The Iowa City Area's Bread & Butter

BREAD & BUTTER 2015 | 1

180+ Recommendedrestaurants, bars,

Markets & More

PUBLISHED BY LITTLE VILLAGE

The iowa city area's

BREAd & BUTTER

2015 Dining guiDe

2 | BREAD & BUTTER 2015

bloomington street

jefferson street

iowa avenue

washington street

college street

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university of iowa pentacrestHubbard park

pedestrian mall

iowa avenue

linn s

tree

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old capitol town center

burlington street

iowa river

Gibson square

1ST HOUR FREE!capitol parkinG ramp

dubuque street parkinG ramp

1ST HOUR FREE!cl

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tower place parkinG ramp

1ST HOUR FREE!

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free wifi on tHe ped mall

secret passaGewayto tHe nortHside

market street

ui recreation and wellness center

map is not to scale #downtowniowacity

for tHe most current list of dininG and entertainment options, visit downtowniowacity.com

newton road

river

side d

rive

va Hospital

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hawk

ins dr

ive380

80

to tHe cedar rapids airport [cid]

exit 242exit 244

dubuque street

downtown iowa city

1st avenuesports

ui/va hospitals

exit 244

exit 24225

ui main library

iowa memorial union

iowa city public library

ui museum of natural History

old capitol museum

sHeraton Hotel Hotelvetro

+

university of iowa Hospitals and clinics

ui cHildren’s Hospital

kinnick stadium

carver Hawkeye

arena

walkinG bridGe

walkinG bridGe

94

#downtowniowacityFor the most current list oF dining and entertainment options, visit downtowniowacity.com

american6 Atlas World Grill87 Bluebird Diner24 Bo James155 Brother’s Bar &

Grill35 Clinton Street

Social Club170 DC’s Sports Bar159 Donnelly’s Pub165 Fieldhouse 88 George’sBuffet180 Graze85 Hamburg Inn #222 Hearth11 Micky’s Irish

Pub13 Pullman Bar &

Diner130 Quinton’s187 Share Wine

Lounge & Small Plate Bistro

36 Short’s Burger & Shine

55 Sports Column40 Summit154 Swankie Frankie68 Teddy’s Burgers207 The Mill

Restaurant48 Yacht Club

asian/sushi/chinese25 Food Republic191 Formosa

Restaurant – Sushi Bar – Lounge

23 Osaka Japanese219 Szechuan

House220 Thai Flavors

Fusion98 Linn Street Café109 Motley Cow

Café

ice cream/Frozen Yogurt151 Aspen Leaf

Frozen Yogurt17 Cold Stone

Creamery161 Yotopia: Iowa

City’s Original FroYo

italian/pizza33 Airliner 149 Baroncini5 Basta Pizzeria

Ristorante124 Forbidden Planet

Pizzeria & Video Arcade

178 Givanni’s Italian-American Restaurant

26 Mesa Pizza20 Moonrakers73 Pagliai’s Pizza78 Pizza Pit43 The Pizza POD

lounge42 Blue Moose

Tap House56 Deadwood

Tavern7 Dublin

Underground42 Eden Lounge &

Nightclub131 Englert Theatre

67 Gabe’s Iowa City

92 I.C. Ugly’s Saloon

4 Joe’s Place184 Martini’s164 Pints49 Studio 13157 TCB Pool Hall183 The Union

mediterranean90 Oasis Falafel

mexican221 Cactus Mexican

Grill & Cantina105 El Banditos205 Mami’s

Authentic158 Mondo’s Saloon29 Panchero’s

Mexican Grill

spanish/tapass99 Devotay

steakhouses132 Iowa Chop

House185 Joseph’s

Steakhouse

vegan/vegetarian133 India Café10 Masala14 Z’Mariks Noodle

Café

Location numbers correspond to numbers on the Downtown Iowa City kiosk maps.

Restaurants listed in black are in downtown Iowa City Restaurants listed in blue are in the Northside Marketplace

In the Old Capitol Town Center 201 South clinton Street

BuffaloWildWingsBubblepopChina StarChipotle Cookies & MoreNoodles & CompanyPizza and MoreSeoul GrillSushi KicchenTic Tac Toe CaféT.spoonsWraps & Rolls

44 Takanami Sushi Bar — Teppan Grill

91 Taste of China141 Uncle Sun

coFFee/tea/BakerY190 Bread Garden

Market143 Bubble Karaoke

Café103 High Ground

Café128 Java House38 Molly’s

Cupcakes205 No 18 Karaoke

& Bubble Tea12 Prairie Lights

Café209 Starbucks

deli/sandwiches80 Brix Cheese

Shop & Wine Bar

45 Brueggers129 Heirloom Salad

Company18 Jimmy John’s118 Mama’s Deli8 nodo94 Northside Bistro150 PepperJax Grill3 Pita Pit119 Subway16 Which Wich

French197 Crepes De Luxe

Café21 One Twenty Six

Downtown Iowa CIty: more dining options

than you can shake your first hour of

free parking at.

bloomington street

jefferson street

iowa avenue

washington street

college street

clint

on st

reet

dubu

que s

tree

t

linn s

tree

t

gilbe

rt st

reet

sout

h cap

itol s

tree

t

madis

on st

reet


pedestrian mall

iowa avenue

linn s

tree

t


burlington street

iowa river

Gibson square



1ST HOUR FREE!cl

inton

stre

et

dubu

que s

tree

t


1ST HOUR FREE!

burlington street

14

6

10

133132

99

29

185

158

205

105

221

184

159 157

49

150164

183

4

92

67

131

427

56

43

78

73

2026

178

128

124

5

149

33

161

17

151

16

119

3

8

118

18

129

45

80

209

12

38

103

143

190

90

10998

21

197

141

91

44

220219

23

191

48

207

68

154

40

5536

187

130

13

11

2224

85

180

88 87

165

155170

35



market street




newton road

river

side d

rive

va Hospital

+

hawk

ins dr

ive380

80


exit 242exit 244

dubuque street

downtown iowa city

1st avenuesports

ui/va hospitals

exit 244

exit 24225

ui main library

iowa memorial union



old capitol museum


+



kinnick stadium

carver Hawkeye

arena

walkinG bridGe

walkinG bridGe

94





Pub13 Pullman Bar &











Café










lounge42 Blue Moose


Tavern7 Dublin










Mexican Grill



House185 Joseph’s

Steakhouse


Café













Café209 Starbucks


Shop & Wine Bar







free parking at.


bloomington street

jefferson street

iowa avenue

washington street

college street

clint

on st

reet

dubu

que s

tree

t

linn s

tree

t

gilbe

rt st

reet

sout

h cap

itol s

tree

t

madis

on st

reet


pedestrian mall

iowa avenue

linn s

tree

t


burlington street

iowa river

Gibson square



1ST HOUR FREE!

clint

on st

reet

dubu

que s

tree

t


1ST HOUR FREE!

burlington street

14

6

10

133132

99

29

185

158

205

105

221

184

159 157

49

150164

183

4

92

67

131

427

56

43

78

73

2026

178

128

124

5

149

33

161

17

151

16

119

3

8

118

18

129

45

80

209

12

38

103

143

190

90

10998

21

197

141

91

44

220219

23

191

48

207

68

154

40

5536

187

130

13

11

2224

85

180

88 87

165

155170

35



market street




newton road

river

side d

rive

va Hospital

+

hawk

ins dr

ive

380

80


exit 242exit 244

dubuque street

downtown iowa city

1st avenuesports

ui/va hospitals

exit 244

exit 24225

ui main library

iowa memorial union



old capitol museum


+



kinnick stadium

carver Hawkeye

arena

walkinG bridGe

walkinG bridGe

94





Pub13 Pullman Bar &











Café










lounge42 Blue Moose


Tavern7 Dublin










Mexican Grill



House185 Joseph’s

Steakhouse


Café













Café209 Starbucks


Shop & Wine Bar







free parking at.

bloomington street

jefferson street

iowa avenue

washington street

college street

clint

on st

reet

dubu

que s

tree

t

linn s

tree

t

gilbe

rt st

reet

sout

h cap

itol s

tree

t

madis

on st

reet


pedestrian mall

iowa avenue

linn s

tree

t


burlington street

iowa river

Gibson square



1ST HOUR FREE!

clint

on st

reet

dubu

que s

tree

t


1ST HOUR FREE!

burlington street

14

6

10

133132

99

29

185

158

205

105

221

184

159 157

49

150164

183

4

92

67

131

427

56

43

78

73

2026

178

128

124

5

149

33

161

17

151

16

119

3

8

118

18

129

45

80

209

12

38

103

143

190

90

10998

21

197

141

91

44

220219

23

191

48

207

68

154

40

5536

187

130

13

11

2224

85

180

88 87

165

155170

35



market street




newton road

river

side d

rive

va Hospital

+

hawk

ins dr

ive

380

80


exit 242exit 244

dubuque street

downtown iowa city

1st avenuesports

ui/va hospitals

exit 244

exit 24225

ui main library

iowa memorial union



old capitol museum


+



kinnick stadium

carver Hawkeye

arena

walkinG bridGe

walkinG bridGe

94





Pub13 Pullman Bar &











Café










lounge42 Blue Moose


Tavern7 Dublin










Mexican Grill



House185 Joseph’s

Steakhouse


Café













Café209 Starbucks


Shop & Wine Bar







free parking at.


EDITORS Courtenay Bouvier, Kate ConlowART DIRECTOR Jordan SellergrenPHOTO EDITORS Frankie Schneckloth, James DaviesEDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Erica Blair, Zoe H. Brown, Drew Bulman, Adam Burke, Joey Ho, Alisa Hrustic, Erin Foust, Wendy Ford, Daniel Khalastchi, Shauna McKnight, Talia Meidlinger, John Miller, Sophie Neems, Josie Neumann, Jacob Petterson, Kathleen Serino, Celine Uhl, Casey WagnerPHOTO CONTRIBUTORS JoJo Baccam, Denzel Bingaman, Adam Burke, Jason Alan Fries, Ofer SivanDESIGNERS & ILLUSTRATORS Denzel Bingaman, James Davies, Jared Jewell, Jordan Sellergren, Matthew SteeleCOVER Pullman Bar & Diner. Photo by Ofer SivanPUBLISHER Matthew Steele

Special thanks to distribution partners the Iowa City/Coralville Area Convention & Visitors bureau, whose underwriting also supported ads for CVB member businesses. For information on membership, visit iowacitycoralville.org.

DISCLOSURE Editors Courtenay Bouvier and Kate Conlow are both employed part-time at the Motley Cow Cafe.

DISTRIBUTION [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Little Village, P.O. Box 736Iowa City, IA 52244319-855-1474ONLINE LittleVillageMag.comMOBILE APP Little Village Best of ICFree on iOS, Android

Join us for dinnerand stay for a whole lot more

Enjoy Iowa City

A great place to visit. A great place to live.

recommendedMagic meals - 10

Experience the area’s culinary miracles.

Small plates - 12Taste the town’s tapas.

Pasta - 15There’s a noodle for every palate.

Sustainable Diet - 22Eat vegetarian. Save the world.

Patios - 25Appreciate the great outdoors,

with drinks.

Quick Bites - 34Don’t sacrifice taste for time.

Pizza - 36Discover your perfect pie.

Seafood - 38Eat fresh fish in the heartland.

Coffee - 40Caffeinate in style.

Brunch - 42Great morning meals

that sometimes start at 1 p.m.

Bloody Mary - 45Savor a snack in a glass.

Sweets - 49Luxuriate with frozen treats.

The iowa city area's

BREAD & BUTTER2015 Dining guiDe

PUBLISHED BY LITTLE VILLAGE


One ingredient - 32Appreciate the versatility of the head.

Karaoke - 46Sing your heart out with your friends.

eXPERIENCE iowa cityPlaydate - 52

Drink and dine like you’ve got a score to settle.

Bikeable Breweries - 56Bike, bike, drink. Bike, bike, drink.

Specialty Markets - 60Enjoy the world’s flavors, with no

delays at O’Hare.

Food Festivals - 64Celebrate our culinary culture.

C.S.A. - 66Share the local bounty.

DOWNTOWN BARs - 68Drink what the regulars drink.

