Man, this place doesn't need our business with how many people are making the haul and waiting to eat. I read about this being a "must" when in the area and made the 50 minute drive from Sabula with the girls in tow arriving just before 6 on a Saturday. I did not realize you drive thru the actual state park and then down the dustiest road in America to get there. My car was covered in dust (and bugs from the rest of the drive) on arrival. We were told it would be about 30 minutes and went outside to feed the fish and ducks. It was probably less than that time when our buzzer went off and we were seated in the tiny dining room. I feel like they should serve in the bar area where there are more tables instead of making people wait so long. They could double the occupancy. But maybe not enough staff? We got the haddock special for two of us and another went with grilled cheese. I have to say it was really dry. And the tartar sauce was totally smooth and grey - I didn't even know what it was when the server first put it down. The fries are wedge and fine, but I'm not a fan of wedge style so I didn't really eat them. Good coleslaw. Surprising they have no desserts. I guess it just helps to move people in and out because there are signs up too telling you not to linger (in nicer words). We stopped at McDonald's on the way home for McFlurries and that seemed to make the kids happy. Maybe it was an off batch (we only had one plate) but I'm not sure I'd want to make this trip again. read more

Bluff Lake Catfish Farm - Haddock - Seafood Near Me - Maquoketa, Iowa

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I really used to enjoy dining here occasionally. But the prices have gotten ridiculously expensive. $ 25.00 for fish, french fries, and coleslaw. I'm sorry but no! read more

Really disappointed with the menu changes this year. The all-you-can-eat whole catfish was a big part of the experience, and taking that away changes things quite a bit. Also surprised to see no steak options. For guests who don't care for seafood, the only real option seems to be a sandwich. read more

This place is so unique. It's great to go with the kids if you can entertain them while you wait for a table. It's nice to go on a sunny day so you can sit outside at the picnic tables and wait your turn. Play cards feed the ducks and fish. We like to go on Saturday because it's all you care to eat haddock. It's always the same just the way we like it. The food is always 5 star. read more

I've been going to Bluff Lake for over forty years for all you can eat catfish, never disappointed- until this past weekend. The family had gathered for my birthday. No more all you can eat catfish, brought the coleslaw but no plate to put it on until you are served your dinner order. Of my three fish for twenty two dollars, one was edible. Another person was served a dry hamburger. One couple was given the wrong bill $100.00 for three fish and a hamburger!! Call before you go, never no when they are open. read more

The location is absolutely stunning. The facility itself has been nicely updated and can accommodate a large number of guests, which is good because you'll likely encounter a wait - especially on weekends. I visited on a Saturday evening, so I tried their all-you-can-eat haddock special. The portion was generous - five thick, inch-thick chunks of fish that definitely filled me up. The breading was adequate, nothing spectacular but perfectly acceptable. The fries were fine and did their job as a solid side. This is truly an "eating experience" rather than fine dining, and I think that's exactly what they're going for. The food was okay and incredibly plentiful - you definitely won't leave hungry. Bluff Lake Catfish Farm is worth visiting for the unique atmosphere and the sheer novelty of the experience. The beautiful setting, interesting history, and generous portions make it a memorable outing. While the food itself was just okay, the overall experience of dining in such a special location makes it worthwhile. It's the kind of place that represents classic Iowa hospitality and charm. If you're looking for a unique dining adventure and don't mind the drive, Bluff Lake is definitely worth checking out at least once. read more

The food is amazing and served quickly. They should be offering free refills from the bar on soda rather than cans. They should provide the wifi password for guests, especially considering that sometimes the wait for a table is quite long. read more

Beautiful location and great food! We don't get to come often but enjoy it when we do get to visit!

We love the Friday night catfish. Usually have to wait for a table, but the beer is cold. Bad experience tonight though. We drove 40 miles from Eldridge to view a locked gate that said "Sorry, Closed". We saw on face book that it was due to a staffing problem. Guess we should have called first. Very disappointed. If you don't want to work, don't ruin it for those that do. It only takes a few to ruin it for many. Some people rely on and need that income every week. If you had an emergency or crisis of some kind I apologize. If not, shame on you. read more

This is a beautiful hidden little gem! It's certainly strange to drive a few miles on gravel roads but you're rewarded with a beautiful location. We saw a huge snapping turtle, fish, mallards in the pond while waiting for our table. We got a table with a waterfall view. The food came out hot and was tasty. This place is pretty popular and perfect after cave spelunking! It's very casual dress and dining. read more

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Delicious! Beautiful environment with the waterfall and surrounding pond. Service is fast and friendly.

