My go-to to for great bar food, fantastic service, and decent prices. I'm fond of their Starlite burger. Grandkids love it too.

Dined in today with my husband and daughters and it was excellent. This place has been on my list for awhile so we stopped in because we had an errand in CR. This place a great decor and we were served popcorn as we were seated. I had a buffalo chicken wrap, my husband had a tenderloin, my oldest had a Caesar wrap, and my youngest had a kids chicken fingers. Everything was delicious and I feel the "macaroni" salad was the star of the show. This came with my wrap and was creamy and delicious with fresh vegetables. I can't wait to get it again. Service was superb! read more

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You are greeted when you walk in and told to sit wherever. The server comes over and takes your drink order. They have Pepsi products. You can't go wrong with anything here. Our favorites are the broccoli cheddar nuggets, cheese curds, burgers and tenderloin. You do get complimentary popcorn as well. It's a hidden gem the locals know about! The inside has booths and tables. There is a room you can get for a party. When we come to town it's a must stop for us. read more

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Too expensive for convenience store type food and fountain pop. They use to make beef patties from scratch and onion rings and fries. Buns were stale and hard. Where's the beef. Cushions in the booths are crap. Another long time restaurant bites the dust. Service was marginal. Hundreds of cigarettes butts to walk over to get in the place. read more

I needed a late-night dinner recommendation and our Alamo representative suggested Starlite Room for great burgers and late hours. Their kitchen is open until midnight! The building is definitely dive bar-esque, but in a nice, clean, neighborhood way. We ordered a super burger (1/2 lb with jalapeño and pepper jack cheese), a fried pork Tenderloin sandwich and small fries. Food came out hot and very informally in a basket for the fries and waxed paper for the sandwiches. My two small complaints are the burger was overcooked and not pink as the waitress promised and the krinkle cutnfries were pale and not super crispy. There was a steady flow of locals coming and going even at midnight on a Tuesday. read more

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Anyone who rates this place higher than 2 stars has no taste or business rating food. The hamburger patties and tenderloins are premade and frozen, the kind you buy in bulk. Both had a weird texture and flavor. The buns and fries are also low quality. The owners should be ashamed to serve this crap to the their customers. Go to the Blind Pig if you want give food. read more

Love, trying out new places and a lot of friends have boasted about this place so I figured I'd give it a try with a couple of my friends. A first impression is always important. Our waitress was quick to bring out the food, including the appetizers, but seemed a bit short with her attitude after our appetizers we ran out of drinks before food came out wasn't offered any refills and our food came out in paper no plates. I felt like we should've grabbed it to go. The it is definitely not paying attention at what we were ordering because she mixed up our food. The food was good not great but good more disappointed with the service. We all decided we're not coming back. read more

Would be 5 stars but they happened to be out of a couple of things that we wanted. (Easy Eddy on tap and corn nuggets). Not a huge deal for us but our waitress felt so bad...and speaking of our waitress, she was AMAZING!!! It's crazy how a great waitress/waiter can make an entire difference in your experience at a place. And ours ROCKED!!! Nonetheless, our "superburgers" were great and the ranch, with our fries, is second to none, in my opinion. LOVE THEIR RANCH!!! It has always been a CR staple and after a couple of hiccups, the last couple times, it is a must try!! Insider note....get the popcorn before the meal. It is always so tasty and if you require extra seasoning, just ask. They knocked it out of the park for us. Definitely won't take so long going back this next time. read more

Good bar food! I also love that they still have the pin ball and fortune teller machines. They also have trivia on the menus which is fun. Staff is always friendly and prices are good. Make sure to ask for the popcorn! read more

Great place with lots of history. Excellent burgers.. a classic all around! Great bar food and drinks read more

Be sure to leave your tip in cash because my server told me that if I put it on my credit card, she wouldn't get it. So, apparently, the owner or manager keep the staff's tips when they are on credit cards. The food was okay. I ate here about twenty five years ago and the food was much better. They seem to have gone downhill on the quality over the past twenty five years years. I had a burger and french fries. Both seemed just average, nothing special. read more

Huge tenderloins. Good fries. Basic bar. Oldie but a goodie. Nothing fancy but we stop here every time we are in town.

