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Iowa boasts a broad array of dining options to satisfy any taste. Discover 99 restaurants (one for each county) to get you started. Happy dining!
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Bonaparte Retreat
Located in the charming Villages of Van Buren County, the Bonaparte Retreat is housed in an 1800s grist mill on the banks of the Iowa River. Enjoy good food in a gorgeous setting.
Bud's Café
Visitors rave about the breakfast menu and customer service at this local eatery. Since the 1970s, Bud’s Café has been a landmark known for hearty omelets and homemade pies.
Cabin Coffee Company
Step inside this charming, rustic-looking coffee shop to enjoy what some visitors say is the best coffee anywhere. Breakfast and lunch items complement the diverse beverage selections.
Cliff's Place
After strolling Manning’s historic Main Street, grab a bite to eat at Cliff’s Place. Open daily, the family-owned restaurant features broasted chicken, a full salad bar and flame-broiled burgers and steaks.
Cronk's Café
This hometown diner located on the Historic Lincoln Highway in western Iowa serves classic diner fare and is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Crouse Café
The food here is so down-to-earth, you'd swear your mom's in the kitchen. Downhome favorites like tenderloins, fried chicken and roast beef sandwiches precede the perfect dessert: famous homemade cherry pie.
Fat T's Cafe
A healthy choice cafe serving panini sandwiches, homemade soups and salads. If you're on the road, stop in for a grab-and-go meal or a real fruit smoothie with an optional protein, energy or veggie boost.
Grass Roots Café
An oasis in the tiny town of Humeston, Grass Roots Café serves a variety of homemade sandwiches, soups, salads, pies and cinnamon rolls. After lunch, browse the gallery full of artwork and handmade goods from local artists.
Home Plate Bar & Grill
A combo bar and restaurant, Home Plate Bar & Grill serves quintessential American favorites such as a pork chop dinner.
Iron Horse Neighborhood Grill
A small-town restaurant with a big-city feel, the Iron Horse serves classic comfort food. Located in a renovated downtown building, specials include prime rib, baby back ribs, and brisket.
Junction Café
Plain and simple, the Junction Café serves home-style food in a home-style diner. Is anything better?
Klunder's Kafe
Family-owned Klunder’s Kafe has been serving all-day breakfast, broasted chicken and more since 1981. The metal sculpture of a chicken outside the door is a local landmark.
Lincoln Café
Located on the Historic Lincoln Highway, this family-owned café serves classic diner food and breakfast all day long. Stop in on Monday or Thursday for the beer-battered chicken strip special – it’s what the locals love.
Linden Street Coffeehouse
"More than just coffee" is more than Linden Street Coffeehouse’s tagline - it’s a promise. Warm cinnamon rolls and tasty quiche round out the breakfast menu and delicious wraps make lunch a must. Top off your trip with some latte art or their fan-favorite, caramel macchiato.
Market Grille
When the historic Hotel Charitone on the town square was renovated and reopened, it was only natural that Hy-Vee would operate the restaurant. (Hy-Vee’s corporate headquarters were in Chariton for 50 years.)
Mary Jo's Hobo House
Britt is home to Iowa’s very own Hobo Museum and Mary Jo’s Hobo House is right across the street and compliments this unique museum nicely. Decorated with pictures of hobos, railroad paraphernalia and autographs of members of the Hobo Hall of Fame – this is a one-of-a-kind stop. Try the breaded pork tenderloin or the "Hobo Philly" sandwich.
Milk & Honey
This community-minded restaurant serves high quality, locally sourced foods, including many organic and vegetarian options.
Mill Creek Café
This small-town café’s motto is "From Scratch. Always." And they mean it – the ladies of Mill Creek make three lunch specials each day and offer a take-and-bake menu for dinners you can cook later.
Millers' Kitchen
This charming café serves up traditional comfort food from its location on Iowa’s widest main street. Photos on the walls feature historical images from Onawa.
Northside Café
Made-from-scratch comfort food is served in a more than century old building with 13-foot-tall tin ceilings and old booths and barstools. In the 1995 movie, The Bridges of Madison County, Robert Kincaid stops for coffee at the café. Employees will happily point out which stool Clint Eastwood used.
Prime Time Bar & Grille
Located directly on the Western Skies Scenic Byway in downtown Guthrie Center, the Prime Time Bar & Grille is a local favorite and the perfect stop for lunch or dinner during a tour along the byway. Try the steak sandwich for lunch and the steak linguini for dinner.
Rustic Brew
Opened in 2013 by a group of friends, Rustic Brew is as fun as it is unique. This small, family-owned restaurant is a one-of-a-kind experience that features fresh-roasted coffee, craft beer, wine, soups, sandwiches and salads. Locals highly recommend the Reuben on their homemade marble rye bread.
Sigourney Café
An extensive breakfast menu is served all day. Malted pancakes are available with strawberries, blueberries, pecans or chocolate chips.
Southfork Restaurant
Friendly service and mouth-watering prime rib are on the menu at the Southfork Restaurant and Lounge. Extend your visit to Bloomfield by staying overnight at the attached Southfork Motel - so you’ll be sure not to miss their famous biscuits and gravy.
Sweet Joy Shoppe
Craving comfort food? Come to the Sweet Joy Shoppe for daily lunch and dinner specials like beef stroganoff or chicken and noodles. The shop also offers a variety of pastries, lattes and smoothies.
The Bread Basket
Good food, local wine, great service and homemade desserts make The Bread Basket a tasty one-stop shop. Pop in for tea and a cupcake, or stay a while and enjoy a meal in this elegant setting. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter for their daily hot entrée.
The Feedlot
Breakfast served all day and daily lunch and dinner specials make this local favorite a great stop for road trips. Homemade comfort food at its best.
The General Store Pub
This former general store, constructed of local limestone and nestled on the banks of the Wapsipinicon River, was immortalized in Grant Wood’s Stone City Iowa painting. The restaurant includes a large outdoor deck overlooking the river.
The Sanctuary
Peanut butter. Chocolate. Pie. Enough said. This restaurant, located in a beautiful century-old church, offers a variety of daily specials - including a pie of the day.
The Wild Carrot
A cute café that’s part restaurant, part gift shop, The Wild Carrot is open for breakfast and lunch. Try the Waverly Cheesesteak, the "best Reuben I’ve ever tasted" and the restaurant’s namesake carrot cake for dessert.
Wagon Wheel Café
Daily comfort food specials like meatloaf and hot beef round out a classic café menu. Stop by on Thursday night for the broasted chicken and pizza buffet.
