Located in the historic Hotel Julien Dubuque, Caroline’s delivers a distinctive blend of exceptional food and welcoming character.
Inspired by the story of a trailblazing businesswoman much ahead of her time, Caroline’s Restaurant is rooted in local spirit and innovation. Our a la carte menu, curated by award-winning Executive Chef Jason Culbertson, is changed seasonally to highlight the Midwest’s best ingredients from area farmers and growers. Honoring our namesake’s intrepid nature, Caroline’s cuisine features bold and balanced flavors crafted with the avant-garde technique. Our experienced team is happy to offer pairing suggestions from our extensive wine list, signature craft cocktails, and seasonal dessert menu to perfectly complement your dining selections. Cozy up in an intimate booth or gather with your group in one of our luxurious private dining rooms and enjoy a dining experience that is a true testament to the one-of-a-kind woman who started it all.
Philosophy: To demonstrate our commitment to our community and given our area’s outstanding produce, we strive to craft menu selections featuring locally grown products from throughout America’s heartland. We pride ourselves on hand-selecting premier, locally-sourced beef, pork, and chicken.
History: Named for the great-great-grandmother of the owners of Hotel Julien Dubuque, Caroline's Restaurant boasts a rich history in Dubuque. According to family archives, Caroline Fischer was considered a driving force in the community and a businesswoman much ahead of her time. Read more about Caroline’s story below:
"Caroline (Rhomberg) Fischer, our great-great-grandmother, was the inspiration for naming our restaurant. Caroline's husband, Louis Fischer, was a partner in the Fischer ice business. When Louis died in 1875 from pneumonia contracted after a fall into the Mississippi River while cutting ice, Caroline took over his ice business, becoming one of Iowa's first businesswomen.
A young widow at 31 with 5 children to care for, Caroline was a hard worker. She eventually bought out her partners, invested in downtown and riverfront property, and brought her family into the business that still exists today.
Caroline is said to have followed her ice delivery men around town in her own horse and buggy to be sure they were doing their work properly. The many taverns to which they delivered would offer drinks to the drivers in an effort to persuade them to leave a little extra ice. On occasion, upon finding the drivers passed out in the ice wagon, Caroline would drive the team of horses back to the warehouse herself with her own horse and buggy in tow.
It's perfectly fitting that our guests can look out the East windows of Caroline's Restaurant and see the ice harbor, where the Fischer family business started more than 150 years ago.”
