From the minute we walked in it felt like we were regulars. We sat in the dining area and it was full except for two tables. The smells from the kitchen were wonderful. We were greeted by a friendly and kind server. She was waiting on the entire room(7-8 tables). The menu was explained to us and we ordered fried pickles for an appetizer. For our main dish we both ordered the fried fish. Food was great, and service was wonderful. Homemade blue cheese dressing and tartar sauce were both excellent. Even a holiday pour for my wine! We would definitely stop here again! read more

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Battered and fried green bell peppers? I had to order them with my sandwich simply because I've never had them anywhere. I'm glad I did. They were delicious. It's very similar to the flavor of a jalapeño popper (without the bacon, cream cheese, or the heat). They have a modest sized parking lot that is a one-way. We sat at the bar and both had sandwiches. I ordered a burger but subbed out the beef patty for a chicken breast. The chicken breast was seasoned and juicy, but it actually made the American cheese on my sandwich a little too slippery. Better than the alternative, though! I would eat here again, but I might try something different next time. The menu wasn't super large, but they had enough apps, sandwiches, and burgers to choose from. read more

The Blue Heron - The burger that normally has BBQ sauce, cheese, and bacon on it, subbed out for chicken breast and got the battered green bell peppers - Bars Near Me - Mason City, Iowa

I got and adult grilled cheese with tomatoes. It was delicious. The Texas toast was perfectly buttered and grilled. I got fried cheese balls as a side. They were delicious. The staff were nice. It's a small place, but cute several murals of blue Herons. read more

The Blue Heron - Bars Near Me - Mason City, Iowa

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Amazing food and service! People working here are SOOO friendly, food is just amazing! Best onion ring! read more

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Good food and great bloody Mary's and very affordable. Friendly staff and great service. We will be back.

Wow. Perfect spot for lunch. Our server Katie was extremely knowledgeable & very friendly. There were 3 of us. We all had Chicken Wild Rice soup ( simply amazing ) the chicken club, patty melt and 2 pc cod with coleslaw. Everything came out fast and very hot. The food was delicious. Wish we lived closer, I would go there all the time! Plus for being super clean! read more

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Wow. Perfect spot for lunch. Our server Katie was extremely knowledgeable & very friendly. There were 3 of us. We all had Chicken Wild Rice soup ( simply amazing ) the chicken club, patty melt and 2 pc cod with coleslaw. Everything came out fast and very hot. The food was delicious. Wish we lived closer, I would go there all the time! Plus for being super clean! And prices were really decent. read more

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Came to this spot when it first opened. Amazing food and kind hearted people. Great for a burger and a beer! The fried cauliflower is always a delicious treat. Would highly recommend if you wanna get some buddies together for lunch! read more

We had the fish and chips and it was absolutely delicious!!! Service was great as well!! We will definitely return whenever we're in the area. read more

We heard about the Blue Heron at the Toros hockey game and are so glad we tried it! The service was the best we've had anywhere - friendly, fast, and efficient! The menu has a good variety of things, like sandwiches, burgers , apps and a large beer selection. We ordered a french dip and buffalo chicken sandwich. Both were really good and we would go back next time we're in the area! Try the Blue Heron- you definitely won't be disappointed! read more

This is one of our favorite restaurants in Mason City. The service is always great and the food is always excellent. You can't go wrong with anything you order. read more

In the onion ring search, these are the best! We'll see if they hold the prize. Battered and good! read more

The Blue Heron - Best so far - Bars Near Me - Mason City, Iowa

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Food was delicious. Had the fish dinner. Service was great! Will definitely be back! Loved the paintings on the building also

Great homemade food and service. We stopped in on a road trip as we were passing through. Can't wait to visit the next time we are in the area. read more

The staff was welcoming and really set the tone for a fun stop during our travels! The food was great (although I might skip the salad next time as romaine lettuce isn't my thing). The turnkey melt and fries hit the spot! Saw the table next to us with some delicious-looking French dip sandwiches. The local beer list is tops. We will stop by again on our way down I-35! read more

Our friends took us there and it was busy! The food was very good, the beer was cold and the staff friendly. What else does one need?

Wonderful spot. Incredibly welcoming too. Food quite good and beer selection is also great.

