Provisions Lot F

We joined the wait list when we were leaving Des Moines. Our table was ready before we got to Ames, but we were seated as soon as we walked in. We love the atmosphere. Trendy & Upscale. Our food had so much flavor! I would have given 5 stars for the food but my meal was not hot, barely warm by time it got to our table. I can only imagine how delicious it would have been hot. Large portions. The service was a little slow. Tables who sat after us had drinks and food before we did. Overall, the food was delicious and we will be back to try again.

Words cannot describe how amazing this place is. The food is absolutely incredible. I dine here every chance I get, and it is of the highest quality every single time. A wide range of flavors and dishes that is sure to leave you feeling happy and full! The flavors are outstanding and I cannot recommend this place enough. Do NOT hesitate to dine here!!

I’ve been to Provision Lot F twice now—once for lunch and once for dinner—and both experiences were fantastic. For lunch, I had the house salad with their cashew dressing, and it was absolutely spot-on—fresh, flavorful, and surprisingly satisfying. For dinner, I tried the chicken thighs, and they were perfectly cooked—tasty, filling, and great value for the quality. The atmosphere and ambience were excellent both times, and the service was spot-on. There’s also a café section filled with delicious-looking cakes and pastries that are clearly well kept and worth a try. Overall, this is one of the best spots to eat in Ames—highly recommended for both lunch and dinner. I’ll definitely be coming back more often!

really nice atmosphere on what seems like a newer restaurant. the food was good but not great, although the salmon salad got high marks. the desserts were good but you’ll want to go splits on most everything, especially the cakes, as they are super rich. the chocolate ones are very chocolate!

When we arrived around 10:22 am, there were only two gentlemen waiting outside, which was fine—we didn’t mind waiting. The greeter, an older Hispanic gentleman in a sporty polo, was very pleasant at first. I asked for a table for three, and he immediately asked, “Breakfast?” I said yes, and he responded, “Umm, we’re busy, I have a larger group in front of you.” I said that was fine, we’d wait. As we waited, two more couples came in after us. The “large group” he mentioned turned out to be just four adults and a baby, so I felt a little misled. It gave me the impression that he was making excuses for us not to wait. I asked if he needed my name, and he said no. That made me uncomfortable because I worried he might forget us. Sure enough, while I was waiting inside, I saw him seat a couple who arrived after us. That was frustrating, especially when he placed them at a half-moon table that would have worked perfectly for us, given we were there first. As for the food: it was just okay. Nothing really stood out—the eggs seemed like a smaller portion, and the overall flavors were average. Service from the waitress was fine, but nothing special. The one highlight was the Brussels sprouts salad—that dish was amazing and definitely worth recommending!

This place is great! The staff are super friendly, cleanliness is definitely a priority here, and I didn’t wait more than 10 seconds after walking in the door to be greeted. My bartender was Nick, and he was training Sam. Sam was very helpful in getting me situated. Nick recommended the Southern Belle, a very tasty drink! The aromatics in this drink are phenomenal! I decided to munch on an appetizer before dinner, and went with the Salmon Chowder. Now I’m wishing I got a bowl instead of a cup but I didn’t want to spoil my dinner. I will be back for the New York Strip! The only reason I put 4 stars for atmosphere, is because they have an absolutely gorgeous coffee shop and no WiFi! Remedy that! lol.

Friendly staff, but the basics were missed Service was friendly but a bit uneven. Our server let us know she was in training—which is fair, and I’m glad they’re giving people a chance to learn. Still, I ordered an Americano and it came in the wrong kind of cup and without a saucer. There was no sugar or sweetener on the table either. We ordered three different breakfasts. The food was fine, just didn’t stand out for the kind of place this is or the prices they charge. Cell reception inside is very weak, and—surprisingly—there’s no Wi-Fi for guests. When I asked for a refill on my Americano, it arrived again without a saucer and was charged as a new coffee. Other similar spots in Ames have offered free refills, and even an extra to go. It’s hard to understand no Americano refills at a place that prices it well above average. Bottom line: good intentions, uneven execution. If they standardize the basics (cups/saucers and table setup), rethink the refill policy, add Wi-Fi, and tighten up service, the experience would improve a lot. For now, 3 stars. I don’t think I’ll be back; I’ll keep going to TC.

