I wandered into Lisa' Bake Shop yesterday to look for something sweet for one or more upcoming…read moreearly morning coffee hours. There was quite a selection, which of course led to some happy confusion. But what really caught my eye was a triangular shaped almond-based treat labeled Hamentashen! Well, at least a reasonable facsimile. I purchased one and them proceeded to give the quite pleased guy behind the counter a Purim 101 lesson, while throwing in that it was close to Passover on the calendar, and that Rosh Hashana was coming up on Friday night. I also opined about what a traditional hamantaschen looks like, and that cherry was my favorite filling. I just finished it this morning, and found this hamantaschen to be delicious, albeit a little too sweet and needing a bit more fluffiness. Here's a reference just in case another Jewish person happens to stop in and take happy notice: https://www.onesarcasticbaker.com/hamentashen/ Secular Coda: I also purchased a monster cookie and am slowly working through all of its deliciousness.

Best Caramel rolls! Everything else is top notch quality too.very nice personally too!read more

Like a previous Yelper had mentioned in his review prior to mine, this is a great, old-timey candy…read moreshop, located within the Emporium. Came here to see if they would have some unique candies to the Midwest, and lo and behold, they did. I ended up buying a bunch of Caramel Cobs, which I've never seen out East. They made great "little" (little is in quotation marks because these things are actually fairly large for treats) gifts for my friends back home. They have a bunch of other candies as well. Well worth checking out, if you happen to be in the Emporium or near Arnolds Park.

We stop there many summers. This summer a kid I was with showed me the candy cigarettes available…read morethere. While the selection is generally very good, and the people generally pleasant, the clerks were completely unapologetic about selling candy cigarettes (and candy chew). This lead to a long discussion in the car and some disagreement about the appropriate behaviour in such circumstances. So, I won't be back. I'll get candy from places that are quite literally less likely to corrupt (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candy_cigarette). So, you can see this a 5-star review as well as a 1-star review, and if you are a proponent of candy cigarettes, they have the widest selection I've ever seen. They are also overpriced, but for the selection it's a good deal.

The unique flavors are always changing and all delicious! Clean and cute place not somewhere you…read morewould sit and hang out for the ambiance but only thing that could make it better is an all you can eat buffet of their flavors ha! The workers are all friendly and kind! Small business with a big heart!

The whole family stopped at the Frozen Parrot for a treat during our last trip to Okoboji for the…read moresummer. Our oldest and I got gelato, while the other two kids chose pops: one root beer pop with a chocolate coating and one Oreo pop with chocolate and nuts. Everything was very good, although the root beer and chocolate combination was not our favorite. We all enjoyed our visit, but it can get a little pricey since each topping, coating, and drizzle costs extra.

We were introduced to Goodies by a family member who lives on West Lake Okoboji and we loaded up on…read morethe pecan turtles and milk chocolate covered toffee. We had one Turtle each and put the rest in the refrigerator. The next day, we packed and left and went back to AZ and we forgot our goodies! No worries, we ordered some online while driving three hours to the airport. We just received them today and they are incredible! If you don't go there, order them online! They are handmade and so delicious! Go there now or order online! You won't be sorry!

So this is an ice cream and candy shop right? Not only! I find their coffee to be the best in…read morethe area and go here for my morning coffee drinks. All of the candy is good but my personal favorite ends at the homemade caramel. They have the best caramel apples I have had anywhere, hands down. When I come to Okoboji this is my must stop for treats to bring back as well as my morning coffee. The service is quick and friendly. What else can I get here? Hot tea, greeting cards, teapots, colorful kitchen items, gifts, pie, cheesecake, cookies, homemade confections, nuts, ice cream and did I mention coffee? I am sure I missed telling you things. Go here. Have an ice cream cone in the afternoon. Life is more fun with a bit of a treat now and again.

Twisted Sips is one of our absolute favorite locally owned coffee shops. (Can you blame us for not…read morehaving just one favorite?) This little drive-thru gem is owned and operated by the amazing Bobbi Schmith -- a seasoned barista with a heart of gold and a gift for crafting drinks that hit the spot every single time. She's friendly, fast, and full of good energy, and it shows in every sip. The drinks? BIG, bold, and unique. We've tried everything from the Cadbury Egg Latte (pure Easter magic) to the Twisted Caramel Macchiato -- blended to perfection. They also serve up a full lineup of options: hot, iced, or blended... espresso or not. Coffee, tea, cold brew, Lotus, Red Bull, smoothies -- all the good stuff. And the food? Homemade breakfast sandwiches, burritos, and daily lunch specials that are actually worth going out of your way for. Everything's made fresh and served fast, which makes this spot perfect for busy families (like ours!) on the go. They even do fun promos -- like holiday giveaways, surprise discounts, and cheerful seasonal touches that make your day just a little sweeter. Pro tip: Check their Facebook page for daily food specials -- they change it up all the time, and it's always something good. If you haven't been to Twisted Sips yet, treat yourself. You deserve it. #TwistedSips #SpencerIowaEats #DriveThruGold #LocalLove #CoffeeWithHeart #SpencerIowa

Medlar is a cute coffee shop on the Main Street in Spencer. We arrived early on a Saturday, within…read more30minutes of opening, so they didn't have everything ready but they got the operation up and running quickly. The coffee was great, but the best thing was the cappuccino muffin. We had to wait about 10minutes for the muffins to be ready, but that made these even better! The muffins fresh out the oven were the move. 10/10 quality. You should absolutely order a cup of coffee and a cappuccino muffin if they have them.

I really like their coffee and food. However, I just watched two girls, one making my sandwich and…read morethe other filling food containers, touch the food with their bare hands and no gloves on. Would appreciate it if they wore gloves while making food.

If you are in Okoboji Iowa and you get coffee at any other place you are crazy. We have tried every…read moreplace and this is it. The line says it all. Stand in that line and wait because you will not be disappointed ever. Every single drink is made the same every time. Do not walk to this place RUN. Amazing atmosphere amazing workers amazing everything.

They charged extra for lite ice for a $7 drink and took a long time to prepare everything at the…read morecoffee shop I worked at we didn't charge extra for lite ice it should be a common practice to get what you payed for and I didn't pay for a drink with a few sips because it's full of ice

Nice little store for organic items. They have some fresh produce and a few ready made lunch items…read morelike wraps, though it is mostly grocery including frozen items. I had some excellent Michigan blueberries.

Gayle and I returned to Spirit Lake this summer to sadly find that The Market (on Hill Avenue) had…read moreclosed. However, just across the street, we noticed that Wilder Thymes Natural Foods had opened right next to Art on 16th. Running this kind of successful business is a challenge as summer resort folks go home in the Fall, utilities costs are higher in the Winter, and there's competition from grocery stores who are increasingly selling organic goods and local Farmers Markets. Wilder Thymes Natural Foods offers bulk items, snacks, drinks, spices, cooking ingredients, frozen, dairy & gluten-free foods, personal care items and natural cleaning supplies. There's also a kitchen that features ready-made sandwiches to go, baked goods and take n bake entrees. And from their our own farm comes a wide selection of fruits, vegetables & herbs when in season. Best of Luck! Gayle and I will also continue to contribute our share whenever we are in town.