Great service. Very good food. Reasonable prices. Comfortable atmosphere. Great burgers and I love their fish. read more

Although it's unassuming from the outside, don't judge this book by it's cover! The service was great with recommendations for local breweries and places to visit. They had 18 beers on tap, including a "Decorah Nordic Gruit" from PIVO brewery that was outstanding, even though it's made without hops. Who knew? The food was amazing, 10/10. We overheard that they're going to be on some "Greatest Restaurants in America" show in the near future and I'm not surprised at all. For two great meals and two flights of beers under $50, a trip to The Blue Huron is an outstanding value. read more

The Blue Heron - Turkey Open Face Sandwich - Bars Near Me - Mason City, Iowa

The hand battered cod was great. Perfectly breaded and fried, not greasy in the least. Started out with great tasting drinks, then the salad comes and the dressings were made in house. Wow....Very busy place but they move lots of people through but never felt hurried. People are friendly there. It was the first time there. We'll definitely be back. read more

Food was good and the local beer tasted great. Warm welcome when we arrived. Katy was great!!

The Blue Heron Bar & Grill This place is the best! Food is always great and I can't say enough about the service!! Everyone is always happy and hospitable. The owner always stops by to check on us and everyone. The portions are a good size. Not a negative thing to say. Well done Blue Heron!!! Keep up the excellent work!! read more

Thought we'd would try somewhere we've never been. Awesome place. Hamburgers made fresh plus batter on fried items are delicious. Crispy and light tasting . The waitress was very helpful and explain everything very well. Prices were average but definitely worth it. The patty melt was delicious and the hodgepodge appetizers were very good. They're worth the money.. The Long Island was ok not the best I have had I had better but I did order a second lol. We will be back for sure!!! read more

Really delicious freshly cooked food! Fish n chips delectable - but fries not dark/crispy enough. A club sandwich my husband could hardly get his mouth around. A real mom n pop place: our friendly and adorable waitress revealed it is her folks' place. Bar in front, booths and tables in the back. We were glad we found this place passing through on our way across Iowa. read more

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Great hometown restaurant. No frills but awesome friendly workers. Depends on what you are looking for - not a fancy place. I enjoyed my salad. A few with me said theirs was ok/good but not awesome. I would go again. read more

If you drive up to the restaurant, you see what may have been a blue collar dive bar in it's day. Inside the restaurant, it is clean, and the staff is very friendly and welcoming, do not pass up this restaurant. The waitress was very friendly and explained to me that they batter their own chicken, the burgers are fresh, and it is quite obvious they take pride in what they do. I had a chicken cordon blue sandwich that normally comes grilled, but since they batter their own chicken, I opted for fried. It was one of the best I have had, along with homemade kettle chips. I also had the soup of the day, chicken tortilla. It was homemade, full of fresh vegetables and very flavorful. The prices were well in line, the menu was well apportioned, and the restaurant had a cool retro vibe, I will definitely be back read more

I was disappointed. My expectations were much higher after seeing this was rated 5 stars and all the glowing reviews. The food was typical bar/cafe fare. We tried 4 things- taco salad, grilled tenderloin sandwich, chicken BLT and wings. The food was good but not exceptional. Service was ok. Had to send back the chicken blt because they forgot the bacon and cheese The location was a bit run down. This is an ok restaurant and worth checking out. Just don't set your expectations too high. Maybe a 3 or 3.5 stars. read more

Great food and big menu. The Service was great. Good find!! Highly recommend and great one to support.

Looking for a diner with my son on a road trip. This was a bar and grill, so bringing my nine year old son was less than ideal. The service was top notch, but my steak sandwich was average at best. My son had the hamburger, also just average. Worth a try and the back of the house is dinerish, but not for kiddos. read more

Nice little food place on the north side of Mason City. Would recommend you try it out. On a personal note they do a ton for the community. When a restaurant closed due to a fire, they hired all of the workers so they have income. They also do a lot for local low income people. This place is awesome. Please check it out OK read more

I don't live in MC but my mother does, so we go here The ambiance leaves a lot to be desired , but the people , and service are terrific. Not all the food is good , but the fish sandwiches or platters are terrific! My mom loves it so we go read more

Back in Saturday for about our 6th time. The weather was bad due to a snow storm so they weren't very busy. Service was great and friendly as always. We both had a burger, she had a cheese burger and I had the mushroom swiss. Both were great as always. Best burger in Mason City. All of their brewery tap beers are from Iowa except one from Minnesota and a very good vanilla porter from Colorado. read more

