From the moment we were greeted and seated we were treated like family. Our wait staff Simon was absolutely phenomenal. They have an insane wine list along with some of the best mules I've ever tasted. I can't believe I didn't take a photo of my Strip steak but it was gorgeous and wonderful! Truly the food was delicious and you can't go wrong with a single thing on the menu as it all was so delicious! The ambiance was nice and although it was packed it was cozy and super welcoming. The manager was friendly and amazing to chat with at the end of our meal and we had such a blast! I'm glad we made a reservation and stopped by! The book Rubaiyat and being able to sign a little piece of history was pretty neat memory we will take home from our trip! read more

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We visited three times during our stay in Decorah. First for drinks, then for dinner and finally for a little desert to end our evening. Each time Kim and her team treated us immaculately. The food, service, and fun we had were impeccable each time. Absolutely amazing!! read more

We love this for place! Amazing food that varies seasonally so there's some nice variety to the menu. Great atmosphere and professional, friendly service. read more

This was absolutely wonderful. The service was amazing friendly and observant. The food was fabulous from the bread and salad wedge with house made blue cheese dressing, roasted corn poblano soup for starters. The entrees that we had were Swedish meatballs with mashed potatoes and peas, shrimp, scallops, and lump crap pasta with Alfredo sauce. The people were amazing. The atmosphere was warm and inviting. read more

Rubaiyat - Swedish meatballs - New American Near Me - Decorah, Iowa

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Great food and great service! Had a nice meal with our family. Highly recommended for fine dining, and if you like wine they can help you out with that with a huge selection. read more

Service is outstanding. The owners are sweet. The dining is the finest in town. Food is upscale without being fussy! Pretty easy to spend $100 for two with a couple drinks but you will feel you got your money's worth. If your from NYC, you'll feel you got a bargain: You'd spend the same thing at Katz's for two sandwiches, a couple knishes and soup! read more

We went for our first time and were not disappointed in the least. The service was on point. Not too often, but regular timely check ins. Atmosphere was cozy and inviting. Ordered the Brussels sprouts as an appetizer and nearly slid under the table they were so good. Everything was delicious and we found ourselves exploring the menu for our next visit. If I had to provide any critique: the salmon was a slightly dry when on a salad, but still very tasty. read more

5 stars for a place that swept us away from the minute we walked in. Kim greeted us with warmth, customer service and attentiveness. We were looking for a tasty place to eat, with our young kids but reservations were full. So, she got us all set up with takeout. Filet mignon was cooked perfectly, even the kids were asking for mor. We also loved the mashed potatoes with espresso butter. The Brussels sprouts were served in a way unlike I've had before. Very delicious. If all veggies were that good, we'd all have no trouble- the bacon in them didn't hurt either. My husband enjoyed the burger, which was also cooked perfectly with a fresh bun. The fries are unique on the side, and also very tasty. Overall, we can't wait to be back to try more! Glad we caught this gem during our weekend trip in Decorah. read more

Friday evening dinner. Nice decor and a calming ambiance; however, the hostess and wait staff, while friendly enough and certainly efficient, left their smiles at home. But that was of no consequence because my own smile more than made up for that by the joy I experienced with the Friday night special - a shrimp on the half shell dish, with a garlic-butter wash, wild rice, asparagus - it was outstanding! Want a nice dinner, reasonably priced, in a very pleasant environment in downtown Decorah, Rubaiyat is a great choice! read more

Excellent food, service and friendly staff ! Surprised me just how high end the dining experience was for a small town. Credit to the restaurant owner having created a great menu and I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the wine list. Moderately priced wine with excellent choices . I'm looking forward to returning for dinner when passing through Decorah again! read more

We visited Decorah last weekend and were both surprised and delighted to find such a fantastic restaurant in such a small town. Everything about our experience was outstanding. The service was top-notch from the moment we walked in the door until the moment we left the restaurant. The food was also excellent. The ingredients were fresh (and probably local), the menu was original (interesting twists on familiar dishes), and the prices lower than we'd expect for such a high-quality dining experience. I love pasta dishes with cream sauce, so I ordered the Pasta Rubiyat. It was outstanding. My husband ordered the meatballs, and I was surprised to find that I liked them even better than the pasta. (I'm not usually a meat-and-potatoes person for restaurant meals, but this was stellar.) The lingonberry sauce served with his meal was amazing. If we're ever in Decorah again, we'll be back without hesitation. read more

