Ohhhmylanta – I am in a carb coma right now! 
I scheduled in a dinner out when meal planning this week, and figured Ben and I would end up picking our tried and true all you can eat Hy-vee salad bar. We surprised ourselves, though, by picking a different weeknight restaurant locale tonight - Star Bar!
Star Bar is a place you can enjoy a frosty mug of beer with some friends after work, or get dressed up to dine and dish over martinis with your girlfriends. You’ll find all different kinds of crowds here!
The atmosphere is kind of “upscale pub” with nice booths, white cloth napkins and local artwork on the walls.
Only in the Midwest! 
Of course, Star Bar is great for getting your grub on, too! They’ve got all the classic pub favorites, just kicked up a notch. Like the Grilled Vegetable & Goat Cheese Panino I ordered for my dinner!
This was crusty bread drizzled with olive oil, then smushed on a panini press with grilled green and yellow zucchini, red peppers (picked off, thank you very much!) & caramelized onions. Served with a side of irresistibly seasoned French Fries.
The panino was also slathered with a layer of goat cheese spread. Tangy, flavorful and just what it needed to go from sandwich to panino.
I usually turn down fries as a side at restaurants, but give them to me sweet or seasoned and I am down for the count. It’s ovah!!
Both panino and fries did not disappoint. Although, don’t assume that just because you are ordering something vegetarian that it also means low-cal, because there was nothing low cal about this sandwich – or fries – and I can feel myself falling into a bread & potato carb comaaaaaa!
Oh, Ben ordered the Grilled chicken with cheddar, bacon & BBQ sauce sandwich that was wickedly good! He got the fries as well because the man has never met a potato he could resist!
I’m off to go recover on the couch…doozy! Oh, and I will be attacking the total body circuit with a vengence during the commercial breaks of LOST. FYI – mark this day on your calendars because I never thought I would utter this phrase in my entire life – I heart pushups now! I don’t want to cause a ruckus, but I can see the difference in my arms from doing so many over the past 27 days! / 
Goodnight!
PS: Loving the response already from this morning’s call for recipes! Remember, you don’t have to have a blog to participate, so keep ‘em coming! 
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When given a choice, what do you usually pick for a side at restaurants? Fries, side salad, coleslaw, fruit, veggies, other?
I usually order something that doesn’t come with a side because portions are so big these days, I don’t really need one – but when I do, it’s either sweet potato/seasoned fries or a nice side salad!
I love some cooked veggies, although I’ve got to say the seasoning on those fries make them tempting
I usually do veggies, then fruit, unless of course its sweet potato fries, then i say screw it and get those!!!
Holy good food! That sandwich looks great!! I’m seeing what you’re saying about how vegetarian diets aren’t always healthy, but a girl needs her fries every once in a while!
Given the choice, I’ll ususally go fruit salad at lunch and side salad at dinner… unless it’s a fry kind of day:)
Have a great night lady!
That entire dinner looks just sensational!!! What a great night out!
I usually go for veggies, but sweet potato fries are AMAZING!
If I’m in the mood for fries, I always order them… I rarely finish them.
I can’t resist sweet potato fries if they are an option but usually I try to order something that doesn’t come with a side!
That dinner looks heavenly! On the U’s campus there is a restaurant called Panino’s that is absolutely to die for. Thanks for the reminder.
We don’t eat out *that* often, so I usually treat myself to fries when we do!
Ummm that panino looks amazing!!! And the fries…omg. I haven’t had fries like that in AGES. Meh! :/ I want some now!
I generally order veggies or a salad or a sweet potato but there are certain places and at certain times where fries are a MUST!
I’ve been to Star Bar for food on 3 different occasions because I live so close and I’m not impressed with their food… neither is my husband… or my mom, LoL. Won’t be going back.
I’m either fries or a cottage cheese gal.
I love the Star Bar! They have a great Sunday brunch too…FYI! I’m not a big fan of fries unless they are sweet potato or potato wedges, so I usually stick to salad or veggies.
Those look like some tasty fries!!! My side always varies with what I am having. It has to “match” my dinner.
Yum, that sandwich looks awesome. I usually order a side salad or veggies, but a good side of sweet potato fries may sneak in there every so often…
what a great sandwich!!! i love paninis.. and fries, i always pass up (i’m a sweets girl) UNLESS they’re sweet potato fries
:O ultimate yum at the goat’s cheese panino!
I normally have salad or veggies – I don’t like plain old potatoes and they NEVER have sweet potatoes as a side here :’( if they did, I’d have it in a flash!
I too am a total sucker for seasoned fries. We don’t really go out to restaurants very often, and when we do I’ll be honest, I usually order fries! I just love them and I figure once in a while… I am with you on the huge main portions though. If I get something like a sandwich I cut it in half right away and take half home.
I love that Okoboji Grill has the “rabbit” side—carrots, broccoli and cucumber with dip on the side. This is a nice alternative to french fries with a sandwich.
Every now and then it’s worth it to eat like that and it sure did look worth it! I would have chosen the same thing. Mmmm…..
Love the veggie burger at Star Bar. It’s certainly not bad for “bar food.”
I usually go with fries. I just can’t resist them! I would order fruit as a side more often but it almost ALWAYS comes with cantalope or honeydew and I just can’t eat those two. I can’t even eat the good fruit that is mixed in.
[...] Star Bar = Carb Coma | Iowa Girl Eats [...]
As long as someone at the table orders fries, then I usually go for a salad. Our family has a french fry rule, if you order fries they are for sharing, a few aren’t too bad. Love the seasoned fries!
[...] Star Bar = Carb Coma | Iowa Girl Eats [...]
It just depends on where I’m dining at. Claxon’s BBQ in Altoona has THE BEST coleslaw ever! You would love it cuz it’s more like kraut salad than coleslaw. And you can buy containers of it …I’ve taken it to get-togethers before. Everyone loves it. Hickory Park in Ames has wonderful macaroni salad. Sonnys Bistro in Saylorville has fab grilled veggies. Boy…I’m getting hungry now!