Looking for a unique date night? Here are 9 places where you can enjoy the food AND the view.
1. Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad Dinner Train, Boone
Take a step back in time with fine dining aboard Iowa’s dinner train in Boone. Breathtaking views surround you as you cross the Des Moines River valley, including the highest and longest double-track railroad bridge still in operation. Dinner trains depart seasonally on Friday and Saturday evenings. Dessert and picnic trains are held on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
2. PM Park, Clear Lake
This summer hot spot on the shores of Clear Lake allows you to dine al fresco at colorful tables on the green, surrounded by mature oak trees and a cool breeze blowing off the lake. Enjoy award-winning food (it was voted Best Onion Rings in North Iowa), live music and the killer view.
3. Celebration Belle Dinner Cruise, Quad Cities
For more than 30 years, the Celebration Belle has sailed the mighty Mississippi River in the Quad Cities. The 770-passenger paddlewheel boat, the largest non-gaming riverboat on the Upper Mississippi, offers casual sightseeing, lunch and dinner cruises. Day-long cruises include breakfast, lunch and dinner. Cruises sail April through October.
4. McCaffery's Dolce Vita, Decorah
The cabin-like building of McCaffery’s Dolce Vita is nestled in the scenic woods of Decorah. It features ceiling-to-floor windows so you can watch the wildlife while indulging in their delicious wood-fired pizzas and more. Open Wednesday-Sunday.
5. Bracco Waterfront Grill & Bar, Okoboji
After a day on the boat, relax at Bracco’s open-air restaurant on the shores of East Lake Okoboji. Its tropical-themed décor and cocktails – along with the waterfront location – will have you thinking you’re on an island. Located at Bridges Bay Resort and open seasonally, May-September.
6. Go Fish Marina Bar & Grill, Princeton
Go Fish in Princeton sits right on the Mississippi (just north of the Quad Cities) and offers docks along the bank for boat-in dining. Watch the river traffic float by while you enjoy hearty pub fare. Their breaded tenderloin sandwich was recognized by the Iowa Pork Producers as one of the best of 2014.
7. Regatta Grill, Storm Lake
The Regatta Grill is King’s Pointe Resort’s premier dining facility and is located right on the shores of Storm Lake. The tiered dining room ensures every table has a lake view. Guests can watch the sunset on the lakeside patio or around the firepit as they relax after their day at the indoor/outdoor waterpark.
8. Steventon's, Le Claire
Sitting atop a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River in Le Claire, Steventon's is perfect for date night. Enjoy a glass of wine on the two-tier patio or dine on American classics in an elegant atmosphere with large windows overlooking the river.
