Not as advertised. Visited yesterday. Prices increased. Limited menu. Cod was not as we expected. We are originally from New England seeking a decent fish plate. Not here. Expensive without quality and amount served. Great river view. We will not return.​ read more

To all the people who gave this joint a positive review is amazing to me because we had a totally different experience. The food was not good, in fact 95% of it was left on the plate. It was expensive and the menu was so small. We were walking down the road to the shack and the owner was dumping a 5 gallon bucket of old grease right into the river and then walked back into the joint right in front of us. So gross. all he did was stand and talk to a single patron lady there and im sure she was so uncomfortable with him standing there while she was trying to eat. The place was probably the worst restaurant i have ever ate at. read more

Still great! Special this week was shrimp and crab rolls--not the sandwich but actual huge egg rolls filled with shrimp or crab salad. Really great! read more

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Great food! Unique recipes for the sides! Try the vinegar pie, it was amazing! Great service. Rainy day but we stayed dry and the water was relaxing to watch. read more

This is a really cool place!! Right on the water, the food was delicious! Flathead catfish, homemade cucumber salad, the service, you really can't go wrong! We will definitely be back. read more

The Fish Shack - Dining off the Mighty Mississippi. - Seafood Near Me - Guttenberg, Iowa

We were on a motorcycle ride along the Great River Road in Iowa. We stopped in Gutenberg for lunch and decided to check the Fish Shack out. We all ( 6 people ) enjoyed the food immensely. My wife and I shared the 1lb easy peel shrimp boil and we loved it. The beers are ice cold and you can't get a better view of the river! Yes there are actually binoculars on each table for your viewing pleasure. We will definitely be back! read more

The service was excellent, the food was delicious. I had the BBQ sandwich and my wife had the cheeseburger. They serve a great radio fish obviously but we don't like fish that much. It was an excellent chance to sit on the deck and watch the river go by. They have binoculars on all the tables so you can watch the wildlife float on by.it was a great experience. read more

Unique, sassy fun stop and you cannot get closer to the river without getting wet. Mike, owner, is a hoot! The beef sausage and smoked sauerkraut were delicious. No, really! The three sides we sampled were also fabulous 'Olive You More' antipasto is packed with interesting and diverse ingredients in an Italian style marinade/dressing. Green olives, black olives, cauliflower, cheese chucks, Pearl onions and more. 'Apple Pie Beans' are scrumptious. A variety of beans in an excellent sauce with a bit of a kick. Apples are soft and perfect. 'Sweet Potato Salad' is delish. Don't let the stairs or appearance fool you into not stopping and dining. Or stop for a cold beer and river views. Thanks Mike! Thanks Randy! We had a blast! And Olive YOU More Mike! read more

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This is by far the best place to eat when you're visiting Guttenberg. The owner is a wonderful host and the service and quality of food is top notch. The open seating next to the river gives you a great view to match the great food. When we return we will be back. Even if you don't like fish he has burgers and ribs that are awesome. read more

Sure go here for the experience but don't even pretend it is anything but Grungy. Food is served on paper plates with plastic silverware, which is fine because then it is closer to clean. The view of the river is great; just try not to look around at the actual place. My friend had the shrimp and raved about them. I ordered what I thought would be safest - a steak sandwich. It was a thin piece of meat served on toast. It was fine but not worth repeating. read more

Have been there several times and food always real good and have fun conversing with owner

