♪♪ Kohlsdorf: Southeast of the Czech Trail, near the small town of Belle Plaine, the Iowa Valley Scenic Byway overlaps with the historic Lincoln Highway.

For nearly a century, locals, motorists, and cross-country travelers have stopped for three square meals and even an overnight snack at the Lincoln Cafe.

[ Train whistle blows ] ♪♪ What can I start you off with to drink?

Well, I'm 67 years old, and I used to come in high school.

♪♪ A lot of the customers that come here are from out of town because it's a destination place.

Everyone doing okay?

Oh, yes.

Man: For special occasions, for birthday dinners, things like that -- a lot of those would happen here.

It's just an awfully good place to eat, I think.

It was good back -- yeah, back then.

It's really nice now, though.

It's a good family restaurant.

♪♪ ♪♪ Kohlsdorf: The Lincoln Cafe has served generations of loyal diners since it first opened in 1928.

For decades, this small eatery counted out-of-towners as regulars, thanks to the legendary transcontinental Lincoln Highway, which runs right beside the building.

[ Train whistle blows ] Belle Plaine's status as a railroad hub also meant that steam-engine crews came through the cafe doors at all hours of the night for a hot cup of coffee and a warm meal.

Do we want any more coffee?

Owners Jimmy and Kristy Limani purchased the cafe in 2010 after it had sat closed for a period of time.

They immediately set about putting new life into this classic diner.

We were in Tama for about nine years, a little bit over nine years, and we had a lot of customers from Belle Plaine.

So after the Highway 30 switched and the business kind of went down a little bit, and, you know, we took it over.

It was closed for about two years, so we had to do a lot of renovation.

Who has the chocolate cake?

Ooh, thank you.

Kristy: I believe it was established in another location, and then it moved here in the late 1920s.

It's just had several owners over -- over the years.

So it's definitely been a main staple of Belle Plaine.

They were really happy.

They wanted this place going, just like it was before.

♪♪ Man #2: I've been coming probably since I was born.

I remember coming up after church, coming up, eating all-you-can eat chicken and potatoes and coleslaw and everything.

My favorite dish is all-you-can-eat walleye.

Oh, gosh, I eat a hamburger and fries.

Tenderloin's always good.

Usually, I get a skillet if we come in the morning, but I switched things up today.

Hamburger and fries.

[ Chuckles ] My favorite meal here is probably the beer battered chicken strips.

Kristy: We are definitely known for our beer battered chicken strips.

That's probably one of the number-one things.

Our fresh fruit plates -- when the weather starts to get warm, we have people calling, "Do you have your fresh fruit plates yet, or when are you guys gonna bring those back?"

So, people really look forward to a lot of our different specials.

[ Laughs ] Kohlsdorf: Hungry commuters have stopped in Belle Plaine to enjoy the hospitality at the Lincoln Cafe for almost 100 years.

A lot of people come up to just associate and talk.

It's been here for years.

Yeah.

And it's always gonna be here, I hope.

♪♪