Feel like you’ve heard of every restaurant in your area and that there’s nothing new out there? Sometimes you can find hidden gems where you least expect them. If you like discovering new restaurants that are off the beaten path, then you’ll love these 11 under the radar restaurants that are scrumdiddlyumptious.
- Teddy’s Barn & Grill
Facebook/Teddy’s Barn & Grill
Facebook/Teddy’s Barn & Grill Teddy’s Barn & Grill serves up amazing Midwestern food in a truly unique location: a restored dairy barn. Their specialty is meat and potatoes, like pork tenderloin, incredible steak and garlic mashed potatoes. Located at 14575 E23 County Home Rd., Anamosa, IA.
- The Irish Shanti
Facebook/Gunderburger - The Irish Shanti
Facebook/Gunderburger - The Irish Shanti The Irish Shanti has something that no other restaurant has: the Gunderburger. This epic burger was created in the ’70s to put Gunder on the map. You can find other American classics on the menu, like pork loins, cod and ribeye. 17455 Gunder Rd, Elgin, IA.
- General Store Pub
Yelp/Cory C.
Yelp/Cory C. This hidden gem is tucked away in Stone City next to the Wapsipinicon River. The location is so iconic, it was the inspiration for Grant Wood’s painting, “Stone City.” They serve delicious pub fare and also feature live music. 12612 Stone City Rd., Anamosa, IA.
- Bluff Lake Catfish Farm
Facebook/Bluff Lake Catfish Farm
Facebook/Bluff Lake Catfish Farm People travel from miles away travel to Bluff Lake Catfish farm for their amazing all-you-can-eat fish and chicken specials. They serve a whopping 500 pounds of high quality Icelandic haddock served every Saturday night at their weekly fish fry, and it’s so good that people will wait for hours to get a table. 9343 95th Ave., Maquoketa, IA.
- The Twisted Tail Steakhouse & Saloon
Facebook/The Twisted Tail
Facebook/The Twisted Tail The Twisted Tail is a great steakhouse in an out of the way spot. They serve amazing steak, prime rib, and other delicious classics, like ribs, burgers and more. 2849 335th St., Logan, IA.
- Flatted Fifth Blues & BBQ
Flickr/Jerry Huddleston
Yelp/Flatted Fifth Blues & BBQ Flatted Fifths serves mouthwatering southern style BBQ like ribs, jambalaya, pulled pork, gumbo, and more. They’re located along the Mississippi River in a truly unique and beautiful setting. 300 Potter Dr., Bellevue, IA.
- Northwestern Steakhouse
Flickr/Mark Chernesky
Yelp/Will F. Northwestern Steakhouse is a unique and delicious restaurant that’s been in business since 1920. They serve mouthwatering Greek-style steaks that will definitely have you coming back for more. 304 16th St. NW, Mason City, IA.
- The Cider House
Facebook/The Cider House
Facebook/The Cider House The Cider House is a cozy spot in Fairfield that serves amazing burgers. In fact, they hold the title of Iowa’s Best Burger from 2015, a yearly competition held by The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and the Iowa Beef Council. Make sure to sample a hard cider along with your burger. 102 N 2nd St., Fairfield, IA.
- Chez Grace
Facebook/Chez Grace
Facebook/Chez Grace You would never guess that hiding in a strip mall in Coralville is one of the most elegant, amazing French restaurants you can find in Iowa. With starters like roasted pear salad with brie and walnuts, and entrees like Steak Au Poivre, seared filet mignon topped with cognac peppercorn cream sauce, served with butter gold potatoes, you can’t go wrong. 89 2nd St. # 3, Coralville, IA.
- The Lincoln Wine Bar
Yelp/Matt U.
Yelp/Marlyse S. The Lincoln Wine Bar is an amazing wine bar and pizza restaurant in the small town of Mount Vernon, Iowa. They serve incredible wood-fired pizza with innovative combinations and fresh, local ingredients. 125 1st St. W, Mt Vernon, IA.
