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    Cracken's Grill

    4.8 (21 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Order Cracken's Grill Takeout or Delivery

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    Made-Ryte Special
    Albert T.

    One of the best parts about taking a road trip is being able to try the regional cuisines that haven't spread out to other areas. In Iowa, one of those is the loose meat sandwich/Maid-Rite. We found out from Facebook that Cracken's Grill was one of the few restaurants in Iowa City that served this concoction and we decided to drop by. This restaurant is situated inside a gas station building in a separate little section with a couple of tables inside and picnic benches outside. The lighting inside is bright, with tiled blue and white walls and charming music. The restaurant is fast food - so you order at the counter, pick up after a couple of minutes, and start digging in. Fried Tenderloin Sandwich ($9.79) - This tenderloin sandwich is legitimately amazing. I've had a couple in Indiana and this beats out all of them. It consists of a huge fried tenderloin, perfectly fried and simply seasoned, with the perfect crisp on the exterior and a tender and moist interior. The tenderloin is at least two or three times the size of the soft and warm bun and drizzled with the right amount of ketchup and mustard. There are rings of onion and pickles sprinkled around, including on the areas of the tenderloin that are not covered by the bun. (5/5) Maid-Ryte ($5.50) - They offer their loose meat sandwich with pickles and then a choice of mustard, ketchup, onion, and cheese. We went with the first three. I'm honestly not sure what to think about this sandwich. I guess I can say that it's perfect for someone who doesn't have teeth. It's basically salty, soft ground beef in a warm bun. The beef isn't browned or crisp at all and instead is very tender and soft, like it's been simmered or steamed. The warm bun encapsulating it all is basically the same soft texture as the beef. The beef is piled on the bun and starts overflowing and falling out when you pick up the sandwich. I'd guess my only comment is that this sandwich is for non-adventurous eaters who aren't a fan of bold flavors or textural differences. I honestly don't think I can rate this sandwich, partially because it's the only sandwich I've tried of this style but also because I didn't like it too much, but I think it's supposed to be like that. With that being said, the tenderloin sandwich served at Cracken's is really good. I'd revisit the restaurant just for that. Bathrooms - None in the restaurant side. They are probably in the gas station side.

    Honey mustard chicken sandwich (fried)
    Jasmine M.

    This place is fantastic! Don't let the gas station-adjacent location, quick service, or takeout only service fool you, this is NOT fast food. My husband's patty melt and my honey mustard chicken sandwich were better than what we've had at nicer sit-down places downtown (and cheaper!). So yummy! Just fyi, there's no indoor seating, but we ate at the outdoor picnic tables under the trees and it was lovely. Will definitely be back!

    Strawberry milkshake Butterscotch milkshake

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    1 month ago

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    11 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Short wait time. Great food. Ice cream. Friendly employees. Orders were correct. Very clean

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    10 months ago

    The food is super, and the take-out is always exactly what you ordered. Great staff! Very friendly patrons and discussion while you wait.

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    2 years ago

    I'm ready to crown it best tenderloin and onion rings in Iowa. Ordered delivery twice, both times were amazing

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Crackens has the best breaded pork tenderloin in town. Spicy chicken is also excellent. Don't forget the side of potato salad.

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Great old time drive in food. They have a fun picnic area and friendly family owned environment.

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    Pullman Bar & Diner

    Pullman Bar & Diner

    4.4
    (745 reviews)
    1.6 mi
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    If I could give more than 5 stars, I would. We ended up at Pullman Bar & Diner three mornings in a…read morerow during our trip, and honestly, it became one of the highlights of our weekend. Every single thing we ordered felt fresh, thoughtful, and just really well done. My kids were obsessed with the chocolate chip pancakes (which says a lot), and my dad and I worked our way through a few different dishes. The biscuits and gravy were comforting and rich without being too heavy, and even the simple eggs were cooked perfectly. But the standout? The breakfast tacos. They were insane. The pork was seasoned perfectly, super flavorful without being overwhelming, and everything just worked together so well. Also, do not skip the fresh squeezed orange juice or the local sourdough with homemade preserves. You can taste the difference. It's one of those places where you can tell they really care about the ingredients. Service was warm and easy, and the vibe just makes you want to sit and stay a while. We'll 100% be back if we're ever in Iowa City again!

    Adorable restaurant on the University of Iowa campus with exposed brick walls and a masculine,…read moremodern contemporary diner feel. Food 3/5 Service 5/5 Ambiance 4/5 Croque Madame 3/5. The hollandaise sauce with jammy egg on top was fabulous, but the sandwich itself was just ok. Garganelli 2/5. I liked the mushrooms but was disappointed that this dish was rather bland, especially for this price point.

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    Table dining
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    Short's Burger and Shine

    Short's Burger and Shine

    3.9
    (311 reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$

    THICK, perfectly medium pink (you specify your desired doneness), juicy burgers were the craving of…read morethe day. And such inventive topping combos to choose from! Note: For anything in the 'Burger' section of the menu, you can sub the beef for chicken or black bean burger. The beef patties were HUGE - probably 1/2 pound . And no skimping on the toppings here so go there really hungry or split with a friend. They were messy, drippy, and once you pick the sucker up, you hang on for dear life so the bun or toppings don't slide off. To me, this is the way a truly great burger needs to be! So, prepare yourself - lots of napkins are your friends... Burgers come w/hand cut fries that are beautifully browned. Unfortunately, I opted for carryout so I knew the fries would not be very crispy due to steaming a bit during transit. I'd recommend eating fries there on-site as they will be MUCH better. So why 4 stars vs. 5?? The burger was begging for a better sear and was barely browned.