Whenever I go to Decorah for business, a dinner at Rubaiyat is top priority! Service, cocktails, wine list and food are consistently top notch! read more

I have lived in the area for 11 years and this was the first time I stopped in during a girls night dinner with my friend who was familiar with Rubaiyat. The food was amazing I enjoyed it! Every single dish was so flavorful and I recommend all of them! My friend who is Vegan had plenty of options and the chef and waitresses were very accommodating with giving her options. It was very nice calm environment to enjoy your meal! Very friendly staff and great menu. Definitely will be stopping again and adding to places to eat! Wednesday $2 off appetizers and $5 wine perfect for a night out! read more

Rubaiyat - Roasted Red Pepper Hummus - New American Near Me - Decorah, Iowa

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The food was excellent! It's pricier but probably worth it here. I would recommend they add more dressing to the side salad. We had the Chicken Carbonara and Seafood Pasta. It was a Thursday night and was pretty busy. read more

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Great service from Willem - delicious seafood pasta dish - Rubaiyat is a must-visit stop in Decorah.

I am a local, but with young kids, I sure do not get to go to this lovely restaurant as much as I'd like. The bar side of the restaurant is my preference for intimate yet casual dining. The service feels one on one and personal. The food selection for a bar menu is heavenly and decorative. I used to always prefer the wedge salad, because they made it like no other! You will never find a bleu cheese dressing of its kind! However, changing up on a number of visits since, I was once feeling bold and opportunistic. I tried the Ahi tuna & waffle and it's unexpectedly out of this world delicious. It's uniquely savory and undoubtedly sweet. Bring a partner to share it. Your tastebuds will feel complete. Please do not take this one off the menu (duck wontons are a must appetizer as well!) read more

The good: The cuisine was more worldly than I initially expected, and everything was prepared expertly with local ingredients. We had two orders of duck-bacon wontons and an order of caramelized apples & onions with Brie; both were very good. The Chicken Marsala I enjoyed was very tasty and filling. The Fig Moscow Mule was very generous in size and alcohol, and superbly crafted. The "really, now": My Wife and I were running were late from site-seeing and asked our two adult-Children to get a table for us. The hostess wanted to impress upon our Kid that they were lucky to get a table tonight "because Fridays and Saturdays are very busy!" The hostess repeated the same spiel to my Wife and I when we arrived about how lucky we were to have gotten a table today because "Friday and Saturday's are very busy!" to which I flamboyantly replied, "Thank God today is Thursday!" Ditch the false-airs, the ambiance and food speak volumes for the quality of the restaurant. read more

Decorah s finest restaurant for many years. Menu is varied and everything is delicious. Owners are all about excellence in service and contributing to the quality of life in town. Best wine selection in the region. read more

We had by far one of the best dining experiences here. The staff is friendly and the ambiance is cozy and warm. The food is top notch and well thought out. They have a great wine and drink selection as well. Steph and Kim are awesome hosts! The chef even checked on us and was down to earth and great to meet! read more

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I was visiting a friend that now lives in Decorah. Naturally, I went to my yelp family to find the hot spot to eat at for our reuniting dinner - and thanks to my yelpers - that restaurant turned out to be Rubaiyat. I wasn't surprised at the great reviews after my dining experience. We made a reservation. Didn't really need it this time of year but always good to give the restaurant a heads up. It's not huge but apparently they have big crowds at peak times. I've been told this is also a place that you must take your parents to when they tirelessly schlep you back to Luther College and on event weekends as a treat. The service was lovely - friendly, non-pretentious. They had a pretty nice wine list, some cocktails and fun beer that were all very reasonably priced. For food, I ordered a lobster bisque which definitely did not disappoint. The star of our starter course however, was a perfectly round beautiful ball of dough covered in some herbs and parmesan. This bread melted in your mouth and was complimentary. I could have made my meal on the soup and bread alone! For my entree I chose a rotating dish on the seasonal menu - a Greek style rock shrimp with gnocchi. Perfectly portioned after my heavy cream and carb starter. My friend ordered the pork chop which looked stunning (pictured). I only had a small bite which was quite good. The all star award, however, goes to dessert. Usually when I look at a dessert menu, I like about 1/3 of the options. Our server brought over a tray of delicious looking cakes/cheesecakes and a soufflé that ALL sounded/looked AMAZING. I regret only ordering one. We went against all of the tray items and opted for the seasonal maple sea salt creme brûlée. OMG. I would fly back and come to Decorah simply for this dessert. I hope they keep it regularly on the menu - it was THAT good. Homemade whipped cream on the sides with two small berries to complete the presentation. YUM-O. The owner came and spoke with us -very friendly and down to earth. She really seems to know her customers and has created a space thats inviting for all types of diners, foodies and non foodies, young and old alike. Bottom line: COME TO RUBAIYAT if you are in Decorah. It seems to be a staple for a nice meal in town. It's one of the most attractive restaurants in the downtown area and lives up to all the other reviews :). Kudos, Rubaiyat! read more