MOBILE VENDors - 70Eat well, wherever you are.

guides

46 Bubbleology

LITTLEVILLLAGEMAG.COM/DINING


Savor global flavors while basking in infinite charm.

42 Leaf Kitchen


8 - What’s NewFour area restaurants that hit the ground

running in the last year.

16 - Food AccessThough Iowa City is situated amid an

abundance of farmland, many in Johnson County are struggling to feed themselves.

28 - Farmer SpotlightArea livestock producers talk about their business and its charms and challenges.

50 - Insider InfoWaitstaff dish on where they

go to eat and drink when they aren’t serving customers.

Features

“We’re about as sustainable

as anybody could be.”

—Bill Ellison, Pavelka’s Point Meats

28



Notable newbies

Pullman Bar & Diner 17 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City

Pullman Diner is doing its part to bring sophisticated diner fare to downtown Iowa City. Owned by six area restaurant personnel, Pullman is small yet classy; full of vintage lighting, exposed brick and original art by Iowa City painter Jamie Boling; and features a totally open kitchen. Despite being on full display to diners, the kitchen staff is able to execute really tasty fare, like brunch’s eggs “en cocotte,” which are soft-cooked eggs with porcini cream, Grana Padano and bacon. At dinner, try the Anson Mills coarse-ground grits with shrimp and smoked pork jus, and the decadently addictive beef marrow bone with bacon jam and fresh herbs. There is also an ample and interesting selection of cocktails, beer and wine.

ForBiDDen Planet Pizza + arcaDe111 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City

Brought to the Ped Mall by area restaurateur Tom Connolly, Jr., alongside business partners

Cory Ingle and Luther Moss, Forbidden Planet offers pizza, games and a vast selection of beer and cocktails. They also have an espresso machine, so you can fuel yourself on your never-ending quest to rack up high scores on some of your old favorite arcade games, like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Tetris or Street Fighter II. Ingle uses a woodfire emulator oven to craft authentic Neapolitan pizzas with thin crusts that get just the right char from the oven’s high heat. The restaurant also offers deep-dish concoctions, antipasti and salads, with a vast and fun menu that borrows from video game culture; for example, the “All Hail Gorf” pizza, named after the early-’80s talking arcade game, features rich tomato sauce, mozzarella, chorizo, bacon, pepperoni and beef.

PalisaDes caFe117 First St. N.W., Mount Vernon

There was much wailing and gnashing of teeth when chef-owner Matt Steigerwald announced that he was closing the beloved Lincoln Cafe, in Mount Vernon. Fortunately, Mount Vernon native Rachel Sauter was ready in the wings,

eager to take over with her reconceptualized, renamed Palisades Cafe. Palisades has succeeded in calming the restless souls who lamented the lack of an accessible, creative restaurant in the Mount Vernon space. Sauter and her staff serve up a world-class, freakishly tender burger and a variety of sandwiches and salads, but the shining glory of Palisades is the few nightly special offerings. If duck is on the menu, get it; the skin is impossibly crispy, like a perfect duck crackling, while the meat stays moist and pink. Accompaniments for the specials are always an ideal complement, often made of locally sourced ingredients.

lion BriDge Brewery59 16th Ave. S.W., Cedar Rapids

Lion Bridge Brewery and its co-founder and brewmaster, Cedar Rapids native Quinton McClain, deserve major props for winning a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival within the first year of the brewery’s opening. The award-winning beer, Workman’s Compensation, is an exceedingly drinkable English-style ale with toasty toffee notes. Beer lovers are excited to see what continues to come from the Czech Village-based brewery; so far, offerings include a Czech pilsner and a Jamaican strong ale, plus several others. It’s worth it to visit the brewery and grab a beer-friendly snack at their taproom, but if you’re in Iowa City, look for their beers on tap at area restaurants.

FEATURE

As the culinary landscape continues to expand in exciting ways, here are four new restaurants that should not be missed.

Palisades Cafe



Best Breakfast in Area • Featured in Midwest Living

One of Thrillist’s Best Diners in America

Bluebird Diner: 330 E Market St, Iowa City 52245 (319) 351 1470Bluebird Cafe: 650 W Cherry St, North Liberty 52317 (319) 626 2603

Flap Over and Feed the Flock!

# LV RECOMMENDS

There is something in this index for most palates and budgets, and each location listed was selected by editors for the unique character it brings to our area. Most are here in Iowa City; others are very much worth the drive.

Price range is indicated on a scale of $ to $$$$ and accounts for each establishment’s average price for a meal from the dinner menu (where applicable), and a drink.

$ = $10 and under$$ = $10-$20$$$ = $20-$30$$$$ = $30-$40

2 DOGS PUB1705 1st Ave., Iowa City | 319-337-9047 2dogspub.com | $$

This Eastside restaurant is a hidden local favorite. The bar features a rotation of well-selected craft beers, in addition to a full menu with burgers and other standard bar fare. The kitchen isn’t afraid to get creative—they recently featured a bacon-wrapped hot dog with two fried eggs on top—nor are they afraid to let their customers get creative: They have a burger-of-the-month competition where diners design their perfect burger.

30HOP 900 E. 2nd Ave., Coralville | 319-351-3800 30hop.com | $$$

Enjoy a burger on their giant rooftop patio, or relax over one of their larger, classic American entrees—either way, though, make sure to try something from their epic beer selection. See page 35.


Blissful bites

a Primal neeD

There are days, often in winter, when the only thing that will quiet a hungry soul is a cheeseburger. Thankfully, there are cheeseburgers around to provide this balm. Go to Augusta (101 S. Augusta Ave., Oxford) and order a burger with blue cheese, and get a side of fried wild mushrooms. Put the mushrooms on the burger and squish the whole thing together; lick the dripping juice off your hands and arms. Or, stay in town and go to George’s Buffet (312 E. Market St., Iowa City). Order a burger with everything, and leave it wrapped long enough that some of the cheese sticks to the waxed paper, and so that all the toppings—onions, pickles, mustard, ketchup and garlic pepper—melt together. Pick the melted cheese off the waxed paper and eat it, too. Chase it with a bourbon on the rocks. Feel like a human again.

a Personal connection

Sometimes, if you go to a place often enough, and you establish a relationship with the staff, they’ll recommend special dishes or bring little treats from the kitchen. This is not uncommon. At Cobble Hill (219 2nd St. S.E., Cedar Rapids), where the head chef was recently named a James Beard award semifinalist, sit at the bar overlooking the kitchen and ask the chefs for their recommendations (but only if they’re not too busy). You will end up with the best selection of food from the seasonally changing menu, like house-made braunschweiger with black garlic and “everything bagel” crumble; or an amuse-bouche of country pâté, dipped in corn dog batter and deep fried; or housemade gnocchi with braised short ribs and creme fraiche.

At Thai Spice (1210 S. Gilbert St., Iowa City), ask the server for a recommendation, and you may end up with yam woon sen, or silver noodle salad—a tangle of glass noodles tossed with tender shrimp, red pepper, cilantro and a

There are moments when you’re eating, and you sigh with certainty that nothing has ever tasted so perfect. These moments can happen often in the Iowa City area, if you know how to look for them. Here’s a starter guide.

RECOMMENDED: MAGIC MEALS gold mine of pickled garlic, and dressed with tangy fish sauce and lime—and you won’t be able to stop thinking about it for months.

At Sushiya (745 Community Dr. #A, North Liberty), learn that if you call in advance, you can experience the beauty of the broiled yellowtail collarbone—a dish that isn’t on the menu. Dig at the bone with chopsticks and fingers until all the succulent meat is stripped bare from the bone and your fingers are sticky with the fish’s savory juices. Crunch on fin tips like potato chips.

the total Package

Sometimes, it’s the perfect combination of setting, scenery, company and food that elevates an experience. On the second and fourth Thursdays of each month throughout the summer, weather permitting, Geyer’s Oven (1259 Rohret Rd. S.W., Oxford) puts together a backyard pizza party, using local ingredients to craft rustic, delicious, thin-crust pizzas with an endlessly inventive cast of toppings. Prices are donation-based, and party-goers bring their own beverages and sides, if they desire. The pizzas are fantastic, but what makes Geyer’s so special is the overall occasion: On any given Thursday you can find a crew of Iowa City graduate students with a 30-pack of PBR sharing pizza with area Mennonites, while children frolic with farm kittens among vibrant flowers. In describing it, Geyer’s seems too idyllic to be true, but it is true, and it is sublime.

Chase it with a bourbon and Feel Like a human again.

George’s Buffet


Sushiya

A LV RECOMMENDS

A & A PAGLIAI’S PIZZA302 E. Bloomington St., Iowa City |319-351-5073 | pagliaisic.com | $$

The Pagliai family has been in the pizza business in Iowa since 1957, so Pagliai’s is a respected Iowa tradition. Try the “Palace Special,” which has sausage, beef, pepperoni, mushroom and onion. See page 36.

THE AIRLINER22 S. Clinton St., Iowa City | 319-351-9259 |theairlinerbar.com | $$

Famous for pizza and sports-fan crowds, The Airliner has been an Iowa City tradition since 1944. Located right downtown, the two-story restaurant is suitable for many social occasions. Every Tuesday, The Airliner serves half-price pizza, and there are other specials throughout the week.

AMERICAN LEGION #173016 Muscatine Ave., Iowa City 319-351-1902 | legion.org | $ Hang out with the locals and enjoy karaoke on Friday nights. See page 46.

THE ARBOR BAR60 1/2 W. Burlington Ave., Fairfield 641-209-1821 | facebook.com/thearborbar | $

The building that houses The Arbor Bar was, for many years, The Beauty Shop, a music venue that attracted all manner of local indie musicians. Now, the space has transformed into a quaint, hole-in-the-wall treasure that still continues its tradition of live music alongside good drinks and a hip atmosphere.

ATLAS WORLD GRILL 127 Iowa Ave., Iowa City | 319-341-7700 atlasiowacity.com | $$$

Snag a spot on the patio to watch the day go by while enjoying a snack and a drink. The menu reflects the “world grill” theme, with a variety of dishes to suit any culinary preference. See page 15 and 25.

AUGUSTA RESTAURANT101 S. Augusta Ave., Oxford | 319-828-2252 augustarestaurant.net | $$$

Enjoy a little homemade taste of New Orleans in small-town Iowa, with such Big Easy favorites as gumbo, fried chicken and grillades, in addition to a killer burger. See page 10, 42 and 45.


Tapas hop

Brix209 N. Linn St., Iowa City

Start on the Northside at Brix, which has a warm, homey interior and offers an excellent, regularly changing assortment of cheese, charcuterie, beer and wine. Portions on their cheeseboards are generous. If it’s available, make sure to try the Cypress Grove Truffle Tremor, a goat cheese flecked with black truffle, as well as Iowa’s own Milton Creamery Prairie Breeze aged cheddar. Ask the knowledgeable staff for their recommended wine pairings.

Devotay117 N. Linn St., Iowa City

After Brix, head down the street to Devotay, where the dimly lit atmosphere and excellent selection of Spanish and Portuguese wines has led to many romantic evenings. They have an expansive list of tapas, but make sure that you try the chorizo with mushroom and sherry, and

also their lamb and beef meatballs in hazelnut pepper sauce. The staff is accommodating and patient, so do like the Spanish: Relax and take your time exploring their many options.

share210 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City

Next, head to the heart of the Ped Mall. Located on the first floor of the Sheraton Hotel, the spirit of Share is captured in the name. Small plates, like braised lamb in green curry or the smoked chicken and caramelized onion quesadilla, make up much of the menu; chefs draw inspiration from various global cuisines. Their patio is right next to the summer music stage and is a prime outdoor dining spot in the warmer months.

clinton street social cluB18 ½ S. Clinton St., Iowa City

Finish the night at Clinton Street Social Club.

Though it can be painfully crowded at times, try to belly up to the bar for some creative, delicious food and a cocktail. Their inventive and fun cocktail list offers one of the better selections of boutique spirits in the area; if you’re in the market for a glass of Pappy Van Winkle 15-year bourbon, this is your place. (But the cheaper stuff ’s tasty, too.) Their food menu draws much inspiration from hearty American cuisine. Taste their deviled eggs—then loosen your belt and dig into some house-battered cheese curds, a grilled artichoke with tarragon aioli and a decadent small plate of chili-glazed pork belly.

