Restaurants in Waterloo

“Our recent trip to Waterloo was topped off by a fantastic dining experience at D&K Hickory House restaurant. Thanks to a Google search of nearby restaurants, we stumbled on this "hidden treasure", and we're absolutely blown away. From the fast and courteous service by Cindy, our amazing server, to the final farewell from the owners daughter ( sorry, I didn't catch her name), this place hit it out of the park. My wife and I ordered salads with bleu cheese dressing, and were expecting the standard, generic dressing that attempts to taste like the real thing..WOW, were we wrong!! What we received was a homemade dressing with big chunks of real bleu cheese in a tangy-sweet mixture that left us wanting more. When I commented to Cindy, that it was the best I had tasted, she suggested we try the creamy garlic, also homemade, and she brought us a sample to try...another Home Run !!. When our entrees arrived, which was surprisingly quick for a Saturday night, we were again, incredibly impressed. I had the rib dinner, with hash browns. The ribs were tender, tangy, and literally falling off the bone. As a BBQ junkie, I was in 7th Heaven. My wife opted for the fried shrimp and they were cooked to perfection. The meals also came with choice of potato, a basket with dinner rolls and crackers, and a small relish tray...all very tasty . When Cindy brought our bill, she offered us a brief history of the place, and it sounds like citizens of Waterloo/Cedar Falls have been enjoying this local joint for over 70 years...very impressive. All in all, this was one of the highlights of our visit, and we will be sure to return again, the next time we are in the area. Two things to consider before visiting, they take cash & check only...no electronic payment...no problem...and, you would be wise to call first for reservation.. Truly a memorable meal and dining experience. 5 stars all around !!”

“Absolutely amazing store and such welcoming people”

“It is not in a typical location you would expect to see a restaurant, but man, was the food amazing!!! The catfish was very good, the Mac n cheese was very delicious, but the green beans... well, I could eat a tub of them, not sure the braising liquid she used to cook them in, but whatever it was, give me more, please!”

“Nautical theme is kitchy and fun. Staff has been doing it a long time. Customers are a unique mix of locals and regulars with some random mix ins (like me!)

Pizza really is great! drinks are generously poured and the staff is quick to refill.

Dive bar done right.”

“Great variety of beers. Great atmosphere. Super bartender! Must have their margaritahhhhh!”

“Got my vaccinations there”

“Much improved over the last few years.”

“Kind of expensive but the service was outstanding. It waitress was great. Was getting busy but she stayed pleasant and always came to check on us. Which makes a great waitress. Everything was really good. Mango Margarita was perfect. The Salmon was good but the rice was salty to me but they replaced it with something else. I really have nothing bad to say. It was a wonderful place to dine”

“Had a wonderful birthday dinner last night at the Waterloo Brown Bottle! Great wine and food delivered by an awesome Gentleman who did a fantastic job!! Thank you for everything!! Definitely recommend this place for Excellent service, fine wine and an exceptional menu.”

“I loved the outdoor bar and seating area and it’s great for bikers. I was able to charge my speaker. Outside of beer, they only have liquors from Iowa and anything not well, including the food, is a little on the pricey side for myself but I think you know what you’re getting yourself into when you look at the prices of their food on the menu online!”

“Restaurant was clean, service was excellent, and the food was tasty. Also it was Monday so we got free pie.”

“I ate here the first time today it was pretty good definitely will come back again”

“Wonderful options to choose from always, Everything is always hot and Delicious 🤤 You can get a Great portion of food for under $15 if your eating by yourself, Try the Hush puppies they are amazing! Frog legs are a perfection and I’ve never had them before!”

“Absolutely great staff and amazing food!!! I have to have gluten free and they have such a great selection. They are well aware of the protocol needed. They always remember mine needs to be gf. They even remember I need GF when my husband calls to order or stops in after work to get me something. Fabulous food, amazing staff, and adorable atmosphere!”

“BEST PIZZA AND SERVICE IN THE CEDAR VALLEY”

“Amazing food and service”

“I was gifted an apple pie for thanksgiving, and it was a HIT. By far the best apple pie my family and I have ever had. The crust was amazing!”