Very nice place, clean, modern, and organized. We arrived early so they gave us a buzzer. As soon as the restaurant opened we were seated. Food was good and if you get the all you can eat special you will leave full! read more

Bluff Lake Catfish Farm - All you can eat Haddock - Seafood Near Me - Maquoketa, Iowa

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Behind Maquokata Cave State Park, you have to drive through a farmers lot, which is a dirt road, to be reconnected to a well paved road that leads you down to a large parking lot. My child works at the Caves. We both came immediately after work so it was only a 20 minute wait. The special was all you can eat catfish and shrimp for $18. The meal was waffle fries, deep fried shrimp, breaded catfish, and creamy coleslaw. We requested 2 refills of catfish... it was that good. Their slogan is "Somewhere in Iowa" and it's true. Definitely worth the trip. read more

Bluff Lake Catfish Farm - Waffle fries, catfish, shrimp and coleslaw... Yummy yummy! - Seafood Near Me - Maquoketa, Iowa

What a great spot! Our party of 20 just bombs in unannounced on a Saturday night, they could not have been nicer trying to accommodate us, thanks guys! Oh the food... basically most of us had the fish special and frankly it was great and I would definitely recommend it to all. read more

What a sweet little gem! I'd been wanting to check this place out forever and finally got the opportunity with a group of gals from work. I am not even remotely a fish eater, but they're known for converting folks apparently. The drive from Cedar Rapids is gorgeous, but be prepared for gravel and a pretty steep hill depending on which route you take. When you're close, it will feel like you're driving through private farms and took a wrong turn, but then suddenly you're there. We arrived about an hour after they opened and were seated right away. Highly suggest getting there early because the line developed quickly. The special on Saturday was haddock, which was offered as a sample before we ordered and surprisingly tasty. I was bummed no one wanted to get the catfish to try with me, but my fried chicken dinner was very satisfying. We ended our evening on the decks outside, drinks in hand, enjoying the scenery and watching the fish. I really enjoyed my visit and can't wait to bring more people here as well! read more

Bluff Lake Catfish Farm - a man standing on the bank - Seafood Near Me - Maquoketa, Iowa

We stumbled upon Bluff Lake Catfish Farm when leaving Maquoketa Caves State Park. It's further down some dusty gravel roads, and drive through the middle of a farm. Food was pretty good. Service from the young teenager waitress was also pretty good. read more

Did a double dine this past weekend. Met up with some friends in Anamosa, and we traveled over Saturday afternoon for haddock. The meal was fantastic as we celebrated a birthday. When talking about what to do for lunch Sunday, someone mentioned going back for chicken and shrimp, and it was every bit as good. The location is off the beaten path, but it has a very natural beauty on the river with a waterfall behind the building and plenty of wildlife on the premises. The bar area is spacious with knowledgeable and friendly bartenders if you want to grab a drink while while you wait or need a refill during the meal. Expect a wait when you go. It can be as short as 20 minutes or as long as 2 hours, so plan accordingly. Overall, this is a unique place with a unique niche that they do really really well which makes for an enjoyable experience each time you go. read more

Seriously. If you want good fried catfish (with or without bone) this is for you. If you want tons of options for sides and such, look elsewhere (but miss out on REALY GREAT fried catfish). This place is always busy from my experience. I'd say come early and be ready to wait. This is "somewhere in Iowa" because you won't be discovering it without hearing about it and being told how to get to it. The GPS got us near the place but had it been up to my wife we would've turned around and given up. It certainly does not look like continuing down that rode would lead to anything but more houses. I'm so glad we stayed the course. We took my mom last time and she's still raving about the fish. read more

