Massey Marina
Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Thursday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Looking for Bikes, Boats, and Burgers?
Sometimes I just want to get out of town and find some better scenery. I stumbled upon Massey Marina a few years back and found exactly what I was looking for. It’s right along a channel that spurs off the Mississippi River near Dubuque, Iowa, and you can find boats, bikes, and good food there all summer long.
Burgers piled high
I remembered that they had some good homemade hamburgers there, so I ordered one of those. I wanted to try something new too, so I got one of the pizzas that they recommended.
The burgers here are very traditional. As you can see from the pictures, they come piled high with lettuce and tomato. You will have to flatten it a little or remove the lettuce and tomato in order to fit it in your mouth.
The ground beef is fresh, and the patties are obviously made by hand. I always make a point to get one of these burgers whenever I go to Massey’s.
Massey Marina’s People-pleasing pies
They have some good pizza too. I got the regular kind, but they also have a flatbread version. I think the cook told me that the flatbread is actually fried. They have lots of options for toppings, and everything had a good flavor. I think most people would be happy with their pizza.
I was lucky enough to visit Massey Marina on a few occasions when they had homemade pies, and one time I even got chicken and dumplings. They also have handmade jalapeno poppers on the menu, but they sell out fast. Since I always try to go to these places when they aren’t busy, I missed out on the jalapeno poppers this trip.
This is a family-run business, so they don’t have to follow any corporate rules about what they can serve or when they can serve it. Because of this, I have been pleasantly surprised more than once with homemade food that wasn’t on the regular menu.
Ride the food, stay for the scenery
Like I said earlier, I’m always looking for better scenery. Being around cornfields all the time gets old, so I love to head east whenever I can. This area near Dubuque is full of hills and lots of trees. I really like the river towns, because there are always a lot of old buildings to see while you are out riding around. The trip to Massey Marina takes you by some of the coolest landscapes in eastern Iowa, and once you get there, you are right on the water.
I learned a long time ago that boats and bikes were a really fun combination. As a result, I have owned bikes and boats just so I could experience both sides. I always liked finding places like Massey Marina where boats and bikes usually end up at the same place, along with some good food.
Memorial Day is always a big deal here, so you won’t want to miss out on that. Also, in July, they will be participating in the Mid-American HOG rally. I personally think being on the river at a place like Massey Marina is the ideal way to spend a Sunday afternoon, and that’s exactly what I did today.
A note from Will Carter, The Ambassador of Flavors:
“This is one of many biker bar reviews I will be doing on a weekly basis. The goal is to promote local bars as destinations for motorcycle enthusiasts. These reviews will be part of an online resource created to help bikers find bars with good food and entertainment.”