La Fuente Restaurant
217 S Duff Ave, Ames, IA, 50010
La Fuente Restaurant Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Ames for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Ames for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Ames for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
217 S Duff Ave
Ames, IA, 50010 - Phone (515) 233-6696
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Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Sarah S.
Better than average Mexican food. Nothing too exciting on the menu but awesome decor. Fun for birthdays. Would recommend if you like Mexican food.
(3)Mark O.
At one time, a friend told me this was the place to go in Ames for Mexican food. Decided to stop in on my way back to Des Moines from Ogden around 9 PM. I was seated promptly and treated well for being a solo diner. However, the food is nothing to write home about; I'd say it's slightly sub-standard for restaurants of this type. The rice was very plain as if it was treated as an afterthought. Burrito sauce had slightly more flavor, but had me wishing for more onions. I found the use of cheddar cheese disingenuous. Four stars for the service and approximately 2.5 for the food.
(3)Sara D.
Not exactly authentic. Went on a Friday evening and it was not busy. The food was ok, but nothing special or worth bragging about. I would definitely recommend other mexican restaurants in the area over this one. It is also overpriced and they didnt put salt on my margarita glass but the waiter said "well there is a salt shaker on the table" ...haha what?
(2)Chris B.
The positives and negatives for this place are like a hectic roller coaster ride - and I hate roller coasters. The place looked pretty nice, had a good sized space, and employees were all very kind to us. The menu offered a variety of different options, including a sizable and easy to find vegetarian section. Everything tasted pretty good. Nothing blew me away, but my taste buds have experienced much worse. However . . . A pretty basic dinner paired with a lone Corona cost me $12. Our food was supposed to come with rice on the side, but didn't (not a huge deal since there's no way we wouldn't been able to eat more food anyway). Mine was fine, but my friend's quesadilla was cold. The parking lot is frustratingly small and really awkwardly set up - pair that with a location that leaves much to be desired and things aren't looking great. I would definitely give this place another shot (especially if I'm with another awesome friend) but I won't feel bad if I never venture there again.
(3)Kenzie T.
What I can say about La Fuente is that it is okay. I enjoyed my meal, but thought it was of average price ($11 for a meal and one beer). Granted, I was there for dinner and not lunch, which could make the difference. I was pleasantly surprised by the ambiance. It's much larger on the inside than it looks and was nice and tidy. The small parking lot isn't the greatest situation, especially when there is a rush. They had a fair amount of vegetarian selections and decent enough beer selection. The staff was nice and attentive. Our food arrived promptly as well, though it's nothing to write home about. While my experience was pleasant enough, I wouldn't be knocking down doors to get back there.
(3)Renee U.
Wonderful place to eat. Lots to choose from.my daughter is a vegetarian and they have lots to choose from.
(5)Megan H.
La Fuente is very cheap. And... the margaritas are pretty good. Unfortunately, that is all I can say in praise of La Fuente. My first year in college, I spent my birthday huddled under a dorm room sink - sweaty, incoherent, and sick as I'd ever been courtesy of LaFuente food poisoning. No alcohol was involved, so the only possible culprit was the faux-Mexican food I'd just ingested. I vowed never to return. Later, I managed to put the incident behind me and have returned a couple of times since, usually with friends who erroneously assumed there was no better Mexican food in Ames (yes there is, it's at Cazador, RUN from LaFuente and go there instead). I am always shocked first by how cheap the food is, and second by how terrible it tastes. The service is inconsistent to say the least - I was talked into eating at LaFuente last week and it was absolutely awful. We were ignored for most of dinner and didn't even get chips and salsa until right before our food came, all while other tables were served basket after basket. The guacamole is terrible, which I didn't think was possible. I should have known that the "grilled crab" enchiladas would really be "grilled Krab" enchiladas (I had no idea restaurants really still served fake crab, much less without any sort of warning that what you are about to order is pressed and processed whitefish rolled up and dyed to look like something completely different than what it actually is). And I definitely shouldn't have ordered them. But even the dishes which should be basic Mexican staples were terrible. How do you mess up rice and beans?? I've given LaFuente plenty of chances to prove me wrong, but it's just as awful as it was when I was 18. Save yourself the food poisoning and go to Cazador instead.
(1)Zach O.