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I've eaten here once before with my family and enjoyed it for the most part. But this last experience completely changed my opinion and I will never go back. We drove over an hour to eat lunch here. There was a 2 hour wait at 1pm. At that point it's almost no longer considered lunch, but I digress.... My party had just got on the list. As they were doing that, I ran to the restroom. I'm 8 months pregnant. When I came out of the restroom I couldn't find anyone I came with. After looking around for 10 minutes, I asked the girl who checked us in if she happened to see the direction my party went so I could have a better chance to find them. Out of no where this other gal came out and said "we're not responsible for keeping track of your group". Okay cool.... I definitely wasn't expecting that but okay. I find my group and our buzzer goes off after only waiting about 20 minutes. We thought great maybe another bigger party left. Nope. We were buzzed for a party of 3. The same "moody" gal came to the counter and said we're not ready for you. So I asked if we lose our place in line then when they gave us a new buzzer. She walked off. Cool. Okay so you want us to wait for 2 hours, no reception so none of our phones work, no WiFi, and terrible customer service? I'm gonna pass. We left and I'm never going back. read more

10/17/20: This place was interesting! The turn onto gravel road to this establishment was something out of a Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie. Gravel road and corn fields on both sides. I was waiting for the chainsaw guy to come out of the fields. The place is near a lake and tiny waterfall with cows on top of the hill, which gave it a cute scenery. I was told to get there before it opened- 3pm so we did and there was so many people waiting already. We entered the place and got a buzzer and were seated 5 mins after 3pm. There was a wide open area with bar that seemed like a dance floor than a restaurant area. There was another part to the side that held bigger groups/tables. I ordered from the dinner menu; the Shrimp (fried)- $14 and it came with a salad- got honey mustard and chose potato wedges. I also ordered the Seafood platter with just the fish (flounder, shrimp, scallops)- $7. I also got a tea (unsweetened)- $3. The shrimp and everything that came with it was great. The fried flounder and scallops were very plain and had no seasonings. I ate them with honey mustard. My friend ordered the Catfish dinner with salad and waffle fries- $14.50. The catfish was plain Jane as well. It was kind of disappointing, but it tasted fresh. The service was good despite our waitress being annoyed by the questions my friend was asking; what would you recommend? how is the catfish? Her response was- people order the all you can eat special, which was the harddock fish. The sample of this fish was delicious, especially the sauce it was paired with, but we ended up ordering off of the dinner menu to get a taste of a variety of fried fishes. I would recommend this far away place. read more

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I love this place. Travel over an hour. Setting is beautiful. Food is good and prices reasonable. Worth a drive off the main road.

As a 30 year customer and fan of The Saturday nite all you can eat fish fry, the last few visits have left us unhappy! The Fish refills are very slow coming and not enough pieces for each person to have 1. The Cole slaw was extremely dry as well. The cost is $21 per person (soda and tax included) plus our fuel to drive 100 miles. Our visits were once per month and now twice a year at best. Oh, I almost forgot they changed to steak fries to a very thin cut wedge with a bunch of pepper seasoning. Yek! Didn't like them.​ read more

While up at Maquoketo cave State park we came upon the restaurant in the middle of nowhere, what a find! Went on a Sat had the fish special (all you can eat). Wasn't impressed with the fries of the day, but the fish was good, also came with Cole slaw which also was good. The atmosphere inside and out was very nice, we would definitely return read more

We visited here on Fri. Nov 9th. Our daughter knows we like good food and a road trip. This experience was both. As we drove there, I feared we were on the wrong road. It looked like we were going into someone's farm. I believe the parking lot is indeed "the end of the road". Service: After a 10 or 15 min. wait in a lovely waiting area, our buzzer sounded. Our "great" server asked if we were there for the fish special. Then asked if we wanted bone in or out. We went "bone out". Almost as quickly she brought our sodas and before I could get my can open she was bringing cole slaw and waffle fries. As I dished up a sample of the slaw, she was back with 4 lovely pieces of very lightly breaded catfish. I'm not a big fish guy. However: I will tell you, it was as good as I've ever had. My wife is the fish expert and agreed. It was delicious. I had just removed the last piece when our server asked if we would like more. Before I could recover from the "instant" request, 2 more pieces were on the plate. I don't mean to belabor this service issue but as soon as I took the last 1/2 piece we heard "would you like more? I asked if we could just get 1 more piece and you know the rest of that story by now. I would recommend you consider ordering the "special" but some didn't and received good service as well. The place is casual, family friendly, lively and busy. If you like good food at reasonable prices, served piping hot and with a smile, this just might be for you. oldbuck & mrsB (age 78) read more

