Good food, generous portions, and great service, definitely a winning combination. Our server…read moreMariah, was friendly and attentive. Give this place a shot, you won't be disappointed.

Great food. Very friendly service. We will definitely cone again when we visit Iowa again.read more

I was shopping with my mom, and she suggested this place for lunch. As others mentioned, it's…read moreconnected to a gas station. So, I wasn't expecting too much. I was very pleasantly surprised. It's a small space but it has a fairly decent sized menu. I tried the cod sandwich with fries, and they both had a great flavor. The prices are pretty average, and the service was super quick and friendly as well. I would love to come back if I'm in the area and try their breakfast as the menu pics looked amazing.

Friendly service. Tasty breakfast potatoes with grilled unions. Offer a fresh fruit - not just…read morefruit with glaze.

Breakfast is great. Wonderful local restaurant in Bellevue, IA…read more Across the street from the river. Great service. Good place to bring a group.

Food was good. Service was horrible. People who came in after us were served first. We sat for…read morealmost 10 minutes waiting. Then, the waitress took our drink orders and they still hadn't come by the time the food showed up....20 minutes later.

If you know, you know…read more Traveling to Dubuque for the final stop of the RAGBRAI cycling tour across Iowa, I was fortunate to discover Dottie's Café for one last breakfast before beginning the long drive back to New Mexico. The exterior tells you everything you need to know. It's classic, woven into the fabric of the community--a place where locals gather, travelers are welcomed, and good breakfasts are simply expected. The menu item that caught my eye was the Hillbilly Surprise. I'd describe it as the Midwest's answer to Eggs Benedict: an English muffin topped with ham, an egg, and smothered in rich country gravy. Pair it with a side of crispy hash browns, and you've got the breakfast equivalent of "peas and carrots"--they just belong together. I grabbed a seat at the counter, enjoyed the friendly atmosphere, and soaked in one last taste of Iowa hospitality before heading west. If your travels take you through Dubuque, Dottie's Café is well worth the stop. IYKYK

Dottie's Cafe in Dubuque has a cool location, a nice walkable area, and a fun old-school diner…read morefeel. I loved the short stools, the counter, and the general vibe of the place. Service was prompt and professional, and the prices were very fair. Coffee was hot, but taste-wise it was just okay. The food was where it fell flat for us. The pancakes were probably the highlight, and those were good. I also ordered an omelet with cheese, and it came with a slice of melted American cheese on top. I am not trying to be a cheese snob, but we were basically across the Mississippi from Wisconsin, the cheese state, so that one hurt a little. The omelet itself was more like mixed-up eggs with peppers and onions folded into shape, but the cheese choice really threw me off. Kim ordered the Hillbilly Surprise for $9.25, and unfortunately, we were a little surprised too. The same American cheese situation showed up on the hashbrowns, and the gravy tasted pretty canned. The three-egg omelet pricing was very fair at $6.25, with add-ins at 40 cents each, so I will give them credit there. The value is good -- I just wish the quality matched the charm of the place. Sorry Dottie's Family - I wanted to like this more than I did. Cool diner feel, fair prices, and decent service, but the food was just very average for us.

Food too heavy seasoned... too much garlic on salad, lemon on grouper and BBQ on salmon. Also…read moredrinks leave much to be desired. Service good Ambience good Think about another place to go!!

