Listings

Type of Dining
Casual Dining, Dining, Pubs
Casual Dining, Dining, Pubs
Looking for a restaurant off the beaten path? This hidden gem is found in Ossian, just a 15 drive from Decorah. Home of the BEST BURGER IN IOWA (per The Best Burger Battle, sponsored by Iowa council and New York Beef Council) Bambinos Bar and Restaurant is a great place to enjoy a full plate of food, a bowl of soup, full bar and a game of pool. And if that wasn’t enough, your head chef is also an author. Not only do Sue’s stories come to life on the page, but ask to see Cindy the dog or Ruford the eagle creatively displayed using the cheese on your burger! With an at home friendly environment we put the comfort back in comfort foods with home cooked meals the way Grandma used to make it! Come visit us and enjoy the beauty of a scenic drive along the way!
Casual Dining, Dining, Local Food
Casual Dining, Dining, Local Food

Established by Sarah Cousins and Hannah Garry in 2020, Blazing Star was born out of a desire to see more vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free dining options in Decorah that celebrated the amazing food growers & producers in the region. What started off as a small event catering business soon expanded to weekly pop-ups featuring rotating seasonal rice bowls, salads and simple house-made dessert options. They opened their cafe in Downtown Decorah in June 2022, offering hours Thursdays - Sundays.

They love making tasty & nourishing grain bowls using as many local ingredients as possible. Their full menu rotates seasonally and features several vegan and gluten free options.
 
Breweries, Wineries
Breweries, Wineries

Hard cider from the Driftless

Natural | Whole Ingredient | Gluten Free | Community Sourced Agriculture

Convergence Ciders begin with whole ingredients; fruits and herbs, then pressed and fermented to create modern ciders that are on the drier side allowing the ingredients to tell a story of place and time. Their vision is to create locally focused hard cider while also engaging with the community through their fruit pressing service with a portion of the sales from their ciders being dedicated to community and industry partners.

Casual Dining, Dining, Outdoor Dining
Casual Dining, Dining, Outdoor Dining
Indulge your taste buds at Don Jose. We are an authentic family Mexican restaurant full of craving satisfying choices of appetizers, salads, tacos, enchiladas, tostadas, chalupas, quesadillas and more. Add on a daiquiris or try the best margaritas in town! Your first round of chips and salsa are on the house, and the kids menu assures there’s something for all ages in your party. Stop by the restaurant for a taste or call 563-382-6052 for more information.
Wineries

Empty Nest Winery is family owned and operated.  Set in beautiful rural Northeast Iowa located between Decorah and Waukon. 

We make handcrafted wines the old fashioned way by fermenting the whole berries/fruit not just the juice. 

Our berry wines are just the berries fermented not grape or apple based with just some berries or berry flavor added as many other wineries do. 

We make our wine in small batches using many varieties of berries handpicked predominantly on our family farm or from the surrounding local area. 

We never filter our wines as that can strip away their natural color and flavor so some bottles may have sediment on the bottom but that is completely natural and will not affect the amazing ?True to the Fruit Flavorâ?™! 

Sample up to 18 different & unique wines (click on ?Our Wines? page to see tasting notes) in our tasting room on Saturdays from 10-5 and Sundays from 1-5, Closed in January. 

Call ahead for private group tastings or large groups. We host private wine tastings and parties so call to book a time to come and taste our wine.
 

Breakfast + Brunch, Casual Dining, Dining
Breakfast + Brunch, Casual Dining, Dining
The town’s classic diner-style restaurant. Best part? Breakfast food served all day long! From the biggest pancakes you've ever seen, to eggs any way you like them, Family Table is that home cooked meal you're looking for when you're away from home, and the prices can't be beat! It's impossible to leave hungry with the generous portions and extensive options. The Family Table started as a root beer stand 65+ years ago. No one knows for sure when it began, many say, "It's just always been there." In 1972 the existing building was built and it became an A&W, but the franchise was dropped in the 80s and “Family Table” was born. In November of 1993 Scott and Stacey Gossling purchased the restaurant and continue to own it to this day. Through the years the concept has always been the same," nothing fancy just good food.” Great spot for daily specials, pie, and catching up with the locals.
Bakeries + Sweets, Casual Dining, Coffee, Dining
Bakeries + Sweets, Casual Dining, Coffee, Dining

We are a third wave coffee bar & roaster featuring our own custom roasted coffee, pour overs, espresso-based drinks, loose leaf teas & Nitro Cold Brew Coffee on Tap!