RECOMMENDED: SMALL PLATES

If you are looking to hit the town, but you can’t sit still for an all-night, multi-course affair, count on these destinations for quality small plates and cocktails.

Brix

Devotay

BREAD & BUTTER 2015 | 13LITTLEVILLLAGEMAG.COM/DINING

iowa city’s

Live Music Corridor

211 Iowa Ave.bluemooseic.com

(319) 358-9206

LIVE MUSICCRAFT BEER

selection + GAMES

13 S Linn St.iowacityyachtclub.org

(319) 337-6464

LIVE MUSICGrilled Cheese

great beer selection

330 E Washington Sticgabes.com

(319) 351-9175

LIVE MUSICHUGE BEER GARDEN

great beer selection

GET THE FREE IOWA CITY EVENTS APP: TEXT “IOWA” TO 77948B LV RECOMMENDS

BACKPOCKET BREWING903 Quarry Rd., Coralville 319-466-4444 backpocketbrewing.com | $$

This place specializes in craft beer and wood-fired pizza; there are many things to try, and quite a few standouts. See page 56.

BARONCINI RISTORANTE ITALIANO104 S. Linn St., Iowa City 319-337-2048 baroncinirestaurant.com | $$$$

Elegant decor and romantic lighting make Baroncini a great date spot, with a well-curated wine list and excellent desserts. See page 49.

BASTA121 Iowa Ave., Iowa City 319-337-2010 bastaiowacity.com | $$$

The best things at Basta are

homemade pasta, wood-fired pizzas, tasty cocktails and a killer happy hour. See page 15 and 25.

BEST CHINA1800 Boyrum St., Iowa City 319-358-0001 | $$

This basic Americanized Chinese takeout place delivers quickly within Iowa City city limits. Prices are reasonable and the food is surprisingly tasty for cheap Chinese takeout.

BIG GROVE BREWERY101 West Main St., Solon 319-624-2337 biggrovebrewery.com | $$$

Downtown Solon’s own brewpub feels like a ski chalet, with comforting food, an array of beer and a patio firepit to warm you on cool nights. See page 56.

BLACKSTONE503 Westbury Dr., Iowa City 319-338-1770 blackstone-ic.com | $$$

One of the few restaurants on the northeast side of Iowa City, Blackstone is locally owned but has the aesthetic polish of a corporation. Their sprawling menu draws influence from a range of global cuisine—including Italian, Mexican and Thai—but the bulk of their menu consists of American staples like burgers, with notably intriguing combinations and elegant presentation.

BLUEBIRD DINER330 E. Market St., Iowa City 319-351-1470 thebluebirddiner.com | $$

With a fun staff, funky decor and a vast menu, Bluebird Diner offers creative twists on traditional diner fare and is fun for the whole family. See page 40 and 42.

BOB’S YOUR UNCLE2208 N. Dodge St., Iowa City | 319-351-7400 bobsyourunclecomfortfood.com | $$

If you want a menu with 85 items, half of which are available gluten-free, Bob’s Your Uncle will satisfy. This place is comfortable and family-friendly. It is also an extremely popular lunch spot, especially for those in the Pearson compound nearby. They are also one of the few places in Iowa City that makes gluten-free pizza.

BO JAMES118 E. Washington St., Iowa City 319-337-4703 | $$

Located downtown, Bo James is a family-owned tavern known for big burgers, big beers and country music. When weather permits, grab a bite to eat and enjoy the downtown atmosphere on their patio.


B LV RECOMMENDS

BREAD GARDEN MARKET & BAKERY225 S. Linn St. | 319-354-4246 breadgardenmarket.com | $$

Located conveniently under the hotelVetro, Bread Garden Market has a vast selection of grocery items ranging from boutique to big-brand, but what sets Bread Garden apart is their expansive selection of prepared foods. See pages 22 and 60.

BRIX CHEESE SHOP & WINE BAR209 N. Linn St., Iowa City 319-359-1999 brixcheeseshop.com | $$

This wine bar and specialty shop has a delicious selection of cheeses, cured meats, wine and beer; it’s a great place for a group of friends to go to avoid the noise of downtown. See page 12.

BUBBLE POP201 S. Clinton St., Iowa City 319-400-4324 | $

The clean, minimal interior of Old Capitol Mall’s bubble tea shop welcomes you with warm lighting and select pieces of oak furniture that could have been in your grandparents’ kitchen. Bubble Pop offers a variety of hot and cold drinks in flavors like taro, mango and green tea. They also sell desserts like shaved ice with adzuki beans and have a rainbow of delicious but overpriced macarons.

BUBBLEOLOGY KARAOKE325 E. Washington St. | $$

Sing the night away in one of Bubbleology’s many themed karaoke rooms. See page 46.

CACTUS MEXICAN RESTAURANT245 S. Gilbert St., Iowa City 319-338-5647 facebook.com/CactusIC | $$

CACTUS 2314 E. Burlington St., Iowa City 319-337-2464 | $$

Joining the many other Tex-Mex restaurants in the area are Cactus, and Cactus #2—which is mere yards from Cactus. You know what to expect: a gigantic margarita served in a kitschy glass; a combination plate smothered in indeterminate sauces; a never-ending basket of chips that you’ll accidentally eat too much of. The salsa is good. The menu is vast. The food is usually tasty and always cheap.

CAFE PARADISO101 N. Main St., Fairfield 641-472-0856 cafeparadiso.net | $

Situated on the corner of the square in Fairfield, Cafe Paradiso is a casual setting with beautiful artwork from various artists and frequent live music. Its outdoor seating makes it a social hotspot for both Fairfield’s Maharishi community and townies alike. Those looking for a delicious weekend brunch, excellent organic coffee roasted daily on-site, and deep philosophical debate will be satisfied here.

CAFFE CREMA411 2nd St., Coralville 319-338-0700 1401 5th St., Coralville 319-338-7007 facebook.com/caffecrema.us | $

Caffe Crema is a popular coffee shop in Coralville, with a variety of drinks to choose from. See page 40.

CATE’S FROZEN YOGURT2221 Rochester Ave., Iowa City | 319-400-9493 catesfrozenyogurt.com | $

Owned and operated by Iowa City native Cate Sarrazin, Cate’s Frozen Yogurt is a recent addition to Iowa City’s food scene. With a cute and quirky

feel, Cate’s features a rotating stock of fresh low-fat and non-fat yogurts, as well as non-dairy options, all in delicious, creative flavors, like sea salt caramel pretzel. Take advantage of the wide variety of toppings to create delicious combinations of your own.

CED-REL SUPPER CLUB11909 16th Ave. S.W., Cedar Rapids | 319-446-7300 ced-rel.com | $$$

This old-school supper club and steakhouse maintains many of the trappings of bygone dining: The menu includes such items as frogs’ legs, fried chicken livers and, of course, a variety of steaks. Each entree is delivered with a complimentary relish tray, a multi-tiered throwback to a time when cigarettes were fashionable and martinis were a lunchtime staple.

CLINTON STREET SOCIAL CLUB18 1/2 S. Clinton St., Iowa City | 319-351-1690 clintonstreetsocial.com | $$$

Try to go to Clinton Street on a weeknight, or early in the evening, when it’s not too busy, so you can sit at the bar and enjoy an assortment of American comfort food and artfully crafted cocktails. See page 12, 38 and 68.

CLUB 762349 Mehaffey Bridge Rd. N.E., North Liberty | 319-626-6046 facebook.com/club76nlia | $

In warmer weather, biking around the area’s extensive trails can be a fun weekend activity. North Liberty is a natural stop for most bikers, many of whom beeline it up Dubuque Street to Reds Alehouse, but just up the road is this hidden gem. Club 76 is in an unassuming building; inside, however, there is a large bar and a lodge-meets-dive-bar vibe. The staff is friendly, the regulars interesting

and the entertainment options unique. Grab a basket of free popcorn, and head to the wall of lottery machines. In warmer months, they have a volleyball net and outdoor seating on the adjacent lawn.

THE CLUB CAR122 Wright St., Iowa City 319-351-9416 theclubcaric.com | $

Located just south of downtown, the Club Car is a neighborhood bar catering largely to a crowd of people looking for a cold bottle of beer after a long day at work. The beer selection is no-frills, with plenty of domestic choices and a smattering of imports. Snack on fried appetizers while you play pool or darts and converse with regulars and the bartender, all of whom know each other. It’s like a miniature version of Cheers but Iowa City-style.

COBBLE HILL RESTAURANT219 2nd St. S.E., Cedar Rapids | 319-366-3177 cobblehillrestaurant.com | $$$$

The chefs at Cobble Hill are trained in the classic French tradition, and it shows. James Beard 2015 Semifinalist for Best Chef in the Midwest, Chef/Owner Andy Schumacher serves some of the area’s most beautifully presented and elegant food, yet the restaurant still manages to be comfortable and down-to-earth. This may be attributed to the daily presence of Schumacher and his wife Carrie, the restaurant’s co-owner and general manager, and to their adorable children, who can often be found coloring at a table, or helping polish silverware. The menu changes regularly to reflect the seasons; if there’s some form of housemade charcuterie or pâté on the menu, be sure to try it, though everything is expertly made, so you can’t really go wrong. See page 10.


seoul grill201 S. Clinton St., Iowa City

Despite the fact that it’s open only for lunch, only on weekdays and only when school is in session, Seoul Grill is thought by many to be among the best restaurants in Iowa City. The spicy seafood noodle soup, known as jam bong, is a highlight. Their selection of ramen and japchae, or sweet potato vermicelli, are also all succulent and complexly spiced. Don’t be discouraged by how busy the restaurant always is; lines move quickly.

three samurai1801 2nd St. #200, Coralville

Sweet potato vermicelli appears in another of the city’s standout noodle dishes: the warishita sukiyaki at Three Samurai. Served in a clay pot with a lid, this soothing bowl of light, savory broth is rich with noodles, halibut, mussels, shiitake and enoki mushrooms, tofu and tender, slightly bitter chrysanthemum leaves. There are other noodle standouts at Three Samurai, like pho and seafood ramen, but the delicate flavors and balance of the warishita sukiyaki make it an addictive favorite.

atlas127 Iowa Ave., Iowa City

It can be challenging to find excellent macaroni and cheese at restaurants. Even the most standard elbow macaroni is delicious smothered in synthetic “cheez” sauce, but restaurants shouldn’t be so formulaic, especially when there’s so much that can be done to make the dish superlative. The chefs at Atlas have figured out the formula: a blend of mozzarella, fontina, parmesan and gruyere, topped with just enough roasted tomato to cut through the richness of the creamy topping. It’s decadent, but not cloying, and as comforting as Grandma’s.

Basta Pizzeria ristorante121 Iowa Ave., Iowa City

Of course, some of us call our grandmother “Nonna,” and we may find more nostalgic nurturing in the pasta dishes at Basta. On Sundays only, just like at Nonna’s, Basta serves spaghetti and meatballs. The house-made pasta is a little thicker than you might expect spaghetti to be, giving it an extra-hearty bite, and the meatballs are savory, tender and tasty, with a hint of spice. If you can’t make it there on Sunday, the spaghetti Bolognese is a regular menu item and a reasonable substitute, and all the pastas are made in house, so any one of them is a safe bet.

Also Recommendedzaza’s Pasta shoP anD italian market518 Bowery St., Iowa City

If you’re looking for homemade pasta that you can cook in your own cucina, head to Zaza’s Pasta, which features a variety of fresh pasta and other Italian grocery favorites.

Noodle noshtender & tasty, with a hint of spice.

RECOMMENDED: PASTA

A world of toothsome noodles is available right here in the country’s breadbasket.

Basta Pizzeria Ristorante

Zaza’s Pasta Shop and Italian Market


With food to spare, disparity remains By Erica Blair

While growing up in northeast Iowa, food was never a concern for Susan Anderson: Her family ate T-bone steaks each week, the refrigerator overflowed with food and two deep freezers

were regularly stocked. And throughout her 20s, when she lived and worked in Tokyo as a part-time English teacher making $40,000 a year, Anderson often dined in restaurants. “We had all we could eat and more,” she said.

