The Great Plains Sauce & Dough Co.
129 Main St, Ames, IA, 50010
The Great Plains Sauce & Dough Co. Menu
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Salads
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Sandwiches
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Pizza
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Pizza - Our House Specials
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Desserts
Healthy Meal suggestions for The Great Plains Sauce & Dough Co.
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Salads
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Sandwiches
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Pizza
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Pizza - Our House Specials
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Desserts
Visit below restaurant in Ames for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Ames for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
129 Main St
Ames, IA, 50010 - Phone (515) 232-4263
- Website https://greatplainspizza.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
Categories
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
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Jed B.
If you like a heavy pizza this is the place for you. Gobs of cheese so you cant see or sometimes tastethe toppings or in this case the fillings. I like a thin crust and I ordered the Denver crust with sausage. The dough was heavy and in all honesty it wasn't thick but it sure wasn't thin. Lots of folks like it but it wasn't my slice of pizza. I stopped by Vesuvius the next day. There's was more to my tastes.
(2)Brian K.
Great if you like lots and lots of cheese and thick wheat crust. I prefer more sauce and toppings to all that cheese so I found it to be just OK. Bonus was the huge cookies that they have (although they were out of chocolate). Definitely better than any chain and a nice alternative.
(3)Joel A.
Excellent pizza. They have a very affordable by the slice lunch deal. The pizza has a lot of cheese. My favorite crust is the denver style. The Interior is quaint with an upper level with additional seating. Everyone should try this place at least once.
(5)Bob H.
Be prepared to be full off one piece and constipated for a week. I mean this in a good way.
(4)Patrick T.
I think Great Plains Sauce and Dough Co. helped me go Vegan.. WHY cause I had one to many 11:30pm late night large Denver Crust Great Plains Pizza's with about a pound of cheese on each Pizza, I probably reached my quota of Cheese in life! I got to say Great Plains is my second favorite pizza I have had in my life! I Love the crust, I used to love how much cheese was on it, I loved the taste of honey on every slice! It was like an awakening to what PIZZA could be! When I moved to Ames in 1999 this was a place I had to come at least once a month for pizza! Even when I became Vegan in 2005 and I would order my 4 veggie pizza with no cheese it was still better than any pie around, just because that whole wheat crust is incredible! They have potato and regular flour crust as well.. They do slices at lunch, and now have an upper deck seating. The line is sometimes out the door for slices and good luck getting a seat on a Saturday during football season! But there is a reason for all of this! The pizza is out of this world and I dare you to eat an entire large, I have done it before and it's a Man Vs Food test to the max! It's hard to stop when it taste that good! Some times the service puts you off a bit, but I can handle a cranky hippie college kid when they are feeding me something this good!
(5)Brian W.
It's where to go in Ames! Great spot for grabbing a slice of pizza. Also a nice place to meet a friend for lunch. It is very unique. Be sure to have someone help you with putting honey on your crust if it's your first time there! Be sure to get a cookie or two- the oatmeal and the chocolate chips are amazing!
(5)Adam L.
Probably the best pizza in the state of Iowa. Go in there hungry and get any of the thick crusts. They put enough cheese on there for 2 pizzas. Love the honey as a dipping for the crusts. The atmosphere is a classic small town pizza joint that is great. A great stop for anyone going to Iowa State or just visiting thru downtown Ames! Great lunch special also
(5)Keith B.
Pizza is loaded with cheese. My wife and I've eaten here numerous times and we love the garlic cheese bread. It's nothing fancy just melted mozzarella on some garlic toast but something about it we love. However We just tried the wheat crust "Denver style" definitely not our favorite. We ended up scraping the toppings off and just ate them. Regardless we'll be going back just getting a different crust.
(4)Collin K.
Pizza so good I ate it for both lunch and dinner in one day! If you get the thick crust, be sure to grab a container of honey to put in the crust. You'll thank me later.
(5)Samantha C.
Very cool place to dine in. We ordered a medium cheese pizza on the oat crust. Took about twenty minutes before we heard our number being called. I asked if they had hot sauce and all they had were taco sauce packets, that took a star off for me. The honey was a nice touch. Pizza was pretty good, crunchy for being a thin crust, then the outer edge was more doughy and chewy which I enjoyed. I'd like to come back and try a deep dish crust and possibly ask for extra sauce. The cheese tastes great, not cheap like some other chains.
(4)Steve C.
I have never understood why people love this place. The only thing I like are the cookies they serve at lunch. I can only go on Mondays because they have "thin" pizza by the slice. I've tried to choke down their regular pizza but I usually eat the napkins instead. If you like an inch of semi-raw pizza dough, this is the place for you.
(2)Joe J.
The best pizza in Ames by far. There is a reason this place has been in business so long. Their pizza is AWESOME. They also have a nice laid back environment and take pride in making they pizza consistently good. No gripes here.
(5)Megan H.
There is no better pizza on earth. Period.
(5)Danelle W.
A great place to eat for truly unique pizza at a very reasonable price. The restaurant area is not very large so it can get a little crowded but it is definitely worth eating there so you can enjoy your crust with delicious honey! Expect to bring home leftovers though as you'll probably be stuffed after only 2 slices.
(5)CHRIS C.
Good lunch slice specials. And two pieces will be enough because it is very filling. Too much cheese for me but I know some who love the pizza here. The wheat crust is a nice touch.
(3)Jaclyn P.
Best Pizza ever. See my other review on the other Great Plains yelp page.
(5)Timothy L.
We stop here on the return home on any trip where we pass through Ames anywhere near a meal time. The pizza is wonderful. Be sure to order the Denver style crust, which is a wheat crust with a very thick bread-like rim of crust around the pizza. Eat the pizza and use the honey provided to finish off the bread. Just awesome!
(5)Nicole A.
Whatever this is, it isn't pizza. And I love ALL varieties of pizza. This is... a dense, cardboardy lump of indigestion. Ames is a little short on really good pizza, but Pizza Pit beats this hands down. I even know some folks who would advocate for Home Team (RIP), though I'm definitely not among them.
(2)Ryan G.
The absolute best pizza anywhere, ever, period, bar none, hands down. I know it's a cliche when it comes to this place, but it's true. They take a thick whole wheat crust, spread on a layer of sweet tomato sauce, a layer of Canadian bacon, and then pile on the cheese. Pile. It. On. The warm mozzarella, the thinnest layer of grease sweating off the top, droops off the side of the slice as you lift it to your mouth, and, when you take a bite, it pulls away in thick strings, forming a rope bridge of cheese from you to the pizza. This is how cartoon characters eat. When you're finished, you're left with a crust as thick as a gear shift. GP thoughtfully provides bottles of honey to squirt on your plate & dip it in. Eat a second slice at your own risk.
(5)Gray C.
They really give you honey to put on top of the pizza. I was surprised too. Most pizza wouldn't be improved by drizzling honey all over it, but theirs is. I'll just vaguely trail off and leave that as a statement of fact, not necessarily a compliment or criticism...
(3)Joe S.
ive never had better pizza then this, we go there every time near ames. all the crusts are good, it just depends on your tastes. all are big and very filling, a large pizza is enough for 3-4 adults. don't get anything else, this is a pizza joint!
(5)Ravi R.
Okay so this place is pretty old...not totally old but its been in Ames Main Street since the late 70's... All i know is, you want a great pizza, and crust that you'd want to dip in honey after... this is the place to go. it reminds me of a place i would go to in Colorado. I think that's why i had such a warm spot for it. The service is great and the local peeps flock like birds there...you might have to wait but its worth it...
(4)Lindsay H.
The most overrated pizza in Ames.
(1)Clem M.
I hear the commercial for Great Plains Sauce and Dough on the radio all the time, so I figured I would check it out for lunch while in Ames. It's seat yourself and you go to the counter to place your order. They don't have a wait staff, just bus service. So if you need something you have to get it which is OK. The staff at the counter are very friendly and helpful, it can be hard to decide if there is a line and you feel rushed. You can also kind of watch them make your pie. We decided to try two different pies: The taco was on a white thin crust that the staff recommended, an excellent choice. The crust was a perfect crisp thin crust with plenty of toppings. The perfect taco pizza. The second pizza was the Prairie special which was on a wheat thick crust. This was also a great pizza and the crust is perfect for dipping in the honey. The pizza had plenty of toppings, we switched the sausage to ground beef. Excellent. The oatmeal monster cookie was amazing if you have any room left. They also serve draft beer by the pitcher which is a perfect side with a pizza pie. Great place for lunch!
(5)Annie K.
Everyone who says this place is good has obviously never had real pizza! Please believe that. Heard about GPSD and wanted to see what the hype was about. Overall it was "eh" but I am also a hard pizza pleaser because of my Chicago roots. You order upfront and pay before you even see your food (which I'm not a fan of). Then, when your number is called you retrieve your pizza(s). When I went up to the counter to refill my drink, I was ignored by 4 other employees and had to wait until the counter girl was off the phone. There's a couple different crust choices. We went with one "Denver" crust style and one "sam's" crust which is thin white crust. The Denver crust is thick wheat and it's also dense and gritty. I heard that GPSD's thing is that you dip the crust in honey. This strange tradition does not make their disgusting crust taste any better. The honey is of poor quality and the dough does not compliment the pizza itself, let alone cheap honey. The sauce was tastey, but nothing special. The tomatoes I got on my pizza were from a can. They also don't have many topping choices. I am giving this mediocre pizza joint 2 stars solely based on the concept and because of how clean their kitchen was kept. Also, the employees keep up with cleaning the dining room. I left the restaurant unsatisfied and angry at myself for dropping $30 on 2 crappy 10'' pizzas. Will not be going back ever. It's just not worth it.
(2)Jason S.
Stopped by Great Plains S&D after a muddy mountain bike race for the Iowa Games. I hadn't been to GPSD in several years - maybe ten? I recalled the honey bottles to drizzle on the thick, hearty crust. Well I wasn't disappointed. It was better than I remember! They are known for their "Denver" style thick, wheat crust. It's very filling and even after a bike race I could only down two slices from a large (hey leftovers never hurt). I don't want to know how many calories are in a slice but I don't care. Loads of cheese and adequate toppings. Don't forget the honey for the crust - it's a nice sweet touch after tearing through all that cheese. Beware the pizzas come out hot and that blanket of cheese traps the steam quite efficiently. It's easy to burn your mouth and ruin an otherwise pleasant meal. The staff was very nice in my experience. The guy asked why I was all muddy and in bike clothes. He even asked if the pizza was good later. Very nice guy! They were attentive to my refills and request for a to-go box. Place was pretty quiet on a Sunday lunch so the wait for the pizza wasn't bad. If you're in Ames and looking for a different kind of pizza head to Great Plains! I plan to try the potato crust the next time I'm up there. I couldn't pass up this treat while I was in Ames and I'm glad I didn't.
