Tenderloins at Joensy's in Center Point. Can't remember if the one in Solon is as good.
Teluwat in Osage
Teluwat in Osage
Small town food recommendations
- Thread starter ScottyP
- Start date
Our Iowa magazine (published out of Ames, BTW) has a best Mom and Pop restaurant book. I subscribe to the mag, but don't own the book. If you're serious about getting a reference for the whole state you might want to invest.
Our Iowa Magazine - The Online Store of the Our Iowa Magazine; Books, Apparel, Back Issues and more - Directory of Iowa's Best Ma & Pa Restaurants
Our Iowa Magazine - The Online Store of the Our Iowa Magazine; Books, Apparel, Back Issues and more - Directory of Iowa's Best Ma & Pa Restaurants
The General Store in Stone City is pretty good. The place is always packed but if youre waiting for a spot to sit its usually only a beer long wait. The food gets to you really quick too for the small kitchen they've got. Their chicken nachos are really good and haven't had a single thing on the menu I didn't like. It also has a deck you can sit on in the summer and feed fish bread crumbs since the deck overlooks the Wapsi river.
Fergs in Grand Junction off of highway 30. went in there yesterday after golfing and the food was great and the owner is a huge ISU fan and has great stories to tell as well
Most overrated pizza I've ever had. I don't think it's worth the trip. If you're in Decorah, I'd recommend grabbing a burger at T-Bock's over pizza at Mabe's.
Its been 12 years since I've been there so its possible things have changed.
In fact, of the places I listed the most recent one I've been to was the Corn Patch 8 years ago
I have a vast repository of "secret spots" from spending the past few years traveling around Iowa. I can give more specific recommendations if somebody has a place in mind, but i've eaten in too many places to just put up some list and say its the best ever or something.
This mobile BBQ setup serves slightly above-average BBQ in a town with limited dining options in Iowa:
Smoker painted up like John Deere TRactor:
Trendy hip food truck or shed on top of trailer? You decide:
Ribs with potato salad, truly above average in a town whose dining options are like a wasteland:
Porters Hickory Pig BBQ
On South Main St. Osceola in grocery store parking lot.
Place is now for sale.
This mobile BBQ setup serves slightly above-average BBQ in a town with limited dining options in Iowa:
Smoker painted up like John Deere TRactor:
Trendy hip food truck or shed on top of trailer? You decide:
Ribs with potato salad, truly above average in a town whose dining options are like a wasteland:
Porters Hickory Pig BBQ
On South Main St. Osceola in grocery store parking lot.
Place is now for sale.
I agree with the others. Darrell's in tiny Hamlin has the best tenderloin I've ever had, and I tried quite a few.
The Rusty Duck in Dexter has a great burger and the other good is awesome too. Just make sure you have a reservation if going at night.
The Redwood in Anita is alright too.
The Rusty Duck in Dexter has a great burger and the other good is awesome too. Just make sure you have a reservation if going at night.
The Redwood in Anita is alright too.
Also forgot to ad B Fab BBQ in Huxley. It's in the back of the now empty grocery store by Subway on 69.
Best pulled pork I have ever had. Also the burger is a behemoth and amazing.
You can get the pulled pork by the pound and bring it home.
Best pulled pork I have ever had. Also the burger is a behemoth and amazing.
You can get the pulled pork by the pound and bring it home.
Tenderloin @ Hamlin is very good, but heard from others that there are better fairly close - just south in Exira is a better one (Red Barn or Little Red Barn, I think), as well as in nearby Elk Horn (don't recall the name)
My grandma always wants to go there for dinner but she is spooked by the long lines. She has been their for lunch many times and she confirms that the food is great. Thanks for the inside info.
I will also add the Stove House in Central City.
My college roomie worked at Burke one summer and used to always talk about that place. I never got over that way to try it though.
I was going to recommend Larsen's in Elk Horn. I was amazed that with the crowds of RAGBRAI, and they still made the best tenderloin I've ever had. It was not a fritter, but good, thick hand made tenderloin. I've eaten at Jonesy's in Solon and many others, but this was the best I've had. Voted best in state in 2007. So good, that I will make a special stop there IF I ever have to go through western Iowa again.
It's still awesome. I won't argue about T-Bocks either. All their burgers are good. They have a peanut butter cheeseburger.
Back to western Iowa: Mel's Diner in Brayton.
