Where to Eat in Iowa

A cheese counter and cafe rolled into one, The Cheese Shop is a local lunch favorite. The aroma of melting cheese wafts through the room, legs of prosciutto hang from the walls, bottles of wine stock the shelves to the ceiling, and the staff members are warm and perpetually smiling. For lunch, try any of the Toasties ($8–$12), amped-up grilled cheese sandwiches with your choice of add-ins from salty La Quercia prosciutto to fragrant Valencia almond butter, or the killer Cast-Iron Mac & Cheese ($10). Be sure to pick up a chunk of cheese—the shop offers Iowan to international varieties—and a jar of housemade pickles on your way out.

Three-time James Beard Foundation semifinalist Sean Wilson helms the kitchen at Proof, transforming local ingredients into gorgeous and imaginative Mediterranean-inspired dishes. An ethereal beet-balsamic marshmallow is the centerpiece of the Roasted Beet Salad ($12), surrounded by an artful arrangement of whipped chèvre and tender greens, while pungent morsels of lamb and onion take the spotlight in the Preserved Lamb ($17), piled until overflowing in a flaky puff pastry basket. The menu changes often, but you really can’t go wrong with any dish.

Tag Grandgeorge, owner and chef of this cozy French bistro, sources his ingredients from the gardens of friends, family, and local farmers and producers. His philosophy of local, sustainable eating is taken straight from his childhood: “It’s just the way I grew up,” he said. “We would always have a huge family garden; all my aunts and uncles would participate, and my grandpa and grandma. It was just kind of a way of life, growing up in Iowa.” Stop in for classic omelettes, sweet and savory crepes, or an array of French-inspired entrees for dinner or weekend brunch.

Treat your tastebuds to an adventure at Reed’s Hollow, where culinary wizard Zach Gutweiler experiments with bold flavors and unexpected combinations. The menu is frequently updated, with choices like the umami-packed Brussels Sprouts ($6), which swim in a pungent caramelized fish sauce, or the refreshing Chilled Cucumber ($8), petaled around sweet blueberries in a foamy avocado cream. If you’re feeling adventurous, try the Orange Chicken ($13), slow-cooked chicken gizzards with asparagus, sushi rice crisps, orange carrot glaze, and egg custard; or the Bison Made Right ($16)—a nod to Iowa’s iconic loose-meat Maid-Rite sandwich—with savory-sweet larb (Lao meat salad), fried carrots, and Thai herbs on buttery challah. The burger is served with crispy and addictive beet fries that put conventional french fries to shame. For more creative concoctions, don’t miss Taco Tuesdays—on Wednesdays, naturally.

A haven for meat-lovers, Rube’s Steakhouse offers a unique grill-your-own experience for the ultimate Iowa steak. The steakhouse has everything from flavorful bone-in ribeye to tender, bacon-wrapped filet mignon, all sourced from local family farms. If you’re a serious carnivore, you can try your hand (or stomach) at the Belly Buster Top Sirloin ($59.95): a three-pound monster that'll earn you a free T-shirt if you finish. Customers pick out their cuts of choice at the meat counter—along with any sides, from shrimp skewers to veggie skillets—then take them to a huge communal grill to cook exactly to their liking. Seasoned grill masters will rejoice, but even if you’re less confident in your skills, not to worry—the staff are happy to give you tips and pointers. At the grill, there’s plenty of butter, Texas toast, and good conversation to go around.