This Iowa Farm Restaurant Makes The BEST Smash Burgers In America!
Revelation in Farm-to-Table Dining
After spending the morning exploring Wilson’s Orchard & Farm and chatting with their passionate team, my friends and I settled in for what would become not just lunch, but a revelation in farm-to-table dining.
Let me be clear: what’s happening in Wilson’s kitchen deserves your immediate attention. This isn’t just good “farm food” — it’s exceptional cuisine that happens to be served in one of Iowa’s most picturesque settings.
We started with their smash burger, which arrives looking deceptively simple but delivers complex layers of flavor that had us fighting over the last bite. The locally-sourced beef is cooked to perfection — crispy edges giving way to a juicy center — but it’s the caramelized onion aioli that transforms this from an excellent burger into something transcendent. This magical concoction adds a sweet, savory depth that melts into every bite, complemented perfectly by the soft artisanal bun that somehow maintains its integrity to the last mouthful.
The accompanying salted French fries (also available with Cajun spice for the more adventurous) achieve that elusive perfect texture: crisp exterior, fluffy interior, and remarkably oil-free. But the true star accompanying these golden treasures is Wilson’s house made ranch dressing. Forget everything you know about ranch — this version is so fresh, so herbaceous, and so perfectly balanced that one of my companions declared it “drinkable.” We found ourselves ensuring no fry went unadorned.
The strawberry lemonade deserves special mention. Made with berries harvested just steps from where we sat, it delivers an intense, authentic strawberry flavor that commercial versions can only dream of replicating. Sweet but not tart, it tastes like summer in a glass.
Summer in a glass
Perhaps most impressive was the Gochu pizza — a masterclass in balanced flavors featuring chili garlic sauce, local pork, bell peppers, jalapeños, and Thai basil, all atop a sourdough crust. The result is a perfect slice — neither too thick nor too thin — with a complex, tangy base that provides the ideal canvas for the toppings. The absence of traditional red sauce allows the farm-fresh ingredients to shine, creating a harmony of heat, herb, and savory notes that had us contemplating ordering a second one to take home.
Ghochu Pizza
What makes the dining experience at Wilson’s so remarkable isn’t just the quality of the ingredients — though their commitment to using what’s growing just outside the kitchen door certainly elevates every dish. It’s the thoughtfulness behind each recipe, the evident skill in the execution, and the clear passion that infuses everything from the carefully crafted menu to the warm, attentive service.
In a state where the farm-to-table movement is still gaining traction, Wilson’s isn’t just participating — they’re showing everyone how it should be done. This is dining that connects you to the land, the seasons, and the community in the most delicious way possible.
If you value food with integrity, flavor that tells a story, and dining experiences that create lasting memories, Wilson’s Orchard & Farm needs to shoot to the top of your must-visit list. Trust me — your taste buds will thank you, and you’ll be texting your own friends before you’ve even finished your meal, insisting they join you for your inevitable return visit.
FULL VIDEO of the Wilson’s FARM TOUR & INTERVIEWS COMING SOON!
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Video by Vonnie Potter/Photos taken by ReelVisionMedia, hired by Vonnie.
