The Classic Deli and Ice Cream Shoppe

I drive a lot around the Midwest for business and I'm always looking for that mythical diner. You know, the one with the homemade fruit and cream pies, from-scratch biscuits and gravy and everything else homemade.  Oh, and with good loose-leaf tea (not Liptons) and kettle-cooked potato chips (not Lay's).  I thought I was on a snipe hunt -- until I stumbled upon the Classic Deli thanks to the previous Yelp review.

I hit the Deli on a Saturday when the special du jour was a beef brisket, slow-cooked in-house.  Homemade potato salad, homemade BBQ sauce, homemade baked beans.  It was fresh and delicious, as was the pie.  (Oh, the pie.)

The little town is cute.  There's an old opera house, like many small western towns used to have. Several antique stores.  The grain elevators tower over the town.  It smelled a bit like cow manure the day I was there, but that's part of the ambience!

As the Executive Director of the Route 6 Tourist Association (a non for profit group), I travel all across the state quite often. I always seek out mom & pop type restaurants, because I would rather spend my money with them, than at a chain. (For one, the money stays in the community, for another, the ambience, food, and service is normally vastly superior.)

The Classic Deli and Ice Cream Shoppe is one of those places. The owner has a passion for good food and great service. I've eaten there twice, and my guest and I tried the Tenderloin and the Great Dane, with a side of bake beans, washed down with an authentic Green River. The tenderloin has got to be the most tender and moist tenderloin I've ever tried. Pounded and hand breaded, pan fried, never deep fried. Absolutely delicious. The Great Dane is a feast for sandwich lovers. Consisting of ham, turkey, muenster cheese, along with bacon, lettuce, and tomato, between two slices of grilled panini bread, it will make you a repeat customer.

Brooklyn Iowa is not only off of the interstate, it is also off of current Route 6. It IS, however on old Route 6, County Rd F29 (AKA Old 6 Rd). If you love driving, this is a two lane highway for you. If you come in from current 6 (why wouldn't you? The interstate is boring), from the east, turn left on D AVE, and follow the paved road. From the west, turn right at the North US 63 junction, and follow the paved road. While widening and new paving are in the futore plans, for now, you can get a taste of old school, narrow twisty highway that is just a feast. Get off of that interstate, and check out the fun and have a delicious meal.