So this place is getting two stars because my appetizers were good and the wait staff was friendly. So tonight was a burger night out to eat. Had a really good experience before with my burger here. So naturally I returned in hopes I get the same kind of burger. Well sad to say I did not. For one the meat patty itself looked prefab like it was frozen. My food was barely lukewarm. My buns were cold and my cheese was not even melted to the burger. This was a far cry from what I had before from this place. Had to send the burger back three times. Was told they would make a fresh burger but that was a lie. All they did was try to heat up the bun and probably put the rest in the microwave or broiler. I ended up not eating the burger cause at this point I was honestly a little scared to eat it and the whole experience just tainted it. Yes the burgers were comped and the wait staff did apologize. The kitchen staff needs to get their food right and back to the quality it once was. This was not it. I will not be returning here. read more

They are a long time neighborhood family restaurant with burgers I'd stand up against any basic burger anywhere else. We even came here one year for Thanksgiving after a broken oven changed our plans. They'll never let you down. read more

Stopped in for a quick burger as we have done for 40+ years. Both burgers were served with cold untoasted buns and no ketchup or mustard. Burgers were dry instead of the good old greasy burgers we have always enjoyed. Asked the waitress if there was a change in supplier or something...she said toaster was broken but cooks Should be grilling bun. Told her that was not happening And the burger was cold and dry. Said "Sorry " but brought full price ticket. VERY DISAPPOINTED. read more

I have been to this place many years ago and also recently and it seams like this place never changes. Friendly service and good food. lots of food and drink choices. There is a room in the back if you want to have a party there is a bar in the front if you want to just have a drink and the dining area is separated a little if you want to sit down and have a bite to eat. I would consider this place to be a little dark for lighting but it does not take away from the dinning experience. It can be considered a divey romantic place. It even has a Zoltar machine like the one in the movie Big! I would recommend a visit alone or with the family. read more

Starlite Room - Front room and bar - American Near Me - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

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Being from a small town this place hit all the feels of a small town bar. The Superburger was amazing the the beer was cold, served in a frosted mug. It's a simple place which I'm in the mood for more often than not. I'll be back!! read more

Starlite Room - the original half pound star burger - American Near Me - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

The food was great! The burgers are worth every bite! Our service was a little weird, the server that took our order I think just left? She never did anything past taking our food order the she was gone? She later showed up bitchin that her ride had not come yet or some nonsense, we left before her either way. Kinda disappointing that we weren't even told of the switch, if you don't want people to sit anywhere don't say if to people walking in the door. I'll get food to go next time Paige was nasty enough to not come back! read more

There burgers and popcorn are some of the best food I've ever had I would highly recommend this place as it is one of my favorite places to eat read more

I enjoy going to the Starlite Room. It's a nice place to meet friends for a quick beer and appetizer or to meet family for a nice meal. The inside decor and atmosphere is nice and there is a variety of seating selections, whether you sit: at the bar, in a booth, or at a table. I really like their pretzel bites with ranch and also their BLT sandwiches. The staff is kind also. Not a bad place to stop for a quick bite. read more

Below average food (even for a dive bar), average service, pretty dingy. But they have popcorn!

Let's not beat around the bush, SR is a dive bar, but it's packed with good vibes, great food, and friendly people. Pork tenderloin sandwich was delicious! Staff worked hard to keep us satiated and made sure we were able to watch the game we wanted to see. This is a child-friendly establishment as long as you're present and considerate. I'm a CR native (first time back home in a decade), but so glad to see the Starlite is still there, still it's old self. read more

We held a surprise party in the back room and our server Paige did an amazing job keeping the drinks coming and juggling all the food orders! Food came super fast and was good as always. Thanks Paige! read more