A good resturant in the ames area. They have pizza, burgers, steak and pasta dishes. Various cocktails if you want to indulge. Some good desert options if you have room after the leal.

Dined at Provisions Lot F on a Tuesday evening while on a business trip in Ames, IA. Even on a Tuesday evening the restaurant was bustling and busy which immediately told me we were in for a treat. Our group of 6 was seated in a booth towards the back of the restaurant which made us feel a bit better about being loud. For the table, we ordered the Deviled Eggs and Crispy Potatoes, both of which were really good. I was torn between a couple items but ultimately went with the Brussel Sprouts Caesar Salad with chicken for my main entrée. It was an elevated Caesar Salad that hit the spot especially because the chicken was tender and flavorful rather than bland grilled chicken which typically is added for Caesar salads. We had a vegetarian at the table and she found plenty of options to choose from and enjoyed the Quinoa Burger. Our server was attentive to our needs, drinks, and was friendly. I can see why Provisions is a poppin' place in Ames. Glad to have checked off another top hitter in good ol' Ames.

The food was generic and bland. The burrito was tiny for the price. The omelet tasted like it was meant for the twirling hot display at a nice convience store food display. They forgot our bread pudding until almost time for the check when the waitress asked if I needed anything else. I also was only offered 1 refill on my tiny coffee mug. Staff was not around to check in on us more frequently.

The food here is off the charts. I went today for lunch - my first time. I am a vegetarian who is picky about food in general. I had a soup/salad/bread combo. Everything was delicious. The tomato soup was great - the best I've ever had.. The roll was so very tasty with a perfect texture. I thought the whipped cottage cheese spread might be weird, but it was delicious. The salad was great. I give all 3 items an "exceptional" rating. I didn't intend to order dessert but the quality of the food made me want more. I had a salted caramel chocolate cake which was good. I love dessert but the cake was not exceptional, just good. The service was excellent, the restrooms great, and the ambiance perfect. I don't live in Iowa but I will be back to this excellent restaurant.

Made a trip to Ames to take my college student out for breakfast and hang out. He suggested we go to a chain restaurant and I suggested we could do better. And man did this place deliver. Both of us loved our food. Chia pudding bowl for me that was plentiful with an English muffin and he had french toast with apple crumble that was absolutely amazing! He was especially impressed with the orange juice and how fresh it was. I need to come visit him more often so we can try other menu items. Service was good and the atmosphere was trendy but comfortable. They also have a little coffee shop with baked goods that looked like a fun grab and go option.

Great vibes and service. The salmon and beet were delicious. Also enjoyed the bread and cocktails.

Slightly under seasoned (salt) in my opinion. Great service and food was cooked well.

Had an early dinner at PLF. started with udon salad, mushrooms and a very tasty red cabbage with red wine cherries and melted goat cheese- super tasty! We split the chicken sausage lasagne and it was spicy in a great way. Too full for dessert so we took the cannoli and pomegranate tart home for later. Excellent food, great server and super cocktails. Highly recommend!

I have lived locally for 4 years & always wanted to try this place. Last night my boyfriend & I went for dinner. The ambiance is romantic with soft lighting & some really cute sweetheart booth's. The cocktails; between the 2 of us we sampled almost all of the seasonal craft cocktails on the menu. My favorite was the Tequila, Mezcal with blackberry agave. The blackberry was sweet then the mezcal hit you right at the end of the sip. 5/5 my favorite drink, it's not easy to do Mezcal correctly. My boyfriend's favorite was Mrs. Smith cocktail with granny apple puree, served martini style. The bartender was amazing, I believe her name was Marley, Marlene? Sorry if I got that wrong. Food; Apps we ordered were Daily bread (with spreadable cheese) & pork belly (with pickled veggies) both VERY GOOD & presentation just as great! Main dishes; NY strip was cooked poorly, rare not medium rare. The meat itself was just not good quality. Chicken thighs; my complaint was that the sticky rice was absolutely flavorless & overall the dish could have used 3x as more of the soy based sauces. Dessert; I could come back to just have dessert. IT WAS THAT GOOD! We had the Rhubarb pie with homemade strawberry ice cream & the chocolate Salted caramel cake. Our server (who was awesome) said that the salted caramel cake never gets cut from the dessert menu for any season because it is so loved. Very moist, the caramel was inside the cake, just so luscious. I have only ever had Rhubarb once, I ADORED this dessert. It was tart & sweet, crust was nice and flaky.

