Okoboji Store — Restaurant in Okoboji

If you’re looking for the quintessential Okoboji restaurants/bars, the Okoboji Store Bar & Kitchen would most certainly be on that list. Since I grew up in Okoboji, I have seen this location evolve and I truly think it has hit its stride. This place has so many deck areas and levels to soak in some sunshine and watch the boats pass under the grade. If you’re on a boat, you can even dock it here and take a break for a bite to eat or a cold drink. They have a chill area off to the side where kids can play and take in one of the live music performances on the outdoor stage, but if the weather isn’t cooperating, there’s also seating indoors. All of the food we had was pretty delicious. Let’s start with dessert first because who doesn’t love to do that. The one on the right was recommended to us by our server is their “New-fangled Scotcheroo“ which is basically a tower of peanut butter rice crispy cakes, with layers of chocolate ganache, drowning in a butterscotch caramel sauce. That thing was a little difficult to take bites of, and we finally had resort to a knife and a fork, but it was deliciously rich. Probably more my speed was the blueberry lemonade sundae in the background. I opted for the fried bluegill fish tacos and really enjoyed them. That fish is obviously very delicate and I appreciated that they weren’t overly breaded. The sauce was great and the slaw was crisp. My dad‘s burger & fries looked pretty on point, but he wasn’t down to share. The girls ordered deconstructed nachos and decided that it was more glorified chips and queso, but the meat in the cheese sauce was really good. Finally, the drinks I have had there are pretty much what you would expect. This bloody Mary was a little spendy, but really tasty. They also have a beer called the “Miss Thriller“ available only here that was brewed by WestO and it is very good. I’m thankful their drinks are far better than just domestic beers and well cocktails. Lastly, I do want to commend the staff. They were slammed on Memorial Day when we were there and our server was awesome. He was friendly, gave great recommendations, and checked in periodically. While we were there, we noticed that they had adequate staff, but it was clear that the kitchen was getting behind. The manager came by and made it right by us, so we were appreciative. However, if you're wanting super quick service during the busy meal times, grab a drink...

Your restaurant is where l once played with Larue Olsen that was born with polio. Lots of memories, check out MY STORY at your local library. Your fish basket is the best in the West. Robert in Marshalltown Remember to check out MY STORY Signing MY STORY for the mayor, his father was a famous lawyer in Spencer John Greer, his son is Joel Greer My Story can be checked out at Arnold’s Park, Milford, Marshalltown and Oxford Junction Robert with his book, many stories about growing up in area and should be good reading for the local population, as many remember the same stories.

Wow, by way of the internet l was able to locate the obit and burial plot of my boyhood friend, Larue Olson, who lived near the present location of the Grocery Store. His parents ran the store & post office. Larue had polio and wore braces and could not walk so Francis Dayley and me carried him about the school for many years. I was visiting Larue one day and to our surprise Babe Ruth of baseball fame stopped by to visit Larue and gave him a signed baseball! Quite a prize one must admit and he spent a few minutes with the both of us and we sure did share the moment with our many friends. I still have my Arnold’s Park baseball uniform that Coach Everett Moss gave when we left my freshmen year, as my dad was drafted to work at the Inland Waterways in Duluth as our government needed a boat draftsmen, and my dad was a local boat builder. The latest photo is me ringing the bell after 35 radiation treatment at Bliss Cancer...

We had 5 people and said to wait. 3 hostesses at the front. We know it always is a wait but we went in and waited. I had to go back to the H-stand 3 times. I said there have been open tables and a ton of servers standing around different locations. I said could we have made a reservation? She told me if we go buy a boat from MAU then we could. I was told that by 3 hostesses and servers multiple times. I'm like we have a boat already. SMH! We even had a young girl that wasn't feeling well and needed to eat after standing around for almost an hour. Others were getting sat before us etc. The Hostess stand again said I told you it would be an hour. I said no you didn't. Really dissappointed in this place as it was one of my favs! Finally a server helped and we went back to hostess stand and she said oh i have something for you and I text you. I said I've gotten no texts. NEVER got a text all night. They finally sat us and for as many open tables and servers they had this SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED! They were and telling us there was a big party coming that never came. It was a joke and I'm sure the owner wouldn't appreciate this kind of...