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    Grammas Kitchen & Checkered Flag

    3.8 (168 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Grammas Kitchen & Checkered Flag Photos

    Business Info

    GRAMMAS KITCHEN & CHECKERED FLAG ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Touristy
    Casual
    Good for groups

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    Will M.

    Great friendly welcome. Waitress was so kind and smiley. Service was quick, complete, and on great display. The interior of this place is beautiful. The food was exceptional. Presentation was loved. Love that I can get biscuit and gravy instead of toast! That was the cherry on top! I will be back. Great experience with no complaints!

    LaCora H.

    Popped in for a take out order and was happy to get food that tasted like it was from grandma's kitchen. The BLT was packed with fresh, thick cut bacon. The bread was toasted and the veggies were crisp. The loaded potato skins were good... the (maybe bbq) sauce was a bit of a surprise which wasn't terrible, just different. Inside is very 80/90s ish....comfy and cozy.

    A sea of honey mustard dressing accompanied the salad.
    Dustin H.

    When you claim to have the "Best Breaded Tenderloin in Iowa" there is no question I am going to have to confirm and confirm I did. The damn sandwich is about as perfect as you can hope for. That said, based on my wife's salad, I would suggest only ordering the tourist-focused items, with "As featured on the travel network" listed alongside its on the menu, as I get the sense Gramma serves up a few misses along with the hits. We enjoyed the service, and the friendly break from the madness that is the Iowa 80 truckstop across the street, which has, arguably, one of the worst restaurants in the state. Long story short, get the breaded tenderloin sandwich and enjoy your life.

    Gramma's tenderloin.  A work of art.
    Peter T.

    If you've ever driven across Iowa on Interstate 80 (Mainstreet USA), you've either stopped at this exit or at least noticed the signage for "The World's Largest Truck Stop."  Yep, it's at this exit.  But that's not where I stopped this trip, I stopped across the road at Gramma's Kitchen because two years it ago, it made the list of the best tenderloins in the state, according to the Iowa Pork Producers. So what exactly is a tenderloin?  It's a boneless pork chop, smashed with a hammer or other blunt instrument until it's enlarged and very thin, the drenched in a coating or batter, deep-fried, plopped onto a bun entirely too small for the piece of meat, and dressed up with pickles, onions, and occasionally mayo. I opted for tots on the side, pickle was included, a damn fine one, too, crispy half-sour. The sandwich was perfect, crispy coating, but the meat was still juicy inside. Bakery-style bun, soft yet substantial enough to hold the ample cut of meat. The tots were piping hot, right from the fryer, and lightly seasoned.  I hated "baked" tots, not crispy enough.  If your tot hasn't got crunch, why get them? The restaurant has an attached bar with an abbreviated menu, and throughout the building are Iowa souvenirs as well as some preserves and the like. As is my habit, I grabbed a colorful souvenir magnet, even tho I have no place to put them anymore, my frig is stainless steel. Start planning your next road trip.  Oh, almost forgot, you don't have to get the tenderloin battered and fried, most places will happily grill one for you instead

    Turkey dinner w/mashed potatoes.
    Mark O.

    Greeted immediately upon walking in. Server was friendly and checked in regularly. Salad bar is currently operational with appropriate sanitation measures--gloves and sanitizer. One suggestion: Use the spoons that identify dressings. Couldn't tell if one was blue cheese or ranch...and wasn't going to run the risk. Nice, thick slices of turkey. Homemade mashed potatoes. Definitely worth stopping off.

    Pork tenderloin sandwich
    Vin S.

    I went here because it was close to the I-80 truck stop and supposedly had a good pork tenderloin sandwich. It was pretty good. The next day, the sandwich had lost all of its poignancy (see: archaic use of poignant).

    salad bar and corn beef and cabbage soup
    Michelle J.

    This place was fantastic the service was very friendly and quick and the food was delicious! They also have great looking desserts I got a huge cookie to take home. We will stop here again when we are traveling.

    Brisket bacon barbecue cheddar burger

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Stopped in while at a local motel. I had biscuits with sausage gravy. I went back for dinner and I had pot roast. It was great.

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    7 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Stopped here for lunch and had some really good food. Great atmosphere and staff was very friendly too.

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Great place to stop for breakfast! We'll have the leftovers for supper when we get back home tonight!

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    3 years ago

    Amazing place to eat. Great good. Stellar service. And they take great care of their employees!

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    5 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    6 years ago

    Great comfort food and the employees were very nice and prices was decent will definitely be back.

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    4 years ago

    Yum Great service. Great fresh food . No fake filler like this review ........................,,,,,,

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    Page 2 of 5

    Ask the Community - Grammas Kitchen & Checkered Flag

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    Before I started the 2 hour drive back to Chicago suburbs, I knew we had to check out the Machine…read moreShed. The location was very easy to find. It helps that the restaurant also has a giant sign so it would be very hard to miss the building. I entered on the side where, I think, I drove over the curb to get to the parking lot but there was no big issue. It also helps that I got the first parking spot luckily. Outside the building is very nice. My daughter noticed, and the loved, the pig in the front and the tractor. Once we got inside, she was mesmerized with everything the place had to offer. I also enjoyd how they offered a toy tractor to play with while we are ordering and eating. For my late breakfast, I had the Country Breakfast with the country fried steak, sunny side up eggs, shredded hash browns, and toast. I thought we could get the shredded hash brown casserole but must of been a mixup between me and our waitress or the cooks in the back. The country fried steak was delicious. I enjoyed the rest and it is your typical breakfast restaurant...good ole hearty food. My daughter, surprising, ate most of her food and hers + mines toast which was rare. Of course, we had to leave the restaurant with a new brand toy. She thought the one we got the table was hers to keep as well but she quickly understood that it was not and she got another toy to play with. Overall our server was nice and the food was delicious. I would return in the future if I am in the area again.

    We met our son, DIL, and granddaughter for supper. Everyone enjoyed their meals (turkey/dressing,…read morechicken fried steak, pork tenderloin, and my favorite; the beef liver and onions.) The bread and sides are generous and tasty. I have enough leftovers for at least one meal. The waitstaff are super friendly and we didn't feel rushed to leave. It's been awhile since we visited the Machine Shes but I bet we will be back soon! Shout out to the liver lovers!!!!

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