Love this place. Stopped by between Des Moines and Sioux City and had a deliciously disgusting…read moremeal. Everything was yummy and so unhealthy. Garlic cheese ball and tater tot poutine? Amazing. The tenderloin was massive. And the broccoli cheese soup was a star. Tried the peach pie as well which I thoroughly enjoyed. The wait staff was super friendly and the ambiance was exactly what I was hoping for, a quality local establishment. Throughly enjoyed it.

The gf wanted to check out I-80 MetalArt and we found the Chuckwagon Restaurant right across the…read morestreet. We arrived pretty much at straight up noon on a Saturday. I fully expected the place to be packed as it appears to be pretty much the only show in town as far as a sit down restaurant. There was a please wait to be seated sign there as we walked in. We were greeted right away and seated in minutes. It's old school wood tables and chairs and I think there was a counter available. Ordering is done at the tables as well as settline your bill up with your server. Surprisingly the speed of service continued throughout the visit. After drinks we ordered the rodeo burger and fries, a tenderloin with chili cheese fries, and the garlic cheeseballs. The cheeseballs came with marinara and ranch. Fresh, hot, and fantastic! I've eaten a lot of tenderloins. Many that have been highlighted as Iowa Tenderloin Trail winners or participants... This is one of the better tenderloins I've had in the state! Obviously hand made, breaded, and fried. Not too thick and not too thin. Drained properly. Served with the essential condiments including the holy trinity (onions, dill pickles, and mustard). The gf liked her burger. It could have used more of the featured ranch and bbq sauce. The fries... Neither of us cared for them. Obviously hand made, but almost too thin and too greasy. We'd both opt for a different side next time. To each our own though. Almost every small town along this stretch of I-80 has a pub & grill. The menus vary a little, but are very similar in a lot of aspects. The quality of service and the cooks make the biggest differences. The Chuckwagon hit five stars in some aspects of both. Work on those fries and the flavor of the chili (horribly bland) and this review would have been five stars. I'm going to emphasize this again. Truly one of the best tenderloins I've had in the state! Keep doing what you are doing!

Dinky is adorable. Really just needs some food while on a road trip. Not to far off the…read moreinterstate. One waitress, one cook. 50s style silver interior One page menu front and back. Breakfast to close. The omelet was bigger than expected. Toast came with it. Just a cute stop. Watch the hours. They are correct, closing at 2. Very friendly and we enjoyed it.

My husband and I stopped here on our drive through Iowa. Very quaint diner. Both food & service…read morewere very good.

The Filling Station is a gas station, an extra stocked convenience store, a breakfast/lunch food…read morecounter, and a tables inside and out to enjoy your refreshments and the view. Gayle and I stopped in today after reading about it within some "48 hours in Ames" article. I ordered a brisket grilled cheese sandwich, while Gayle chose a similar one with blackberry flavoring. We split a can of Guinness off the convenience store fridge, and then sat outside for our street and car wash view. We had nice shade on a not too hot day and took the opportunity to hang out bit after we finished our meal. This was a tasty and pleasant experience of good value overall.

Was nearby for an early meeting and had a gap before my next one. Decided to grab breakfast and…read morerolled the dice and just went here for a quick bite. Wow, it is a lot more than a quick breakfast at a gas station! The kitchen was complete and had a full menu offered up. It was also a commercial bakery... multiple bakers working on cinnamon rolls that looked divine! I had a breakfast quesadilla. It had real flavor in it with candied jalapeños. It was a lot but judging from all the plates I saw come out of the kitchen everything there was solid in serving size. The chai latte was good too. And the folks were nice. They definitely have loyal fans locally, folks were ordering for tailgates!

4.6* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4*…read more Service: 4* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $25 04/19/2026 Another chance to experience one of our favorites this morning to use up a gift card and meet a friend visiting from Brazil. As has been the case on each of our visits, the food and atmosphere were off the charts. The service wasn't quite as prompt this morning as what I've become accustomed to, but the experience was still great. Best of all...I saw that they now have a daily Happy ("Flocktail") Hour everyday before they close - and it is a 50% Off special - so now I can add them to HappyHourDesMoines.com also!! Today, my wife ordered the Chicken Fried Steak and a Bloody Mary (see pictures) - and with all of the new items on the menu, our friend ordered the Smoked Corn Beef Hash (see picture) and I went with the Healthy Hatch Tacos (see picture). I swapped one of my tacos with our friend for 1/2 of his hash, sampled my wife's Chicken Fried Steak - and can assure you that you will NOT go wrong ordering any of them, as all were absolutely delicious!

Always a solid choice. I haven't been back to Iowa for a little while so the new ownership has done…read morean amazing job. Service was great & so much better than the prior place at this location. So glad they have cocktails & cannot wait to come back in the summer to sit on the lanai.

