Most Iconic Restaurant in Every State

[capitalcityguy]

hummm...given the sheer size of states and number of restaurants to choose from, this task would seem to be fraught with problems trying to nail down which one restaurant would be the "most iconic". Regardless, these lists can be interesting fodder for discussion and I was curious which restaurant was picked for Iowa as well as if I'd been to, or heard of any of the ones picked for other states.

Here's an overview of what it took to get picked:

To qualify for this list, a place had to have been around for 30+ years (all have been in business since at least 1980) and still be a crowd favorite. And while some of these restaurants may not have the best food or be tourist-free, they're all famous.

Northwestern Steakhouse in Mason City (which is a far superior version, and run by different family member, than Cafe Northwest in Ames) was selected for Iowa. This is a great pick. Honestly best steaks...anywhere. Hands down. Throw in side of Greek salad and Greek spaghetti...flippin awesome! If I could only get one steak from anywhere, I'd take theirs over even the likes of 801 Steak and Chop. Adding to its iconic status, is the fact it is in an old turn-of the century building (see picture in article) pretty much all by itself on north end of Mason City with big Cement plant in the background. Highly recommend if you're ever in north central Iowa.

The only other two I've been to on the list: the original Arthur Bryant's in Kansas City and Wall Drug, South Dakota. Actually hit the original Arthur Bryant's last time we were in KC. Food was good but you're definitely on the fringe, if not sticking your toe in, the hood there. Appreciated the big security dude parked out front in the Cadillac Escalade. Very iconic!

I was young when we stopped at Wall Drug during family trip, so can't recall much about this place (other than the multiple billboards along the highway that drew us there).

Here's the article:

http://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation...c-restaurants-in-every-state?ref=facebook-869

 

[roundball]

So you're saying it wasn't Hickory Park? I don't know what Thrillist is, but we should boycott it.

 

[RubyClone]

Never heard of it. I would've guessed Breitbach's in Balltown - although perhaps the closures due to fire may have precluded them.

 

[runbikeswim]

of note - iconic doesn't mean best....

 

[Fitzy]

Wrong. Bogies in Albia has the best steaks.

 

[Clone9]

Northwestern Steakhouse is amazing. Very good choice.

 

[Clark]

Wrong. Bogies in Albia has the best steaks.

they are pretty good.

as for the OP, can a place be iconic if I've lived my entire life in this state and never heard of it?

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

Been to the ones from:
Alabama
Minnesota
New Mexico
New York
Ohio
Pennsylvania
South Carolina

I would probably say Katz Deli in NYC was probably the best on the list I've been to. Though El Pinto in ABQ, NM was the best Mexican food I've ever had. The other places were kinda overrated.

 

[Bret44]

Northwest is really good. But it is in Mason City, so that hurts it.

 

[Clonefan94]

Been to the ones from:
Alabama
Minnesota
New Mexico
New York
Ohio
Pennsylvania
South Carolina

I would probably say Katz Deli in NYC was probably the best on the list I've been to. Though El Pinto in ABQ, NM was the best Mexican food I've ever had. The other places were kinda overrated.

To be fair to the article, it's about the most iconic, not necessarily the best food. I thought like you originally with the Illinois one, Gene's and Jude's. Good hot dogs are a dime a dozen in this town. All the good ones buy their hot dogs from the same place. It's more about the atmosphere and how it represents the state though and on that, it's tough to not agree with that. My first pick for Illinois would have been Gene and Georgetti Steakhouse, but it's really not fair, I think those two represent the Chicago area well, not so much the rest of the state though.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

I've lived in Omaha going on 18 years and I have never heard of The Drover. In fact I know almost nothing about this town outside of work and the few bars I frequent.

 

[roundball]

I read the article. Made it to Alabama before my mouth started watering...that white BBQ sauce is amazing on smoked chicken.

 

[capitalcityguy]

they are pretty good.

as for the OP, can a place be iconic if I've lived my entire life in this state and never heard of it?

Do you feel you're a good gauge? I suppose it depends on how well traveled you are around the state or just how much you pay attention to things like this. Just living here doesn't mean you pay attention. For example, someone might live their whole life in Iowa, but when they travel hit every Applebee's along the way because they don't seek out local establishments.