Today, however, food is not so abundant for the 55-year-old single mother of two. Since moving to Iowa City in 1993, Anderson, whose name was changed for this article, has held retail, day care and service industry jobs. Now disabled for orthopedic and anxiety disorders, she’s been out of work for several years. Yet throughout her entire motherhood, even as a full-time employee, she has needed help accessing enough food for her family.

At school, her sons have always qualified for free and reduced lunch. And to provide meals at home, Anderson makes weekly visits to the Crisis Center Food Bank, in addition to purchasing groceries with her recently reduced $35 in monthly SNAP benefits—enough for roughly one trip to the store. But with no car for the past eight years, she buys only what she can carry on the bus, making it difficult to stock up.

DeFining the BreaDth oF the issue

Susan Anderson is, according to a 2012 report by Feeding America, one of 18,640 Johnson County residents facing food insecurity, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture defines as the “lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members and limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods.” About 14 percent of Johnson County residents are food insecure—one of the highest rates in the state of Iowa—and 40 percent of them don’t receive government food assistance.

The Crisis Center of Johnson County Food Bank is seeing even more visits than ever, says Food Bank and Emergency Assistance Director Sarah Benson Witry, with 12,778 individuals served in 2014. She adds that households now rely on the pantry for more of their food than in the past, a lingering symptom of the 2008 recession when high-paying jobs were exchanged for low-wage work without benefits.

On average, families visit 10 times per year, but the range of needs varies widely, Benson Witry said: According to her, roughly 20 percent of families visit only once during an unexpected emergency, while about 1 percent of families visit nearly every week to obtain their sole source of food.

“We’re having to do a lot of purchasing from the retail system because people’s needs are too great,” Benson Witry said. Last year, the food bank spent $74,000 on about 25 percent of its supply in order to cover what corporate and individual donations could not.

Adding to Johnson County’s large food-insecure population, Benson Witry says, are

University of Iowa students. Though commonly assumed otherwise, many students receive no financial backing from their parents, and now more than ever, they face the harrowing odds of finding a well-paying job to pay off loans post-graduation. And because they have access to loans, students don’t qualify for some of the same programs as other low-income individuals.

“Students are making a choice,” Benson Witry said. “Do I go further into debt so that I can feed myself ? Or do I reach out and try to get services?”

why is FooD access a ProBlem in Johnson county?

Compounding the food insecurity problem is Iowa City’s distinctly high cost of living, which directly affects how much people can spend at the store. About half of Iowa City residents are renters, and according to a 2013 report by the University of Iowa Public Policy Center, 63.5 percent of them are cost burdened, which means more than 30 percent of their income goes toward housing.

This is the highest rate in the state of Iowa. For a single mother to afford a two-bedroom apartment—with a fair market rate of $853 per month—she would need to work 2.3 minimum wage jobs, or 92 hours each week. When Little Village spoke with Mark Patton, Executive Director of the Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity, in September 2014, he noted that with an unhealthy vacancy rate of 0.5 percent (a healthy vacancy rate hovers around 5 percent) little competition exists between landlords, keeping rental prices high in Iowa City. According to Crissy Canganelli, executive director of The Shelter House, the vacancy rate is

so low because Iowa City’s rental market caters to university students.

“It makes it that much more difficult for folks who are living in poverty and have no other resources, who are trying to live on service sector and minimum wage jobs,” she said.

While zoning regulations and the cost of land are barriers to increasing the amount of affordable housing in Iowa City, it really comes down to a lack of political will to address this deficit, she said.

But there’s yet another issue when it comes to affordable housing: physical access to food. Looking at census tracts, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Access Research Atlas identifies two large urban regions in Johnson County that it classifies as food deserts, meaning low-income areas where a third of residents live a mile or more from a supermarket. In Coralville and Iowa City, the food desert to the west is bordered by Interstate 80 and Highway 1, and the food desert to the east slopes south along Highway 6 in what is often referred to as the Southeast Side.

The clustering of low-rent apartments in these regions away from affordable grocery stores means that low-income residents must choose between spending more of their budget on transportation or shopping for food at nearby gas stations with limited selections. Some people also seek affordable housing in isolated mobile home courts or even outside city limits, Benson Witry said, which further limits their physical access to food.

what are current area initiatives?

Coupled with access to affordable housing is access to land. Fred Meyer of Backyard Abundance, a local organization that helps people turn their grass lawns into productive and food-producing ecosystems, says that this is the greatest barrier for renters growing their own food. If there’s any land on the property, renters would need to ask permission from landlords to use it, and if that doesn’t work, they would need to buy community garden plots, which are often inconveniently located and require transportation.

“But even if they have all those things, we model our gardens after our industrialized agriculture system, which requires incredible amounts of energy to keep going,” Meyer said, “so you have to make frequent trips out there.”


LocalResource Guide

Crisis Center of Johnson County Food Bank1121 S. Gilbert Ct. | 319-351-0140 | jccrisiscenter.orgThe Crisis Center provides residents with essential groceries, such as canned foods, produce, bread and dairy products, as well as health and hygiene items. Residents can visit once a week.

UI Public Policy Center310 S. Grand Ave. | 319-335-6800 | ppc.uiowa.eduThe Center reviews and researches a variety of important issues and policies in Iowa and the nation. It provides policymakers and the community ways to develop sustainably through public engagement and education.

Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity2401 Scott Blvd. | 319-337-8949 | iowavalleyhabitat.orgA nonprofit organization, Habitat for Humanity assists low-income families through various projects, including the construction of affordable homes of their own.

Backyard Abundance319-325-6810 | backyardabundance.orgBackyard Abundance, an environmental education nonprofit, builds landscapes that supply natural and healthy food and habitat to improve the health of the local environment.

Johnson County Social Services855 S. Dubuque St. | 319-356-6090 | johnson-county.comThis organization works mostly with families, youth and individuals in need, providing services such as child and adult protection, child-care assistance and resources for seniors.

Table to Table20 E. Market St. | 319-337-3400 | table2table.orgThis food rescue nonprofit collects edible food donations from area restaurants, grocery stores, schools and hospitals, and distributes them to people in need.

Local Foods Connection319-338-2010 | localfoodsconnection.comThis nonprofit works to build a local, sustainable food system by connecting individual families and social service agencies with fresh produce and healthy food.

Shelter House429 Southgate Ave. | 319-351-0326 | shelterhouseiowa.orgShelter House provides people experiencing homelessness in Iowa City with housing and other services, such as breakfasts and dinners, showers and laundry.

Crisis Center Food Bank

14 percent of Johnson County residents are food insecure—

one of the highest rates in the state of Iowa.


Iowa City operates only one community garden, at Wetherby Park, with about 100 plots for Iowa City’s approximately 70,000 residents. Mike Moran, the Director of Parks and Recreation, notes that another community garden will be added this spring at Chadek Green Park, offering 50 more plots to the community. Still, Meyer says that even if land access wasn’t a problem, other barriers exist: equipment, knowledge and time.

“How do you tell a single mother of two, who’s working two jobs, to go out and maintain a garden?” he said.

Roughly 30 percent of Iowa City residents live below the poverty line, and following the national trend, incomes aren’t keeping up with the rising cost of living. Like housing, food prices also continue to climb—especially in the produce section and at the meat counter. For instance, in 2014, the cost of oranges rose by about 17 percent and the cost of beef rose by about 10 percent. This is due to a number of factors, such as poor growing conditions (across the globe, droughts, flooding and extreme temperatures are occurring with more frequency), disease (new strains of the PED virus have killed millions of pigs, and bacteria has wiped out orchards of citrus trees) and transportation (even when gas prices subside, as they have for the past few months, food prices don’t always follow suit). All of this means that fresh fruits, vegetables and protein are harder to come by for low-income individuals than grain-heavy and calorie-dense processed foods, which have remained relatively stable over the years.

“Rather than trying to figure out how to get people access to food, which seems like the right thing to do, I’d really like to steer the conversation in another direction and talk about how we can promote equality in our community,” Meyer said, “so that the issue of food access starts to evaporate. It takes care of itself.”

Raising the minimum wage could be one step (of many) toward that direction. The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013, introduced by Iowa Senator Tom Harkin and California Representative George Miller, would boost the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour over three years. Opponents argue that such a raise would cause a ripple effect, increasing costs throughout the entire food system and therefore increasing the cost of food. But the Food Labor Research Center at University of California Berkeley, which studied a predecessor of the Miller/Harkin bill in 2012 when $9.80 was on the table, reached a different conclusion: Prices at the store would

grow by less than half of one percent, at most, while incomes for minimum wage employees would jump by 33 percent.

“If people had the opportunity to make enough money for themselves and their families, they would not be food insecure,” Benson Witry said. “That’s a pretty simple solution, but how you get there is really complicated.”

how Do we imProve FooD access in Johnson county?

Last July, community members gathered in the Coralville Public Library to discuss just that at the first-ever Johnson County Hunger Forum. As a result of that event, city council member Kingsley Botchway and Crisis Center director Becci Reedus established the Johnson County Hunger Task Force, a group composed of government leaders, food pantries and other organizations working to alleviate hunger. Johnson County Social Services director Lynette Jacoby, who helped assemble members of the group, says that the purpose was to bring together people of various disciplines to collectively address hunger issues.

“We know that there are lots of different groups that are working on food insecurity and feeding Johnson County,” she said, “but a lot of them are working in their silos.”

The task force has identified priorities and formed three subcommittees: access, healthy foods and collaboration. Plans for county-specific assessments and surveys are underway, with the hope that results could be analyzed by summer of this year, Jacoby says.

In the meantime, other community members continue using creative strategies to improve food access. Meyer proposes one of the more unconventional approaches: Give people free food from the land itself. For him, the concept of the edible landscape initiative is simple: There’s plenty of land available right where we live, so why not use it to grow food?

Backyard Abundance planted the first edible landscape in 2011 beside the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center, and the program has since expanded to include a small herb garden by the Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp and 1/3

of an acre at Wetherby Park. Part of the mission of these edible landscapes, Meyer says, is to demonstrate that “we can grow food in ways that make it available to anyone and everyone who’s willing to help cultivate it and then harvest it.”

Table to Table is a local nonprofit that runs a food rescue operation (FRO). Volunteers pick up food that is nearing expiration, but is still wholesome and edible, from grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, schools and hospitals, and then redistribute it to agencies that serve people in need. For instance, Red Lobster donates baked potatoes that haven’t sold within 20 minutes, as well as any food that hasn’t been sold for five days.

“We’re essentially taking something that has no marketable value, but we’re leveraging that value by distributing it at no charge to the agencies,” Table to Table Director Bob Andrlik said.

The organization began in 1996 as Iowa’s first FRO, and within the first year rescued about 40,000 pounds of food using volunteer vehicles. Today, with a fleet of five vans, 64 routes each week and 110 volunteers, the organization diverts more than one million pounds of food from the waste stream annually. Other than improving food access, Andrlik said there are other reasons for keeping food from going to waste, like reducing greenhouse gas emissions at the landfill. “And when you look at all the processing and transportation and packaging, it’s just crazy in my mind to throw those things away,” he said.

Another area organization, Local Foods Connection (LFC), serves the dual purpose of improving access to fresh and local sources of food while also supporting small farmers in the area. Despite being an agricultural hub, Iowa still imports an estimated 90 percent of its food. Currently, the organization serves about 50 low-income individuals and families by giving them vouchers at the local farmers’ markets or by enrolling them in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm shares. This is important because only a handful of farmers’ market vendors have digital card readers, preventing individuals who receive government assistance from using EBT cards, says LFC Assistant Director Cassidy Bell.

Susan Anderson has been a client of Local Foods Connection for a total of four years now, though not all consecutive. She said that if it weren’t for the program, she probably wouldn’t go to the farmers’ markets. Anderson recalled a recent field trip to Wilson’s Orchard that the organization arranged, where she got to walk through the farm and drink hot apple cider.

“It was such a great gift,” she said, because though she’d wanted to go for years, not having a car made the trip impossible. “There’s a real consciousness, concern and compassion here in Johnson County for those who need food.”

“How do you tell a single mother of two, who’s working two jobs, to

go out and maintain a garden?”


