Sometimes you just want pancakes for dinner — specifically, a stack of hotcakes fresh off the seasoned griddle of a local diner, presented with a carafe of syrup, crispy hashbrowns, eggs any style and a cocktail or two.
Whatever your dream brinner may be, there are plenty of restaurants in the Des Moines and Iowa City metros with mouth-watering breakfast menus served into the afternoon, evening and, in some cases, past midnight. I reviewed about a dozen below.
DES MOINES
Beaver Tap
4050 Urbandale Ave, Des Moines
Open Mon-Fri (8:30 a.m.-midnight), Sat & Sun (8:30 a.m.-2 a.m.)
Beaver Tap is the definition of a hole-in-the-wall eatery, tucked behind Ace Hardware in a Beaverdale strip mall. The breakfast bowl with eggs, choice of meat, potatoes, peppers, onions and gravy is a steal at only $10. Available for delivery on DoorDash and GrubHub
Chelsie’s Courtyard Diner
300 W Martin Luther King Jr Pkwy, Des Moines
Open Tues-Th, Sun (11 a.m.-10 p.m.), Fri-Sat (11 a.m.-midnight)
A new addition to the Des Moines dining scene, Chelsie’s Courtyard Diner is open late for drinks, dinner — and breakfast. Though the breakfast menu is smaller than most, Chelsie’s has six trusty choices, including the Marry Me Benedict, a grilled croissant with Canadian bacon, eggs, asparagus, asiago and a hollandaise sauce.
Sprockets
2314 University Ave, Des Moines
Open Mon-Fri (11 a.m.-11 p.m.), Sat & Sun (9 a.m.-11 p.m.)
While not all of their breakfast items are available for dinner, Sprockets in the Drake neighborhood has something no one else does: wings and waffles. The eatery also serves a breakfast flatbread that is so loaded with toppings, it’s almost too much. If you do happen to get there before 2 p.m., Sprockets served my dining companion a perfect pancake that, in his words, was so good he “lost [his] ability to do math.” Available for delivery on DoorDash and GrubHub
Drake Diner
1111 25th St, Des Moines
Open Mon-Tues (7 a.m.-3 p.m.), Wed & Sun (7 a.m.-9 p.m.), Fri & Sat (7 a.m.-10 p.m.)
I’d be remiss to not shout-out Drake Diner in the all-day breakfast game. Traditional blue plate special-style meals are always available, but their more creative options are delightful. Cap’n Crunch French Toast Sticks seem like they should be on the kid’s menu, but the crunchy, fried sourdough bread is more of an indulgence for everyone. The pumpkin pancakes are my favorite, and they’re available year-round.
Other late, great options:
The Ankeny Diner
133 SE Delaware Ave, Ankeny
Open Tues-Sun (6 a.m.-8 p.m.)
Highlights: Chicken Fried Steak and Eggs, Diner Special Omelet (Iowa sausage, mushrooms and mixed cheese), the Sunday Brunch Buffet
Cozy Café
8385 Birchwood Ct, Johnston
Open Mon-Sun (7 a.m.-8 p.m.)
Highlights: Cozy Mess (hashbrowns with ham, bacon, sausage, peppers, eggs, toast), Best Homemade Biscuits and Gravy, Pork Chop (with three eggs, hashbrowns, toast). Available for delivery on UberEats
Papa Kerns
304 E 30th St #3718, Des Moines
Open Tues-Sat (7 a.m.-8 p.m.), Sun (7 a.m.-2 p.m.)
Highlights: Kicken Texan (taco meat, hashbrowns, peppers, two eggs, etc.), The Stacker (country biscuits, hashbrowns, sausage gravy), Denver Omelet, Hot Cakes
AMES/NEVADA
Dutch Oven Bakery
219 Duff Ave, Ames
Open Tues-Fri (6 a.m.-5:30 p.m.), Sat (6 a.m.-5 p.m.)
Van Hemert’s Dutch Oven Bakery has two locations: the one in Boone (605 Story St) and a second in Ames. Known for being one of the few options outside of Pella for fresh-baked Dutch pastries, Dutch Oven also serves a tiny but mighty breakfast menu. At their Ames locations, choose between a breakfast biscuit, croissant, bagels and toast. Don’t pass up the apple bread or windmills.
Café Milo
304 E 30th St, Ste 3718, Ames
Open Mon-Sat (7 a.m.-5 p.m.), Sun (8 a.m.-5 p.m.)