“we meet for breakfast every sat day morning about 7 of us hanna takes good care of us remembering a lot of what we order every week making it fun”

“Amazing service, drinks and food! Martinis and chicken wings are the best! I'll be back, for sure!”

“Best food I've ever had. Definitely a 10/10!!! The brisket burger is to die for!!!!”

“Cinnamon roll cheesecake is by far the best dessert I’ve had from them! Usually it takes me a day or two to finish one cookie from here. They are LOADED with sugar! This cinnamon roll cheesecake was too good to put down! 💗”

“I've never had their coffee before they were set up in evansdale. I walked up when they were closing up and didn't even realize. They were super sweet and asked what I would like. Both men working had smiles and coffee was amazing definitely will stop by again if they are in town. Super hot out today and appreciate them working in this heat. ❤️”

“Great staff and amazing food! Best latte I have ever had!”

“My husband and I play league from the Loft on Thursdays! We enjoy going whenever Tanna is working! She always knows what we want and is consistently checking on us! I wish she was up in the Loft every Thursday! The dart players really respond well to her! Thanks for always taking care of us Tanna!!”

“A friend who I had shared with that, I had the best bar pizza in my life told that Behar Bar also served this particular pizza as well I jumped at the chance. As it turned out they were out of the supreme Pizza that I wanted. At first I was kind of bummed out but then they told me about their other specials I figured I'm already here so I might as well order. I ended up having a good Time. The place has darts to play, video poker and a bar that is stacked. The Bartender was friendly and her suggestions were on point.”

“Best Seafood Boils in the cedar valley hands down!!! Love the customer service just cannot wait till they”

“Great food to eat, also large variety of Mexican and Centroamérica food, from fresh produce to Can food, dry beans, spices for cooking and medicinal purposes, Candies, desserts, even tequilas and artesanal items you can do your grocery shopping while waiting on take out or dine in, inside on a beautiful family environment, Mexican food made in front of you with home made fresh tortillas I absolutely recommend this place is a little of my beloved mexico heart in Waterloo ….”

“Best I've had in a long time! Really sets the bar high on pumpkin spice lattes! Couldn't be happier with the awesome help!”

“We had an absolute blast at the Animal Petting Tour! So fun and informational, and the tasting afterward went above and beyond our expectations. This tour will become a staple activity for any out of town visitors. We already loved the Hansen products, and knowing more about the farm and their inner workings, we love them even more! HIGHLY recommend!”

“Tonight was the first time we've been to Starbecks, but it won't be the last! Words just cant describe how delicious the food was. The price is reasonable for today's economy, the staff was very friendly, and we will definitely be making Starbecks our place to dine whenever we're in town.”

“Huge, over stuffed California burrito which I learned means french fries inside. Lots of steak in the burrito as well. Basic tables and chairs nothing fancy. Pretty good tomatilla and red sauce.”

“Everything is excellent! Great costumer service!”

“The food is always very good and reasonably priced. They also have one of the best bacon cheeseburgers 🍔 around.”

“I wish they were open all year around! That’s how good it is!”

“Amazing atmosphere and bartender is awesome”

“we went out for Valentine's Day and expected it to be very busy.We got a table right away! The staff were attentive and very nice! Once we received our dinner I was absolutely amazed, presentation was on point and the food was absolutely amazing! 5 stars 🤩 Will definitely be back and will tell everyone how awesome this restaurant is! Muchas Gracias!”

“Amazing food! I wasn't sure about eating here but my son really wanted to try it. I will be back! Such delicious food, amazing service and friendly staff! We had the dinner for four and they substituted items for us with no problem. The egg drop soup was good. The appetizers came with a little heater and the presentation was super cool and beautiful. The main course was tasty, we all agreed the Mongolian Beef was the best. Our waiter was attentive without being intrusive. You should try this restaurant out!”

“I highly recommend the gluten-free pizza! I'm a pretty sensitive Celiac and had no adverse reactions after my dinning experience. Great Bloody Mary's as well :)”

“Great food to eat, also large variety of Mexican and Centroamérica food, from fresh produce to Can food, dry beans, spices for cooking and medicinal purposes, Candies, desserts, even tequilas and artesanal items you can do your grocery shopping while waiting on take out or dine in, inside on a beautiful family environment, Mexican food made in front of you with home made fresh tortillas I absolutely recommend this place is a little of my beloved mexico heart in Waterloo ….”