Rubaiyat - Greek style rock shrimp - yummy! - New American Near Me - Decorah, Iowa

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No ratings not sure of your thinking your food is terrible! Pumpkin pie and steak should never be in the same bite. The person with me asked about the steak with apples she informed him his meal would be smootherd in apples wtf. We are from Iowa give us a good home cooked meal. After reading some of your reviews I now realize you are most liked for you alcohol. Wow read more

The food is always fantastic. They also have a wonderful Wine list as well as beers on tap. Andy and Kim are great proprietors and always have excellent staff. read more

A potential diner posted a criticism of the hostess. I understand how bad experiences can happen at perfectly operated establishments but I can't understand this complaint. Unlike many restaurants the experience here begins with the hostess who has greeted diners since the restaurant opened. I doubt this diner encountered a substitute because I don't think the restaurant opens it's doors without her. So I won't advise the disgruntled diner to give Rubaiyats another chance but I will advise others to ignore the post and make a reservation for a great dinning experience. Ken K read more

For canine reasons we had to get food to go. I can only speak for myself but the tuna which came with the salad was the finest piece of Ahi I have ever had. Oh, the wine was also excellent as were the Swedish meatballs. If ever in Decorah again (I hope) this will be a destination. read more

Fabulous food. We all like each of our entrees. Funny waiter. The salmon was delicious. They allowed my to substitute bacon Brussels instead of asparagus which was delicious. read more

Great local place! The owner greets you at the door and the service is excellent. We enjoyed the large wine selection and the menu was unique and delicious. This was such a great find in a small town. Book early- they have a waiting list and I can see why! read more

This was the first restaurant we walked into when we got into town. I'm glad we walked in! The hostess was SO sweet- she told us there was a 15 minute wait, she wrote our name down, we walked around the downtown a bit (looking for a quicker option, and told her we might be back), and when we got back she had our table ready and was holding it for us. Very accommodating for us indecisive people! I had the flatbread pizza and loved it. They change it daily, but it was unique with bbq sauce, steak, and veggies. My husband got the seafood Alfredo pasta and he was pleased with the fact that they didn't skimp out on the seafood. The sourdough bread they give you is delish! Bathrooms are clean and there are lotions and perfumes in the women's bathroom. Overall, very clean and elegant experience (not the bathroom, the overall restaurant). read more

Food is amazing! However, what is even better is the staff! Even without having a reservation (ooops) they were so very accommodating and sweet! Our steak was cooked to perfection and I can't say enough about the wonderful selection of wine. I definitely tried almost all of the wine flights to find my favorite! If you want a wonderful night out, come here! read more

Rubaiyat - Amazing steak with maple butter - New American Near Me - Decorah, Iowa

Chip appetizer with trio sauce - Great but need more chips. Tomato basil artichoke feta soup - phenom. Bread - spectacular with herbs and Parmesan. Crusted outside soft middle. Wedge salad - excellent House salad - okay. Short ribs - tender and flavorful. Side of spicy corn was very good but it could be more flavorful given the expectation, and what I believe the chefs capabilities. Everything was so good, I'm getting picky here. GF pizza - nicely done Flat iron steak and Argentinian shrimp - very nice meal but the meat is definitely lessened when I compared it to the short rib (which I realize isn't fair). Of the four cocktails at our table, they all tasted a little watery, particularly the martinis (cosmos). Chocolate soufflé - Really enjoy the flavor and it was well done. Gluten-free to boot! Bananas foster creme brûlée. - wasn't a fan of the flavor; guess I'm a purist, but worth a try. Definitely 5 stars for the area, 4 if comparing to a Gordon Ramsay's Claridges or even the spicy cream corn of Milwaukee's Parkside 23. I love flavor. I know the chef here must be phenomenal. I look forward to my return and finding "that dish" that knocks my socks off. read more

