An Iowa Restaurant Has Made the New York Times’ ‘Best Dishes of 2025′ List
It's not often that Iowa restaurants capture the attention of the New York Times, but one of them did in 2025! A farm near Des Moines has made the list of New York Times' "Best Dishes in America" this year!
According to the New York Times' article, their staff visited 33 states throughout the course of the year, "eating more than 200 meals in search of the best restaurants in the country." There are only a total of 23 dishes that made the 2025 list, and Iowa was lucky enough to be represented! One of those 23 "best dishes in America" is the Sampler Plate at LT Organic Farm Restaurant.
About LT Organic Farm Restaurant
Ahilia and LT Bhramdat are the owners of LT Organic Farm Restaurant, which is located at 32513 UTE Ave in Waukee. The eatery offers Indian, Caribbean, and Mediterranean cuisine, but what really sets it apart is how fresh the food is. The farm's website says that all of the produce they serve is "locally-grown, fresh-harvested, and vine-ripened, directly from the plant to your plate."
You might be surprised to hear that LT Organic Farm Restaurant actually isn't open right now. It's closed from November to April each year, opening its doors for the season in mid-May. The 2026 opening date is set for Saturday, May 9th, and the restaurant will remain open through mid-October. The hours listed are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
About the Sampler Plate
Another unique feature of LT Organic Farm Restaurant is their menu. According to an article from Axios Des Moines, it's "limited, locally sourced, and seasonal," meaning that it's constantly changing. They offer a "fixed sampler plate," which is what the New York Times' writer tried during their visit to the restaurant this year. At that time (late spring), the dish consisted of:
"slow-cooked chicken and navy beans in coconut-tomato sauce, potato chutney, gumball-size falafel, all drawing on the cooking of the owners’ native Guyana."
And, if you're still hungry, they also offer homemade cheesecake for dessert!
LT Organic Farm Restaurant has 4.9 out of 5 stars on Google thanks to 261 total reviews. For more information about the farm and their seasonal restaurant, you can check out the official website HERE.
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