Our coffee is roasted right here in Decorah!

470 million years ago an asteroid, as big as a city block, burst through the Earth’s atmosphere smashing into northeast Iowa leaving behind a crater that would later become Decorah, Iowa.

Fast forward a few years to the year 2014. Decorah was impacted by another blast as Impact Coffee burst into northeast Iowa.

Local business owners, Jeff, and Anja Brown had been operating their custom frame shop, The Perfect Edge, for over 25 years, when they were struck with the idea of opening a coffee bar and roastery. With the help of many fantastic friends and family members the coffee bar now shares it’s space with The Perfect Edge, while the roaster has taken over their two-stall garage.

Jeff and Anja hope their coffee bar and roaster will leave a lasting impact on the town of Decorah, just as the asteroid left it impacts 470 million years ago.

Casual Dining, Dining
Casual Dining, Dining
You will find your favorite traditional Japanese dishes and original menu items created by our chef. Start with incredible appetizers, but save room because our hearty entrées will fill you up and satisfy your appetite. Feel like dining out? Join us in house to enjoy our lovely atmosphere, but if you prefer to eat at home, we offer a smooth take out service that will get your order in your hands and you back out the door in no time. And if you’re looking for a little extra excitement, one of our meals even comes with a side of flames. Stop in and see it for yourself today!
Bakeries + Sweets, Casual Dining, Dining
Bakeries + Sweets, Casual Dining, Dining
We’re more than just a bakery, we’re also a full service restaurant! We put the focus on sourcing local ingredients and providing sustainable wages and lifestyle for all of our employees. What started in our kitchen and selling at farmers markets, has since expanded into renting space at the local spectrum commercial kitchens and finally, as of January 2022, we’ve launched an online store with local pickup and delivery AND our first storefront! Now you’ll find our sweet pies (whole and by the slice), accompanied by our full plates of food for in-house dining and to-go options, right in downtown Decorah.  Located in the former Angry Pickle, we look forward to serving you soon!
Dining, Fine Dining, Local Food, Pubs
Dining, Fine Dining, Local Food, Pubs
Come to La Rana for upscale dining in a casual bistro setting–the best of both worlds! The quaint ambiance gives you big city vibes with small town charm and service. Our scratch kitchen ensures each plate is bursting with as many local ingredients as possible, as well as bold flavors and intricate design, you’re guaranteed an experience to remember with every bite. While you dine, choose from an amazing selection of cocktails, wine and beer, as well as an incredible house-made dessert menu to round out your evening.  With seasonal hours, and limited seating year round, reservations are greatly appreciated. 
Dining, Local Food, Outdoor Dining, Pizzerias
Dining, Local Food, Outdoor Dining, Pizzerias

We get a little excited about good food and community.

Because of that passion, we are now cooking up some of the tastiest pizzas around in our wood fired oven right here on the farm, using ingredients that we’ve lovingly grown in our beautiful valley or sourced from other local farms. Pizza nights at Luna Valley Farm offer delicious, homegrown food in a tucked-away setting. Come wander the field roads, relax and reconnect over our artisan pizza.

We invite you to linger a little longer by booking one of our platform tents nestled on our oak savanna valley side so you can wake up to the sights and sounds of life on the farm.

Pick up some pasture-raised meats from our freezer to take a taste of our farm home with you.

Come out to the farm. Congregate. Connect. Indulge in good food and community.

Casual Dining, Dining, Pizzerias
Casual Dining, Dining, Pizzerias
In 1953 Mabel opened a small lunch room for many to enjoy, in 1968 Mabel paid tribute to the item that attracted overwhelming attention and renamed her restaurant Mabe’s Pizza. Over a short time, Mabe’s Pizza (locally referred to as Mabe’s) grew a reputation for delicious square-cut pizza with made-from-scratch crust and sauce. Paired with sincere customer service, it’s a Decorah staple for community members and tourists alike.  And for those in your group who aren’t interested in the pizza side of life, chicken, appetizers, salads and desserts to round out your stay. We recommend the cheese bread and wings. (Kids Menu also available.)
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