On the Crunchy Side

Food, atmosphere and staff were all amazing. In Harmony, MN! We were expecting greasy bar food, but…read morenot here. Scratch food that is locally sourced, in Harmony, MN!

Stopped at this establishment in Harmony, MN. The place looks inviting from the outside, nice…read moreoutside set up- however the flies were very much annoying. The food was mediocre. I had the southwest bowl with chicken and the pork tacos. The chicken was cut into large round chunks, tasted boiled then seasoned with too much cumin, the flavors did not blend well. It had queso added (thick liquid white cheese) - it did not complement the dish. I barely ate any of it. The pork in the taco was ok, it also had that thick white queso. Service: The young server that took our order was nice. A second female server came to us right after we put our order and asked us to pay for the lunch before we even received our food. She said that they were changing shifts. We said, but we haven't even received our food, she said, ok, and left. Once we received our food, and started to eat, a young guy came to ask us the same thing. To pay for the food that we had just started to eat. He would not leave, was very insistent. With food in our hands we paid so that he would let us be. After this no one came to check on us to ensure that the food was alright. Very disappointed, This establishment has poor customer service and mediocre food. I do not recommend.

Queso and chips

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Exterior

Beaver Bottom Saloon

4.5(8 reviews)

14.3 mi

First time here. 12:00 on a Wednesday and I'm an only customer. I asked about the burgers, and yes,…read morethey are frozen. Seriously, for $13, you have frozen nasty burgers? Get with the times. People want fresh ground chuck, not Sysco, Sam's club burgers! Ordered a chicken cordon blue sandwich with beaver tails or potato strips, which were good. The server brought ketchup, ranch, and mustard in bottles to the table. Asked about t-shirts and tanks and sweatshirt prices, and they were $25 and $50. I did buy the cute koozie, as it has a us flag on the other side. Service was good, but they disappeared while I ate. Luckily, I'm trustworthy. Also there are cameras. Please reconsider having fresh ground beef. They do have concerts outside.

We rode bikes from Preston to here on the trail. The last six miles were all uphill. It was very…read morerefreshing to get a beer and some food. The burger with pickle chips was tasty. The steak tips were very good also. It was nice to have a downhill ride after all of this good food.

Koozie $5, pink one has us flag on other dide.

Chicken cordon blue sandwich with Texas toast. Only ate 1/2. Brought the other half home to my son.

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Facing street. There is a big stage out back

Dixie's Biergarten

4.8(23 reviews)

20.1 mi

Based on our visit here earlier today we can atest to the fact that these folks received a very…read morewell deserved award for the Best Burger in Iowa 2026! All three of us (the Mrs, my Aunt, and myself) ordered the Biertgarten Smashburgers and we split an order of the Cheese Curds. The burgers were two 4oz chuck/brisket patties, fried onion, American cheese, lettuce, pickles, and Smash Sauce served on a toasted brioche bun and is FANTASTIC! Have plenty of napkins at your disposal as the flavor oozes from this burger! The hand-cut fries are a great side and very good too (I had to add some salt to put them over the top)...the Cheese Curds made it a trifecta...they were outstanding as well, crispy coating and melt in your mouth cheesyness! The servers were very helpful and ready to help out at a moments notice. Dixie's Biertgarten Smashburger has moved on to my Top 5 Burgers I've Ever Had list... It was around 3 in the afternoon and the place was packed (casual atmosphere and some sports on the big screens) so you may have to wait for a seat...there is some outdoor seating but it was raining today but FYI....it's definitely worth the time so be patient!

We rolled into Decorah after a hot day on the motorcycle and pulled into the parking lot which was…read morefull. Walked in and was greeted warmly and told how things work. Seat yourself, order at the bar and receive a buzzer to pick up food. 2026 best burger in Iowa so we ordered that to share, along with a generous basket of lightly battered and delicious cheese curds. Burger was very shareable and came with fries. Not sure it's the best in the state, but it was very good. Despite being busy, food came out quickly. Great selection of local craft beers on tap. Decorah has amazing beers. Special note that the staff was very friendly. This was a great bar and grill and I can totally see why it was crawling with guests. We will be back when in town again.

Into the kitchen

Dixie's Biergarten - Truffle fries- basket of hand-cut fries, black truffle salt, freshly shaved parmesan, & parsley with a side of black garlic peppercorn aioli

Truffle fries- basket of hand-cut fries, black truffle salt, freshly shaved parmesan, & parsley with a side of black garlic peppercorn aioli

Dixie's Biergarten - Bone-In Wings! Choose from three homemade sauces: honey buffalo, coconut curry thai chile, & korean BBQ. Served with buttermilk ranch.