It's often a challenge to pick a restaurant for Dad and I to go out to when I'm in Ames. His current favorite breakfast places are Flip'N Jacks (in the old Happy Chef and El Azteca Building), Grove Cafe, and Perkins. For our most recent breakfast (before I headed off to Iowa City), I chose Provisions Lot F, as I wanted something new, and I hadn't been there for a while and only previously for dinner. CONS - None =/- - Although my breakfast sandwich was very good, I would have preferred a toasted and harder bread versus the softer brioche bun. I also very much appreciated the added fruit on the side. PROS 1. The place was busy when we arrived, but we were quickly seated at a nice table. A booth would have been better, but that's the luck of the draw. 2. Front desk and table service was fast, friendly, and attentive. Our food orders came back in good time. 3. Dad's choice of the Provisions Breakfast was excellent, albeit a little too much food, particularly potatoes. 4. Excellent coffee and fresh squeezed orange juice. 5. Before leaving, I stopped at the coffee shop part of Provisions and took away a very nice scone for a next morning snack. Provisions and its sister restaurant (the Cafe) do their baked good particularly well.

We tried this new spot to us in ames. Everything was impeccable! The apps, drinks and food. We had excellent service , and the ambiance and vibe was fun, and relaxed. If you are a foodie you've got to try this place. We had split the provisions burger and salad because we couldn't choose! Both were amazing- and would recommend again! We'll definitely be back to this spot!

This is one of my favorite lunch spots in Ames. Upscale ambiance and menu. Food is delicious. Everything we have tried has been awesome. Service is great.

I like that I was able to add myself to the wait list via mobile (12 parties ahead of us). We timed our arrival so that we only had to wait 5 minutes until our table was ready. It would have been a half hour wait otherwise. Server was friendly and checked up on us regularly. Food took a while to arrive. Omelet was very salty, removed all the cheese so it was edible, the included potatoes were burnt and I asked for it to be replaced. Server was very gracious about it. The burger was delicious and the flourless cake was a good ending to our meal.

Not the place to eat. Service is slow and menu is overpriced. Management needs work. Staff seems less than happy to be working there front and back of house. But they have a bakery a coffee shop and sit down dinning. To much going on... menu seems thrown together whenever it changes. Been multiple times never impressed.

I'm visiting IA from Detroit area and was told Provisions was exceptional. It didn't disappoint. I love a gin cocktail and love a Granny Smith apple. The Ms. Smith is as a well balanced cocktail and the perfect start. I had their Caesar salad with shaved fried brussel sprouts, dried cherries and candied almonds. Not terrible (that's an understatement!). The ambiance is comfortable and classy but relaxed. There's no sense of rush and that was awesome. For my main I had the Ham and Fig pizza. Wood fired and deceptively well cooked. It looked underdone but was crispy to the center. A balsamic drizzle would've set it off but no complaints here. The meal closed with the rhubarb galette and it was delicious. Topped with house made strawberry ice cream. Every bite and sip of the meal was perfect. My favorite part was the service. My server, Abby, interacting with her other table next to me encouraged them to take their time, not rush and enjoy one another. It's an appreciated difference for the rush of many restaurants. This was an easy 5 stars.

This place has a lot of promise with their rotating seasonal menu...have always and always will love this concept. I started with the small portion of brussel sprout Caesar. Has a combo of roasted leaves of brussels, Along with raw shredded sprouts, tossed along with romaine in a Caesar vinaigrette. At least it didn't taste like a traditional Caesar dressing, but delish in its own right. It was a great starter. My main was dubbed "pork porterhouse". While technically correct, it's effectively a thick cut center chop. This is where some of the stars come off. It was tasty, the sides (especially beet salad) were really nicely done. But the pork, which I ordered medium, was overcooked and dry. It was very much a medium well, almost well done. The only touch of pink I saw was right at the bone. I stole some of my friend's country fries he got with his burger. They are addictive! Perfectly crispy on the outside while tender and fluffy inside. The service was fantastic though. Loved our waitress to death, so friendly, smiles for miles, super fast and efficient.