(5)Jennifer A.
I really don't understand the love for this place. In fact, I am only giving it 2 stars because there is lots of seating and the service is nice. The pizza is just bad. Very bad. I don't want to sound snobbish, but here goes: I grew up in New Jersey and New York and I know good pizza. This is not good pizza. Heck, it's not even really pizza. The pizza here is like 3 different ingredients that happen to coincide, but not complement each other, in one dish: sauce, crust, cheese. Layering these three things does not make pizza, my friends. First, the crust is hard as a rock and tasteless. The sauce is like tomato paste out of a can, and the cheese layer is thick, dense and overwhelming. Who puts cheddar on a pizza? Blasphemy! The bottles of honey on the tables should serve as fair warning. What's the honey for, you ask? For dipping your pizza crust. I know, I know. I'm shaking my head, too. If what I've written actually sounds appealing, then maybe this is your thing, but I just can't even. Can't even! Great Plains claims they serve "Denver-style" pizza, but there's a reason why that style has not taken off in the rest of the country the way NY and Chicago style have.
(2)Jeremy F.
This is a great locally owned and operated pizzeria. The service is always great, I doubt the owners would tolerate anything less from their employees. Great Plains has very unique crust for their piazzas, the most popular is which is the Denver (a thick wheat crust), which must people I know dip the crust in honey and eat it. Other options include think wheat crusts, potato crust, and your standard white crust. The restaurant is small and has a rustic decor, but there is an upstairs to make a bunch of available seating. Great Plains is definitely one of Ames most notable establishments. During the lunch hour they do piazza by the slice.
(4)Cass K.
I may not be objective about this pizza, since I decided from a young age that this is my favorite pizza in the world. We ordered an Italian sausage on thick wheat (Denver) crust. Especially on the thick crust pizza, never order extra cheese at Great Plains. The thick red sauce is covered with a thick layer of dense cheese. The crust is delicious and yeasty and makes a great dessert when you drizzle honey over your leftover crusts. Just a tip for those who like crisp pepperoni like I do. You might want to choose another toping when ordering a thick-crust pizza at Great Plains. While I'm usually a fan of pepperoni, I like my pepperoni crisp as it comes out from a super hot oven on a thin crust. Since thicker pizzas require cooking at a lower temperature in order to cook all the way through without burning, and Great Plains puts on so much cheese, peperoni gets cooked buried in the cheese.
(5)Todd K.
I don't give five-star reviews very often, but this is one of my top two pizza places across the entire U.S. Also, New York style pizza is my favorite and this is definitely not New York style. Closer to Chicago if you get the deep dish which is what I would recommend. Multiple types of crust including wheat oat and white flour. If you eat in instead of carrying out, try the honey with the crust. Excellent. I'd also recommend not going with extra cheese. You might choke to death on it. There's plenty of cheese on any pie that you might order. If I'm overnighting within a 50 mile radius of Ames, i'll make a special trip into town for GPS&D. It doesn't get any better than this place. Oh, and did I mention they deliver? Go here.
(5)Chris B.
I understand that a lot of people love this place, but I cannot be counted among them. It is not by any means straight up bad pizza, but I wouldn't exactly call it "good" either. I appreciate that this place exists and it is really nice to have a pizza place downtown, but it's low(ish) on my list of Ames pizza places. There are a lot of different options and several different crust choices, which is pretty cool. The actual restaurant itself looks good and is pretty clean. Service isn't exceptionally friendly but that's okay. I am not a fan of their cheese - tastes vaguely like plastic. This wouldn't be as big of an issue if the pizza was cheap but it isn't. If you want quality pizza in Ames, then go to Black Market Pizza. Vesuvius and even Pizza Ranch are better options, too. Jeff's is probably a sidestep in terms of quality but at least it's cheaper. I'll only stop by here if I want some food and I'm at a show at DG's or London and don't want to drive somewhere.
(2)Drew P.
The pizza was good and had a fun atmosphere. We were just passing through Ames so I'm not sure how it stacks up to other pizza in the area but compared to the pizza you can get 120 miles east (Chicago), it was only ok. The flavors they offer are interesting and they offer a variety of crusts. It's possible it would have been better had we gotten something different.
(3)Heidi T.
Best pizza ever. If you don't want plain old pizza, you need to go here. Hearty crust, flavorful toppings, unique atmosphere.
(5)Josh S.
Not much has changed at Great Plains Sauce & Dough (129 Main, Ames) since we graduated from ISU in 2002. My wife and I went on plenty of dates here and it was one of our favorite locations to grab a pie in Ames. Great Plains still lives up to its name... it's definitely great! Not much has changed with the menu, and why should it. The decor remains the same which is great because it's just one of the unique things about Great Plains that bring people back We were back in March (sorry it took so long to get a review written, but we lead busy lives) and there was even one staff member that recognized us from TWELVE years ago. When you think of the number of patrons and college students that have been to that have come and gone over 12 years, to remember us is astonishing. This is proof positive that GPSD really cares about their customers. We have always loved coming back and getting the whole wheat crust and having the cups of honey at the table for a crust dipping sauce. Nice to see they still offer their customers the collectable plastic drink cups which can be brought back and refilled again and again. All of the pizza is great, whether you're ordering a whole pie or just a slice or two. Great Plains just does it right, from the retro décor all the way down to the little details that still make this one of the best pizza places in all of Central Iowa. We will continue to recommend this place to those who are in the Ames area and asking about a good pizza place. Thank you for making our return visit memorable!
(4)Axel H.
This is a classic pizza place with the best pizza in the world, so far. Their choice of crust cannot be beat. I like the thick oat crust myself. Now some people think the crust is TOO thick, but think of it this way. When you're done with the part of the slice with topping on it, what you have left is basically an oat roll. Oats eat cholesterol in the bloodstream. So, after you've eaten the fattening part of the pizza, that last chunk of oats courses through the bloodstream chomping all the bad stuff like Pac-Man! And the price is not unreasonable, either.
(5)Lanay G.
We were finally able to get the correct manager on the phone that was able to help us out promptly. Pizza delivery was a success.
(4)Mark H.
Do not be afraid to try the Denver Crust! I was surprised by how good it actually was. Don't get thrown off when you walk in because you order in the back. They also have honey on the table which helps finish off the crust. This would be a good to try an alternative pizza place!
(4)Mike R.
Just passing through, me, wife, and four teens. Pizza is ok. Wasn't bad wasn't great either, just ok.
(3)Cindy D.
Pizza is ok...too much tomato sauce.. But the thing that will keep me from coming back is the long wait. 60 min. For a pizza? 15 min to place an order? This has happened every time, not just once. The people behind the counter lack people skills, and look like they could care less. I will go back to joe's or Jeff's , better prices also.
(3)Gary W.
The pizza was just ok. The sauce tasted like it came out of a can, so I was a little disappointed in that.
(3)Jennifer E.
My husband wanted to show me around his university. We spent a night in the area. He had to get back here. He said needed to put Honey on his bones. I had no idea what that really meant. The pizza dough is nothing I have seen before. It is huge on the edges and you eat it to the edges. Then you put honey on the edge for desert. Something new and fun to do. Overall ok pizza. The love to put cheese on it. Not overly greasy as pizza sometimes can be. Beer on draft and free refills on soda. Medium was more than enough for the two of us. Nice place in downtown. Would recommend if you want to try a new pizza experience. All the staff is obviously college age adults.
(4)Katie B.
Not really sure if all the 5 stars that are being given to this place are legitimate or not...because this place blows! Having been to many places in the east coast, and therefore trying "real pizza" that actually tastes delicious, this place is a piece of crap. Yup it is, whatever they are selling, it's not pizza, and I guess I don't blame people for liking this place if you've never left Ames. But honestly, saying its a "must visit place in the midwest"? That's gotta be a joke. I don't want 20 pounds of dough, thank you very much, I want a slice of pizza. I honestly never thought it was possible to screw up pizza, but this place, among others has changed that view I once had. If I have to eat pizza, Jeff's is the only one that slides through, and that's probably because I'm buzzed at the time=). Ok so, yea, don't go here if you've had real pizza before cause you'll leave pissed and sad, but do come here if you have no expectations and have no idea what pizza should taste like.
(1)Jenna F.
Pizza was good and it was at a good price. They are known for their thick wheat crust with optional honey. Way back in the day it was more service type of place. Now it's order at the back window, pick up your plates, silverware, parm/pepper/honey, pick your table, then wait to go pick up your pizza at the window. You pay first, pizza second. But it was very yummy and opened late.
(3)James W.
Pizza is pretty good. I like the potato or wheat thin crust. Good toppings and care for making a good pie.
(4)Travis B.
This has been one of my favorite pizza places for 20+ years now. It's just awesome. A real meat-and-potatoes pizza joint. If you leave here hungry, see a doctor immediately. About a year ago, for some odd reason we decided to try their vegetarian pizza. I'm usually not a fan, but it's now one of my favorites!
(5)Scott L.
Fantastic, just as good or at least close to any Chicago pizzeria. The honey and thick crust is great. Awesome sauce and cheese.
(5)Jill B.
Great lunch, pizza by the slice deal. I like the different crust choices.
(3)K. B.
The best deep pan pizza in town. Great Plains has been in Ames for decades and a favorite with the locals
(4)Jason K.
I discovered Great Plains while attending Iowa State University and now Great Plains is scheduled event every time I visit Iowa. I love the white thin crust. Just crisp enough, piles of cheese but not too much. It is very hard to find pizza that even comes close the Great Plains. So many chains and easy common pizza practices have destroyed the unique greatness of individual pizza places like Great Plains. The atmosphere is unique as well, historical prints and old stuff hanging around a place where every last inch of possible table space has been used including an indoor balcony in the tall old style downtown retail shop. You stand in line and get your order then find a table and wait for your number. No waitress... no matter, the pizza is so good you won't care.
(5)Nick A.
this place is nice i like the thin crust pizza all of them the cheese they use is so good the salads are pretty good as well they have some huge cookies for like a 1.40 the prices for the pizza and salads are fair i haven't tried any of the sandwiches but they are probably good as well....
(4)Ryan W.
Being from Chicago I've eaten all kinds of different pizzas ranging from the ultimate deep dish all the way to the thinnest thin crust. There is nothing I've had, however, that beats what Great Plains offers. Their cheese-packed pizza will keep you wanting more, but you'll probably be hard-pressed to eat more than a slice or two. The thing that really makes them unique is the honey they provide that is to be used when eating the crust, and I've never seen people so excited to get to the crust of the pizza. The honey is a great compliment to this perfect pizza.
(5)Brad O.
In a town with a lot of great pizza, this is one of the best!