3600 University Blvd #104, Ames
Open Mon-Fri (8 a.m.-5 p.m.), Sat (8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.)
With scones, avocado toast, gluten-free oatmeal and breakfast bowls, Café Milo’s offers those healthy, energy-boosting morning meals into the late afternoon. Both south and west locations also boast fresh lattes, smoothies, teas and a pleasant place to study during work hours.
Another late, great option:
Snack Time Family Restaurant
1010 6th St, Nevada
Open Tues-Th (6 a.m.-7 p.m.), Fri (6 a.m.-8 p.m.), Sat (6 a.m.-3 p.m.), Sun (7 a.m.-3 p.m.)
Highlights: Country-Fried Steak Skillet, Pork Chop and Eggs, Waffle Sandwich, Pancake Sandwich
IOWA CITY
Pullman Bar and Diner
17 S Dubuque St, Iowa City
Open Mon-Th (8 a.m.-10 p.m.), Fri & Sat (8 a.m.-10:30 p.m.), Sun (8 a.m.-9 p.m.)
This popular eatery comes highly recommended by locals for practically any meal or drink. Watch cooks in the open kitchen prepare your breakfast any time of day, such as the huevos, biscuits and gravy, bagel and lox, and a croque madame. The Blazy Susan, though, brings both sweetness and spice, with maple-glazed bacon and chipotle aioli on a brioche bun with eggs and gruyere. Available for delivery on Chomp
Hamburg Inn No. 2
214 N Linn St, Iowa City
Open Mon-Sat (7 a.m.-9 p.m.), Sunday (7 a.m.-8 p.m.)
If a late breakfast with a Bloody Mary sounds perfect, the beloved and newly refurbished Hamburg Inn No. 2 can help. Their menu is generous with griddle items, sandwiches, burritos, omelets and blue-plate specials like Quesabirria Breakfast Tacos. If you can, leave some room for a pie shake. Available for delivery on Chomp
Bluebird
Bluebird Diner
330 E Market St, Iowa City
Open Mon-Sat (7 a.m.-9 p.m.), Sun (7 a.m.-8 p.m.)
Bluebird Cafe
650 W Cherry St #9, North Liberty
112 E Main St, Solon
Open Mon-Sat (7 a.m.-9 p.m.), Sun (7 a.m.-8 p.m.)
All three Bluebirds serve breakfast, lunch and dinner all day. While the menu varies a bit at each spot, the Steak and Wake omelet with parmesan, asparagus, grilled steak and stone-ground mustard stands out on every menu, as does their house blend coffee. Available for delivery through Chomp
Estela’s Fresh Mex
184 E Burlington St, Iowa City
Open Mon-Sat (9 a.m.-9 p.m.), Sun (9 a.m.-4 p.m.)
1810 N Coral St, Coralville
Open Mon-Sat (9 a.m.-8 p.m.), Sun (9 a.m.-4 p.m.)
Technically, Estela’s Fresh Mex’s only breakfast item is its breakfast burrito — but what an item it is. These BBs are so big, you might not need another meal for the rest of the day. The Buff is particularly remarkable; it’s an eight-inch pancake wrapped around eggs, bacon, potatoes, cheddar jack, pico de gallo and, yes, maple syrup.
Crêpes De Luxe Café
309 E College St, Iowa City
Open Tues-Sat (11 a.m.-2 p.m., 5-9 p.m.), Sun (10 a.m.-4 p.m.)
A creperie is rare in Iowa, and Crepes DeLuxe Café sets a high bar, from their creative uses of local ingredients to their cozy Moroccan-influenced dining room. They offer three savory breakfast crepes perfect for dinner, including the Le Cochon with ham, egg, aioli, Swiss, spinach and pesto. For dessert, choose from over a dozen sweet crepe options, like the new Délice, a cocoa-flavored crepe smeared with Nutella, raspberry sauce, ice cream and whipped cream. Available for delivery on DoorDash
Other late, great options:
The Black Angel
630 Iowa Ave, Iowa City
Open Tues (4:30-9:30 p.m.), Wed & Th (11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.), Fri & Sat (9 a.m.-11 p.m.), Sun (9 a.m.-2 p.m.)
Highlights: Machaca and Eggs, Breakfast Tacos, Monster Hash, cheddar grits, breakfast cocktail menu. Available for delivery on Chomp
Harry’s Bar and Grill
116 E Washington St, Iowa City
Open Mon & Tues (8 a.m.-2 p.m.), Wed, Th & Sun (8 a.m.-8 p.m.), Fri & Sat (8 a.m.-9 p.m.)