219 Iowa Ave, Iowa CityTakanamiDowntown.com

Happy Hour Specials:Sunday - Thursday

IC Press Citizen Best of Reader ’s Poll

“Best Sushi”11 Years in

a Row

C LV RECOMMENDS

COLONIAL LANES2253 Old Hwy 218 S., Iowa City 319-338-1573 | $

People go to Colonial Lanes for the bowling, mostly. But they keep going back for the quirky miniature diner, the sunken bar and the Jell-O shots. See page 52.

COTTAGE BAKERY & CAFE230 E. Benton St., Iowa City | 319-351-0052 cottagebakerycafe.com | $$

Hidden away on Benton Street, the Cottage Bakery never fails to offer delicious breakfast and lunch options. Stop in for one of their famous cinnamon rolls topped with layers and layers of frosting, or, for something savory, order a classic deli sandwich, a hummus wrap or a hot veggie panini. If you find that you want to share their tasty menu with all your friends, you’re in luck, because they cater.

CRÊPES DE LUXE CAFÉ309 E. College St., Iowa City | 319-887-2233 crepes-de-luxe.com | $

Step into Crêpes de Luxe Café for unique French cuisine matched with an exceedingly friendly staff. Watch as your crêpe of choice is made right before your eyes with mouthwatering ingredients such as Nutella and strawberries, or herb chicken, house-made aïoli and Swiss cheese. They also offer buckwheat crêpes made with buckwheat harvested in Newton, Iowa—a delicious and healthy twist on traditional crêpes.

DANE’S DAIRY 1430 Willow Creek Ct., Iowa City 319-354-7400 | danesdairy.com | $

Open only in summer, family-favorite Dane’s is a blast from the past, with delicious, inexpensive frozen treats. See page 49.

DAVE’S FOX HEAD TAVERN402 E. Market St., Iowa City | 319-351-9824 iowacitysoldestbars.tumblr.com | $

Traditionally frequented by writers, the Fox Head is Iowa City’s oldest bar and appears in all manner of literary works, and rightly so: Despite its tiny size, the place is great. It’s dark, it’s cheap, there’s pool, the jukebox is eclectic, the people are eccentric and their stories are grand. The drink selection is minimal, a reflection of the legendary stubbornness of the owner, but this is the kind of bar where all you need’s a whiskey with a beer back. It’s the perfect local watering hole for a literary town that likes its booze. See page 68.


Featuring Fried Chicken Sunday Supper

Fundraisers!

Serving free range Amish chicken, with sides and a dessert from 5pm—9pm. Join us to help support a local charity

every week!

Check out our regular menu online and

on our FB page. For information on fundraising for your group, email

[email protected]

319.359.1521

Serving Breakfast 7 days a week

www.rideiowacity.com

Short’s Burger & Shine

Featuring 30Iowa Craft Beerson Tap

Short’s Downtown18 S. Clinton St.(319) 337-4678

Short’s Eastside521 Westbury Dr.(319) 338-7743


“The Dundee ”

Stella

A short walk from Kinnick Stadium andUniversity of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.

1006 Melrose Ave. — (319) 887-5564


Breakfast at the iowa city Farmers market415 E. Washington St., Iowa CityMay-October, Saturdays from 7 a.m. - 12 p.m.

The Farmers Market, which takes place Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings, May through October, is a gathering of many of the best area farmers. Food vendors join in the outdoor market, and many, including Local Burrito, highlight the season’s local produce. “At the Iowa City Farmers Market, I regularly visit Local Burrito,” says Burt. “They offer vegan, vegetarian and omnivore options, and the burritos are all perfect Saturday morning market food.”

Veg outRECOMMENDED: SUSTAINABLE DIET

Treat your body and the planet right with Chef David Burt’s top vegetarian picks.

Lunch at new Pioneer co-oP22 S. Van Buren St., Iowa City

“For a sandwich, I turn to the vegan cajun tofuwich from New Pioneer Food Co-op, which features warm, blackened tofu, with tomato, avocado and pepperoncini,” says Burt.Though Burt prefers the classic, quick New Pi sandwich, another good lunch option for vegans and vegetarians is Bread Garden Market, where they use local vegetables all summer long for their salad and hot food bars, providing a great variety for downtown diners. They offer a gigantic selection of soups, salad items and prepared dishes, like sesame kale, vegetable stir fry and curried cauliflower soup.

Appetizers at motley cow caFe160 N. Linn St., Iowa City

“The Motley Cow has recently had some vegetable sides which are just remarkable,” Burt says. “In the fall, I ate a small plate of slow-roasted, Iowa-grown carrots with sesame puree, and I always look forward to what David Wieseneck, the chef and owner, does with vegetables in warmer months. I also really like their fries.”

Dinner at trumPet Blossom310 E. Prentiss St., Iowa City

Trumpet Blossom’s vegan menu focuses on local and organic produce in creative preparations; chefs pickle and preserve when vegetables are at their peak, and the restaurant maintains a seasonal menu.“I go with the feature and/or fries at the Trumpet Blossom,” Burt says. “One summer, I enjoyed a simple, but delicious mixed grilled vegetable plate, where the vegetables were allowed to take center stage.”

Meet a chef

David Burt is an area chef who co-found-ed the much-beloved vegan restaurant The Red Avocado, which closed in 2012. After the restaurant’s closing, Burt returned to the board of Field to Family, a non-profit, local foods advocacy group that serves vegetarians and omnivores alike, and he also started Four Square Meals, a weekly meal subscription service that focuses on local, vegetarian, whole-foods meals.

Bread Garden Market

BREAD & BUTTER 2015 | 23LITTLEVILLLAGEMAG.COM/DINING

D LV RECOMMENDS

DAYLIGHT DONUTS3560 E. Court St., Iowa City | 319-339-0055 daylightdonutsic.com | $

Since its opening in 2011, Daylight Donuts has enjoyed a great deal of word-of-mouth popularity and established itself as a mainstay in Iowa City for a sweet breakfast treat and a good, cheap cup of coffee. It takes pride in its customer service, hometown feel and homemade doughnuts. If you’re feeling adventurous, try their maple bacon longjohns or a sausage roll—a cheddarwurst wrapped in sweet dough and fried.

DEADWOOD TAVERN6 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City | 319-351-9417 | $

This dive bar is big enough that there’s space for everyone, from football fans to people studying, and the nightly specials offer some good deals—look for the creatively decorated specials board out front. See page 45.

DELUXE CAKES & PASTRIES812 S. Summit St., Iowa City | 319-338-5000 deluxecakesandpastries.com | $

On any given Saturday, Deluxe is the perfect embodiment of a neighborhood joint: Parents sip coffee while their kids read or play in the little front yard; a St. Bernard lolls on the stoop; someone stops in for a freshly made cronut and ends up staying, chatting, for the better part of the day. In addition to being a charming gathering place, Deluxe has sinfully delicious, buttery baked goods; try a petit four or macaron, and good luck stopping after just one!

DEVOTAY117 N. Linn St., Iowa City | 319-354-1001 devotay.net | $$$

An Iowa City pioneer in the locavore movement, Devotay features small plates and artful cocktails, along with beer and wine, in their small, intimate space. See page 12.

DONNELLY’S PUB110 E. College St., Iowa City | 319-338-7355 donnellyspub-ic.com | $$

This bar and restaurant is a madhouse on Hawkeye game days, as are most bars in the greater downtown area. Try to go at a quieter time, get a basket of wings and some “frickles” (fried pickles) and enjoy a beer in the dark-wooded interior. Also, free popcorn! See page 68.


At Trumpet Blossom we specialize

in creative seasonal dishes while

focusing on sustainability by using

no animal products and sourcing

as many local ingredients as

possible. We are committed to using

organically-grown items because

food should comfort and nourish

you as well as the land that provides

it and the folks who grow it.

Kitchen HoursTuesday-Thursday 11am-9pm

Friday & Saturday 11am-10pm

Sunday Brunch 10am-3pm

Happy HourTuesday-Saturday 2pm-5pm

with appetizers & full bar menu

available

We proudly offer 12 regional beers

on tap, a rotating wine list, and

seasonal housemade cocktails

featuring quality spirits. Enjoy our

shaded creek-side patio and live

music on our custom-built stage.

Trumpet Blossom Café Where Comfort Food is Sustainable

Est. 2012

Katy Meyer, Chef/Owner

310 E Prentiss Street, Iowa City

319.248.0077

trumpetblossom.com

D LV RECOMMENDS

DUBLIN UNDERGROUND5 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City | 319-337-7660 | $

The Dublin is Iowa City’s most authentic Irish bar, popular among pool players, locals and anyone who likes whiskey. See page 68.

EL BANDITOS327 E. Market St., Iowa City | 319-358-2836 elbanditosiowacity.com | $$

Tucked into the Northside neighborhood, El Banditos offers a wide variety of delicious Mexican dishes made from family recipes and local ingredients. Banditos embodies traditional Mexican flavors with an emphasis on fresh and local. Pro tip: Banditos has one of the best brunches in town—don’t miss the chilaquiles with chorizo. See page 44.

EL PASO TAQUERIA AND LATIN MARKET609 Hollywood Blvd., Iowa City 319-338-3703 | $

Inside El Paso bodega is a food counter and minimal seating. When the weather’s good, you can sit outside at picnic tables with a view of Highway 6. What it’s lacking in ambience, though, it absolutely makes up for in utter deliciousness. The gigantic burritos are an adventure in each bite: a bit of cheese here; some killer guac there; and look—there’s the chicken! The tacos and tortas are super authentic. Grab a Mexican Coke and get your order to go, but good luck getting off the couch when you’re done eating.

EXOTIC INDIA102 B 2nd Ave., Iowa City | 319-354-4710, exoticindiarestaurant.com | $$

The best time to go to Exotic India is at lunch, for the buffet, which has a delicious selection of both vegetarian and meat dishes. There are also appetizers and soup, and each table gets a fresh basket of hot naan to sop up the delicious sauces. The dinner menu is vast and interesting, and dinner items are tasty, though they tend to be on the smaller side.

FAIR GROUNDS CAFE345 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City | 319-338-2024 fairgroundscoffeehouse.com | $

This coffee shop, located around the corner from the Greyhound bus station, serves up intriguing vegan twists on traditional dishes. Great for vegans and omnivores alike, Fair Grounds features dishes such as vegan super nachos, with vegan cheese melted over the usual nacho fixings. Fair Grounds is also

home to Howling Dogs Bakery, which makes a variety of baked treats, some of which are gluten-free.

FALBO BROS. PIZZERIA457 S. Gilbert St., Iowa City | 319-337-9090 falbobrosiowa.com | $2100 Norcor Ave., Coralville | 319-248-9090 falbobrospizza.com | $

Offering late-night pizza, Falbo’s is particularly popular among the undergraduate set. See page 36.

FILMSCENE118 E. College St., Iowa City | 319-358-2555 icfilmscene.org | $$

Primarily a movie theater, FilmScene has a good selection of beers on tap and a small selection of wine, which can make those three-hour arthouse movies go by a little faster. There’s also a small selection of locally made snacks, in addition to the traditional popcorn and candy. See page 52.

FORBIDDEN PLANET PIZZA + ARCADE111 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City 319-358-6400 | $$

This brand-new pizza arcade has tasty pizza, a huge selection of drinks, and a video game collection that nerds dream of. See page 8 and 52.

FORMOSA221 E. College St., Iowa City | 319-338-8880 formosadowntown.com | $$$

Located on the first floor of hotelVetro, Formosa boasts a stylish and modern atmosphere along with quick service and great sushi. They’ve got some of the best deals on sushi and drinks during the week, but the place is always quick to fill up at dinner, so get there early.

FUEL NEST103 1st St. E., Mount Vernon | 319-895-8429 | $

If Mount Vernon had a living room, it would be Fuel Nest. College students and locals regularly gather for delicious coffee and baked goods. See page 40.

FUNCREST DAIRY & GRILL3977 W. Overlook Rd. N.E., Iowa City 319-351-4141 | $

Ride your bike out to Funcrest in the summer and reward yourself with a root beer float


Under the sun & stars

The Mill 120 E. Burlington St., Iowa City

Downtown, it makes sense to start at The Mill, where the midday sun shines bright on the large, comfortable patio, which boasts wooden benches and lots of tables. The Mill has a broad selection of local tap beers, interesting imports and fresh, herbal cocktails. Start with a Sutliff cider and a half order of the chicken nachos, sitting on a bench with your feet up on a chair, a book in your lap and the sun in your face.

