For Pizza and Ice-Cream in Guttenberg: Its Gotta’ Be Joe’s

My adventures tend to take me through Guttenberg often, and after a day of hiking, fishing, or exploring there's only one food I want. In fact, it's really the only food I ever want, and that's pizza. The glorious combination of sauce, cheese, and meat. Even better, pizza is fully customizable. You can have it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, depending on how your ingredients stack up. Even better if it's paired with some tasty ice cream.

Get our free mobile app

Either way, if it's a trip up great river road, I've got the perfect stop for you. They'll cover your pizza and ice cream fix, give the kids something to do in their arcade, and leave you all full and happy you stopped. I'm talking about the seemingly dive-looking location of Joe's Pizza.

Now let's get this out of the way, this place is anything BUT a dive, but from the outside you might not think that. However, the quality of product and the delicious smells that hit you as you walk through the door mask any and all trepidations you could have.

My family's first stop at Joe's Pizza was back in 2016 after camping in Lanesboro, MN with my wife's family. Listen; after spending each day prepping, cooking, and grilling for the family, I was craving something I didn't make. And for me, it HAD to be pizza. We were just randomly looking at places we could stop to eat before calling it a weekend and Joe's checked the box for both pizza (for me), and ice-cream for the kids, so it was a no brainer.

Well, we returned to Guttenberg this past weekend, and my wife, son, and I explored not only Big Springs there, but the riverwalk and the local Guttenberg Brewing Company as well. Of course, no trip is ever complete unless you replenish those lost calories with some great ice cream, too; and boy did we!

On this particular visit, we kept things simple and sweet. After a full day exploring, we skipped the pizza, which is a rare move for me, and went straight for the ice cream counter. I chose the rich, caramel-loaded turtle. My wife picked the ultra-decadent Zanzibar Chocolate. My son kept it classic with the ultimate Oreo cone. All of it comes from Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream, a regional favorite out of nearby Wisconsin known for its amazing flavors and creamy texture. It gave us the perfect way to cool down and cap off a long day along the river.

That said, you should not overlook the pizza. Joe's offers a wide-ranging menu with options for just about any craving. They even have a Crab Rangoon pizza I need to try sometime. Of course, you can build a classic meat-heavy pie or go with something lighter and packed with veggies. The kitchen delivers consistent quality and generous portions whether you dine in or carry out. The space also adds to the experience, especially for families. An on-site arcade gives kids and adults something fun to do while they wait for food or relax after a meal.

What really sets Joe’s apart is its local history and heritage. The same family has owned and operated it since 1982, and that connection to the community shows. The Guttenberg location is one of four in Iowa, all tied to the original in Jesup, with additional locations in Independence and Manchester. That longevity shows up in both the recipes and the atmosphere. Joe’s does more than serve awesome pizza and ice cream: it creates a must stop location on that Great River Road I love to travel. So, whether you come to Guttenberg for exploring, pizza, ice cream, or all three, you'll likely find yourself coming back again, and again.