This place is literally a hidden gem. The upper stair entrance is a railing that simply appears in the park by the river, downtown south of the Dam Bar and north of the Picket Fence - if you blink you'll miss it. There's also an entrance down a dirt road, if the ramp is too steep for mobility- concerned folks. The owner bought the old Guttenberg fish market right on the river five years ago, restored it, added a screened-in dining area with a spectacular view of the river and now serves whatever he thinks sounds good. It was all amazing and tasty - there was hardly a scrap of food left on anyone's (paper) plate. I had the Guttenberger, a loose meat sandwich that's a mix of pork and beef with nicely spicy sauce, the smoked turkey baked beans and "last year's" potato salad (as in, it's the one they liked last year). Friends had the smoked fish plate (local smoked sturgeon) with excellent pickled cabbage and a smoked sauerkraut, cheese and apple sandwich that was amazing (I don't like sauerkraut, but I would eat this is someone put it in front of me!). Literally everything we ordered was delicious. The decor is fun - salvaged pieces and odds and ends that look like each one has an interesting story behind it. The staff are friendly and the owner is a hoot. They're very careful in serving with as little interaction as possible and the almost open-air seating gives you the protection of being outdoors, but there were no masks, if that is a concern for you. We didn't feel uneasy about it (and we've been careful for a long time now). I'm not sure what the hours are - summer season is just getting started here - but this place is worth the drive. read more

We were on our way to Dubuque and looked online and this place looked cool and unique. The address listed is incorrect and we had to ask where this is. The place is literally a fish shack with vintage decor and a screened in porch to eat in. The view is gorgeous as the Mississippi river has blue water here. You order at counter and food gets delivered to your table. I asked what fresh fish was and it's fresh caught catfish from the river. I ordered that with sweet potato salad as my side. I also ordered crab egg rolls which are homemade and come with sweet chili dipping sauce. I also dipped the catfish in this sauce yummy. The sweet potato salad had sweet potato, corn, carrots and diced cucumber. I liked the uniqueness. The garnish is a red pickle made with koolaid. Also unique and good. Guttenberg is a cool city with lock and dam #10. My only suggestion to wait staff give customers a order # on a stick to put on table instead of auctioning off who had the fish combo, who had the shrimp? Bottled water, cans of pop and beer are your choices. I will definitely return if in area again. read more

Wow. You'll regret missing this stop. This has made my top 5 restaurant experiences. Food, people, and atmosphere were out of this world. The Flathead Catfish was the best fish I've ever eaten and it was caught right on the Mississippi. Getting anything with the smoked krat is an absolute must. Trying everything on this menu is now officially on my bucket list. Couple tips...you can't see the shack from the road. You'll see a set of public restrooms, the path down to the shack is just behind them. Bring cash or check. You order inside. Go hungry. read more

The Fish Shack - Seafood Near Me - Guttenberg, Iowa

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This was a really nice casual lunch stop on a road trip along the Mississippi. The Fish Shack appeared to be owner operated, and their menu was extensive with many homemade sides. Convenient dining area in a screened in porch area. My perch sandwich was great, and the hospitality of the owner and other guests was very nice. read more

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Ate there once and got food poisoning. Owner and owner's girlfriend are very vulgar and not professional what so ever. Recently they were recorded harassing and damaging a young man's fishing gear when they claimed he was trespassing on public land. Owner is seen with his hand in his pants digging in his butt during the recorded video! -10000/10 recommend! read more

We came across this HIDDEN GEM on accident and had to come back in a few days because the food and atmosphere is that good. The whole place has so much character and the gentleman who runs it is a hoot and a half! Definitely go there, even if it's out of your way! 11/10! read more

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Great food, friendly staff, unique menu options, charming ambience, nice view of the river.

Mike is very personable. We have our favorites on Sunday morning. View is great. Right on the mississippi!

Food was great and the place lived up to its name. A perfect little hole in the wall place. Doesn't take card run to Kwik star for a free ATM. read more

Very good service food was good ambition ok best sea food in Gatinberg I don't eat meat

Good food! A little hard to find but worth the effort. We had the cod fish sandwich, flathead catfish and slim jim beans. Everything was really good. read more

Wow just wow. First of all it's hard to find so look for the sign that says fish special. It's down an embankment and really cool walkway to get it! The atmosphere is like something out of a movie with the way everything is set up! The food was amazing I had the catfish and might be some of the best I have ever had! This is a must stop restaurant in Iowa! read more

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Cute, hidden, Riverside, shack in Guttenberg. Small menu; but good food, beer and wine. The closest you'll get to waterfront dining in town; next to the DAM bar. Literally, it's next door ;) read more

