Niland's Cafe

Niland's Cafe Historic Cafe, motel, and gas station museum located proudly at 24 Lincolnway in the small community of Colo, IA. The restored Colo Motel reopened in 2008.
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Full service restaurant with homemade comfort foods! Motel reservations or questions contact kelsey 6415218311 "Great Food With A Side of History" -Niland's Cafe was restored in 2003 along with the Reed Service Station. Outside self-guided tours and information, Station open during special events, historic Jefferson and Lincoln markers on site, museum displays inside restaurant. At the intersectio

n of the historic Lincoln and Jefferson Highways. The Lincoln was the first east-west transcontinental road running from Times Square, NY to San Francisco and the Jefferson the first north - south running from Winnipeg, Ontario to New Orleans, LA. On the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway.

09/04/2026

Due to the heat and everyone staying home in the nice ac we will be closing a half hour early tonight. 730 pm. Thursday.

09/01/2026

Sorry, it's so late. We've been making pies and prepping all day. I'm pretty excited for this week's specials!

Tues- Fish sandwich w/ cold side $12.95 (1/2lb filet, cheese and coleslaw on a grilled hoagie)
Wed- Cavetelli w/ side salad $12.95
Thurs- Tx house crispy chicken sandwich w/ cold side $12.95
Friday 11am-8pm- 1/2lb fish &/or shrimp, fries and coleslaw $14/17combo (grilled, original, beer battered)
Friday 4pm-8pm 10$ TENDERLOIN BASKET **drink not included
Sat- Sirloin steak sandwich w/ side $12.95

Daily specials include any drink in the price ☕️ 🍺 🥤 🍸

08/24/2026

Just a couple quick announcements before I post specials.
***Football season has kicked off and with Friday night lights comes $10 tenderloins!! 4pm-8pm every Friday night, we're offering our classic tenderloin and a side for only $10!!
AND
***We're now offering double meat on any sandwich for just $6!!

Tues- Frito pie mac n cheese w/ veggie or cold side $12.95
Wed- Chicken salad sub or salad w/ cold side $12.95
Thurs- Chopped swiss steak, mashed potatoes & veggie or cold side $12.95
Fri-11am-8pm 1/2LB fish &/or shrimp, fries & coleslaw $14/17combo (grilled, original, beer battered)
4pm-8pm- $10 tenderloin basket (drink not included)
Sat-8am-11am Biscuit n gravy omelet w/ $ cakes or hashbrowns $12.95
11am-8pm- Tenderloin bowl w/ green beans or cold side $12.95

All $12.95 specials include any drink in the price ☕️ 🍺 🥤 🍸

08/18/2026

Sorry for the late notice!!! Specials this week are:

Tuesday: house crispy chicken sandwich with cold side. (Open 11 to 2)

Wednesday: roast beef dinner with mashed potatoes, veggie or cold side (open 11 to 2)

Thursday: chili dog with cold side (open 11 to 2)

Friday: fish and/or shrimp with coleslaw and fries (Normal hours)

Saturday: chicken fried steak (normal hours)

All specials come with a drink of choice.

This Sunday August 16th we will be closing at 1 pm. We have had a really busy and hot summer and decided we needed a lit...
08/12/2026

This Sunday August 16th we will be closing at 1 pm.

We have had a really busy and hot summer and decided we needed a little staff trip. 🙃

I’m so excited to take those who wanted to go on a little getaway. 🤓🤓🎉

With that being said, next week we will be open for lunch only on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday since we have a slightly smaller staff.

Regular hours the rest of the week.

08/11/2026

It was really nice to take most of the day off yesterday. It is not so nice to head towards work & realize I haven't posted specials yet 🤦‍♀️
Besides our great specials, we'll also be hosting Hardin Country Cruisers Wednesday night at 6pm. These folks have some beautiful cars, new and old. Come check them out!!
Today/tues- SW Chicken quesadilla w/ side salad $12.95
Wed- Goulash w/ garlic toast and cold side or veggie $12.95
Thurs- House cali turkey melt w/ cold side or onion tanglers $12.95
Fri- 1/2 lb fish &/or shrimp, fries & coleslaw $14/17combo (grilled, original, beer battered)
Sat- Hot beef sundae w/ cold side $12.95

All specials include any drink in the price ☕️ 🍺 🥤 🍸

08/04/2026

This week's specials feature some fan favorites that, somehow, fell out of rotation.

Tues- Beef stroganoff w/ butter bread & cold side or veggie $12.95

Wed- Au gratin(cheesy) potatoes n ham w/ veggie or cold side $12.95

Thurs- House turkey bacon wrap w/ onion tanglers or cold side $12.95

Fri- 1/2lb fish &/or shrimp, fries & coleslaw $14/17combo (grilled, original, beer battered)

Sat- Tenderloin bowl w/ cold side or veggie $12.95

All specials include any drink in the price ☕️ 🍺 🥤 🍸

07/27/2026

There's SO much to talk about and be thankful for these last couple weeks! Before I get to specials, I have to give a big HAPPY 35th BIRTHDAY to Kelsey!! She answered an unsolicited Facebook message 4+ years ago and ran with it! Thank you from ALL of us! Together, we continue to make history!

On to specials for the week...

Tues- BBQ pulled pork sandwich, baked beans and cold side $12.95

Wed- Chicken salad sub w/ cold side $12.95 (American cheese & fixin's)

Thurs- $10 tenderloin with onion tanglers or cold side *drink not included

Fri- 1/2lb fish &/or shrimp, fries & coleslaw $14/17combo (grilled, original, beer battered)

Sat- Chicken fried chicken!!!! cold side or veggie $12.95

All specials include any drink in the price (*) ☕️ 🍺 🥤 🍸

A very well written article!
07/25/2026

A very well written article!

RAGBRAI riders rolled past Colo’s Reed‑Niland Corner, where pie, history and small‑town hospitality meet at one of America's most iconic crossroads.

This week only!!!! Buy 5 slices of pie or more, get them for $2 each. We have MANY MANY different selections! We do not ...
07/23/2026

This week only!!!!
Buy 5 slices of pie or more, get them for $2 each.

We have MANY MANY different selections!
We do not have many whole pies as we have them all sliced and individually packaged.

Keychains ($5), koozies ($5), and tshirts ($25) are now at the cafe for sale!!

I don’t normally do merchandise items so come grab them before they are gone. May be several years before I do them again, if ever. 🙃

We have small, medium, large, xl, and just one 3XL left. Multiple colors available.

Address

24 Lincoln Highway
Colo, IA
50056

Opening Hours

Tuesday 11am - 7pm
Wednesday 11am - 7pm
Thursday 11am - 7pm
Friday 11am - 8pm
Saturday 8am - 8pm
Sunday 8am - 2pm

Telephone

+16413773662

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