“I truly have a great time every time i come (which is pretty much everyday lol) lydia gives me the upmost kindness, she makes my infusion perfect every single time i order it and she never fails to put a smile on my face!”

“I feel like we're back to how panch used to be. Food and service was back to being great.”

“I have NEVER been disappointed in either the food or the service. Outstanding in both. Hubby's business partners from Chicago always asked to eat here when they were in town.”

“I love their cheesy bread. I wish it came with more dipping sauce though. The pizza is always good and bakes well in the oven. I would rather get papa murphy's than 99% of the pizza chains out there, because at least they are consistent and I will always know my pizza is going to be baked how I want it.”

“Sani is great! Always makes our requests happen from our daughter’s parties, to work functions to soccer team catering. Taste and quality is second to none also!”

“stopped by the food truck today for the first time. rib tips are awesome”

“Great experience every time we are here, ordered the pineapple pizza, the wife had a mojito I had a beer, Lyndsay our waitress was great. Great atmosphere and decor and love the plants! we will see you again soon.”

“This is our favorite restaurant to go to, the food is always fresh and hot and tastes absolutely amazing. The staff are polite and fast and they are attentive to you. I am never disappointed when I go there.”

“Delicious & filling food. When I drove up, I was nervous about eating from this food truck. All the five ⭐️ on yelp convinced me to try. Absolutely delicious! Street tacos were $3, stuffed quesadillas were $8, and a gigantic burrito was $11. I wish I lived closer so I could eat here all the time. Try their food! You won’t be disappointed.”

“Good friendly service. Great smoothie after therapy.”

“Tommy is an Exceptional Cook!”

“Best coffee in the Cedar Valley!”

“Positive atmosphere, clean, friendly staff, great deals”

“Amazing products and very friendly. I went in with my special needs daughter. They made her day when they gave her some candy to take home. I will definitely be back!”

“Price is higher here than when I go into a SB in Target or Hyvee. Drinks tend to be made better at Target or Hyvee but this one has drive through so... you pay for convenience!”

“We were having a birthday party for my husband and we have a family member with celiac disease so it was important to have both delicious and safe food for the weekend. We ordered a cake and potato buns for the party. Both were great but the potato buns were amazing! Everyone was excited to have a GF bread option that was so good!!! Highly recommend!”

“Had a party of 21 family members in tonight. I called yesterday and reserved the party room. The manager asked for an email order ahead of time, if possible, which worked great for us. The space was perfect and private. Our server was attentive and super nice and the food was amazing! We had 3 people needing Gluten Free crust and it wasn't an issue! I would highly reccomendations them for your next gathering!”

“My Server when I walked into the door was Amazing! he was helpful, Attentive, Respectful, Responsible! I entirely enjoyed my experience. My food was Amazing. The same server who took my money brought me my foiled and asked me if there was Anything else he could do or get me. It was a Pure pleasure to eat lunch here today! Yummy and relaxing and delicious!! I will definitely come by again.”

“Great gluten and allergy free restaurant. The service is lovely, and the food delicious. I love the greenhouse poke.”

“Although there are other decent places to get a sub sandwich in the Waterloo/Cedar Falls area, Sub City beats them all. The sandwiches are authentic New Jersey style, the ingredients are always fresh, and they slice the meat right in front of you. We are blessed to have 3 Sub City locations in our area. All of them are great, but the downtown Waterloo location caters mostly to the lunch crowd, and College Hill is a bit higher priced (ironically, since it serves a lot of college students). It is nice that the Kimball Ridge location is open later for those who might want subs for supper.”

“White chocolate is my favorite. Wish they delivered.”

“Butters is a great bartender. 10/10 service and drinks!”

“New years eve and kareoke”

“Decided to try them as the foodies page said good things. It was busy but, service was excellent. I had chili. Wasn't my favorite but, that's on me. Others had turkey club, rueben and loved them. Definitely will be a return visit.”

“This DQ is old. I prefer the CF one off of highway 20. They will make your ice cream, that's all I can really say regarding that. There's never been a time I've had a complaint about that.