My family and I visited Provisions Lot F after a neighbor (we live in Illinois) recommended it to us. Honestly, I am glad they told us about it. First it is a beautiful prairie style restaurant with an upscale casual vibe. What does that mean? Well, that means it is a beautiful restaurant, with modern amenities which are inviting and approachable for everyone. It is good for date nights and for families, alike. After all, who doesn't appreciate modern, comfortable aesthetics. Let's start with the service. We were cheerfully greeted by a lovely hostess and even though there was a short wait, which we didn't mind, we were well treated by our gregarious bar tender who created an amazing cocktails (both adult style and kid friendly) for our family. We were also greeted by management who went out of his way to make sure our experience was exceptional. When we were seated our server was attentive and very knowledgeable about the menu. She was able to steer us toward entrees which were all wonderfully prepared, beautiful and most of all, delicious! The food was so good that we came back to try their breakfast items the very next day. Which, I will say, were just as delicious as our dinner entrees. When our server asked which meals we enjoyed more, we all agreed neither: because both meals were exceptionally good!! For all of these reasons and a few more: Provisions Lot F has become our go to restaurant for our family when we visit Ames! My only regret is that I didn't take pics of the restaurant and food, but next time I will.

I used to live in Ames and by far and away provisions was my favorite restaurant in the area, they do a special every weekend so if you don't follow their instagram you should! Every special I've tried has been great and it became a fun weekend tradition. I still make the drive every once in a while just to have provisions, great restaurant!

Waitstaff was on point! Abby was attentive and friendly! we started with an order of chips and garlic truffle aïoli. That aïoli I could've eaten with a spoon. Our entrées were a Brussel sprout Caesar salad with chicken and the pork belly jasmine rice. Both were amazing very tasty and are both do overs. There was so much to eat that we had to take dessert home. We selected a rhubarb Galette and it looks amazing!

We don't get here very often, but it never disappoints. The food is incredible & their pastries are so decadent. It's a great, upscale option for Ames.

We absolutely will be back in when we visit our son at ISU! Great service, cocktails, food, atmosphere. We went twice in 1 weekend! We had the steak, burger, and poke bowl! All were amazing. Went back Sunday for bloody and breakfast. Also great!

Enjoyed the brunch on this Sunday morning, that consisted of the following; salmon omelette and apple cinnamon french toast.

Visited Ames for work and ended up eating here 4 times. We had breakfast twice, lunch and dinner. Going this many times was not our intention; our company brought food in from them after we had already gone there for dinner the first night. All the meals were superb. Great pastries too. The restaurant is nice and inviting. We even met one of the owners who was very friendly.

Went for an early dinner with my family. We enjoyed the location and the food was good too. Service was a little slow, but we enjoyed still!

This is a definite recommendation, as I liked this place so much while on business in Ames that I am here for both breakfast and dinner. Slightly off the normal path, located in Ames' southern section, Provisions Lot F has great parking, well-spaced out tables, and a terrific atmosphere. Breakfast was outstanding, and I could eat there every day. Good-sized portions and tasty options abound. My server, Bailey was darn good. A pair of dinner stops exceeded expectations. Servers Mallory and Eden were excellent, both possessing plus skills and awareness of their menu. Loved the Provisions Burger, but the Sweet Corn Risotto dish (recommended by Eden) was among the best meals that I have experienced recently. Incredible and adding salmon made it even better, I'm coming back, no doubt.

Highly recommend coming and trying the food. The food is unique, good portions, and absolutely delicious. The bread was crunchy and soft with a nice spread. The weekend special pasta was light and delicious. The pork tenderloin was smokey with a nice crust. I really enjoyed the shishito gritz that was paired. The dill pickle pizza also was unique and good. Plenty of parking and the atmosphere is very nice.

Amazing service! I was seated right away upon arrival. The wait staff was extremely attentive. The food came out very fast after ordering. Great atmosphere. It has an upscale feel yet is also family friendly as well. Food was good. Nice presentation. A nice variety of options on the menu.

