Iowa is full of surprises like this tiny restaurant on the highway in a small town. You may drive by without even noticing it, but if you do, you’ll miss one of the state’s best tenderloin sandwiches and a truly touching story.

Cole's is located at 101 E 6 Ave in Slater.
Liu Y./Yelp
They are open from 11am until 10pm seven days a week between April and October.
No, it doesn't look like much from the outside.
Liu Y./Yelp
There are many little restaurants and ice cream shops that look a lot like this one throughout Iowa's small towns.
This particular Iowa restaurant serves a legendary tenderloin sandwich that has a very special story.
Art B./Yelp
The recipe is one that Brandon Sturdy created. His father owns Cole's and serves the sandwich in his son's honor. 19-year-old Brandon was serving as a Marine in Iraq in 2004 when he was killed.
David Sturdy has owned the building since 1989, but when his son went to Iraq in 2002, he closed the business.
Art B./Yelp
Brandon Sturdy was running the business before he left to join the Marines.
David Sturdy reopened this amazing ice cream and sandwich shop in 2011 in his son's memory.
Art B./Yelp
There's a veterans wall inside with photos of some of the vets that have visited the restaurant.

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This place may have a somber back story, but visitors return for the wonderful food.
Crys L./Yelp
The tenderloin is an overwhelming favorite, of course. David Sturdy continues to use his son, Brandon's, recipe.
The Des Moines Register recently named Cole's home of one of John Naughton's Top 10 Favorite Iowa comfort foods.
Crys L./Yelp
The tenderloin is perfection. It's giant, hand-made and breaded, and delicious.
The double stacked burger is another favorite.
Liu Y./Yelp
Cole's does their best to use locally sourced and locally produced ingredients whenever possible.
If pork just isn't your thing, try the amazing chicken sandwich.
Liu Y./Yelp
Reviewers say it's moist, well-seasoned, and more than enough to fill up even the hungriest traveler.
For dessert, you'll want to stick around for Cole's ice cream.
Art B./Yelp
They serve Picket Fence Creamery products from Woodward, Iowa. The dairy products are bottled on-site from cows that graze on chemical-free pastures. This is some of the best ice cream Iowa has to offer.
While the menu has everything you expect: waffle fries, cheese balls, onion rings, hot dogs, brats, burgers, various appetizers, chicken, and that amazing tenderloin sandwich, the quality of the food is only surpassed by the caring that goes into preparing and serving it.
Art B./Yelp

Have you been to Cole’s in Slater?

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