The student newspaper of, by, and for Ames High School.

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The student newspaper of, by, and for Ames High School.

The WEB

The student newspaper of, by, and for Ames High School.

The WEB

Hungry? Let’s go to Gilbo!

Located on the Gilbert Corner next to a Casey’s, the premises of Suburban Restaurant appear to be cheap. However, it is nothing like the rowdy, busy, and fast-paced Hickory Park that some might imagine. If you haven’t got a cozy grandma’s house like me, this might be the place to check out. With Elton John in the background, my meal began with a basket of wheat bread and dainty little cupcakes. This gesture is significant: it shows the owners care enough to grant their customer complementary bread, because, who doesn’t love bread? In a quiet corner, I wasn’t rushed into ordering from the lengthy menu. It’s as if all the possible suppers were pleading me, “Eat me! No, eat me!” I chose to go with Suburban’s award winning breaded pork tenderloin. To emphasize on the family-friendliness and homemade cooking of this restaurant, I will rave on about how it made me feel at home. Being the Ukrainian lover of potatoes that I am, I was well pleased with the way they were cooked: served in aluminum foil, fluffy and burning hot. Hash browns were lightly sizzled and sprinkled with spices. Leaving with no room for dessert only gave me the desire to come back for a full pie! In the heart of Gilby lies another restaurant known as Open Flame Lounge and Steak House. I know what one might think: “Wait, there’s more than one restaurant in Gilbert?” Yes, and they’re quite tasty too. With a much different atmosphere than Suburban, Open Flame offers a ‘grill your own meat’ option. Also a bar, it may not be considered as homey as Suburban. However, the dimly lit, smoky and well-decorated interior brings forth a chill atmosphere, even if it is a little hectic. Regardless, the quality of the meat makes up for all other weaknesses Open Flame may be criticized for. Not being a meat lover, my outlook was completely turned around after grilling my own beef kabobs. Properly marinated with onions and green peppers, the entrée included a tossed salad with an infinite selection of dressings and toppings, baked potatoes and grilled garlic bread. I was able to enjoy my first course while the kabobs were still cooking without any rush to get in and get out. As the supper lasted almost two hours, my relaxation and fondness for the evening made it more than just a meal, but also a perfect time to bond with those surrounding me. The Open Flame experience tends to remind one of joyous childhood memories, when the whole family would gather round a blanketed picnic while dad cooked the meat. As soon as I took my first bite, such memories resurfaced. Although the Suburban Restaurant is a cozy little nook, it is somewhat boring, while Open Flame is more exciting, unique, and happening. Also, I wasn’t too keen of all the breaded and deep fried dishes that Suburban seemed to offer. For the same amount of money, a night at Open Flame offers higher quality food as well as an entertaining evening.

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