dPR Through March 27



The Iowa Machine Shed beckons to drivers on I-80 in Davenport

INDIANOLA, IA - I think it's safe to say that, after an extensive search, I've found the soul of Iowa. It resides at the Iowa Machine Shed in Davenport. Five of us shared a jubilant meal at the Shed last week, which earned it a 9.88 dPR, the highest single-visit rating of the entire tour.

Since we were a party of five, we were able to sample the menu at the Shed thoroughly. Thanks to a coupon given to us by the front desk worker at our hotel, we were treated to a free appetizer, the Shed's famous onion rings. They somehow manage to fry them without making them greasy, and the presentation is nothing short of charming.



The onion rings at the Iowa Machine Shed in Davenport

Our entrees ran the gamut. Brian and Pitt opted for the stuffed Iowa chop that I sampled at the West Des Moines location; Nicole ordered a turkey Reuben; Courtney made the turkey dinner her choice. As for me, I opted for a stuffed pork loin. It's no coincidence that good food and good conversation go hand in hand. Indulgence rarely felt so good.

Making good on my vow from my last visit to the Shed, I ordered the Famous Apple Dumpling for dessert. The girls ordered a slice of rasberry pie, and Pitt behaved in accordance with his M.O. by asking for a brownie sundae. When the waitress took our orders, the girls asked if their pie could be served with ice cream. Our server cheerfully informed us, "Ice cream is optional for all our desserts." Never had we heard sweeter words in the Hawkeye State.



The Famous Apple Dumpling at the Machine Shed, complete with Cinnamon Ice Cream

The desserts soon arrived, and the real star of the show was the rasberry pie. Packed densely with fresh berries, it was a tour de force of downhome country goodness. The rich vanilla ice cream was the perfect compliment to the tartness of the rasberries and the crispy golden crust. Put simply, it might have been the finest pie I've had baked by somebody other than my mother in-law. It was a fitting ending to a meal that was superlative in all possible ways.

Now, on to the rankings...

Even though the Machine Shed in Davenport earned the highest single-visit rating of the season, its overall dPR (average of the two visits) remains at 9.13, good for the fifth spot in the Global Division and tops in the Chain Division. The Danish Inn of Elk Horn makes the strongest debut this week, coming in at number three in the Global Division on the strength and novelty of its authentic Danish cuisine. The Counter Division exhibits no changes from the March 13 rankings.

GLOBAL DIVISION
1. Sage - Windsor Heights (9.70 dPR)
2. Bob's Drive-Inn - Le Mars (9.30)
3. Danish Inn - Elk Horn (9.24) [NEW]
4. Blue Bunny - Le Mars (9.20)
5. Iowa Machine Shed - West Des Moines (9.13)

CHAIN DIVISION
1. Iowa Machine Shed - West Des Moines (9.13 dPR)
2. Tony Roma's - Sioux City (8.40 dPR)
3. Cheesecake Factory - West Des Moines (8.30)
4. Bravo! Cucina - West Des Moines (8.20)
5. Carlos O'Kelly's - Dubuque (7.90)

COUNTER DIVISION
1. Whitey's - Davenport (8.20 dPR)
2. Panera - Cedar Rapids (7.80)
3. A&W - Indianola (7.70)
4. Culver's - Sioux City (7.60)
5. Subway - Various (6.87)


Posted: Mon - March 28, 2005 at 08:28 PM      

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