Canteen Lunch in the Alley

112 2nd St E, Ottumwa
(641) 682-5320

Recent Reviews

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Russ Stigler

First time here and won't be my last. Highly recommend stopping here if you are in the area.The loose meat sandwich was very good as well as the service. My understanding the canteen lunch in the alley has been here since 1927. It is a old school experience and a great place to have lunch.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: A Canteen Sandwich, Loose Meat Sandwich and Pie Is All They Have

Curtis Askew (Snifferbiscuit1)

Best meal in SE iowa

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Tristain kilpatrick

Best food ever.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Chic Worth

Can't beat a Canteen! Unless you have two! And I had two with a chocolate shake!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Ben David

Super friendly, nice little lunch spot.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Canteen Cheese Everything, Loose Meat Sandwich and Pie Is All They Have

DJ blazek

This place is absolutely amazing! The people are always so friendly. I would recommend this place anytime your in ottumwa iowa. Thank you as always!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: A Canteen Sandwich, Loose Meat Sandwich and Pie Is All They Have

Joseph Haman

Found this place on a whim while lassing through. Wow was it great. Fast as can be, very good priced, and the sandwich was excellent. Thank you

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Canteen Cheese Everything, A Canteen Sandwich

Diva

So good :)

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Chocolate Pie

Chatfield II

This place is very unique. Good loose meat sandwich. Some may call it a maid rite. Not a lot of interior seating.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 3

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Canteen Cheese Everything

Craig Allin

This famous, 100-year-old, hole-in-the-wall eatery lives up to its reputation for loose meat sandwiches and an enormous variety of really good pie. Sorry I didn't take any pictures. I was too busy enjoying the pie

Parking: A municipal parking garage has actually been built around this restaurant.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Loose Meat Sandwich and Pie Is All They Have

WR

An absolute time warp. Fantastic. Put this on your bucket list.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Canteen Cheese Everything

Matthew Brickell

If you come to Ottumwa, and don't eat here, you haven't lived. So good. Total time warp in a good way.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Canteen Cheese Everything

Cooper Vittetoe

The Canteen is a staple of life in Ottumwa, and as someone who grew up coming to Ottumwa every weekend and ate this regularly I can say this is the best of the best and a must eat if you’re in Ottumwa. If you came and didn’t have it, turn around and go get yourself one!

There’s something so special about this place that’s hard to put to words for me! What helps is to simply try the food and you’ll fall in love immediately!

My go to is one with ketchup, cheese and onion but you can’t go wrong with any combo of their toppings!
Oh and save some room for a big slice of pie!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Zach Martin

Food is great, very personal eating experience, while the loose ground beef doesn’t make the burger a wow food, it is still simply tasty.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Steve Hanson

Canteen lunch is history at it's best. Stop in Ottumwa and enjoy lunch.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

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Canteen Lunch in the Alley

112 2nd St E, Ottumwa, IA 52501
(641) 682-5320