Alta's Scooters On Main Named Top-10 Finalist in Iowa's Best Burger Contest

Scooters On Main in Alta has earned a spot among the ten best burger joints in Iowa, landing the only top-10 position held by any restaurant west of Interstate 35 in the Iowa Beef Industry Council and Iowa Cattlemen's Association's 17th annual Best Burger contest.

More than 5,400 Iowans cast votes to nominate and narrow a field of over 350 restaurants statewide, with online voting determining which ten finalists advanced. Scooters on Main made the cut while the other nine finalists, including three-time contenders Arcadia of Polk City, Salsa Guy Cafe of Cedar Rapids, and Smash and Grab Burger Company of Knoxville, are all located east of I-35.

The six first-time nominees rounding out the field are B52 Bar and Grill in Bennett, Dixie's Biergarten in Decorah, Northside Diner in Washington, Prairie Canary in Grinnell, TCI Bar and Grill in Polk City, and Landmark Bistro in Grundy Center.

What happens next separates this contest from a simple popularity vote. A panel of anonymous judges will visit each of the ten finalist restaurants and score the burgers on taste, appearance, and doneness. The contest specifically recognizes 100% beef burgers, reflecting its roots in Iowa's beef industry. Winners will be announced May 1, 2026 to kick off Beef Month in Iowa.

The Storm Lake Times Pilot, which covered the recognition in its March 20 issue, noted that co-owners, identified only by the first name Laura in partial visible text, are behind the Alta restaurant. Full owner details were not available at publication.

For Alta and Buena Vista County, the finalist status carries weight beyond bragging rights. The competition's reach was evident in how quickly the news spread, with outlets from northwest Iowa to national aggregators picking up the story within days of the announcement. Whether Scooters on Main can hold off nine eastern Iowa competitors when the secret judges arrive will determine if the county lands its name on Iowa's best burger list come May 1.