The Canteen Lunch In The Alley Is A No-Fuss Hideaway In Iowa With The Best Homemade Pie

Ottumwa, Iowa is home to one of the state's greatest hidden dining gems - and we mean seriously hidden because it blends into an industrial alleyway. But those who step inside the historic Canteen Lunch in the Alley will find a slice of Iowa history - and a slice of some of the state's best pie to go with their meal. Coming up on a hundred years in business, this old-school lunch counter is still surprising visitors.

As you pass by Canteen Lunch in the Alley, you'd be forgiven for thinking it looks more like a taxi depot or garage.

But this storied Iowa restaurant has been in its humble location since 1936 - tucked into an alley under a parking ramp.

Inside, you'll find a tiny but welcoming luncheonette staffed by experienced sandwich-slingers - some who have been working there for decades.

The menu couldn't be simpler, and most of the options have been on the board for close to a century.

If you're here, you're probably having a Tavern Sandwich - the famous ground-meat treat on a mustard-slicked bun.

You can have it with cheese - but this is sure to create some spirited debates among the many long-time Canteen regulars.

The best-kept secret of this humble hideaway has to be its wide selection of homemade pies, like this lemon meringue.

The canteen is always offering seasonal specialties, like this strawberry-rhubarb a la mode.

The pie cooler is also always holding a few surprises, including local specialties like chocolate cream, butterscotch, and raisin cream.

Have you found your way to this hidden gem in Ottumwa? Let us know in the comments section where you fall on the heated cheese-vs-no-cheese debate - and which pie flavor you'll never leave without trying. Canteen Lunch in the Alley is open six days a week, so visit their website for more information and drop by when you're in town!