Ate there last night wonderful service.The ladies were so sweet. Someone bought my meal. Thanks for whoever you are.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Canteen Burger with Cheese
Andrew J.
Quite the experience like stepping back in time ! The staff was engaging and took care of us quickly. The counter was full with plenty of walk in customers as well during a Saturday lunch time. Amazed at how fast the ladies churned out the orders. The bowl option is great if you want low carb the rest of my group loved the buns. All malts were delicious and consumed happily. The crew all looked like they were having fun and were fueled by good old fashioned Cokes. The pies ordered by a couple next to me were awesome and in their words delicious. Highly recommend going with an appetite & savor as much as you can. Only wish I had pictures to post.
Randy Danielson
Great food. Wonderful atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Loose Meat Sandwich and Pie Is All They Have
Shawnee Walton
I plainly ordered 8 sandwiches. And I had enough money so not like I would have to lie about not getting 1. But called in that I was shorted one and was told that she counted and there was 8. 2 of the wrappers didn't say anything and 2 had numbers on it. But a couple had extra papers in it. But won't tolerate being called the way my husband and I took it, I was being called a liar. So can take my business elsewhere.
Food: 2
Mary Price
Love this place use to go here as a kid. Same food then and now. Love this place. I'll be coming back again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cheeseburger
Sonny Dye
My favorite restaurant of all time. I'm just glad I'm finally within driving distance to come visit once a week. There is no other restaurant as unique as this in the
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Michael P.
Any native of Ottumwa knows the Canteen. Every visitor to the city needs to find it! Tucked in the alley between Main Street and 2nd, this is a gem. The place hasn't changed in decades and that's part of the charm, although an outside seating area is now available. Inside, one large u-shaped counter with stools seats customers. It's limited seating, and the huge carry out business will crowd the space too. What to order? Loose meat "canteens" (burgers) which are generous in size, malts or shakes which are served with the metal cup to refill your serving cup, and a large selection of fresh pies. Not a lengthy menu, but wow is it all good! Service, just like your loving mom was behind the counter. And it is an operation to watch. A classmate (last stop there was at a class reunion) worked for John Deere and said managers would take clients there to watch the precision assembly process! In Ottumwa for the first time? Get in there! It is well worth the trip! 10 stars in my book!
Graham W.
This place is an institution and continues to buck the trend of fast food establishments. Shakes are the best.
Kevin K.
Old time food that hits the spot In a different kind of spot too Small and comfy Give it a try
Cory Lamb
Uniquely Ottumwa! This is an old school spot that feels like it probably did 50 years ago. Highly recommend a canteen with everything (no cheese) and a peanut butter shake!
Best loose meat sandwich ever. No, not a burger. No, they don't sell fries. This place is the real deal. Older & better than maid-rite. Try a malt
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: A Canteen Sandwich, Canteen Sandwich with Everything
Lindsay Ferris Martin
?Canteen Lunch in the Alley: A Sketchy Detour to Foodie Heaven!Alright, let's talk about Canteen Lunch in the Alley in Iowa. Here's the scoop: I let ChatGPT play travel guide and chef, and it sent us on a detour through what I swear was the sketchiest part of Iowa. I'm thinking, "Great, risking life just for the #foodgram of it all. This better be good." Spoiler: It was.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️This place? Total hole-in-the-alley vibe, but in the best way possible.okay, it was actually very cute. Quiet camp l, if you ask me. It's like discovering a secret club where the password phrase is "Where am I...and I'm hungry"The Canteen sandwich here is a whole experience. It's like they brought in the street-meat cart from the alley and used that as their kitchen! The Canteen sandwich is what Dustin Martin chowed down on – not one, but two of them.The girls went classic with hot dogs and pie. Cherry for one, French silk for the other. Being a vegetarian i had one option: the fried egg sandwich. It's like breakfast for lunch, but with street ( I mean alley cred) cred.Everything is a la carte and fresh as it gets. – unfiltered, real, and oh-so-good. And the pie? Imagine your grandma's baking skills got an upgrade.The staff? Imagine the nicest people you've never met, then double it. They're the kind of folks who make you feel like a regular, even if it's your first time.Now, the bathroom – it's practically a backstage pass to the kitchen. You walk in there, and suddenly, you're part of the crew. Trust me, it's a whole experience.In a nutshell, Canteen Lunch in the Alley is less like a restaurant and more like a delicious adventure. So if ChatGPT ever suggests a place that seems a bit out there, just go with it. You might end up at a gem like this.Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Because sometimes the best eats are where you least expect them!Vegetarian options: Egg sandwich and pie
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Canteen with Ketchup and Pie, A Canteen Sandwich, Chocolate Pie, Loose Meat Sandwich and Pie Is All They Have
Splendiferous Smartass
Speaking as a local, this is the place to be if you like to wait 20 minutes for a disappointing wet burger that makes a mess and doesn't taste very good.