Thank you Yelpsters!!! We would have never found this place on our own. It is tucked back in an office park environment and not seen from major thoroughfares. It is a beautifully appointed venue and the food was yummy! I was disappointed in how strong the Caesar dressing was on the Brussels salad, but I realize it is a matter of taste. They quickly replaced with a delicious house salad. My sweetie raved about his crab soup and smoked whitefish sandwich.

Food was amazing! Definitely get the hot chocolate, and the creme brûlée's were very good, you could even see the vanilla bean specs! The waitress was also very nice and super helpful, and the atmosphere was great for brunch. Definitely worth a visit.

Everything was fabulous great food and nice atmosphere, the waitress was very nice. Highly recommended

Went for brunch on Sunday. Son, daughter in law, wife, and I. Had the omelet, quiche, and Provisions breakfast. Son had the salad with salmon. All food was excellent and Reagan was wonderful for us 1st timers. Explained menu and made great recommendations. Son enjoyed the iced coffee experience. Table was in corner and perfect size for 4. Plenty of room on table for food and drinks. Will return next time in Ames.

You'll be happier if you choose not to eat here. The setting will make you expect it's going to be real good. Menu is uninspired. Food average. Service is below average. Disappointing place.

Amazing service! Beautiful ambiance! Simple menu but elegantly and beautifully prepared. Can't wait to go back for another meal!

I have a sever allergy to dairy and this place totally accommodated me, even coming to tell me the original bread with my lunch had dairy and they suggested an alternative. Thank you! Great food!

We've been to Provisions a handful of times since moving to Ames last summer and it has quickly become our favorite restaurant in Ames for not only the quality of food but also the service. Our servers have always been wonderful and helpful when we need recommendations. What I love most about Provisions is that their menu rotates seasonally so there's always something new to try with a few permanent menu staples to return to as well. The drinks are also quite good and they are known for their desserts. Be sure to give them a visit, or a re-visit!

One of my favorite places in Ames. We started off with the bread, soft on the inside and crunchy on the out. We wanted to try something new and decided on the dill pickle pizza. Wow, a must try! Pasta was also full of flavor. Many dessert option as well. A few other things to note: -Gluten free dessert options -Vegan/vegetarian friendly

Ordered their pulled pork sandwich based on server's recommendation. It was a lot of food but I was a bit surprised there was no sauce. This made the pulled pork a bit dry and the only flavor was salt combined with some pickles. Usually it would come with some variety of barbecue sauce. Other menu items might be good but I recommend to avoid this one

Provisions used to be a go to for date nights when we lived in Ames. The food is always great and they always have a good selection. Provisions always has their classics on the menu, but they also rotate the menu based on the season which keeps it fresh and interesting. The atmosphere of the restaurant is very nice as well which always helps. You cannot make a reservation in advance but they do have a wait list online so you can put your name on the list in advance/check how many groups are in front of you. Anytime we are back in Ames we try and have a meal here!

The ambiance was great. Staff were friendly. Very limited menu for lunch. Had the chicken sandwich, which was tough and pink at the same time, so I didn't finish it. Might return for breakfast.

It was just ok this time. Went back for the French toast and it wasn't on the menu.

We heard this place was good. So we had lunch there as a family but the food was terrible SO SO SALTY!!! And the service is about average as well. Ambiance is good, family friendly. We will definitely not go back to this place.

Restaurant with a cafe/coffee shop attached, which was great as the coffee menu was also available at the restaurant. I got the Brussel sprout Caesar salad with salmon. Salmon was well cooked and delicious. I got the entree salad, which appeared to be bottomless. The more I ate, the more there was. The one thing I didn't appreciate were the dried cherries in the salad. The sweetness from the cherries and the creamy Caesar didn't mix well from me. Seemed like a fantastic date spot though!

