Excellent Breakfast food! Friendly service. Best breakfast place in ames! Way better than village inn. Would recommend to friends.
(5)
Kayla B.
We've been to this Perkins location lots of times, and it's not a bad location. It's not great, and there is definitely room for improvement, but it's not a bad one. Mind you, I almost always come after 8 PM, so I'm never there during the morning busy hours. In the 20+ times I've been here, the only food issue I've had is that my pancakes were insanely burned once. I'm not even sure how someone found it acceptable to serve to a customer. However, once my waitress came back and I mentioned it, they were happy to remake me another plate, and there were no more problems with it. The employees are really nice, and the same man has been managing this place since I started living in the area around 5 years ago. He's very professional, and I've seen him handle drunk and unreasonably irate customers with ease. He's a nice guy. As for service, it really depends. If there are a lot of people, you may end up waiting for service. If no one is there, the servers are insanely attentive. Especially during evening, when they don't stay staffed for constantly busy times, if a group of frat boys or any other group comes in, your service level may go down because they really just don't have the staff. Because I tend to go in evenings, this means that my service is usually hit-or-miss. For example, last night, we were there for over two hours for two people to have the "all-you-can-eat" pancakes. The first set of pancakes took over 15 minutes to come out (which is reasonable-ish), but during the rest of the time there, we only received two more platters of pancakes. The waitress didn't have time to check-in while we were still munching on our current ones, get the order in, and bring out the plate for more "seamless" service. We ended up waiting long periods of time before each plate of pancakes. It was not our favorite service experience, but after a group of 20+ people came in, I can understand why they were backed up. The pancakes themselves were nice and fluffy, and they tasted great. Their sugar-free syrup was pretty good too. Perkins is great for large groups. I've seen them seat up to 12 at a single "table" (made of multiple tables that they've pushed together). They seem to handle larger groups surprisingly well. If you have a dietary restriction, they will allow adults to order off the children's menu - which I very much appreciate since a lot of their foods are pretty high-fat and high-calories. However, you can check out all of their nutritional information on the official Perkins website before you ever step foot into the restaurant. They have the "Fit" meal options marked on the menu that are less than 600 calories - and honestly, they sound pretty good too, so if you're watching what you eat, that might be a good choice for you. This location is well-taken-care-of too. The floor looks great, the lighting is nice and ambient, and the bathrooms are always clean. The seating doesn't have cracked fabric and doesn't look bad. It honestly shows that they take care of the place - especially with as much foot traffic as they probably get. Lots of booths and tables to choose from, and they're always happy to sit you in your preferred area. Final thoughts: it's a good Perkins location. I wish service was more consistent, but the food quality is usually consistent between visits, and they do have some tasty dishes. Everyone is pretty friendly, and if I want a breakfast meal late at night, they're always happy to accommodate.
(4)
Mark O.
I was coerced into going here and was not surprised by the results. The food was absolute garbage. Eggs tasted like rubber and didn't taste like they were actual eggs. Ordered pancakes and got toast instead that wasn't toasted. Waste of $9. It's too bad the Cyclone truck stop closed down because they made a good breakfast. Save your money and go elsewhere for breakfast food.
(2)
Eric B.
In 2012, Gayle, the Kid, and I stopped at Perkins after arriving on a late flight to DSM. They are open 24/7 and since Central Iowa seems to roll up the sidewalks after 8 PM, this was one of the few available "after hour" options. This Morning, it was me, the Kid, and his Grandparents at Perkins for a Sunday Morning Breakfast (in a booth of course). In the Day that would be considered before Church. As there were now 3 of us over 55, the Senior Menu awaited. As I wasn't that hungry, I ordered a simple 2 egg omelet and an English muffin. The Kid had a supersized version of that, while Mom and Dad when for a simple egg and pancakes. It was a nice meal and a nice time out. I'm particularly pleased that my Son and my Dad have a nice relationship, and one that I hope the Kid cherishes for a very long time.
(4)
Jennifer M.