Had this place recommended to me once.... " If only for the pie, they have amazing pie!"…read more They certainly do! I don't come up too often... When I do, I normally eat my slice first. They ALWAYS have at least 4 varieties of pie choices: fruit, cream, or meringue. There's always a comfort food special for lunch, that is not only delicious; it's very affordable. Today was the first time I've come in for breakfast. Had the Eggs Benedict with an extra side of bacon. Oh my holy TOOTS and A HALF! The hollandaise is definitely from scratch and the pouched eggs are absolutely PERFECT! I like to sit at the counter. No matter where you find your seat, your bound to see someone you know or be welcomed with a more than friendly smile...... This is a place that you GOTTA try!

2.6 After many years ago eating here regularly when we lived…read morein NE Warren county, we returned for lunch today. The place looks great and the server was fantastic. The food, the food was not fantastic, not good, not okay even. If you have ever wondered what prison food is like? Do you ask why your grandfather has stopping eating his nursing home meals? Really this was a very disappointing reunion with food that is subpar in every way. Too bad, Warren county deserves better.

Great food! Homemade everything! It's been an age since buffets were a thing so we were surprised…read morewhen we walked in Ham, prime rib, fried fish all fantastic! Desserts that bring back memories of my childhood...there are so many choices it's kinda impossible to have it all lol but my goodness, it's so delicious you can't help but try! (You can also order from their menu, I saw an impressive looking cheeseburger on a nearby table ) The staff is efficient and super friendly! Evenings can get busy but they keep the food refreshed and there's no significant wait. We were traveling through the area a couple of years ago and kinda stumbled upon this little spot since we were staying nearby. We never miss it now when we come back!

Such a nice surprise! Never been there since we don't live near there! Saw a big sign off 35 so we…read moredecided to give it a try! What a cute place! BUFFET makes me wanna drive 78 miles from our town! I just admired it.. we ordered off the menu... TENDERLOIN sandwich and onion rings! So so good! I thought it was so cute! Then I walked back to the bathroom and it was MUCH BIGGER than I thought! I went back and grabbed my mama and walked her back there to see it and we talked to some nice customers, one used to work there when she was younger! Servers were so kind! Great memory with my mama!

We stopped in for a seasonal latte and added an order of biscuits and gravy. Both were homemade,…read moreextremely generous portions and delicious. One of the best coffee drinks I've ever had-high quality beans, freshly ground and flavorful but not too sweet start to the morning. Greeted by several members of staff, all of whom were smiling and more than willing to talk about their local suppliers and favorite items on menu. Everyone we met (including patrons) were the epitome of Iowa nice and we found this a really pleasant place to stop in. Cozy, warm location, very popular with locals, and comfortable seating. This, like several places we visited in Harlan, is a hidden gem run by people who truly care about the food and service they offer.

Good breakfast and a latte. Service was ok. We had never been there, it would have been nice for…read morethe counter gal to greet us and give us a little info about where to order etc. We were at the wrong end of the counter, didn't see the sign but there were menus in a pile so it looked like a good place to start. The young guy that delivered our food was great and answered our questions. He was friendly. Large space and lots of comfortable seating options.

This place is just wonderful. It has a calm and cozy atmosphere and vibe when you walk in. The…read morestaff are warm and welcoming, ready to help. Now, I love a good breakfast and brunch place, especially when it isn't a crowded chain place. This place fits that bill. It is a local place with two locations. The menu is brilliantly "evil" making it extremely difficult to choose just one dish to try. They all look amazing and delicious, so of course, you will need to visit more than once to enjoy all that they have to offer. During my visit, I tried their cinnamon roll pancakes with eggs and bacon. Oh boy are they incredible! The pancakes just melt in your mouth, full of flavor. The eggs were a classic standard of scrambled eggs and the bacon I ordered crispy as I like a good crunch. My companion ordered the Hobo Scramble and just loved it. She made sure to take some home to enjoy for a second time. All in all, I enjoyed my experience and look forward to my next visit and delicious meal.

Came into this place early before a Clones game. We were seated quickly and served coffee. We all…read morehad standard orders of pancakes and sides. There were only maybe 3 tables seated, so it felt like quite a bit of time for food to come out. When food did come out, pancakes looked great, but eggs and bacon sides were pretty measley. For $13-$16 plates, I guess I expected these to be a little more substantial. Food was overall good, but not great.

Visited for Mother's Day and had a great time. Food was great, and service was excellent, even…read morethough they were packed for the holiday. It was my mom's first time there, and our server, Mikki, answered her questions and helped guide her to the French toast combo, which she loved. I had the biscuits and gravy with a side of roasted veggies -- one of my favorites and plenty to take home. We also had coffee and the Piña lemonade, which were a fun extra.

Great food and service. Our server Jess P was very attentive and kind. The pop tarts are delicious!read more

Huge Portions! Chill and friendly staff. The inside decor is awesome & great music to jam out to…read morewhile you eat! Get the cinnamon roll! They sell out! HUGE - easy to share with whole family.

We went back again with my partner and parents. This time no complaints. Food was great. Drinks…read morewere great. We weren't forgotten or stalled. Overall glad we keep coming back. One suggestion. Eggs Benedict.