Last time I went here was a busy Saturday night with a bunch of fellow dog trainers. Tonight was a quiet Tuesday with my husband. No dogs in tow to worry about Nothing at Rubes has changed. Delicious steaks, hot grill, fresh vegetables and plenty of butter. It is dark in the dining rooms but there is plenty of light around the grill. It is the centerpiece of each dining room. Rubes is a great place to go to celebrate a special occasion. Or anytime you are in the area. read more

See all

My first trip to Rube's was in 1989, and there have been a lot of changes since then. I've eaten there many times and for many occasions. However, I don't want to focus on the past. Let's focus on this visit. I called ahead and made reservations. My wife and I arrived about 5 minutes before our reservation time. The ladies at the desk always seem to make it an awkward experience for some reason. They are nice enough, but they don't really act like they know what they're doing. There was a lot of whispering among themselves, and we were asked to wait while they checked with our server, and then asked to wait again while they seated people who arrived after us, even though that group was missing a couple of people. The lighting in the dining room is always a bit dark. Maybe they do that so the grills stand out when they're lit. They have small lamps on the tables. Our server was excellent. She ushered us to the cooler to pick out our steaks. She identified the largest ones on display as the ones to get, and even asked the cooler staff to put out more steaks so there were bigger ones to choose from. I got a New York strip and my wife ordered a small ribeye. We also ordered a mushroom skillet, which was extra. This is a grill-your-own-steak place, so you are the chef. There are a few seasonings available at the grill to add to your steak like garlic salt, seasoning salt, and table salt. They also have a bucket of melted margarine if you want to baste your steak with it, or put it on the Texas-sized bread while you toast it. I asked if they had butter. Our server brought us whipped butter and sour cream for the baked potatoes that are included with the meal. She melted a few of the butter packets for us to use on our steaks. Unfortunately, whipped butter just doesn't have the same flavor as regular butter. While I appreciated the effort, the end result wasn't what I'd hoped for. In addition to all the baked potatoes you care to eat, there are also baked beans and salad included with every meal. The salad was basically a section of a head of lettuce with dressing and toppings in it. While the presentation was nice, I prefer when they actually had the salad bar that they advertise. The salads used to come with carrot and celery sticks, and I used to be able to get cottage cheese from the salad bar for my baked potato. Now you can request another salad be brought out if you want another one. Let me add that the cups for the self-serve baked beans could be twice as big and still be considered small. There are also fried potatoes on the grill, and you can eat your fill of them. I assume they're cooked with the margarine they have available on the grill. While the food was good and service was excellent, I left thinking that for just the two of us, we could have made a feast for ourselves at home for less than half the price after the tip was included. read more

See all

A destination restaurant for sure! In a town of 199 people, and the town's only business. Truly unique as you pick out what you want to eat, it's seasonings, and then you join a huge communal grille and cook your own dinner. It was fun, tasty, and a true small town deep dive. And Alexa,the waitress, was as good a server as we've ever had!!! High recommend on this one!!! read more

I love, love, love Rube's. It's an experience, not just amazing food. Yes, you grill your own steak, but that's part of the charm. So fun to stand around the grill socializing. We always start with cocktails to relax then have a delicious salad. We rhwn head for the grill season your steak and grill it to your liking. The quality of the meat cannot be found many places. Yes it's pricey, but worth the money. The ambiance is 1970's steakhouse, but I love it. The staff is small town iowa, so friendly and helpful. Definitely our go to big night put place read more

See all

Several years back while my son was at a summer football camp at Grinnell College, other parents and I had a dinner at Rube's I enjoyed the whole experience, choosing your steak, grilling it on the open pit while drinking a beer. Sides were fair, the steak was fabulous meaning I did it well on the pit bbq. All said I'd definitely go back. It was memorable and enjoyable. read more

I have a friend that just loves to visit this place. I finally went after a few years of her insistence. To start off, this is a cook your own food place. I was told someone would do it for me if requested but that was not true tonight. Hence the low rating. If I wanted to cook my own steak I would stay home and pay MUCH less. First the food was quality beef, I had a sirloin steak. It was good, and the mushrooms were, well mushrooms. Next I had some potatoes that were already on the grill and were delicious. There was spices available to put on my food and that was a nice touch. Another thing to note is the place is very dark. I found it difficult to see. I could not tell how clean the place was. But in the better lit bathroom I did notice it was not very clean. I suppose if you like doing your own work then feel free to visit but I am personally not interested in paying much more just to have a grill ready and someone else doing my dishes. read more