Highlights: Huevos Epsteinos, Philly Cheesesteak Eggs Benedict, Pork Roll Egg and Cheese; Mushroom Madness omelet. Available for delivery on Chomp
Midtown Family Restaurant
1069 IA-1, Iowa City
Open Mon-Sat (7 a.m.-7:30 p.m.), Sun (7 a.m.-2 p.m.)
200 Scott Ct, Iowa City
Open Mon-Sat (7 a.m.-8 p.m.), Sun (7 a.m.-2 p.m.)
Highlights: Eggs Benedict, Veggie Skillet, Western Omelette, Sirloin Steak and Eggs
CEDAR RAPIDS
Lucky’s on 16th
86 16th Ave SW, Cedar Rapids
Open Mon-Sun (6 a.m.-10 p.m.)
Czech Village is the place to while away an aimless afternoon—wandering through the antique stores, picking up some sweets and finally, settling in to a dinner of breakfast at Lucky’s. Feel free to spin the wheel; all the options are winners. Some highlights, though, are the breakfast wontons—cream cheese and bacon in crispy-fried wrappers with hollandaise and gravy for dipping—or the eggs benedict, which comes in four varieties and can be ordered as a flight. If you really want to hone in on the breakfast/dinner crossover, try the breakfast mac and cheese: bacon, sausage and ham with a fried egg, all with some primo mac.
Cruz’s Cafe
568 Boyson Rd NE #190, Cedar Rapids
Open Mon-Sat (6:30 a.m.-8 p.m.), Sun (6:30 a.m.-2 p.m.)
Sidle up to the charmingly miniaturized diner-style bar, hang out in the patio seating, or just find a seat—whatever you choose, you’re in for a great breakfast from morning till evening at Cruz’s Café. Old standards mingle with delicious specialities like their Tex-Mex shipwreck, a delectably seasoned pile o’ cheese, thin-cut steak, potatoes, eggs, salsa and more that’ll prove a formidable adversary to the hungriest diner. With 10 (ten!) different breakfast meats plus vegan eggs and sausage for the non-carnivores, there’s a spread to satisfy your whole party.
Midtown Station
715 2nd Ave SE, Cedar Rapids
Open Mon-Th (7 a.m.-midnight), Fri & Sat (7 a.m.-2 a.m.), Sun (7 a.m.-8 p.m.)
There’s a sweet spot where a restaurant is just big enough that it doesn’t feel cramped, but small enough to feel intimate. Midtown Station hits that spot well, though with their patio behind the restaurant and seating arranged around the center bar, you’ll probably still find a seat when it gets crowded. Try the Rumchata French toast, a sweet-tooth-haver’s delight, build your own shipwreck, or pay homage to the firehouse across the street with the Firehouse Burrito’s chorizo-jalapeno-pepper-jack kickiness.
Other late, great options:
Czech Town Station
69 16th Ave SW, Cedar Rapids
Open Mon-Th (7 a.m.-10 p.m.), Fri & Sat (7 a.m.-midnight), Sun (7 a.m.-8 p.m.)
Highlights: Down South Benedict, Salmon and Eggs, Avocado Toast, Breakfast Griller. Available for delivery on UberEats
Breakfast Barn and Lunch House
3980 Center Point Rd NE, Cedar Rapids
Open Mon-Th (7 a.m.-8 p.m.), Fri & Sat (6:30 a.m.-8 p.m.), Sun (6:30 a.m.-4 p.m.)
Highlights: Breakfast Quesadilla, Cinnamon Apple Cakes, Barn Shipwreck, Grits Bowl. Available for delivery on DoorDash, Grubhub and UberEats
Tommy’s Restaurant
393 Edgewood Rd NW, Cedar Rapids
Open Mon-Sat (6 a.m.-8 p.m.), Sun (6 a.m.-2 p.m.)
Highlights: Egg-Cellent Sandwich, Oven Roasted Turkey Skillet, Cinnamon French Toast Combo, loaf of Cinnamon Swirl Bread. Available for delivery on DoorDash, Grubhub and UberEats
Don’t see your favorite all-day breakfast diner represented? Let LV know at editor@littlevillagemag.com.
Malcolm MacDougall contributed the Cedar Rapids reviews to this piece. This article was originally published in Little Village’s July 2024 issue.
