Another place for breakfast

Yes, I have several post about food, especially about breakfast.  Since most of us eat three meals a day I have a lot of experience with food.  I also have a general rule when traveling - eat a big breakfast, snack for lunch, and have a nice dinner.  So, in keeping with my "rule," Don and I sat down for breakfast in Urbandale, Iowa before heading to Madison County and the famous bridges during our trip to Iowa.

The Machine Shed welcome wagon

After seeing a special aired on the Travel Channel about the best places for breakfast I chose the Machine Shed to fill up our bellies before hitting the road.  Don and I found the Machine Shed one block east of I35 and north of US 6 in Urbandale.  There are a total of six Machine Sheds with the original in Davenport, IA.

Farm equipment that help feed a nation

We rode up to the barn red restaurant on a sunny July Friday morning.  The vintage farm equipment and tractors out front gave the place an old farm atmosphere.  The 8 foot tall ear of corn, well tended flowers, and small farming equipment line the building and entrance to the store.

That is a big ear of corn!

A different uses of farm equipment

Once inside the aroma of bacon, fresh bread, and country cooking filled the air.  We were quickly greeted with a friendly smile and led to our table. The server promptly took our drink order as we studied the menu.  There were plenty of options and combinations on the menu.  Pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, and biscuits, just to name a few of the items.

One of the more famous items on the menu is the Machine Shed Cinnamon Roll.  This thing is huge!

After tough deliberaton I chose the Hired Man's Breakfast: "Two eggs cooked just as you like them, plattered with your choice of a thick slice of smoked ham, smoked country sausage, three strips of thick cut Applewood smoked bacon or southern style sausage 

(three links or two patties)."  While Don selected the same basic breakfast except he also got some bacon and summer sausage with his eggs and hashbrowns.

The Hired Man's Breakfast

A meat lovers breakfast

The scrambled eggs were fresh and not over cooked.  The ham was thick and had a great smoked flavor.  The pancake was tasty and fluffy, not heavy or bland.  The pancake topped with real butter and maple syrup made for a nice ending to the meal. 

We also ordered a slice of the cinnamon roll (more like cinnamon log!).   The order was about a 6 inch square!  We cut off a little and tried it.  The real butter cream frosting was great!  The roll was full of cinnamon and covered with pecans.  This was one awesome cinnamon roll.  We took the rest back for my son and his friends.

I bet this tractor has plowed a few fields

If you are near a Machine Shed Restaurant stop by for truly the best breakfast around.  I can certainly see why the Travel Channel named it to the top breakfast in America.  I know the Machine Shed will be on my list of stops the next time I am riding in the Midwest.  Stop by and enjoy some great farm cooking.