The food here is unbelievable!!! The smoked turkey sandwich and mushroom and Swiss burger were so tasty and the customer service is top notch!! Definitely a new favorite spot for us:) read more

Blue Heron is on the north end of Mason City, kind of out the way, but well worth a visit. It's one of those places that everyone loves, but sometimes you take it for granted and realize it's been a year since you visited. A buddy and I stopped by for lunch the other day and like most people, stated we have to get here more often. Like most days, when you enter you are met with a bright smile and great hey guys grab a seat anywhere. This time by Mandy, waitress, hostess, and bartender extraordinaire. Also sat next to one of the owners who we enjoyed chatting with but I apologize, we didn't catch her name. Most of the folks here are regulars I'm guessing, but Mandy ensures everyone feels like a regular. Bloodys were homemade and very good, with a beer back which we love. I just had the mushroom appetizer which were awesome. Buddy had the special Chimichangas, which was a full plate full and he gave 5 starrs. Everything served quickly and Mandy checked on us regularly while visiting with everyone. Fair price for everything and yea we promise to get here more often. read more

Definitely worth the trip off the freeway. Food was Absolutely Amazing! Service was even better! We will definitely stop in again! read more

In town for the Winter Dance Party, we stopped here for a delicious lunch. People were very friendly and welcoming and there was a great beer selection of mostly local Iowa brews. We had the Friday specials and everything was well prepared and tasty. Will definitely return. read more

The Blue Heron - Chicken fried chicken - Bars Near Me - Mason City, Iowa

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5 stars for the BEST CHEESE CURDS I have ever had. This place is a GEM. I had the rib-eye special. It wasn't something I'd probably order again. It was very thin. It was cooked to my liking. Served with a salad and a baked potato. The next time we are in Mason City we will come back!! I will get the fish next time!! read more

This was my first time in Mason City and we found this wonderful, local restaurant. The service was super fast, friendly and welcoming and the food was fantastic! The French Dip with cheese balls was amazing. My family enjoyed their meals as well. You can tell that the owners and staff enjoy their work and we had a thoroughly enjoyable dinner. Highly recommend! read more

Great Place. Found it on the Mason City Recommendations here on Yelp! Vickie was our server and an Owner. She had her little son and helper passing out menus and silverware. We ordered the Appetizer - Hodge Podge! Oh my! Fried Glory - pickle spears, onions rings, cheese curds, cauliflower, mushrooms! Quite Good! I had the Sloppy Joe Special which came with Potato Salad and House-Made Chips. The Potato Salad was well flavored and creamy. Clearly House-Made. My wife had the Old Fashioned Hamburger with PepperJack cheese with House-Made Chips. Next time we are in Mason City, we will be back! read more

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No need to spend time looking for a place to go because The Blue Heron is the way to go! This place is so great; where do I begin?! Well, let's start at the top with the bosses, Vicki and Mike, a hardworking team that has nailed it since day 1. They are not only married to each other but to their business and it shows! Mike is in the back of the house coming up with a sandwich or dish that's so good you just might dream about it! His years of experience in the kitchen are definitely reflected in the creativity and quality of the food he presents. Mike has a great crew back there who prepare each dish with pride and just might entertain the crying toddler in the next booth so you can enjoy your dinner! What a perk! Vicki is in the front of the house and what a great place for her! Vicki's great crew provides prompt, efficient service while smiling and often goes the extra mile. During your meal, Mike and/or Vicki check in on each table and seem to know everyone. I can say for certain that Vicki has a great memory--ensuring that the lime juice you prefer or the specific vodka you enjoy is on hand the next time you are to visit. She will also remember how you prefer your salad and she will make sure her crew knows too! It's pretty impressive that she cares enough to remember those little details when she must have a million other things to do to keep The Blue Heron running smoothly! Now the food...it's as great as the service and you won't leave hungry or unhappy. No way. The cheese balls are battered not breaded and they are better than the carnival! Their Reuben is a favorite of mine and my dad's as it is proportioned and toasted just right! And then there is the Ragin Cajun Chicken Sandwich that never fails. And for those days when you had a little too much to drink the night before..Blue Heron Deluxe- a big burger with ham, an egg, bacon, cheese, you name it! Delicious! You can't go wrong here! read more