Entering, we got there a few minutes early and they weren't quite seating the first seating (5:00…read morepm). Within a few minutes, they did take us for our requested reservation. Btw... reservations are only made by phone as they are not on Open Table, Table or Yelp for reservations. The bonus is that you can request a booth (as we did) when you call. It was perfectly lit inside so that while still romantic, you can see the menu! We didn't have to bring out the phone for this. There was a special small menu as well, that had a special Valentine's Day menu. What I didn't realize, until half way through the meal, was that the cocktail menu was on the back side. We did have to request the wine menu, which came in an old, tattered notebook. An investment in a nice professional wine folder would be a nice touch for this more upscale establishment. We had a fabulous dinner for Valentine's Day! We did order a bottle of the house Pinot Noir, a wonderful sweeter wine from Napa Valley. We started out with the chef's salad, which was a mix of greens, feta cheese crumbles and a deliciously sweet and tart balsamic vinaigrette! Both my husband and I had the beef tenderloin, which came with scrumptious mashed potatoes and perfectly steamed carrots and broccoli. For dessert, we had the wonderfully tasty Betty Jane's Gremlin Cheesecake, which did not disappoint! It was so creamy, not too rich, with just the right amount of sweetness! Priced at $10, we felt it was a little steep for the very slim slice that was served as most couples share a dessert! Honestly, it was so good, I just wanted more of it! The service was outstanding with the perfect amount of attention. Bus service didn't really happen but the server, Gabe, was on top of it, clearing plates when needed. All in all, we had a lovely night celebrating Valentine's Day, a day early to avoid the crowds!

Cute place; clean, comfortable and nicely decorated. Friendly and quick service. I had the Feta and…read morespinach skillet with 2 eggs over easy and whole wheat toast and a side of bacon. Everything was very tasty. Especially liked the big chunks of feta and diced onions. Nice small town atmosphere.

Great Food! Great Service! Great Place!? Never bad meal! Feels like a place where people all…read moretreat you like family

We've eaten here several times, and it stays our top pick. It is the best breakfast in Dubuque…read more The room feels like a Midwest family diner. You walk in and feel welcome right away. The staff treats you like you belong there. A good share of the waitstaff is family, and it shows. This place runs on care and pride. It is a true family restaurant, run by a great family. Service stays quick, kind, and steady every visit. Prices stay fair for the portions and quality. The hollandaise sauce steals the show. It comes rich, smooth, and balanced. It lifts every plate it touches. Want a breakfast spot that feels like home and delivers every time? Birdies Bistro does.

Heading out of town after a weekend of shopping, drinks, and good times, we stopped by Birdie…read moreBistro for a hardy breakfast ahead of the ride. There was a 20 minute wait, which was expected at 9:30 am on a Sunday morning. Once seated, we were promptly given water and coffee, which we appreciated as we decided on our meals. As tempting as it is to try something different, I felt drawn to the same type of breakfast I had the day prior (see my review on Convivium); eggs over easy, sausage and bacon, with roasted potatoes. I also decided to order a side order of pancakes - after all, a growing boy needs his calories. As you can see by the photo, it came out perfect... and delivered 15 minutes after we ordered (is that a long time? It can always be faster, but I was ok with it). All of us enjoyed what we ordered and the coffee service was constant. I especially loved the sausage patties!!! Yummy! So I would definitely recommend Birdie Bistro when you're in Dubuque. Is it the best ever (5-star), no - I won't bore you with my reason why (to each their own). But Birdie should be proud.. Opened since 2023, you deliver in every important way: Great food, fair price, attentive service, clean, and welcoming. Great job!

This is basically the restaurant that everyone goes to after their day on the river , so it is loud…read moreand busy! They have a huge bar and also an indoor and outdoor space for seating. There is a ground level patio, but I did not see any service here so if you can't climb stairs, you probably aren't going to come here. I will say the cheese curds were tasty, but they were fried, so just know that. We all ended up ordering the shrimp skewers because we were leaning towards the healthier side and they were very tasty with all day seasoning and my husband had the Cajun. My biggest complaint is, I asked for a glass of water twice from one server, once from another and ended up, going to the bar to get it myself so super frustrated that that one simple request was not honored. Everything else was fine. It is pretty loud in here for conversation so if you're looking for something a little quieter, you may want to choose elsewhere Total bill was $99 for three orders of shrimp, skewers, cheese, curds, and we each had two drinks each

This was an unexpected surprise...we were driving from the Crystal Lake Cave back to Galena and I'm…read moreso thankful we found this gem. Everything was delicious...the steak bites were our favorite (well, until I tried the mini donuts for dessert ;)) and we would be happy to come back to try more of the menu. The ambiance was family friendly & chill. The staff were super friendly and helpful. It was a gorgeous day with gorgeous views that made us feel like we were on an island further south than we were!! Definitely worth a stop!