    This is your basic chz burger..... Shorts's version = one pickle, a small tomato and a dash of…read morelettuce. After adding my own LTP I couldn't eat the burger because the untoasted bottom bun was so soggy it fell a part in my hands. This is kind of pathetic. I should have just made my own burger. I ate the rest with a fork because I was just That hungry. Disappointing. At least McDonalds gives you two pickles lol.

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    Hamburg Inn No 2

    Hamburg Inn No 2

    3.7
    (377 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    In town for a couple of days, and a good friend said we absolutely positively had to eat at Hamburg…read moreInn No 2, because it's an institution in Iowa City. It was good, maybe not to the level she pushed it, but really good and we enjoyed our meal. The restaurant is pretty small, but we got there early on a Sunday. No wait, though I'd guess once the church crowd starts arriving it might be more crowded. The entire place is decorated with political memorabilia as it's a frequent stop for politicians getting in the race early in Iowa. It is a 'coffee bean' caucus location, and they're proud of that! I had the biscuits and gravy and added the fried chicken. I was worried it would be too much food and had visions of a giant fried chicken breast, and while it was substantial, it wasn't overwhelming. It was a great dish and I'd order it again. Wife had a basic breakfast omelette. She liked it. Daughter did it right and ordered the French toast, which came with a great blueberry sauce. Lucky for me, she didn't finish it so I did (I'm nice like that) and it was every bit as great as she said it was. An enjoyable breakfast, and I'd return. Service was prompt with coffee refills which is also important!

    Good burgers! We came for dinner about 5 or 6pm, at prime dining time, on a Monday and had no wait…read more I jogged past this place earlier around breakfast time and people were lined up out the door with a wait. I started with a strawberry rhubarb pieshake (because I'm a firm believer that desserts should be on the appetizer menu). I liked the flavor. I ate way too much dairy, but that's on me. I should have had a little restraint and gotten the pie ala mode but I wanted to try the pieshake thing. It was fun. I got a double onion burger. I really should have gotten a single, but I took leftovers home. Loved the flavor of the grilled onions. My hubby got the double mushroom & Swiss. I ate one of the mushrooms and they are marinated. The shrooms were incredible. He loved the side of hashbrowns as well as his burger. When I ever get a chance to go back, I'm getting a single Mushroom & Swiss burger and a piece of pie.

    Photos
    Booth seating
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    Bloody Mary
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    Fried Tenderloin Sandwich

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    Fried Tenderloin Sandwich
    Gene’s

    Gene’s

    3.6
    (18 reviews)
    1.6 mi

    Genes is a really great bar. The drinks are incredibly tasty and very well priced, as well. While I…read morehave only had the onion rings as an appetizer, those were incredibly tasty. Plus, Each time we have been there, the service has been fast and friendly. I really don't know what else to say. This place is just a solid, slightly more upscale bar than the rest of the bars in Iowa city. If you're looking for a nice place to have a quiet drink, this is it. I would highly recommend the Manhattan or the Waco kid! Ps the chicken Parmesan is one of the best sandwiches I have had in my entire time in Iowa city

    I came here for a Yelp event, so I can't speak to the service/food on an average Tuesday, but I was…read moredefinitely impressed with everything I tried during my visit. This, in addition to the gorgeous 70s vibes from the restaurant. Seriously, every little piece of it has a story behind it, from the tiny pigs hanging in the beads separating two parts of the restaurant to the Gene Wilder-print paper accompanying the fries. I love it. I love the way it shows the thought and care that went into every single detail. Food: Open your menu. Find the meal with the maple-glazed carrots. Order them. Thank me. Again, no idea about where exactly they're located on the menu because I tried them at a Yelp event, but they are exquisite. The best-tasting carrots I've ever eaten. Like, I found myself wanting a plate of veggies. That should speak volumes. They also get their desserts daily from Bread Garden, and if you've ever stopped by (it's literally next door, so I would hope so), they're more like the Bread Eden. So in other words, you can expect a lot from their desserts. I had pie served on an artfully decorated plate with fresh cream on top, and I was two seconds away from licking my plate it was so good. Drinks: Their cocktails are AMAZING. I can already picture spring and summer, stopping by for a quick bite and a cocktail on their patio. This place is in an ideal location, and with excellent beverages and yummy apps, what's not to love? Decor: Did I mention it's awesome? Yeah. It's awesome. This isn't a huge restaurant, but it's worth noting that the space is divided, so it could easily accommodate a larger group with a more private dining vibe on the far side of the room. I can't wait to come back!

    Photos
    Having a great time pairing food and drinks at the Mustache Bash!‍
    Having a great time pairing food and drinks at the Mustache Bash!‍
    Fun string bead decor.
    Fun string bead decor.
    On nice weather days these large doors can open to the outside patio.

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    On nice weather days these large doors can open to the outside patio.

    Cracken's Grill - burgers - Updated June 2026

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