Dubuque to Des Moines

Although I won't be taking this trip for 3 months I figure it can't hurt to ask now.

There are a number of different ways to get from Dubuque to Des Moines; does anyone have any recommendations for a place to stop and grab lunch? I won't be travelling on I-80; I usually take US-20, US-30, US-151, US-6, IA-14, IA-330...some combination of those highways. Thanks!

Brad O.

Can't reach my atlas. Will you pass through Amana? The Old Colony Inn was outrageously good last April. Do see the Funicular in Dubuque.

Stones Cafe in Marshaltown and the Maid-Rite in Newton are both great. They and several others are reviewed by the Sterns on this site under the restaurants section.

Thanks for the suggestions (and I'm sure I'll get a few more). The Amana area (Amana, West Amana, East Amana, South Amana, Homestead) is certainly a possibility as US-6 and US-151 intersect there, and I'll look up the addresses of Stones and Maid-Rite (US-6 is Newton's main drag).

Brad

The title's appropriate so I guess I'll resurrect this thread instead of starting a new one.
 
My annual Iowa trip is coming up this week and I'm leaning toward driving US-151, IA-1, and US-6 for the Dubuque-Des Moines leg.  I've been perusing some maps and have come up with some possible lunch stops, and I'm hoping someone might have some feedback.
 
ANAMOSA
Tyler & Downing's looks like it might be a little on the hip/trendy side but it does offer a hand-cut, hand-breaded BPT and a burger made with Maytag blue cheese.  Otherwise it looks like the Anamosa Family Restaurant is my other choice.
 
MT. VERNON
Lincoln Cafe and Skillet Cafe have both caught my eye, and although Skillet doesn't offer a BPT (are they breaking some sort of law) the other offerings and spirit of the owners certainly seem worthy.
 
AMANA
Ox Yoke Inn has been mentioned here a number of times but I'm leaning toward The Ronneburg Restaurant simply because it's not the Ox Yoke.  I can occasionally be somewhat contrary.
 
GRINNELL
Since it's a college town Grinnell has a lot of choices and rather than list them all I'll just ask if there's one really good place that's worth a stop.  Grinnell Steakhouse or West Side Family Restaurant, maybe?
 
NEWTON
Since it's close to I-80 Newton has plenty of chain fast-food places but local offerings appear to be limited to Giovanni's Family Restaurant, La Cabana Mexican Restaurant, and Senor Tequila.  And even though the Iowa meatpacking industry employs many Hispanic workers I doubt Wanderingjew would consider Mexican food a regionally appropriate choice.
 
By this point I'll be close to Des Moines and my annual Thursday night pizza so it's time to stop eating.  Well, unless Papa Georgio's in Colfax is a place I really shouldn't miss...
 
Thanks!
 
Brad

I was looking at the menu for Westside Family Restaurant and thought they  ought to be shot for not having an Iowa Chop on the menu- give me one at market price over 5 free breaded pork tenderloins - any day of the week!

Are you choosing Mt Vernon over driving through Cedar Rapids? Some places have reopened in the past year, and are worth checking out.


 
IPTV's Iowa's Simple Pleasures went to Goldies in Prairie City recently, its worth watching the video:
http://www.iptv.org/simpl...=story&video=video

The only time I ever went actually through Cedar Rapids was when I missed the turn to take US-151 down the eastern edge and wound up taking Bus-151 through the city, so I'm not very familiar with it.  I found Sykora's website and it in turn directed me to the Czech Village site, so depending on time of day it might be an option.  I'm possibly making a stop in CR anyway but I don't know what part of the city yet.  I could always save Mt. Vernon for Sunday's trip home although I was kind of thinking about taking US-30 instead.
 
A little off-topic, but have you eaten at Ray Earl's at 38th & Douglas in Des Moines?  From what I can tell it looks like it opened last August.
 
Brad

Brad, have you ever been to Schera's in Elkader, the out of place Algerian restaurant with short hours in Clayton County Iowa?

No, I never have.  I've been meaning to get out that way to check out the Gunder Burger at the Irish Shanti and the BPT at St. Olaf but that hasn't panned out yet.  Last year we stayed overnight in Prairie du Chien but passed through Clayton County long before those places were open.
 
Brad

I think Ray Earl's in Des Moines closed recently. The location has changed from one restaurant to another frequently over the years.
 
The only new place in Northeast Iowa that is remotely interesting is Newtons Paradise Cafe in Waterloo:
http://www.newtonscafe.com/

I love the BBQ at the 2010 BBQ Pitmasters winner they have a new location by the harley dealer

KurtSara


I love the BBQ at the 2010 BBQ Pitmasters winner they have a new location by the harley dealer

 
I had lunch there today and was impressed.  Good brisket, pork, and ribs.
 
Brad