(5)Ashley W.
Upon arriving in Ames back in 2003 from Chicago, we were on the hunt for some good pizza. When I asked around and people suggested Great Plains because of their wheat crust and how you should use honey to dip the crust, I thought they were CRAZY! Didn't they know what "real" (Chicago style) pizza was? We decided to see what the hype was about and I'm glad we did. A slice of Denver Style (they have different types of crust- this is the thick wheat) pizza gives you a glimpse into what cheese heaven would be like. Oh the cheese! They pile it on and it is wonderful! Then you get to the rolled edge of the crust and drizzle some honey on and you ARE in heaven! Sadly, we've moved from Ames and can't partake in such delicious wheat, cheese, and honey goodness, but when we go back, you can be sure that Great Plains will be on the "must do" list.
(5)Henry R.
The Great Plains is my favorite pizza place in Ames. There's not a lot of room though so keep that in mind if you're hoping to dine there on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
(5)Rosa K.
This was my first time here and I had no idea that they have no service. It's self serve and you have to walk to the back of the restaurant to order your pizza at the counter. The guy is overly talkative and has no idea how to multi task or accommodate customers. Ironic that he doesn't acknowledge the presence of customers and when you finally get his attention and ask him about the menu he goes off on tangents. I appreciate that they have plenty of seating and all your condiments in stock. The ingredients are very fresh and the cheese is perfectly gooey. I actually dont care for the overly doughy 2 inch thick crust. Though I give them kudos for their unique crust availabilities from potato to oat and wheat. Not bad to get a super filling carbohydrate heavy medium 3 topping pizza for $14. But you'll have to really love dense doughy crust.
(3)Natalie T.
Oh honey, this is good! Great Plains has the best pizza crust in Ames, but save your wallet the unnecessary bucks and don't order a skimpy side. The honey-kissed pizza is so amazingly flavorful and filling that the other menu items should be embarrased to be there. Dine in, grab a bottle (or two) of honey and drizzle the sweet stuff all over your pie. Go with friends ~ you'll still have leftovers for days. But FYI, singles: Individual slices ~ which will fill you right up ~ are sold only during weekday lunchtime. 5 stars by Ames' standards!
(5)Aaron F.
The pizza was pretty good but I have gone there a couple time now and I have never received what I have ordered under a hour! Both times were week nights, so I could have just caught them on off nights, but it seemed odd that it took them that long to make a pizza.
(2)Casey M.
Great Plains has been an Ames institution for years, and offers a unique style of pizza that I haven't found elsewhere. Their pizza crust comes in many varieties, and all I've had are excellent, but the wheat crust is extra special (and can be dipped in the honey they place on every table, too). Common to all pizzas here, though, are two things; the crust is extremely thick, and the cheese is very fresh and piled on heavily. This makes for not only a delicious pizza, but a very filling one, too; if one slice doesn't satiate you, then two definitely will. The place also has a great, unmatched atmosphere. The burlap sacks under the table glass, the wooden lattice, and the macrame plant holders give this place a very cozy feel that makes it easy to sit around for a couple of hours getting stuffed and finishing off a pitcher of beer. Overall, this is an incredibly unique experience that should not be passed up if you're in Ames.
(5)James A.
A truly unique pizza. I had an eating contest at Great Plains with a friend many years back: we ordered a large denver (aka whole wheat crust) with sausage, mushroom, and extra cheese. Yes, we ordered extra cheese...an ocean of cheese.... Anyway, suffice to say we were both exceptionally full and failed to finish the pizza. Not a traditional pizza but well worth the purchase!
(5)Tyler D.
I've only visited Great Plains once, and I can honestly say it was one of the most uncomfortable experiences of my life. The atmosphere, layout and "idea" behind this place are terrible. It's a very small and crowded space, forcing you to stand in a line squeezed between two sets of booths, so close you could easily grab a slice from someones plate without moving from your spot. The method of getting the food is standing in line, ordering, and then taking it to your table (if you can find one) and serving yourself. The person who I assume was the manager was very condescending and rude to me when I asked a simple question, acting as if I had offended everything he held dear in his life. The atmosphere was bad enough but this guy killed it for me. The pizza options are many and the quality is good, I will admit it and that's the only reason this gets any stars. But I can assure you it is NOT worth going in and eating, grab a pizza to go and get out of there asap. I was very disappointing in my experience here after hearing nothing but great things. I've only lived in Ames 2 years now, but I have never and will never set foot in this place again.
(2)Dave A.
Excellent pizza! We ate there twice in one week and it was very good both times. However, I am not a big fan of self-service, and this place would rate five stars if it had a wait staff to serve you at your table.
(4)Matt E.
I stopped back again recently for lunch at the home of "Ames style" Pizza. I'm not a big advocate of the super thick and heavily burdened with cheese pizza here. But it's a preference. This is the hearty food stuff of legend in down town Ames. Can't beat the lunch slice specials, and it's good to see they've added seating.
(5)John N.
This is solid, high quality pizza, especially if you are discerning about your dough. In my family the style of dough at a pizza place can be a deal breaker on whether we'll go there for supper. Let's face it, some people like thick dough, others thin. Great Plains has all sorts, from a classic thin crust, to a potato flour style, and a delicious Oat Style, made of a rolled edge flour. I had the Oat Style crust one evening with The Prairie Special, a peperoni, pork sausage, onion and green pepper pizza. Great sauce and generous amounts of cheese rounded out this delicious pie. It was pretty close to perfect. I recommend Great Plains.
(4)Sarah K.
Ughhhh, so many days I crave this pizza. The dough is fantastic, especially if you dip it in the honey they put on the tables. It is a bit expensive, but it is so worth the money!
(5)Kartik S.
I am not one of the "cheesy" kinds. As much as I love the cheese on my pizza, I definitely don't like cheese taking up all the real estate on the slice. I like my toppings to take up as much space on a pizza as my cheese and for people like me this place is just A-Ok, nothing to rave about. The wheat crust gave me the illusion that the pizza was "healthy" until I glanced the never ending cheese "triple-topping" !!! But gotta give it to the owners, the honey + thick wheat crust is a match made in heaven! 2 slices and I was done for the meal, pretty heavy!
(3)Justin M.
A must stop in Ames to experience the best pizza in Iowa. 1 - 2 pieces will fill up most people. A lot of options for crust (white, wheat, potato). The toppings and cheese especially are piled on and the thick crust can be a meal in itself. Expect a wait most nights and especially on the weekends.
(5)Brianna B.
THE WORST PIZZA EVER. Especially if you are from a place where real Italians live and know what a pizza should taste like. The dough was heavy and not fully cooked in the center. The outsides were like a huge cracker. In general it was flavorless. While we may be biased (we prefer thin crust pizza that cracks when you fold it in half) this wasn't even near the best thick-crust pizza we have had. Will not eat there again.
(1)Stacy S.
Besides Jeff's Pizza, this is my go-to pizza place. The crust is straight out of a Monk's bakery. The stuff is thick, yeasty, and well worth the extra chewing time. I usually go for something a bit more saucy or cheesy when ordering, due to the heavy crust. If you are choosing a pizza (i.e. Taco) without a lot of fat/moisture, I would go for the thinner crust. The bottom of the pie is always cooked perfectly and the staff is good to go with their service. Pitcher prices are decent also. Go here if you want some insane hippie-style pies.
(5)Heather L.
To me, this pizza was just ok. I would NEVER compare it to Chicago style pizza, as some have said. The thin crust pizza was pretty good, but we tried several types of the medium tossed crust- white, wheat, potato... it was dense and dry to me. I never understood the awe people had for this place.
(3)Sarah K.
Ughhhh, so many days I crave this pizza. The dough is fantastic, especially if you dip it in the honey they put on the tables. It is a bit expensive, but it is so worth the money!
(5)Kartik S.
I am not one of the "cheesy" kinds. As much as I love the cheese on my pizza, I definitely don't like cheese taking up all the real estate on the slice. I like my toppings to take up as much space on a pizza as my cheese and for people like me this place is just A-Ok, nothing to rave about. The wheat crust gave me the illusion that the pizza was "healthy" until I glanced the never ending cheese "triple-topping" !!! But gotta give it to the owners, the honey + thick wheat crust is a match made in heaven! 2 slices and I was done for the meal, pretty heavy!
(3)Clem M.
I hear the commercial for Great Plains Sauce and Dough on the radio all the time, so I figured I would check it out for lunch while in Ames. It's seat yourself and you go to the counter to place your order. They don't have a wait staff, just bus service. So if you need something you have to get it which is OK. The staff at the counter are very friendly and helpful, it can be hard to decide if there is a line and you feel rushed. You can also kind of watch them make your pie. We decided to try two different pies: The taco was on a white thin crust that the staff recommended, an excellent choice. The crust was a perfect crisp thin crust with plenty of toppings. The perfect taco pizza. The second pizza was the Prairie special which was on a wheat thick crust. This was also a great pizza and the crust is perfect for dipping in the honey. The pizza had plenty of toppings, we switched the sausage to ground beef. Excellent. The oatmeal monster cookie was amazing if you have any room left. They also serve draft beer by the pitcher which is a perfect side with a pizza pie. Great place for lunch!
(5)Samantha C.
Very cool place to dine in. We ordered a medium cheese pizza on the oat crust. Took about twenty minutes before we heard our number being called. I asked if they had hot sauce and all they had were taco sauce packets, that took a star off for me. The honey was a nice touch. Pizza was pretty good, crunchy for being a thin crust, then the outer edge was more doughy and chewy which I enjoyed. I'd like to come back and try a deep dish crust and possibly ask for extra sauce. The cheese tastes great, not cheap like some other chains.
(4)Steve C.
I have never understood why people love this place. The only thing I like are the cookies they serve at lunch. I can only go on Mondays because they have "thin" pizza by the slice. I've tried to choke down their regular pizza but I usually eat the napkins instead. If you like an inch of semi-raw pizza dough, this is the place for you.
(2)Stacy S.
Besides Jeff's Pizza, this is my go-to pizza place. The crust is straight out of a Monk's bakery. The stuff is thick, yeasty, and well worth the extra chewing time. I usually go for something a bit more saucy or cheesy when ordering, due to the heavy crust. If you are choosing a pizza (i.e. Taco) without a lot of fat/moisture, I would go for the thinner crust. The bottom of the pie is always cooked perfectly and the staff is good to go with their service. Pitcher prices are decent also. Go here if you want some insane hippie-style pies.
(5)John N.
This is solid, high quality pizza, especially if you are discerning about your dough. In my family the style of dough at a pizza place can be a deal breaker on whether we'll go there for supper. Let's face it, some people like thick dough, others thin. Great Plains has all sorts, from a classic thin crust, to a potato flour style, and a delicious Oat Style, made of a rolled edge flour. I had the Oat Style crust one evening with The Prairie Special, a peperoni, pork sausage, onion and green pepper pizza. Great sauce and generous amounts of cheese rounded out this delicious pie. It was pretty close to perfect. I recommend Great Plains.
