Crouse Café Celebrates 75 Years of Homemade History

Small-town Iowa café known for scratch-made classics and timeless charm

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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Crouse Café, a beloved institution in Indianola, Iowa, is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. The family-owned café has been serving up homemade, scratch-made classics like fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and daily pie specials since 1946. Despite some menu additions over the decades, the café has largely maintained its nostalgic, small-town charm and commitment to quality, handcrafted food.

Why it matters

In an era of corporate chain restaurants and processed, pre-packaged foods, Crouse Café stands out as a rare example of a family-owned, community-focused restaurant that has managed to thrive for three-quarters of a century by staying true to its homemade, from-scratch ethos. The café's longevity and loyal customer base highlight the enduring appeal of authentic, high-quality comfort food and the power of small-town community values.

The details

Crouse Café has been a fixture in Indianola, Iowa since 1946, serving up a menu of homemade classics like fried chicken, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, and a rotating selection of daily-made pies. The café is known for its commitment to scratch-made food, eschewing shortcuts like canned gravies and pre-made sides in favor of labor-intensive, handcrafted recipes. Despite some menu updates over the years, such as the addition of breakfast items like eggs Benedict, the core of the café's offering has remained largely unchanged since its founding.

  • Crouse Café opened in Indianola, Iowa in 1946.
  • The café is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2026.

The players

Crouse Café

A family-owned restaurant in Indianola, Iowa that has been serving homemade, scratch-made comfort food classics since 1946.

Jim Duncan

A food and art writer who has been covering the central Iowa dining scene for more than five decades.

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What they’re saying

“Homemade from scratch' is not an exaggeration at Crouse; it's a mantra. Gravies are made without anything from cans or packets. Fried chicken is cooked in huge cast iron skillets. Things that are almost compulsory menu items in the family diner business are truly scratch made.”

— Jim Duncan, Food Writer (dmcityview.com)

“The two most popular aspects of Crouse — pie and breakfast — are also carryovers from 75 years ago. The pies are, of course, homemade daily from scratch. Savvy customers will order theirs at the get-go, knowing some will likely sell out before they finish dinner.”

— Jim Duncan, Food Writer (dmcityview.com)

What’s next

Crouse Café plans to host a 75th anniversary celebration later this year, featuring special menu items, live music, and other festivities to commemorate the milestone.

The takeaway

Crouse Café's enduring success over the past 75 years is a testament to the power of staying true to one's roots and values, even in the face of industry trends and changing consumer preferences. The café's commitment to homemade, scratch-made food and its small-town community spirit have allowed it to thrive where many other family-owned restaurants have faltered, providing a model for how authentic, quality-focused establishments can still find a place in today's fast-paced, corporate-dominated food landscape.