Hesitate to give 5 full stars because a lot of the time I come in the employees look like they want to kill themselves. They all look like high schoolers usually.

Either way, it's not enough to deter me from coming here. They have a big fridge of cakes you can look at and there is a cool little mirror where the tables are. Not sure why it's there, but it keeps me entertained while I wait the ~5 minutes for my ice cream.

Parking: Not many spots, but they're usually never occupied. No worries regarding that.

Kid-friendliness: You can send your kid to the little bendy mirror and have them be fascinated at it while they wait for their ice cream. Never let me down once.”

“2 different staff members checked on me cosistently.. my food came quick and was amazing. I'm hard to fill up but I barely finished the burritos I got. Definitely gonna come back soon.”

“I love it! Remember when you used to sell candy by the register? Fruities 3 for 5 cents? Yep. I was always riding my bike there haha. They have the best crust. A longtime lover of Mama Nicks!!”

“They have a great assortment of sweets and snacks at very reasonable prices! They also have the best fresh baked bread and will slice it for you!”

“We did not have there food as our event food was brought in. Nice establishment to have small gathering. Drinks reasonably priced. Lots of TVS to watch games. Also pool ”

“Caribou is my go to coffee shop. Coffee is excellent and I order a sausage,egg and cheese biscuit. Wished they still put them on a plate not in a wrapper, but oh welll times are changing.”

“I purchased The protein balls at Martin Brothers! They were delicious and froze well for future use! I recommend your excellent product!”

“Narey been open for 60 years same family the narey family great people good atmosphere good friends it's a place to come when you want to have a good time at a reasonable prices see you soon”

“Cold beer awesome pizza and lovely staff can’t go wrong stopping here !!!!!”

“Great place to stop for a cool taste of awesomeness, well maintained.many brews of beer and Affordable mix drinks to choose from and yet if video games,darts, or just a friendly game of pool is your thing come down n rackum up on the house,waite there's more ,Come say hi to the indigo blond bartendress however that hair color could change without notification. Very fine place.open from 12pm till 10pm 7 days a week.Also Easy parking, so there you go a One stop bar hop,Check it out On your next round about.”

“Indoor and outdoor seating and speakers so you don't miss anything. Near several other bars downtown so you don't feel like it's a small as it is. Fun crowd.”

“By far, the best Polish I’ve ever had!!!! Next time I will pair with bbq fries. Looking forward to my next visit!”

“great drinks tvs and great service by all the bartenders”

“For a delicious treat worth a drive, Scratch Cupcakery is hard to beat. With a great selection and rotating flavors daily, Scratch keeps my family coming back. PB cup or loaded PB cup has always been a family favorite.”

“The only place I go to get my chicken dinner's and chicken gizzards. The best in the state of iowa hands down. I've been in parts of Minnesota, Missouri, Chicago and Michigan in various restaurants and none of these places come close to friying chicken as well as Chester chicken. 5 stars no doubt..”

“Best coffee in the Cedar Valley!”

“My husband and I got lunch to-go today and I really appreciate that they put all of our food in a bag, with spoons and chips for our soup and napkins without us having to ask. They really very fast and welcoming. Sometimes, it’s the little things that go a long ways.”

“I love this bar. It's got a Great Jukebox, several pool tables, a heated outdoor smoking area for the less pleasant times of the Iowan Weather. Great Prices on Domestic Cans and Bottled Beers. Plus what you'd expect to pay for mixed drinks, with a good pour!! And my personal favorite about BJ's is that I can go have a relaxing drink in complete anonymity, which is worth paying a nonexistent cover charge for. Any time I want to have a couple drinks and not be bothered by anyone in the place. Let alone some drunk who thinks he remembers me from somewhere else a long time ago. For ME, it's the opposite of Cheers, where I can go, and no one knows my name. And for that, I tip very well.Took my daughter in tonight, something I never thought I would do in my lifetime. Played some pool on the same tables, with possibly the same sticks, on definitely the same felt well rolled upon cloth pool tables lol the Drinks were still very good, and the Little Blonde bartender was a sweetheart of a gal. I'm sure we'll be back before too much time goes by.”

“Let me say this the food on the west east china is everything fr dumplings are so amazing an the east china on the east is so nasty I don't know what they did to the dumpings but I'm always going for the west side for sure!”

