At Rube’s Steakhouse & Lounge, dinner starts with a decision that would surprise anyone used to ordering a steak and waiting for it to arrive. In Montour, Iowa, guests choose their own cut and cook it over a hot indoor charcoal grill, watching the surface sear as the smoky aroma fills the room.
The result is a meal that feels as hands-on as it is satisfying.
There’s something enjoyable about standing near the grill, listening to the sizzle, and deciding exactly when your steak has reached the doneness you want. It also gives dinner a natural rhythm, with plenty of time to talk, watch the cooking, and compare techniques with whoever is at the table.
Rube’s turns a familiar steakhouse meal into an experience you have a role in creating. From choosing your steak to that first perfectly cooked bite, there is plenty to discover at this distinctive Iowa destination.
Choose Your Cut From the Meat Case
The first big decision happens before the grill gets hot. At Rube’s Steakhouse & Lounge in Montour, you walk to the meat case and choose the cut you want to cook.
Seeing the steaks up close makes ordering feel more personal than reading a menu. You can compare their size and thickness instead of guessing what will arrive on a plate.
Reviews mention choices such as ribeye, New York strip, and filet. A thicker steak may sound tempting, but it will take longer to cook.
If you are hungry or new to grilling, ask the staff about the cuts before you decide. They can help you understand your options without making the moment feel rushed.
Prices can vary by cut, so check before choosing.
Picking your own steak also gives everyone at the table something to talk about. One person may want a rich ribeye, while another likes a simpler strip.
By the time you head toward the charcoal, dinner already feels like an activity you are sharing. That small choice at the case sets up the whole evening and makes the meal feel like yours from the start.
Step Up to the Indoor Charcoal Grill
A warm glow pulls people away from their tables and into the heart of dinner. Rube’s Steakhouse & Lounge has an indoor grilling area where guests cook their own steaks over charcoal.
The grills are shared, not built into each table, so expect to get up and move around. That change of pace is a big part of the fun.
Once your steak is on the grill, stay nearby and watch it closely. Diners say the heat can be strong, which means a cut may cook faster than you expect.
Turn it with care, and ask a staff member for guidance if you are unsure about the process. Keep track of which steak is yours when several people are grilling at once.
The grill area can feel lively as friends compare progress and talk over the sound of cooking food. It is less like waiting for a meal to appear and more like helping create it.
If you enjoy hands-on experiences, this is the moment that makes a drive to Montour feel different from an ordinary steakhouse trip.
Season It Your Way
A little salt can change the whole story of a steak. Before cooking at Rube’s Steakhouse & Lounge, take a look at the seasonings near the grill.
Guests have mentioned salt, pepper, garlic seasonings, butter, and olive oil. You do not need to use everything.
The best choice is the one that sounds good to you.
If this is your first visit, start simply. A light coating of salt and pepper lets you taste the beef and the flavor from the charcoal.
You can always try a bolder mix on another visit. Be careful around shared supplies and follow any directions the staff gives you.
Clean hands and the right utensils matter when raw meat is involved.
Seasoning your own cut is a small step, but it makes dinner feel creative. Friends can choose different flavors even when they picked the same steak.
At the grill, you might learn that you like a crisp outside or that you prefer less seasoning than you thought. Either way, your plate tells a story about the choices you made, not just the food you ordered.
Watch for the Steak You Want
The difference between a juicy steak and an overdone one can be just a few minutes. At Rube’s Steakhouse & Lounge, you control when your cut comes off the charcoal grill.
That freedom feels exciting, though it asks you to pay attention. A busy conversation is fun, but do not let it pull your eyes away for too long.
Think about how cooked you like your steak before you start. Thickness affects timing, and the grill may be hotter than the one you use at home.
If you own a food thermometer, it can help you judge doneness more confidently; ask staff about the restaurant’s rules before bringing or using one. You can also ask for cooking tips while you are there.
For food safety, follow current guidance for cooking beef.
There is a certain pride in carrying a steak back to the table that you cooked yourself. Maybe the crust is a little darker than planned, or maybe it turns out exactly right.
Either way, the experience teaches you something useful and gives you a story to share before the first bite.
Make Room for Texas Toast
Bread may seem like a side note until it meets a hot charcoal grill. At Rube’s Steakhouse & Lounge, guests can butter slices of bread and grill their own Texas toast.
Watching the edges turn golden adds another quick task to your dinner. It also gives you something tasty to enjoy with the steak juices left on your plate.
Toast cooks faster than a thick cut of beef, so give it your full attention. Reviewers have joked about burning theirs while focusing on their steaks.
Place it where you can watch it, turn it when needed, and take it off before the buttered surface gets too dark. Ask staff where to find the bread and what is included with your meal.