If you are looking for a true Midwestern blue-collar dining experience, including one of the best versions of the most quintessential Iowan dish - the pork tenderloin - look no further than the Starlite Room. This little bar and eatery that's tucked just off of First Avenue is packed full of fried, greasy, deliciousness and oozing with tons of character. The menu has all of your midwest favorites, with at least a dozen different varieties of fried appetizers (from onion rings to cheese curds to fried asparagus, pickles, and mushrooms), along with lots of burger and sandwich choices (including tenderloins, of course), and even a couple salads in case you are trying to eat healthy (but why would you want to?). We chose the onion rings, fries, and fried pickles for our appetizers, and while the fries were just so/so, the onion rings and pickles were absolutely delicious. We then moved on to our 1/2 lb, breaded, fried tenderloins, which were equally yummy, with perfectly breaded and fried crusts and juicy, flavorful insides. They let diners choose their own toppings, and we all had lettuce, onion, tomato, and mayo, which are the most traditional. The food here certainly won't win any fine dining awards, but it is a strong contender for some of the best fried food I've had in Iowa and the whole Midwest. The prices are "midwest nice" too: it's almost impossible for a couple to spend more than $25 on a meal here. They have a full bar with lots of local beer, as well as soft drinks. I was also really happy with the ambiance. The Starlite Room reminded me strongly of those local eateries they feature on the news every four years when the Iowa Caucuses come around, with tables full of locals discussing gossip, politics, and which high school football team is going to win that night (all things I heard during our meal). This place truly is a piece of Americana that those of us from bigger cities just don't get to experience much of anymore. The service is midwest friendly and super fast. All in all, I was really happy with our meal and our time spent at the Starlite Room, and I'll surely be back the next time I am in Cedar Rapids. read more

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This is a good neighborhood bar with good food. They have popcorn as an table snack while you wait. The burgers are very good and I like their onion rings too. They have bar seating, standard tables, and high tops available. It's a fairly large place so even if they look busy it might be worth popping in to see if there are tables available. The parking lot can fill up faster than their tables do. read more

Starlite Room - Outdoor seating too - American Near Me - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Friend and I have been to eat in Starlite Room several times. Staff have always been friendly and helpful. It's clean. Didn't have to wait long for staff to take order or food. read more

During this Coronavirus, restaurants are offering take out and delivery only. We called and ordered take out. Star lite has one of the best tenderloins and fries in town. Service was great. They are really appreciative of our business during these difficult times. read more

We come back all of the time especially for family gatherings & it just keeps getting better & better! Can not wait for football season- all of the big screen tv's, we won't miss our favorite team's or baseball playoffs while we enjoy our favorite burgers & tenderloins in town! To top it off I don't have to worry about my child or myself going into a stinky, dirty bathroom- they are so spacious & clean & never smell!!! read more

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Came here for a burger and beer with a friend. Never disappoints. Good burgers, crispy fries, good ranch, and cold beer. Come here to relax and watch the game or sit and chat with friends while eating free popcorn. read more

I don't understand the low ratings of the Starlite. The only thing I can chalk it up to is that those reviewers expected something other than a super casual bar that some people might call a "dive bar." (The Starlite isn't a dive. It's too clean and the service is too good to qualify it as such). We really enjoyed our lunch on the patio with our dog. The servers were phenomenal - super friendly, efficient, and helpful - and even brought out water and ice for our dog. The food was as good as it gets for bar food. My partner and I shared the Super Cheeseburger (huge and really flavorful), the breaded tenderloin sandwich (which was also huge and delicious), and the onion rings (probably the best I've ever had - not an exaggeration). Despite the tenderloin sandwich and onion rings being fried, they miraculously managed to avoid being greasy. Quite a feat. And don't sleep on the free popcorn! It tastes like old-fashioned stovetop popcorn, and one of our fantastic servers sent us home with a bagful. Love this place and wish it was in my hometown. read more

Service was friendly, but food was terrible. We stopped in tonight for dinner. They were not busy at all, but somehow we waited more than a 1/2 hour for the food to come out. When we received our food both orders were cold...not even lukewarm, but COLD. We will not be returning. It's too bad because it use to be one of our favorites. read more