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Bone-In Wings! Choose from three homemade sauces: honey buffalo, coconut curry thai chile, & korean BBQ. Served with buttermilk ranch.

The Pub

5.0(2 reviews)

13.7 mi

This was the site of our 45th high school class reunion in August, for the pre-reunion Friday night…read moreget together. What an excellent bar. We definately enjoyed the atmosphere and good service.

So it's not Kleve's Pub anymore, it's just The Pub, but this was as close as I could get and wanted…read moreto write a review because I was so impressed. We're just passing through and wanted to have a quick beer. Every place else in town we saw was either closed or closing, so here we went. There were about 10 or so people sitting at the bar at 945 on Wednesday night. The bartenders were immediately attentive, and pleasant. We ordered a round of draft beers, all reasonably priced. The bar was quiet, so one could hold a nice conversation. Exactly what I'd look for on a weekday night. The bartenders were both exceptionally polite to my parents and I, and carried on a nice conversation with us for the duration of our time there, covering a variety of topics. All I can say was, I came away quite impressed. I learned that the new owners have only had the bar for less than a year, but you can tell right away they run an excellent establishment. I'd recommend to anyone and I'll happily stop by the next time I come through town.

Dan's Road House

5.0(6 reviews)

13.8 mi

I don't know how I never heard of this place! Wife gave options for dinner for her mom's…read morebirthday/Mother's Day dinner. Atomic pizza or Dan's roadhouse. We've been to Atomic several times and it's always good. Of course I wanted to try something new, but it's not my birthday. Thankfully, her mother also wanted to go because they also had not tried it. No signage on the outside, except a sandwich board, which I had never seen in all the times we've driven past. Typical bar on one side, large dining room on the other. Small menu, but excellent execution. We all got a single patty smash burger and fries, and started with cheese curds. WOW! Those cheese curds may have been the best I've ever had. And that burger! If I hadn't eaten at a grad party earlier, I probably would have gotten the double smash. And the portion of fries! I was able to finish all of mine, leaving everyone else wondering how! Nobody else could finish theirs. I will definitely be back!

Our first visit to Dan's Road House was more than expected. The owner's mom recommended her son's…read morerecommended. Since I knew her from high school we headed to Cresco, IA for lunch, plus I had never had a smash burger. We left satisfied after a 'damn good' burger and fries. Tony had his plain and I added lettuce, tomatoes, and onion to mine. Heads up it comes with a double patty plus the bun is purchased locally from the town's bakery. Delicious! Forgot to mention we started off with a large serving of cheese curds and ranch dressing Yummy! The owner's dad, John, waited on us, and not only was he helpful and friendly, he was funny. Dan stopped by to check on us and we had a nice chat. The venue has a lengthy history and it feels and is decorated like a road house. We will be back!

Smash burger basket

Smash burger and fries

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Smash burger and fries.

Karst Brewing

4.9(23 reviews)

14.2 mi

A fantastic brewery in a tiny town with friendly local ownThe hazy ipa is really great, they have a…read morecool tap room in a refurbished mechanics garage, and a really cute courtyard with lots of nice seating. We happened to catch a killer Mexican food truck (Espadin) and it made it just a perfect stop on the way to Decorah. Open only may-sept!!!

Driving through town, we stopped at this cute little brewery. It's little but it has plenty of…read moreseating both indoors and outdoors. And clean bathrooms! It's a good stop for bikers as it's near a trailhead. The bartender was friendly and helpful, really liked her! She also let us sample anything we wanted and it was hard to choose a beer, because every one I tried was so good! Finally settled on the smooth and delicious porter although the orange saison was really good. They have snacky food like pretzels, cheese and meat sticks and you can order food in from a nearby restaurant. We opted for the cheese, made locally, and were happy we were given a small charcuterie board to use. Overall, if you're driving through, it's a fun, cool place to stop by!

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All the beers

Road Trip Roadhouse & Bar

3.8(5 reviews)

29.7 mi

I love this bar. It is big and the service is super friendly. They have awesome food…read more Touchtunes, darts, pool tables. This is a quintessential small town watering hole.

Food is excellent. Burgers and fries very tasty. Good specials everyday. Staff very friendly and…read moreattentive. Only complaint, needs a little cosmetic updates. Better lighting, some color.

High Court Pub

4.3(44 reviews)

11.6 mi

Generally like the place. But don't order a burger. I waited an hour at the bar for a burger and…read morefinally just left

Very nice small pub in a town with many restaurants. They have a great patio out back that faces…read morethe river. Good flatbreads and good beer on tap.

