Pizza Ranch chicken

[Lindemann]

The potatoes and gravy are pretty good. Lay 3 or 4 potato wedges on the plate, put a scoop of mashed on top of those and cover with gravy. Salt and pepper to taste.

I generally stick to the breasts chicken wise.

 

[Derekd3408]

Damn tenacious….its CHICKEN! Not a t-bone…Personally, their pizza is really worth avoiding…..but their roasted chicken, is damn good….and I am no fried chicken fan!

Where you getting a T-Bone for $14? This isn't 1994.

 

[joelbc1]

Where you getting a T-Bone for $14? This isn't 1994.

Fareway…

 

[lucas80]

I was in small town Iowa the other day and we had pizza ranch for lunch. I must say the fried chicken was freaking delicious and it’s clearly brined. The pizza and everything else was mediocre, but damn the chicken was juicy and crispy. Csb.

Are you new to Iowa? It’s a step above Casey’s pizza.

 

[THE_DEVIL]

Pizza ranch buffet at 3pm on a tuesday is the saddest place on earth

If you don’t count OPs mom’s bedroom

 

[onlyTheObvious]

Chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, and dip their homemade potatoes chips in the gravy.

Leave the rest for the suckers.

Just thinking about it makes me fatter.

 

[Tenacious E]

Gluttony

Those aren't pizza ranch issues those are fatty issues.

 

[Jimmy McGill]

Those aren't pizza ranch issues those are fatty issues.

True. But they are luring in the fatties on purpose

 

[Tenacious E]

Are you new to Iowa? It’s a step above Casey’s pizza.

If Casey's fried chicken is a step below what I had yesterday, I need to start getting fried chicken at Casey's.

 

[Tenacious E]

True. But they are luring in the fatties on purpose

I don't really care - fatties will fat wherever they can fat. It's like rewards credit cards. They lure people who want to spend beyond their means with the lure of rewards/cash back. I route everything I can through the cards to get the points, but since I had my first credit card 30 years ago, I have never paid a cent in interest to a credit card company but I have received tens of thousands of dollars back over the decades.

 

[Jimmy McGill]

Don't get me wrong, I love some fried chicken now and then, but going to pizza ranch is depressing. We don't have a KFC in Ames, so usually order Hy Vee fried chicken once or twice per year.

 

[Jimmy McGill]

I don't really care - fatties will fat wherever they can fat. It's like rewards credit cards. They lure people who want to spend beyond their means with the lure of rewards/cash back. I route everything I can through the cards to get the points, but since I had my first credit card 30 years ago, I have never paid a cent in interest to a credit card company but I have received tens of thousands of dollars back over the decades.

Don't disagree. Fatties gonna fat.

 

[Tenacious E]

Don't get me wrong, I love some fried chicken now and then, but going to pizza ranch is depressing. We don't have a KFC in Ames, so usually order Hy Vee fried chicken once or twice per year.

Hyvee fried chicken is mediocre, at best. Honestly, the worst fried chicken is still good tasting, but they make it about as bad tasting as possible. Maybe when it comes out of the fryer it is okay, but it just sits there and sits there and sits there. Meh.

 

[Jimmy McGill]

Hyvee fried chicken is mediocre, at best. Honestly, the worst fried chicken is still good tasting, but they make it about as bad tasting as possible. Maybe when it comes out of the fryer it is okay, but it just sits there and sits there and sits there. Meh.

Thats why you make an order rather than just showing up.

 

[Tenacious E]

Thats why you make an order rather than just showing up.

I guess it never occurred to me to do that before. I guess I don't plan that far ahead but maybe I should! In any event, all of Hy-vee's sides are gross. They somehow made mashed potatoes and gravy not that good tasting. Then again, that could be the freshness issue I was describing.

 

[Jimmy McGill]

I guess it never occurred to me to do that before. I guess I don't plan that far ahead but maybe I should! In any event, all of Hy-vee's sides are gross. They somehow made mashed potatoes and gravy not that good tasting. Then again, that could be the freshness issue I was describing.

Trust me, I'm no fan of Hy-Vee. I'm a Fareway guy. I have no problem getting the sides from Fareway.

We have to be creative these days.

 

[bagdropper]

I'd probably name it my deserted island food.

Absolutely fantastic fried chicken.

 

[CoachH]

Hyvee fried chicken is mediocre, at best. Honestly, the worst fried chicken is still good tasting, but they make it about as bad tasting as possible. Maybe when it comes out of the fryer it is okay, but it just sits there and sits there and sits there. Meh.

Does anyone else eat KFC, but only if it sits in the fridge for at least a day? Fresh KFC is just too greasy. Or just tastes like it?

 

[Jimmy McGill]

I've been wanting to try The Flight in Huxley. Sounds like a good central Iowa GIAORT mtg.

 

[OutbackBowl2017]

Don't get me wrong, I love some fried chicken now and then, but going to pizza ranch is depressing. We don't have a KFC in Ames, so usually order Hy Vee fried chicken once or twice per year.

If you have a Kwik Star in Ames, hit that for fried chicken. It’s pretty damn good.