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Incredible food and service, Kim and Andy are fantastic with a passion for what they do. Best food in Decorah. Can't go wrong with any of the appetizers, but I like the bbq rib tips and hummus of the day best. Similar to sandwiches and entrees, nothing bad but can't go wrong with any of the meat, pork, or fish dishes; and oh hell yeah the duck. The wedge is tasty and the Brussels sprouts and bacon ... yep read more

Rubaiyat - New American Near Me - Decorah, Iowa

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This restaurant has a lot of qualities. I suspect the locals like it a lot. On the Saturday before Father's Day it was booked, but people can still eat in the bar, first come first serve. The food was a little weird for me and my wife. She got an Ahi Tuna sandwich. It had water cress and a feta sauce on a croissant. My stake came with a cheese sauce called "béarnaise sauce" and shoe string potatoes. I'm not big on shoe string potatoes. I guess the bar menu is different than the restaurant menu read more

I've been here three times and every time the food has been fantastic. The pork pictured here has fresh roasted corn and tomatoes, complimented by smashed potatoes (the good kind where they still have chunks and flavor), Brussel sprouts with bacon. Not over done, not salty just great flavor ... staff is friendly and attentive. If you are in Decorah spend some time here... read more

Rubaiyat - Fantastic Iowa chop with fresh roasted corn, tomatoes, Brussel sprouts with bacon and smashed potatoes - New American Near Me - Decorah, Iowa

This place is amazing!!!! Before you even get your food they bring you a soup or salad. Also a loaf of bread and the soup I got made the taste buds go to heaven!! It was tomato basil. The bread was fantastic also!! =) Then when the main course came, it was just amazing. After the main course, our waitress brought out a desert tray and there are no words to describe how heavenly the desert tasted!! read more

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Amazing staff and service! I'm from Charleston, SC and was truly impressed by the freshness of seafood! Great prices for the quality of food and service you receive! Highly recommend if you are in the Decorah, IA area! read more

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The Pasta Rubaiyat has the most delicious Alfredo sauce I've ever tasted! This dish is bursting with creamy flavor and has no shortage of seafood!! The shrimp, scallops, and crab were amazing! Great service too! read more

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Food was excellent. Great portions and the service was top notch as well. Booth was pretty small. Would recommend if you're in town! They have an impressive wine and beer list. read more

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Decorah visitors who appreciate upscale menu entrees complemented with fine wines absolutely need to experience the Rubaiyat. Plus they offer a great bar that provides a relaxing environment. This restaurant compares to and excels most similar metro restaurants. read more

Was going to try it out. Hostess was rude and a acted offended when I asked if they had any open tables at 5pm. She said, "As I explained to the person before you we're a top rated restaurant and we fill up 3 to 4 days in advance." I didn't know I should be listening to the conversation of the people ahead of me. Glad I didn't give them any of my money. You might want to stick that hostess somewhere else with her low-level customer service skills. I ended up getting a pizza a block away and it was fantastic. read more

The Rubaiyat Restaurant, Decorah, IA This restaurant has received many awards and honors, and it's easy to see why. Comfortable ambience, excellent service, and imaginative dishes made with local meat, fish and produce. We were there for Sunday brunch and found a large number of choices on the menu. Being a real man, I opted for the quiche of the day, which included locally grown corn, squash, edamame, and probably a lot more that I've forgotten. Jude chose an Eggs Benedict variation that substituted salmon for the usual Canadian bacon or ham. Verdict One: The quiche was more than an inch thick, and it tasted wonderful. Unfortunately, because it was so thick, it must have had to cook for a long time, and that made the crust tough and dry. As a frittata it would have been great; as a quiche it was less than that. Verdict Two: The Eggs Benedict were a marvel of complex and beautifully married flavors. Even though my egg-poaching skills leave a lot to be desired, I'm tempted to try it at home. The rich in-house Hollandaise was delightful with the salmon, a combination I had never thought of before, and with the perfectly poached eggs, it was Himmel auf den Teller, Heaven on the Plate. Summation: five stars from Jude, and four from me. read more

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My wife and I had the privilege of dining here for the first time in June of 2022. I understand now why everyone raves about this place. I have never had better service or food anywhere I have been. We were treated so kindly even though we were from out of town and the owner and servers didn't know us from Adam. I really appreciate excellent service and Rubaiyat is now at the top of my list. I look forward to returning this December and dining before a Christmas at Luther concert!!! read more