Rich's Muskie Lounge in Ventura Iowa

I always associated Muskies with Muscatine in Eastern Iowa. I guess this fish is everywhere. Ventura is a small town right next to Clear Lake. Its population swells in the summer as visitors from the area move into tightly packed houses next to the lake. Please note, Muskie Lounge and many others in town are open only seasonally. Driving through in winter will only find a CLOSED sign and an empty dock.


Location: 702 E Lake St. in Ventura, on Clear Lake in Cerro Gordo County in Northern Iowa.


Directions: Lake St rings around Clear Lake and is reached by taking Highway 18 past the city of Clear Lake into Ventura. Look for the giant carved Muskie fish in the parking area.

The Tenderloin: The rich, buttery, toasted french bread is what sets the tenderloin here apart. There is something about a soft and fine white bread that makes is a good bun for breaded pork tenderloin. Its right up there with the classic corn-dusted Kaiser bun or the flour-dusted Rotella buns in Central Iowa.  I would not be surprised if the same breading was used in the fried fish the Muskie Lounge cranks out. The meat here felt like untenderized but well trimmed portion of the darker side of pork loin. This was juicy and chewy in texture. Overall 7.8 out of ten.


Price: $7.50

Also on the menu: the specialty is the nightly fish fry including all you can eat Alaskan Walleye, but there is a large menu including the usual fried stuff, the Muskie Burger, and Torsk.


Service: Its local old ladies running the show, not especially fast but nobody is in a hurry at these lakeside places. They get really busy during the summer season and don't always do carryout.

Ambiance: There is a dining area inside with mounted muskie fish and angling themed decorations and large booth seats with views of Clear Lake, or you can eat outside or even on a boat during the season.


Final Thoughts: The Clear Lake area always seems to have a good vibe in the season. People from the area come here to have a good time and relax, and I've enjoyed eating my way through the tenderloins in the area. I found an alright sandwich at The Other Place down the road.  I have had PM Park, on the other side of the lake, on my list for years now. I just never seem to get there when its open, but maybe I can make it there next season.

Sneaky's Chicken in Arnolds Park Okoboji

Sneaky's Chicken is part of a long running tradition of fried chicken places with raccoon mascots. Who among us can honestly say they would drive past a fried chicken place with a big raccoon on its sign. For their new location near Okoboji, Sneaky's added sunglasses, a visor, beach towel and most importantly sandals to its raccoon mascot.


Location: 293 Hwy 71 North in Arnold's Park, right off Lake Okoboji in Northern Iowa.


Directions: Highway 71 is the main drag into Okobji, and Sneaky's is just south of the bridge across the lake.

Sneaky's Pride: This sandwich is described as "famous" and "hand breaded" in its description. It felt like seven ounces of pork meat in the classic mitten triangle shape. The meat was cut with the grain and a little on the thin side. The texture was a great hard crunch on the outside with chewy and dry pork inside. I can't help but think this is the same kind of breading they put on their fried chicken. Served on a huge toasted bun. Overall 7.0 out of ten.

Price: $8.99 with two sides and pickle slice.

Also on the menu: fried chicken, side items, fried chicken, fish, fried chicken, burgers, fried chicken, chicken gizzards, fried chicken, sandwiches, fried chicken, and catering or picnic size orders of fried chicken.

They took a usual cole slaw mix and topped it with what must have been paprika for some extra color:
Service: I came in during the off hours and went straight to the take-out counter. I think its table service for dining in or on the patio.


Ambiance: This is a newly remodeled space that was just recently turned into Sneaky's. I don't know what was here before, but the dining area was open and bright, and you might be able to see the lake from the corner of your eye from the patio. I snuck out of this place without getting a picture of the building.
Final Thoughts: The Sneaky's Chicken location in Sioux City is in more of an older roadside fast food style of building several decades old. I saw the menu board there and it only listed Sneaky's Pride, and I didn't put together that that was the name for their tenderloin. I haven't written up many sandwiches in this part of Iowa because I don't make it that often. Sneaky's was only my second choice after another place was closed. I'm sure this place gets busy during the summer months when the lake is packed with families.