Halloween costume contest at High Court Pub

Sausage and mushroom flatbread with jalapeños.

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Front entrance at High Court Pub.

Stellar 181 Taphouse

4.5(11 reviews)

21.2 mi

We stopped into Stellar 181 Taphouse one afternoon with zero expectations and ended up finding one…read moreof the best hidden gems in Spring Valley. The food was excellent, and the wings are an absolute must-order. They have a huge selection of beers on tap, and both the Bloody Mary and margarita were surprisingly delicious. The service was friendly, attentive, and made the whole experience even better. We'll definitely be back and highly recommend checking this place out if you're in the area!

Everything was delicious! Can't go wrong! Stop here! Fresh everything! We will be back!read more

Bar area

Chicken Teriyaki

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2 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Madison M.

0

3

0

13 years ago

Great atmosphere, terrific service, fresh food, and an awesome drink menu. What more can you ask for? OTCS has more craft beer on tap than you will find anywhere in Fillmore County. They make everything from scratch, including their sauces, and all of their bread is baked fresh daily. The owners, Miles and Lisa, are friendly and inviting. They and their staff work very hard to ensure each customer receives the highest quality service possible. I am so glad that I stumbled upon this little gem right off of Highway 52 - Highly recommended. I will go back here again and again! read more

Daniel R.

78

3

6

10 years ago

Excellent place to eat and has a very nice selection of beers. The food has always been superb! The staff very friendly and professional. A must try if you come through our little sweet town. read more

On the Crunchy Side - bars - Updated August 2026

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Beaver Bottom Saloon

4.5

(8 reviews)

First time here. 12:00 on a Wednesday and I'm an only customer. I asked about the burgers, and yes,…read morethey are frozen. Seriously, for $13, you have frozen nasty burgers? Get with the times. People want fresh ground chuck, not Sysco, Sam's club burgers! Ordered a chicken cordon blue sandwich with beaver tails or potato strips, which were good. The server brought ketchup, ranch, and mustard in bottles to the table. Asked about t-shirts and tanks and sweatshirt prices, and they were $25 and $50. I did buy the cute koozie, as it has a us flag on the other side. Service was good, but they disappeared while I ate. Luckily, I'm trustworthy. Also there are cameras. Please reconsider having fresh ground beef. They do have concerts outside.

We rode bikes from Preston to here on the trail. The last six miles were all uphill. It was very…read morerefreshing to get a beer and some food. The burger with pickle chips was tasty. The steak tips were very good also. It was nice to have a downhill ride after all of this good food.

Root River Unwined

4.4

(21 reviews)

I finally had a chance to go there this past weekend and it was amazing!! My in-laws are regulars…read moreand always telling us about how good it is. Thankfully, we made a reservation so we were able to sit inside and not outside in the hot heat, although there were lots of folks that were sitting at the tables with the umbrellas and seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely! I started with the bourbon and bacon which was stellar!! I loved the bacon so so much. The pepper one was a little bit too peppery for my liking and I still appreciated the chance to try it. I wish I could just get a plate of bacon when I come here because the bacon is so so good. I continued the evening with more pig products and got the pork tenderloin with the maple bourbon glaze and wild rice and asparagus. This was super Duper Duper Duper excellent!! And I totally loved this meal. I was able to complement it with some Sangiovese from I don't remember where but it was also really light and delicious for a summer day. Back to the meal, the asparagus was perfectly cooked and the wild rice had really great flavor. Not surprisingly, I didn't have any room for dessert because I already had lots of food and I also stole a bite of the beef and brisket burger which was excellent along with the french fries that were also very good.

Now Root River 102! Great food. Great service. Great ambiance. Family run. Highly recommend!read more

Branding Iron Restaurant

3.5

(53 reviews)

This place is an absolute gem!…read more The parking lot is small, but it's conveniently located at the top of the hill. There's also some additional parking on the other side of the restaurant. We've never had any trouble finding parking, but we usually arrive around 5 or 6 PM. If you're a fan of red meat, this is the place for you. I've tried both the ribeye and the prime rib, and both were absolutely fantastic. The portion sizes are generous for the price, so I always end up with leftovers. The prime rib is perfectly seasoned with a nice crust. I usually order my steaks medium rare, and they've always come out just right, except for one time when I got an end piece that I sent back. They quickly replaced it and agreed that it was more medium than rare. The jalapeño poppers are delicious, and the house salad is equally tasty. I always get the hashbrowns as a side, while my friend usually gets the brussels sprouts and the au gratin. I've never tried anything else, but I'm sure you'll be happy with whatever you order. But the pie is the star of the show! Get the French Silk pie, made from scratch by the owner. The crust has just the right amount of saltiness to complement the rich chocolate mousse filling. The mousse isn't too dense, but it's not as light as meringue either. If you're a chocolate lover, you absolutely must try it. Pro tip: If you're there on a busy night, it might be a good idea to order your pie when you order your food. I did this one night because I was dreaming of the pie all week, and I'm so glad I did. Unfortunately, they ran out by the time the rest of our table ordered dessert, but my waiter had set aside my piece just for me, so I was able to enjoy it.