(4)Megan H.
There is no better pizza on earth. Period.
(5)Keith B.
Pizza is loaded with cheese. My wife and I've eaten here numerous times and we love the garlic cheese bread. It's nothing fancy just melted mozzarella on some garlic toast but something about it we love. However We just tried the wheat crust "Denver style" definitely not our favorite. We ended up scraping the toppings off and just ate them. Regardless we'll be going back just getting a different crust.
(4)Collin K.
Pizza so good I ate it for both lunch and dinner in one day! If you get the thick crust, be sure to grab a container of honey to put in the crust. You'll thank me later.
(5)Annie K.
Everyone who says this place is good has obviously never had real pizza! Please believe that. Heard about GPSD and wanted to see what the hype was about. Overall it was "eh" but I am also a hard pizza pleaser because of my Chicago roots. You order upfront and pay before you even see your food (which I'm not a fan of). Then, when your number is called you retrieve your pizza(s). When I went up to the counter to refill my drink, I was ignored by 4 other employees and had to wait until the counter girl was off the phone. There's a couple different crust choices. We went with one "Denver" crust style and one "sam's" crust which is thin white crust. The Denver crust is thick wheat and it's also dense and gritty. I heard that GPSD's thing is that you dip the crust in honey. This strange tradition does not make their disgusting crust taste any better. The honey is of poor quality and the dough does not compliment the pizza itself, let alone cheap honey. The sauce was tastey, but nothing special. The tomatoes I got on my pizza were from a can. They also don't have many topping choices. I am giving this mediocre pizza joint 2 stars solely based on the concept and because of how clean their kitchen was kept. Also, the employees keep up with cleaning the dining room. I left the restaurant unsatisfied and angry at myself for dropping $30 on 2 crappy 10'' pizzas. Will not be going back ever. It's just not worth it.
(2)Patrick T.
I think Great Plains Sauce and Dough Co. helped me go Vegan.. WHY cause I had one to many 11:30pm late night large Denver Crust Great Plains Pizza's with about a pound of cheese on each Pizza, I probably reached my quota of Cheese in life! I got to say Great Plains is my second favorite pizza I have had in my life! I Love the crust, I used to love how much cheese was on it, I loved the taste of honey on every slice! It was like an awakening to what PIZZA could be! When I moved to Ames in 1999 this was a place I had to come at least once a month for pizza! Even when I became Vegan in 2005 and I would order my 4 veggie pizza with no cheese it was still better than any pie around, just because that whole wheat crust is incredible! They have potato and regular flour crust as well.. They do slices at lunch, and now have an upper deck seating. The line is sometimes out the door for slices and good luck getting a seat on a Saturday during football season! But there is a reason for all of this! The pizza is out of this world and I dare you to eat an entire large, I have done it before and it's a Man Vs Food test to the max! It's hard to stop when it taste that good! Some times the service puts you off a bit, but I can handle a cranky hippie college kid when they are feeding me something this good!
(5)Brian W.
It's where to go in Ames! Great spot for grabbing a slice of pizza. Also a nice place to meet a friend for lunch. It is very unique. Be sure to have someone help you with putting honey on your crust if it's your first time there! Be sure to get a cookie or two- the oatmeal and the chocolate chips are amazing!
(5)Adam L.
Probably the best pizza in the state of Iowa. Go in there hungry and get any of the thick crusts. They put enough cheese on there for 2 pizzas. Love the honey as a dipping for the crusts. The atmosphere is a classic small town pizza joint that is great. A great stop for anyone going to Iowa State or just visiting thru downtown Ames! Great lunch special also
(5)Jason S.
Stopped by Great Plains S&D after a muddy mountain bike race for the Iowa Games. I hadn't been to GPSD in several years - maybe ten? I recalled the honey bottles to drizzle on the thick, hearty crust. Well I wasn't disappointed. It was better than I remember! They are known for their "Denver" style thick, wheat crust. It's very filling and even after a bike race I could only down two slices from a large (hey leftovers never hurt). I don't want to know how many calories are in a slice but I don't care. Loads of cheese and adequate toppings. Don't forget the honey for the crust - it's a nice sweet touch after tearing through all that cheese. Beware the pizzas come out hot and that blanket of cheese traps the steam quite efficiently. It's easy to burn your mouth and ruin an otherwise pleasant meal. The staff was very nice in my experience. The guy asked why I was all muddy and in bike clothes. He even asked if the pizza was good later. Very nice guy! They were attentive to my refills and request for a to-go box. Place was pretty quiet on a Sunday lunch so the wait for the pizza wasn't bad. If you're in Ames and looking for a different kind of pizza head to Great Plains! I plan to try the potato crust the next time I'm up there. I couldn't pass up this treat while I was in Ames and I'm glad I didn't.
(5)Jennifer A.
I really don't understand the love for this place. In fact, I am only giving it 2 stars because there is lots of seating and the service is nice. The pizza is just bad. Very bad. I don't want to sound snobbish, but here goes: I grew up in New Jersey and New York and I know good pizza. This is not good pizza. Heck, it's not even really pizza. The pizza here is like 3 different ingredients that happen to coincide, but not complement each other, in one dish: sauce, crust, cheese. Layering these three things does not make pizza, my friends. First, the crust is hard as a rock and tasteless. The sauce is like tomato paste out of a can, and the cheese layer is thick, dense and overwhelming. Who puts cheddar on a pizza? Blasphemy! The bottles of honey on the tables should serve as fair warning. What's the honey for, you ask? For dipping your pizza crust. I know, I know. I'm shaking my head, too. If what I've written actually sounds appealing, then maybe this is your thing, but I just can't even. Can't even! Great Plains claims they serve "Denver-style" pizza, but there's a reason why that style has not taken off in the rest of the country the way NY and Chicago style have.
(2)Jeremy F.
This is a great locally owned and operated pizzeria. The service is always great, I doubt the owners would tolerate anything less from their employees. Great Plains has very unique crust for their piazzas, the most popular is which is the Denver (a thick wheat crust), which must people I know dip the crust in honey and eat it. Other options include think wheat crusts, potato crust, and your standard white crust. The restaurant is small and has a rustic decor, but there is an upstairs to make a bunch of available seating. Great Plains is definitely one of Ames most notable establishments. During the lunch hour they do piazza by the slice.
(4)Cass K.
I may not be objective about this pizza, since I decided from a young age that this is my favorite pizza in the world. We ordered an Italian sausage on thick wheat (Denver) crust. Especially on the thick crust pizza, never order extra cheese at Great Plains. The thick red sauce is covered with a thick layer of dense cheese. The crust is delicious and yeasty and makes a great dessert when you drizzle honey over your leftover crusts. Just a tip for those who like crisp pepperoni like I do. You might want to choose another toping when ordering a thick-crust pizza at Great Plains. While I'm usually a fan of pepperoni, I like my pepperoni crisp as it comes out from a super hot oven on a thin crust. Since thicker pizzas require cooking at a lower temperature in order to cook all the way through without burning, and Great Plains puts on so much cheese, peperoni gets cooked buried in the cheese.
(5)Todd K.
I don't give five-star reviews very often, but this is one of my top two pizza places across the entire U.S. Also, New York style pizza is my favorite and this is definitely not New York style. Closer to Chicago if you get the deep dish which is what I would recommend. Multiple types of crust including wheat oat and white flour. If you eat in instead of carrying out, try the honey with the crust. Excellent. I'd also recommend not going with extra cheese. You might choke to death on it. There's plenty of cheese on any pie that you might order. If I'm overnighting within a 50 mile radius of Ames, i'll make a special trip into town for GPS&D. It doesn't get any better than this place. Oh, and did I mention they deliver? Go here.
(5)Chris B.
I understand that a lot of people love this place, but I cannot be counted among them. It is not by any means straight up bad pizza, but I wouldn't exactly call it "good" either. I appreciate that this place exists and it is really nice to have a pizza place downtown, but it's low(ish) on my list of Ames pizza places. There are a lot of different options and several different crust choices, which is pretty cool. The actual restaurant itself looks good and is pretty clean. Service isn't exceptionally friendly but that's okay. I am not a fan of their cheese - tastes vaguely like plastic. This wouldn't be as big of an issue if the pizza was cheap but it isn't. If you want quality pizza in Ames, then go to Black Market Pizza. Vesuvius and even Pizza Ranch are better options, too. Jeff's is probably a sidestep in terms of quality but at least it's cheaper. I'll only stop by here if I want some food and I'm at a show at DG's or London and don't want to drive somewhere.
(2)Drew P.
The pizza was good and had a fun atmosphere. We were just passing through Ames so I'm not sure how it stacks up to other pizza in the area but compared to the pizza you can get 120 miles east (Chicago), it was only ok. The flavors they offer are interesting and they offer a variety of crusts. It's possible it would have been better had we gotten something different.
(3)Heidi T.
Best pizza ever. If you don't want plain old pizza, you need to go here. Hearty crust, flavorful toppings, unique atmosphere.
(5)Josh S.
Not much has changed at Great Plains Sauce & Dough (129 Main, Ames) since we graduated from ISU in 2002. My wife and I went on plenty of dates here and it was one of our favorite locations to grab a pie in Ames. Great Plains still lives up to its name... it's definitely great! Not much has changed with the menu, and why should it. The decor remains the same which is great because it's just one of the unique things about Great Plains that bring people back We were back in March (sorry it took so long to get a review written, but we lead busy lives) and there was even one staff member that recognized us from TWELVE years ago. When you think of the number of patrons and college students that have been to that have come and gone over 12 years, to remember us is astonishing. This is proof positive that GPSD really cares about their customers. We have always loved coming back and getting the whole wheat crust and having the cups of honey at the table for a crust dipping sauce. Nice to see they still offer their customers the collectable plastic drink cups which can be brought back and refilled again and again. All of the pizza is great, whether you're ordering a whole pie or just a slice or two. Great Plains just does it right, from the retro décor all the way down to the little details that still make this one of the best pizza places in all of Central Iowa. We will continue to recommend this place to those who are in the Ames area and asking about a good pizza place. Thank you for making our return visit memorable!
(4)Axel H.
This is a classic pizza place with the best pizza in the world, so far. Their choice of crust cannot be beat. I like the thick oat crust myself. Now some people think the crust is TOO thick, but think of it this way. When you're done with the part of the slice with topping on it, what you have left is basically an oat roll. Oats eat cholesterol in the bloodstream. So, after you've eaten the fattening part of the pizza, that last chunk of oats courses through the bloodstream chomping all the bad stuff like Pac-Man! And the price is not unreasonable, either.