Making toast sounds simple, yet it fits the playful spirit of this Montour steakhouse. Someone in your group may get a perfect golden slice while another makes a crunchy one.
Those little mishaps can become part of the story, as long as everyone stays safe around the heat. The reward is warm bread with a hint of smoke and a meal that feels made by hand.
Build a Plate With the Sides
While the steak gets the spotlight, the sides can make the meal feel complete. Guests at Rube’s Steakhouse & Lounge often mention baked potatoes, grilled potatoes, and baked beans.
These familiar foods offer a welcome break from standing at the grill. Their simple flavors also leave plenty of room for the beef to shine.
Take a moment to learn how the side station works before filling your plate. Some items may be ready to serve, while others need a little time near the heat.
Diners also mention butter and sour cream for potatoes. Offerings and what comes with a meal can change, so ask your server rather than guessing.
That is especially helpful if you are watching your budget or have food allergies.
There is comfort in sitting down with a warm potato after tending a sizzling steak. A spoonful of beans or a serving of potatoes turns your handiwork into a full supper.
For visitors making the trip to Montour, these small touches help explain why dinner here feels like an occasion. Come hungry, but leave enough space to enjoy the sides along with your chosen cut.
Start Fresh With a Salad
Cool greens feel especially good when dinner includes a glowing charcoal grill. At Rube’s Steakhouse & Lounge, reviewers praise the house salad as part of their meal.
Its fresh bite offers a contrast to smoky steak and warm potatoes. Starting with salad can also give you time to settle in before choosing how to handle the grill.
Ask your server which salad choices are available and which dressings come with them. One guest singled out a creamy Parmesan dressing, but menus can change.
If you have an allergy or a strong preference, speak up before ordering. Clear questions make the meal easier for you and the staff.
You can also ask when to expect your salad if you want to plan the pace of dinner.
The salad may not be the reason you drove to Montour, yet it helps balance an especially rich plate. Take a few bites, talk over your steak choices, and let the evening unfold without rushing.
A hands-on dinner works best when you treat every course as part of the experience, not as a race to the grill. Even a familiar salad has a useful role here.
Try Something Beyond Steak
Not everyone at the table has to crave beef for dinner to be fun. Visitors to Rube’s Steakhouse & Lounge have described options such as shrimp, tuna, chicken, and vegetables alongside the steaks.
That can make a group outing easier when people want different meals. Because selections may change, check the current menu or call ahead for a specific item.
Grilled mushrooms and asparagus are among the extras guests have enjoyed. Ask which additions cost extra and how they should be cooked before putting anything on the grill.
Foods can need different cooking times, and raw items should be handled carefully. If you are sharing grill space, keep your own choices organized so everyone can follow their meal.
The best part is that a friend who skips steak can still join the action. They can stand by the charcoal, prepare their food, and take part in the conversation instead of watching from the table.
In Montour, the cooking is as much a shared activity as the eating. A little menu planning beforehand helps each person arrive ready to enjoy that part of the night.
Enjoy the Supper Club Feeling
Conversation travels easily when everyone has a steak story to tell. Rube’s Steakhouse & Lounge has a casual, social feel that guests often compare to an old supper club.
You might see people return from the grill to report how their food turned out. The room can feel lively without asking you to dress up or know anything about fancy dining.
Grilling also gives your group a reason to move around together. One person can watch the steaks while another checks the toast, then everyone meets back at the table.
On busy nights, shared grill space may feel crowded, so give other cooks room and expect a little waiting. Reviews have occasionally mentioned smoke or a busy grilling area.
If either would affect your visit, call ahead with questions.
A meal like this invites more talk than a quick stop for food. The setting makes sense for a birthday, an anniversary, or a simple night out with friends.
At 118 E Elm St in Montour, the main attraction is not only what lands on the plate. It is the time spent together while dinner takes shape.
Plan a Montour Dinner Worth the Drive
A small Iowa town can hold a dinner you will talk about long after the drive home. Rube’s Steakhouse & Lounge sits at 118 E Elm St in Montour, and its grill-your-own setup gives you a clear reason to make the trip.
Instead of planning a quick bite, allow time to pick a cut, cook it, and enjoy the meal.
Check the restaurant’s current hours before leaving. The supplied schedule lists Tuesday through Saturday evenings and a shorter Sunday evening service, with Monday closed.
Hours can change, especially around holidays. Reviews suggest making a reservation for busy weekends, and calling 641-492-6222 is a sensible way to ask about seating, prices, or menu choices.
Grilling your own dinner takes time, so arriving hungry but not rushed will help.
Think of this as a night out rather than an everyday steak stop. You are paying for the food, the service, and the unusual chance to cook over indoor charcoal.
Bring someone who will enjoy the process with you. By the end, the drive to Montour may feel like part of a good story.
