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

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

If you hear anyone recommending this place, they are right! Food, wine, atmosphere, and service all work together, and work WELL together. Whether you eat at the bar, or dine at a table you will not be disappointed. I highly recommend sampling the wine list. I love a good Malbec and they have a bottle for $27 that is delicious. Great to share with a friend! Their appetizers and small plates allow you to sample the kitchen without feeling stuffed. The pork tenderloin, baked brie, and chorizo dip are a must! This photo doesn't do it justice ... I ate everything before I realized it was time to show the food. read more

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

The food is grossly over seasoned and over priced. I would rather have a smaller portion that was cooked to perfection instead of the giant portions of excessively seasoned and undercooked food we were given. Like we LOVE garlic, but our pallets were blown with just a few bites. The Caesar salad was over-dressed. Ex; lettuce was drenched in oil, inedible, the table was shocked at the flavor of the salad. Tasted again only of garlic. This place has so much potential. With some minor updates to the ambiance/decor inside and a full overhaul of their kitchen it may be worth trying again. We unfortunately will have to put our money into the community elsewhere. The wine list was nice. read more

First time in Dubuque for a film festival and the front desk at Hotel Julien recommended this place for dinner. I was seated promptly in a booth and had an excellent server named Michael. He was knowledgeable about their menu and helped me decide on getting the Hawaiian Prawns & Grits which was DELISH! It's a hearty portion size, the prawns are big & tasty and the entire dish is jam-packed with flavor. Highly recommend. It came with soup or salad so I opted for the spring salad with feta cheese & a strawberry vinaigrette. Also delicious. Where they fell short was their cocktails - the lemon drop martini to be specific. There was no rim and no flavor, it was more like flat lemon soda which was disappointing since that's one of my favorite drinks. So I sampled some of their wine instead and went with the Cannonball Cabernet which was a much better choice. I got their bread pudding to go but if I'm ever back in this city I'll opt for an appetizer instead of dessert. Good food. Good service. Good wine. Give them a try. read more

We searched on Yelp for a new restaurant in Dubuque, and, once again, Yelp came through. I would agree that this is the best restaurant in Dubuque, at least that we've found. We've had good meals in other places, but this one is the best. The service is fast, efficient, and the servers are very knowledgeable about the daily menu offerings. The chef stopped by to chat ingredients. The bartender came to the table to make an alternate wine suggestion, with a free taste. Everyone in the restaurant worked to make the visit enjoyable. We loved it so much that, five days later, we were back again, to try some of what we missed the first time. And, once again, we were bowled over by the service and food. This restaurant is not pretentious, but a genuinely good taste of seasonal local offerings, worthy of five stars. read more

Pepper Sprout Midwest Cusine - Mushroom savory bread pudding - New American Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa

I forgot to write a review right after I left and now infant remember the fish I got but it was certainly very tasty. I sat at the bar and made a good friend talking to a local banker. The 2 reasons for not awarding 5 stars- service and mixology. Service - I sat at the bar and literally, it took the bar tender (who may also be an owner), 10 minutes to acknowledge me or offer a menu or water. In addition, the chef brought my entree out and when she returned a second time with someone else's food, I gave her a compliment but she didn't respond or acknowledge it either. Weird! Mixology - as always, I ordered an Old Fashion and not only was the orange and cherry muddled, it also got a splash of soda. Given how simple it is to make a classic old fashion, why ruin it with soda?? read more

Fantastic meals. The Cajun King Salmon with corn poblano salsa/relish was perfect Everything we had was excellent. My new favorite restaurant. read more

Wow! I did not expect such a terrific meal! I ordered the Fall special "Mac and cheese" with penne pasta, chicken, mushrooms, broccoli and cheese sauce with bacon. The portion was HUGE and it was fabulous! Prior to the main course I opted for the tomato pepper soup. It was nice and spicy. The Sauvignon Blanc finished off the order. Sorry - no room to test dessert. read more

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

Can't beat the value for the food here! Everything was beyond expectations. Even the restaurant owner / chef came out to talk about the food and her restaurant. I love that about small business owners, taking pride and ownership in their personal work. Her bartender, Russ, did a great job!! read more

Pepper Sprout Midwest Cusine - Pork Shank with sauerkraut and homemade mustard sauce - New American Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa

One of my all time favorite restaurants. I love the seasonal menus and will usually get the special if there is one that night. Kim does an excellent job in the kitchen and may of the items have a little kick that I appreciate. The wine list is also extensive, but often take a recommendation from Russ at the bar. If you are visiting Dubuque you absolutely need to try Pepper Sprout!! read more

Exceptional dining every time I have been here! Kim's skill as a chef is incredible!!