Atlas127 Iowa Ave., Iowa City

As the sun dips behind the restaurant, slink cat-like to Atlas, perhaps best known for its prime patio location. Theirs is the perfect sunny perch

to enjoy a mojito, the succulent “shrimp Voodoo” or a Thai chicken satay salad, and some prime people-watching.

Basta121 Iowa Ave., Iowa City

Then, inch next door to Basta, where happy hour is a rite of spring, and rightly so: There is little better than watching the sun set over the Pentacrest while sipping prosecco and noshing on a properly charred thin-crust pizza, a lavish meat and cheese plate, or a killer salad with seared steak, beets, gorgonzola and pistachios.

30hop900 E. 2nd Ave., Coralville

If you’re looking to get out of downtown, head

Watch the moon rise, and breathe with gratitude.

to the Iowa River Landing, where you can sample from the extensive menu and enjoy a beer while luxuriating on the mammoth rooftop patio at 30hop. The cast of 60 or so draft beers changes regularly, and you can be sure there’s something on their expertly curated list you’ve just been dying to try.

tuscan moon grill on FiFth203 5th St., Kalona

And sometimes, especially on those perfectly sunny days where you find yourself breathless from Iowa’s beauty, you’ve got to get out to the country. About 20 miles southwest of Iowa City lies the tiny little burg of Kalona. Among the Amish residents and well-tended antique shops sits one of the loveliest patios in the area, at Tuscan Moon. Spend the day shopping, have a beer and play some Scrabble at Kalona Brewing Company, and then repair to the patio at “The Moon” for a grilled steak or a creative and succulent fish special; no matter what, if they’re available that night, get the cheesy, pillowy potato cakes. Watch the moon rise over the open Kalona skies, sip a hearty cabernet from the vast wine list and breathe with gratitude.

RECOMMENDED: PATIOS

If timed correctly, you could follow the path of the sun and the rise of the moon on the patios of area restaurants, while enjoying a variety of creative and gratifying treats.

30hop



Takanami has been a mainstay in downtown Iowa City for a decade. Focusing on Asian-inspired

cuisine and award-winning sushi, Takanami recently added Teppan grills to its line up of impressive cuisine. The Teppan experience is equal parts theatrical show and social dining as the chefs prepare the food on grills in front of the diners.

Eating at Givanni’s is a timeless experience. This

downtown restaurant has been offering made-from-scratch Italian cuisine for 30 years. The tantalizing menu features homemade pastas such as Sweet Potato Ravioli and Gnocchi, hand-rolled flat bread pizzas, and steaks that rival the best in Iowa City. The ambiance at Givanni’s is equally as inspiring, offering diners an incomparable atmosphere with an art deco flair & original artwork.

Formosa’s vibrant location at the gateway to the Ped Mall in Iowa City offers a hip venue for some of the

most sought after sushi in the Midwest. Formosa has become known for some of its untraditional menu items like its most popular sushi roll, the Las Vegas and its Cotton Candy Martini which is served a top a cloud of spun sugar. With over 40 sushi rolls on its menu, Formosa is perfect for both a sushi novice and connoisseur.

G LV RECOMMENDS

while you perch atop the Coralville Dam and enjoy the view. See page 49.

GABBY’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT1100 N. Columbus, West Liberty 319-627-7178 | $

What it lacks in ambience, Gabby’s Mexican Restaurant makes up for in flavor and authenticity. The menu in this teeny restaurant features Mexican-style “street tacos”—corn tortillas, meat, onion, cilantro and lime—and other traditional Mexican dishes, like tortas and menudo. For the less-adventurous among us, there are also Americanized dishes and combination plates.

GABE’S OASIS330 E. Washington St., Iowa City 319-351-9175 | icgabes.com | $

This legendary dive bar and music venue is practically dripping with music cred; pretty much any Iowa City music fan can regale you with tales of the band who passed through town and played Gabe’s before they were famous. Independent of the music scene, Gabe’s is a well-seasoned, slightly gritty watering hole with a vast beer garden that’s a great place to bum an American Spirit. Expect a no-frills, PBR-and-whiskey crowd. See page 68.

GEORGE’S BUFFET312 E. Market St., Iowa City | 319-351-9614 | $

Locals, whiskey, beer and cheeseburgers make George’s a favorite with the Iowa City crowd. See page 10.

GEYER’S OVEN1259 Rohret Rd. S.W., Oxford | 319-325-6609 geyersovenbreadandpizza.com | $

In summers only, Geyer’s serves delicious wood-fired pizza in an idyllic setting; check their Facebook page for weekly updates. See page 10.

GIVANNI’S109 E. College St., Iowa City | 319-338-5967 givannis.net | $$$

Step into Givanni’s and find yourself amid original 1880’s brick and contemporary abstract impressionist artwork. Sip on a glass of wine from an extensive drink menu and order your favorite Italian-American dish, like their Chicken Marsala, dripping with creamy sauce. Give the patio a try during the summer, and enjoy dining al fresco while live music resonates in the background from the Friday Night Concert Series.

GOLDEN DELIGHT BAKERY 2289 Johnson Washington Rd., Kalona 319-646-3030 | $

Run by an Amish family, the gaslit Golden Delight Bakery makes impossibly fluffy, decadent glazed donuts, cinnamon rolls and a variety of breads, pastries and pies. You can also find children’s books containing Amish morality tales, quilts, preserves, handmade rocking chairs and Grandfather clocks. Make sure to call before you go, as their hours are sporadic.

GREYHOUND DELI & FRONTIER HERBS1100 3rd St. S.E., Cedar Rapids (at NewBo City Market) | 319-200-4050 facebook.com/greyhounddeli | $$

Located inside the NewBo City Market, Greyhound Deli focuses on local food, sourcing as many ingredients as possible from other vendors in the Cedar Rapids market. They also locally source their chicken, beef, eggs and seasonal produce. Sandwiches, soups and salads are all made from scratch, and there is a large selection of vegetarian and vegan fare.


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FURNITURE | LIGHTING | HOUSEWARES | ACCESSORIESfrom the world’s greatest classic and contemporary designers

On the corner of Dodge & Davenport | Iowa City

319. 354. 2623 | [email protected]

Delicious

GET THE FREE IOWA CITY EVENTS APP: TEXT “IOWA” TO 77948

GUMBY’S PIZZA702 S. Gilbert St., Iowa City | 319-354-8629 gumbyspizzeria.com | $$

Gumby’s cheesy garlic bread sticks, or “Pokey stix,” are as much an Iowa City institution as Hawkeye football for the undergrad crowd. They are open late and deliver in the area until 2 a.m. or later.

HAMBURG INN NO. 2, INC214 N. Linn St., Iowa City | 319-337-5512 hamburginn.com | $$

This Iowa City landmark is super popular with families, students and politicians. See page 42. HER SOUP KITCHEN625 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City | 319-354-1602 hersoupkitchen.com | $$

Alongside salads and sandwiches made with fresh, local ingredients, Her Soup Kitchen offers handcrafted soups that change daily and that range from beef chili, to poblano pepper, to chicken corn chowder and butternut squash bisque.

HEYN’S ICE CREAM811 S. 1st Ave., Iowa City | 319-354-1981 | $

Family-owned Heyn’s is off the beaten downtown path, but its homemade ice cream is worth a little detour. See page 49.

HIGH GROUND CAFE301 E. Market St., Iowa City | 319-338-5382 highgroundcafe.com | $

Enjoy pour-over coffee or an espresso drink at this popular downtown study space. See page 40.

HILLTOP TAVERN1100 N. Dodge St., Iowa City | 319-338-3063 hilltoptavernnorthside.com | $$

The Hilltop Tavern has been a Deweyville neighborhood joint since 1933; in more recent years, they’ve added a selection of video games and pool tables, and they regularly host euchre tournaments. The kitchen stays open until 1 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and the menu is surprisingly vast for a late-night bar. Regulars swear by the reuben and the patty melt, and more adventurous diners can order a basket of deep-fried chicken gizzards or livers.


Meet Your Farmer By Courtenay Bouvier and Kate Conlow

On their small farm nestled between Solon and Mount Vernon, Lois Pavelka and Bill Ellison of Pavelka’s Point Meats have set the local

standard for sustainable livestock production.


Lois Pavelka and Bill Ellison operate Pavelka’s Point Meats, raising livestock on their

combined farms between Mount Vernon and Solon. You can regularly find Lois at area farmers’ markets, including Iowa City’s downtown and winter markets and the Mount Vernon market. Their consistently delicious meats are regularly featured on the menus at Devotay, El Banditos, Kalona Brewing Company, Motley Cow Cafe, Orchard Green, Salt Fork Kitchen and Sanctuary Pub.

How did you get into the livestock business?

Lois Pavelka: The basic facts are: My husband [a crop farmer] died; Bill was the neighbor, his wife had died. We had a big farm sale to get rid of my machinery, and after that he told me he loved me.

Bill says, “We can farm.” I say, “Oh. No.” And then he said, we can farm, and we did. You know—he convinced me. And then he said we’ll never survive doing corn and beans—doing that kind of farming—so he says, “You can do farmers’ markets.” So the day I retired [from being a school nurse for the Mount Vernon Community School District], I did my first farmers’ market in 2006 in Mount Vernon. We started with pork. We added lamb. And then we added beef.

Bill, Did you raise livestock before? Was that your thing?

Bill Ellison: That’s all I’ve ever done.

LP: No, it’s not all he’s ever done. He’s also been a long-distance truck driver with Jim [Ellison, Bill’s brother]. And he’s also been an auctioneer since he was 17. And I’m not biased at all, but he’s really good [at auctioning]. He works at Sharpless once in a while and then he did the produce [auction in Kalona] all summer.

So he swept you off your feet?

LP: Yes, and we started farming all over like 20-year-olds, purchasing used machinery. He is just always is a risk taker, and I’m real conservative. And when we really started doing farmers’ markets, I had retired then and somebody told me, “Oh, you should do Iowa City.” And I said, “Oh, no, I’m afraid of Iowa City, I don’t know anything about it, it’s hard to drive around.” I’m a country bumpkin [laughs].

BE: That’s where all the weirdos live.

LP: And my gosh, I fell in love with Iowa City. I mean the people. I’ve got relationships. I just get almost emotional. Because Bill laughs, “Your people”—they really are my people.


We feed non-GMO crops, and it does make a

difference—I can see it in the livestock.

There is all this push toward sustainability and environmental farm practices. How does your operation fit into this larger idea?

LP: For one thing, Bill had become adamant, years before people started talking about GMOs, he was saying, “We’re not going to raise GMO beans or corn.”

BE: We were country before country was cool, you know? I’ve never used anhydrous ammonia, I see those going through the field.

LP: And he was always crazy about pesticides—chemicals of any kind.

BE: We feed [our livestock] most of our crops. You talk about sustainable, we’re about as sustainable as anybody could be.

LP: You get the whole cycle, because we’ve got all this corn, beans, sheep, lambs—what did I miss—beef, hogs, horses, chickens … and we feed non-GMO crops and it does make a difference. I can see it in the livestock, you know I can give it a diet of this and a diet of this and you can just see it change.

So to what do you attribute the quality of your product?

LP: They are raised outside, they have kind of a normal life. They come inside and sleep, they go outside and play ... we have a pasture down by the Cedar River, and that’s where Bill takes hogs—mothers and babies, sows and pigs—in the summer, and they stay down there. It’s sandy, and they can roll around.

What are your thoughts on the future of small farms?

LP: I’d like to think there’s going to be an upsurge of small farms.

BE: There’ll be more people like us, who choose to learn our set-up, because we can’t do this forever, you know.

Do you have an emotional attachment to the animals?

BE: Oh, I do. I do more than Lois does … I can put tears in my eyes if I sat here and thought about it, you know ... I get more involved with

the cattle. A pig is a hard thing to get attached to, especially the son of a bitch who won’t pause when you’re trying to load him, you know, and they bite you and they hurt you… the lambs. I have a hard time with the lambs, because lambs are gentle and they’re the lamb of God type thing.

What are the challenges and rewards of being small business owners?

LP: Juggling the money.

BE: I just like to work. I do. One of my mantras is when I come in at night, all my animals will have been fed, watered and bedded to the best of my ability or I don’t come to the house.


