Restaurants in Waterloo

Midwest Black Angus beef, free of hormones or antibiotics, joins with creative ingredients such as A.1. sauce and chipotle aioli to create more than 15 unique burgers at Legends American Grill. These burgers embody a variety and thirst for excitement that radiates throughout each of the grill's central-Iowa locations. There, nestled amid deep-umber booths or brick walls, diners watch sports flicker across flat-screen televisions, rooting on their team and showing disdain for the ref’s decision to wear white pants after Labor Day. But if the score is disheartening, fans can dig into the menu to cheer themselves up. Hand-cut Creekstone Farms steaks offset surf entrees such as salmon in béarnaise sauce or grilled mahi-mahi in a sweet-and-spicy thai sauce. Comfort-food favorites such as meatloaf and fried chicken also make an appearance, pairing with cocktails and beers served by the bottle and pint.

When Craig and Lea Culver created the first Culver’s restaurant in 1984, they wanted to serve homemade burgers like Craig’s mom used to make. These burgers—now known as the ButterBurgers—are made with fresh, Midwest beef patties, and served on a toasty, buttered bun. The burgers are also what helped put Culver’s on the map—there are now more than 500 locations scattered across 19 states. At each restaurant, patties are cooked right on the grill. The other main hallmark of Culver’s menu is its rich, creamy frozen custard, which you can have drizzled with hot fudge or use as a foundation for a signature Concrete Mixer and have it decorated with Oreos and Butterfingers.

The chefs at Sam's Pizza spend 60 minutes with each Chicago-style pie. They stuff its double crust with mozzarella, fresh toppings, and good intentions before baking it to a golden brown. Toppings for the Chicago-style and thin-crust pies range from the traditional (sausage or mushrooms) to the novel (gyro meat or nacho chips). The chefs at Sam's Pizza also concoct their own marinara sauce, ladling it onto calzones and platefuls of spaghetti.:m]]The chefs at Sam's Pizza spend 60 minutes with each Chicago-style pie. They stuff its double crust with mozzarella, fresh toppings, and good intentions before baking it to a golden brown. Toppings for the Chicago-style and thin-crust pies range from the traditional (sausage or mushrooms) to the novel (gyro meat or nacho chips). The chefs at Sam's Pizza also concoct their own marinara sauce, ladling it onto calzones and platefuls of spaghetti.:m]]

A procession of blips and blinks marches through Planet X's arcade room. The noise and neon spills over and accents the facility's surroundings, where guests can zap their least favorite cousins during laser tag, release pent-up road rage in bumper cars, or just stand, flabbergasted by the number of activities available. Though interactive entertainment is its bread and butter, Planet X also features a sports lounge with flat-screen TVs, beer, wine, and views of the kitchen staff tossing pizzas by hand.

Salsa del Rio's menu offers more than 30 classic Mexican dishes (most of which cost less than $10) and an array of ever-changing daily specials. Stick with staples, such as enchiladas, tacos, and quesadillas, or introduce your appetite to the big boy burrito ($5.99), a gigantic tortilla wrapping your choice of barbacoa, beef, or chicken, plus a heaping helping of cheese, beans, and pico de gallo. Lovers of the leafy greens can choose from the cranberry, fajita chicken, or taco salads, and vegetarians can nosh a grilled veggie and cheese sandwich, with a stack of onions, peppers, mushrooms, swiss cheese, and cheddar cheese. If the vibrant oranges, reds, and greens mixed into the fresh flavors of Salsa del Rio's plates don't keep all your senses entertained, let the smell of spices tickle your nose and an under-table thumb war occupy your hands.

Long John Silver's staff of salty dogs stockpiles baskets with fresh seafood, chicken, and signature hush puppies, all doled out in a fast casual-dining cabin. Exchange Groupons in-store, and receive a punch card valid for five & More Meals. Try a two-piece Alaskan pollock plate anchored by a pair of diamond-filleted fish surrounded by a barricade of miniature igloos (a $5.99 value). Diners can also navigate their nosh-worthy cravings to land, where three, crispy-fried chicken strips await (a $5.99 value). Bountiful tails of butterfly shrimp adorn plates in a 10-part arrangement that lights up mouths with zesty accompaniments of lemon and cocktail sauce (a $6.29 value). All seafood and chicken plates cozy up with sides of tangy coleslaw, fries, and Long John Silver's lauded hush puppies, famous for entertaining diners by chasing silverware around the table.