Northside Diner

10/18/2026

We are happy to see our name on the list! We did make it to the top ten this year according to the Iowa Beef Council but #21 on this list ain’t bad either!

The best burger in the state might be in a town you’ve driven past a hundred times.

Here are my 50 best burger restaurants in Iowa, with Dixie’s Biergarten in Decorah taking No. 1. Which spot deserves to move up?

My American Food Bucket List packs 100 legendary food experiences across all 50 states into one checklist you can actually use, and the link is in the comments below.

10/16/2026

A window into the past… and a window into our travels! 🌎✈️

Have you ever noticed the little “windows” along the brick walls at Northside? They have a pretty interesting history!

Believe it or not, these actually WERE windows once upon a time! The buildings on either side of us were built before ours, and these windows originally looked out from those neighboring buildings. When our building was constructed, the windows were bricked in. Fast forward more than a century, and when we exposed the brick during our renovation, we discovered where those old windows had been. Rather than cover them back up, we decided to “reopen” them and turn them into little showcases!

One is filled with Winga’s Café memorabilia, another with currency from around the world, and this one? Well, this one is a scrapbook of sorts. 📸

You see, for YEARS I had been collecting postcards, ticket stubs, boarding passes, maps, brochures, and all sorts of little mementos from our travels. I had grand plans of someday putting them all into beautiful scrapbooks. My husband, however, apparently decided that after a good TEN YEARS of waiting for these scrapbooks to materialize, it was time to take matters into his own hands. 😂

So he made me a scrapbook. On a wall. Behind glass. Problem solved! 🤣

And you know what? I absolutely LOVE it.

Every time I walk past, I catch a glimpse of somewhere we’ve been, and a flood of memories comes rushing back. London and Paris are easy to spot, but look a little closer and you’ll find the breathtaking Scottish countryside (still one of my all-time favorite trips!), charming little Italian towns, memories of my time studying abroad in Spain, and so many other places that hold a special place in our hearts.

What started as boxes of souvenirs waiting for a scrapbook became something even better: a little collection of our adventures that we get to share with everyone who walks through our doors. ❤️

Now we’re curious! Have you noticed this window at Northside? Do you recognize any places you’ve visited yourself? Or perhaps spot somewhere on your travel bucket list? 🌍

Take a closer look next time you’re in, and tell us in the comments where you’ve been or where you’d love to go! We’d love to hear your travel stories! ✈️

Photo credit Essie Skubal Photography.

10/13/2026

TGIT (thank goodness it’s Tuesday)!!
$10 tenderloin sandwich with side, Tuesdays only, 5-8pm! Dine-in or carry-out!

10/13/2026

We are continuing our celebration at Northside this week with ham balls!

10/09/2026

Ever wonder where some of the little odds and ends at Northside came from? Well, this one has a story! (Believe it or not 😉)📖

See that cute little DINER sign tucked into one of our favorite corners of the dining room, surrounded by our Harry Potter-esque floating books? It actually came from Murphy’s Bar & Grill in Riverside, Iowa!

A few years ago, we saw an announcement that Murphy’s was closing after suffering significant damage from frozen pipes over the winter. With the building owner looking to sell, we figured we’d reach out and see if they had any equipment or furnishings they were interested in parting with.

Boy, did they ever!

We ended up purchasing quite a few useful things, including a soup kettle, three-compartment sink, b**r cooler, menu covers, barware, and all sorts of miscellaneous odds and ends. And among those was this adorable little sign!

One of the things we love about Northside is how many pieces of our restaurant have a history of their own. Some have been here for generations, while others have found a second home with us. ❤️

Murphy’s was a longtime fixture in Riverside, and we love that a little piece of it lives on at Northside.

Who remembers Murphy’s Bar & Grill? Did you ever eat there? We’d love to hear your memories in the comments! 👇

Photo credit Essie Skubal Photography.

10/08/2026

Were you born in Washington prior to 1968? If so there is a chance that your mother gazed through one of these windows on the day of your birth. The windows were rescued from the first rural county hospital in the United States and now provide extra natural light to shine into our kitchen.

Iowa was the first state to pass legislation allowing counties to vote a special tax on themselves for the construction and maintenance of a county hospital, it was called the Munger Bill after Elbert Ervin Munger MD a physician from Spencer, Iowa. Following the legislation, eight counties in Iowa sought the construction of hospitals but when the dust settled, Washington was the only one to pass.

The Washington Medical Society had unleashed a barrage of campaign material. Every means of communication was used. Leaflets and handbills were given to storekeepers for inclusion in their packages, schoolchildren were given materials by their teachers and the day before the election every newspaper in the county published an editorial urging adoption.

Washington wound up pioneering the early rural hospital movement in the United States. It was closely watched and frequently visited by folks from other states and counties who were interested in establishing similar institutions.

Photo credit Essie Skubal Photography.

10/07/2026

Comfort food at its finest. 😍

Our Hot Beef is one of those hearty, stick-to-your-ribs favorites that just hits the spot—a slice of bread topped with creamy mashed potatoes, tender local beef, and plenty of rich gravy. And, like all of our beef dishes, it’s made with beef from Marek Land and Livestock, raised right here in Washington County. 🥩❤️

Filling, delicious, and exactly what dinner should be.

Come hungry! We’re serving dinner Tuesday–Saturday, 5–8pm. See you at Northside! 🍽️

10/06/2026

Got Tuesday night dinner plans? 👀

Like tenderloins? Like a good deal? Like alliterations? We’ve got you. 😂

Ten Dollar Tenderloin Tuesday at Northside Diner!

Every Tuesday evening from 5–8pm, get our hearty, hand-breaded pork tenderloin sandwich plus a side of your choice for just $10. DINE-IN & CARRY-OUT!

Because dinner for ten bucks is getting harder and harder to find—and we think Tuesdays deserve a little something special. 😉

Come hungry! 🍽️
Tuesday nights | 5–8pm | $10 tenderloin + one side

10/06/2026

As we continue to celebrate , this week we are featuring the delicious and locally grown Marek Land and Livestock pork in a hearty ham & white bean soup! All soups need some tasty, toasty and cheesy bread, so we are pairing it with a slice of crunchy focaccia topped with melted Swiss cheese. Pair it with a fall drink special and you've got the perfect October meal!

10/03/2026

Who says ordering a salad means leaving hungry? 🥗

At Northside, our salads are hearty. Whether you go for the Steak Salad, Greek Salad, Kale Caesar, or Crispy Chicken Salad, we load ’em up with plenty of protein, lots of texture, and a balanced mix of flavors that actually satisfies.

And because a big salad deserves a little something on the side, each one comes with a slice of warm pinsa—Italian flatbread—to round it all out. 😋

Basically, these are salads for people who want a salad…but also want a meal.

Have you tried one of ours? Which salad gets your vote? 👇🥗

Photo credit Essie Skubal Photography.