Great use of fresh vegetables in each dish. I had the chefs salad with peach vinaigrette, tomato artichoke basil soup and deconstructed street corn. Decor and music set the mood for a relaxing and delightful dinner. read more

Loved the salmon pasta so much I went back and ate it a second time . Went back a 3rd time and was going to order it again only to see the menu had changed and it was no longer an item. Ordered the quail and it was delicious also. In fact, all my friends (3 couples) ordered something different and all raved about their dishes. We argued about whose dish was better.. funny , but true . You can't go wrong with any dish at the Sprout ! The service was excellent and Russ, the bartender, is superb ..as is his mixology. Make this one of your regular outings , you won't be disappointed ! read more

I've always enjoyed the interesting menu at Pepper Sprout. Generally pretty delicious food but room temperature, wilted Caesar salad is just not acceptable! read more

Decided to eat in a restaurant for the first time in 4 months for my birthday. As soon as we walked in the owner (or manager?) taps my husband on the shoulder welcoming us. While that might have been ok months ago, Dubuque is a designated "hot spot" for COVID, and she wasn't even wearing a mask. In fact, NO ONE on her staff was wearing a mask. Restaurants are supposed to ensure guests are separated and that was definitely not the case. We were so uncomfortable with no masks and lack of safety measures that we almost left. What a sign of disrespect to the entire community that you can't even have your staff mask up when going from table to table to bar. If that wasn't enough, they completely screwed up my meal and offered nothing to compensate. Telling me you entered my steak as medium rare instead of medium well was appreciated but I expected more from a customer service standpoint. I as the patron can decline a discount or free beverage knowing how the service industry is hurting right now. It was a very expensive meal and so disappointing this was our first experience out in months. Food was ok but obviously the manager doesn't care about spreading COVID to her patrons. It's not difficult to wear a mask and this fact alone is why I'll never come back. It's a slap in the face to Dubuque and visitors that your restaurant isn't doing the smallest thing to keep people safe. read more

Great new spring menu Food and service were great The mac and cheese was creative and delicious read more

I have always had a good time at the Pepper Sprout. Kimmy is an excellent Chef and always knows how to prepare an excellent meal. From seasonal dishes, to her more regular dishes, I have yet to have a bad meal. Anything worth having, you need to pay a little extra for. So make sure you understand you will be going into the wallet a little deeper when you visit here. WELL worth it, from ambiance, to wine, to service, to food. I have never left displeased. read more

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

Seems the quality has decreased. Wife had the vegetable primavera with added shrimp. Pasta was over cooked and the shrimp were simply boiled- no flavor. Ordered a dirty gin martini got a simple gin martini. Mushroom soup was more of a French onion soup with some added mushrooms but really just tasted of pepper. The fresh cod was was good but buried under a tropical fruit mix of basically just pineapple. Service was fine - however we're had better meals. read more

Owner is unfriendly to the disabled. Refuses to be ADA compliant and threatened to shut down and sue if made to be compliant. Thinks that because they renovated an old building they are above the law and better than other restaurant owners. This is actually reflected in their cooking. Overly fussy, look at me quality, but the actual taste? Forget it. Pretentious, but without the chops to back it up. Wants to be a big city restaurant badly, but fails. Reminds me of a kid playing dress up. They think they look just like a princess in mommys dresses and heels, with lipstick askew, but really just looks foolish. Those who have actually been outside Dubuque know what kind of poseur place this is. Save your money. P.S. what is with the cauliflower obsession? Big sale at your distributor? Too much in the freezer?? read more

I went to Pepper Sprout with my significant other for a nice, upscale dinner while visiting the Galena/Dubuque area. I liked the decor and ambiance of Pepper Sprout, though the music didn't set the right mood (Led Zeppelin & Queen?--Really??). We were seated at the last booth in the rear of the restaurant, near the kitchen & restroom. I tried not to be bothered by this, until I realized there was an open staircase to the basement directly behind our table, so unfortunately a damp, musty stench permeated throughout our dinner. We ordered a chicken pesto bruschetta appetizer and it was delicious, as were the mashed potatoes. I got a simple ceasar salad but the dressing was overloaded with garlic. My boyfriend ordered the creole walleye, and he said it was far too spicy and hot for his liking, and he usually likes spicy dishes. We also got a slice of a blueberry lemon tart for dessert, but it lacked flavor and the lemon tasted synthetic. It wasn't absolutely terrible --the dishes just seem to need some tweaking--, but for this expensive price point I expected better. read more

SUPER inventive menu! Not only was the food (and service) fantastic, but I've got some crazy food allergies (nuts, mushrooms, vinegar) that can put me in the hospital. Kim Wolff, the owner and head chef, came out and talked with my wife and I to make sure we felt comfortable with my choices. Then she whipped up some fantastic modifications. Also, it's worth noting that the building itself is just stunning. 25 foot tin ceiling. Original hardwood accents. This rivals any dining experience we've had in Chicago. read more