Cute local fish fry joint with cool history. Heart attack city - but at least you'll die with a smile on your face. sorta pricey considering what you get. Coke in the can, long wait, food in plastic baskets, etc. I guess that's part of the charm. I'm guessing it's more charming during the day when you can see the view. All in all, no complaints - but it's sort of a "been there" experience. read more

Bluff Lake Catfish Farm - Out front - little store in the waiting area - Seafood Near Me - Maquoketa, Iowa

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We visited Maquoketa Iowa, for the cave exploring and innertube ride down the river. Stayed at a local bed-and-breakfast, the Squire. Asked around a bit what would be a great experience for dinner. Everyone said bluff lake catfish farm. We called ahead for reservations. They do not take them. They said they were very very busy, failed to mention it was over a two hour wait. Drove down a 2 mile dirt path, that got dust inside my automobile that I will never be able to get out. In the end I felt, at the very least they owed me a car wash. Not to mention the time I wasted in the drive out there for nothing. Have no idea how the food taste. And would never waste my time going back. Number one recommendation ask how long the wait is before you waste your time. read more

Good chicken and fries but I wasn't blown away by it. It was also a bit of a drive to get out this far so it'll be a while till I get back. But just to give everyone a heads up...this place is only open on weekends and they say its all you can eat, but there is definitely a menu you can order off of. Also I was imagining a buffet restaurant where you walk up and pick up your food, but its like a sit down restaurant where you just ask for your chicken, fish, shrimp, and/or fries. read more

Bluff Lake Catfish Farm - Good portion of food - Seafood Near Me - Maquoketa, Iowa

A bit out of the way but a pleasant drive. Just when you think you've taken a wrong turn and are convinced you're driving into someone's driveway - boom, you're there. We went on a Saturday night and it was crowded. They have a large room with a bar just for waiting, so not bad. Once our pager went off we smugly walked over since we were the chosen ones. Our wait on a early spring Saturday night was 45 minutes. Since it was a catfish farm I wanted to try, well, the catfish, but to my surprise, I wasn't allowed. She told me that since Saturday is all you can eat haddock, the friers are busy making it. Alrighty then. Haddock it is. It was good but not punch-in-the-pants good. We also ordered the shrimp dinner and that was the same as any family diner anywhere. (Not sure why the friers could make shrimp but not catfish) The "sauce" that came with the fish seemed like seasoned mayonnaise. Fries are ok. When busy, don't expect great service and it's not because they weren't trying - it was just crazy busy. Our server was moving all the time and seemingly never stopped. It's noisy. The waiting area, when crowded, is noisy and it only gets worse in the dining area. Overall, it's ok but not worth the wait. Perhaps the catfish is better but I never got a chance to try it. read more

Been here a few times, mostly Friday and Saturday. Out of the way place but extremely busy every time visited and put on a wait list. All you can eat fare with very limited sides. Views of the water. Can feed the turtles with provided-for-pay machines. Staff moves around quickly. Small bar while you wait too. Clean bathrooms. Will be back for sure. read more

This place has stepped up it's game! Added a waterfall outside, nice waiting area inside and outside. Also expanded the menu to contain alcarte items. A solid 4 star. read more

TL;DR The food is great but service is lack luster. We arrived at 4 p.m. on a Saturday. The wait was 1.5 hours. Not great but understandably busy. There is absolutely zero cell phone reception. Doesn't matter what carrier you have. You will not be able to use your phone here. There is no guest WiFi and the staff will not give you the password to the regular WiFi. Not a big deal but mildly inconvenient (especially on a 1.5 hour wait). Buzzer vibrated and told us it was time to get seated. We got seated promptly and all was well. At first at least. The waitress was annoyed that our party of 8 needed menus to order from and was not pleasant. I ordered the 16 Oz. ham steak with fries. The food was delivered in a timely manner however I did not receive my fries. It was noted twice to the waitress that I had yet received my full order. It took well over 20 minutes to receive the rest of my original order. Finally I received my side of fries and all else went well. All in all, the food is cooked perfectly and portions are good. The waitress (at least that we had) was clearly only there to collect a paycheck and did not care if your experience was good or bad. Personally, I would not return based off the customer service experience. There are other places that seem to actually give more than half a hoot about you as a customer. read more

