Iowa
17 classic restaurants in Iowa that still feed the state’s soul
Meet the classic restaurants in Des Moines
Des Moines’ iconic restaurants preserve family traditions, hearty classics and generations of community loyalty across the metro.
There’s a special hum inside Iowa’s most enduring dining rooms — the sizzle of a steak on a century-old grill, the clatter of pie plates, the soft thud of a loose‑meat sandwich wrapped in wax paper. These places predate our favorite gadgets and outlast most trends. They’re the lunch counters and supper clubs, taverns and pizza parlors where menus were set by grandmothers, Greek immigrants, farm families and perfectionists who decided to do one thing the right way for decades.
What follows is a hand‑picked tour of Iowa’s classics — restaurants with real lineage, dishes that define a town and rooms that carry memory in their booths and barstools. For each, you’ll find the origin story, what to order, a notable drink and the practicals. Come hungry; leave with a notebook full of story ideas and a glovebox stuffed with take‑out napkins.
Breitbach’s Country Dining | Balltown
Perched atop the bluffs of Balltown, Breitbach’s Country Dining is the kind of Iowa legend that feels stitched into the state’s fabric. Founded under a federal permit in 1852 and purchased a decade later by Jacob Breitbach, the restaurant is widely celebrated as Iowa’s oldest continuously operating bar and dining room. The sixth generation — led today by Mike Breitbach — carries on the hearty Midwestern cooking with German touches that has anchored the menu for more than a century and a half. Despite devastating fires in 2007 and 2008, the community helped rebuild it twice, and the doors opened again in 2009, ready to serve fried chicken, hand-battered pike and the famously photogenic house pies. Breitbach’s received its James Beard Foundation America’s Classics Award in 2009. Customers can explore local bottles in the rustic Wine Shed or sip a beer in the biergarten before sitting down to a meal. Breitbach’s remains a pilgrimage-worthy stop.
Price: $10 to $20 per person
Details: 563 Balltown Road, Balltown, 563-552‑2220, breitbachscountrydining.com.
Hamburg Inn No. 2 | Iowa City
Iowa City’s Hamburg Inn No. 2 is a diner with presidential folklore baked into every booth. The Panther family began the Hamburg Inn legacy in the 1930s, and the Linn Street location — opened in 1948 — quickly became a political must-visit thanks to its coffee‑bean caucus and even a cameo on “The West Wing.” After a period of uncertainty, former NFL player Nate Kaeding’s Gold Cap Hospitality revived the beloved café in 2023, restoring its all-day breakfast and diner classics to their rightful home. The menu still revolves around hearty staples — homefries, burgers and bottomless coffee — but the true icon is the pie shake, a full slice of pie blended into a milkshake.
Price: $10 to $20 per person
Details: 214 N. Linn St., Iowa City, 319-337‑5512, hamburginn2.com.
Northwestern Steakhouse | Mason City
In Mason City, Northwestern Steakhouse stands as a century-old testament to Greek-inspired Iowa beef. The restaurant began in 1920 as Pete’s Place, opened by Greek immigrants Pete Maduras and Tony Papouchis, moving to its current home in 1954 and adopting its present name in 1965. Today, second-generation owners Bill and Ann Papouchis preserve the buttery, olive‑oil-kissed broiled steaks that draw lines out the door. Filets and ribeyes arrive with a side of the signature Greek spaghetti and a simple salad, creating a meal that has changed little in decades — and doesn’t need to. Classic wine pours upstairs help pass the time while you wait.
Price: $40 to $50 per person
Details: 304 16th St. N.W., Mason City, 641-423‑5075, northwesternsteakhouse.com.
Archie’s Waeside | Le Mars
A James Beard Foundation America’s Classics honoree in 2015, Archie’s Waeside in Le Mars has been dry‑aging its steaks in-house since 1949, when master meat cutter Archie Jackson brought packinghouse expertise to rural Iowa. Now run by third-generation owner Robert Rand, the roadhouse holds fast to traditions like its 12 cuts of dry-aged beef, freshwater fish, a relish tray and house‑corned beef bites. The porterhouse — aged four full weeks — pairs naturally with a perfect Manhattan or one of the cellar’s deep reds, embodying the restaurant’s timeless steakhouse charm.
Price: $30 to $50 per person
Details: 224 Fourth Ave. N.E., Le Mars, 712-546‑7011, archieswaeside.com.
