Cities/Towns in Iowa

[Antihawk240]

that sux, yo. Totes lame wn tht hppns n ruins a gud nite, yo.

OMG!! Brit's dress makes her look fat, can you believe she picked that out. Oh well, Like she is such a b&^*h!!

 

[00clone]

Lol, we don't really need to say anything. Take everything the EIF's say and then make it 2-3X as cool and there you will have the DSM metro. It's like non-Omaha Nebraska trying to talk about how great it is.

OK, sure.

 

[razorbackinkc]

Can anyone tell me how to upload a picture into my profile? G*Damn Arkansas public education I reckon.

 

[Gunnerclone]

OK, sure.

00clone

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And this ends our discussion. :cute::cute:

 

[00clone]

Nice copy/paste, Gunner, it was really worth it to take up a page to say you don't like me because I'm from Iowa City.

 

[razorbackinkc]

Can anyone tell me how to upload a picture into my profile? G*Damn Arkansas public education I reckon.

Got it!

 

[MartyFine]

You did well with Americana. Their brunch on the weekend is fantastic.

These guys do well for the most part also...

http://fullcourtpressdm.com/

 

[Bret44]

When in Ames a stop by Whiskey River is a must. Their Sunday Bloody Mary Bar is top notch. Perfect for an afternoon Basketball game.

 

[razorbackinkc]

You did well with Americana. Their brunch on the weekend is fantastic.

These guys do well for the most part also...

http://fullcourtpressdm.com/

Unfortunately it's a Thursday night game!

 

[scyclonekid]

Honestly -- either/or. I just want something that is unique to the town that I'm in.

When in Des Moines go to woody's BBQ, brisket or ribs awesome food with good sides. Get there before they open at 11 am.

 

[scyclonekid]

Want good local beer in Des Moines, Confluence, Exile, 515, raccoon river, get all of these at El Bait Shop cool bar, or just go to the breweries.

 

[roundball]

Here's a run-down of the single best place in each town you listed:

Des Moines - Applebee's Neighborhood Bar and Grill. Great atmosphere, and outstanding service. They'll microwave anything you order off the menu!

Cedar Rapids - Red Lobster. You might think it's impossible to get fresh seafood over 1,000 miles from a coast of any kind. You'd be right, but the biscuits are really good.

Dubuque - Texas Roadhouse. Pretty unique place that lets you throw peanut shells on the floor. I think they only do that at about 400 other locations.

Quad Cities - Olive Garden. It's like a trip back in time to old Sicily, or at least 1996, which was the last time anyone thought this was a decent facsimile of Italian food.

Council Bluffs - Cheesecake Factory. Sure, it's technically in Omaha, but like everything else over there, Council Bluffs lays claim to it, too.

Indianola - Subway. They do fresh, made-to-order sandwiches. I prefer the location in the Walmart Super Center. Keep your eyes out for celebrities...I heard Blake Griffin likes to eat here.

Ames - Es Tas. Home of the pink taco, which is absolutely delicious. The food's pretty good, too.

Waterloo - East China King. Outstanding Chinese buffet. It's conveniently located next to a Motel 6 in case you need to rest before driving home after overindulging...or getting food poisoning.

Iowa City - McDonald's. The food's nothing special, in my opinion, but it's always nice to support the local university's graduates.

 

[Al_4_State]

All this talk of Balltown, Bankston, St. Donatus...if you're not from the area, I can't say enough about the North Eastern Iowa and Mississippi River scenery. Iowa doesn't have as much of it as Wisconsin, but Balltown, and lesser so Bankston and St. Donatus would be right on the edge of what's called the "Driftless Region" that escaped the flattening of the glacier periods, so it's really scenic and hilly. Growing up there, in the fall, we'd go for drives and look at the leaves, you'd look out over these valleys bursting with color, and I thought it was normal, that everyone did that where they lived. Well, a lot of people did it, but most of them drove to NE Iowa to do it. Al_4_State I'm sure can give more info on the far NE corner, I'm more Dubuque area.

Yeah, I'm more familiar (well, I live in) the far northern part of the Iowa Driftless. But really, everywhere between my area (Decorah/Cresco) and Dubuque is absolutely gorgeous, and loaded with great hidden gem style bars and restaurants. Between killer tenderloins in St. Olaf, first rate burgers in Gunder, fine dining in Decorah/Elkader, there's plenty of great places up this way. Not to mention the gorgeous countryside, and plethora of outdoor activities.

That said, I think the OP is focusing a little more on the cities he travels to, and I don't think his travels will take him up into our secluded corner of paradise, or at least beyond Dubuque (which is a great, and highly underrated town).

 

[razorbackinkc]

Here's a run-down of the single best place in each town you listed:

Des Moines - Applebee's Neighborhood Bar and Grill. Great atmosphere, and outstanding service. They'll microwave anything you order off the menu!

Cedar Rapids - Red Lobster. You might think it's impossible to get fresh seafood over 1,000 miles from a coast of any kind. You'd be right, but the biscuits are really good.

Dubuque - Texas Roadhouse. Pretty unique place that lets you throw peanut shells on the floor. I think they only do that at about 400 other locations.

Quad Cities - Olive Garden. It's like a trip back in time to old Sicily, or at least 1996, which was the last time anyone thought this was a decent facsimile of Italian food.

Council Bluffs - Cheesecake Factory. Sure, it's technically in Omaha, but like everything else over there, Council Bluffs lays claim to it, too.

Indianola - Subway. They do fresh, made-to-order sandwiches. I prefer the location in the Walmart Super Center. Keep your eyes out for celebrities...I heard Blake Griffin likes to eat here.

Ames - Es Tas. Home of the pink taco, which is absolutely delicious. The food's pretty good, too.