Amazing food and staff! The restaurant regularly changes their menu for the more in season food items, therefore, there is always something new! Everything I ordered was delicious! We got the house bread which was $6 (generally I thought bread was free) but it was worth the $6. The spread that came with the bread was light and creamy. The bread itself was soft on the inside and had a good crust. If you go on a weekend (Friday night to Sunday), I high recommend the weekend special which is a pasta with goat cheese. The pasta was cooked perfectly! What surprised me the most was the dill pickle pizza! It was surprisingly delicious! I was hesitant at first but the flavors blend well together. It was unique for sure but a must if you like trying new things. The staff members were very nice and made sure we were taken care of.

Wonderful dinner. Inventive, fresh and flavorful entrees, fresh salads and vegetables. Wonderful service though it looked like they were somewhat understaffed. We will go back and refer others!

We arrived in Ames five days ago for a national yoga championship and we were fortunate to try Provisions Lot F for our first meal. We returned to this amazing restaurant for every meal - the food is that great - whether it was their shrimp scampi, the delicious blueberry scones at theircafor their juicy hamburgers, everything here was a five star! Equally important is service and professionalism. We have visited 44 states and 26 foreign countries. Without question, Provisions Lot F has the kindest, most professional, competent staff we have ever experienced anywhere. The restaurant is spotless. This is a testimonial to ownership and management, who sets such a positive tone to their employed and to their customers as well. If we return to Ames in the future, Provisions Lot F is the first place we visit after check-in. Thank you Provisions Lot F staff for making our dining experience so memorable.

We had a very nice brunch here on July 4th! How we got here was really interesting. On our first night in Des Moines, we were walking around Pappajohn Sculpture Garden and I started talking to a couple sitting on a bench while Eric R. took pictures of a bachelorette party of girls wearing red, white, and blue wigs with matching dresses. While we watched amusingly, I told them it was our first day in DM. I find out the husband works in Ames and is a cyclist, so I called Eric R. over. Eric R. was thinking about riding his bike to Ames, so they talked about routes. He suggested we eat at Provisions Lot F for brunch. On July 4th, Eric R. called the restaurant to make sure it was open. He and I departed the hotel at the same time, him to ride ~3 hours to Ames, and me to walk along the river. I told him I would meet him at the restaurant at 1 PM. I parked at the restaurant at 1 and there was a sweaty cyclist approaching me. I joined the waitlist while sitting in the car and soon we got a text that our table was ready, much more quickly than anticipated. While Eric. R toweled off and changed in the car, I went to claim our spot. The tables available were high tops with no back support, so I switched to the bar with chair backs. The bartender was super friendly and told us all about the restaurant, which is part of a local group of three restaurants. Eric R. started with a spicy bloody mary. He was impressed with its potency. He ordered the bread pudding French toast and, in a weird moment of...strangeness, a side of sauteed shrimp (since he decided not to get shrimp and grits). I ordered the chicken and waffles with raspberry chipotle maple syrup. When the food came out, wow, the portions were huge! My waffle was a liege (Belgian) waffle, which made it really fun, but it was served room temperature and I think it would be better warm. The chicken though was massive and very hot and juicy. Eric R. loved both of his dishes. We chatted with the bartender throughout, and she recommended that we visit Reiman Gardens, so we went there after lunch and it was fabulous. I highly recommend a visit to Provisions Lot F!

A beautiful restaurant! Three of us went for breakfast yesterday. The setting is very attractive and the staff is great. They seem genuinely happy and it shows in their service. The food is very good. The coffee, very important for me in a restaurant that serves breakfast, is outstanding! I evidently talked about it enough during our meal that my wife bought me a bag of coffee on our way out! We'll definitely be back on our nexr family visit to Ames.

The food was quite good, service was ok considering it was not busy at all. Restaurant managers need to teach servers to take diners dirty dishes when they are done eating. Don't bring my check, return with credit card slip to sign and still leave all the dinner dishes on the table!

Service was exceptional. Atmosphere was pleasant. Hubby had the Italian Sandwich and the peach crisp. Both 4 star for flavor. I had the Brussel sprout salad with salmon, saffron vege soup and the chocolate Pot de Creme. The salmon was 5 star. The salad was too "raw" for lack of another word. The soup was too rich and sweet. I took it home to modify it. Had the chips and blue cheese olive dip. Could not taste the olives or blue cheese. Still this is the best restaurant in IA.

great ambience great food desserts die for service is usually good have had a few bad actrs