While the owls nest was highly recommended by several locals, which included those who worked at…read morehotel Ottumwa within walking distance (bc no Ubers) and ( fancy like)Applebees. We decided to give it a try, bc dive bar... Service started decent enough, beers were brought in a timely manner and without constant need to ask, bartender admitted there was party coming in later on in the evening. It was also her birthday...Emily I believe. She was excited to get off and go celebrate....it seemed quite early on in our visit that she'd already started celebrating, lots of shots, plenty of time not even in the bar, actually admitted and apologized that she went to the "thrift store". We spent approx 4-5 hours there, same patrons would come and go between the bar and the sidewalk. A little sketchy, even for a dive bar.

The food was delicious as always. The hardest part was ordering the food when I'm not bi- lingiul.read more

A charming little small town dive bar with very cheap beer on tap. We enjoyed the wall art... a…read moreseries of tastefully-done nude portraits, all of the same woman. I don't know if Annie was our bartender or if she was the woman in the art, but neither were particularly fat by any means. :) Both when we arrived and when we left, a little girl opened the door of the laundry next door and stared at us with a scowl. Whether she was curious about the strangers in town or concerned about the sinners drinking in the afternoon remains a mystery.

If you like small town atmosphere Annie's is the place. You can ride up on your horse and tie him…read moreoutside while you enjoy a COLD beer. Also a great place to stop in and have a refreshment if you are on a scenic Motorcycle ride through southern Iowa. Super friendly folks. You will be glad you stopped by.

Recovery room Sunday! Yea early lunch…read moreHad the special to go Fast service Easy parking In and out Open faced tloin with gravy and mashed potatoes and green beans. 13.00 out the door. lol Too hungry to snap pix Real good!

The food was 4 star, atmosphere 3 star, good prices, decent but not spectacular tenderloin (I might…read morehave gotten mine on an off day or time). However, a real turnoff was the N-word used 3 or 4 times, once by an off duty worker (waitress/cook/co-owner?) while I was there. They can't help how the customers talk, but employees, even off the clock? Not cool. It was supposed to be a great night; while my politics is ever-evolving, my family in Iowa had just gotten to high five Don Jr at an event which, whoever I vote for now was darn cool that day! This visit kinda put a damper on our fun. We don't talk that way.

You know you've hit dive bar paydirt when you walk in to find a young female bartender pouring…read moredrinks for an old man who is chain-smoking through his tracheotomy hole. Checkers is done up like a (run down) 1950s diner on the inside. As we drank our beers, the tracheotomy dude told us about the town and said that come sundown, once the farmers come in from the fields, that Checkers would be packed.

Excellent Breakfast here, great coffee, food and service. Cash only works for me…read more Love this place I hope to go again.

Best tamale I have ever had, hands down! We always want to be in the area at lunch or dinner time…read more Pupusas are also the best restaurant pupusas I have found. Cabbage is not as fermented as I have had in the past but is still wonderful. Red sauce is very spicy and I can rarely tell if something is spicy. Has the grilled chicken, beans and rice and loved the flavor of all.

I happened to drive by this place last week and it has reopened. I talked with my brother has eaten…read morethere and says the liver and onions is really good. It's a long drive for me to check it out but I will go with my brothers advice and when I am looking for a dish I rarely get to see in restaurants, I will make that drive and check it out.

Great place for breakfast. Love the Nutella pancakes but you can't miss with the entire breakfast…read moremenu. Friendly staff and good pricing to portion ratio. Highly recommend! They serve lunch and dinner but we usually go there for breakfast in the morning.

Yummy smash burger! Good cook!! The servers were tidy and on point. The drinks were good they were…read morenot skimpy on the booze. The crowd that was in there that afternoon was a crowd that I would hang out with. altogether the place was clean, friendly, fun and me and my three friends enjoyed ourselves.(maybe a little too much). we also like the smoking area that was outside, and it was even clean. me and my friends would highly recommend this place. #Memorial weekend, 2026.

You should go when the owner Steve P. is there. He's a funny, outgoing character! Food is good,…read moretypical bar food like burgers and Midwest style sandwiches. Bloody Mary is fun. Service is pleasant and fast. Place is kept clean. Can get crowded, loud and a bit drunk but is generally well controlled.

Amazing tacos! I had a taco plate w/ 3 lingua tacos, rice…read moreand beans. Having grown up in San Diego I know a good taco. This place is now located on 2nd St. at Las Palmas.

Well where to start! To say a good spicy pork burrito would…read morebe an under statement. 2 days in a row, under 7.00 nice portion for a hungry guy! And to go as a carry out. They have beer there! Wish I still had a drink now and then! Lol! It is located in the old wapello county shopper building... There is good food happening here for sure. Nice clean taste on the food. Well done!

My niece introduced me to this hideaway. Didn't eat here, but enjoyed good beer in a great…read moreatmosphere. Staff are cool.

Libby is the best and I love seeing her in the morning and this is the best place to be in the…read moreearly am thank you for the best service ever

This place is as approachable and down to earth as it comes. As if the top-tier loose meat…read moresandwiches and pies weren't enough to bring you back, the joy and local insight gained from speaking with the long-time employees will make it hard to leave in the first place! Getting there around opening was a good call, because business started to pick up very quickly, and the counter seating that surrounds the exposed kitchen was limited. It was fascinating to listen to the locals use shorthand terms to place their sandwich orders with unique specifications. It was like a different language to this visitor, but hey... it's part of the charm.

It hasn't changed in the many years since I had my first canteen sandwich. They are still made the…read moresame way and there is a big selection of pies. It's as nostalgic as it can be.