(5)Lanay G.
We were finally able to get the correct manager on the phone that was able to help us out promptly. Pizza delivery was a success.
(4)Mark H.
Do not be afraid to try the Denver Crust! I was surprised by how good it actually was. Don't get thrown off when you walk in because you order in the back. They also have honey on the table which helps finish off the crust. This would be a good to try an alternative pizza place!
(4)Mike R.
Just passing through, me, wife, and four teens. Pizza is ok. Wasn't bad wasn't great either, just ok.
(3)Cindy D.
Pizza is ok...too much tomato sauce.. But the thing that will keep me from coming back is the long wait. 60 min. For a pizza? 15 min to place an order? This has happened every time, not just once. The people behind the counter lack people skills, and look like they could care less. I will go back to joe's or Jeff's , better prices also.
(3)Gary W.
The pizza was just ok. The sauce tasted like it came out of a can, so I was a little disappointed in that.
(3)Jennifer E.
My husband wanted to show me around his university. We spent a night in the area. He had to get back here. He said needed to put Honey on his bones. I had no idea what that really meant. The pizza dough is nothing I have seen before. It is huge on the edges and you eat it to the edges. Then you put honey on the edge for desert. Something new and fun to do. Overall ok pizza. The love to put cheese on it. Not overly greasy as pizza sometimes can be. Beer on draft and free refills on soda. Medium was more than enough for the two of us. Nice place in downtown. Would recommend if you want to try a new pizza experience. All the staff is obviously college age adults.
(4)Katie B.
Not really sure if all the 5 stars that are being given to this place are legitimate or not...because this place blows! Having been to many places in the east coast, and therefore trying "real pizza" that actually tastes delicious, this place is a piece of crap. Yup it is, whatever they are selling, it's not pizza, and I guess I don't blame people for liking this place if you've never left Ames. But honestly, saying its a "must visit place in the midwest"? That's gotta be a joke. I don't want 20 pounds of dough, thank you very much, I want a slice of pizza. I honestly never thought it was possible to screw up pizza, but this place, among others has changed that view I once had. If I have to eat pizza, Jeff's is the only one that slides through, and that's probably because I'm buzzed at the time=). Ok so, yea, don't go here if you've had real pizza before cause you'll leave pissed and sad, but do come here if you have no expectations and have no idea what pizza should taste like.
(1)Jenna F.
Pizza was good and it was at a good price. They are known for their thick wheat crust with optional honey. Way back in the day it was more service type of place. Now it's order at the back window, pick up your plates, silverware, parm/pepper/honey, pick your table, then wait to go pick up your pizza at the window. You pay first, pizza second. But it was very yummy and opened late.
(3)James W.
Pizza is pretty good. I like the potato or wheat thin crust. Good toppings and care for making a good pie.
(4)Travis B.
This has been one of my favorite pizza places for 20+ years now. It's just awesome. A real meat-and-potatoes pizza joint. If you leave here hungry, see a doctor immediately. About a year ago, for some odd reason we decided to try their vegetarian pizza. I'm usually not a fan, but it's now one of my favorites!
(5)Scott L.
Fantastic, just as good or at least close to any Chicago pizzeria. The honey and thick crust is great. Awesome sauce and cheese.
(5)Jill B.
Great lunch, pizza by the slice deal. I like the different crust choices.
(3)K. B.
The best deep pan pizza in town. Great Plains has been in Ames for decades and a favorite with the locals
(4)Jason K.
I discovered Great Plains while attending Iowa State University and now Great Plains is scheduled event every time I visit Iowa. I love the white thin crust. Just crisp enough, piles of cheese but not too much. It is very hard to find pizza that even comes close the Great Plains. So many chains and easy common pizza practices have destroyed the unique greatness of individual pizza places like Great Plains. The atmosphere is unique as well, historical prints and old stuff hanging around a place where every last inch of possible table space has been used including an indoor balcony in the tall old style downtown retail shop. You stand in line and get your order then find a table and wait for your number. No waitress... no matter, the pizza is so good you won't care.
(5)Nick A.
this place is nice i like the thin crust pizza all of them the cheese they use is so good the salads are pretty good as well they have some huge cookies for like a 1.40 the prices for the pizza and salads are fair i haven't tried any of the sandwiches but they are probably good as well....
(4)Ryan W.
Being from Chicago I've eaten all kinds of different pizzas ranging from the ultimate deep dish all the way to the thinnest thin crust. There is nothing I've had, however, that beats what Great Plains offers. Their cheese-packed pizza will keep you wanting more, but you'll probably be hard-pressed to eat more than a slice or two. The thing that really makes them unique is the honey they provide that is to be used when eating the crust, and I've never seen people so excited to get to the crust of the pizza. The honey is a great compliment to this perfect pizza.
(5)Brad O.
In a town with a lot of great pizza, this is one of the best!
(5)Ashley W.
Upon arriving in Ames back in 2003 from Chicago, we were on the hunt for some good pizza. When I asked around and people suggested Great Plains because of their wheat crust and how you should use honey to dip the crust, I thought they were CRAZY! Didn't they know what "real" (Chicago style) pizza was? We decided to see what the hype was about and I'm glad we did. A slice of Denver Style (they have different types of crust- this is the thick wheat) pizza gives you a glimpse into what cheese heaven would be like. Oh the cheese! They pile it on and it is wonderful! Then you get to the rolled edge of the crust and drizzle some honey on and you ARE in heaven! Sadly, we've moved from Ames and can't partake in such delicious wheat, cheese, and honey goodness, but when we go back, you can be sure that Great Plains will be on the "must do" list.
(5)Henry R.
The Great Plains is my favorite pizza place in Ames. There's not a lot of room though so keep that in mind if you're hoping to dine there on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
(5)Rosa K.
This was my first time here and I had no idea that they have no service. It's self serve and you have to walk to the back of the restaurant to order your pizza at the counter. The guy is overly talkative and has no idea how to multi task or accommodate customers. Ironic that he doesn't acknowledge the presence of customers and when you finally get his attention and ask him about the menu he goes off on tangents. I appreciate that they have plenty of seating and all your condiments in stock. The ingredients are very fresh and the cheese is perfectly gooey. I actually dont care for the overly doughy 2 inch thick crust. Though I give them kudos for their unique crust availabilities from potato to oat and wheat. Not bad to get a super filling carbohydrate heavy medium 3 topping pizza for $14. But you'll have to really love dense doughy crust.
(3)Natalie T.
Oh honey, this is good! Great Plains has the best pizza crust in Ames, but save your wallet the unnecessary bucks and don't order a skimpy side. The honey-kissed pizza is so amazingly flavorful and filling that the other menu items should be embarrased to be there. Dine in, grab a bottle (or two) of honey and drizzle the sweet stuff all over your pie. Go with friends ~ you'll still have leftovers for days. But FYI, singles: Individual slices ~ which will fill you right up ~ are sold only during weekday lunchtime. 5 stars by Ames' standards!
(5)Aaron F.
The pizza was pretty good but I have gone there a couple time now and I have never received what I have ordered under a hour! Both times were week nights, so I could have just caught them on off nights, but it seemed odd that it took them that long to make a pizza.
(2)Tyler D.
I've only visited Great Plains once, and I can honestly say it was one of the most uncomfortable experiences of my life. The atmosphere, layout and "idea" behind this place are terrible. It's a very small and crowded space, forcing you to stand in a line squeezed between two sets of booths, so close you could easily grab a slice from someones plate without moving from your spot. The method of getting the food is standing in line, ordering, and then taking it to your table (if you can find one) and serving yourself. The person who I assume was the manager was very condescending and rude to me when I asked a simple question, acting as if I had offended everything he held dear in his life. The atmosphere was bad enough but this guy killed it for me. The pizza options are many and the quality is good, I will admit it and that's the only reason this gets any stars. But I can assure you it is NOT worth going in and eating, grab a pizza to go and get out of there asap. I was very disappointing in my experience here after hearing nothing but great things. I've only lived in Ames 2 years now, but I have never and will never set foot in this place again.
(2)Dave A.
Excellent pizza! We ate there twice in one week and it was very good both times. However, I am not a big fan of self-service, and this place would rate five stars if it had a wait staff to serve you at your table.
(4)Matt E.
I stopped back again recently for lunch at the home of "Ames style" Pizza. I'm not a big advocate of the super thick and heavily burdened with cheese pizza here. But it's a preference. This is the hearty food stuff of legend in down town Ames. Can't beat the lunch slice specials, and it's good to see they've added seating.
(5)Casey M.
Great Plains has been an Ames institution for years, and offers a unique style of pizza that I haven't found elsewhere. Their pizza crust comes in many varieties, and all I've had are excellent, but the wheat crust is extra special (and can be dipped in the honey they place on every table, too). Common to all pizzas here, though, are two things; the crust is extremely thick, and the cheese is very fresh and piled on heavily. This makes for not only a delicious pizza, but a very filling one, too; if one slice doesn't satiate you, then two definitely will. The place also has a great, unmatched atmosphere. The burlap sacks under the table glass, the wooden lattice, and the macrame plant holders give this place a very cozy feel that makes it easy to sit around for a couple of hours getting stuffed and finishing off a pitcher of beer. Overall, this is an incredibly unique experience that should not be passed up if you're in Ames.
(5)James A.
A truly unique pizza. I had an eating contest at Great Plains with a friend many years back: we ordered a large denver (aka whole wheat crust) with sausage, mushroom, and extra cheese. Yes, we ordered extra cheese...an ocean of cheese.... Anyway, suffice to say we were both exceptionally full and failed to finish the pizza. Not a traditional pizza but well worth the purchase!
(5)Justin M.
A must stop in Ames to experience the best pizza in Iowa. 1 - 2 pieces will fill up most people. A lot of options for crust (white, wheat, potato). The toppings and cheese especially are piled on and the thick crust can be a meal in itself. Expect a wait most nights and especially on the weekends.
(5)Brianna B.
THE WORST PIZZA EVER. Especially if you are from a place where real Italians live and know what a pizza should taste like. The dough was heavy and not fully cooked in the center. The outsides were like a huge cracker. In general it was flavorless. While we may be biased (we prefer thin crust pizza that cracks when you fold it in half) this wasn't even near the best thick-crust pizza we have had. Will not eat there again.
(1)Jed B.
If you like a heavy pizza this is the place for you. Gobs of cheese so you cant see or sometimes tastethe toppings or in this case the fillings. I like a thin crust and I ordered the Denver crust with sausage. The dough was heavy and in all honesty it wasn't thick but it sure wasn't thin. Lots of folks like it but it wasn't my slice of pizza. I stopped by Vesuvius the next day. There's was more to my tastes.
