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JRob Guillaume (Zetelumen)
A lot of people will be attending the reunion from out of town and you'll need to eat. Here are some of my favorites, and most are reasonably priced:
For breakfast I suggest Archie's Diner at 723 W 7th St. It's only open Saturday and Sunday mornings, and only has one employee, Laurie, Archie's widow. She takes the orders, makes the food, and buses the tables, so it's not the fastest place, but it's worth the wait. Also, this reduces overhead, so her prices are extremely reasonable. She makes the best pancakes I've ever had. I keep accusing her of putting morphine in the pancakes because they just are too wonderful to not have some sort of powerful chemical enhancement. Definitely try the pancakes.
If you're into burgers, the best burger in the region is at Bob's Bar in Martinsburg Nebraska. It's a bit of a drive, but it's well worth it. The burgers are huge and a single side order will easily feed two or more people. I'm known for eating a lot, and I only ever eat one burger. They're not just big, they're also good. They are the standard by which I judge burgers. I love them so much that I wrote up Bob's Bar for Roadfood.com. There are other things on the menu, but who cares, get the burger.
After you go to Bob's bar in Martinsburg, swing by Ponca State park. It's nice. I like it there. It's a good place to let a burger digest. It's also a good place to camp.
If you want a good burger that's a bit closer, try Sugar Daddy's on the strip in North Sioux City. It's not as good as Bob's Bar, but nothing really is.
The best Asian food in Siouxland is at the Thai Laos Kitchen Restaurant 1215 Dakota Ave in South Sioux City next to the Dairy Queen. Really. I've been to them all at least twice and nothing else can compare. Even their steamed rice is better than anyone else's. Definitely try the coconut soup. I'm not normally a soup fan, but the coconut soup is amazing. Also, the fresh rolls are the best appetizer (they aren't on the menu but they do make them and they are really good). Usually my wife and I order the fresh rolls and coconut soup as appetizers and then also order entrées which results in a big meal. Everything is good there, but don't forget the coconut soup. It's a little more expensive; soup, fresh rolls, and 2 entrées runs ~$30.
The Gardener Cafe in the Sioux City Art Center is probably the healthiest most organic and generally ethical restaurant in Siouxland. Chef Paul is fabulous. My wife and I feel so good about his food that we had him cater our wedding reception. The is the most expensive restaurant in my recommendations running ~$20/person.
If you're looking for Mexican food, I suggest La Juanita at 1316 Pierce St. You can see them preparing the food behind the counter, which is always reassuring. Oh, and it tastes so good and reasonably priced. I have several cheap foody friends who love La Juanita.
For dessert, try Edgars in Elk Point (15 min drive from Sioux City). It's a a real old-fashioned ice cream parlor that's been there forever. By now they've got it all figured out and it's all good.
Or, try the Blue Bunny parlor in Le Mars (30 min drive from Sioux City). Blue Bunny ice cream tastes much better at the factory store then anywhere else.
A lot of these options involve a bit of driving, so stop by the Firehouse Market at 1211 5th Street (just off Floyd) and pick up a loaf of blue cheese bread to snack on. Denis makes it fresh every day with no preservatives. All his breads are fabulous, but the blue cheese is his most popular. Since it has no preservatives it doesn't keep well, but that's not a problem. Usually when I buy a loaf, it's mostly gone before I get home.
The Firehouse Market also hosts the farmers market Saturday morning with all local organic food, and some wonderful confections. It's also just a wonderful little market if you have any grocery shopping to do, especially if you're a locavore.
So after you've eaten, you might want to take a tour of the historic Orpheum Theater. You can arrange tours by calling 712-279-4800. It doesn't cost much and all the proceeds go to the Orpheum restoration project. Be sure to request a tour from Joe. He's one of the maintenance people so he wont be dressed fancy, but he gives the best tours.
You might be wondering about Siouxland Nightlife. I'm a camper so for me nightlife has something to do with raccoons, but I have a feeling that for most people it has something to do with getting drunk in bars. I know very little about that but my more alcoholic friends assure me that Historic Fourth Street is the place to be.
I hope you all have a joyful time in Siouxland.
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