Iowa has no shortage of tasty food and great restaurants. Sometimes it’s fun to break out of the routine and find something new, a little off the beaten path. These restaurants may be understated or hard to find, but that doesn’t mean they don’t take their cooking and customer experience seriously. These 10 little known restaurants will definitely provide you with a memorable meal and friendly service without having to make a big fuss.
- The Irish Shanti, Elgin
Facebook/Gunderburger - The Irish Shanti
Facebook/Gunderburger - The Irish Shanti The Irish Shanti, located in Elgin, is home to the epic Gunderburger, a large burger created in the ’70s that is a full pound of hand-pattied ground beef with a variety of toppings. The Shanti has plenty of other dishes, as well, like pork burgers, sandwiches and a variety of classic American entrees.
Address: 17455 Gunder Rd., Elgin, IA
- The Chuckwagon Restaurant, Adair
Facebook/Chuckwagon Restaurant
Facebook/Chuckwagon Restaurant The Chuckwagon was named the winner of Iowa’s Best Burger contest for 2016 by the Iowa Beef Industry Council and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, so you know it’s good. Their burgers, of course, are a great reason to eat here, but you can’t go wrong with their other tasty menu options.
Address: 113 S 5th Street, Adair, IA
- Northwestern Steak House, Mason City
Flickr/Mark Chernesky
Yelp/Will F. Northwestern Steak House is a definite hidden gem. Since 1920, they’ve been serving mouth-watering Greek-style steaks, cooked with olive oil and a blend of Greek seasonings.
Address: 304 16th St. NW, Mason City, IA
- Angelini’s Pizza, Keokuk
Facebook/Angelini’s Pizza
Facebook/Angelini’s Pizza Angelini’s has tasty pizza, of course, and and variety of pasta dishes, steaks, salads, fish, and more. Some nights they even have a pasta bar, where you can mix and match your own pasta dish.
Address: 1006 Main St., Keokuk, IA
- Archie’s Waeside, Le Mars
Google Maps
Yelp/Christopher V. Archie’s Waeside serves the most amazing dry aged steak you can get in Iowa, or even the country. Their steaks are award-winning, and I think you’ll agree that this place is worth a stop.
Address: 224 4th Ave. NE, Le Mars, IA
- Bombfire Pizza, Sabula
Flickr/Tradlands
Yelp/Sarah M. This quirky pizza place in Sabula, Iowa’s only island town, serves up delicious wood fired pizza full of flavor. With its funky hippy vibe, fresh ingredients and friendly staff, it’s a great place for a memorable night out.
Address: 516 Pearl St., Sabula, IA
- Starboard Market, Clear Lake
Yelp/David M.
Yelp/Amber H. Starboard Market serves amazingly delicious sandwiches in a charming atmosphere. They also serve plenty of soups, salads and homemade desserts.
Address: 310 Main Ave., Clear Lake, IA
- Tomaso’s Pizza, Marion, Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha
Yelp/Trevor F.
Tomaso’s Pizza Cedar Rapids Location Tomaso’s serves amazing Chicago deep dish, Detroit deep dish and New York thin crust pizza. Their pizza is so good they’ve won awards, like the #1 best pizza in Cedar Rapids twice.
Addresses: 1111 7th Ave, Marion, IA 3234 Center Point Rd NE Cedar Rapids, IA 1061 N Center Point Rd. NE, Hiawatha IA
- Salt Fork Kitchen, Solon
Yelp/Tracy D.
Yelp/Christian K. Salt Fork serves delicious seasonal, locally sourced dishes. While Wednesday through Sunday they serve breakfast and lunch, they do serve dinner on Friday nights from 5:30 - 8:30pm. The food is made from scratch with fresh ingredients, and you’ll find all kinds of egg dishes, pancakes, French toast, burgers, salads, sandwiches and more on the menu.
Address: 112 E Main St., Solon, IA
- The Cider House, Fairfield
Facebook/The Cider House
Facebook/The Cider House Winner of Iowa’s Best Burger in 2015, a yearly competition held by The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and the Iowa Beef Council, the Cider House has amazing burgers. They also have a cool, eclectic atmosphere and tasty hard cider, among other things.
Address: 102 N 2nd St., Fairfield, IA
Which ones have you been to? What did you think? Did I miss any? You’ll also love these 11 ‘Hole In The Wall’ Restaurants In Iowa That Will Blow Your Taste Buds Away.
Facebook/Gunderburger - The Irish Shanti
The Irish Shanti, located in Elgin, is home to the epic Gunderburger, a large burger created in the ’70s that is a full pound of hand-pattied ground beef with a variety of toppings. The Shanti has plenty of other dishes, as well, like pork burgers, sandwiches and a variety of classic American entrees.
Address: 17455 Gunder Rd., Elgin, IA
Facebook/Chuckwagon Restaurant
The Chuckwagon was named the winner of Iowa’s Best Burger contest for 2016 by the Iowa Beef Industry Council and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, so you know it’s good. Their burgers, of course, are a great reason to eat here, but you can’t go wrong with their other tasty menu options.
Address: 113 S 5th Street, Adair, IA
Flickr/Mark Chernesky
Yelp/Will F.
Northwestern Steak House is a definite hidden gem. Since 1920, they’ve been serving mouth-watering Greek-style steaks, cooked with olive oil and a blend of Greek seasonings.
Address: 304 16th St. NW, Mason City, IA
Facebook/Angelini’s Pizza
Angelini’s has tasty pizza, of course, and and variety of pasta dishes, steaks, salads, fish, and more. Some nights they even have a pasta bar, where you can mix and match your own pasta dish.
Address: 1006 Main St., Keokuk, IA
Google Maps
Yelp/Christopher V.
Archie’s Waeside serves the most amazing dry aged steak you can get in Iowa, or even the country. Their steaks are award-winning, and I think you’ll agree that this place is worth a stop.
Address: 224 4th Ave. NE, Le Mars, IA
Flickr/Tradlands
Yelp/Sarah M.
This quirky pizza place in Sabula, Iowa’s only island town, serves up delicious wood fired pizza full of flavor. With its funky hippy vibe, fresh ingredients and friendly staff, it’s a great place for a memorable night out.
Address: 516 Pearl St., Sabula, IA
Yelp/David M.
Yelp/Amber H.
Starboard Market serves amazingly delicious sandwiches in a charming atmosphere. They also serve plenty of soups, salads and homemade desserts.
Address: 310 Main Ave., Clear Lake, IA
Yelp/Trevor F.
Tomaso’s Pizza Cedar Rapids Location
Tomaso’s serves amazing Chicago deep dish, Detroit deep dish and New York thin crust pizza. Their pizza is so good they’ve won awards, like the #1 best pizza in Cedar Rapids twice.
Addresses: 1111 7th Ave, Marion, IA 3234 Center Point Rd NE Cedar Rapids, IA 1061 N Center Point Rd. NE, Hiawatha IA
Yelp/Tracy D.
Yelp/Christian K.
Salt Fork serves delicious seasonal, locally sourced dishes. While Wednesday through Sunday they serve breakfast and lunch, they do serve dinner on Friday nights from 5:30 - 8:30pm. The food is made from scratch with fresh ingredients, and you’ll find all kinds of egg dishes, pancakes, French toast, burgers, salads, sandwiches and more on the menu.
Address: 112 E Main St., Solon, IA
Facebook/The Cider House
Winner of Iowa’s Best Burger in 2015, a yearly competition held by The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and the Iowa Beef Council, the Cider House has amazing burgers. They also have a cool, eclectic atmosphere and tasty hard cider, among other things.
Address: 102 N 2nd St., Fairfield, IA
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