It was not super busy for a Friday night but we still had to wait ,after ordering, nearly an hour for two meals. Our waiter had first brought them to the wrong table then the food sat in the back under a heat lamp until we contacted them to let them know we hadn't gotten our food yet. Would most likely be really good if it hadn't been a half hour old. The waiter then tried to tell us it was because they were short a cook in the back. People who had arrived a half hour after us also received their food before us leaving us to wonder why the lack of cook made their food so much faster. 1/5 going somewhere else next time.
(1)Bela S.
I was born and raised in Southern California. If there is one thing a Southern Californian knows (no, it's not how to surf) it's Mexican food. This is the best, most authentic Mexican you are going to get in Ames, no doubt. We loved coming here for the lunch special. Lunch for two would come in around $15 with tip. That's tough to beat even for a fast food place. Bottomless chips and salsa, and they often have $1-ish margaritas. Yeah, it's not top shelf, but it's around a buck. They are good! I was not a huge fan of their ground beef. Something about it was just different. No matter, because we usually would get pork or chicken and both were excellent. Service is always fast and friendly. This was our go-to mexican joint while attending IA State.
(4)Susan J.
uhm, seriously, just b/c there are hispanics working in the restaurant and eating at this restaurant does not make this a very pallatable place. sure, it's full of loud college students being super obnoxious (making and flying "paper" aluminum airplanes and drinking cheap margaritas) and cheap lunches (around $6 for an overkill combination of stuff), but that doesn't make the food tasty. i ordered the cozumel something lunch special (grilled crab enchiladas with rice and refried bean). ugh, sauteed imitation crab meat mush in 2 tortiallas with some sort of reheated rice and flavorless refried bean (where's the lardo?!?) piled under cheese. it was a waste of $6 and my calories.
(1)Crystal E.
Solid middle of the road Mexican food. I came in for lunch on a Sunday and had a very filling lunch for under $10 with tip and that is pretty good. I think if you are looking for authentic Mexican this isn't going to hit home for you. But if you are looking for cheap Mexi-American food to fill you up you won't be disappointed. Unlimited chips and salsa while you wait. While I did not order one another tabled ordered two of the sizable margaritas and seem satisfied so that might be worth a try. I doubt they are top shelf but they should quench your thirst. If you are near by, stop on in this is what your craving but I wouldn't go out of your way to eat here.
(3)lee k.
Oh my, really not good food. The salsa tastes like stewed tomatoes, and everything else was very greasy. The chips were good, I guess.
(1)Megan J.
I LOVE La Fuente! They have best Margaritas and Quesadillas in Ames! Boo for all of the bad reviews, people in Ames love this place, that's why it's always packed during the school year! Give it a try if you haven't eaten there before.
(4)Long B.
The largest positive of this review.... It's extremely cheap and affordable to eat here! This place is comparable to Taco Bell in price, yet you get large portions of food that is better. I only spent 5.25 for the #12 Lunch Special. With the free chips and salsa, you definitely don't have to get the largest meal on there to come out satisfied and full. The food itself isn't bad, just not amazing or stands out to the competition. It's as mediocre as it gets, but if you're just wanting a quick fix and to feel full, this place will do it well. My food was plentiful. Only complaint would be that the meat was overly seasoned with salt. Inside the place, you'll notice that you have to walk up the stairs to make it to the main level seating. The walls are adorned with painted murals which actually look pretty good. The wait staff are quick and ready to accommodate you. Service wise, it was excellent. When our chips were low, she immediately got a fresh order a chips and salsa on our table. One of my friends ordered a huge margarita, and it came out as a smoothie. We got our waitresses attention and she immediately fixed the problem. Honestly they should just become a fast food joint than a full fledged restaurant. The bathrooms downstairs you may want to hold your nose. It's got a weird bathroom cleaner and stink smell combined. It's a clean bathroom, just has a bad odor to it.
(3)Haley R.
La Fuente is another of my "I just don't get it" spots in Ames. The food is okay, but nothing special, and it doesn't compare to El Azteca. Everyone goes nuts over the monster margaritas, but my days of drinking mass quantities of alcohol to win a free t-shirt are long over, especially since you can get equal or better quality margaritas in a bottle at the liquor store. As with Hickory Park, I don't mind supporting La Fuente because it's locally-owned. But there are other locally-owned Mexican restaurants I'd rather go to because they are better. There is one great thing about La Fuente - it's cheap!
