Driving on I-35,we sidetracked to Ames for the men's and women's ISU March games. Both teams won. Ate at the Mucky Duck Pub. Wife and I have eaten in lots of pubs around Ireland and Scotland, and this one is a noble competitor. She had...a German sausage plate with very good weisswurst and bratwurst, mashed potatoes with brown gravy, red kraut and sauerkraut. I had the chicken tikka masala, spicy with rice, Scotch egg, and Magners Irish cider. Tasty, worthy representation of pub fare in Ireland. We both ordered sticky toffee pudding for dessert. The sponge cake and caramel sauce were excellent, perfect taste and texture, with vanilla ice cream. Red and sauerkrauts as good as anything in Wisconsin, and sausages were equally good. All in all, well worth our detour, even if the Cyclones men beat the Badgers.More

I was in Ames on personal business and since my wife was along for the trip, we wanted to find a nice casual place to get a bite to eat. I eat at enough chain restaurants on business trips so we wanted to find a...good local place. I looked online and found a number of references to the Mucky Duck as a really good, authentic English style pub that's owned by an Englishman and done right. We decided to give it a try. It's located only a few minutes south of the highway, so it's convenient to hotel row. When we drove up we had one of those "should we go in" moments because the parking lot was a little rough and the building itself is a bit rustic-looking. But don't let that deter you. Inside it's very homey and welcoming - and clean. Surprisingly so, based on a number of "pubs" that I've seen. The service was very polite and friendly, the music good but not so loud you can't have a conversation, and the patrons seemed to be regulars. The beer selection offers plenty of variety, there were about 18 draft beers and something like 50 in bottles from the U.K. and elsewhere. If you can't find something you like the problem is with you, not the Mucky Duck. They have a typical selection of all the usual British pub food: Scotch Egg, bangers & mash, shepherd's pie, pasty, steak and Guinness pie, and of course fish and chips. Plus they also have a couple of curries, Vindaloo and Tikka Masala. We we were there for the fish and chips but first we tried a few pints and some appetizers. I tried the Morland Old Speckled Hen Strong Bitter and my wife went with the London Pride English Bitter. The London Pride was medium-bodied, mellow and smooth while the Speckled Hen was a little lighter with more hop taste. Both were very enjoyable. We tried the Tobasco Fried Pickles and Sausage Rolls. The pickles have a little zing but not what I'd call hot, so don't let the Tobasco scare you off. I really liked the sausage rolls; the sausage had a full savory character and the pastry was puffy and crisp. You can get either hot mustard or Branson pickle, which is a very dark sort of a relish. I tried the pickle, which wasn't bad but I think maybe it's an acquired taste. If I ever go back I'll go with the mustard. On to the fish and chips. Terrific; just as it should be done. The batter was light and crispy and had a nice flavor but it didn't mask the flavor of the fish. Didn't get all soggy when the vinegar hits it. Most enjoyable. They have regular, medium and large; we went with medium because of the appetizers which was enough food but next time I'll go large and if there's chips left over so be it. I tried the Ruthie lager with my fish and it worked very well, just light and crisp enough to complement the flavors without being too strong. I heartily recommend the Mucky Duck to anyone who enjoys the English Pub thing or if you're just looking for a comfortable place to grab a good meal and some great suds. I would also recommend getting there a little early because there are only about ten tables in addition to the usual bar seating. One final note - they offer a gluten-free batter for the fish, but point out that the kitchen does not have a dedicated g-f cooking line/fryer so they can't absolutely guarantee 100% gluten free but at least they make the attempt.More

Great British menu with German and American also. Had a great cornish pasty. If all their teas are as good as the iced tea, they will all be amazing. This is now my favorite restaurant in Ames.

We went with the fish & chips (although the shepherd's pie was also calling my name)! Not disappointed at all! Fish was crispy and some of the best tartar sauce I have ever had.

We came here on the recommendation of some friends who compared it to a British Pub. We had fish & chips, which is one of the best comparisons to make. Having lived in England for 20 years we are spoiled and were disappointed. Ambience is...ok but feels forced.More

This is a small place with table seating only. There is one bathroom for both sexes and it is way too close to the diners. Staff was friendly and prompt. I got the vegetable curry. I asked if it was spicy and I was told...it was not. Well, it was very spicy. The other three people loved their meals. Mine was too spicy to finish. The adult drink selection was outstanding. Nice variety of beers. Outdoor seating is also available. The servers all wore masks which I appreciated.More

We enjoyed the food and simplicity of the restaurant. More like a cafe from yesteryear. Nothing fancy...just good food!

The Mucky Duck Pub is a small gathering place. Beer selections are numerous. Food was very good. My order came mixed up, but it was corrected. Fun Place!!

Good food. Would recommend the fish & chips (wish I would’ve opted for extra crispy as mine fell apart rather easy). First time trying haggis and was pleasantly surprised.

This cozy British Pub features authentic food and wonderful English Ales. I highly recommend getting there early to get a good seat. They regularly host outdoor local musicians during the summer and the patio is a relaxing way to spend a summer night or afternoon....The food is tasty and prices are reasonable.More

We always love the atmosphere and the food at the Mucky Duck but we were really excited to have been able to reserve for the traditional English dinner. We had spent a few months in England this year and were looking forward to find some...of that spirit in Ames. The event didn't disappoint! From the carol singing around the fire to get us into the spirit, to the delicious (and abundant!) dinner, Christmas crackers and jolly atmosphere, the evening was a delight. I had the nut roast (vegetarian) version and my family the traditional turkey. Both were excellent! The Mucky Duck is one of those well hidden secrets that make living in Ames special.More

If the title is confusing, I am from England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿. So finding a place that has English style food in Iowa is great. I didn’t know what to expect when we walked in. Apart from the false ceiling it did very much remind me of...an English pub. There is a good selection of craft beer, along with some bottled English Ales. They have a nice menu selection. The Fish & Chip are genuine, and a side of mushy peas is a must. (The peas could have been a little warmer, but that didn’t take away from the experience.) Bangers (sausages) & mash is also a great dish. Then when you are finished be sure to stock up on your English supplies, Baked Beans, candy HP sauce. The staff were very friendly & knowledgeable. Great place to eat.More