Canteen Lunch in the Alley | Ottumwa
Hidden beneath a downtown parking ramp, Canteen Lunch in the Alley has been Ottumwa’s shrine to the loose‑meat sandwich since 1927. The lunchroom moved to its current snug quarters in 1936, and over the decades passed through several devoted owners — most recently Scott and Jan Pierce, who took over in 2015. The star is the namesake Canteen: seasoned loose beef piled into a steamy bun with mustard, pickles and onions, optionally drizzled with cheese sauce. Homemade pies and malts served at the curved horseshoe counter add to the diner‑museum’s aura.
Price: $10 to $20 per person
Details: 112 E. Second St., Ottumwa, 641-682‑5320, canteeninthealley.com.
Mabe’s Pizza | Decorah
Decorah’s Mabe’s Pizza has been the unofficial dining hall of Luther College since 1953, when Mabel White’s small lunchroom began serving the square‑cut pies that would become a regional rite of passage. Renamed in 1968, the pizzeria remains family-run, now under third-generation owners Steve and Connie White and their son, GM Collin White. Known for its thin crust, scratch-made sauce and party‑cut slices, Mabe’s also offers broasted chicken, pasta and sandwiches. The Palace Special — loaded with sausage, beef, pepperoni, mushrooms and onions — remains the crowd favorite.
Price: $10 to $20 per person
Details: 110 E. Water St., Decorah, 563-382‑4297, mabespizza.com.
Taylor’s Maid‑Rite | Marshalltown
Few loose‑meat counters carry the heritage of Taylor’s Maid‑Rite in Marshalltown, where the Taylor family has served their version of the original Maid‑Rite since Jan. 1, 1928. Cliff Taylor bought the franchise for $300 and launched a tradition now upheld by Sandra Taylor Short and the next generation. The menu is deliberately minimal: Maid‑Rites (or Cheese‑Rites), chips, shakes and pies. What it lacks in variety, it makes up for in loyalty — locals have been sliding onto these stools for nearly a century.
Price: $10 to $20 per person
Details: 106 S. Third Ave., Marshalltown, 641-753‑9684, maidrite.com.
Zeno’s Pizza — Marshalltown
A few blocks away, Zeno’s Pizza has anchored Marshalltown’s Main Street since 1952, opened by Cosmo Nigrelli and Rocky LaValle with its neon sign and old-school pizzeria charm. Still locally run, the restaurant is beloved for thin-crust pies blanketed in cheese, including the signature Zeno’s Special with pepperoni, sausage, green peppers, mushrooms and onions. The bacon cheeseburger pizza is another locals’ pick, best enjoyed with a simple beer or glass of wine.
Price: $10 to $20 per person
Details: 109–111 E. Main St., Marshalltown, 641-752‑1245, zenosrestaurant.com.
Ox Yoke Inn | Amana
Opened in 1940 inside an 1856 brick building, the Ox Yoke Inn remains one of the Amana Colonies’ defining destinations for family-style German‑American cooking. Founded by William and Lina Leichsenring, the restaurant has welcomed five generations of family involvement and is now led by Bill Leichsenring. Platters of sauerbraten, schnitzel, roast beef and Amana brats arrive with classic sides and the pies — especially the rhubarb custard — have their own fanbase. Downstairs, the Bierstube pours local and imported brews in a cozy, wood-lined room.
Price: $20 to $30 per person
Details: 4420 220th Trail, Amana, 319-622‑3441, oxyokeinn.com.
Jesse’s Embers | Des Moines
A compact, wood-paneled icon on Ingersoll Avenue, Jesse’s Embers has embraced its supper‑club soul since 1963, when Jesse Roush expanded a former key club into a full restaurant built around an open‑flame grill. In 2025, Carter Annett took the reins, preserving the beloved steaks, ribs, seafood and classic sides that define the menu. The Emberburger and London broil remain signature dishes, best finished with a dessert cocktail — brandy Alexander, Grasshopper or Pink Squirrel — just like the old days.
Price: $20 to $30 per person
Details: 3301 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines, 515-255‑6011, theoriginaljessesembers.com.
Tasty Tacos | Des Moines
Since 1961, Tasty Tacos has served the Mosqueda family’s fluffy flour taco — an only‑in‑Des‑Moines phenomenon that sparked a metro-wide cult following. Founded by Richard and Antonia Mosqueda and carried on today by CEO Jennifer “Jenni” Gardner and the fourth generation, the fast-serve restaurants focus on fresh, comforting Mexican‑American classics. The flour taco, stuffed with beef or pork, is the order that started it all; Krispos and Nacho Supremes round out the ritual.