 

[Jimmy McGill]

If you have a Kwik Star in Ames, hit that for fried chicken. It’s pretty damn good.

Will do

 

[Kelsers]

I go once a year…to the one in Spirit Lake when on vacation at Okoboji…it has become a “bad habit” I guess.

Have you been to the Gingham Inn for their chicken?

 

[QChawks]

Don't get me wrong, I love some fried chicken now and then, but going to pizza ranch is depressing. We don't have a KFC in Ames, so usually order Hy Vee fried chicken once or twice per year.

nothing wrong with slumming it for fried chicken

it's like going to walmart

 

[joelbc1]

Have you been to the Gingham Inn for their chicken?

No….I really never “do”anyone’s chicken…about the only chicken I can enjoy is the Ranch’s chicken….and as I said, IO go to the Ranch once yearly….and there is a Ranch about 6 balks from my home! Not a fan….’Cane’s will never have to worry about me darkening their doors….

 

[Kelsers]

No….I really never “do”anyone’s chicken…about the only chicken I can enjoy is the Ranch’s chicken….and as I said, IO go to the Ranch once yearly….and there is a Ranch about 6 balks from my home! Not a fan….’Cane’s will never have to worry about me darkening their doors….

Is that the owners?

 

[Tenacious E]

I've been wanting to try The Flight in Huxley. Sounds like a good central Iowa GIAORT mtg.

I’d be down.

 

[Jimmy McGill]

I’d be down.

Anyone else? Tenacious and I can hang but it would be cool to meet some of you.

 

[Tenacious E]

Anyone else? Tenacious and I can hang but it would be cool to meet some of you.

Spoiler alert for others - Jimmy and I have already met in real life. We’re normal people.

 

[Derekd3408]

I've been wanting to try The Flight in Huxley. Sounds like a good central Iowa GIAORT mtg.

Ate there twice and it's nothing to write home about.

 

[Jimmy McGill]

Ate there twice and it's nothing to write home about.

Well then Watcha Smokin in Luther?

 

[Jimmy McGill]

Spoiler alert for others - Jimmy and I have already met in real life. We’re normal people.

As normal as people can be these days

 

[Derekd3408]

Well then Watcha Smokin in Luther?

That was really good. My favorite BBQ place in Iowa was Moos in Newton. I would drive an hour out of my way to get it. Last time I pulled up it was permanently closed and game me the sad for a week. Apparently the owner passed away. Csb

 

[Jimmy McGill]

That was really good. My favorite BBQ place in Iowa was Moos in Newton. I would drive an hour out of my way to get it. Last time I pulled up it was permanently closed and game me the sad for a week. Apparently the owner passed away. Csb

Rube's Steakhouse in Montour is a gem as well

 

[Derekd3408]

Rube's Steakhouse in Montour is a gem as well

So I've heard. It's on my list if I'm ever close by.

 

[Derekd3408]

You guys should meet up at Big Grove in DSM. I can hammer VRBs and roll my eyes at all the hipsters.

 

[mthawkeyes]

Haven’t been there since Covid. It’s like a Walmart crowd and I tend to not be a buffet fan but damn their chicken is really good. In a perfect world Casey’s would buy them out and start making/selling it out of Casey’s.

I love going there. Great chicken, and I feel like a model of fitness.

 

[joelbc1]

Anyone else? Tenacious and I can hang but it would be cool to meet some of you.

Visiting hours are posted on Iowa Prison’s webpage….

 

[Jimmy McGill]

Visiting hours are posted on Iowa Prison’s webpage….

What are you in prison for These two attorneys might be able to help you out

 

[bagdropper]

I noticed some of you are saying Kwik Star's chicken is pretty good. I gotta admit (caveat - only had their chicken from 2 stores) - it ain't even close to PR's chicken. Maybe it's a store specific thing...dunno.

I believe it is made fresh. The times I've gotten it, it was reasonably priced for an 8 pack. I simply did not think the flavor was as good as PR (pretty plain for seasoning) nor were the chicken pieces as high in quality...and it certainly doesn't have the nice broasted style breading that PR's does.

It was..."OK" I'll call it. Edible for certain, if PR isn't an option it will do the job. But, imho...not really in the same ballpark as PR.

I've been eating Pizza Ranch chicken since stores first came to CR (maybe 20 years now?), and I've eaten it in several other stores across Iowa and Wisconsin - and I've never, not once, had a bad piece of chicken from them. My only complaint with them is ordering boxes for carry out - it ain't cheap - but as for the quality and flavor, cannot be beat.

And that's the thing with PR chicken. I've eaten it from Madison WI area down to the DM metro - it isn't a "store specific" quality think like say Casey's Pizza can be. It's been great wherever I've gone. And I've eaten KFC, I've eaten Popeye's, I've eaten Raising Canes...I've eaten them all recently and a few not listed (say the past couple years) - none of them hold a candle to PR chicken.

 

[Bearhawk0505]

chicken is elite, salad bar is decent

pizza is trash

I think some of their thin crust pizza they put out is pretty good. It is really thin and crispy crust.