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Lincoln Cafe
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- None
8 reviews for Lincoln Cafe
Fantastic. Delicious. Unexpected.
I first heard of the Lincoln Cafe when it was mentioned in the NYTimes 36 Hours in Iowa City piece (http://www.nytimes.com...), so when my mother-in-law suggested it as an option for dinner on a recent weekend visit, we jumped at the chance!
It's fabulous. All the elements are there: presentation, flavor, service. It misses the fifth star because of a small hassle getting a table. They do not take reservations, except for parties of 7-12 people, and even then there's a time restriction. And they won't take ANY on weekend nights from June to August.
But they WILL put your name on their waitlist over the phone, and you can sit at the Lincoln Wine Bar on the corner while you wait. The wine bar itself is very cute and also unexpected considering the size of Mount vernon. Grab a bottle of wine before you walk 3 doors down to dinner, you won't regret it!
Yum! If you are in the area, try the Lincoln Cafe. The space is small, but cute and eclectic. The food is awesome. Try the specials--especially the desserts. It's a little pricer than other restaurants in the area, but is definitely worth it for the occasional splurge or special event.
The Lincoln Cafe has established itself as one of the premier restaurants in Eastern Iowa. While they have an excellent regular menu, they have built their reputation on the 2-3 entrees prepared daily by the chef. However, I'l admit I've never had the entrees - they are a little pricey (at least by Iowa standards) and the regular menu items are all worth the trip to Mt. Vernon. We love their hummus and pita, and it seems like I'm alternating between the chicken sandwich and their hamburger. They also had a wonderful curried carrot soup over the winter and the few times I've had dessert have been amazing. They do have vegetarian options available, though rarely do I recall having a vegetarian option amongst the entrees.
Be prepared for a wait, though - but use that time to wander around Mt. Vernon.
The best small town restaurant. Ever.
If you ever hit the road across the Midwest, there's one constant. Greasy spoon diners in small towns, and truckstop/oases with fast food restaurants. Blah.
Mount Vernon is one of the lucky towns out there that has a restaurant with an amazing Chef, and a menu that's fresh, and constantly changing. On most evenings it fills up quickly, and the specials can sell out, so I recommend stopping in and putting your name down.
The ingredients are often fresh and local, and the food varies far beyond the region of corn, potatoes, and hog, for which Iowa is so famous. Truly the cuisine here is world-class, but it won't hurt your wallet like a meal in New York might. Despite the high quality food, the atmosphere is still reminiscent of a family-run restaurant, complete with friendly college-student servers, and locals who will welcome you with true Midwestern hospitality.
Three reviewers before me have said what needs noting.
This is a gem, with a plain dining room, and so much attention to the cooking that it's more than worth a wait (though sometimes phoning ahead by twenty minutes or a half hour may help).
Inventive but never brash. One meal a year or two ago had perhaps the finest unfolding of flavors in the entree that I've ever had: someone has a bit of genius about combining ingredients to unroll a sequence of pleasures.
This restaurant has the most inspired dishes in the area. Two friends and I went this past weekend and were salivating from just reading the specials. This is one of those places that has the capacity to give you a "food glow." You know, where you have to sit and close your eyes and take a moment after your first bite. It's not cheap (except lunch, which is very standard and reasonable) but it's worth it. If you like strong fish the trout salad with trout mouse is a must. This place is truly special and never disappoints.
iowa has a lot of decent restaurants, but lincoln cafe is the only one that i really miss. i wish they took reservations, b/c the wait is very annoying. also they should use better quality (heavier) silverware; the flimsy airplane/cafeteria junk they use detracts somewhat from the dining experience. but i keep coming back b/c the food is delicious.
the night began with a beautiful drive through the country to Mt. Vernon. we enjoyed selecting a bottle of wine at the corner wine bar affiliated with the Cafe, and the ambience was bistro casual. the menu specials were very diverse and unique. when our soup came, we were pleased with the flavor and even commented it was the best squash soup we had ever tasted. when our entrees arrived, we were impressed with the presentation... HOWEVER... we were horrified to find ourselves, essentially, licking a salt block. the dishes were beautiful and well-cooked, but we could not experience their flavors as the salt was overwhelming. what a shame... the great potential we had felt up to the moment of our first bite was completely shattered by our sodium-ridden dishes. our waitress, pleasant and honest, compensated us by removing an entree from our bill when we expressed our disappointment. if you find yourself at the Lincoln Cafe, tell them to hold the salt.
