Entering, we got there a few minutes early and they weren't quite seating the first seating (5:00 pm). Within a few minutes, they did take us for our requested reservation. Btw... reservations are only made by phone as they are not on Open Table, Table or Yelp for reservations. The bonus is that you can request a booth (as we did) when you call. It was perfectly lit inside so that while still romantic, you can see the menu! We didn't have to bring out the phone for this. There was a special small menu as well, that had a special Valentine's Day menu. What I didn't realize, until half way through the meal, was that the cocktail menu was on the back side. We did have to request the wine menu, which came in an old, tattered notebook. An investment in a nice professional wine folder would be a nice touch for this more upscale establishment. We had a fabulous dinner for Valentine's Day! We did order a bottle of the house Pinot Noir, a wonderful sweeter wine from Napa Valley. We started out with the chef's salad, which was a mix of greens, feta cheese crumbles and a deliciously sweet and tart balsamic vinaigrette! Both my husband and I had the beef tenderloin, which came with scrumptious mashed potatoes and perfectly steamed carrots and broccoli. For dessert, we had the wonderfully tasty Betty Jane's Gremlin Cheesecake, which did not disappoint! It was so creamy, not too rich, with just the right amount of sweetness! Priced at $10, we felt it was a little steep for the very slim slice that was served as most couples share a dessert! Honestly, it was so good, I just wanted more of it! The service was outstanding with the perfect amount of attention. Bus service didn't really happen but the server, Gabe, was on top of it, clearing plates when needed. All in all, we had a lovely night celebrating Valentine's Day, a day early to avoid the crowds! read more

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This average at best experience was a disappointment. We were one of only two tables on a Wednesday night. We normally sit at the bar, when we dine, but it was uncomfortably sunny at the bar so we sat at a table. Our waitress greeted us. We asked what the specials were and she had to find out. We also asked what were the menu highlights and she said the menu was new and she hadn't tried anything. I started with a gin cocktail. It was not as well balanced or well presented as drinks we had had the previous two nights. We ordered the roasted veggie dip to start. It was supposed to come with either pretzels or veggies. We forgot to specify and we got a small ramekins of dip with giant pretzels. Why not mix it up and have both? We also had the mussels. They were okay but not particularly hot or flavorful. For dinner we split the pork tenderloin which came with coconut rice and a pineapple mole sauce. Lukewarm and bland. You didn't taste the coconut or the mole at all and the carrot salad on top made the whole dish cold. To top it off, when the bill came it stemmed more than we expected. The waitress charged us for a beef tenderloin instead of a pork tenderloin. Luckily we caught it but honestly she had 1 or 2 tables and she couldn't get it right. We would not return to this restaurant- there are better choices in the area. read more

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This is an excellent spot when it comes to ambiance and service. I went on a weekday, but reservations are recommended if you plan to go on the weekend. Every dish had a perfect balance of flavor and visual appeal. The desserts were finely made and offered something special to end the dining experience. read more

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Service was fine. Ambiance was fine. The food was atrocious. Ordered the gumbo or what ever they they put in front of me. Food came out luke warm, and was bad. Like one of the worst dishes I've had bad. It was very bland and had no flavor. The shrimp was overcooked, there was no flavor and was bland. They gumbo had the worst texture and consistency. Found small bits of shrimp shell, a huge hunk of chicken skin, and chunks of other gross stuff. Was not able to send it back due to having plans right after dinner. This dinner was disgusting slop and not a chance I'd ever eat here again. read more

Here's a polished, warm review you can post as-is (I kept your voice and details, just refined the flow): My husband and I had dinner at Pepper Sprout last night, and it was truly one of the best dining experiences we've ever had. He ordered the duck, and I had the squash ravioli--which they kindly prepared without chicken for me. Every bite was exceptional. My Apple Old Fashioned was made perfectly--balanced, smooth, and thoughtfully crafted. While my husband had a beer (easy enough), the care taken with my cocktail really stood out. We've paid far more at other restaurants for mediocre drinks, so the value here was refreshing and appreciated. The entire staff worked seamlessly together and was incredibly attentive. If anyone noticed dishes on a table that needed clearing, they kindly took care of it on their way through. Our waitress was personable, kind, knowledgeable about the menu, and genuinely funny. She even wrapped my leftovers into the most adorable foil penguin, which made my night. She shared that the chef makes everything from scratch and everything with love--and you could absolutely taste that in every dish. The atmosphere is beautiful and intimate, making it the perfect place for a date night. For the level of food, service, and ambiance, the price was more than reasonable. Thank you to the chef and the entire staff for such a memorable and flawless dining experience. We can't wait to return. read more

The food here is incredibly well prepared, great wine list, friendly and efficient service, and the seasonal decor is both charming and welcoming. I was incredibly impressed with everything from the bread to the salad to my delicious entree. read more