Rube's Steakhouse - people eating and drinking - Steakhouses Near Me - Montour, Iowa

This place is a total scam. Buy a $60 steak and I have to cook it? Screw it up? "that's your fault". Cook your own sides too? When do I get to sit and talk to my guests? I'm doing all the freakin work! Here's an idea...hire a chef and cook it for me. Stand over a 500 degree coal pit and stink like hell the rest of the night. No one eats at the same time because we are all cooking our own damn food. Grab the cast iron skillet filled with mushrooms with your bare hands while the guy next to me is sneezing over the grill and wiping his hands on the group tongs that I'm flipping my $60 steak with. This place is a dang health hazard that's what it is! Never again. Bypass this place for the prices they charge and find a restaurant that they actually prepare the meal for you so you can enjoy your dinner. read more

Rube's Steakhouse - Steakhouses Near Me - Montour, Iowa

I had Ribeye. 52.00 and thru half out. Very tough and grizzly.. I was not at all impressed with menu.. Ate there 20 years ago and it was excellent! Best part is the garlic bread.. Although 52.00 is a little much to go eat bread! read more

I live in Philadelphia and I've always gone to Rubes when I visit family in Des Moines but never again! We had 3 different servers, had to ask for our salads and were never shown the desert tray. All of this bad service for over $75 per person with "tip". But worst of all my small rib eye was so thin that it couldn't be cooked medium rare and more unfortunately was tasteless. I have loved going to Rubes in the past, what happened? There were hardly any customers so we may not be the only people who have been disappointed. read more

Soo good! You order your soup or salad first! Then you go choose your steak! Steak is pricey but so good! Go to grill and grill your steak to perfection! There's bread there so u can make toast! There are spices to put on your steak! There's baked potatoes or roasted potatoes! Take your pick! So very good! I be back for my birthday in August ! read more

HOLY MOLY!!! What a gem of a steakhouse experience! This place is a destination!!!!! Ambiance is incredible- dim lighting, wood paneled and brick walls, beautiful bar on the way in and the best steak I have ever had in my life!!! When something is this delicious you don't even mind how much it is. My daughter and I wanted to go have a special dinner because we're both from California and we wanted to try a place we wouldn't have back at home. We drove 20 minutes from where we were staying to try this place out. She had the 13 ounce bacon wrapped filet mignon and I had a 11 ounce ribeye. We went to the counter, picked out our meat and some green beans and bacon in a small cast-iron skillet as well as the crab-stuffed mushrooms, which were also in cast-iron skillet. We took them to one of the two big open fire grills and seasoned our meat with some butter and seasonings that were provided at the grill. We were given some guidance as to how long to cook them to our liking. The grill had a large Dutch oven filled with home potatoes cooked with bell peppers and onions, as well as another Dutch oven filled with aluminum foil wrapped baked potatoes. On one side of the room there was a counter with a pot of baked beans. I had two servings of those! On the other side of the room, there was Texas toast that you could butter and season and grill as well. When we got to the table, our server brought our wedge salads which came with the meal. They were incredible. They were topped with their house dressing, which was a creamy Parmesan balsamic dressing. It was a spectacular experience. We did not skimp and our dinner for two was $142 but I would do it again! read more

I've been here twice for company dinners and I was impressed! The servers and host staff had great attitudes and were always attentive. Will definitely bring back the wife ASAP! read more

Had a 5:30 pm reservation on a Saturday. Stopped in bar a bit early. Had a mule that was good. The beer selection was adequate. Waitress seated us & explained how the cook your own works. We ordered our salads. Creamy Garlic dressing was great. We chose steaks out of the cooler & then our salads were waiting for us back at our table. Prices are above the cooler. Yes, a bit pricey but great cuts of beef! Hubby grilled my butterflied filet to my perfect cooking choice. He had a classic cut ribeye. I buttered garlic bread, which he toasted on the grill. He chose a baked potato & I chose the skillet potatoes. The baked beans are good as well. Friend's had same steaks but also cooked jalapeño corn & macaroni and cheese. We dug right in! I love the butter drenched Texas toast that you coat with garlic! My only wish is that we could've eaten our salads before we got our steaks. Might just ask next time! Oh, room is a bit chilly with vents under the tables! read more