“I was seriously shocked by the excellent customer service we received at this Panda Express. I’m talking Chick-fil-A-level customer service! Every time you walk in, you’re greeted immediately, and the staff is so friendly and welcoming. Plus, the food is great! This location really stands out, and I’ll definitely be back.”

“Good service great pool players”

“The food and environment was amazing and friendly”

“Chick fil a is the goat. After grandmama’s cooking this as good as it gets. The waffle fries wit that chick fil a sauce do it fr.

Kid-friendliness: They have a kids and a jungle gym for kids.”

“We had a very good meal for our family as take out. The lasagna and spaghetti were absolutely delicious and had a substantial amount of sauce. Can't eat without the breadsticks and the salad. The dishes were secured and didn't spill at all getting them home. They had 3 covers on the dishes. We appreciated all you care for our meal - Great job!”

“Bar owners/ bartender here from out of town. Understand the difference between busy and not knowing how to do the job. Karma is the only bar in this area we have found bartenders that UNDERSTAND THE ASSIGNMENT 🙌🏻”

“The Staff and Manager at the Laporte Rd location are always friendly and helpful. I've noticed there air conditioning hasn't been working my last few visits. The owner really needs to have more compassion for his or her employees and have this fixed immediately. It's hotter in the store then it is outside.”

“Wow there fish sandwich is soooo good. Must order.. Also Hubby had chicken dinner A+”

“Steak and cheese fries with the fries cooked well done.. Steak burrito supreme and some Jaritos.. I'm in heaven with the red and green sauce for the burrito..”

“Their Black Pepper Chicken is the best I have ever had. It’s sweet and savory with just a touch of heat. Their rangoons are triangular and somewhat flat and filled with delicious cream cheese. I will always recommend this restaurant.”

“This family runs a tight ship and takes such good care of their customers. It’s not only FANTASTIC food but so fun to watch them interact with regulars. 90 years of serving our community says a lot!! Thank you for all you do!!”

“I saw a post in the Waterloo Foodies group about crab rangoon nachos and dill pickle soup. ummm count me in!?! i could not stop thinking about it. the images and thought literally made my mouth water. told my husband on our next date night I want to go there for those items. he thought maybe they would only be seasonal so he called to place a take out order. food was ready in less than 15 minutes. super friendly guy when it came to pick up. he said they are working on getting these items added to the website and door dash menus. even packaged the nacho toppings separately so they wouldn't get soggy (super appreciative) it was phenomenal - and I don't use that word often. I already can't wait for date night so we can order again 👏🏽😍 11/10 no disappointments.”

“This was the best place! I challenged the manager Megan to make my Oles hot enough to burn my mouth! And cheese sauce too! She accepted challenge n won! Best food ever! Best personality ever! Highly recommended!”

“Ordered two pizzas and 2 calzones! Fast delivery ordered before they opened got here shortly after the store opened. Food is hot, tastes very good. Only pizza place that I will order taco pizza from their taco pizza is the best”

“Hola, hoy que fuimos la verdad no me agrado mucho el pico de gallo tenia el cilantro occidado, los frijoles nada ricos y el arroz seco y la verdad pagar tanto por eso no es justo!!”

“Service was outstanding! Thank you very much. And NO service fee. I had dined at another Village Inn and they put a 18% service fee was very upset . Again thanks for your customer service”

“Marcos pizza is always amazing! I love the friendly service! Everything on the menu taste great! I give a 10 out of 10 and recommend Marcos Pizza to everyone!”

“Don’t let the low score fool you . This place is a hidden gem. Food options are limited in Waterloo but the food here is pretty bomb! Don’t let the low score. I got the double gyro sandwich. My other colleagues liked their rice platter. It’s like a Halal cart food in ny. Prices aren’t bad. Friendly workers. Would come back again.”

“WENDYS Greyhound is one if the only fast food places I'll eat at. I know everything is hot and fresh the people are amazing. Plus it's the fastest diner in Wloo with no waiting and smiles at the windows and I side . I love the people and place”

“I love the decor, the vibe, the stellar customer service and most of all, the food!!!”

“Great food and staff! Jordan was a great waiter! A+ service!”