(2)Joe J.
The best pizza in Ames by far. There is a reason this place has been in business so long. Their pizza is AWESOME. They also have a nice laid back environment and take pride in making they pizza consistently good. No gripes here.
(5)Danelle W.
A great place to eat for truly unique pizza at a very reasonable price. The restaurant area is not very large so it can get a little crowded but it is definitely worth eating there so you can enjoy your crust with delicious honey! Expect to bring home leftovers though as you'll probably be stuffed after only 2 slices.
(5)CHRIS C.
Good lunch slice specials. And two pieces will be enough because it is very filling. Too much cheese for me but I know some who love the pizza here. The wheat crust is a nice touch.
(3)Jaclyn P.
Best Pizza ever. See my other review on the other Great Plains yelp page.
(5)Timothy L.
We stop here on the return home on any trip where we pass through Ames anywhere near a meal time. The pizza is wonderful. Be sure to order the Denver style crust, which is a wheat crust with a very thick bread-like rim of crust around the pizza. Eat the pizza and use the honey provided to finish off the bread. Just awesome!
(5)Nicole A.
Whatever this is, it isn't pizza. And I love ALL varieties of pizza. This is... a dense, cardboardy lump of indigestion. Ames is a little short on really good pizza, but Pizza Pit beats this hands down. I even know some folks who would advocate for Home Team (RIP), though I'm definitely not among them.
(2)Ryan G.
The absolute best pizza anywhere, ever, period, bar none, hands down. I know it's a cliche when it comes to this place, but it's true. They take a thick whole wheat crust, spread on a layer of sweet tomato sauce, a layer of Canadian bacon, and then pile on the cheese. Pile. It. On. The warm mozzarella, the thinnest layer of grease sweating off the top, droops off the side of the slice as you lift it to your mouth, and, when you take a bite, it pulls away in thick strings, forming a rope bridge of cheese from you to the pizza. This is how cartoon characters eat. When you're finished, you're left with a crust as thick as a gear shift. GP thoughtfully provides bottles of honey to squirt on your plate & dip it in. Eat a second slice at your own risk.
(5)Gray C.
They really give you honey to put on top of the pizza. I was surprised too. Most pizza wouldn't be improved by drizzling honey all over it, but theirs is. I'll just vaguely trail off and leave that as a statement of fact, not necessarily a compliment or criticism...
(3)Brian K.
Great if you like lots and lots of cheese and thick wheat crust. I prefer more sauce and toppings to all that cheese so I found it to be just OK. Bonus was the huge cookies that they have (although they were out of chocolate). Definitely better than any chain and a nice alternative.
(3)Joel A.
Excellent pizza. They have a very affordable by the slice lunch deal. The pizza has a lot of cheese. My favorite crust is the denver style. The Interior is quaint with an upper level with additional seating. Everyone should try this place at least once.
(5)Joe S.
ive never had better pizza then this, we go there every time near ames. all the crusts are good, it just depends on your tastes. all are big and very filling, a large pizza is enough for 3-4 adults. don't get anything else, this is a pizza joint!
(5)Ravi R.
Okay so this place is pretty old...not totally old but its been in Ames Main Street since the late 70's... All i know is, you want a great pizza, and crust that you'd want to dip in honey after... this is the place to go. it reminds me of a place i would go to in Colorado. I think that's why i had such a warm spot for it. The service is great and the local peeps flock like birds there...you might have to wait but its worth it...
(4)Lindsay H.
The most overrated pizza in Ames.
(1)Bob H.
Be prepared to be full off one piece and constipated for a week. I mean this in a good way.
(4)Heather L.
To me, this pizza was just ok. I would NEVER compare it to Chicago style pizza, as some have said. The thin crust pizza was pretty good, but we tried several types of the medium tossed crust- white, wheat, potato... it was dense and dry to me. I never understood the awe people had for this place.
(3)Clem M.
I hear the commercial for Great Plains Sauce and Dough on the radio all the time, so I figured I would check it out for lunch while in Ames. It's seat yourself and you go to the counter to place your order. They don't have a wait staff, just bus service. So if you need something you have to get it which is OK. The staff at the counter are very friendly and helpful, it can be hard to decide if there is a line and you feel rushed. You can also kind of watch them make your pie. We decided to try two different pies: The taco was on a white thin crust that the staff recommended, an excellent choice. The crust was a perfect crisp thin crust with plenty of toppings. The perfect taco pizza. The second pizza was the Prairie special which was on a wheat thick crust. This was also a great pizza and the crust is perfect for dipping in the honey. The pizza had plenty of toppings, we switched the sausage to ground beef. Excellent. The oatmeal monster cookie was amazing if you have any room left. They also serve draft beer by the pitcher which is a perfect side with a pizza pie. Great place for lunch!
(5)Annie K.
Everyone who says this place is good has obviously never had real pizza! Please believe that. Heard about GPSD and wanted to see what the hype was about. Overall it was "eh" but I am also a hard pizza pleaser because of my Chicago roots. You order upfront and pay before you even see your food (which I'm not a fan of). Then, when your number is called you retrieve your pizza(s). When I went up to the counter to refill my drink, I was ignored by 4 other employees and had to wait until the counter girl was off the phone. There's a couple different crust choices. We went with one "Denver" crust style and one "sam's" crust which is thin white crust. The Denver crust is thick wheat and it's also dense and gritty. I heard that GPSD's thing is that you dip the crust in honey. This strange tradition does not make their disgusting crust taste any better. The honey is of poor quality and the dough does not compliment the pizza itself, let alone cheap honey. The sauce was tastey, but nothing special. The tomatoes I got on my pizza were from a can. They also don't have many topping choices. I am giving this mediocre pizza joint 2 stars solely based on the concept and because of how clean their kitchen was kept. Also, the employees keep up with cleaning the dining room. I left the restaurant unsatisfied and angry at myself for dropping $30 on 2 crappy 10'' pizzas. Will not be going back ever. It's just not worth it.
(2)Patrick T.
I think Great Plains Sauce and Dough Co. helped me go Vegan.. WHY cause I had one to many 11:30pm late night large Denver Crust Great Plains Pizza's with about a pound of cheese on each Pizza, I probably reached my quota of Cheese in life! I got to say Great Plains is my second favorite pizza I have had in my life! I Love the crust, I used to love how much cheese was on it, I loved the taste of honey on every slice! It was like an awakening to what PIZZA could be! When I moved to Ames in 1999 this was a place I had to come at least once a month for pizza! Even when I became Vegan in 2005 and I would order my 4 veggie pizza with no cheese it was still better than any pie around, just because that whole wheat crust is incredible! They have potato and regular flour crust as well.. They do slices at lunch, and now have an upper deck seating. The line is sometimes out the door for slices and good luck getting a seat on a Saturday during football season! But there is a reason for all of this! The pizza is out of this world and I dare you to eat an entire large, I have done it before and it's a Man Vs Food test to the max! It's hard to stop when it taste that good! Some times the service puts you off a bit, but I can handle a cranky hippie college kid when they are feeding me something this good!
(5)Brian W.
It's where to go in Ames! Great spot for grabbing a slice of pizza. Also a nice place to meet a friend for lunch. It is very unique. Be sure to have someone help you with putting honey on your crust if it's your first time there! Be sure to get a cookie or two- the oatmeal and the chocolate chips are amazing!
(5)Adam L.
Probably the best pizza in the state of Iowa. Go in there hungry and get any of the thick crusts. They put enough cheese on there for 2 pizzas. Love the honey as a dipping for the crusts. The atmosphere is a classic small town pizza joint that is great. A great stop for anyone going to Iowa State or just visiting thru downtown Ames! Great lunch special also
(5)Keith B.
Pizza is loaded with cheese. My wife and I've eaten here numerous times and we love the garlic cheese bread. It's nothing fancy just melted mozzarella on some garlic toast but something about it we love. However We just tried the wheat crust "Denver style" definitely not our favorite. We ended up scraping the toppings off and just ate them. Regardless we'll be going back just getting a different crust.
(4)Collin K.
Pizza so good I ate it for both lunch and dinner in one day! If you get the thick crust, be sure to grab a container of honey to put in the crust. You'll thank me later.
(5)Jason S.
Stopped by Great Plains S&D after a muddy mountain bike race for the Iowa Games. I hadn't been to GPSD in several years - maybe ten? I recalled the honey bottles to drizzle on the thick, hearty crust. Well I wasn't disappointed. It was better than I remember! They are known for their "Denver" style thick, wheat crust. It's very filling and even after a bike race I could only down two slices from a large (hey leftovers never hurt). I don't want to know how many calories are in a slice but I don't care. Loads of cheese and adequate toppings. Don't forget the honey for the crust - it's a nice sweet touch after tearing through all that cheese. Beware the pizzas come out hot and that blanket of cheese traps the steam quite efficiently. It's easy to burn your mouth and ruin an otherwise pleasant meal. The staff was very nice in my experience. The guy asked why I was all muddy and in bike clothes. He even asked if the pizza was good later. Very nice guy! They were attentive to my refills and request for a to-go box. Place was pretty quiet on a Sunday lunch so the wait for the pizza wasn't bad. If you're in Ames and looking for a different kind of pizza head to Great Plains! I plan to try the potato crust the next time I'm up there. I couldn't pass up this treat while I was in Ames and I'm glad I didn't.
(5)Jennifer A.
I really don't understand the love for this place. In fact, I am only giving it 2 stars because there is lots of seating and the service is nice. The pizza is just bad. Very bad. I don't want to sound snobbish, but here goes: I grew up in New Jersey and New York and I know good pizza. This is not good pizza. Heck, it's not even really pizza. The pizza here is like 3 different ingredients that happen to coincide, but not complement each other, in one dish: sauce, crust, cheese. Layering these three things does not make pizza, my friends. First, the crust is hard as a rock and tasteless. The sauce is like tomato paste out of a can, and the cheese layer is thick, dense and overwhelming. Who puts cheddar on a pizza? Blasphemy! The bottles of honey on the tables should serve as fair warning. What's the honey for, you ask? For dipping your pizza crust. I know, I know. I'm shaking my head, too. If what I've written actually sounds appealing, then maybe this is your thing, but I just can't even. Can't even! Great Plains claims they serve "Denver-style" pizza, but there's a reason why that style has not taken off in the rest of the country the way NY and Chicago style have.
(2)Jeremy F.
This is a great locally owned and operated pizzeria. The service is always great, I doubt the owners would tolerate anything less from their employees. Great Plains has very unique crust for their piazzas, the most popular is which is the Denver (a thick wheat crust), which must people I know dip the crust in honey and eat it. Other options include think wheat crusts, potato crust, and your standard white crust. The restaurant is small and has a rustic decor, but there is an upstairs to make a bunch of available seating. Great Plains is definitely one of Ames most notable establishments. During the lunch hour they do piazza by the slice.
