American bistro set in a circa-1890 building featuring modern, seasonal fare & a rotating wine list.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 117 W Water St, Decorah, IA 52101
Phone: (563) 382-9463
Website: http://www.rubaiyatrestaurant.com/
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Rubaiyat Restaurant
117 West Water Street, Decorah, IA • 563-382-WINE (9463) • WWW.RUBAIYATRESTAURANT.COM. Copyright © 2026 – Rubaiyat – All rights reserved. Site designed and …
Rubaiyat Restaurant | Decorah, Iowa
At Rubaiyat we feature a seasonal American menu, emphasizing straight-forward, approachable cuisine that both looks and tastes clean and composed.
Rubaiyat Restaurant in Decorah, Iowa American bistro set in a circa …
Rubaiyat Restaurant in Decorah, Iowa American bistro set in a circa-1890 building featuring modern, seasonal fare & a rotating wine list.
Reviews
Lars Idar Waage
Rubaiyat is widely considered the best restaurant in Decorah — and after my visit, I fully understand why. I haven’t tried every place in town, of course, but this was easily the standout meal of the trip. Tripadvisor agrees, and the locals certainly seem to as well.
The restaurant was packed on a Thursday evening, and for the first time I really felt some life in the streets during dinner hours. According to the locals, people in Decorah are very good at supporting their restaurants — and Rubaiyat is clearly a favorite.
The menu leans toward American cuisine with vegetarian-friendly options, and I went for the Rubaiyat Pasta: spaghetti with shrimp, crab meat, and scallops. It was excellent, rich in flavor and perfectly prepared. For a starter, I had a Caesar salad, also very good.
Service was warm, attentive, and genuinely friendly — and several people told me the owners are wonderful people as well, which adds to the charm.
I was invited along for dinner, so I didn’t pull out my phone to photograph every plate, but I did manage to capture a bit of the interior — warm, lively, and inviting.
I don’t know the exact price, but it’s likely a bit more expensive than some other places in town — and honestly, it’s worth every dollar.
A top-notch dining experience.
… moreThe restaurant was packed on a Thursday evening, and for the first time I really felt some life in the streets during dinner hours. According to the locals, people in Decorah are very good at supporting their restaurants — and Rubaiyat is clearly a favorite.
The menu leans toward American cuisine with vegetarian-friendly options, and I went for the Rubaiyat Pasta: spaghetti with shrimp, crab meat, and scallops. It was excellent, rich in flavor and perfectly prepared. For a starter, I had a Caesar salad, also very good.
Service was warm, attentive, and genuinely friendly — and several people told me the owners are wonderful people as well, which adds to the charm.
I was invited along for dinner, so I didn’t pull out my phone to photograph every plate, but I did manage to capture a bit of the interior — warm, lively, and inviting.
I don’t know the exact price, but it’s likely a bit more expensive than some other places in town — and honestly, it’s worth every dollar.
A top-notch dining experience.
Shirley Amthauer
One of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to. The food is fresh & high quality with amazing flavor combinations. The menu is unique & full of well crafted dishes & drinks. Great atmosphere & top notch service. Reservations are recommended. I can’t wait to go back! Pictured is the mediterranean pasta with veggies and grilled salmon, along with the seafood fettuccine Alfredo. Not pictured are the amazing salads that came with the entrées. Definitely the best house salad I have ever had! and the bread that comes with the meals is also incredibly tasty and fresh. This restaurant is will not disappoint!
… moreKatie Rice
Found ourselves in town for a night, and came for dinner. They have wonderful seasonal food, great service and excellent cocktails.
… moreRiki Breitsprecher
My daughter and I came to Decorah for a long weekend before a college visit at Luther. We had dinner here on Saturday night & it was a fantastic experience and meal! The owner, Kim, came over to chat with us. She offered her business card and told us to contact her if we had any questions about Luther or about the community. Our server Emily was very sweet and provided excellent service. The food was sooo good. We had fried brussel sprouts for an appetizer. My daughter had the chicken and waffles and I had chicken marsala. Top notch all the way around!
… moreKimberly Theune
We live in Milwaukee, but our favorite restaurant is in Decorah. The toughest thing about dining at Rubaiyat is deciding on your beverage and entree. No matter what you choose, you will not be disappointed. Chef Andy creates flavors and combinations that always leave you wanting more. Owner Kim (and her amazing staff) can find a drink (alcoholic or NA) for every taste. They are so warm and welcoming, we can’t wait to come back.
P.S. Don’t skip dessert. You’ll thank me later.
… moreP.S. Don’t skip dessert. You’ll thank me later.
Darin Johnston
This tends to be our anniversary place, but it’s been several years since we’ve been here (Covid) Tonight showed us what we’ve been missing! Our meal was amazing! Simon, our server knew his stuff,and the atmosphere was very chill and relaxed!
We definitely recommend Rubaiyat for those who want a quality meal with locally sourced ingredients! ❤️
… moreWe definitely recommend Rubaiyat for those who want a quality meal with locally sourced ingredients! ❤️
Angela Uzel
Amazing food, service, and atmosphere! Went here for a special occasion and it was well worth it. I had salmon that was perfectly cooked and the best creme brûlée I’ve ever had. My date had chicken Marsala that was excellent and an incredible piece of cheesecake. We will definitely be back!
… moreJeremy P
Kim and Andy have an amazing restaurant with delicious homemade food that complements the atmosphere. Their Staff is extremely friendly and knowledgeable. It’s always so difficult on deciding what awesome dish to choose from. Thank you again for an amazing experience and fabulous eats.
… moreBeth Henderson
We once again had a wonderful meal here tonight. We enjoyed prime rib, pasta and pork and they were all delicious and perfectly done. Even the side dishes of sweet potatoes and brussel sprouts with my pork were extremely tasty. The service was excellent, including a stop at the table by the owner who welcomed us like we were old friends after only our second visit. We will return every time we are back in town to visit our daughter! Thanks for another wonderful experience!
… moreJoe Tillmann
Kim was very responsive when my wife left a message regarding a reservation for our 5th anniversary. When we arrived she gladly took a picture for us and seated us in a great, private booth in the rear of the restaurant. We enjoy bourbon and wine and were happy to see a great, reasonably priced selection of both. Our waitress was very attentive, pleasant, and helpful with food recommendations. We had the duck bacon and corn wontons for an appetizer and they were great. I had a filet which was cooked perfectly and my wife had the swedish meatballs, which she enjoyed with the lingonberry jam. We took a cinnamon churro cheesecake to go and that was also really good.
… more