We don't frequent Perkins because of past experiences but gave it a go today. Service was friendly. Slow on refills though. My waffle was overcooked, but the bacon was crispy like I asked. Overall, it was a pleasant change from our past experiences here.
(4)
Mark H.
When every my parents come to visit me at college, they always want to come here, which I don't mind. The food is good service is fast and their pies are amazing! My favorite meal to get here is the turkey and potatoes, that way it always feels like thanks giving.
(5)
He And She I.
Thank goodness for Perkins, for those times when there is no choice but a chain. You can count on the food, service, and price being exactly the same from one to another, at least that is our experience.
(4)
Samantha C.
When I splurge and eat bacon, I like it black. Burnt, crumbling to pieces, bitter, and black. The only person who really knows how to do this right is my mom. When I ask breakfast restaurants to do it, for the most part it comes out a little crispy but still chewy and I'm not happy. Perkins gave me burnt bacon. So for that they get 3 stars, and their home fries are always crisp and tasty. Other than that the main dishes are usually eh and not worth the high price. I had a mushroom and mixed veggie omelette, and the egg was paper thin. I like my omelette's full and happy! This was more like a crepe it was so thin and flat. Pancakes are eh and the only syrup I like there is the blueberry. Also this place is usually packed unless you get lucky.
Best pie in town. Food is pretty comparable to most chain diners like Baker's Square and Denny's. Baker's Square has better pies though.
(4)
Mark H.
Because our favorite restaurant for Sunday brunch (Cafe Shi) closed and our second-favorite place for Sunday brunch (Pazzesco's) is no longer open on Sunday, my wife and I decided to experiment with Perkins, which is not a restaurant we would usually go to. The food was actually better than I thought it would be. My wife had the turkey dinner; the turkey was not carved from a real bird but neither was it the kind of awful reconstituted stuff; it looked like it came from a roast turkey breast. The portion was huge, and we saved some money by ordering it off the "55+" menu (same size, smaller price, than the regular menu). I had the fried chicken and eggs: two biscuits, each with a piece of fried chicken and cheese inside, and smothered in creamy gravy (though I had that on the side, and next time will just skip it altogether); two eggs; bacon; hashbrowns. Everything there was pretty tasty too. On the way out I bought half a dozen of their "mammoth muffins" (buy 3, get 3 free); they look good, but I haven't tasted them yet. Prices are a bit on the high side, though I did have a 20 percent off coupon that I found in some brochure put out by the Ames chamber of commerce. The main drawback to the meal, though, was the waiting. First we had to wait fifteen minutes to get in, and unfortunately there isn't much room in the front so we had to stand around in a crowd that looked like it came from Times Square on New Years Eve; the greeter finally calling my name was as exciting as watching the ball drop. Then, once we got seated and ordered our food, we had to wait almost a half hour for the meals to arrive, by which time I was starving. But for the wait, we would be a lot more likely to come back here; as it is I don't rule a return visit out, but it won't be a priority either.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast Bike Parking : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Sarah S.
Excellent Breakfast food! Friendly service. Best breakfast place in ames! Way better than village inn. Would recommend to friends.
(5)Kayla B.
