Eastern Iowans will have to travel several hours to try the best steak in the state! The website Love Food named Archie's Waeside in Le Mars as the best steakhouse in all of Iowa, and Cheapism has named it Iowa's #1 bucket list restaurant!

Archie's Waeside is a beloved establishment over in Northwest Iowa that was started by the late Archie Jackson back in 1949. According to the restaurant's website:

"Having escaped from Russia during the Bolshevik Revolution, Jackson spent time learning the art of cutting and dry-ageing beef in packing houses in Sioux City in the 1930’s and Los Angeles in the 1940’s.The techniques he learned were used to create a distinctive flavor of Steak that he featured on the original menu at Archie’s which consisted of a sirloin steak, pan fried chicken, deep fried shrimp, and chicken livers and gizzards."

James Beard Foundation, YouTube
James Beard Foundation, YouTube
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Over 70 years later, Archie's Waeside is still in the family. It is currently owned by Archie's grandson Robert Rand, after it was passed down by his mother Valerie Rand.

The current menu at Archie's offers ten different steaks, as well as seafood, burgers, chicken breast, pork chops, and fried appetizers. Each dinner includes a tossed salad, a choice of baked potato, hash brown potatoes, or fries, and a relish tray. The restaurant also has an extensive wine selection.

Archie's Waeside has won a number of awards over the years, including the American Classic Award from the James Beard Foundation in 2015. The restaurant definitely has that old-school, small-town charm that's hard to come by nowadays! It's no wonder that there's always a line waiting outside when they open the doors for dinner...

Archie's Waeside is located at 224 4th Avenue NE in Le Mars and is open Wednesday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Reservations are accepted for groups of 6 or more, and there is an online waitlist you can sign up for when the restaurant opens each day to minimize crowding. You can get more info on the website HERE.

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