(3)Mark H.
The place was ok but still felt like it was being poorly run through someones old house. We had a long wait for our food and a longer wait to even pay for our food! The food tasted good but was as authentic as panda express. If your bored this place is okay, just to say you have tried it.
(2)Anna B.
Is it the best Mexican food ever? No. Is it good food for the price you pay? HECK YES! For a whopping 5.25 plus tax, I had a diet coke, chips and salsa, and a huge chicken burrito. The filling in the burrito was generous--stuffed with peppers, shredded chicken, refried black beans, topped with salsa and sour cream and another sauce that I can't remember. Everything was hot and came out very quickly. Server was amiable and efficient. Offered suggestions when my dad asked about a certain special. All in all, great place for lunch or dinner. Prices are PHENOMENAL, especially for the amount of food you get! The flavors are good--salsa and sauces could use a bit more punch (that's what living in Texas for two years did to my palate).
(4)John N.
The sign outside says "Authentic Mexican Food." I think I'll start my review right there, working backwards word for word. "Food." Check. I definitely had food there. "Mexican." Check. The menu contained a plethora of Mexican fare. "Authentic." Umm...this is where I'm having a hard time putting a check mark in the box. So I'm in agreement with management on two-thirds of the sign. I happened to visit on a Saturday afternoon just before the lunch specials stopped. Lunch Special #1 comes with "one chile relleno and one taco served with re-fried beans and a guacamole salad. $4.50." This turned out to be a lot of food. The guacamole salad comes out first (see picture), a bed of shredded iceberg lettuce with some bagged shredded cheese sprinkled on top and about two tablespoons of guacamole dolloped on the side. "Iceberg salad with guacamole garnish" might be a more accurate description, but I'm not going to complain about a restaurant getting some fresh greens in my diet. The main dish, while a large portion, was plain with little in the way of flavor. Chile rellenos are my "test dish" and this one threw me a bit. The egg batter and chile had the unmistakable taste of having been resurrected from a long, long penance in the freezer. The filling was not cheese, or even something resembling cheese, but rather mashed potatoes--plain mashed potatoes (a feature mentioned nowhere on the menu). The taco came in a store-bought hard shell with ground beef and some lettuce and more bagged shredded cheese. It was nothing to write home about, and neither were the rice or beans (the beans were also sprinkled with bagged shredded cheese). The service? Attentive and fast. All in all, you get a lot of food for your money. But, I'm sorry to say, there's no love in this food. They're just cranking it out.
(1)Sarah G.
It's fine, and this was the place I went to for Mexican in Ames... but only because I hadn't found a place I liked better and because they load up their salsa with cilantro. The enchilada's mexicana's are the only thing I ordered too. I tried to branch out once and was sorely disappointed. Okay, the insanely large margaritas are also appealing. Back in the day if you drank two, they gave you a t-shirt. And, on your birthday they'll put a sombrero on your head and sing while they give you shots of tequila and hit the hat. It's all in good fun and frivolity, so I guess those are reasons to go too.
(3)Jon T.
I have eaten here three to four times because I occasionally get to Ames and am always open for Mexican food. In my travels, I have eaten at more than a dozen small town, independent Mexican restaurants from York, NE to Ulysses, KS to Pontiac, IL and many places in between. Most of these places have been a single visit and most are OK. I normally have tacos de carne asada or huevos con chorizo. La Fuente falls into this "just OK, not great" category. It is a pretty popular place and does have a few seafood dishes, that are different from the run-of the mill. I have a serious concern regarding their cheese. They are using some kind of processed cheese for their dishes and this is to be avoided. It is like white Cheese-Whiz. The texture is all wrong, leaving a mouth coating feel. A restaurant like this could distinguish themselves with some real, rubbery queso Chihuahua or queso Oaxaca. The last time there, I forgot this and mistakenly ordered the cheese enchiladas. A bad mistake! So as long as you know this is not a taqueria and you tolerate typical Midwestern-ized Mexican it is passable. To give you an idea, this is the kind of place that gives you flour tortillas unless you beg for corn. I recall the carnitas and carne asada being OK. The heuvos con chorizo were a little strange. I have not tried the competition in Ames, but when I am travelling I will eat whatever Mexican food I can find. Just avoid a dish with a lot of cheese unless you like the fake processed cheese-whiz food they serve. Two stars is on the generous side.
