*We had the great pleasure to be promote the Clayton County Beef Passport and the Allamakee County Beef Passport earlier this summer. Our travels were sponsored by the Clayton County Farm Bureau and the Allamakee County Farm Bureau. The views expressed in this blog post are of our own. Now, lets gallivant!
Northeast Iowa is one of the most beautiful regions in the entire Midwest. Luckily for the locals and all of us travelers, it’s full of memorable restaurants. A couple of Beef Passports were created for folks who wanted to explore Allamakee County and Clayton County, this summer, and they called the right guy to get all 14 participating restaurants checked off both of the lists. Now, we have fall coming, so get those travel plans revved back up for NE-Iowa and see it in a whole different way and color! *Picture taken on River Bluffs Scenic Byway in Rural Clayton County
Ribeye Steak Sandwich Special at Lid’s Bar & Grill-Waukon, Iowa (Allamakee County)
What a treat this was! I happened to show up on a day when the Lid’s crew was featuring their popular Ribeye Steak Sandwich. Under all that melted cheese was grilled onions and mushrooms. Those potatoes took me back to Grandma’s house, countless farmhouses, potlucks and I don’t know how many church halls all at once. That steak was tender and JUICY!
Corned beef cooked in house for HOURS! The Elkader locals were raving about this Reuben and the rye bread baked fresh just down the street at Pedretti’s. I went dunking in that cup of rich Wisconsin beer cheese soup just like good gallivanter should.
Welcome to the comfort zone. Chap’s is one of those scratch kitchen’s that will leave you wondering if you should just go ahead and move to New Albin! This plate of stick to your ribs meatloaf, made from scratch mashed potatoes, rich beef gravy, corn, bread and butter is like a homecoming in the northeastern-most corner of IowaNear New Albin is Sand Cove Road and it’s one of my favorite drives in all of the Driftless area. It’s here where you’ll find Iowa’s only desert. Yup, you read that right…..
Uff Da Burger at Saint Olaf Tavern-Saint Olaf, Iowa (Clayton County)
One pound specially season all beef patty and it’s a juicy one! Watch out for lockjaw in Saint Olaf because they make the burgers thick around here. Served on Texas toast with grilled onions and mushrooms. Order the onion rings!
Taco Pizza at Portside One Stop-Harpers Ferry, Iowa (Allamakee County)
This Iowa pizza classic started in our home state and has found its way into ovens all over the map. Portside’s rendition matches up with some of your favorites and it was a great change of pace during this beefy whirlwind we were on. They don’t skimp on that seasoned taco meet and I wasn’t sneaking up on anyone with all that crunch going on!
Beer Cheese Cheeseburger Special at TD’s Sports Bar-Elkader, Iowa (Clayton County)
You MUST keep an eye out on this restaurant for their weekly burger specials. This beer cheese cheeseburger special was packed inside a pretzel bun with a wonderful all beef patty, beer cheese sauce, Swiss cheese, grilled onions, crispy bacon, and spicy mustard. That was a flavorful burger!It was time for Jelly Belly to see the World’s Biggest Strawberry for the first time in Strawberry Point, Iowa!
Beef Tenderloin Steak Tips at Shep’s Riverside-Lansing, Iowa (Allamakee County)
Now, this is one heck of an appetizer! Shep’s brought out these tender cuts with a side of creamy horseradish and we ate these with an amazing view of the Mississippi flowing by and the Black Hawk Bridge in the background. Perfect NE-Iowa setting.One of the the greatest views on the entire Mississippi River is this scenic overlook on Mount Hosmer in Lansing, Iowa.
One of my favorite Reubens I’ve had in the state of Iowa! Another fantastic view of the Mississippi slowly making it’s way to the gulf as you enjoy their made from scratch menu. They prepare their corned beef for many hours, and they have family stories to go with some of their dishes like the potato salad and the amazing potatoes you see with that delicious Reuben in the pic.
Brisket Western Burger at The Buck Stops Here-Lansing, Iowa (Allamakee County)
Brisket, hamburger, onion rings, cheddar, and BBQ sauce….Get after it! The Buck Stops Here cowboy’ed-up this adventure and if you like BBQ,but you’re also craving a burger then you have your game-plan right here in Lansing.
Every Friday and Saturday is Prime Rib night at the Backwoods and you better be hungry. Smoked to perfection, seriously tender and the au jus is bathing worthy. Look at the size of that “side” of made from scratch mashed potatoes! Soup and salad kicked it off for us, too.
Jalapeño Pepper Jack Burger at River Run Pub & Grub-Harpers Ferry, Iowa (Allamakee County)
If you want it spicy then you got it made at River Run. This burger nails it with the jalapeños, pepper jack and chipotle sauce. Get those loaded hash browns and add more of those jalapeños! And do NOT pass on those hand cut fries and made from scratch onion rings!Motor Mill Historic Site is one of the most stunning scenic views you’ll experience in Clayton County.
Gunder Haystack at Gunder Roadhouse-Gunder, Iowa (Clayton County, Iowa)
This famous roadhouse is a rural oasis and I went with this beefy haystack. A thick hamburger steak served on a bed of crispy hash browns with grilled mushrooms and onions and melted cheese. And then I added a perfectly cooked sunny side egg to make it all “run” together….
This burger is a mouthful! I ordered it with pepper jack, mushrooms and a side of nacho bites. This was also the juiciest burger I had in NE-Iowa during the passport trips! The drive to Waterville is a scenic one and you have a high quality burger awaiting your arrival when you get here.
If you like a messy burger conglomerate then head to The Stadium! The Stacker is 1/3 pound burger patty topped with sliced sirloin, sauteed onions and mushrooms, onion rings, mushrooms, 1000 Island dressing, lettuce and tomato. I’ll have a Diet Coke with that, please…..
That’s how we beefed up our gallivants to NE-Iowa this summer! Burgers, steaks, prime rib, pizza, sandwiches and all of them mixed with scenery and incredible drives to every restaurant. The fall colors will be popping before you know it, so make sure that road trip is planned out, Gallivant Nation. And bring an appetite!Be sure to stay updated with the Allamakee County Farm Bureau on their Facebook page!You can also stay updated with the Clayton County Farm Bureau on their Facebook page!