Oh my gosh, the view is the definition of a million dollar view! This cute pace is nestled among…read morethe bluffs in the most adorable small town- it gives old timey super club vibes with delicious food options! The server was friendly, the food came out at a leisurely pace, the menu had plenty of options without being too much, and the bathrooms were very clean! We had the rainbow trout (5/5 stars for sure!) with Brussels sprouts (did we die and go to heaven? They were scrumptious!) and fries. Then, the PB bacon burger- which was very delicious as well! The starter of duck wontons did not disappoint, they were cooked perfectly and a nice way to begin our meal on a tasty note! We will definitely be back whenever we find ourselves meandering through the bluffs in search of Amish baskets and a relaxing weekend!

Corner Bar

3.3

(6 reviews)

We were chastised by the drunks at the end of the bar, for wearing masks upon our entry into this…read moreshithole. I'm being nice, we typically like dive bars, but this one is subterranean...I'm sure there are many establishments in the area far better to spend your dough at. Slugged our beverages down and got out, ASAP.

I love small local bars that may or may mot be packed with local crowds and this place is perfect…read more Cheap drinks is what it's about, and they deliver here with zero frills and a trough urinal . Love these bars.

B&B Olympic Bowl

4.0

(8 reviews)

We had breakfast last weekend and of course everything was wonderful. Great food great service and…read morelarge portions. The French connection is always a hit with my son. Prices are so reasonable. This is the spot to get breakfast if you're in Preston.

We met family here & really appreciated the service & the food. We live a distance away, but will…read morebe back in the future.

Pedal Pushers Cafe

4.2

(121 reviews)

Food was good but serving size could be better for pricing. Ordered a pick up meal and was…read moredisappointed in the small amount of fries considering there is a +$2 charge for them. Also, I feel as the entree size in general was on the smaller size. Typically when I've order fish tacos from other places the order comes with 3-4 tacos and this only had two. The food overall does taste good, but not for the price.

My third review in six years and they still deserve five stars for food, service, and ambiance…read more This time I had the Brussels Sprouts and hands down they are the best I have ever had. Sorry mom! The chicken pot pie was out of this world. The crust was so flaky. Tony enjoyed his pull pork sandwiches and the cheese curds from WW Homestead Dairy, Waylon, IA.

Village Square of Fountain

3.8

(11 reviews)

Biking 12 miles from Lanesboro to Fountain, we stopped at the Village Square. Got there 10 minutes…read morebefore it opened and one person was already waiting to get pie to go. When the doors opened at 11:00 there were 7 more locals waiting. The warm and comfortable dining area had four tables occupied. All of whom got the daily lunch special which looked delicious. We were there for coffee and pie. There was a young gal running the front of house and she was fantastic serving tables and taking to go orders. The coffee was delicious and the strawberry rhubarb pie was amazing! By the way, all the wood dining chairs had comfy seat cushions which was appreciated by this bicyclist. Highly recommend this gem in Fountain.

Local owner. Great pizza. Love the taco. Great prices too! Small town feel and worth the drive.read more

Joe's Pizza Palace and Pub

3.6

(8 reviews)

WIN 349! I defeated…read morethe pizza challenge at Joe's Pizza Palace & Pub in Mabel, MN. For this challenge, contestants must finish a 4 ingredient pizza, along with a 12 ounce drink, within 30 minutes. I was the first successful winner, completing the challenge in 14:57. Winners receive a spot on the wall of fame, the meal for free, PLUS another pizza to take home! I very much enjoyed this pizza! It was very saucy & easy to eat. No shortage of toppings.

The service and ambiance are still as good as the day they opened…read more Last night was the second time I had the spicy honey garlic bone-in wings and both times they were delicious. In fact they are the best wings I have ever had. Not to much breading and the spicy heat is exactly the right amount for this girl who loves spicy food. Yum! Yum!

The Hay Market

3.9

(10 reviews)