I was amazed? Ma(y)be.

 Every now and then I get to scratch off a Bucket List Pizza joint of mine. Last Tuesday I did just that.

There are pizza places I hear about. Know about. Or someone passes along a story about great pizza they have had somewhere.

Last week I had the opportunity to try some pizza ,that for whatever reason I just hadn't been able to try. One reason it is not local to me. And it's kind of a ways to get to and one of those ya can't get there from here unless you just put in the time to get to.

Last we we went camping up in North East Iowa on the Yellow River. If you faithful readers of mine have never been to that area of the state, make the time to take a trip up that way. I'm talking from Dubuque up to Lansing to all points in between and over to the Decorah area. You will be amazed I guarantee it.

All right enough blather. So where did I go for pizza?

Mabe's in Decorah Ia.

https://mabespizza.com/

Before I get to that. I also visited a few breweries and a winery in the greater Decorah area.

First stop was Toppling Goliath Brewery. I'm no big beer drinker so this stop my better half tried a flight of beers.

https://www.tgbrews.com/

Pretty sure the wife bought some beer to bring home.

Next stop was a winery north of Decorah.

https://www.wwwinery.com/

Once again the wife tried a few tastings of wine and bought some wine.

Last beer stop was Pulpit Rock Brewing. We were getting hungry so didn't get many pics.

https://www.pulpitrockbrewing.net/

Can you smell the pizza? I can. On with the report.

I guess Mabe's has been a Decorah institution for a long time. I first heard about Mabe's back in the 80's. The was a long time ago and with my folks living up that way I'm not sure why I never made it to Mabe's before this. Sigh. Such is the vagaries of life.

The menu.

The mens room. We were at Mabe's after the lunch rush and before dinner. The bathroom was pretty clean.

A few restaurant pics.

Okay. Let's get to the pizza. We ordered a large sausage,pepperoni and onion on thin crust. When the pizza was brought out to the table. I was pretty hungry and forgot to take a pic. So I kind of had to put the pizza back together. Lol!

So how was Mabe's? I'm going to give it an 8.5. As is my pizza pet peeve. It could have used a few more minutes in the oven. Tasted great and plenty of toppings. The pizza kind of reminded me of Tony's Pizza in Moline Ill.

All in all it was nice to finally scratch off the pizza itch I've had for a long time. If we are ever up that way again we will probably hit up Mabe's. But I did some searching and found a few other joints we will have to visit when we head back up to NE Iowa. And we think we found our little campground paradise too.

Hope you enjoyed this one. More for the adventure instead of a hardcore review.

Scotty

Third time's a charm

 Very rarely do we revisit a restaurant that we have already done a blog post. Sure we might go again ,but not do an actual blog post about it. Actually it's not the same place,but the name will be real familiar to our faithful readers.

So where are we going that's new but oh so familiar?

https://www.facebook.com/Iowasbesttenderloins

Indeed. Stout's Irish Pub from Clinton IA opened up a second location in Bettendorf IA on East 53rd St.

Here is a little more info about the new Stout's.

https://97x.com/stouts-new-bettendorf-location-has-official-opening-date/

It's no secret that the Stout's in Clinton has great food. I've introduced friends and family to the Clinton location. To me they have the best breaded tenderloin in the entire eastern side of Iowa.

Lets Go!

This is the second attempt at this blog update. We had some health issues a few weeks ago. 

So the new Stout's is on the east end of 53rd St in Bettendorf in a newer strip mall.

As is usual. And this is the 4th of July weekend. I have front loaded a few rums. That said a trip to the bathroom is in order.

Moll told me the ladies bathroom was better than the men's. Paper towels on the floor. 

Okay. So let's peruse the menu shall we? Indeed.

Faithful readers of this blog are already acquainted with Stout's Clinton Ia menu. Seems the Bettendorf locale is the same menu.

The drink menu.

So what did we order? Moll got the Inferno fried chicken sandwich with fries.

The wife and I split a breaded tenderloin,because we knew there was no way we would each finish a whole sandwich. So I ordered some onion rings  and we all had some of those.

As I said. We were going to go to the new Stout's a few weeks ago,but that did not happen. And this Bettendorf location has only been open a few months now.

Is it as smooth running as the Clinton location? I've gotta say no.

The food was as good,but there were a few issues. The bathroom needed some help. Tables weren't cleaned off that fast. And we had flies everywhere around our table. Enough flies that it was bothersome.

Our server Katie was on top of our table and that was nice. So the service was great.

And I understand how staffing is an issue across the restaurant industry.

Will we go back? Of course we will. The breaded tenderloin is the best in Eastern Ia bar none,and I'm not lying.

I give the new Stout's a 9. Food wise they are great. A few dings about some staffing and cleanliness.

But go there and give them your business. I for one believe this is the best Tenderloin in Iowa. 

Scotty.