Great Plains Sauce and Dough Company is an Ames staple. For a college student to spend four years getting a degree in Ames and not try the Great Plains restaurant would be a travesty.

The restaurant has been serving up fresh dough since 1979, and in 2020, they won Best of Story County from the Ames Tribune.

Great Plains is open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Ambiance

When you walk in, it’s immediately apparent this is a homey, local, family-owned restaurant.

The room is filled with wooden booths and walls, adorned with decorations to make the space feel lived-in, casual and fun.

Menu and service

]The menu consists mostly of pizza, with a couple of sides, sandwiches and dessert options. Everything but the pizza is surprisingly low-cost, perfect for college students on a budget. You will find almost anything you could want on a pizza, along with six different types of crusts. 

Service is quick. You order at the counter and listen for your number to be called.

Dishes

I wanted the full Great Plains experience, so I tried a bit of everything.

First off, Great Plains knows what’s up when it comes to soda: crisp pebble ice, giant glasses and free refills.

I started with a side salad, which came out first. It was a simple lettuce salad with lots of croutons. Basic, but delicious.

Second to come out was garlic cheese bread. This was made with their fresh homemade dough. It was light on the garlic and heavy on the cheese, enough for a nice cheese pull. It came with a side of marinara. The bread arrived fresh and hot, soft on the inside and light and crisp on the outside — the perfect way to continue my dinner.

For the pizza, I ordered pepperoni and Canadian bacon with a New Orleans-style crust. The sauce-to-pizza ratio was perfect. I prefer a lighter sauce. The pizza was cheesy and so fresh that the toppings were sliding off. The crust was soft and doughy with plenty to go around.

Then I tried the Saskatoon sandwich. It was toasted with ham and pineapple tidbits. It didn’t stand out to me, although if you are a pineapple on pizza fan, this is the sandwich for you.

If I go back, I will stick to the pizza. 

Dessert

Now to the best part of the meal, the cinnamon stick: although not the best presentation, it was the best dessert. 

Even as I placed my order, the waiter was excited for me to try it. It consisted of gooey cinnamon frosting on the inside, perfect sweetness and doughy goodness. It wasn’t crispy nor flaky, but I think that is perfect. 

The homemade pizza crust just pushed it over the edge.

9/10 Spatulas!