- Sneaky Pete’s Woodfire Grill
Facebook/Sneaky Pete’s Woodfire Grill
Facebook/Sneaky Pete’s Woodfire Grill Sneaky Pete’s serves amazing wood-fired steaks, along with incredible sides and other choices, like salmon, tuna, swordfish and more. 207 N Cody Rd., Le Claire, IA.
Have you been to any of these places? Did we miss any? Be sure to let us know! For more of Iowa’s hidden dining gems, These 11 Extremely Tiny Restaurants In Iowa Are Actually Amazing.
Facebook/Teddy’s Barn & Grill
Teddy’s Barn & Grill serves up amazing Midwestern food in a truly unique location: a restored dairy barn. Their specialty is meat and potatoes, like pork tenderloin, incredible steak and garlic mashed potatoes. Located at 14575 E23 County Home Rd., Anamosa, IA.
Facebook/Gunderburger - The Irish Shanti
The Irish Shanti has something that no other restaurant has: the Gunderburger. This epic burger was created in the ’70s to put Gunder on the map. You can find other American classics on the menu, like pork loins, cod and ribeye. 17455 Gunder Rd, Elgin, IA.
Yelp/Cory C.
This hidden gem is tucked away in Stone City next to the Wapsipinicon River. The location is so iconic, it was the inspiration for Grant Wood’s painting, “Stone City.” They serve delicious pub fare and also feature live music. 12612 Stone City Rd., Anamosa, IA.
Facebook/Bluff Lake Catfish Farm
People travel from miles away travel to Bluff Lake Catfish farm for their amazing all-you-can-eat fish and chicken specials. They serve a whopping 500 pounds of high quality Icelandic haddock served every Saturday night at their weekly fish fry, and it’s so good that people will wait for hours to get a table. 9343 95th Ave., Maquoketa, IA.
Facebook/The Twisted Tail
The Twisted Tail is a great steakhouse in an out of the way spot. They serve amazing steak, prime rib, and other delicious classics, like ribs, burgers and more. 2849 335th St., Logan, IA.
Flickr/Jerry Huddleston
Yelp/Flatted Fifth Blues & BBQ
Flatted Fifths serves mouthwatering southern style BBQ like ribs, jambalaya, pulled pork, gumbo, and more. They’re located along the Mississippi River in a truly unique and beautiful setting. 300 Potter Dr., Bellevue, IA.
Flickr/Mark Chernesky
Yelp/Will F.
Northwestern Steakhouse is a unique and delicious restaurant that’s been in business since 1920. They serve mouthwatering Greek-style steaks that will definitely have you coming back for more. 304 16th St. NW, Mason City, IA.
Facebook/The Cider House
The Cider House is a cozy spot in Fairfield that serves amazing burgers. In fact, they hold the title of Iowa’s Best Burger from 2015, a yearly competition held by The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and the Iowa Beef Council. Make sure to sample a hard cider along with your burger. 102 N 2nd St., Fairfield, IA.
Facebook/Chez Grace
You would never guess that hiding in a strip mall in Coralville is one of the most elegant, amazing French restaurants you can find in Iowa. With starters like roasted pear salad with brie and walnuts, and entrees like Steak Au Poivre, seared filet mignon topped with cognac peppercorn cream sauce, served with butter gold potatoes, you can’t go wrong. 89 2nd St. # 3, Coralville, IA.
Yelp/Matt U.
Yelp/Marlyse S.
The Lincoln Wine Bar is an amazing wine bar and pizza restaurant in the small town of Mount Vernon, Iowa. They serve incredible wood-fired pizza with innovative combinations and fresh, local ingredients. 125 1st St. W, Mt Vernon, IA.
Facebook/Sneaky Pete’s Woodfire Grill
Sneaky Pete’s serves amazing wood-fired steaks, along with incredible sides and other choices, like salmon, tuna, swordfish and more. 207 N Cody Rd., Le Claire, IA.
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