See all

Great meal! Was a little reluctant about cooking my own steak but it was easier than expected and absolutely delicious! Service was very friendly and helpful and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves!! read more

Food is delicious and the atmosphere is great. The experience is different in that you grill your own bit made for a great conversation for days to come. read more

Great atmosphere in a small town. We ate on a Sunday at 5 and it wasn't too busy. The quality of their steaks is amazing! I'm a bourbon guy and they had a few nice options. Highly recommended!!! read more

I was in nearby Marshalltown on business, and they asked if I wanted to join them for dinner. I'd Yelp bookmarked Rube's before I got there, so I was excited that was where we were going. We started with drinks at the casual bar while the restaurant got the people ahead of through the process. Good basic bar, nothing too fancy. Big beer glasses! Next up, you choose your protein. They will explain all available cuts showcased in the meat counter. Most of the cuts were beef but they also had chicken and pork. I was with a group of dudes, so they all went big on the beef. I had the small bacon wrapped filet, butterflied. I added a small skillet of mushrooms. This is a place where you grill your own steak at a huge open grill. You chit chat, flip your meat, shake your shrooms. One of the men I was with took charge of my filet, which I greatly appreciated or I would have ruined that little guy. Perfectly medium rare! They have Texas toast bread you can butter and grill. Big pans of sautéed potato chunks are also available on the grill, and included in the price. (Basic) Salad bar too, but I don't think I had any. Overall, I was very pleased with the quality of the meat. The group I was with also helped contribute to my fun evening, so I recommend taking your group with you. read more

Rube's Steakhouse - Butterflied bacon wrapped Filet. So dang good!!! - Steakhouses Near Me - Montour, Iowa

So my server walked me to my table, then asked if we would like any appetizers, then I said no and I would like to go pick out my meant right now. So we went over to the meat counter, I picked out my ribeye then we went over to the grill to cook it. Now after I ate my ribeye and Mac and cheese I cooked, my server brang over the deserts so I picked out the chocolate cake. By the way the ribeye and Mac and cheese I cooked was a 4 star but the chocolate cake that I got for desert, was a 3 star. You know why cause I choked on whatever is on the outside of the cake part, so for all of this 4 star! read more

I thoroughly enjoyed my dinner here tonight. This wonderful community offered our Disaster Response team the privilege to dine at their establishment! If you haven't been here, you are truly depriving yourself of a wonderful meal! The service was magnificent! The quality of meats was absolutely amazing! The best part was, the salad bar was side to complement to the meal not a replacement for it! I loved it's simplicity! It had just enough variety to cover the veggies and 4 common dressings. I loved it. It reminded me of the simple salads mom used to make for every meal. People shouldn't be greedy! Don't go here for the salads, it's a steak House. A fantastic one! Have a great steak, a side salad and a wonderful evening! I am not from IA but if I ever come here again, this will be an absolute necessity! read more

wonderful wonderful wonderful this place has it all grill your own steak can't beat it the roasted potatoes the baked potatoes the sides are awesome. I had the Cowboys steak bone-in, grilled it perfect perfection mediums you can't beat this is like being at all just what the grills and everything already left for you when there was some co-workers we all had enjoyable time if you are in mind or Iowa you have to go check this place out it's a wonderful fine Going to mark it off my bucket list always seen it on the travel network food paradise. read more

Rube's Steakhouse - Alright it's about to go down. - Steakhouses Near Me - Montour, Iowa

Great service! Love that I asked for ranch (my favorite) and got a bowl of ranch! Great food!

This is pretty much the first time I've been here. The last time I was here was probably 20 some years ago so I don't really count that as I have a vague memory of it. Anyway, Rubes is a fun place to grill your steak in air conditioning but don't be fooled the grill is hot hot hot when you're standing next to it cooking up your meat (or veggies). Your server (or maybe tour guide?), guides you through the process as you pick out your cut of meat and can discuss how long to cook it for. Our guy was very patient with all my questions as it is an expensive piece of meat and I didn't want to burn it. With your main course you also get a salad bar and unlimited baked potatoes, skillet type potatoes (that are super yummy fabulous) and grill your own texas toast. You do have plenty of food for the price and the quality if meat is good too. They also have a nice drink selection. I especially like that they carry Iowa beers. Other notes: they are known for their baked beans and have specials various days of the meat. You can purchase herbed butter or Maytag Blue Cheese to top your steak. So why the 4 stars? Price and location. It is in the middle of nowhere and the prices are for what I would consider, more special occasions. Service was excellent. As I said, our guy was patient with my 100 questions and he was great about keeping our various beverages filled. read more