It's not pretty, but this restaurant serves up a delicious, comforting, burger at a good price. There isn't a full bar, decor is "1970's grandpa's basement", and they won't ask how you want your burger cooked- you get what you get, but you'll like it! Set your expectations accordingly and know that all imaginable fried appetizers are at your disposal. This is a CR staple. read more

Food was decent, slightly above average bar food. We got the pork tenderloin sandwich and a burger with fries and onion rings. I had come specifically for a burger to satisfy a craving - meh. The service is horrendous. We thought we were visiting at an off time, though it may have been a freakishly busy lunch before we arrived or so we gathered from the numerous dirty tables and emotional state of the staff. For that reason, we tried to remain patient though it quickly became clear that the chaos and cattiness was just the atmosphere of this establishment. We sat and watched as tables that entered after we'd sat forever were getting their food and listened to the endless (extremely loud) griping of the waitstaff just feet from our booth. I honestly couldn't even tell you which of the group was our server because despite 3-4 women attending to our table, none of them were attentive nor friendly. It was so unprofessional and uninviting. We were sorely disappointed after glowing recommendations regarding the food and will not be returning. read more

Go into Starlite Room all the time and love it. But recently I had an above average experience at felt so motivated to go out and leave this review. The food, the drinks, and the banter was above and beyond, Thanks Christine!! read more

We stopped in here for lunch on our way to Madison Wi for my Granddaughter's State Gymnastics Meet. We chose this restaurant because of the reviews that it had on Yelp. It is a good ole neighborhood sports bar with TV's and pool tables and a friendly staff that makes you feel welcome. We had their 1/2 lb Super Burger with Cheese and an order of Onion Rings. I think calling it a "Supper Burger" is, as they say in advertising puffery, but what it is is one of the best tasting hamburgers I have had in a long time. The roll is soft, the burger cooke to perfection with just the right amount of grease to add moisture and flavor. The onion rings were crisp and not overcooked. If you want good food, good service and good prices, this is the place to go. read more

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Great food. Quick service. Bloody Mary's are phenomenal! We ordered Breaded mushrooms and tenderloins Very happy with the food and quality. Especially for the price. We visit the this establishment every time we visit Cedar Rapids. read more

I used to love their food but the last two times that I went in (in the last couple months) they have gotten my order wrong. Twice. Instead of the bacon cheeseburger with all the extras I got a smashed burger with no bacon and no lettuce, tomato or pickles. I paid for bacon and expected it but no go. When I called I told them they were good enough for me to overlook one wrong order but twice is kind of bad. They didn't seem concerned at all. Not even a sorry that happened. I know if the owner received sub standard service he would be blowing up phones and taking names. Too bad he doesn't hold his employees to higher standards. read more

Their burgers are nice and greasy just how I like them. I'm not a fan of fries but theirs are just scrumptious.

Don't expect anything fancy, but do expect the best burger in town. Especially now that bacon and a fried egg can be added, the super cheeseburger is as good as they come. Fries and onion rings are both solid, and free popcorn is a great bonus. The interior is old, and it feels like a tavern, but if greasy bar food, and an amazing burger is what you want, quit reading and start driving to Starlite! I've never had any other entrees, but my wife does love the Mediterranean chicken salad. read more

Had lunch on New Years Eve. Not busy at all. Both of us ordered the specialty, tenderloin sandwiches with an order of fries. Our tenderloins came wrapped in wax paper, laid on the table in front of us. Period. No plate, basket, or cardboard carton, no silverware to cut it. My husband got up and went to find the server to get silverware so I could cut my tenderloin in half (his was cut in half in the kitchen). I had grilled, nonbreaded tenderloin. The meat was good, but the sandwich had so much "sauce" on it that the bread was soggy. (Also soggy due to having been wrapped up in a piece of wax paper.). The fries came in a basket and were ok. I was very disappointed! Come on, not even served in a basket??? We weren't at the county fair or the ball park. Will not eat here again. read more