We are in town for a graduation and BandFest 2022... staying at the HPI and stopped in for a…read morecocktail... great service and cold wine and beer... super friendly staff told us they are having live blues this weekend... great place to be... on the Plaza

We visited during Band Festival weekend and the Happy Donkey had definitely rebounded a bit from…read moreour last visit. This time the lime margaritas tasted like lime and we did enjoy them! The service was good and everyone enjoyed their meal.

When I stopped by the happy donkey, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of their tacos and…read moredrinks. Their house-made strawberry tequila was the highlight of my visit, and I appreciated the option to order drinks in ceramic vessels with unique flavors like lime, pineapple, and other tropical flavors. I ended up buying a few bottles to go, and I would definitely recommend this place to others. There is ample parking and the service was fantastic.

Sat for over 20 min without a drink...lazy staff...over priced....hard pass....save your money.read more

I went here with my boyfriend for a date night and we were not let down. It was my first time…read morevisiting so I wasn't sure what to expect and as soon as you come in to this speakeasy, you are immediately brought back in time to the prohibition time period with the decorating, the dim lights, and even the leather aprons that the bartenders wear. Besides aesthetic perfection, our bartender was really nice and he was very knowledgeable about every single bottle on the shelf and he very kindly answer all one hundred of my questions to help me pick a drink. I ended up picking the white linen cocktail that had cucumber in it and it was amazing. Next I tried one of their home made seltzers, and it tasted like a chocolate covered cherry, but in a seltzer, which was a very unique flavor that was pretty good. I would definitely recommend coming to here for a high quality cocktail spot. I also learned that they have seasonal menus so I will definitely make a flight back to Mason city to try their Christmas menu items!

First of all, Kay made me the best Old Fashioned I've ever had in 55 years. Wow! This woman…read moredeserves a medal for her hospitality and kindness. We spent July 4th (our 19th anniversary) at The Draftsman. It's in the basement of The Historic Park Inn. Not much in town was open on the holiday. So we hung out with Kay and played pool. We had beef tips and chicken satay. Certainly our least fancy anniversary dinner ever. But Kay made us feel like family and even bought us a round. What a sweetie! Thanks, Kay!!

Bartender was... NOT Friendly!…read moreNOT Welcoming Perma FROWN We waited nearly 10 minutes at bar to order food before kitchen closed. And when we were finally acknowledged, and ready to order after floor is, we were told kitchen closed at 9pm Visited July 5, 2025

We dined at the Leadlight on a Saturday night. The restaurant has a Frank Llyod Wright feel with…read morePrairie Style art work and furniture lending to a warm and cozy ambiance. We started with the Historic Old Fashion and crab cakes. The cocktail was well balanced. The crab cakes had a nice crisp to them. We ordered the Cast Iron Ribeye, one medium and one medium rare. When the steaks came out, I asked which was which and our waitress walked back to the kitchen. She came back and explained they were both medium rare. We were hungry so went ahead and had them instead of sending one back. The peppercorn glaze on top of the ribeye almost overpowered the flavor of the ribeye. The ribeye was tender and flavorful. The restaurant was not particularly busy that night but the two waitresses on duty had to hustle. Our waitress Karen was great. Staffing seemed to be a real problem. The bartender was making drinks for the restaurant and covering the downstairs bar, slowing down the time it took get more drinks. While we were not in a hurry, we noticed several tables frustrated with the service. We saw the manager once the entire time we were there and he just came out, looked around, and went back to his office. As busy as everyone was, I was surprised he did not pitch in and clear a few tables or help expedite the food.

We loved our evening at Lead Light. The service was excellent and the meal was beautifully…read moreprepared and delicious. The menu is limited, but sufficient to meet the preferences of most. The beer menu was tip-top. The restaurant has a quiet, serene atmosphere. We can't wait to go back.

A fun place to have a meal or appetizer after visiting the Surf Ballroom and museum. Our server…read morewas awesome. Food was tasty. A bit pricey but can understand considering it's' location. Drink special was a Yellow Fever. I'm a Sidecar drinker but the Yellow Fever was tasty. You have to go to at least once but go when there isn't an event happening at the Surf Ballroom.

It was very busy because of an event at the surf. There was a bit of a wait, but you need to…read moreexpect that with a concert next door.

Small bar located just steps from the Mason City town square. Very friendly service, lots of…read morevariety. Try the local 173 bourbon - it's so smooth!

Very fun location- a great speak easy execution. Great menu, comfortable seating and great service.read more

We stopped in at Bitter and Pour after dinner nearby…read more We walked downstairs and had a little fun figuring out the "secret" entrance. We walked in and the place was buzzing as it was a Saturday night. We found a comfortable table for four next to the bar. The bar has low lighting, stone walls and wood floors. I liked the cozy atmosphere. There are a couple of other rooms with plenty of seating for both couples and larger parties. We were quickly greeted by a server. I will say she was not extremely friendly and seemed a bit impatient as we looked through the drink menu. Perhaps she was having a bad night. We wanted to try drinks off the menu to see what was interesting and different. The drinks arrived quickly and were good but felt they were expensive for the small serving. I wish I would have taken pictures of all the drinks. I think it is a cool concept. I liked the atmosphere. We may give it another try next time we are in town.

Either I was very Hungary or this place had the best chicken chimichangas I've had in years. Good…read moreprices and good food.

Not home made. Drinks weak and cheese is out of a can. I won't go back. Please don't waste your…read moretime. Plenty of other Mexican restaurants to choose from. Any of them would be better.