See all

The steaks are definitely 5 stars, but the salad bar and sides pulled the overall rating to 4 stars. Fantastic steaks at great prices, only catch is you are the grillmaster, but that's a good thing!! I had the 18oz Ribeye, beautifully marble and about 1-1/2" thick. Salad bar needs some sprucing up. Recommend the cream corn and stuff jalapenos for sides the rest was "OK", but nothing to brag about. Great wine prices as well, small selection, but nice offering. read more

Perfect steak, perfect service (may need a tour for your 1st time at this place), and an interestingly different experience (do all by yourself) despite being in a somehow remote location! read more

Rube's is the real deal. Our daughter attended college nearby and we were lucky enough to visit Rube's several times during her four years at Grinnell. Such a quintessential Iowan experience. Rube's raises their own cattle, and you are able to select your steak fresh from the cooler. Once seated, you can cook your steak to order on the large grills in the dining room while toasting your toast and stirring your potatoes over the grill in huge iron skillets. So much fun for groups! You'll never have steaks so fresh! A real taste of the heartland! read more

Located in a small town. It's a great steakhouse where you can grill it yourself. All meat is raised within 100 miles of the restaurant. Wet aged 28 days. After being sat the waitress explains everything and takes you to the cooler where she explains the cuts. You then pick your cut and proceed to grill it. Their house rub ia quie flavorful. The bacon wrapped ribeye was wonderful read more

See all

Good food and our service was excellent!! The place was packed but our server was great about checking with us and making sure we had our questions answered and things explained read more

My wife and I were driving along route 30 heading back to Des Moines when we decided to take a pit-stop and see the small town of Montour IA (located just east of Marshalltown). When we came into the "business district" of the city, we noticed a large number of cars parked along the street (both sides). We initially thought "wow, a little city festival is going on". We were wrong. People were there for Rube's Steakhouse. The grill your own food concept never appealed to me in the past, but boy was I wrong. This was a fun and almost thrilling experience. It starts with picking your entree, which is likely steak (all cuts available), but could be seafood or pork. I had the NY Strip, which was seasoned perfectly. We grilled our steaks on the charcoal grill, which was busy but accessible. 10 minutes later, we were sitting down at our table with our steak, stuffed baked potato and garlic toast, along with a great glass of Cabernet. Everything tasted amazing! We capped our dinner off with a shared piece of turtle cheesecake. The service was excellent and the atmosphere was very welcoming and relaxed. It was a huge surprise to run into Rube's but we will definitely make the trip to Rube's again (probably at the Waukee location since we live in Des Moines). Check out the original though... there's nothing better. read more

Rube's Steakhouse - Grilling two NY Strips on the charcoal grill at Rube's. Also buttering the garlic toast... this was an awesome experience. - Steakhouses Near Me - Montour, Iowa

See all

Awesome!!! Rubes lived up to the great rumors I've heard! If you want steak while in the area this is the place to get it. I can't talk about prices because I didn't pay, this was a work event, but I can definitely talk about the food! I chose the bacon wrapped rib eye... I wanted a porterhouse but didn't see it on the menu, but then I found out you just have to ask for it special. Drats! Anyway I didn't go wrong with the ribeye. Sine you have to do your own grilling I promptly texted a pic to the boyfriend for grilling advice, I like medium rare. So I went for 4.5 minutes, flip, 4.5 min, flip, 4.5 min then done! Rest for 7 minutes and it was perfect. As my side I chose the stuffed jalapeños, they were decent but I kinda wished I would have gone for the corn. I also grilled up some texas toast. There's also a salad bar, but it was a bit crappy because of the bagged iceberg lettuce mix, bleh. The baked beans on the bar were delicious though. Don't forget dessert, I had the chocolate mousse cake and it was highly enjoyable! Service was a bit scattered, I think they were overwhelmed and not particularly friendly. But hey, I'll only knock off a star for that and the poopy lettuce on the salad bar. I'll come back if heaven forbid I have to come to Marshalltown again for wok. read more

