Meemaw Eats

Family, Food, and Fun

Home Town Cafe – Millersburg, Iowa

by 3 Comments

Sometimes we’re up for an adventure, and today was one of those days.

I decided I was NOT cooking tonight, and instead of heading to one of our usual hangouts in Iowa City, I asked hubby if he was up for a “road trip”.

So we set off…on the Road Less Traveled…for our 40 mile drive from Iowa City to Millersburg.

 
I heard of this place through a Facebook group I belong to called Iowa On A Plate.  And Hubby already knew about the restaurant since he used to eat lunch there YEARS ago.  It was on his UPS route where he delivered packages on those dusty Iowa gravel roads…
 
It was a beautiful evening for a drive, and soon we were in Millersburg.  It’s not hard to find the restaurant since it is one of only a few remaining businesses on Main Street.

 

 
As soon as we walked through the door we were greeted by bartender Randy.  
 
 
 
It turns out Randy runs the restaurant with his brother Steve.
 
And the menu at the cafe is pure small town Americana…Our FAVORITE kind…

 

 
Tonight was a Shrimp Night Basket Special…But Randy told us the REAL specialty is their Tenderloin sandwich.  So we each ordered the basket that included french fries and homemade coleslaw.

 

 
Everything was just as good as we’d been promised…
 
And while we ate, I couldn’t help but listen to the conversation between owner Steve and some “locals” who were seated at a large table near us.  They reminisced about “the good old days” and the foods they grew up with. And it sounds like Steve actually grows lots of the produce they serve in the restaurant during the summer months.  (Nothing like fresh, homegrown Iowa tomatoes on the salad bar!)
 
And how popular are the Home Town Cafe Tenderloins?  I overheard one of the “locals” telling Steve he needed to order extra loins for August 1st.  It seems somebody is getting married around town, and relatives are returning to Millersburg for the event.  And they plan to pack up plastic bags filled with Home Town Cafe Tenderloins to take back home with them…to Colorado!  (It’s amazing the things you sometimes overhear in small town diners..and I am ALWAYS listening!)
 
 
Later, owner Steve (a.k.a “Home Town”) stopped by to check on us and to make sure we were enjoying our meals.
 
 
Let’s just say…for once Fred and I were glad we hadn’t split a sandwich.  I was happy to leave some fries on my plate, but that tenderloin was ALL GONE when I pushed my plate away.
 
And the coleslaw?  DELICIOUS!  (Randy says they make all of their salads from scratch…no surprise there.  You can TASTE the freshness.)

The restaurant is truly a blast from the past, and I’m guessing that’s exactly the kind of restaurant the “locals” love…and that visitors like us are excited to find.

And Randy told us about their Thursday night Steak Specials that include a grilled sirloin, baked potato, salad bar and Texas toast.  (We plan to go back…and take some of our Iowa City “foodie friends” with us.)

The restaurant also has a monthly Prime Rib Special…sounds fantastic…

 

 

 

 

 Like I said…The Home Town Cafe is not hard to find…but it would be hard to find a more authentic slice of “Iowa On A Plate”…

 
On Main Street…In Millersburg, Iowa.
 
(I do love an adventure…especially one that TASTES SO GOOD!)

Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    Thanks for making the effort to visit a place that is out of the way for a lot of folks. Having grown up in this area of Iowa, and knowing Steve for many years, I can't think of a better restaurant to patronize when I'm back in this part of the country.

    Reply

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