Price: $10 to $15 per person
Details: Locations are at tastytacos.com.
Hickory Park | Ames
Ames’ Hickory Park has been feeding crowds since 1970, growing from a small barbecue shop into a 450-seat institution famous for its smoked meats and sprawling ice‑cream fountain. Founded by David Wheelock and relocated in 1997, the restaurant joined the Bernau Capital Partners portfolio in 2019, though the menu remains unchanged: hickory-smoked pork, chicken, sandwiches, classic sides and nostalgia-soaked Green River sodas. A malt or sundae is practically mandatory.
Price: $10 to $20 per person
Details: 1404 S. Duff Ave., Ames, 515-232‑8940, hickoryparkbbq.com.
B & B Grocery, Meat & Deli | Des Moines
Part butcher shop, part deli, all tradition — B & B Grocery has anchored Des Moines’ south side since 1922, when brothers Archie and John Brooks opened the doors. Now operated by third-generation brothers John and Joe Brooks, the shop is best known for its gigantic, personality-packed “Killer” sandwiches, breaded tenderloins and old-fashioned meat counter. Dad’s Killer and Zach’s Italian Killer are local legends, served with cooler drinks and zero pretense.
Price: Less than $10 per person
Details: 2001 S.E. Sixth St., Des Moines, 515-243‑7607, bbgrocerymeatdeli.com.
Smitty’s Tenderloin Shop | Des Moines
On Army Post Road, Smitty’s Tenderloin Shop has been hand-pounding pork tenderloins since 1967, when Bill “Smitty” Smith purchased a 1950s café across from his gas station and gave it his name. Now in its third generation of family stewardship, the tiny counter still turns out regular and “king” tenderloins, onion rings, burgers and shakes for a devoted following. A King Tenderloin basket and a seasonal shake remain the classic combination.
Price: $10 to $20 per person
Details: 1401 Army Post Road, Des Moines, 515-287‑4742, facebook.com/smittystenderloins.
Sneaky’s Chicken | Sioux City
Since 1979, Sioux City’s Sneaky’s Chicken has built its reputation on broasted chicken — pressure‑fried to achieve a uniquely crisp crust and juicy interior. Founded by brothers Dave and Rick Ferris and still run by the family, Sneaky’s serves hearty platters of chicken alongside gizzards, shrimp, ribs and classic sides. Cold beer and cocktails complete the family-friendly spread.
Price: $10 to $20 per person
Details: 3711 Gordon Drive, Sioux City, 712-252‑0522, sneakyschicken.com.
A & A Pagliai’s Pizza | Iowa City
A & A Pagliai’s Pizza holds one of Iowa’s richest pizza lineages, tracing its heritage to the Pagliai family’s 1950s pizzerias and settling into its Iowa City home in the 1960s. The restaurant, purchased by Anthony Fontanini in the late 2010s, remains fiercely loyal to its thin-crust style, topping pies generously and offering frozen versions to take home. The Palace Special and Veggie Special are perennial favorites, served alongside domestic drafts and a short wine list.
Price: $10 to $20 per person
Details: 302 E. Bloomington St., Iowa City, 319-351‑5073, pagliaisic.com.
The Machine Shed | Urbandale and Davenport
Opened in 1978 on the outskirts of Davenport, the Machine Shed debuted with just 100 seats and a five‑word constitution: “Dedicated to the American Farmer.” This commitment guided founder Mike Whalen and his Heart of America Group, which has since grown into a hospitality company managing restaurants and hotels across multiple states. The Davenport location remains the flagship and a defining Iowa classic, celebrated for farm‑to‑table cooking, generous hospitality and a deep respect for agricultural heritage.
The restaurant is known for its seasonally inspired comfort food, all made from scratch daily, sch as hearty classics like the World Famous Baked Potato Soup — a creamy chowder loaded with potatoes, bacon, cheese and green onions — as well as specialties such as burnt ends, beer‑cheese fondue with pretzel breadsticks and brisket‑stuffed potato skins. The fried chicken, smoked brisket and hand‑battered mushrooms are perennial favorites, capturing the indulgent spirit of Midwestern dining.
Born in 1978 beside Living History Farms, The Machine Shed in Urbandale also offers heaping plates of Midwestern comfort food. The Urbandale location serves farm-style classics like pot roast, roast turkey and dressing, pork chops and oversized cinnamon rolls. Weekend brunch brings mimosas, while dinner leans toward classic cocktails and Midwest beers.