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

To be fair to the article, it's about the most iconic, not necessarily the best food. I thought like you originally with the Illinois one, Gene's and Jude's. Good hot dogs are a dime a dozen in this town. All the good ones buy their hot dogs from the same place. It's more about the atmosphere and how it represents the state though and on that, it's tough to not agree with that. My first pick for Illinois would have been Gene and Georgetti Steakhouse, but it's really not fair, I think those two represent the Chicago area well, not so much the rest of the state though.

Ah very true. I didn't think about it like that but you're 100% correct!

 

[roundball]

I'm surprised it wasn't the original Maid Rite place

 

[Clark]

Do you feel you're a good gauge? I suppose it depends on how well traveled you are around the state or just how much you pay attention to things like this. Just living here doesn't mean you pay attention. Forexample, someone might live there whole life in Iowa, but when they travel hit every Applebee's along the way because they don't seek out local establishments.

maybe it just depends on what your definition of iconic is. Too me, iconic in this case that no matter what part of the state you're from you know what that is even if you've never seen it yourself. Fred Hoiberg is iconic. Kinnick stadium is iconic.

 

[agrabes]

Do you feel you're a good gauge? I suppose it depends on how well traveled you are around the state or just how much you pay attention to things like this. Just living here doesn't mean you pay attention. Forexample, someone might live there whole life in Iowa, but when they travel hit every Applebee's along the way because they don't seek out local establishments.

I think that's the whole point though. Unless you're someone who's never left the farm and doesn't own a TV or radio you should know about an "iconic" restaurant. I wouldn't say I'm a connisseur of fine dining, but there are a few restaurants I think of when I think of Iowa: Hickory Park, Iowa Machine Shed, Rube's Steak House, things like that. They may not be the greatest fine dining experience in the state (and I've only actually eaten at 1 of the 3), but they are well known and fairly long standing. If a restaurant is "iconic" it should be famous statewide and not only among people who are into finding obscure mom and pop restaurants. I've been to Mason City a few times with coworkers who grew up there, and none of them even suggested this place as somewhere to eat.

 

[Clark]

I think that's the whole point though. Unless you're someone who's never left the farm and doesn't own a TV or radio you should know about an "iconic" restaurant. I wouldn't say I'm a connisseur of fine dining, but there are a few restaurants I think of when I think of Iowa: Hickory Park, Iowa Machine Shed, Rube's Steak House, things like that. They may not be the greatest fine dining experience in the state (and I've only actually eaten at 1 of the 3), but they are well known and fairly long standing. If a restaurant is "iconic" it should be famous statewide and not only among people who are into finding obscure mom and pop restaurants. I've been to Mason City a few times with coworkers who grew up there, and none of them even suggested this place as somewhere to eat.

exactly. mjacobs mentioned Bogeys in Albia. It's a great restaurant and pretty much anyone within a county radius knows of it but I wouldn't call it iconic for Iowa.

 

[weR138]

maybe it just depends on what your definition of iconic is. Too me, iconic in this case that no matter what part of the state you're from you know what that is even if you've never seen it yourself. Fred Hoiberg is iconic. Kinnick stadium is iconic.

Consider the number of people from Iowa and the other Big Ten school that have eaten at the Hamburg Inn. A LOT of people have been to Iowa City and they know the HI.

 

[weR138]

I think that's the whole point though. Unless you're someone who's never left the farm and doesn't own a TV or radio you should know about an "iconic" restaurant. I wouldn't say I'm a connisseur of fine dining, but there are a few restaurants I think of when I think of Iowa: Hickory Park, Iowa Machine Shed, Rube's Steak House, things like that. They may not be the greatest fine dining experience in the state (and I've only actually eaten at 1 of the 3), but they are well known and fairly long standing. If a restaurant is "iconic" it should be famous statewide and not only among people who are into finding obscure mom and pop restaurants. I've been to Mason City a few times with coworkers who grew up there, and none of them even suggested this place as somewhere to eat.

I'd say Rube's or the afore mentioned Hamburg Inn.