Hidden treasure and I do mean hidden! So many reasons to FIND this place! The owner is such a unique human being and the food is all homemade and I think most is local fresh caught. I just love sitting on the river bank (literally can almost reach out and touch the barges as they lock though) and take in the serenity. So lucky to have the Fish Shack in Guttenberg! Did I mention that it is OPEN AIR DINING! Oh the ambiance!!! read more

The Fish Shack is amazing. Located in Guttenberg, IA and right downtown next to the big beautiful River Park. South of the lock & dam about a block and very near the public restroom building. Look for the old truck door which he uses like a sign board. Look toward the water. At the top of the steps a sign that says "EAT". Walk down the steps and through the screen door. Take a right through another screen door and place your order with Mike (the owner who is wearing the suspenders and a big smile under his big mustache) who will guide you through the menu on the chalk board. The menu is small, but mighty and it changes with the season and at Mike's decision as nearly everything is made from scratch and a lot of it is caught right out of the Mississippi River, just a few feet away. The Fish Shack in open 5 days a week from approx. 7:30am until approx. 8:00pm. CLOSED ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. Some of Mike's specialties are his Fish (Flathead Catfish), Smoked Fish Plate (Smoked Sturgeon), Smoked Ribs, The Guttenberger, A Hamburger Sandwich (served on toasted bread because Mike didn't know what a bun was when he was a kid). Sometimes he has Cod or Shrimp of some sort. Other items come and go on the menu. It all depends on what Mike decides to make. And, IT'S ALL FANTASTIC!!! He does serve French Fries, but most people choose from the great selection of "SIDES" which change all the time, but some might be...Pickled Cabbage, Jalapeno Popper Salad, Beans (which might have peaches or black cherries, apple). He's had Cowboy Beans, Cucumber Cranberry Rice, Potato Salads (might be German PS or have various things in it). Smoked Kraut. A dish called Knefflee (or something like that) which is a German Dish (with Hard Dumplings) or Hounds Ears which are another Dumpling dish (I think from Southern USA). This is just SOME of the "SIDES" on Mike's menu. Don't worry, Mike will explain it to you (wink - it's his second favorite thing to do). As I said, EVERYTHING is amazing. After you order, you pay for the meal and start toward the screen door where you pick up your drinks. Sodas, water or a beer, then you walk back out the screen door and take a right where you gather your plastic ware, napkins and etc. Now, Take a seat at a table and enjoy one of the best views on the Mississippi River. On your left is the lock & dam. Pool 10 of the old 'Miss' is right in front of and sometime below you. If you're lucky a barge might come in or out of the lock & dam and it's amazing to watch them navigate these close quarters while fighting the current. If you're REALLY lucky, you might see a Riverboat lock through. Could be just a bunch of fishing or pleasure boats. Then in a very short time, the food is usually delivered by Mike himself. A brief inquiry if you need anything else from his rugged voice, a smile under the big mustache and off he goes to see if other customers need anything else. Don't worry, he'll be back in a bit to see how your meal is and if you need anything else. It's fun to listen to his conversations with the the customers and hear his wonderful humor (interacting with his guests is his favorite thing to do). As you eat or after, you'll probably get into some good midwest conversation with another table near you. Open up and enjoy the diverse conversation with everything from locals to people from all over the United States or the world. Oh, I forgot about his breakfast. It's pretty simple. One thing is scrambled with your choice of things like onion, pepper, asparagas, mushrooms and cheese or just order them LOADED. Or, he offers a HUGE sausage patty with plain scrambled or a HUGE slice of ham with plain scrambled and of course all breakfasts include toast. IF you're really nice and it's not to busy and you catch Mike in the right mood, he MIGHT be persuaded to make some other sort of breakfast. He also sometime has a sausage gravy served on toast. OMG is that good. Once he had a HAM gravy on toast and I thought I was in heaven. Check out the Fish Shack. You will NOT be disappointed. read more