Fodor's Expert Review Drake Diner

A hub for students at nearby Drake University, Drake Diner hearkens back to the 1950s. All-day breakfast options include a stack of buttermilk pancakes or waffles. Lunch and dinner specialties dance from light to hearty, like a burger topped with Iowa's Maytag blue cheese or grilled chicken salad tossed with mandarin oranges and water chestnuts. It wouldn't be a proper diner meal without a malt or a slice of fruit pie (offerings change daily). Blue Plate Dinner specials are true throwback fare: choose from meat loaf, roast beef, or turkey breast; pair with a starch and salad or vegetables.