(4)Cass K.
I may not be objective about this pizza, since I decided from a young age that this is my favorite pizza in the world. We ordered an Italian sausage on thick wheat (Denver) crust. Especially on the thick crust pizza, never order extra cheese at Great Plains. The thick red sauce is covered with a thick layer of dense cheese. The crust is delicious and yeasty and makes a great dessert when you drizzle honey over your leftover crusts. Just a tip for those who like crisp pepperoni like I do. You might want to choose another toping when ordering a thick-crust pizza at Great Plains. While I'm usually a fan of pepperoni, I like my pepperoni crisp as it comes out from a super hot oven on a thin crust. Since thicker pizzas require cooking at a lower temperature in order to cook all the way through without burning, and Great Plains puts on so much cheese, peperoni gets cooked buried in the cheese.
(5)Todd K.
I don't give five-star reviews very often, but this is one of my top two pizza places across the entire U.S. Also, New York style pizza is my favorite and this is definitely not New York style. Closer to Chicago if you get the deep dish which is what I would recommend. Multiple types of crust including wheat oat and white flour. If you eat in instead of carrying out, try the honey with the crust. Excellent. I'd also recommend not going with extra cheese. You might choke to death on it. There's plenty of cheese on any pie that you might order. If I'm overnighting within a 50 mile radius of Ames, i'll make a special trip into town for GPS&D. It doesn't get any better than this place. Oh, and did I mention they deliver? Go here.
(5)Chris B.
I understand that a lot of people love this place, but I cannot be counted among them. It is not by any means straight up bad pizza, but I wouldn't exactly call it "good" either. I appreciate that this place exists and it is really nice to have a pizza place downtown, but it's low(ish) on my list of Ames pizza places. There are a lot of different options and several different crust choices, which is pretty cool. The actual restaurant itself looks good and is pretty clean. Service isn't exceptionally friendly but that's okay. I am not a fan of their cheese - tastes vaguely like plastic. This wouldn't be as big of an issue if the pizza was cheap but it isn't. If you want quality pizza in Ames, then go to Black Market Pizza. Vesuvius and even Pizza Ranch are better options, too. Jeff's is probably a sidestep in terms of quality but at least it's cheaper. I'll only stop by here if I want some food and I'm at a show at DG's or London and don't want to drive somewhere.
(2)Drew P.
The pizza was good and had a fun atmosphere. We were just passing through Ames so I'm not sure how it stacks up to other pizza in the area but compared to the pizza you can get 120 miles east (Chicago), it was only ok. The flavors they offer are interesting and they offer a variety of crusts. It's possible it would have been better had we gotten something different.
(3)Heidi T.
Best pizza ever. If you don't want plain old pizza, you need to go here. Hearty crust, flavorful toppings, unique atmosphere.
(5)Josh S.
Not much has changed at Great Plains Sauce & Dough (129 Main, Ames) since we graduated from ISU in 2002. My wife and I went on plenty of dates here and it was one of our favorite locations to grab a pie in Ames. Great Plains still lives up to its name... it's definitely great! Not much has changed with the menu, and why should it. The decor remains the same which is great because it's just one of the unique things about Great Plains that bring people back We were back in March (sorry it took so long to get a review written, but we lead busy lives) and there was even one staff member that recognized us from TWELVE years ago. When you think of the number of patrons and college students that have been to that have come and gone over 12 years, to remember us is astonishing. This is proof positive that GPSD really cares about their customers. We have always loved coming back and getting the whole wheat crust and having the cups of honey at the table for a crust dipping sauce. Nice to see they still offer their customers the collectable plastic drink cups which can be brought back and refilled again and again. All of the pizza is great, whether you're ordering a whole pie or just a slice or two. Great Plains just does it right, from the retro décor all the way down to the little details that still make this one of the best pizza places in all of Central Iowa. We will continue to recommend this place to those who are in the Ames area and asking about a good pizza place. Thank you for making our return visit memorable!
(4)Axel H.
This is a classic pizza place with the best pizza in the world, so far. Their choice of crust cannot be beat. I like the thick oat crust myself. Now some people think the crust is TOO thick, but think of it this way. When you're done with the part of the slice with topping on it, what you have left is basically an oat roll. Oats eat cholesterol in the bloodstream. So, after you've eaten the fattening part of the pizza, that last chunk of oats courses through the bloodstream chomping all the bad stuff like Pac-Man! And the price is not unreasonable, either.
(5)Lanay G.
We were finally able to get the correct manager on the phone that was able to help us out promptly. Pizza delivery was a success.
(4)Mark H.
Do not be afraid to try the Denver Crust! I was surprised by how good it actually was. Don't get thrown off when you walk in because you order in the back. They also have honey on the table which helps finish off the crust. This would be a good to try an alternative pizza place!
(4)Mike R.
Just passing through, me, wife, and four teens. Pizza is ok. Wasn't bad wasn't great either, just ok.
(3)Cindy D.
Pizza is ok...too much tomato sauce.. But the thing that will keep me from coming back is the long wait. 60 min. For a pizza? 15 min to place an order? This has happened every time, not just once. The people behind the counter lack people skills, and look like they could care less. I will go back to joe's or Jeff's , better prices also.
(3)Gary W.
The pizza was just ok. The sauce tasted like it came out of a can, so I was a little disappointed in that.
(3)Jennifer E.
My husband wanted to show me around his university. We spent a night in the area. He had to get back here. He said needed to put Honey on his bones. I had no idea what that really meant. The pizza dough is nothing I have seen before. It is huge on the edges and you eat it to the edges. Then you put honey on the edge for desert. Something new and fun to do. Overall ok pizza. The love to put cheese on it. Not overly greasy as pizza sometimes can be. Beer on draft and free refills on soda. Medium was more than enough for the two of us. Nice place in downtown. Would recommend if you want to try a new pizza experience. All the staff is obviously college age adults.
(4)Katie B.
Not really sure if all the 5 stars that are being given to this place are legitimate or not...because this place blows! Having been to many places in the east coast, and therefore trying "real pizza" that actually tastes delicious, this place is a piece of crap. Yup it is, whatever they are selling, it's not pizza, and I guess I don't blame people for liking this place if you've never left Ames. But honestly, saying its a "must visit place in the midwest"? That's gotta be a joke. I don't want 20 pounds of dough, thank you very much, I want a slice of pizza. I honestly never thought it was possible to screw up pizza, but this place, among others has changed that view I once had. If I have to eat pizza, Jeff's is the only one that slides through, and that's probably because I'm buzzed at the time=). Ok so, yea, don't go here if you've had real pizza before cause you'll leave pissed and sad, but do come here if you have no expectations and have no idea what pizza should taste like.
(1)Jenna F.
Pizza was good and it was at a good price. They are known for their thick wheat crust with optional honey. Way back in the day it was more service type of place. Now it's order at the back window, pick up your plates, silverware, parm/pepper/honey, pick your table, then wait to go pick up your pizza at the window. You pay first, pizza second. But it was very yummy and opened late.
(3)James W.
Pizza is pretty good. I like the potato or wheat thin crust. Good toppings and care for making a good pie.
(4)Travis B.
This has been one of my favorite pizza places for 20+ years now. It's just awesome. A real meat-and-potatoes pizza joint. If you leave here hungry, see a doctor immediately. About a year ago, for some odd reason we decided to try their vegetarian pizza. I'm usually not a fan, but it's now one of my favorites!
(5)Scott L.
Fantastic, just as good or at least close to any Chicago pizzeria. The honey and thick crust is great. Awesome sauce and cheese.
(5)Jill B.
Great lunch, pizza by the slice deal. I like the different crust choices.
(3)K. B.
The best deep pan pizza in town. Great Plains has been in Ames for decades and a favorite with the locals
(4)Jason K.
I discovered Great Plains while attending Iowa State University and now Great Plains is scheduled event every time I visit Iowa. I love the white thin crust. Just crisp enough, piles of cheese but not too much. It is very hard to find pizza that even comes close the Great Plains. So many chains and easy common pizza practices have destroyed the unique greatness of individual pizza places like Great Plains. The atmosphere is unique as well, historical prints and old stuff hanging around a place where every last inch of possible table space has been used including an indoor balcony in the tall old style downtown retail shop. You stand in line and get your order then find a table and wait for your number. No waitress... no matter, the pizza is so good you won't care.
(5)Nick A.
this place is nice i like the thin crust pizza all of them the cheese they use is so good the salads are pretty good as well they have some huge cookies for like a 1.40 the prices for the pizza and salads are fair i haven't tried any of the sandwiches but they are probably good as well....
(4)Ryan W.
Being from Chicago I've eaten all kinds of different pizzas ranging from the ultimate deep dish all the way to the thinnest thin crust. There is nothing I've had, however, that beats what Great Plains offers. Their cheese-packed pizza will keep you wanting more, but you'll probably be hard-pressed to eat more than a slice or two. The thing that really makes them unique is the honey they provide that is to be used when eating the crust, and I've never seen people so excited to get to the crust of the pizza. The honey is a great compliment to this perfect pizza.
(5)Brad O.
In a town with a lot of great pizza, this is one of the best!
(5)Ashley W.
Upon arriving in Ames back in 2003 from Chicago, we were on the hunt for some good pizza. When I asked around and people suggested Great Plains because of their wheat crust and how you should use honey to dip the crust, I thought they were CRAZY! Didn't they know what "real" (Chicago style) pizza was? We decided to see what the hype was about and I'm glad we did. A slice of Denver Style (they have different types of crust- this is the thick wheat) pizza gives you a glimpse into what cheese heaven would be like. Oh the cheese! They pile it on and it is wonderful! Then you get to the rolled edge of the crust and drizzle some honey on and you ARE in heaven! Sadly, we've moved from Ames and can't partake in such delicious wheat, cheese, and honey goodness, but when we go back, you can be sure that Great Plains will be on the "must do" list.
(5)Henry R.
The Great Plains is my favorite pizza place in Ames. There's not a lot of room though so keep that in mind if you're hoping to dine there on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
(5)Rosa K.
This was my first time here and I had no idea that they have no service. It's self serve and you have to walk to the back of the restaurant to order your pizza at the counter. The guy is overly talkative and has no idea how to multi task or accommodate customers. Ironic that he doesn't acknowledge the presence of customers and when you finally get his attention and ask him about the menu he goes off on tangents. I appreciate that they have plenty of seating and all your condiments in stock. The ingredients are very fresh and the cheese is perfectly gooey. I actually dont care for the overly doughy 2 inch thick crust. Though I give them kudos for their unique crust availabilities from potato to oat and wheat. Not bad to get a super filling carbohydrate heavy medium 3 topping pizza for $14. But you'll have to really love dense doughy crust.