Ate there last night wonderful service.The ladies were so sweet. Someone bought my meal. Thanks for whoever you are.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Canteen Burger with Cheese
Quite the experience like stepping back in time ! The staff was engaging and took care of us quickly. The counter was full with plenty of walk in customers as well during a Saturday lunch time. Amazed at how fast the ladies churned out the orders. The bowl option is great if you want low carb the rest of my group loved the buns. All malts were delicious and consumed happily. The crew all looked like they were having fun and were fueled by good old fashioned Cokes. The pies ordered by a couple next to me were awesome and in their words delicious. Highly recommend going with an appetite & savor as much as you can. Only wish I had pictures to post.
Great food. Wonderful atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Loose Meat Sandwich and Pie Is All They Have
I plainly ordered 8 sandwiches. And I had enough money so not like I would have to lie about not getting 1. But called in that I was shorted one and was told that she counted and there was 8. 2 of the wrappers didn't say anything and 2 had numbers on it. But a couple had extra papers in it. But won't tolerate being called the way my husband and I took it, I was being called a liar. So can take my business elsewhere.
Food: 2
Love this place use to go here as a kid. Same food then and now. Love this place. I'll be coming back again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cheeseburger
My favorite restaurant of all time. I'm just glad I'm finally within driving distance to come visit once a week. There is no other restaurant as unique as this in the
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Any native of Ottumwa knows the Canteen. Every visitor to the city needs to find it! Tucked in the alley between Main Street and 2nd, this is a gem. The place hasn't changed in decades and that's part of the charm, although an outside seating area is now available. Inside, one large u-shaped counter with stools seats customers. It's limited seating, and the huge carry out business will crowd the space too. What to order? Loose meat "canteens" (burgers) which are generous in size, malts or shakes which are served with the metal cup to refill your serving cup, and a large selection of fresh pies. Not a lengthy menu, but wow is it all good! Service, just like your loving mom was behind the counter. And it is an operation to watch. A classmate (last stop there was at a class reunion) worked for John Deere and said managers would take clients there to watch the precision assembly process! In Ottumwa for the first time? Get in there! It is well worth the trip! 10 stars in my book!
This place is an institution and continues to buck the trend of fast food establishments. Shakes are the best.
Old time food that hits the spot In a different kind of spot too Small and comfy Give it a try
Uniquely Ottumwa! This is an old school spot that feels like it probably did 50 years ago. Highly recommend a canteen with everything (no cheese) and a peanut butter shake!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: A Canteen Sandwich
Restaurantji Recommends
they were closed for maintenance
Best loose meat sandwich ever. No, not a burger. No, they don't sell fries. This place is the real deal. Older & better than maid-rite. Try a malt
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: A Canteen Sandwich, Canteen Sandwich with Everything
?Canteen Lunch in the Alley: A Sketchy Detour to Foodie Heaven!Alright, let's talk about Canteen Lunch in the Alley in Iowa. Here's the scoop: I let ChatGPT play travel guide and chef, and it sent us on a detour through what I swear was the sketchiest part of Iowa. I'm thinking, "Great, risking life just for the #foodgram of it all. This better be good." Spoiler: It was.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️This place? Total hole-in-the-alley vibe, but in the best way possible.okay, it was actually very cute. Quiet camp l, if you ask me. It's like discovering a secret club where the password phrase is "Where am I...and I'm hungry"The Canteen sandwich here is a whole experience. It's like they brought in the street-meat cart from the alley and used that as their kitchen! The Canteen sandwich is what Dustin Martin chowed down on – not one, but two of them.The girls went classic with hot dogs and pie. Cherry for one, French silk for the other. Being a vegetarian i had one option: the fried egg sandwich. It's like breakfast for lunch, but with street ( I mean alley cred) cred.Everything is a la carte and fresh as it gets. – unfiltered, real, and oh-so-good. And the pie? Imagine your grandma's baking skills got an upgrade.The staff? Imagine the nicest people you've never met, then double it. They're the kind of folks who make you feel like a regular, even if it's your first time.Now, the bathroom – it's practically a backstage pass to the kitchen. You walk in there, and suddenly, you're part of the crew. Trust me, it's a whole experience.In a nutshell, Canteen Lunch in the Alley is less like a restaurant and more like a delicious adventure. So if ChatGPT ever suggests a place that seems a bit out there, just go with it. You might end up at a gem like this.Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Because sometimes the best eats are where you least expect them!Vegetarian options: Egg sandwich and pie
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Canteen with Ketchup and Pie, A Canteen Sandwich, Chocolate Pie, Loose Meat Sandwich and Pie Is All They Have
Speaking as a local, this is the place to be if you like to wait 20 minutes for a disappointing wet burger that makes a mess and doesn't taste very good.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 3
Unique place you gotta check it
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5