Mama's Family Diner - Steamboat Rock

I was going to take a photo, but the chimi needed to go straight into my belly! My grandson enjoyed the veggies and the rice, and the refried beans were fantastic—were they navy beans?

This is the best homemade Mexican food I've ever had! Every time we visit Steamboat Rock, we make it a point to come here. Everything on the menu is delicious. I went with a vegetarian friend, and Mama prepared the best vegetarian burrito she's ever tasted! It's definitely worth the short drive off the interstate for some authentic, home-cooked meals.

Maria is one of the kindest and most generous individuals I’ve come across in Iowa. She runs a charming little diner located in a schoolhouse in Steamboat Rock. If you weren’t paying attention, you might miss it while passing by. I highly recommend trying her Tortas (Mexican sandwiches). They aren't officially on her menu, so she doesn’t always have the bread available, but she’ll make you one if she can. They are absolutely delicious!

The food was quite enjoyable and a bit different from what I had anticipated. We were visiting for Rainsbarger Daze in Steamboat Rock, and this was the only restaurant available in town. However, we were pleasantly surprised by the friendly service and the welcoming atmosphere from the other diners. The restaurant is situated in the basement of an old schoolhouse, and the walls are adorned with pictures of past graduates, offering a glimpse into the history of rural American life.

We made a trip to SR for the Labor Day weekend, and paid a visit to Mama 's Family Diner in the Schoolhouse. We had eaten here on a previous visit, and the only issue was the onion rings were burnt. Truly minor, though, as the restaurant was new, and they fixed the issue right away. This time around, I must say, we were VERY disappointed- but not for reasons you may think. We were disappointed in how FEW people were there. The food was absolutely fabulous, as was the service. As avid, tried and true foodies, we are insanely jealous that this wonderful gem isn 't anywhere near us. Eating is one of our passions- whether it 's a gourmet dinner at a French restaurant, or a quick lunch at a food truck. It 's amazing that one can get authentic, homemade salsa in such a small town. It 's amazing that one can get such a variety of food, at very reasonable prices, in such a small town. It 's even MORE amazing to have the experience of dining in an atmosphere filled with such history and nostalgia. Our food was fresh, hot, delicious, truly made with love, and brought to us with a smile. Mama and Maria were there on our visit; and I couldn 't ask for more friendly people, who truly cared about the happiness of their customers. My husband commented that if we lived closer, he would be eating there every single day. In such a terrible economy, it is more important than ever to support local businesses, lest we lose them. So please don 't take this place for granted- if you live in, or are visiting, the SR area, I urge you to show your support for this wonderful place. While you are there, tell Mama we said hola and eat something for us, too!