Find it all, all the time.

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For Iowa City area events and entertainment information,download our free app: "Little Village - Best of IC"


Head over heels

la Quercialaquercia.us

There is plenty of head to go around in Iowa City. Probably its most accessible form is guanciale, affectionately known as “face bacon.” Norwalk, Iowa’s famous La Quercia uses pork jowl to make killer guanciale, which is an unsmoked, herbacious, intensely porky addition to any recipe, or the foundation for a next-level BLT. Look for guanciale on area menus, where it appears occasionally, or order directly from the La Quercia website (laquercia.us); unfortunately, their guanciale is unavailable in Iowa City area groceries, though many of La Quercia’s other delectable meats are.

la regia taQueria 436 Hwy. 1, Iowa City

Two different, equally succulent head offerings are available at La Regia Taqueria for your enjoyment: cabeza (beef cheek) or lengua (beef tongue). Both meats are marinated, braised until infinitely tender and chopped fine, and they are available in any one of La Regia’s many dishes. The smoked arbol hot sauce is exquisite on a street-style cabeza taco, which is served in two soft corn tortilla shells and topped with raw onion, cilantro and a squeeze of lime; in fact, any of the house-made hot sauces are the perfect foil for the rich, fatty meats.

szechuan house 320 E. Burlington St., Iowa City

You can also enjoy some excellent tongue at Szechuan House. Though tripe can often be rubbery or have a too-funky aroma, the tripe in Szechuan House’s ox tongue and tripe with chili sauce has an almost vegetal freshness and texture, providing a perfect contrast to the chewy, earthy ox tongue. The housemade chili oil, which has a perfect bass note of fermented black bean, elevates the dish to a sublime experience of textural contrast with the slow onset of exquisite heat.

sushiya745 Community Dr. #A, North Liberty

Perhaps you prefer your head in fishy form. At Sushiya, when you order the amaebi (sweet shrimp) nigiri, you will be presented not only with plump, raw shrimp on a little nugget of rice, you will also receive the lightly fried, tempura-battered heads. Grab the head by the snout and forelegs (these are not scientific terms) and bite into it; the shell, when fried, becomes a delicious, crunchy and entirely edible casing for savory bits of meat and deliciously creamy shrimp brain—but don’t eat the eyes, or else they’ll be able to see your insides on the way down ….

EXPERIENCE: ONE INGREDIENT

Experience some of the most succulent, yet frequently underused, parts of mammals and fish when you explore the culinary beauties of the head. From “face bacon” to lengua, wasting these above-the-neck ingredients is a crime against the tastebuds.

La Regia

I LV RECOMMENDS


INDIA CAFÉ227 E. Washington St., Iowa CIty 319-354-2775 | indiacafeiowa.com | $$

The lunch buffet at India Café is vast and varied, containing both vegetarian and meat entrees and a variety of salads and condiments. Their aloo channa chat—a spicy snack of chick peas, potatoes and onions—will cool your palate in between the richer curries and provides a nice textural foil to the rest of the buffet. There is also a menu that offers delicious variety.

IOWA CHOP HOUSE 223 E. Washington St., Iowa City 319-359-1078 | theiowachophouse.com | $$$

One of Iowa City’s newer establishments, this restaurant proudly emphasizes steaks and chops, including sirloin, porterhouse and filet mignon, which can be spiced up with bold flavors such as blue cheese crust, béarnaise sauce or bacon butter. What really sets this place apart is their vast, interesting and thoughtful lineup of local and regional craft beers that you can learn about at their interactive, self-serve beer tap.

IOWA RIVER POWER RESTAURANT501 1st Ave., Coralville | 319-351-1904 iowariverpower.net | $$$

Offering a fantastic view of the Iowa River, this turn-of-the-century power plant turned restaurant is most known for its Sunday brunch, though they also offer dinner seven days a week. IRP is an Iowa City favorite and destination for visiting parents and alumni, so weekends can be very busy. See page 44. JAVA HOUSE211 1/2 E. Washington St., Iowa City 319-341-0012 713 Mormon Trek Blvd., Iowa City 319-887-1215 200 Hawkins Dr., Iowa City | 319-356-1817 1575 1st Ave. S., Iowa City | 319-248-2074 thejavahouse.com | $

The Java House exudes community; what should be a quick coffee run soon turns into a social affair. Customers even have the opportunity to join the live audience of Iowa Public Radio’s “Java Blend” Fridays at 2 p.m. at the Washington Street location. Cozy antique furniture and beautiful artwork create a comfortable ambience, so grab a good book and a fresh-brewed cup of coffee from their pour-over coffee bar, and settle in.


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Artists in 2015

Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn | Justin Townes Earle

Daniel Lanois | Jad Abumrad | Tweedy | Father John Misty

TO YOUR NEXT CONFERENCE, EVENT, OR NIGHT ON THE TOWN.

The Englert Theatre offers affordable rates for conferences, weddings, private parties, and other events. For more information, contact executive director Andre Perry at [email protected]


Counter productiveThe Iowa City area has many options that cater to your schedule without skimping on flavor or quality.

noDo 600 N. Dodge St., Iowa City | 319-512-5028 5 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City | 319-359-1181 | nodoiowacity.com

With competitive prices, Nodo has the upper hand of having a creative menu and being meticulously crafted. The selections range from wraps to burgers, and the downtown Iowa City location has prime outside seating when the weather permits. The original Northside spot still wins for being tucked away in an Ace Hardware, though. Who doesn’t love that?

oasis FalaFel206 N. Linn St., Iowa City | 319-358-7342 | oasisfalafel.com

In addition to its vast menu of traditional Middle Eastern dishes, Oasis has perfectly crunchy falafel coupled with the best hummus in the area. Their garnish bar features house-made sauces and fresh vegetable toppings, and their french fries are an outstandingly tender and fluffy accompaniment for any sandwich.

teDDy’s Bigger Burgers324 E. Washington St., Iowa City | 319-354-6888 teddysbiggerburgers.com

This neon-lit joint sells delicious, fast-food style burgers with a twist: Hawaiian-style sauce and char from the flame grill give the burgers an addictive flavor and set them apart.

mami’s authentic mexican FooD service221 S. Gilbert St., Iowa City | 319-354-6264 mamisauthentic.com

Open until 3 a.m. on weekends, Mami’s offers a diverse menu of Mexican staples. Their food is cheap, their staff makes it fast and they deliver.

sushi kicchin Old Capitol Mall, 201 S. Clinton St., Iowa City319-338-1606

A fast, cheaper but still delicious approach to typically pricey Japanese cuisine, Sushi Kicchin’s menu includes traditional rolls like shrimp tempura and spicy tuna, as well as some creative and unconventional options. Order for take out, or snag one of the few seats at the restaurant’s counter.

RECOMMENDED: QUICK BITES

Nodo Downtown

Sushi Kicchin



bring the restaurant homeGOURMET PREPARED FOODS • GRAB AND GO • SPECIALTY GROCERY

225 S. LINN ST • IOWA CITY WWW.BREADGARDENMARKET.COM

319.354.4246

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sandwiches • salads • wraps • soup coffee • cookies • beer • wine

Quick, Easy and Delicious!

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J LV RECOMMENDS

JIMMY JACK’S RIB SHACK1940 Lower Muscatine Rd., Iowa City 319-354-7427 | jimmyjacksribshack.com | $$

Responding to a lack of good barbecue in Iowa City, Jimmy Jack’s owners opened the Eastside rib shack in 2005. Since then, it’s established itself as an outpost for tender smoked meats, addictive honey butter cornbread and house-made barbecue sauces—the Carolina mustard sauce is tangy and the perfect complement to the rich meat dishes. The family-style environment is casual, the staff is knowledgeable and friendly, and you can enjoy a bottle of beer while you chow down on ribs and thick-cut, seasoned fries.

JOE’S PLACE115 Iowa Ave., Iowa City | 319-338-6717 joesplace-ic.com | $

If you go to Joe’s on a Hawkeye game day, be prepared to be crowded among hundreds of enthusiastic, probably drunk university alumni. It’s better to go when it’s less crowded, so you can enjoy the bar games or sit in the little beer garden out back, enjoying free popcorn and a draft beer.

JOHN’S GROCERY401 E. Market St., Iowa City | 319-337-2183 johnsgrocery.com | $

This grocery store is a Northside institution, selling a small selection of groceries and a vast selection of beer, wine and liquor; there is also a deli and bakery. See page 62.

JOSEPH’S STEAKHOUSE212 S. Clinton St., Iowa City | 319-358-0776 josephssteak.com | $$$$

For nearly a decade, Iowa City residents, UI students and their families have gathered at Joseph’s Steakhouse for many a post-game or


You’re old-school: A & A Pagliai’s 302 E. Bloomington St., Iowa City

There’s nothing on Pagliai’s menu except for pizza, but that’s never hurt their popularity. Italian-American pizza with a thin crust, sweet yet savory sauce and a variety of traditional toppings draws lots of families to this pizza parlor that could be mistaken for a set in The Godfather. Enjoy watching the paper-hatted men in the window tossing and topping the crust.

You’re feeling fancy: lincoln wine Bar 125 1st St. N.W., Mount Vernon

The folks at Lincoln Wine Bar use quality Italian products—like double zero flour and San Marzano tomatoes—to create authentically Neapolitan, thin-crust, wood-fired pizzas that feature local, seasonal toppings whenever possible. The Wine Bar also offers excellent espresso, tinned fish delicacies from Spain and a

Pie chart

gorgeously curated selection of interesting wine and boutique beers.

You’re drunk: FalBo’s457 S. Gilbert St., Iowa City

If you’re drunk and hungry at 2 a.m., with less than four bucks in your pocket, Falbo’s is the place to go. Falbo’s offers huge, hearty slices of pizza. They also have an easy-going staff, and it isn’t hard to get stuck watching them hypnotically throw pies across the room. You’re not hungry for pizza: mesa 114 E. Washington St., Iowa City

Mesa has a relaxed atmosphere and is smack dab in the middle of downtown, so you barely need to walk to get pizza. Mesa’s toppings set them apart; expect things like mac ‘n’ cheese, onion rings or Philly cheesesteak. Just imagine your favorite meal; now imagine it in pizza form—chances are they have it at Mesa.

You’re British: wig anD Pen1220 Hwy. 6 W., Iowa City

This spot could probably get by on reputation alone. Consistently voted the best pizza place in all of Iowa, Wig and Pen is a favorite among families, students and sports fans. Their signature pan pizza, the “Flying Tomato,” has a cult following, and the menu also features a traditional selection of pub fare, if pizza’s not your thing.

Whether you’re looking for a quick slice on your way home from the bar, a wood-fired artisanal pie or something in between, there is a pizza for you.

RECOMMENDED: PIZZA


You’re staying in: the weDge 517 S. Riverside Dr., Iowa City

Geared toward a slightly more mature palate than the average late-night delivery places, The Wedge uses high-quality ingredients in interesting combinations to craft their creative specialty pizzas. “The Nutcracker” is a local favorite: Toppings include a blend of melty gorgonzola, pistachios, roasted red peppers and garlicky pesto. There are other, more conventional topping choices, too, but why not live on the (w)edge?

Lincoln Wine Bar

PIZZA PUBOn the coralville strip

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“This Iowa City favorite offers everything from deep dish to thin crust, and the Flying Tomato…essentially

the just-right Goldilocks version of pizza.”– ZAGAT

1220 Hwy 6 West Iowa City, IA 52246 www.wigandpenpizza.com

Open 11:00 AM Daily

319-354-2767Locally owned since 1993



Fabian Seafood McWane Dairy Queen parking lot 526 S. Riverside Dr., Iowa City

The first time someone told me about the shrimp truck, I was sure she was joking. I mean, why would I believe that there’s a truck that magically appears in the parking lot of a Dairy Queen, once a month, and sells pounds and pounds of wild-caught shrimp, red snapper, oysters and crab out of ice-filled coolers? She wasn’t lying. Beginning each spring and monthly through summer, Fabian Seafood drives a truck full of freshly harvested seafood up from Galveston, Texas, sets up shop at McWane Dairy Queen on Riverside Drive and blesses us all with treats from the deep. To get on their mailing list and receive alerts of their impending arrival, sign up at fabianseafood.com.

