Iconic Iowa Restaurant Shocks Community & Closes Doors For Good

A beloved Iowa restaurant in the Great Lakes area made the surprising announcement its doors would be closing at the start of the New Year.

Multiple reports are confirming Minervas Restaurant & Bar in Okoboji, Iowa has closed its doors for good. Residents in Okoboji are sad to hear about one of their favorite restaurants leaving their town.

Get our free mobile app

KTIV News in Sioux City and an article from Explore Okoboji say this classic Iowa restaurant has been a staple for the community for years. The story from KTIV News explains Minervas Restaurant & Bar is located in a "leased area of Arrowwood and reportedly there are plans for the space to be redesigned with another establishment possibly opening in that same space under a new name later in 2024."

There is a Minervas Restaurant located in Sioux City that intends to remain open.

This is not the ideal news for residents in Okoboji to hear to start the New Year. Officials with Minervas Restaurant & Bar say.....

Just ate there. Had the best walleye I had eaten in years. Hate to see it go.

I worked there 20+ years ago, loved the job and food. Cajun chicken linguine was one of the best dishes I have ever eaten.

I’ll miss the Taste of New Orleans menus. Nothing like it in the area

Officials with Minervas Restaurant & Bar say more information will be released to the public on its Facebook page over the coming days.

LOOK: Most common fast food chains in Iowa

Stacker compiled a list of the most common chain restaurants in Iowa using data from the Friendly City Lab at Georgia Tech.

The following statistics are based on data from the year 2022

Gallery Credit: Stacker

Detour Dining: Off-the-Beaten-Path Restaurants You Must Try in South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa

Beyond the well-traveled tourist paths, there’s a whole different world of food exploration throughout South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota. From tiny restaurants in historic towns serving up generations-old recipes to small town dive bars that not only have cheap, cold beer, but unique and unexpected homemade dishes.

We’ve created an exploration of off-the-beaten path restaurants nestled in the charming landscapes of the tri-state area. Take a detour from the ordinary and discover the extraordinary flavors as you travel the roads not-so-often traveled.

Gallery Credit: Karla Brown / Townsquare Media