(2)Audrey W.
I've been to this restaurant several times and each time has been quite enjoyable, they have fast food that is flavorful and cheap! I will be going back!!
(4)Erin O.
If you're looking for a place with delicious Mexican food, La Fuente is the best in Ames. Since I graduated from Iowa State in 2004, I have not eaten there recently. However, I fondly remember their cheese enchiladas and rice, and the queso sauce was delicious. Service was always friendly and fast, and the place was always clean. Be prepared to wait on Friday or Saturday nights, though the food and margaritas are well worth the wait. Not the most traditional Mexican fare, but still yummy. Two thumbs up!
(4)Ryan W.
This is by far the best Mexican food you can get, but you can get way more food for less than what you'd pay at a fast food place. They also offer carry out options for those that want a great meal at a great price without the whole "sit down" experience. We generally dive in for the steak, chicken, and shrimp fajita which is really good, and the chips/salsa go well with it.
(4)Drew B.
Had the piña colada margarita, it was sugar. The banana margarita was stiff, which I usually appreciate but...food was ok, a lot for what you pay. I've had better
(2)Mary M.
This is a great restaurant to stop in for lunch. They have a great variety of dishes including lunch sized and priced ones. My friend and I stopped in on Veishea Friday last week to get in from the rain. We were promptly seated as well as our waitress was right there to take our drink order. I am gluten free and I was quite pleased to see many options that I could eat without asking for a special menu. In fact, I ordered their fajitas (chicken) and was able to get corn tortillas instead of what usually comes in American Mexican restaurants of "flour". Highly recommended for lunch and for the gluten free eaters!
(4)Stacy S.
The reason I like this place has to do with the following... 1. The chile poblano is awesome. 2. They actually know what a michilata is. 3. The food is CHEAP!! I really dig this place...not for the service or the atmosphere, but it really hits my desire for greasy pseudo-mexican food. The place has Americanized most things, but that still doesn't mean it is terrible for Ames.
(4)Ry G.
Run of the mill cheap Mexican food. Satisfying but far from exceptional.
(3)Ed F.
The dining room is bright and cheery with lots of windows. You enter into a split foyer with the main dining half a story above the street level. The chips were fresh out of the fryer and very tasty. The salsa seemed to be made with canned tomato sauce and quite bland, but I've had worse. Everyone liked their meals - the fajitas were great, although I don't think I've ever had a fajita that I didn't like. I had the lunch #3: chile relleno, taco, "guacamole rice" and beans. The chile rellano had potatoes in it, which was unusual, but muy bien! The guacamole rice turned out to be just Mexican rice. I don't know if they screwed up the order or it's just a misnomer. Our server was very courteous and attentive. Our tab for 4 people came to just $30. A great value as we would've spent that much at Panchero's and we got a much better meal. I would defiantly eat here again.
(3)David R.
CHALLENGE THE TOTAL COST!!!!!!! IF YOU PAY ATTENTION, THEY ADD LIKE $.7 TO YOUR ORDER FOR THEM TO KEEP!!!!!!!!! JUST PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU ORDER AND RECORD THE TOTAL COST!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Really!!! They DO add it in!!! They are sneaky that way - that is how they make money!!!!)
(1)Lindsay H.
The food tastes good and is cheap, but several times I've gotten sick after eating here. They're almost always very busy, and the service is lightening fast but not the most gracious.
(2)Casey L.
Not a busy Friday night. Still ended up waiting an hour plus for the food and when we got it, it tasted dried out like it had been sitting around for quite awhile. The waiter did not try to make it right even though he knew that it looked bad. So all in all, awful.
(1)Amanda T.
Dined at this fine establishment last night with 5 others for my birthday before a concert at Stephens. Food was great. I absolutely loved the warm tortilla chips. I had the el grande burrito stuffed with rice, beans and carnitas. It was huge, very filling, and extremely tasty. Thanks for the complimentary birthday tequila shot and for making me feel special on such a big day! Would definitely go again should we visit Ames in the future.
(5)