About 7 years ago I was visiting Galena, IL and asked for a recommendation for the best steak in the area for a picky steak eater and the response was...the Pepper Sprout in Dubuque, IA. I am extremely lucky that I was pointed in the right direction as the Pepper Sprout served one of the best Filet Mignons I've ever had. No just good...but so mouth wateringly delectable that on a recent roadtrip I returned to Galena/Dubuque just to eat at the Pepper Sprout again. And they did not disappoint! For starters, I like my escargot the traditional way...swimming in individual mini-hot tubs of garlic butter, which I will later sop up with crusty French bread. When they are not served this way, I choke back a small tear. My escargot were served in a shallow bowl reclining in a slightly garlicy broth and topped with steamed, diced vegetables and shaved cheese. I choked back a tear. But once I dove into that little bowl of heaven I was amazed! The escargot were perfectly cooked, the veggies were a perfect accompaniment and the broth was delectable. SCORE! Next came the soup of the day, a potato pancetta cream soup. It was hearty, flavorful and not an overwhelmingly creamy suit but the perfect balance between tastiness and immediate heart attack. SCORE! Then it was time for what I came for...the filet! Purrrrfectly cooked medium rare, slightly crusty on the outside and a warm red center (my mouth is watering now just thinking about it). What is outstanding about this filet is that there is a slightly different flavor that I've not before had in Chicago, which I believe is the flavor of fresh red meat. So I had to ask, as I truly wondered, if the cow was just killed that day in back of the restaurant or what? Turns out the steaks are shipped in from some other state I've forgotten. Regardless, it is an outstanding and uniquely flavored piece of beef. SCORE! Décor is cute and comfortable, service was wonderful and bevvies were well made. Only wee complaint is that the restaurant knew we were driving in from Chicago to eat there, yet the chef/owner didn't stop by to say hello even tho she was on the floor speaking with guests. A guest services miss, but considering the food she prepared, she could have slapped me in the face and I'd still go back. Pepper Sprout is a great reason to plan a quick road trip from Chicago to Galena/Dubuque. read more

I had heard about this place and was so excited to eat there. The atmosphere was very nice and the location was great. The staff was very friendly and accomodating but the food however was very bad. The soup was cold when it arrived and had to be sent back. It was watery and lacked flavor. The salad was so so. The cauliflower pasta dish was oily and not prepared well although the vegetables were al dente. The swordfish had a bad taste as well as the steak. Overall a huge disappointment. Would not recommend this place. read more

Not my fav. Saw the great ratings and its right downtown. Very nice building and the interior is cool. I was there on a Weds evening and the place was about 3/4 full with a good noise level to it. I had a Manhattan, dinner salad, and the veal + mushroom risotto. The drink and salad aside (because they are basic, and weren't great, but certainly ok), the entree was not good. The veal was fatty and chewy, and the whole dish was very sweet. Only time I've been here, so maybe it was a bad choice or off night, but I don't feel compelled to try again. read more

I've lived in Iowa all my life, and I'm having trouble remembering a better meal. I also travel frequently and have a habit of ordering Duck anywhere I can, and the fall 2015 duck dish is the best I've had. Amazing fall flavors and it had about twice as much meat as I'd expect for the quality and price. Maybe a touch on the sweet side, but it could have been my individual dish I'm a pasta snob above all else, and my wife's pasta dish was as good as anything we had on a 2 week Italian food pilgrimage last year. The drinks are strong pours, and the staff was very fun. Easily the best few hours of our fall Mississippi getaway. read more

Great experience. We were pleasantly surprised. When we saw the prices we were a little concerned, but it turned out to be well worth it. Friendly service, great atmosphere, and excellent food. I had a fantastic tuna steak and my wife had the cauliflower steak. Would definitely go back again. read more

Showed up on a Saturday night, was able to get seat with no wait. The salmon is phenomenal!! Now for the chocolate cake

I've gone to pepper sprout numerous times over the years (the early 2000's) and have never had a bad meal. Kim continues to put together fantastic seasonal menus that never disappoint. Most recently I had an amazing lamb dish (super tender, cooked to perfection), and my dad had a steak pot pie. He had been to pepper sprout a few months before we went and saw a chicken pot pie on the menu - his first thought was "who would order a chicken pot pie at a restaurant like this?" - then he saw one go by, (unfortunately for him it was after they had already ordered) and he had immediate entree envy. So he was all over it when he saw the steak pot pie on the menu when we were there, as well he should have been - i had a couple bites and it was uh-mazing. I try to get back to pepper sprout whenever I can when I'm back at home, usually make it to the restaurant about once a year. Great food, great atmosphere, great service. Definitely one of the best restaurants in Dubuque. read more