Food was okay (they were out of everything) but the service was so unprofessional and miserable. Go to brazen where they wait staff aren't 40 acting 15. read more

Stopped in for dinner while in Dubuque. Started off with the brussel sprouts which were good! Caesar salad was great but had an unexpected spice to it! We did wish the jalapeño cheddar bread was warm.... For mains we got the chicken pesto pasta and the bison bolonese. Chicken pesto was just ok, needed more flavor. Bison bolonese was fantastic 10/10. read more

Pepper Sprout Midwest Cusine - New American Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa

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Very nice place with a casual atmosphere. The pork porterhouse was great and the tomato basil soup was excellent. I would certainly come back. Great wine selection. read more

Pepper Sprout is my favorite restaurant in Dubuque, Iowa. Wonderful staff, very diverse and interesting menu. I also enjoy the people I meet at Pepper Sprout. read more

We came for our 39th anniversary and enjoyed Peppered Sprout immensely. The atmosphere, the service, the food, the drinks; delicious! We were well pleased. Icing on the cake - the chef stepping out of the kitchen to check on our satisfaction. We will return. Great music. read more

Really Great Spot! Dinner was Great! Thankfully not a salt bomb. Food was well prepared, well seasoned, & very well balanced! Vegetables were extremely fresh, Beef Tenderloin cooked perfectly. Even the dessert was Great! Salad comes with entrees. I loved the Caesar due to it's intense flavor! However if you don't like the intense garlic flavor go with the chef's salad. Wine list is good with something for everyone. Service was Great! Our server knew the menu and could give advice from obviously having tasted all the dishes. This is getting harder to find anymore and I give them a lot of credit as it is important to many for a Great dinning experience. Which is exactly what we had! Thank You for a memorable dinner! Highly recommend! read more

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Ok folks! I cannot wait to be hungry enough to eat here again! It is a stylish cute place. Ok on to the food. I cannot say enough about the food this evening. Everything but the Artichoke dip has a sweet, spicy, salty blend. Kudo's to the chef! Like i said "i cannot wait to come back and try more!!!" Great job all around. Service and all. My taste buds qre still saying thanks! Keep up the great work! Get here if you have not been there! read more

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The food was excellent. The house made bread was flavorful with herbs. The beef tenderloin was cooked perfectly and rested on mashed potatoes. The Cesar salad was fantastic as were the greens. The blackened walleye was w clinal. We are looking forward to coming back in the spring as the menu changes seasonally. The staff were friendly as were the other patrons. We ate at the bar by choice and had a nice conversation with the locals. read more

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Food was great, large portions. Cornish hen was the best food item that the group purchased. Lighting was great. Comifier seating options would have made this joint better. read more

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Delicious food, very nice servers and decent drink prices made this a return to location while we were in Dubuque two nights at The Julien just a block away. The first night it was a Thursday and just two of us. We had a 7:30 pm reservation but they were short on servers so we waited at the bar about 15 minutes for a table, better to ask you to wait than being seated at a table and ignored, so that was smart. Drinks were tasty and very reasonably priced versus Chicago. We enjoyed the Adaire Baptiste )who I'm assuming was a sidekick of Julien the explorer who came to the Dubuque area) it was balanced but still gin forward. We did not get a picture of the caramelized onion and cheese dip...not pretty really but very tasty! They allowed half veggies and half pretzel bites for dippers. For entrees the special bison meatloaf was very flavorful and moist with a bacon wrapping, and a delicious mushroom sauce. The shrimp and scallops shined with that fresh corn sauté. It was sweet (not too much) from the freshness of the corn and the crisply sautéed green beans were a great sub for the mashed potatoes. Rose and cabernet by the glass were also decently priced. The second night the meatloaf special was no longer bison but still tasty with jalapeños and perhaps some cheese. Our friend enjoyed it. The shrimp and bacon mac and cheese, and short rib ravioli were well seasoned and liked by our two other diners. My grilled quail the second night was really delicious with a hint of sweetness, cooked to a light pink to not overcook it and the accompanying coleslaw complimented the flavors. Highly recommend eating here for fresh, imaginative yet homey cuisine. read more

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The food is excellent, the service is outstanding and the atmosphere is wonderful. I had the shrimp pasta dinner and it was great. They also have an excellent wine list, we had a as nice Chardonnay with dinner. read more

One of the best restaurants in the area! Check Kim and Russ do an excellent job creating dinner and bar menus. I currently love the salmon (I do put it on the mashed potatoes rather than rice). And the pork chop is deliciously cooked by the chef and I usually let them choose the temp to prepare any meat options. The bar is well stocked and has some craft cocktails and great selection of wines and beer selection. Peppersprout is great for a date night/company party/or a night out with friends. They are always warm and welcoming and if it makes a difference very LGBTQ friendly. read more

Nice little downtown location in an old building with charm. Only 15 tables or so so make reservations. The food was both eye catching and appetizing, but don't come here if you don't have time to make a night of it. Staff was all very nice but service was SLOW........ read more

Great food, friendly staff, nice atmosphere. We will return! We have returned, and it was just a great as the first time.

