"Ever since Szechuan House opened in Ames, I haven 't frequented any other Chinese places in Ames (except for Panda Express when i want some orange chicken and Beijing beef). Although their food prices are quite high for Ames standards (unless you frequent The Cafe and Aunt Maudes), their portion is also quite large and is suitable for family-style dining. Szechuan House does live up to their name and serves very good/authentic Szechuan cuisine. If you don 't know what this means, just beware of the evil little 'hua jiao ' that will leave an exquisite tingling sensation on your tongue. Pretty much over half of the menu is spicy, and there are some fairly authentic Chinese ingredients (like animal innards) that might deter your typical American diner. The staff is very friendly and the service is lightning quick. There is a private dining room available, but I 've never inquired as how to reserve the space given that the main dining space is more than sufficient for my past visits."
