Mason Dixon Saloon, as it is unfortunately titled and branded, is one of the only places in Dubuque…read moretoday that provides pretty darn solid ribs and smoked meats, as some of the other BBQ joints have shuttered over the years. I am pleased, in fact, to report that in having tried the ribs, they have smoking down pretty well and churn out some good food. On other visits however, I was surprised to find the pork on the Cuban sandwich and basket to be an odd texture and pretty off tasting. I'd say that the food is pretty standard otherwise, with what seem to be the usual Cisco/USFoods frozen to fried fare. Nothing incredible, but your familiar greasy stuff to get a quick, cheap-enough lunch in. The service over the years has been mixed as well, during the table service hours, the place has had attentive and kind service, but every weekend the place turns into a confused staging ground for what all-too-often seem to be fake-ID toting college underclassmen. At these hours, the place feels uncomfortable for anyone over 22, and it's hard enough to get to the bar rail at these hours any way, much more-so to be seen by tenders that all too often are overstretched if they're even behind the bar to begin with. There's also the obvious gripe with the ambiance. Bourbon barrels cut and stacked along the walls, set against the backdrop of a big crocodile crawling the room -- pretty cool, if not a little kitschy. The obvious problem remains: why the homage to the Mason Dixon line? A symbol of the south? A bygone time? Something to suggest that the ~perfectly fine~ ribs will transport you to another place? My thought is that all too often, and rightly so, it's associated with the border into a land where slavery existed right up until the line was no more. A line crossed to become free, or on the flip side enter a land where it was okay to treat a black man as something sub-human. If that's where this saloon wants to transport me, I'm good. They changed their branding from a confederate flag striped longhorn to what it is now, but the name and the feeling remain. I should hope that they can see that in a Dubuque that is hopefully changing with times and trying to be a welcoming place to folks of all races, colors, and creeds, it may be time not just to retire the flag, but consider what the line their named for stands for to people other than the white guys in their hometown (a group that seems to want the good ol' Southland to adopt the rural Midwest).

God forbid the DJ play any type of good music, it's like the guy is trying to make people leave,…read moreguy won't even take recommendations. Like I'm trying to save your job brother.

Hotel bars are very hit and miss. Sometimes it can be a mecca for the road weary vacationers and…read morebusiness travelers to socialize and bond over their shared space away from home. The hotel bartender is a job for the seasoned veterans of customer service and providing conversation and engaging customers. The lady behind the bar failed and led me and my wife to leave and find a place near our hotel that wanted our money. I ordered an overpriced (all hotel bars are) craft beer from a local brewery and sipped it while waiting for my wife to come and join me. During this 20 minutes the waitress never asked me anything or engaged me. When she saw that I was taking my last drink, she asked me if I needed another one and I responded yes. In the next 10+ minute time span my wife came in and sat down without being acknowledged by her. I witnessed her serving 2 others, running a tab and chatting with a friend. When I finally caught her attention, she realized that she had completely ignored me for a long period of time. I then declined the 2nd pint and tabbed out.

Great food & Service! Loved the bar area & restaurant! Also love the strawberry dessert! delicious!read more

Woodfire Grille is our go-to place for special occasions, and we happily drive an hour from…read moreWisconsin to dine there. The food and service are always superb. We usually splurge on a special bottle of wine and look forward to it all year. Unfortunately, after ordering, we were told it was unavailable. Disappointed, we selected another option, only to have the bar manager/buyer come to our table a few minutes later to let us know that choice was also unavailable. She apologized and explained they were in the process of changing and downsizing their wine selection while still using the old menu, and she suggested a comparable alternative. Reluctantly, we agreed. While the wine was delicious, it simply didn't compare to our usual. Although we were thoroughly disappointed, the team went above and beyond to make things right and ensure we still had a wonderful dining experience--they even treated us to dessert. Thank you, Michelle, for always being so lovely.

Great food and service, had the prime rib and it was among the best I ever had,the dirty mashed…read morepotatoes were like crack on a plate,so good. Cheesecake was great.

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.

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

Love the food, fast service. Friendly too!…read more Only complaint is there is a younger fella that works there that never gets my order right. Not sure if he's still there or not, but amazingggggg shakes!

Wow!!! For so long I have wanted to try loose meat sandwiches. This did not disappoint. Got the…read moreorginal loose meat and the chili cheese loose meat that is served open faced. This was well worth the detour to try it. We had a very helpful server this place has a nostalgic feel.

Such a fun spot to grab a bite and enjoy the riverfront! We ordered some drinks and appetizers and…read morehad a great time relaxing on the patio! We loved sitting outside by the water and taking in the views. The atmosphere is laid-back and casual, making it a great stop while spending the day exploring Dubuque!

Quick and attentive service, great outdoor ambiance, peaceful view of the marina and the river…read more Food was better than it needed to be! We enjoyed our nachos and our bang bang shrimp wrap, kiddos enjoyed their kids meals too. Would definitely return if in the area!

We had a larger family group of 13, we all had great service - all meals were delicious -the…read moreMoracco staff was amazing with their service & food! They kept us all happy. We also appreciated our seating area up front behind the hostess stand as it was quieter & we could enjoy pleasant conversations with each other - well done Moracco Supper Club

Tried the walleye this time and it was great! Service was fantastic as always. A true supper club…read moreexperience.