Details: 11151 Hickman Road, Urbandale; 515-270‑6818; and 7250 Northwest Blvd., Davenport, 563-391‑2427, machineshed.com.
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Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – A new state report shows more students are earning credentials tied directly to jobs as enrollment at community colleges is nearly back to pre-pandemic levels.
Students are training in-field for jobs hiring now at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids.
Shamar Benton is weeks away from graduating Kirkwood’s Construction Management program. He said community college gave him hands-on experience before entering the workforce.
“It’s a great program,” Benton said. “They put us through real life situations, and I feel like you don’t get that at other colleges.”
Statewide enrollment rebounds
The 2025 Annual Condition of Iowa’s Community Colleges report shows community college enrollment is rebounding, with Career and Technical Education programs driving more than three-quarters of degrees, and nine-in-ten graduates employed within a year.
Jennifer Bradley, vice president of academic affairs at Kirkwood, said students are interested in experiential learning.
Kirkwood said CTE programs are built around what local employers need to fill openings in areas like health care and construction.
“We are dedicated to making sure that students get those experiences in the classroom that are directly connected to what they can anticipate when they get out in industry,” Bradley said.
Benton said the smaller setting makes a difference. Fewer students per class means more one-on-one time with instructors.
“Kirkwood is together. It’s like a family,” Benton said.
Copyright 2026 KCRG. All rights reserved.
Watch as Lilly Baron honors Molly, the dog who inspired anti-abuse laws
Lilly Baron and supporters gathered Aug. 14, 2025 in downtown Ocala to honor Molly, the dog who inspired measures to prevent animal abuse.
An animal-welfare organization has released its annual, national report on problem puppy mills, with five of the “Horrible Hundred” businesses located in Iowa.
The report, published Monday by Humane World for Animals, formerly the Humane Society of the United States, highlights regulatory violations cited at 100 dog breeders across the country. The states with the highest numbers of breeders in this year’s report include Missouri, Wisconsin, New York, Pennsylvania, Kansas and Ohio.
More than 20 of the 100 breeders and dealers listed in the report have sold puppies to Petland, the largest chain of pet stores still operating in the United States, according to Humane World for Animals. Many others sell on social media, and on websites such as Puppies.com.
Humane World for Animals compiles its annual report from data included in the inspection reports of various state agencies and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Here are the Iowa breeders listed in this year’s report.
Ricky and Mary Brodersen of Mystical Cockers in Kiron
This is the third year Mystical Cockers in Kiron has been listed among the Horrible Hundred. In August 2025, state inspectors cited the business for recurring issues, such as a buildup of hair, debris and feces below the kennels and dogs kept in spaces without solid surfaces on which they could rest. In addition, there was only one caretaker to clean about 60 enclosures daily, with the inspector observing that the “condition of the enclosures indicates this is not adequate” staffing. When inspectors returned in September 2025, they noted that the business was “working on decreasing” the number of dogs.
Co-owner Mary Brodersen was criminally charged in 2012. Court records show Brodersen was charged with 88 counts of animal neglect, resulting in 44 convictions and 44 dismissals. She was later sentenced to 44 days in jail, or one day in jail for each of the 44 convictions. Five separate counts of animal neglect resulting in death or injury were dismissed by the court.
Humane World for Animals reported the arrest occurred after a raid on her previous puppy mill resulted in the confiscation of 88 animals and five dogs were found dead. The American Kennel Club later suspended her for a period of 15 years. Humane World for Animals, however, reports that Ricky Brodersen is still showing cocker spaniels at AKC-linked dog events and has been for years.
William Davenport of Afton
During a July 2025 visit to William Davenport’s business in Afton, a USDA inspector raised concerns about the medical care provided for three dogs. The inspector noted that records indicated Snickers, a 3-year-old female bulldog, had a prolapse on July 15 and 16, 2025, but there were no other medical records regarding the event or any medications that were prescribed.
The records also indicated that Muffin, a 2-year-old female bulldog, had a C-section and was given medication, but there were no records documenting the treatment or the medications that were prescribed. A similar situation involved Princess, a 3-year-old female bulldog who was taken to a veterinarian for a lump on her neck. The USDA also cited the business for a repeat violation related to eight puppies that were missing from the facility with no written record of what had happened to them. When USDA employees returned in November 2025 to check on the dogs, they were not given access to the facility.