See all

Super weird. Bit of a wait in the bar even with a reservation, despite not being crowded. Then you're greeted by a waiter-salesperson, who guides you through dark, dingy dining area to a display case full of raw meat. Another wait as customers in front of you select their steaks and sides. Steaks are expensive--upscale restaurant prices, but without the normal restaurant convenience of having someone else do the cooking (also, nothing about rubes is upscale. Except the prices). Waiter guides you to large indoor grill, gives you minimal instructions. Grill isn't very hot, so another long wait while you cook your own dinner. Sides are still cold, so you put them on the gas grill for a bit, along with your steak, which is still very rare. Steaks were fine once they stopped mooing. Creamed corn was good. Worth going for the experience, I guess, and at least Rube's doesn't make you wash your dishes, so there's that. read more

A diamond in the rough kind of place. Not something you'd expect at a small down just east of Marshalltown, but a solid find. If you like a cook-your-own steakhouse experience, this place is it. The service was top notch and I felt you got what you paid for. Will definitely stop again on my next trip through Iowa. read more

Rube's Steakhouse - Steakhouses Near Me - Montour, Iowa

The only person in charge of my steak was me. You grill your own cut of meat with some excellent side dishes. I had the corn side dish. One in my party had the scallops and they were excellent too. Great service that assisted you as needed. A must stop when in the Marshalltown area. Thank you Lennox for the introduction to this restaurant. I'll never forget it! read more

Rube's Steakhouse - Everyone grilling there own steak and side dishes. - Steakhouses Near Me - Montour, Iowa

For locals it's an absolute tradition to take out of town guests here. As with many other things in life , the cost has gone up significantly over the years. You would be hard pressed to have a dinner for 2 with any sides OR drinks for $100. To some that may not seem like much, but to the locals that would like to frequent more often this is a big barrier. Steaks are absolutely amazing as long as you know how to cook on charcoal, if you don't....we'll, they're still pretty good. read more

There was already a line outside when we showed up at 4:45pm for our 5pm reservation. The skillet potatoes were the best and of the two cuts I tried the filet minion was the best. Salad bar could have been perked up a bit. Waitress was nice and friendly. Grilling your own steak was a challenge for some our group. The three people that got drinks in our group were impressed. Local beef is what's important to me! read more

Great service and excellent cuts of meat. Went with family and had a great time. Who doesn't like grilling your own steak ?

Found this on yelp. Parking looked like they were very busy but we were able to get a table for 5. When grilling your own use the butter from the bucket to get a nice sear. Seasonings were good and not too salty. Pan of mixed veggies was wonderful and worth the $7 extra. Salad bar was pretty simple. Good value for quality and add ons read more

Rube's Steakhouse - Mixed veggie skillet and bacon wrapped ribeye. Huge skillet of fried potatoes are no extra charge. - Steakhouses Near Me - Montour, Iowa

In response, the staff was telling callers "no reservations were required" even with the 2.5 hour wait time. My suggestion, allow a "serve yourself" option where folks can go to bar, obviously cook your own, and partake of salad bar with minimal assistance. Thanks read more

Cook thyself a giant slab of aged beef over charcoal while telling the big stories and jokes ... enjoy the side dishes with a giant mug of Sam Adams ... try the dessert afterward ... take a small tiny bite of the dessert and the beef [to make sure you cooked it JUST RIGHT], then take a big styrofoam container home so that you enjoy this meal for a WEEK. If you don't obey this commandment and you try to eat five meals worth of beef at once ... you will be miserable ... remember, a fat fool and his money are soon parted. read more

1. Have beer. 2.. Pick your favorite aged to perfection piece of steak. 3. Coat your favorite aged to perfection piece of steak with delicious seasonings. 3. Pick sides. 4. Put your sides and favorite aged to perfection piece of steak on perfect and evenly heated area of the grill. 5. Watch sides cook and flip steak. 6. Enjoy favorite aged to perfection piece of steak and sides. Went to Tama, IA on business. Population 2700. Didn't expect much, but a few fields. Instead I found Rube's. Victory was mine. read more

Waited 45 mins to be seated which was odd because several tables were open. Then took us a while to get a spot on the grill because they decided only to fire up one. Then took a while to cook the steaks cause the grill coal was not sufficiently hot for grilling. The steaks were good quality and tasted really good. We ordered large cuts of porterhouse, rib eye, bone in rib eye, and filet for six people. We were charged two plate splitting fees at 9.99 each. Didnt make sense cause their only job was to put the raw steaks on the plates. What was i suppose to do, order more meat that we can eat? And oh, we found mold in the bread they had for toasting over the coals. read more