As one who loves eating fish. This is the place for me. Whether it be eating catfish Friday night or cod Saturday night. The coleslaw is about the best I've ever had! All of the food is great! This restaurant is a hidden gem. Way off the beaten path. Yet they're always busy. So either arrive as they open or come ninety minutes before closing time. Otherwise you'll wait forever to get a seat. There's plenty to do while you wait. A gift shop, a bar, and outside a lake with ducks. Very scenic. If you've been here once you'll want to come back again. This place is a great catch!!! read more

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Bluff Lake, how I love thee. Worth the long drive, yes. Worth the long wait, yes. Worth communing with the cats out back, yes. Worth the long drive back, yes. Worth the price, yes. The all-you-can-eat whole catfish is by far the best around, and by around I mean all of Eastern Iowa. They also offer fillets of catfish as well. Which are also very good too, but for my tastes, the whole cat is where it's at! Catfish dinners also come with coleslaw, which is decent, fries, and dinner rolls with a whipped cinnamon-butter that is divine. You will not find better catfish anywhere. Be prepared, for awesome. Be prepared to WAIT to be seated. The dining area is average sized, but the crowds are out-sized. It is not uncommon to have to wait 1 hour +. Do not blame the staff, they are SLAMMED, this is not a fast food place. you're just going to have to wait for a table to open. If you get here, and find that the lot is not full, and your wait is only something like 10 minutes, consider yourself lucky, buy a lottery ticket before leaving town! One thing you should know though, no fountain pop/soda. If you want a Pepsi, it's gonna come in a can, and it's a $1.50 can, so a big family with a lot of thirsty kids can really rack up a big tab fast. Personally, when I get there, I order two cans right off the bat. The servers get crazy busy here, and you know you'll need a second can, make it easier on them, and just get the second can now, you know you'll need it. read more

Very popular with people from towns all around here, Bluff Lake is a fun place to go especially before taking in a drive-in movie at the nearby 61 Drive In. You can make it a day by taking the family to explore Maquoketa Caves State Park in the afternoon. Located just outside the park (you need to drive through it to get here), watch carefully for the signs. Fish is their specialty with heaping baskets of shrimp, haddock and of course catfish. They also have burgers, ribs, steaks and chicken on the menu. Most people come all-u-can-eat specials on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sundays. Be prepared for long waits on Friday and Saturday nights. read more

The food was fine and abundant, but the reason we enjoyed this little gem so much is because of the out of the way nook that it was. Only accessible by backroads (not all of them paved) winding through incredible scenery and a state park. We topped a hill and the view was of a large building surrounded by hoards of friendly locals completely willing to wait for an hour to eat the day's special! If you are in a hurry, don't bother! It would be incredibly frustrating. If you want an adventure this one is for you! read more

Excellent service. Beautiful views. Of course the catfish was excellent. Get it whole vs filet.

if you are on a diet this place is horrible. i say in jest of course. Awesome family run restaurant. a little wait only because it is so popular, if you leave hungry it is your fault. huge portions at a great price. friendly staff. it is a little bit off of the main road , right through the Maquoketa cave state park. great scenery. the wildlife atmosphere is perfect. read more

Bluff lake is a family favorite for our family. It can often take a long time to get seated but is almost always worth the wait. They have a huge pond with hundreds of catfish in it that adults and kids can feed that will surely keep you entertained for at least a little while. Also the new addition of the gift shop and indoor seating is very nice. The food is also phenomenal and I have never had something that I didn't like while eating here. read more

Sunday is our favorite day with shrimp and chicken. I've been eating here since I was a child and now my grown children love it. It never disappoints. read more

Good food at a fair price that's all I have to say about that. Lol. The wait can be long on Saturdays, when they have all you can eat haddock. read more