I visited this cafe for the first time on January 29, 2015 with Craig and Linda Patrick. We ordered the Seth Loose Meat Sandwich. Take a Sloppy Joe, subtract the sloppy, and
you have a loose meat sandwich. Also known as a “tavern sandwich,” It’s
ground beef that’s been simmered with onions and seasonings until the liquid
cooks away, served on a bun with pickles and maybe a little mustard or ketchup.
Craig
and I ordered the homemade Cherry Pie for dessert. The crust was
perfect. I believe that the crust is the
big determining factor in a great pie.
This was a great Cherry Pie.
We ordered it ala mode and it was served with Vanilla Bean ice cream.
Perfect. I would say this is the best Cherry Pie that I have ever eaten.
This
café as well as the Loose Meat Sandwich was listed in the December, 2014
Phoenix Magazine as Iowa’s singular, defining dish in their list of such dishes
in each of the 50 states and where in the Valley you could find the best of
each.
The menu is pure Iowa as is the cafe decor. It reminds me of a little quaint local restuarant. The best part is that we have it here right in Mesa.
This was the first restaurant of the 50 states that I have visited. Be expecting reports from me on the remaining 49 over the next year...or even the next couple of years.
The Iowa Café
1129
N. Higley Rd.
Mesa,
Arizona
(480)
985-2022
Hours: Monday through
Friday, 6 am - 8 pm - Saturday and Sunday, 6 am - 2 pm
History of the Iowa Cafe as told by the owners:
"Walking into the Iowa cafe simply makes me feel like I'm home in Iowa again...."
Ruth Cavendar formerly of Mount Ayr, Iowa, established the The Iowa Cafe in 1985. Ruth’s home style cooking set the standard for the Café that still lives on 20 years later. Ruth not only started the Café, but she is still in many ways the heart of our home made pies. Ruth’s sister Shirley also was a big part of the Café from the beginning. Both sisters home made pies are not only award winning, they have also won the taste buds of everyone that visits the café from our locals to the visitors we get from all over the country. Over the years, Ruth’s presence has been that of a mother, to the friends and employee’s of the Iowa Café.
The Iowa Café was then passed on to Dani From Ruth, along with it’s many traditions. Dani was a waitress at the Café for 10 years. Dani became owner from October 1999-Febuary 2005. Even though Dani wasn’t from Iowa, she carried on many of the down to earth traditions and started a few more of her own, that helped make the Café so popular. Dani then passed the Iowa Café on to another employee in March 2005. Pam Ohsman, who worked at the Café for 6 years over the winter months decided to buy the Café when it came up for sale, making the Iowa Café owned again by another Iowan.
Pam Ohsman like Ruth is another “True Blue Iowa Gal”. She was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Pam ended up in Mesa, Arizona area in 1995. Splitting her time between Iowa and Arizona for 10 years. She has now devoted her place of residence and her time to living in Arizona and the Iowa Café. Pam, just like Ruth and Dani is keeping that home style cooking, down to earth atmosphere in place and bringing in some new ideas of her own.
Here at The Iowa Café, there are many things that bring customers in from all over. The Famous Pork Tenderloins, home made pies, down home cookin', and the just plain friendly small Café atmosphere. The Iowa Café is such a down to earth place to have a nice breakfast, lunch, or dinner customers have been known to join strangers at a table instead of sitting alone when the place is hoppin'. Go ahead get to know that nice couple at the table sitting next to you. Just a couple of more ways the friendly atmosphere continues to grow.
Come on in today for some good home cookin' in a home-style family setting.
And don't leave without trying a piece of our award-winning homemade pies!
Ruth Cavendar formerly of Mount Ayr, Iowa, established the The Iowa Cafe in 1985. Ruth’s home style cooking set the standard for the Café that still lives on 20 years later. Ruth not only started the Café, but she is still in many ways the heart of our home made pies. Ruth’s sister Shirley also was a big part of the Café from the beginning. Both sisters home made pies are not only award winning, they have also won the taste buds of everyone that visits the café from our locals to the visitors we get from all over the country. Over the years, Ruth’s presence has been that of a mother, to the friends and employee’s of the Iowa Café.
The Iowa Café was then passed on to Dani From Ruth, along with it’s many traditions. Dani was a waitress at the Café for 10 years. Dani became owner from October 1999-Febuary 2005. Even though Dani wasn’t from Iowa, she carried on many of the down to earth traditions and started a few more of her own, that helped make the Café so popular. Dani then passed the Iowa Café on to another employee in March 2005. Pam Ohsman, who worked at the Café for 6 years over the winter months decided to buy the Café when it came up for sale, making the Iowa Café owned again by another Iowan.
Pam Ohsman like Ruth is another “True Blue Iowa Gal”. She was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Pam ended up in Mesa, Arizona area in 1995. Splitting her time between Iowa and Arizona for 10 years. She has now devoted her place of residence and her time to living in Arizona and the Iowa Café. Pam, just like Ruth and Dani is keeping that home style cooking, down to earth atmosphere in place and bringing in some new ideas of her own.
Here at The Iowa Café, there are many things that bring customers in from all over. The Famous Pork Tenderloins, home made pies, down home cookin', and the just plain friendly small Café atmosphere. The Iowa Café is such a down to earth place to have a nice breakfast, lunch, or dinner customers have been known to join strangers at a table instead of sitting alone when the place is hoppin'. Go ahead get to know that nice couple at the table sitting next to you. Just a couple of more ways the friendly atmosphere continues to grow.
Come on in today for some good home cookin' in a home-style family setting.
And don't leave without trying a piece of our award-winning homemade pies!
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