Excellent local restaurant in downtown Dubuque of all places. Small menu packed with great selections across the board. Extensive wine list and a great Old Fashioned. Scratch kitchen and local flair plus excellent friendly service equals a great experience. Had the Winter dip appetizer, which is a creamy cheesy fantasy come true. Wife had salmon and I had a dish called spaghetti-o's (1,000x better than the canned lunch product of my youth). Made with homemade meatballs, kielbasa, mushrooms, and a hearty marinara sauce. I dare you to finish this large serving. Can't wait for leftovers tomorrow! read more

Pepper Sprout Midwest Cusine - Menu - New American Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa

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I moved from dubuque 13 years ago, I haven't eaten at the pepper sprout since before then. I was so happy to see the place is still alive and kicking. Right out the gate it thought something was off with the menus in plastics sheets, then I remembered that Covid is a thing. Service was off to a little rocky start as we were seated with a reservation, but it took more than 5 minutes for our server to greet us. Once all was settled, we got to ordering. The special was a pumpkin and mushroom risotto. It was simply delicious, we also had the lamb shank, and topped it off with homemade cheesecake. The portions were very large, filling, and divine! I'm glad to say that they have not lost their touch! read more

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We went to Pepper Sprout (nice atmosphere) on. Saturday evening in late March. No reservation but were seated immediately by the host and then buoyantly and enthusiastically greeted by our server, Fiona. She let us know that our desire to have a laid back pace for dinner worked well for them; freshly prepared food will do that. My wife ordered a pappardelle dish that was very flavorful and the pasta was done just right, she had no regrets. My choice was the beef stroganoff and I was very impressed with everything about it. Yum yum. We shared our side salad and soup starters; both excellent. Some reviews didn't like the strong garlic in the Caesar but we were forewarned by our server about that and we both enjoyed it very much nonetheless. (The soup, potato, was a purée, also good.) For dessert we shared a blueberry lemon tart. Awesome finish! Oh my gosh good. (I'm too old to say OMG good.) We both felt bad that we didn't get to thank our server Fiona for making the whole experience sparkle. Someone else stepped in to take care of payment. But it was evident that the staff was working as a team. Great cooperation. One server grabbed a finished plate from our table as she hurried by. We noticed that positively. We highly recommend Pepper Sprout. read more

Excellent food, service, and atmosphere. It's been nine years since we last ate here. It was great then and still great now. I recommend the cheese and pretzel appetizer and the shrimp bacon Mac n cheese. read more

Pepper Sprout Midwest Cusine - Cheese and pretzels - New American Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa

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Seriously an amazing find in Dubuque! The staff and Chef Kim ROCK. Do not drive thru this town and not stop. We had the specialty cocktails and my companion had the chef recommended, locally sourced salad and I had the best garlic infused Caesar I have ever had. Dinner Included the cut with a butter knife tenderloin steak and melt in your mouth Beef Bourguignon. Generous portions, You don't go away hungry. Go here. Eat well. Wow is all I can say. The staff is friendly, chef comes out and socializes and this was a wonderful dining experience! read more

The furnishings leave a lot to be desired. Don't let the basic decor fool you. The food is wonderful! I was a little disappointed that the shrimp that was listed as part of our entrees.was omitted. The steaks were cooked perfectly and the staff was attentive. read more

The food is always excellent at tge Sprout! Service is exemplary. The ambiance is comfortable and relaxing. Drinks are fantastic!! Great job Kum and Russell! read more

One of the best steaks I've ever had, and I've traveled the world and eaten at many fine cuisine locals. My wife loved hers as well. She liked her salad, and my purée soup was fantastic. Ambience was good, server (Fiona) was great. The Argentinian Malbec (red wine) was super reasonably priced, and for the price and quality of the tenderloin it was one of the more affordable steaks I've ever had. When we're back in the area, we will be back to this restaurant: one of the best I've ever ate at!! read more

Beautiful space in a beautiful town. Excellent food with a menu that changes with the season. Locally sourced when possible. If you are looking for something a little nicer pepper sprout should be on your short list read more

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A bit noisy when we first arrived, as the restaurant was quite full. Had a couple of nice cocktails, followed by the spicy shrimp and baked halloumi appetizers. The shrimp was perfectly cooked, and the halloumi was tasty and fun to eat. DH had the lamb chops - well seasoned and done to specifications. I had the special, a Hawaiian fish that I can't spell, but that was spectacularly good. We finished with a shared slice of chocolate and white cake with a strawberry filling. It was blissfully light after our meal, but the chocolate portion lacked a little chocolate intensity. The staff were attentive and pleasant. An enjoyable midweek birthday dinner! read more

