Northwest Iowa is home to this year's best breaded pork tenderloin sandwich
A restaurant in Manning, Iowa, can now stake a claim as serving the best breaded pork tenderloin in Iowa. Cliff's Place, which opened on Main Street in Manning in 1977, earned the honor from the Iowa Pork Producers Association.
Owners and brothers Jon and Jim Waterbury took over the restaurant in 2007 after their father, and restaurant namesake, died after a long battle with cancer.
The brothers use a 6-ounce portion of pork loin that’s tenderized and hand-breaded to order. The Waterburys dredge the tenderloin in a combination of flour and Flavor-Crisp’s “Chicken on the Run” Fine Grind seasoned breading that’s then dipped in buttermilk, and again dredged in the flour mixture before it goes in the deep fryer for the crispy exterior.
More: Looking for a great breaded pork tenderloin sandwich? We have a list of the tops in Iowa.
The Waterburys typically sell around 70 of the $6 sandwiches weekly. They come on a toasted Rotella’s Italian Bakery bun with pickles and cut in half. Add lettuce, tomato, onion, bacon, and cheese for more.
“We don’t glorify anything on it,” said Jim Waterbury in a news release. “It’s all about the pork — that’s what we want you to taste.”
Jon Waterbury said he would “sharpen my knife” when he learned that the restaurant won, according to a news release. The pork producers estimate that restaurants sell five to 10 times more sandwiches for at least a month following the announcement.
What's the history of Cliff's Place?
Cliff and Vicki Waterbury opened Cliff’s Place in February 1977, adding a dining room, a 12-foot salad bar with homemade soups and salads as well as a meeting room a decade later. In 2000, the family moved the bar.
In 2014, the brothers remodeled the exterior to give it the feel of the early 1900s.
Vicki Waterbury still works at the restaurant every day, making the ingredients for the salad bar and waiting on customers. All four of the Waterbury kids and their spouses worked in the restaurant over the years.
Cliff’s Place will receive $500, a plaque, and a large weatherproof banner to display.
More: 5 best tenderloins in Iowa from 2023 have been announced. See which restaurants made the cut
Other top contenders for best breaded tenderloin
The Roadhouse in Orange City north of Sioux City came in second in the competition. The northwestern Iowa restaurant receives a $250 prize and plaque.
Other contenders included:
Spillway Supper Club in Harpers Ferry.
Stumpy’s Bar & Grill in Duncombe.
ToJo’s Bar & Grill in Jamaica.
This year, more than 9,000 nominations came in for 774 restaurants. The Iowa Pork Producers winnowed the list down to 40 over the summer, using criteria such as pork taste and quality, physical characteristics, and eating experience.
Which Iowa restaurants won in the past?
Winners from the past five years include Lid’s Bar & Grill in Waukon in 2022; Victoria Station in Harlan in 2021; PrairieMoon on Main in Prairieburg in 2020; The Pub at the Pinicon in New Hampton in 2019; and Three C’s Diner in Corning in 2018.
What do the judges consider when selecting the best breaded pork tenderloin in Iowa?
To be considered, the pork tenderloins must be hand-breaded or battered. The restaurant also must be open all year long and feature the breaded pork tenderloin on the menu as a regular item.
Food trucks, concession stands, seasonal eateries, and catering businesses are not eligible.
Where to find Cliff's Place
Location: 417 Main St., Manning, Iowa
Contact: 712-655-3130 or cliffsplacemanning.com
Hours: Open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. Closed Sunday.
Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Here's Iowa's best breaded pork tenderloin sandwich of 2023