We've been to this Perkins location lots of times, and it's not a bad location. It's not great, and there is definitely room for improvement, but it's not a bad one. Mind you, I almost always come after 8 PM, so I'm never there during the morning busy hours. In the 20+ times I've been here, the only food issue I've had is that my pancakes were insanely burned once. I'm not even sure how someone found it acceptable to serve to a customer. However, once my waitress came back and I mentioned it, they were happy to remake me another plate, and there were no more problems with it. The employees are really nice, and the same man has been managing this place since I started living in the area around 5 years ago. He's very professional, and I've seen him handle drunk and unreasonably irate customers with ease. He's a nice guy. As for service, it really depends. If there are a lot of people, you may end up waiting for service. If no one is there, the servers are insanely attentive. Especially during evening, when they don't stay staffed for constantly busy times, if a group of frat boys or any other group comes in, your service level may go down because they really just don't have the staff. Because I tend to go in evenings, this means that my service is usually hit-or-miss. For example, last night, we were there for over two hours for two people to have the "all-you-can-eat" pancakes. The first set of pancakes took over 15 minutes to come out (which is reasonable-ish), but during the rest of the time there, we only received two more platters of pancakes. The waitress didn't have time to check-in while we were still munching on our current ones, get the order in, and bring out the plate for more "seamless" service. We ended up waiting long periods of time before each plate of pancakes. It was not our favorite service experience, but after a group of 20+ people came in, I can understand why they were backed up. The pancakes themselves were nice and fluffy, and they tasted great. Their sugar-free syrup was pretty good too. Perkins is great for large groups. I've seen them seat up to 12 at a single "table" (made of multiple tables that they've pushed together). They seem to handle larger groups surprisingly well. If you have a dietary restriction, they will allow adults to order off the children's menu - which I very much appreciate since a lot of their foods are pretty high-fat and high-calories. However, you can check out all of their nutritional information on the official Perkins website before you ever step foot into the restaurant. They have the "Fit" meal options marked on the menu that are less than 600 calories - and honestly, they sound pretty good too, so if you're watching what you eat, that might be a good choice for you. This location is well-taken-care-of too. The floor looks great, the lighting is nice and ambient, and the bathrooms are always clean. The seating doesn't have cracked fabric and doesn't look bad. It honestly shows that they take care of the place - especially with as much foot traffic as they probably get. Lots of booths and tables to choose from, and they're always happy to sit you in your preferred area. Final thoughts: it's a good Perkins location. I wish service was more consistent, but the food quality is usually consistent between visits, and they do have some tasty dishes. Everyone is pretty friendly, and if I want a breakfast meal late at night, they're always happy to accommodate.
(4)Mark O.
I was coerced into going here and was not surprised by the results. The food was absolute garbage. Eggs tasted like rubber and didn't taste like they were actual eggs. Ordered pancakes and got toast instead that wasn't toasted. Waste of $9. It's too bad the Cyclone truck stop closed down because they made a good breakfast. Save your money and go elsewhere for breakfast food.
(2)Eric B.
In 2012, Gayle, the Kid, and I stopped at Perkins after arriving on a late flight to DSM. They are open 24/7 and since Central Iowa seems to roll up the sidewalks after 8 PM, this was one of the few available "after hour" options. This Morning, it was me, the Kid, and his Grandparents at Perkins for a Sunday Morning Breakfast (in a booth of course). In the Day that would be considered before Church. As there were now 3 of us over 55, the Senior Menu awaited. As I wasn't that hungry, I ordered a simple 2 egg omelet and an English muffin. The Kid had a supersized version of that, while Mom and Dad when for a simple egg and pancakes. It was a nice meal and a nice time out. I'm particularly pleased that my Son and my Dad have a nice relationship, and one that I hope the Kid cherishes for a very long time.
(4)Jennifer M.
We don't frequent Perkins because of past experiences but gave it a go today. Service was friendly. Slow on refills though. My waffle was overcooked, but the bacon was crispy like I asked. Overall, it was a pleasant change from our past experiences here.
(4)Mark H.
When every my parents come to visit me at college, they always want to come here, which I don't mind. The food is good service is fast and their pies are amazing! My favorite meal to get here is the turkey and potatoes, that way it always feels like thanks giving.
(5)He And She I.
Thank goodness for Perkins, for those times when there is no choice but a chain. You can count on the food, service, and price being exactly the same from one to another, at least that is our experience.
(4)Samantha C.
When I splurge and eat bacon, I like it black. Burnt, crumbling to pieces, bitter, and black. The only person who really knows how to do this right is my mom. When I ask breakfast restaurants to do it, for the most part it comes out a little crispy but still chewy and I'm not happy. Perkins gave me burnt bacon. So for that they get 3 stars, and their home fries are always crisp and tasty. Other than that the main dishes are usually eh and not worth the high price. I had a mushroom and mixed veggie omelette, and the egg was paper thin. I like my omelette's full and happy! This was more like a crepe it was so thin and flat. Pancakes are eh and the only syrup I like there is the blueberry. Also this place is usually packed unless you get lucky.
