full disclosure, we only bought ice cream, and their food may be stellar, but I have enough issues to where I don’t know that I’d want to try their food to see.

We love finding the unique local mom n pop shops, regardless on if it’s for a meal, or ice cream, pies, etc. We always look forward to an almost always positive experience and find. Did not find that here.

Pricing seemed fair and competitive, although later found the sizes are a bit small compared to the competitors, which means their pricing is a bit higher. That’s ok tho, if you’re going to get a good quality unique product and experience.

To begin with, things went ok. There is no dine in, and we were on motorcycles, so could hardly eat on the road, so we had to opt for tables. Something we are very used to doing and even enjoy. Once we ordered, someone told us we had to move our bikes, because we were blocking their walk up customers. I wish I would have taken a picture to show where we were parked, because we were not blocking anyone, nor any path for them. We literally thought the kid was joking but our smiles at his believed sarcasm turned quickly to confusion, when asking if he was serious. So, we moved the bikes. Not an issue, but keep in mind, there are things like helmets, jackets, etc. that are hanging on it, so we either need to unload that stuff somewhere, or put it back in to move them, so it was a bit of a hassle to do, knowing we weren’t blocking anything.

We went to a table, and I have never seen so many and also aggressive flies anywhere in my life. One may quickly surmise that it’s the outdoors, and they can’t control that. Well, to a degree, they can, because they clearly knew there was an issue, from food and sweets hitting the ground, so they opted to get fly traps. However, they hung them all right next to the tables. Really?? So that means all the flies that you are “drawing in” to your traps, come right next to your customers, and as they get near, they opt for the better sounding ice cream and food. They really should have been mounted a distance away, to draw them “away” from the tables. Again, since we were on bikes, we had no choice but to deal with the flies. Didn’t help that the tables were also dirty.

While eating, loud, and to some, offensive talk and music was blaring from inside that this is all you could hear on the outside apparently through vents or such. We didn’t have kids with, but if so, I would have walked up and demands that garbage stop while we were within the vicinity. I don’t think they meant for it to be heard outside, but still. Use some common sense and judgement.

Ice cream as mentioned wasn’t a portion equal to other places, but it was still enough. Quality was adequate, but not superb.

I personally will probably avoid ever...

The food is good and the ice cream is USUALLY good but it seems like now that it's been open for a little while that they aren't putting effort in the ice cream anymore. I always buy the chocolate chip cookie falcon twister and it was always mixed with crushed cookies but now there's like only two cookies that were just broke in half. One broken cookie on top and one on the bottom. That's it..... I could buy soft served ice cream from the gas station and just add a cookie to it if that's what I wanted..... And the gal that served me last needs to learn customer service as I could say "thank you" and all I get is "yep" and then closes...

I've frequented this place since it has opened, it has never improved even with change of management. Everytime you go you have to hope you get someone competent enough to take your order and make it, especially a worker named Caleb. He's all over the place, he'll ask you questions you've already answered, won't twist your twisters, and without me handing him my card he wouldn't have remembered I still had to pay. Hopefully one day it won't be a revolving door of people who can't do their job, with prices being so high you'd hope to get...