Canteen Lunch In The Alley Is A Humble Iowa Restaurant With Great Pie

Ottumwa, Iowa is home to one of the state’s greatest hidden dining gems – and we mean seriously hidden because it blends into an industrial alleyway. But those who step inside the historic Canteen Lunch in the Alley will find a slice of Iowa history – and a slice of some of the state’s best pie to go with their meal. Coming up on a hundred years in business, this old-school lunch counter is still surprising visitors.

As you pass by Canteen Lunch in the Alley, you’d be forgiven for thinking it looks more like a taxi depot or garage.

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But this storied Iowa restaurant has been in its humble location since 1936 - tucked into an alley under a parking ramp.

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Inside, you’ll find a tiny but welcoming luncheonette staffed by experienced sandwich-slingers - some who have been working there for decades.

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The menu couldn’t be simpler, and most of the options have been on the board for close to a century.

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If you’re here, you’re probably having a Tavern Sandwich - the famous ground-meat treat on a mustard-slicked bun.

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You can have it with cheese - but this is sure to create some spirited debates among the many long-time Canteen regulars.

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The best-kept secret of this humble hideaway has to be its wide selection of homemade pies, like this lemon meringue.

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The canteen is always offering seasonal specialties, like this strawberry-rhubarb a la mode.

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The pie cooler is also always holding a few surprises, including local specialties like chocolate cream, butterscotch, and raisin cream.

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Have you found your way to this hidden gem in Ottumwa? Let us know in the comments section where you fall on the heated cheese-vs-no-cheese debate – and which pie flavor you’ll never leave without trying. Canteen Lunch in the Alley is open six days a week, so visit their website for more information and drop by when you’re in town!