For More Than 70 Years, This Cozy Waterfront Restaurant Has Served The Best Pancakes In Iowa
By Ben Jones|Published June 01, 2021
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Ben Jones
Author
Ben Jones is at heart an adventurer who delights in inspiring others. A former reporter and photojournalist, he explored towns large and small as a Wisconsin correspondent for USA Today. He later became a lead photographer and senior copywriter for an award-winning destination marketing agency, before founding Boldland Creative, a company that produces photography, video, and other content for travel destinations. Jones has completed photography and content projects in more than 15 states and when he’s not looking through a camera or at his Macbook you’ll find him exploring the world’s lakes and forests.
There are some restaurants that never go out of style. The O’Farrell Sisters in Okoboji is one of those places, a cozy throwback diner serving hot coffee, giant cinnamon rolls and some of the best pancakes you’ll find anywhere.
It’s an unassuming little restaurant but it has a ton of regulars and once you stop here, you’ll be hooked.
Here’s why the O’Farrell Sisters restaurant is so amazing.
The restaurant is located near the lake in Okoboji, in the Iowa Great Lakes Region in Northern Iowa. It's the oldest diner in Okoboji.
The restaurant was founded in 1949 and it has been delivering awesome breakfast food for generations. It was originally located by the bridge on Highway 71, between East and West Lake Okoboji. It moved to its present location in 1959.
Breakfast is served all day, until 2 p.m., including 10 different types of eggs Benedict, as well as biscuits and gravy and French toast sandwiches. But whatever you order, be sure to also get a pancake on the side.
You can customize the pancakes any way you like, for a small charge. Options include blueberries, strawberries, bananas, apples, chocolate chips, coconut, walnuts, cinnamon and whipped cream. Create your own masterpiece!
Make sure to save room for dessert. The pies are incredible - order a slice or if you give the restaurant 24 hours notice, they can have a whole pie ready for you!