Food was exceptional. The building was incredible, also!

Elks Club
Elks Club at a glance
Google reviewers rate the venue 4.6 out of 5 based on 134 reviews, highlighting the historic building, spacious banquet halls, and clean facilities. Customers frequently praise the quality of food, attentive service, and convenient parking for events like weddings and fundraisers. However, a recurring criticism involves rude interactions with bar and security staff during weddings, where some guests reported feeling uncomfortable due to perceived disrespect and poor service.
- Google rating: 4.6 out of 5 from 134 reviews (73% five-star).
- Reviews on this page: 134 Google reviews (73 with written comments, 8 with photos).
- Owner responses: the business replied to 2% of reviews.
- Most recent review: September 12, 2026.
- Service: Wedding Caterer serving Waterloo, Iowa.
Data from Google, last updated November 2, 2026.
Star ratings
134 Google reviews we collected
- 5 stars9873%
- 4 stars2418%
- 3 stars86%
- 2 stars11%
- 1 star32%
Praise vs complaints
Phrases our text analysis found in 73 written reviews
- Praise4289%
- Complaints511%
Topic share
How often each topic comes up in the written reviews
- Staff & attitude2655%
- Quality & results919%
- Would recommend715%
- Speed & response36%
- Communication12%
- Price & value12%
What customers talk about
We read 73 written reviews and marked every phrase about these topics. The same colors are highlighted in the reviews.
“They accommodated every last-minute request with a kindness and a smile, which made the whole experience stress-free.”
“The security guy was lurking on the bridesmaids and not doing his job, the wedding staff were extremely rude and petty.”
“We aren't currently members of the Elks Club, but after such a wonderful experience, we're seriously considering it.”
“Would definitely recommend the Elks for any occassion.”
“Parking lot is decent for off-street parking, though it fills up fast.”
“Communication with the vendor could have been better, as there were times when it was difficult to get clear answers or timely responses.”
“Great value.”
praise complaint · found by our text analysis, Google review wording unchanged.
Photos
Customer reviews
4.6 ★★★★★ 134 reviews on Google · rating breakdown
Reviews from Google, shown as published (original wording, unedited).
Thank goodness! The ladies at the Bloody Mary Bar were super nice and helpful. Missed the ladies that used to be downstairs for Irishfest. Its a beautiful place
- Event type: Festival
- Capacity level: 200+ people
- Scare level: Not scary
- Venue style: Traditional
Wonderful venue. Very well kept.
Very easy drive
Went to Sunday bingo and my other half won a free games. Lots of fun, food, snacks and friendly people. We're not a member but are considering it. They have a lot of perks.
Beautiful historic building with spacious banquet halls and a beautiful ballroom.
The Elks Club was the perfect place to host our fundraiser. The team made planning so easy, the food was fantastic, and the space itself was absolutely beautiful. They accommodated every last-minute request with a kindness and a smile, which made the whole experience stress-free. We aren't currently members of the Elks Club, but after such a wonderful experience, we're seriously considering it. Highly Recommend.
Our 60th wedding anniversary celebration at the Elks was EXCELLENT! Sherri and her crew were so attentive and gracious. Would definitely have an event there again!!
Recently the Columbus High School Class of '75 held their major dinner event at the Elks to celebrate 50 years since graduation. Sherri, the Manager, and her staff were tremendous to work with related to the set up and the food (the prime rib is to die for!), service and ambiance all combined to make a fantastic and memorable event for all attendees. There are so many different choices for venues at the Elks. You owe it yourself and your family/group to set up a time to meet with Sherri and take a tour to get a sense for all that is there.
My husband and I had our wedding reception here in September and had the absolute best experience! Sherri was so helpful throughout the whole process and made sure that our day was exactly what we envisioned. We were able to set up the day before which was amazing and took off some stress from me day of! Everything ran so smoothly from the dinner service to the clean up. The Waterloo Elks has it down and does it so well!!
Business details
- Address: 407 E Park Ave, Waterloo, IA 50703
- Phone: (319) 234-7568
- Website: waterlooelks.com
- Service area: Waterloo, IA