Best kept secret restaurants in Iowa

[BillBrasky4Cy]

LCHS Class of 1995

Moved away for college and pretty much never went back. Nothing against LeMars just luck of the draw. Folks moved away 5 years ago and I haven't been back since.

The ice cream at Bob's is great too because it is the Wells mix. It will be interesting how things go there now that Miles Kass has passed away.

LeMar's also has the best bakery in Iowa!

 

[Angie]

Wow, Angie something else in common..... I am from MC, and thought it was only a MC thing than married a FD alumni and she had the same thought....

Janny was from up in the northern part of the state, and is very familiar with MC - but didn't know about the magic that was The Tico. I was born and went to elementary in FD, and introduced him to it a few years ago. He was not as impressed.

 

[jburke]

Janny was from up in the northern part of the state, and is very familiar with MC - but didn't know about the magic that was The Tico. I was born and went to elementary in FD, and introduced him to it a few years ago. He was not as impressed.

if you don't live it, you don't get it.....

 

[carvers4math]

Grassroots Gallery Gift & Cafe, Humeston
Williamson Tavern
Canteen Lunch in the Alley, Ottumwa
ILA, Fairfield
Just a Small Town Grill, Montezuma
Istanbul Grill, Fairfield
Crouse Cafe, Indianola
Shady Lane Amish Country Store with restaurant occasionally open, somewhere around Derby
Cafe Dodici, Washington

 

[coolerifyoudid]

LCHS Class of 1995

Moved away for college and pretty much never went back. Nothing against LeMars just luck of the draw. Folks moved away 5 years ago and I haven't been back since.

The ice cream at Bob's is great too because it is the Wells mix. It will be interesting how things go there now that Miles Kass has passed away.

I'm from Remsen and only return to see my parents. I don't mind the old town, but the classmates that never left contribute to my lack of desire to go back.

Somewhat odd note: a co-worker of mine is related to Miles Kass.

 

[CloneSt8]

In small town SW Iowa the Classic Cafe in Malvern is good. And also Whip's Steakhouse in Sidney.

 

[Al_4_State]

Another great place for fried curds is The Place in Protivin, which is another NE Iowa gem. It's a very cool bar that doesn't quite look like it belongs in Protivin. They're square, which makes me think they're cut off a block rather than curds, but the breading on them is great. And of course, any trip to Protivin is incomplete without stopping at The Mint for at least one.

Green Valley has good curds as well, and I'm pretty sure they're WW Homestead.

I thought about putting the Place on the list. It's nicer than probably any other sports bar type of place in Northeast Iowa, and I'm not sure it's even close. The idea that it's in a town of 300 people is crazy, but they draw a lot of folks from Cresco, Decorah, New Hampton, Calmar, etc.

 

[ajk4st8]

Morris Inn In Morrison

 

[Tank]

The Victoria Station in Harlan
The Juice Bar & Grill in Manilla
Cliff's Place in Manning

 

[liljones13]

The "Zookie" at Zoey's in Marion is worth a 30 minute wait.. IF you want to be a hero to your significant other, you order her a Zookie.. Period..

 

[mywayorcyway]

I saw Northwest Steakhouse in Mason City mentioned. I don't know if it's a secret, but to be able to get a steak, greek spaghetti, bread and a salad for $30 that tastes incredible AND is in a building as old, small and crummy as that qualifies for me.

 

[Sigmapolis]

Jimmy's BBQ in Boone is pretty great. Not sure it is a huge secret, though.

 

[Bartastic]

The Smokin' Hereford in Storm Lake won the best burger award this year. I've not been there yet, but the wife said it's great.

 

[Macloney]

Elm's Club in Creston has a top notch tenderloin.

Williamson Tap in Williamson for burgers, although Paul's in Dubuque has good burgers.

 

[AmesHawk]

Up In Smoke - Afton, IA

Pulled pork and burnt ends were on par with Smokey D's IMO. Wish I was down in that area more often.

 

[Gunnerclone]

I don't know if this is off the radar but something I forget about is how great Noah's Ark pizza is. I just don't think "pizza" when I think Noah's.

 

[mdk2isu]

Janny was from up in the northern part of the state, and is very familiar with MC - but didn't know about the magic that was The Tico. I was born and went to elementary in FD, and introduced him to it a few years ago. He was not as impressed.

That's it, give him the boot. If you don't like Taco Tico (Taco Burgers for the win!) there is something fundamentally wrong with you.

 

[Angie]

That's it, give him the boot. If you don't like Taco Tico (Taco Burgers for the win!) there is something fundamentally wrong with you.

Right? A little piece of me died that day. I mean, we'd also just been at my grandma's funeral, so that didn't help. But who the hell doesn't get giddy for Taco Tico?!

 

[Entropy]

Right? A little piece of me died that day. I mean, we'd also just been at my grandma's funeral, so that didn't help. But who the hell doesn't get giddy for Taco Tico?!

Lived there 4 years and never went.

<braces for impact/>

 

[Gossamer]

Make a road trip to Dunlap and enjoy a pork tenderloin at the Dairy Sweet (brought home the title in the mid 2000's) and some broasted chicken at the Gold Slipper. The Gold Slipper has an old school supper club type feel to it and there just aren't that many of those places left.

Worth the drive. My mom graduated with the owner when they won the award and they haven't changed the recipe on the tenderloin since then. It's huge!!!