At mom and pop restaurants, you’ll find cozy, quaint vibes and smells that take you back to your childhood kitchen. Stretching from the small towns to the bigger cities, from Darrell’s Place in Hamlin to Noah’s Ark in Des Moines, you will find friendly faces and delicious food at these 6 awesome mom and pop restaurants in Iowa.
Darrell and Marilyn Munch first opened Darrell’s Place in 1980 in the rural community of Hamlin. Thanks to their loyal patrons and outstanding service, not to mention the appetizing entrees, Darrell’s place has evolved into a multi-generational family restaurant. Darrell’s Place has since expanded its location within Hamlin, and Darrell and Marilyn’s son and wife now run the daily operations, but what hasn’t changed in all this time is the friendly service, home cooking and welcoming atmosphere found in Darrell’s Place.
Since first opening in 1922, the B&B Meat and Deli has been passed down for three generations. Whether it was in the past or present, this neighborhood grocery store has always been serving up some of the best sandwiches and service you’ll find anywhere else in the metro. Though their meat-market style of ordering is now coined “old-fashioned,” there are plenty of new tastes to explore at this multi-generational conveyer of grocery goods. Whether you are looking for some home essentials, or some fresh meat from the butchers, or especially a thick sandwich to wrap your hands around, than B&B needs to be your first stop in Des Moines.
Carol “Sweetiepie” Cater-Simmons is the mastermind behind SugaPeach Chicken & Fish-Fry, which is quickly becoming one of the best places in the state to get your fried chicken fixings. It’s not all just about the chicken at SugaPeach though, and there are plenty of non-fried and side items to choose from with each visit, but even more so, it’s about the community surrounding the restaurant that makes this establishment so special. Whether you want to connect with the people around you, or get a two-piece chicken dinner, SugaPeach Chicken and Fish Fry can satisfy all your needs.
Starting with humble origins in 1946, Noah’s Ark restaurant has evolved in the Des Moines community over the last 65 years to become one of the number one Italian restaurant in the state. Throughout all that time and menu expansion from Neapolitan pizza to first-class Italian fares, it’s been the Lacona family behind the wheel of the business. And between the personable service offered alongside the wide Italian options on the menu, with just one visit to Noah’s Ark, you too will feel like one of the family.
Serving the greater Cedar Rapids area since 1991, Zoey’s Pizzeria provides both Chicago-style and New York-style pizzas to go or to sit down with. Whether you like your crust crunchy or thin, there’s no disagreeing that Zoey’s Pizza provides some of the best family-owned pizza that everyone can enjoy. Whether you are just looking for a slice to hold you over, or you need enough pizza to feed a whole a family and more, look no further than the locally owned Zoey’s Pizzeria.
The good people at Pasquale’s Pizza have been making their pizzas the same way for over 60 years now. Pasquale’s is a multi-generational family restaurant that not only serves up some of the best pizza you’ll ever bite into, but the family-focused and always welcoming atmosphere of the business is exemplary of small town Iowa charm.