Waterloo - East China King. Outstanding Chinese buffet. It's conveniently located next to a Motel 6 in case you need to rest before driving home after overindulging...or getting food poisoning.

Iowa City - McDonald's. The food's nothing special, in my opinion, but it's always nice to support the local university's graduates.

I'll have to try those out. McDonald's and Olive Garden sound familiar. I swear those must've franchised out of state.

Amazing list. Whoever said Iowans lack a sense of humor was just wrong.

 

[chuckd4735]

Has anyone been to Breitbach's since they've re-opened? The second time?

Really unfortunate - the original place was really pretty neat. Doesn't have nearly the same appeal. Food was still pretty good.

In Dubuque - Shot Tower has some good pizza, Happy Joes is a neat place and makes the absolute best Taco Pizza. Mario's is a nice family place, kinda sketchy from the outside. Get the panzerotti. Pepper Sprout has good food - higher end and a bit more expensive. People always rave about Vinni Vanuchi's. Ate there when they were in Galena and it was good. never been to in Dbq.

I'll second Kalmes too. Isn't there one in Dubuque now?

Never eaten there, but L.May eatery gets a lot of mention.

If you get bored (or are travelling that way) - head down to Maquoketa caves state park, and then hit the catfish fry at Bluff lake Catfish farm most weekends.

If you're outside Iowa city to the north, Big Grove Brewery has been good the couple times we've been there - in Solon Iowa on Hwy 1.

My aunt and uncle own Potter's Mill down in Bellevue and have a new tenant that is supposed to be opening this month. Anxious to see how that pans out. It's a cool place.

Head up sometime to Potosi, WI and hit the brewery there. Some good beers, pretty good food and the museum (and building in general) is neat.

Dang, are you in my head? The other one I was thinking of was Bluff Lake, but didn't have time to get the actual name right.

I haven't been to Breitbach's since the original location, been out of the area too long to get up there, bad excuse, really.

Happy Joe's: Also good, I went to HS with the owner's daughter....well the owner when I was in HS, not sure if still the same.

Kalmes: Yes, there's a "Kalmes Breaktime Bar and Grill" in Dubuque, not sure if it's the same style as the original, haven't been there.

Also, yeah, Big Grove is good, not just for beer, either, they don't have a huge menu, but all great food. Also in Solon, the hours aren't the best, but Salt Fork Farm restaurant just down the street also does good food.

And sheesh, yeah, I liked Potter's Mill back in the day as well.

Seriously unbelievable. You had 2 of my responses to the guy. Bluff Lake, near Maquoketa Caves is perfect. Go early on Saturday or be prepared to eat late. It is a summer staple in my family.

I literally just ate at Big Grove Brewery in Solon this weekend. Happy hour is 3-6 and the Happy Hour Special is 2 for 1 drinks. Food was average, but I was highly impressed with their beers.

Another fun place is Stone City General Store, we were in Anamosa for Pumpkinfest a year ago. Anamosa is directly inbetween Cedar Rapids and Dubuque on 151 (Stone City is 4 miles west of Anamosa). It is really good food, in a really cool environment. An old historic "Stone City Limestone" building along the river.

Its amazing how many people know about Bluff Lake. First time I ever went there, I had to ask if my parents were taking me out to the middle of no where to drop me off. Great place.

 

[tm3308]

Not reading all the way through to see if these have been suggested yet.

DSM: Wig and Pen (Ankeny) best pizza in the metro, IMO; El Bait Shop (great beer selection and I'm a fan of their pound of wings for like 8 bucks.

Iowa City/CR: Jimmy Jack's (very good BBQ), La Michoacana (very inexpensive, but awesome Mexican food), Zoey's in Marion (damn solid pizza).

 

[kingcy]

Just so you know and don't get confused, there are about 100 restaurant that claim they have the best tenderloin in the state. The thing is most of them do have a good tenderloin.

If you are out and about try some small town restaurant. Some are good some not so much. I don't know how many times I have heard DSM people say in a small town restaurant we just don't get food like this in the city.

 

[00clone]

Just so you know and don't get confused, there are about 100 restaurant that claim they have the best tenderloin in the state. The thing is most of them do have a good tenderloin.

If you are out and about try some small town restaurant. Some are good some not so much. I don't know how many times I have heard DSM people say in a small town restaurant we just don't get food like this in the city.

Yeah, Iowa Tenderloins are like the Iowa version of New York's Original or Famous or Famous Original, or Original Famous Ray's Pizza.

 

[00clone]

Yeah, Iowa Tenderloins are like the Iowa version of New York's Original or Famous or Famous Original, or Original Famous Ray's Pizza.

And speaking of Iowa's best tenderloin, Augusta Restaurant near Iowa City actually won a state contest in them. Another unique place, Oxford is another small town, the owner of this place was a very well regarded chef in New Orleans before being displaced from Katrina.

 

[razorbackinkc]

And speaking of Iowa's best tenderloin, Augusta Restaurant near Iowa City actually won a state contest in them. Another unique place, Oxford is another small town, the owner of this place was a very well regarded chef in New Orleans before being displaced from Katrina.

I am going to be in Iowa City next month -- definitely driving over to Oxford and checking this place out. Bayona is on Dauphine in the heart of the quarter about a half mile from the firm that my girlfriend worked at right out of law school. Although we really went out uptown or in the bywater for dinner most of the time, this was a great place to day drink ($0.24 Martinis) and the food was pretty damn good too, Susan Spicer is a good person to have learned from. I'm interested to see what Ben Halperin has done with this place.

Thank you for the info! Looking forward to it.

After all, when it comes to food, America has only three cities: New York, San Francisco, and New Orleans. Everywhere else is Cleveland.