Trendy restaurant with an eclectic menu. Deserves a 4.5 but I rounded upwards. I had the beef bourguignon and it was perfectly cooked. Mashed potatoes were excellent. Service very good and staff very pleasant. Will return. read more

Pepper Sprout Midwest Cusine - New American Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa

Upon walking into what seemed like a narrow, small restaurant, you are greeted with a small bar to the right and hostess stand straight ahead. The main restaurant seating is behind the hostess stand and is larger than anticipated. We had a small group that came here for dinner on a Thursday night. We did not have a reservation and this seemed to be fine as we were seating right away. There were quite a few people in the restaurant with only a few empty tables. We were given menus to peruse and soon our waitress was there. We had to ask for a wine menu which I was surprised they had not given us one initially. Their house bottles of wine were $20 so we decided to split one. Looking at the menu, we found some unique American cuisine which was rather intriguing. We decided to start with the Bleu Cheese, Cheese Cake. When it came to our table, it didn't look like I had envisioned. Not that it was a bad thing as the appetizer was warm and delicious. It did not have a strong bleu cheese or beets flavor so it was rather enjoyable. For the main course I chose the special which was a Walleye encrusted with walnuts, covered in a sauce with (she said crab) but I believe it was crawfish. A choice of salad or soup comes with it and I opted for the salad. The salad of course came out first and it had a very nice Basil Vinaigrette. They also brought out bread which was ok. When our main dishes came out, they were HUGE portions (especially after the appetizer, salad and bread). The fish took up the entire length of the plate. The fish was rather enjoyable and had a slight spice to from the sauce. The only disappointment in this dish was that the green beans were not cooked enough and thus were very crisp. I was unable to eat all of my meal. The girls wanted to split a dessert so we had the chocolate mousse. It was light and airy as mousse should be. I only had a couple small spoonfuls but did enjoy it. Since there were so many interesting items on the menu and it was convienant to the hotels, if I am in Dubuque again, I would probably stop in. read more

Pepper Sprout Midwest Cusine - Bleu Cheese, Cheese Cake - New American Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa

Great food and service! They perfectly demonstrate teamwork in how they service you! Great attention to detail. Food was tasty and they ask how spicy you would like it! Even the house wine was delicious! It will be the first restaurant I will return to if ever in Dubuque. Highly recommend it! read more

I really love this place. Best food in a Dubuque period. Kim always ensures diners have a good experience. The menu is fresh, drinks are made correctly, and the prices are reasonable. I always order the jambalaya when on the menu. Otherwise, It's the gumbo. Always flavorful with fresh ingredients. During the Covid 19 shutdown, you can still order these wonderful meals for carry out. I've never been disappointed here. read more

So amazingly good! We loved everything from our appetizer- to the salad - to the entree! Love the atmosphere! A definite must stop! Thank you Pepper Sprout! read more

One of Dubuque's older nicest established restaurants, they are always changing up the menu by the season with farm fresh ingredients. Loved their deconstructed street corn dip this season as well as this new Fall pasta. read more

Pepper Sprout Midwest Cusine - Delicious Fall pasta dish - New American Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa

I have eaten here many times, but... I am sorry to say they have fallen a bit. I remember the stuffed quail over wild rice or the elk chops from before... but... things haven't been the same the last few years. The price is high and it used to be worthwhile, but... lately... I don't know. Give them a chance, just... it isn't the same as it was back in 07 or 2010... ish... No disrespect, just I had hoped for better. read more

Nice atmosphere, attentive wait staff and varied menu of freshly prepared fare. Caesar salad was fresh but over seasoned with fresh garlic, way over seasoned. Fettuccine Alfredo was fresh and tasty. Winter vegetable soup was so good. The evening special ravioli looked like a million bucks when placed on the table but the hot peppercorn oil seasoning caused me to break out in an unsociable sweat. The Pepper Sprout chef is capable but the seasonings are over the top. If you are sensitive to very strong flavors ask your table staff for advise. A decent meal that could have been very good. read more

Fabulous ambiance, terrific service and incredible food! Miya took great care of us, Russ' wine recommendations were spot on. Local fresh cuisine. Truly the best meal we have enjoyed out! Walking distance from Hotel Julien. If I could give 10 stars I would! Highly recommend and we will definitely be back! read more

Two places that everyone needs to visit while in Dubuque is Paul's Tavern and Pepper Sprout. Pepper Sprout sports some of the best dining anywhere in the country. Tremendous service and a very pleasant atmosphere. We stay at the Julien Hotel which is just down the street and a short walk to Pepper Sprout. Great wine selection which makes the walk back to the hotel a little easier. A must for dining while in Dubuque. read more