I've tried a few different entrees here, but since I had the halibut, I've never tried anything else. I've had halibut in Alaska that was not as good as the halibut I've had a Pepper Sprout. Although I know I should try other things because the owner does such a good job of switching up the menu. It's a little pricey for a restaurant in Dubuque, but well worth it. (Not super pricey compared to big city fine dining.) I'm a huge fan and I try to go there whenever I'm in town. read more

My favorite restaurant in Dubuque! Everything is amazing and huge portions. Veggies are always cooked to perfection. Great meal once again last night...pork shank was delish and seared cod was dynamite. read more

Pepper Sprout Midwest Cusine - Pork Shank - fricken amazing - New American Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa

We found this restaurant by mistake. We made a wrong turn, like I normally do. Boy, am I glad. We relocated here from Chicago. This restaurant, without a doubt, is now my favorite. They say there are a lot of great restaurants in Galena, Illinois, where we live, and there are, but I am sorry. They do not measure up to this one. The food was absolutely amazing!!! So was the service. The chef/owner is nothing less than one of a kind! When I finished my appetizer, salad, and duck breast, you would have thought I licked all three of my plates clean. That's all I can say. We have a new favorite restaurant. For my next reservation the chef promised to make me roast duck with cherry sauce. I can't wait! You will truly be doing yourself a disservice not stopping here. I can't say anymore. The chef is not just a chef, she is an artist. read more

First time ive tried quail and it was fantastic. Just like turkey but without the aftertaste. Comes with 2 quail and i split it with my girlfriend so we could try the deviled eggs. 2 types of eggs; one was kind of pesto flavored and creamy, the other had bacon and had more bite. The eggs change on a daily basis so ask what they are, ours were fantastic. Only negative comments was the green beans were a bit undercooked and bathroom is close tp patrons eating read more

Pepper Sprout Midwest Cusine - Quail with mashed potatoes and green beans - New American Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa

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What a great meal. We did not get any appetizers but the entree comes with soup or salad. The chefs salad was good but not memorable. The asparagus soup was tasty but chunky. I would prefer it smooth. The shrimp scampi was with gnocchi, I prefer it is spaghetti or fettuccini. The spicy scallops packed quite a punch The shrimp mussels pan roast was very very good, down to the last drop which I had to scoop up with my bread. I could have licked the bowl if it was not a restaurant. But the piece the resistance is the tenderloin. It was greatly recommended by another customer going out the door. I will do the same for you. read more

One of my very favorite restaurants in Dubuque. It is pricey but it is worth it. I have never had something here I didn't like. 10/10 every time you go, and with a changing menu that's hard to sustain. read more

All-in-all a very good restaurant. My wife's dish was better than mine, she had something with shrimp, chorizo and cheddar grits, it was excellent. I had the Venison Tenderloin which was also very good, just not quite as good as hers. I do have to second what Elizabeth said a few reviews prior to mine. I ordered the Caesar salad, but was not warned about the garlic and she's not joking! I love garlic too, so I didn't think it'd be an issue, but I woke up with a strong taste of garlic in my mouth the next morning. However, that was my only complaint. The food and service were very good, four stars is deserved. read more

Don't come in here expecting fast service! Place looked nice on the inside, but even at night it was a little too dark in there. Staff was friendly, but the service was slow. I will take that as it is a limited menu and I don't think they have to cook it as it comes in. We had the deconstructed jalapeno popper dip as an appetizer. It came with some pretzel style bread sticks to dip in there. To me there wasn't a lot of flavor with this, but it was ok. It needed more jalapeno in there, there was no bite at all. I had their Caesar salad with my meal, not much to mess up here, but they do ask if you want anchovies on your salad (I declined). My main meal was the Grilled New Zealand Lamb Chops. They were grilled and tasted really good. They almost fell off the bone. My meal also came with sour cream mashed potatoes and a vegetable medley and they were both excellent. I was happy with this restaurant and I will return again if I am back in the area. read more

This restaurant is a gem. I never expected to find such an amazing place in small town Iowa but this restaurant rivals some of the best meals I have had around the world. Seriously!!! They just put out their fall menu and it is wonderful. We had a large party so tried many dishes. Apps included baked Brie, oysters and roast veggies with a sauce that was incredible. As for entrees, the tenderloin was great, the blackened walleye was the best walleye we ever had (choose the grits as your side) the pork shanky was comfort food at its best and the sweet potato gnocci melted in your mouth. The service was friendly, helpful and very attentive without hovering. The chef stopped by to make sure we were happy. She is a treasure! read more