LOWER MAIN
Monk’s Kaffee Pub
373 Bluff St, Dubuque
563-585-0919, facebook.com/MonksKaffeePub
A great hangout in the charming Cable Car Square (which boasts the world’s shortest, steepest funicular railway!) with coffee and tea drinks and curated beers. Hang out on the deck with a boutique IPA or cozy up on the sofa with a chai latte and just chill. Ask for their hilarious Wi-Fi password and feel at home, as many of the locals obviously do. There is always new artwork on the walls and board games aplenty. If the word “Kaffee” feels right to you, this is your place!
Paul’s Tavern
176 Locust St, Dubuque
563-556-9944
A large sign announcing customers can “See Paul’s Big Game Trophies” adorns the side of the petite brick building housing this quintessential Dubuque dive bar. (Even Alton Brown included Paul’s in his Feasting on Asphalt series.) The menu is startlingly small: burger, cheeseburger, tuna salad, hot ham and cheese, side of chips. Want fries? Go elsewhere! The no-frills food is as good as it gets, especially washed down with cold beer and warm, friendly banter. And there are those taxidermied animals mounted around the bar that add, ahem, character.
MILLWORK DISTRICT
Charlotte’s Coffee House
1104 White St, Dubuque
563-231-3716, charlottescoffeehouse.com
Bridging the old downtown and fancy Millwork district is this lovely breakfast and brunch place with plenty of seating, whether you want a quick meeting table or a hangout nook. The owners take their coffee seriously, from the house drip to the specialty lattes such as Turtle, Almond Joy, Tuxedo and Sunflower. The pastries are to die for, especially the scones, while the acai bowls add delightful freshness (try the PB+B!). The place survived a major fire, and nods to it abound in features like copper panels and carved pillars.
Brazen Open Kitchen/Bar
955 Washington St
The only chef from Iowa to be on Top Chef (season 16, set in Kentucky), Kevin Scharpf’s signature restaurant gives you exceptional American modern cuisine in a stylish setting, right in the middle of the Millwork District. Chef Kevin loves pasta well enough to invest in a brass pastamaker for extruded noodles; you can also see the kitchen staff make fresh pappardelle from scratch. You know the fried chicken will be great because Chef also has a popular food truck called Birds. The seasonal menu sources both local ingredients as well as specialty items like fresh fish flown from the coasts.
HISTORIC OLD MAIN
Oolong Asian Cuisine
145 W 11th St, Dubuque
563-239-1019, loveoolong.com
If you think the interior of Oolong feels sleek and modern with just the right mix of Southeast Asian influences, wait until you try their pan-Asian cuisine. The varied dumplings are great for starters, while the pho and ramen float in a rich, long-simmering bone broth. If you can handle the heat, ask for the hot chili oil that will add further oomph to the already zesty dishes. If it gets too hot, you can step next door to cool off with multiple beers at the great microbrewery Jubeck’s!
Mario’s Italian Restaurant
1298 Main St, Dubuque
563-556-9424, mariosdbq.com
This place feels like a hug from an old Italian grandma! Close tables, checkered cloth, people who all seem to know each other and make strangers feel welcome — Mario and Angelina’s love story roots the place. The menu is large and has all the usual suspects; the baked pasta dishes are highly recommended. Pizza with a side of pizza bread with cheese would make for an indulgent takeout.
This article was originally published in Little Village’s 2024 Bread & Butter special issue. Don’t see your favorite restaurant or neighborhood on the list? Let us know at editor@littlevillagemag.com.