In total, Davenport was found to be in violation during six consecutive inspections from July 2024 to November 2025. According to Humane World for Animals, his USDA license was recently canceled, but another license has appeared in the USDA’s database under the name BillieJo Davenport at a nearby address.
Ruth Ewoldt of Furkids in Toronto
For Furkids in the Clinton County community of Toronto. 2026 marks the second time it has been listed among the Horrible Hundred. Owner Ruth Ewoldt was cited for issues during three state inspections conducted in October and November 2025. Issues with fleas were noted at all three inspections.
Other issues included structural repair problems and puppies that had to be treated for giardia, an intestinal infection that can spread to humans. Inspectors also found multiple dogs that were observed to have “dirty ears with discharge,” and the inspector noted that puppies with upper respiratory conditions and ear mites were being sold to customers.
Furkids was listed in the 2021 Horrible Hundred report for issues that included recurring problems with unsanitary conditions and failing to follow disease prevention protocols. During one visit in 2021, inspectors warned Ewoldt that the “odor and stench” at the business could not “be masked with air fresheners and sprays.” The inspector watched as one dog sat down to scratch itself and then landed “in a pile of feces.”
Kimberly Olson of Kimi’s Precious Treasures in Joice
During an October 2025 visit, a state inspector indicated Kimberly Olson of Kimi’s Precious Treasures in Joice was “selling puppies to a broker without a USDA license,” and also appeared to be offering puppies online without the appropriate license. Also, the bottoms of two kennels appeared to be rotting away due to rust.
The inspector reported explaining to Olson that “a USDA license is necessary to sell through, or to, a broker.” In a report, the state inspector noted that Olson would be applying for a federal license with the USDA, but as of April 24, 2026, the USDA had yet to report the issuance of any licensee in the name of Olson or Kimi’s Precious Treasures. Olson held a USDA broker’s license from 2014 to 2022.
Wuanita Swedlund of Farmington
This year marks the third time Wuanita Swedlund of Farmington this business has been listed among the Horrible Hundred. According to Humane World for Animals, Swedlund has repeatedly failed to provide inspectors with access to the facility, “raising grave concerns about the welfare of all her dogs.” Inspectors from the state or the USDA who tried to check on Swedlund’s dogs were unable to do so during six separate inspection attempts from June 2025 to January 2026. Just prior to those incidents, in May 2025, state inspectors had found multiple repeat violations at the business, including unsanitary enclosures and a buildup of feces.
In February 2026, the USDA issued an official warning to Swedlund for the repeat “no access” violations. At the time of that warning, federal inspectors with the USDA had not been able to gain entry to the business since December 2024, when they found a number of concerns that resulted in Swedlund’s appearance on the 2025 Horrible Hundred list, including one heavily matted dog, several dogs with no water, and an enclosure that was “heavily contaminated with fecal material.”
In 2024, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals referenced Swedlund’s violations in a lawsuit against the USDA alleging a lack of enforcement action by the agency. That lawsuit, which is still pending, noted that six puppies had died in the cold at Swedlund’s business but she was not fined or penalized.
Past violations by Swedlund were tied to findings related to injured, limping dogs, and a dog that partially ate a puppy it was able to access in a neighboring enclosure.
Hypothermia death at Nebraska kennel
Breeders in states bordering Iowa that made this year’s Horrible Hundred list include At First Light Farms in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, where a dog was allegedly killed after the licensee noticed it had diarrhea and was showing signs of weakness.
USDA inspectors noted that the licensee had not consulted her veterinarian about treating the dog’s illness, nor about the specific methods used to kill the dog. State inspectors said the woman who ran the business concluded the dog was “getting ready to die,” and so she “called her boyfriend” to take care of the matter, although she claimed to have no knowledge as to how the dog was then killed.
At Sandhills Dachshunds in Brewster, Nebraska, inspectors found a dead dog in an outdoor kennel. The dog appeared to have died from hypothermia, as temperatures had been below freezing, and the dead dog — as well as other dogs at Sandhills Dachshunds — lacked bedding or adequate shelter.
“The Horrible Hundred report shows the public the abhorrent reality for dogs at puppy mills — including those that are licensed and inspected,” said John Goodwin, senior managing director for puppy mills and equine protection at the Humane World for Animals.
Find this story at Iowa Capital Dispatch, which is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: kobradovich@iowacapitaldispatch.com.
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