(3)Dave B.
Went here one night for dinner. Walked in and there were about 7 other tables with groups of people at them. There were two tables clean. My fiancé and I got one of them. We sat down and waited. Long wait before we could even get drinks. Another couple came in. They got the last clean table. Ordered our appetizer. Another group of people came in and all tables were still dirty. The manager went to a dirty table and took all the dirty dishes off a table and placed them on a nearby table then went to get the group of people. They got seated at the table that hadn't even been wiped down yet. We wanted refills on our drinks but our waiter told us they were out of clean cups and it would be a while before they would be cleaned. I just told him to take my cup and refill it. We finally got our appetizer after waiting 20 minutes. When we got our appetizer, which I'm glad we ordered, the waiter finally took our entree order. The manager kept walking around the dining room looking at all the dirty tables and walking by them. He would wipe down the booth benches but do nothing about the dirty dishes on the tables. As more people came in the manager would clear off a table and put the dirty dishes on a nearby table. This continued for a while. After have being finished with our appetizer for a half hour, someone came out of the kitchen and grabbed some dishes off a dirty table. Shortly after that our food finally came out. I wonder if they even washed the plates. The food was not to bad but the thought in the back of my mind about having my food on plates that may or may not have been washed made it dreadful to eat. The manager decided to run the vacuum under a table he had been contemplating cleaning the entire time we were there. We had been there for an hour and fifteen minutes and the manager had wiped the booth and vacuumed under the table but hadn't cleaned anything off the tables or wiped any tables down. There was dust on the window sills. Tons of crumbs in the cracks of the booths. Dirty dishes piled high on several tables. Employees standing around and talking. I kept thinking to myself, "If it is this dirty in the dining area, I'd hate to think what it was like in the kitchen." We were there for just under two hours and there had been a total of three tables that had been cleared. I almost felt like just walking out without paying. I've been to this restaurant on other nights and the service was fast and great and the food was good. They also had a very clean dining room those nights. I worked in a restaurant for five years and was told you have two minutes from the time the guest leaves to clean the tables they were at. What happened to that rule? Apparently nobody at Perkins cares. So if you go there and see the tall skinny African American manager working, just turn around and leave because this is the service you can expect from him. Lazy and no work ethics.
(3)Rosa K.
Best pie in town. Food is pretty comparable to most chain diners like Baker's Square and Denny's. Baker's Square has better pies though.
(4)Mark H.
Because our favorite restaurant for Sunday brunch (Cafe Shi) closed and our second-favorite place for Sunday brunch (Pazzesco's) is no longer open on Sunday, my wife and I decided to experiment with Perkins, which is not a restaurant we would usually go to. The food was actually better than I thought it would be. My wife had the turkey dinner; the turkey was not carved from a real bird but neither was it the kind of awful reconstituted stuff; it looked like it came from a roast turkey breast. The portion was huge, and we saved some money by ordering it off the "55+" menu (same size, smaller price, than the regular menu). I had the fried chicken and eggs: two biscuits, each with a piece of fried chicken and cheese inside, and smothered in creamy gravy (though I had that on the side, and next time will just skip it altogether); two eggs; bacon; hashbrowns. Everything there was pretty tasty too. On the way out I bought half a dozen of their "mammoth muffins" (buy 3, get 3 free); they look good, but I haven't tasted them yet. Prices are a bit on the high side, though I did have a 20 percent off coupon that I found in some brochure put out by the Ames chamber of commerce. The main drawback to the meal, though, was the waiting. First we had to wait fifteen minutes to get in, and unfortunately there isn't much room in the front so we had to stand around in a crowd that looked like it came from Times Square on New Years Eve; the greeter finally calling my name was as exciting as watching the ball drop. Then, once we got seated and ordered our food, we had to wait almost a half hour for the meals to arrive, by which time I was starving. But for the wait, we would be a lot more likely to come back here; as it is I don't rule a return visit out, but it won't be a priority either.
(3)