(3)Natalie T.
Oh honey, this is good! Great Plains has the best pizza crust in Ames, but save your wallet the unnecessary bucks and don't order a skimpy side. The honey-kissed pizza is so amazingly flavorful and filling that the other menu items should be embarrased to be there. Dine in, grab a bottle (or two) of honey and drizzle the sweet stuff all over your pie. Go with friends ~ you'll still have leftovers for days. But FYI, singles: Individual slices ~ which will fill you right up ~ are sold only during weekday lunchtime. 5 stars by Ames' standards!
(5)Aaron F.
The pizza was pretty good but I have gone there a couple time now and I have never received what I have ordered under a hour! Both times were week nights, so I could have just caught them on off nights, but it seemed odd that it took them that long to make a pizza.
(2)Tyler D.
I've only visited Great Plains once, and I can honestly say it was one of the most uncomfortable experiences of my life. The atmosphere, layout and "idea" behind this place are terrible. It's a very small and crowded space, forcing you to stand in a line squeezed between two sets of booths, so close you could easily grab a slice from someones plate without moving from your spot. The method of getting the food is standing in line, ordering, and then taking it to your table (if you can find one) and serving yourself. The person who I assume was the manager was very condescending and rude to me when I asked a simple question, acting as if I had offended everything he held dear in his life. The atmosphere was bad enough but this guy killed it for me. The pizza options are many and the quality is good, I will admit it and that's the only reason this gets any stars. But I can assure you it is NOT worth going in and eating, grab a pizza to go and get out of there asap. I was very disappointing in my experience here after hearing nothing but great things. I've only lived in Ames 2 years now, but I have never and will never set foot in this place again.
(2)Dave A.
Excellent pizza! We ate there twice in one week and it was very good both times. However, I am not a big fan of self-service, and this place would rate five stars if it had a wait staff to serve you at your table.
(4)Matt E.
I stopped back again recently for lunch at the home of "Ames style" Pizza. I'm not a big advocate of the super thick and heavily burdened with cheese pizza here. But it's a preference. This is the hearty food stuff of legend in down town Ames. Can't beat the lunch slice specials, and it's good to see they've added seating.
(5)Casey M.
Great Plains has been an Ames institution for years, and offers a unique style of pizza that I haven't found elsewhere. Their pizza crust comes in many varieties, and all I've had are excellent, but the wheat crust is extra special (and can be dipped in the honey they place on every table, too). Common to all pizzas here, though, are two things; the crust is extremely thick, and the cheese is very fresh and piled on heavily. This makes for not only a delicious pizza, but a very filling one, too; if one slice doesn't satiate you, then two definitely will. The place also has a great, unmatched atmosphere. The burlap sacks under the table glass, the wooden lattice, and the macrame plant holders give this place a very cozy feel that makes it easy to sit around for a couple of hours getting stuffed and finishing off a pitcher of beer. Overall, this is an incredibly unique experience that should not be passed up if you're in Ames.
(5)James A.
A truly unique pizza. I had an eating contest at Great Plains with a friend many years back: we ordered a large denver (aka whole wheat crust) with sausage, mushroom, and extra cheese. Yes, we ordered extra cheese...an ocean of cheese.... Anyway, suffice to say we were both exceptionally full and failed to finish the pizza. Not a traditional pizza but well worth the purchase!
(5)Samantha C.
Very cool place to dine in. We ordered a medium cheese pizza on the oat crust. Took about twenty minutes before we heard our number being called. I asked if they had hot sauce and all they had were taco sauce packets, that took a star off for me. The honey was a nice touch. Pizza was pretty good, crunchy for being a thin crust, then the outer edge was more doughy and chewy which I enjoyed. I'd like to come back and try a deep dish crust and possibly ask for extra sauce. The cheese tastes great, not cheap like some other chains.
(4)Steve C.
I have never understood why people love this place. The only thing I like are the cookies they serve at lunch. I can only go on Mondays because they have "thin" pizza by the slice. I've tried to choke down their regular pizza but I usually eat the napkins instead. If you like an inch of semi-raw pizza dough, this is the place for you.
(2)Stacy S.
Besides Jeff's Pizza, this is my go-to pizza place. The crust is straight out of a Monk's bakery. The stuff is thick, yeasty, and well worth the extra chewing time. I usually go for something a bit more saucy or cheesy when ordering, due to the heavy crust. If you are choosing a pizza (i.e. Taco) without a lot of fat/moisture, I would go for the thinner crust. The bottom of the pie is always cooked perfectly and the staff is good to go with their service. Pitcher prices are decent also. Go here if you want some insane hippie-style pies.
(5)John N.
This is solid, high quality pizza, especially if you are discerning about your dough. In my family the style of dough at a pizza place can be a deal breaker on whether we'll go there for supper. Let's face it, some people like thick dough, others thin. Great Plains has all sorts, from a classic thin crust, to a potato flour style, and a delicious Oat Style, made of a rolled edge flour. I had the Oat Style crust one evening with The Prairie Special, a peperoni, pork sausage, onion and green pepper pizza. Great sauce and generous amounts of cheese rounded out this delicious pie. It was pretty close to perfect. I recommend Great Plains.
(4)Sarah K.
Ughhhh, so many days I crave this pizza. The dough is fantastic, especially if you dip it in the honey they put on the tables. It is a bit expensive, but it is so worth the money!
(5)Kartik S.
I am not one of the "cheesy" kinds. As much as I love the cheese on my pizza, I definitely don't like cheese taking up all the real estate on the slice. I like my toppings to take up as much space on a pizza as my cheese and for people like me this place is just A-Ok, nothing to rave about. The wheat crust gave me the illusion that the pizza was "healthy" until I glanced the never ending cheese "triple-topping" !!! But gotta give it to the owners, the honey + thick wheat crust is a match made in heaven! 2 slices and I was done for the meal, pretty heavy!
(3)Justin M.
A must stop in Ames to experience the best pizza in Iowa. 1 - 2 pieces will fill up most people. A lot of options for crust (white, wheat, potato). The toppings and cheese especially are piled on and the thick crust can be a meal in itself. Expect a wait most nights and especially on the weekends.
(5)Brianna B.
THE WORST PIZZA EVER. Especially if you are from a place where real Italians live and know what a pizza should taste like. The dough was heavy and not fully cooked in the center. The outsides were like a huge cracker. In general it was flavorless. While we may be biased (we prefer thin crust pizza that cracks when you fold it in half) this wasn't even near the best thick-crust pizza we have had. Will not eat there again.
(1)Jed B.
If you like a heavy pizza this is the place for you. Gobs of cheese so you cant see or sometimes tastethe toppings or in this case the fillings. I like a thin crust and I ordered the Denver crust with sausage. The dough was heavy and in all honesty it wasn't thick but it sure wasn't thin. Lots of folks like it but it wasn't my slice of pizza. I stopped by Vesuvius the next day. There's was more to my tastes.
(2)Joe J.
The best pizza in Ames by far. There is a reason this place has been in business so long. Their pizza is AWESOME. They also have a nice laid back environment and take pride in making they pizza consistently good. No gripes here.
(5)Megan H.
There is no better pizza on earth. Period.
(5)Danelle W.
A great place to eat for truly unique pizza at a very reasonable price. The restaurant area is not very large so it can get a little crowded but it is definitely worth eating there so you can enjoy your crust with delicious honey! Expect to bring home leftovers though as you'll probably be stuffed after only 2 slices.
(5)CHRIS C.
Good lunch slice specials. And two pieces will be enough because it is very filling. Too much cheese for me but I know some who love the pizza here. The wheat crust is a nice touch.
(3)Jaclyn P.
Best Pizza ever. See my other review on the other Great Plains yelp page.
(5)Timothy L.
We stop here on the return home on any trip where we pass through Ames anywhere near a meal time. The pizza is wonderful. Be sure to order the Denver style crust, which is a wheat crust with a very thick bread-like rim of crust around the pizza. Eat the pizza and use the honey provided to finish off the bread. Just awesome!
(5)Nicole A.
Whatever this is, it isn't pizza. And I love ALL varieties of pizza. This is... a dense, cardboardy lump of indigestion. Ames is a little short on really good pizza, but Pizza Pit beats this hands down. I even know some folks who would advocate for Home Team (RIP), though I'm definitely not among them.
(2)Ryan G.
The absolute best pizza anywhere, ever, period, bar none, hands down. I know it's a cliche when it comes to this place, but it's true. They take a thick whole wheat crust, spread on a layer of sweet tomato sauce, a layer of Canadian bacon, and then pile on the cheese. Pile. It. On. The warm mozzarella, the thinnest layer of grease sweating off the top, droops off the side of the slice as you lift it to your mouth, and, when you take a bite, it pulls away in thick strings, forming a rope bridge of cheese from you to the pizza. This is how cartoon characters eat. When you're finished, you're left with a crust as thick as a gear shift. GP thoughtfully provides bottles of honey to squirt on your plate & dip it in. Eat a second slice at your own risk.
(5)Gray C.
They really give you honey to put on top of the pizza. I was surprised too. Most pizza wouldn't be improved by drizzling honey all over it, but theirs is. I'll just vaguely trail off and leave that as a statement of fact, not necessarily a compliment or criticism...
(3)Brian K.
Great if you like lots and lots of cheese and thick wheat crust. I prefer more sauce and toppings to all that cheese so I found it to be just OK. Bonus was the huge cookies that they have (although they were out of chocolate). Definitely better than any chain and a nice alternative.
(3)Joel A.
Excellent pizza. They have a very affordable by the slice lunch deal. The pizza has a lot of cheese. My favorite crust is the denver style. The Interior is quaint with an upper level with additional seating. Everyone should try this place at least once.
(5)Joe S.
ive never had better pizza then this, we go there every time near ames. all the crusts are good, it just depends on your tastes. all are big and very filling, a large pizza is enough for 3-4 adults. don't get anything else, this is a pizza joint!
(5)Ravi R.
Okay so this place is pretty old...not totally old but its been in Ames Main Street since the late 70's... All i know is, you want a great pizza, and crust that you'd want to dip in honey after... this is the place to go. it reminds me of a place i would go to in Colorado. I think that's why i had such a warm spot for it. The service is great and the local peeps flock like birds there...you might have to wait but its worth it...
(4)Lindsay H.
The most overrated pizza in Ames.
(1)Bob H.
Be prepared to be full off one piece and constipated for a week. I mean this in a good way.
(4)Heather L.
To me, this pizza was just ok. I would NEVER compare it to Chicago style pizza, as some have said. The thin crust pizza was pretty good, but we tried several types of the medium tossed crust- white, wheat, potato... it was dense and dry to me. I never understood the awe people had for this place.
(3)