Olde Main Brewing Company & Restaurant

The salmon po’ boy was excellent as were the fries that came on the side. The person I was dining with had the soup of the day, which was a gazpacho and he said it was excellent.
We each did a beer sampler and at $ 6 this was a great deal. The beers I found were generally decent, some better than others but that’s all personal taste.
I would definitely return.

Bartender was super friendly and that was about all that I can boast about. The house brewed amber ale was average and the highlight of my steak dinner was the green beans… What’s that tell you about the food?

We has some great burgers and I like the look of the place. It was very busy and hustle and bustle that I normally choose not to have. Our service wasn’t the best in town but our drinks were always full. I don’t have much to complain about.

This was my first trip to Old Main and it was just okay. The atmosphere is very nice and the service was fantastic. The beer and the food are what make this place just okay. I had a burger and fries (exciting, I know) and the burger really didn’t have a lot of flavor. The fries were fine they’re a natural cut style. My friend had the meatloaf which she didn’t like. She thought it was too salty and she only ate half of it. We both had a beer which I think was called the longface stout. It really wasn’t that good.
I’d go to other restaurants first but I’d be okay with coming back here.

The staff keeps me coming back. Good people. Beer meh? But foods alright, I like soups and appetizers mostly.

I went to the Old Main Brewing Company last night, and had a pleasant experience. The atmosphere was very cool with lots of old wood and huge beams going across the ceiling. The place is a bit of a maze, if you don’t know where you’re going which adds to an incredible sense of privacy throughout the dining room. There are balconies, there is a lower level and there’s a separate Pub area. Considering how busy the pub was, we opted to sit in the dining room even though we were looking to just get drinks and perhaps a snack or dessert.
We we’re immediately greeted with a server with complimentary mozzarella sticks, that another table had received by mistake. The mozzarella sticks were tasty and gooey with lots marinara, & a crunchy outer coating which is always yummy if you’re looking for that sort of thing. Our server was very pleasant and checked in on us often in spite of the fact that we were not big orderers. He was very pleasant and had a nice attitude.
I was intrigued by the vodka cherry limeade on the drink menu so I ordered a cocktail which is rather unusual for me. As someone who is not often a drinker, I felt the drink was very heavy on the alcohol and very light on the flavorings. I did not taste much of the cherry nor the limeade which was rather disappointing. I also decided to order dessert because I saw carrot cake on the menu. I love carrot cake. Did not live up to expectations. The cream cheese frosting was very tasty and not overly sweet, and the candied walnuts on top were definitely a nice touch. However the cake itself was very dense and very, very dry. I would guess that it had been refrigerated or frozen and this had sucked all the moisture out of the cake which was very disappointing.
I had a nice visit with my friends in part because of the great atmosphere and the service & appetizer were good, so I would definitely give it another chance for dinner and try some other things on the menu, and skip dessert.

Smoke cheddar dip is out of this world .so recommend! Also had the chicken blt with pretzel bun sandwich, the chicken was excellent. Needs some work on their beer though.
With this new menu … will be on our radar more often.

Tuesday pitcher night and Wednesday pint night keeps me coming back. The food isn’t all that wonderful, but the appetizers are great (I almost can’t finish my nachos without the help of my friends on an empty stomach).
As far as beer, there are seasonals (raspberry ale was decent but not my favorite), and the reindeer fuel will be coming up here soon which is great.
I like drinking darker beers with less hops, but the stout was honestly so terrible. Stick with the Scottish or Long face if you are like me. The Dinky wheat is decent too if you like a lighter beer.

The food has gotten better over time, but I’d say it’s still just your average dining experience. The beers are okay, better than Coors or Miller, but nothing amazing. It’s a good atmosphere for big groups. It’ll certainly meet your needs if you aren’t feeling too picky. Way better than a chain place like Applebee’s, but I would love to see them work to exceed the plateau they’ve been on for many years.

We will go back. My husband, two children (4 and 11) and myself sat in the lounge side of restaurant. The bartender was our server and she was bubbly and cute, happy to serve us. We tried the beer sampler which was fun and the Bloody Mary=awesome. Food was fantastic. We all had cheeseburgers. Perfect setting for a bar/​lounge/​brewery/​restaurant. Our children enjoyed the experience as well.

Old Maine is a superb spot to bring friends for beers and food. Not only is the service above par, but the food and beverages are excellent. I am a beer lover and I and my friends and family make this spot our Wednesday chill-​out with the $ 1 pints. Iowa brews are unique in taste compared to Minnesota and Colorado and should be appreciated in that way. You will love the warmth that Olde Maine offers as well as the small town feel. Support local!

Beers are good & different But definitely not worth for food. They charge more with tiny portions & the food doesn’t taste good. Been there couple of times for drinks & both the times I thought Y did I order food.

I enjoyed the beer, I had Sodbuster Stout and then finished with a Dinkey Wheat. I enjoyed both. My guest had a mixed drink of Jaeger and root beer called a monkey bomb that was delicious. She also had a nice vegan dish with hummus that she enjoyed. I had the pork tenderloin that was good. Additionally I can say great Happy Hour Specials as well as good service!

A must visit while in Ames, not for the food but for the beer. The House Brew Sampler for $ 8 is a bargain. Good appetizer but main course? I would always skip. Never had their dessert, who would go to a beer house to eat dessert anyway?! Service is appropriate.

Atmosphere lively and up beat. The soldbuster stout. was great.

Lots of great deals here. The sandwich and fries are great. The wings are okay. A little heavy on the breading.

Awful, just awful beers. Everything about this place can be summed up in one word – meh. If it burned to the ground, I don’t think it would be missed.

On my way through Ames, I stopped in at Olde Main for a burger. I chose Olde Main to try a local beer, hoping that they do actually brew. I drank a Sodbuster Stout. It was OK, but I felt it lacked the depth and full flavors that good craft stouts can have. Nevertheless, it was better than Guinness.
I had a Classic Burger and some O-​rings. The food was kind of on a par with the beer, OK, not special. Service was also of that caliber, just a little inattentive and they were not busy. I had to ask for some things twice. I had hoped for a better seasoned and prepared burger in Iowa. I guess I would try the place once more, but it was a little underwhelming. This is a weak three stars. Not bad just on the edge of OK.

First time in here, or most anywhere else in town. Fab good food items here. Am having the Bread Pudding dessert first and is quite good, but not the best I have eaten… but real good, and then a burger and handcut fries. Rootbeer is great, which is made here also. Same for the beers. I did not sample any drink except the rootbeer. Perfect service with Tim to assist. Thanks folks. Well done. I hope to return another time.

Love the 1 dollar beer nights, when I used to live in Ames. Although I’m not a huge fan of the beer they make in general it has gotten way better over the years. And the root beer is really great! I have had some 4 star experiences here and I have had some 2 star experiences here as well. Mostly due to the servers not being
A. Nice
B. Well versed in the menu
C. Not trying to accommodate a vegan eater.
They do have a really good Portabello burger that is vegan without the cheese, I would get that if you are looking for a Vegan option.
The brunch on Sundays is pretty fun, but a little over priced for what you get.
I used to go here quite a lot to watch sports events in the bar they do have NFL ticket and MLB Package so it a good spot to get a bite to eat and have some drinks!