This Bank Bistro In Iowa Is The Best Small Town Restaurant Around

Iowa's small towns come up big when it comes to restaurants, that's for sure. From the tiny town of Le Mars that is home to a James Beard Awarded Steakhouse to Marshalltown, where tiny fast-food joint has made waves across the midwest, it's never hard to find a great place to enjoy a meal. One spot in rural Iowa County has been drawing guests from all across the state who want to experience delicious dining paired with a truly unique and historic environment. If that sounds up your alley, you'll want to visit the Ladora Bank Bistro!

Editor's Note: Landora Bank Bistro has permanently closed.

The town of Ladora may only have about 300 residents, but it is home to one of the best restaurants in the entire state - the Ladora Bank Bistro.

In fact, this restaurant is so well-regarded that it was recognized as the state's best small-town restaurant by Thrillist.

What makes this bistro so unique is the setting! The Ladora Savings Bank was built in 1920.

The bank was one of the finest structures built in Iowa at the time, and over a thousand visitors attended the dedication ceremony. It closed in the 1930s during the Great Depression, but it remained a popular meeting spot, polling location and community facility. As age took its toll, the building was abandoned. In 2004, Dimitri Makedonsky was on a motorcycle tour of Iowa when he noticed the building. He immediately fell in love, and purchased it as a restoration project. It took a few years, but the Ladora Bank Bistro opened to the public and has been a popular destination ever since. Today, it's one of the only "Jewel Box" style buildings still standing.

Now, the Bistro is the place to go for a fine dining experience in rural Iowa County.

The menu contains all sorts of delicious dishes, inspired by both midwestern and global cuisine.

The delicious charcuterie board includes local cheese and La Quercia Prosciutto, a world famous dry-cured ham made in Norwalk, Iowa.

The Ladora Bank Bistro is known for sourcing only the finest ingredients, particularly for their seafood dishes. Be sure to try the Yellowfin Tuna, or the crabcake sliders.

Luckily, the menu is built around shared plates, so you can sample a little bit of everything. In addition to the crabcakes and yellowfin, you'll want to order their signature "Angels on Horseback", which is made with seared scallops and wrapped in delicious bacon from Malcolm, Iowa's own Dayton Meats.

No matter what you decide to order, you'll fall in love with not only the flavors and presentation, but the exceptional service that has helped build the Ladora Bank Bistro's reputation.

Be sure to save a little room for dessert! Every week, the kitchen crafts a new featured bonbon.

This cake-like treat is covered in chocolate, and the flavors rotate frequently. Some recent treats have been crafted with dark chocolate hazelnut, local beer, raspberry, peanut butter, and even tiramisu.

The restaurants is tiny, so you'll want to make reservations before you go.

Call (319) 623-7766 to reserve your time for the date night of your dreams. Ladora Bank Bistro is open Thursday through Saturday from 4pm - 9pm, and on Sunday from 12pm to 6 pm. The restaurant is located at

811 Pacific St (Hwy 6) Ladora, IA 52251. Look for the enormous bank building - you can't miss it!

Have you dined at the Bank Bistro? Tell us about it in the comments below!