Villager Restaurant

Just had the broasted chicken on April 16th. It was absolutely the best chicken I have ever eaten. Crisp and golden on the outside. The waitress was a young enthusiastic girl who paid very close attention to our table,  we enjoyed our stop on the way to Carroll, Iowa.

I drove cross-country from Chicago to SFO twice - 3 yrs. ago and 9 yrs. ago...I got off the exit to stay at the Motel 6 for the night and went to The Villager as a convenience bc. it's just outside the door.  It's a buffet - but let's just talk about their fried chicken!!!!  It's the best!!!   In all my years traveling..haven't tasted anything like it!  crispy and crunchy and so moist on the inside and perfectly seasoned!!!  The ribs and the brisket - ok...had much better elsewhere...but that fried chicken...it's just simply the best!!
If gas prices were a little cheaper I would make the 1,800 mile drive more often!

Well, as a "small-town" country gal at heart I am always delighted to find neat, out-the-way places to make my heart happy.  I'm easy...give me a great buffet at a reasonable price combined with top-notch, fun personnel and I'm satisfied.
The Villager is a trucker's dream!  My rule of thumb...the more semi's parked outside, the better the food will be.  I mean...these guys are on the road, away from family so they're looking for excellent home-cooked food served with levity in a comfortable "down-home" setting.  That and more is offered by this little gem.  Nestled in the beautiful farmland vista's of Iowa and located right off the major highway...easy on/off access with a Motel 6 and gas station adjacent AND an antiques store...what more could one ask for?
We were greeted by cheerful, smiling waitresses and seated in the nicely appointed main dining room.  Being a "buffet-buffoon" I zeroed in on the all-you-can-eat buffet item listed on the menu (offered Tues.-Sun) and was informed we were a bit early...the REAL mashed pot. and gravy and meatloaf wasn't quite ready but by the time we helped ourselves to salad it would be.  Man-oh-man...MY kind of smorgasbord!  A plentiful array of "home-prepared's"...tuna/mac, broccoli/cauliflower and cucumber salads, a big bowl of crisp greens with all the fixin's one could ask for...fresh rolls and butter.  And true to word, by the time we'd porked out on the salads the rest of the buffet was ready.  B-B-Q pork ribs, meatloaf, melt-in-your-mouth beef brisket, roast beef, mashed 'taters with a few lumps (just they way they SHOULD be served) and the best broasted chicken I've had in ages and of course my idea of the diet I was going to start that day went out the window.  I finished off my feeding frenzy by helping myself to the home-made dessert parfaits...chocolate, vanilla and lemon.
While we were gorging ourselves another couple arrived, rounding out the dining room where a few locals were now also "feasting".  The waitstaff too was sitting at a booth, indulging in the buffet before the rush started, and I heard their waitress tell them to take a look at the buffet and if they decided they wanted it to just grab a plate.  I commented to them that I was sure they'd love it...pointed to the booth where the employees were sitting and said, "You know it's gotta be good.  They eat their own here!"  Not QUITE how I meant to say it and the room erupted in laughter.  Ah well...just added to the fun, comfortable, "you're family" atmosphere of the place.  
The price for the buffet was $10.50/pp and worth every penny.  Besides the buffet, they also have a great menu featuring soup/salads, steaks, chops, smokehouse ribs, chicken, a few Mexican offerings, sandwiches, burgers and home-made desserts.  Beer and wine are available.
Take my word for it...if you're traveling in the area it would be worth your while to make this delightful restaurant a must-do stop on your itinerary.
BTW, if you click on the restaurant's name you will see the 3 photo's I submitted.