Ankeny Diner

We've never had a bad meal there. I go for the tenderloins. There's no place better. It's a diner, so don't expect fancy, but the service is good and friendly. The restaurant seems clean.

Worst carry out experience today. The prices increase (about 30%) from the menus price when you add it to your cart. Not that big of deal so we still ordered. After we picked up our food we had to walk back into the restaurant for our silverware. When we arrived home we realized they also forgot our cinnamon roll. It’s too far to go back so our loss Andy their $4 gain. The worst part of the meal was the dry toast, perhaps a cost savings policy not to give jelly? Could have dealt with one or two issues but seams the service is so bad I’ll pass on going again. Too many other great locally owned restaurants in the metro to spend money at a company that’s doesn’t care. If you do order takeout make sure to review your order before leaving and ask for anything needed to enjoy your meal that every other dinner in the metro provides.

With party of 6 for dinner. Large menu features comfort foods. Go here for tastey food and not the atmosphere.

Large portions for breakfast.
Awesome Bloody Mary's
By far best place to go for a good large breakfast meal in Ankeny.

A classic diner. The waiting area is pretty small & cramped but the food more than makes up for it. The breakfast was really good, the service was alright the day we were there although our waitress could have stopped to check on us a little bit more, & the atmosphere of the restaurant is what you would expect an old school type of diner to be. Definitely a good place to eat in Ankeny

Good standard breakfast. My chicken fried steak and eggs was very tasty. Friendly waitresses and attentive service.

What a diamond in the rough. We were on vacation and recommended this place. What a great experience, service, staff and especially the food!

Super long waits, even with plenty of empty booths. Food is standard, it isn’t worth the wait. I definitely wouldn’t come again with small children, if at all.

The pork tenderloin was great! I really enjoyed my shake as well. Quality food and good service!

Food was really good had bisquit sandwich and wife had a croissant sandwich wr split french toast enjoyed our food very much. Waitress was very attentive definitly go back

I was served by Mike and let me tell you best service ever. Offered to pay for our meal after waiting a bit but I couldn't let him do that it wasn't that long and he was to great. I loved the food, coffee never got to the 1/2 way mark before he refilled it.just all around great place to be at. Will definitely visit again.

Our family has been regulars at Ankeny Diner for well over a decade. I never thought I’d be leaving a review like this, but the food and service has been on a sharp decline over the last year. Our latest trip to the Diner will probably be our last.

We went in on Friday night and there was no waiting (anyone who lives in Ankeny knows how packed the restaurants are). We were seated by the hostess right away. The waitress arrived to take our drink orders. She returned with drinks and began taking our dinner order. They were out of the first three items I tried to order. We finally placed our orders along with salads and an appetizer. We watched as tables seated after us were served while we still hadn’t received our apps or salads. Our waitress had disappeared after taking our order. Thirty minutes later she came out with three of the four entrees- no appetizer, salads our sauces we ordered with our meals. The food that made it to our table was cold, burgers were way over cooked and the onion rings we subbed in for fries were cold and soggy.
The fourth entree came out 10 minutes later and we asked, for the 3rd time for the ranch dressing. Our waitress disappeared after dropping off the ranch cups.
As we were leaving, I took a glimpse at the bar area and saw our waitress and the hostess taking selfies.
It is so sad to see this once great diner take such a nose dive.

Got them on the phone after 3 days to ask if i could place a pickup order, was told yes. Called later to place an order and was told i couldnt pick anything up. Place doesnt want to do business i guess

The restaurant was utterly disgusting, the manager didn’t even know the specials they had that day and told me to look it up instead of figuring it out.the carpets were so stained and the restaurant is so dark.the food i got was cold after being told to wait for 15 mins and ended up waiting 30 mins, as well as the toast i got was cold like it got out of a fridge and was soggy.

Had to get a pork tenderloin while in Iowa. This diner did not disappoint! Fresh hot tenderloin sandwich & delicious crinkle fries. Terrific waitress. Great service.

Very nice place to eat, right off the highway. The sign is tough to see but it's attached to the hotel. Otherwise, great food and very nice servers and atmosphere.

Heading back to Minnesota and wanted a Tenderloin so bad, stopped here and it was the worst food I have ever gotten. So disappointed in the food. Next time in Iowa would never come back to this place. 4 of us and we left most of the food on the plate….

I had a wonderful day date with the Mrs today. The special today was Two big burgers, fries and a cola. MY GOOD LAWD that was good. I had to get back to work or else i would have bellied up to the sunken bar and told some lies and forgot my name. I still hold the record at the diner with seven long islands in an hour. I had to uber unfortunately because the wife had had enough.

Honestly really bad. The reviews really talked this place up, we came down from ames and got a steak requested medium rare cooked well done. Pancakes and French toast burnt. Honestly just really disappointed, icing on the cake we waited 30 minutes to get our drink order taken after being sat down.

All in all don't recommend doesn't seem like the staff cares.

Love the rarebit burger and onion rings. Go hungry, I bring half home. Service is always great. Tenderloin is hugh, but so good as well. Never had a bad meal there.