Watery mainsThough Iowa is far from any ocean, that doesn’t mean we’re lacking in fresh, well-prepared seafood. Whether cooked or raw, the quality of fish and shellfish in Iowa can evoke memories of the sea.

freshly focused flavors, like a Zen koan of tiny brilliance.

Clinton Street Social Club 18 ½ S. Clinton St., Iowa City

Freshly shucked oysters are regularly featured at Clinton Street Social Club and the Motley Cow Cafe. Diners may be skeptical of eating oysters so far from the ocean, but—as any fish monger can tell you—if the oysters are firmly closed before shucking, they’re alive, and, well, it doesn’t get much fresher than “alive.”

Motley Cow Cafe 160 N. Linn St., Iowa City

The fish specials at the Motley Cow are always seasonally focused, featuring nuanced, interesting sauces and accompaniments that let the fish truly shine. A recent favorite featured halibut with a light pumpernickel crust, served in delicate tomato broth with arbequina olives and watercress; the fish took center stage, and each bite highlighted how fresh it was.

Konomi 843 Quarry Rd. #140, Coralville There is also stellar sushi in the Iowa City area. In addition to their intriguing artisanal sake menu, Konomi, at the Iowa River Landing in Coralville, features artfully rendered sushi rolls. Options range from more Westernized treats like the Philly roll (salmon, cream cheese and scallions), to the traditional spider roll, featuring soft-shell crab. They are beautifully presented, well-made and tasty.

Sushiya 745 Community Dr. #A, North Liberty

For nigiri, sashimi and small plates, the newly opened Sushiya, in North Liberty, is as good as any sushi on the coasts, or anywhere, really. I hate to use the adjective “buttery,” as it seems cliché, but I honestly could have mistaken the scallop nigiri for perfectly tempered butter: I held it in my mouth and waited for it to melt. Tuna tataki with ponzu and onion is exquisitely simple, and their tako sunomono—cooked octopus with a light, smoky vinegar dressing and slivers of raw cucumber—is so clean and has such bright, freshly focused flavors, it’s like a Zen koan of tiny brilliance.

RECOMMENDED: SEAFOOD

Sushiya


THE OF REAL ESTATE PERFECTED.

506 E. College St. • Iowa City, IA

ALAN SWANSONADAM PRETORIUSTIM CONROY319.321.3129

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K LV RECOMMENDS

graduation steak. The menu has recently seen some exciting changes; now, in addition to their steak and fresh seafood entrees, diners can enjoy a variety of small plates, sandwiches and salads, all alongside an extensive wine list.

KALONA BREWING COMPANY405 B Ave., Kalona | 329-656-3335 kalonabrewing.com | $$$

In addition to the beers it brews on site, KBC also has a restaurant that offers a variety of appetizers, entrees and thin-crust pizzas. They also have a giant Scrabble board to keep patrons entertained while they drink. See page 56.

KONOMI RESTAURANT843 Quarry Rd., Coralville | 319-351-2880 konomigrill.com | $$$

One of the best sushi restaurants in the area, Konomi brings top-grade sushi and a nice selection of beverages to Coralville’s Iowa River Landing. See page 38.

KOREAN BBQ624 S. Gilbert St., Iowa City | 319-351-7000 $$$

The space at 624 S. Gilbert St. has seen quite a bit of change over the past couple of years since Aeoshe closed shop in 2010, but it seems the current occupant, Korean BBQ, might be here for more than a little while. The space has changed little since Aeoshe, including the strange bridge over a pond when you walk in. When you go, sit at one of their barbecue tables and get the bulgogi, marinated beef that you grill at your table.

LA REGIA (formerly La Michoacana)436 Hwy. 1, Iowa City | 319-341-8226 | $

When “the taco truck” first appeared in Iowa City, the masses rejoiced—so much so that the truck moved into a permanent location, now known as La Regia. Easily the most authentic Mexican food in town, it’s a no-frills place with a bodega and meat market attached. See page 32.

LEAF KITCHEN301 1/2 Kirkwood Ave., Iowa City 319-338-1909 | leafkitchen.com | $$

This small, quirky restaurant serves breakfast, brunch and lunch, and its offerings are consistently creative, often local and always delicious. See page 42.


caFFe crema 1401 5th St., Coralville

With two locations less than a mile from each other, Caffe Crema offers variations on coffee standards—flavored espresso drinks, drip coffee—as well as a variety of other drinks, such as Thai tea, bubble tea and siphon-press coffee.

Fuel nest103 1st St. E., Mount Vernon

The coffee is delicious, hot and fresh, but what really sets Fuel apart are its atmosphere and its baked goods. The place feels like the living room of your most eccentric friend, rich with tapestries, art and tchotchkes, many of which are available for purchase. And the baked goods are, quite simply, ridiculously exquisite.

high grounD caFe301 E. Market St., Iowa City

This Northside coffee shop has an ambitious coffee program, offering eight different roasts from Kickapoo Coffee. Setting them apart is their pour-over bar, where drip coffee is made to order.

Prairie lights Books anD caFe15 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City

Located on the second floor of a bookstore, Prairie Lights Cafe has arguably the best espresso and coffee drinks in town. Many of the friendly employees are career baristas, and their experience is evident in the delicious drinks.

waterstreet coFFee Bar925 E. 2nd Ave., Coralville

Curating a rotation of seasonal coffee beans from some of the country’s more interesting roasteries, this is one of the area’s newer coffee shops. The quiet atmosphere and minimal decor read, “We take our coffee seriously.” And they do.

Local Roasters

wake uP iowa city The beans roasted by Wake Up Iowa City are available at many local restaurants and grocery stores. They also make Cobra Verde, a highly caffeinated elixir, and Wake Up Iowa Coffee Stout in collaboration with Backpocket Brewery.

caFe Del sol roastingThe area’s veteran roaster, Cafe del Sol is a staple at many restaurants and grocery stores. They also sell pre-made cold-brew coffee.

BlueBirD DinerThis Northside diner roasts and packages their own coffee, which they sell at area grocery stores like Hy-Vee and John’s.

A worthy buzzWhether you like your coffee brewed and black, or you prefer an indulgent treat topped with whipped cream, the Iowa City area has plenty of options for a caffeinated kick.

The skillof careerbaristas,evident inevery drink.

RECOMMENDED: COFFEE

Prairie Lights CafePrairie Lights Cafe



Join us for the eclectic flavors and experiences at the Edgewater Grille and River Bar, both located in the Coralville Marriott. Enjoy classic American fare and expertly created cocktails and craft beers elevated within an atmosphere of modern style and comfort.

S AT I S F A C T I O N E L E V AT E D.

CORALVILLE MARRIOTT HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTER300 East 9th Street | Coralville, Iowa 52241319-688-4000 | CoralvilleMarriott.com

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LEPIC-KROEGER, REALTORS®

IOWA CITY, IA

L LV RECOMMENDS

LIGHTHOUSE INN SUPPER CLUB6905 Mount Vernon Rd. S.E., Cedar Rapids 319-362-3467 | crlighthouseinn.com | $$$

If you grew up in Cedar Rapids, there’s a good chance your grandpa used to make you go to the Lighthouse once a week for ribs. Established in 1912, the Lighthouse Inn is the stuff of legend. Did Chicago mobsters really go there to hide out? Possibly. Did John Dillinger’s gun shoot a hole in the wall? That’s what they say. If nothing else, the kitschy, nautical decor and devoted clientele make it worth a visit.

LINCOLN WINE BAR125 1st St. W., Mount Vernon | 319-895-9463 foodisimportant.com | $$$

Featuring an Italian-made brick oven and a talented staff, Lincoln Wine Bar delivers quality pizzas, small plates and, of course, wine and beer. See page 37.

LINN STREET CAFE121 N. Linn St., Iowa City | 319-337-7370 linnstreetcafe-hub.com | $$$

Relax on the patio on the calm yet captivating North Linn Street, the namesake for this elegant restaurant. In addition to flavorful food, Linn Street Cafe offers a wine menu of roughly 200 different wines, as well as educational wine tastings and coursed dinners with wine pairings.

LION BRIDGE BREWING COMPANY59 16th Ave. S.W., Cedar Rapids | 319-200-4460 | lionbridgebrewing.com | $$

Winning a Great American Beer Festival gold medal within their first year of operation, Lion Bridge turns out a selection of complex, tasty beer, which they distribute to area restaurants and also sell in their taproom. See page 8 and 57.

LOS PORTALES1402 S. Gilbert St., Iowa City | 319-358-1308 | $$

With jumbo margaritas and talented food runners balancing hot plates on their arms, Los Portales is a place to enjoy Tex-Mex fare in a cantina-like atmosphere. The service is fast, and the menu is varied and vast.

THE LOST CUBAN209 3rd St. S.E., Cedar Rapids | 319-362-2627 facebook.com/TheLostCuban | $$

It’s worth the trip to downtown Cedar Rapids to taste the food at Lost Cuban. Customers always seem delighted by their Cuban sandwiches and fried plantains, served with dipping sauces. Bring a friend and enjoy a mojito with dinner.

MAGGIE’S FARM PIZZA1100 3rd St. S.E., Cedar Rapids(at NewBo City Market) | 319-200-4050 newbocitymarket.com | $$

You might recognize the Maggie’s Farm Pizza folks from the Iowa City Farmers Market, where they have a stand on Saturdays. Now, you can get their New Haven-style, thin-crust pizza for dinner, too. Pizza devotees swear by their crust, which is perfectly chewy and gets a great char in their super-hot wood oven. The gorgonzola and caramelized onion pie is particularly decadent, and you can’t go wrong with a simple, old-school margherita, made with fresh and local-when-possible ingredients.

MAMA’S DELI & CATERING125 E. Washington St., Iowa City 319-341-0700 | mamasdelicatering.com | $

Homemade, stick-to-your-ribs deli specials, including a variety of sandwiches, salads,


516 E. 2ND STREET • CORALVILLE • 319.337.3000

AN AREA TRADITION FOR OVER 15 YEARS

46 BEERS ON TAPDAILY HAPPY HOUR 3-6

Lazy weekend grazingWherever you find yourself on the brunch spectrum—from a quiet moment of reflection over coffee and a newspaper, to a mimosa-filled celebration of food and friends—you’ll find a satisfying meal at any of these area institutions.

RECOMMENDED: BRUNCH

Leaf Kitchen

augusta restaurant 101 S. Augusta Ave., Oxford augustarestaurant.net

After being displaced to Iowa by Hurricane Katrina, Augusta’s owners brought with them all the spirit, fun and down-home deliciousness of The Big Easy. Brunch treats are lavish, like the crab cakes benedict or the potato-and-tenderloin haystack, and there are traditional breakfast options available, too.

BlueBirD Diner 330 E. Market St., Iowa City thebluebirddiner.com

With a full bar—a key component to any successful brunch—Bluebird Diner’s found a sweet spot where fresh, often-local ingredients, kitschy decor, large portions and creative dishes convene. Though the pun-loaded menu is a bit on the twee side, they make up for this with always tasty, occasionally awesome food,

like their green chili cheese fries, which are anything but twee; in fact, they’re downright life-sustaining.

hamBurg inn no. 2214 N. Linn St., Iowa City hamburginn.com

Iowa City’s oldest family-owned restaurant, Hamburg Inn, is the closest thing Iowa City has to a good, old-fashioned greasy spoon, though its prices are a bit more highbrow than that might imply. It’s largely earned its renown as a regular stop on the campaign trail, hosting many a presidential candidate over the years; for the apolitical among you, stop in and try a pie shake—an entire slice of pie blended into a milkshake. Weird? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely.


M LV RECOMMENDS

TASTY IOWAPOPCORN!

WINE

BEER

______ AND A MOVIE.YOU PICK THE MEAL, WE’LL HANDLE THE FILM.

wraps and soups, draw a busy, downtown lunch crowd to Mama’s Deli. The menu is available for off-site catering, and sandwiches are available on gluten-free bread. MAMI’S AUTHENTIC MEXICAN FOOD SERVICE221 S. Gilbert St., Iowa City | 319-354-6264 mamisauthentic.com | $

Open late, Mami’s serves fast Mexican takeout to the bar crowd, and, conveniently, they also deliver. See page 34.

MASALA INDIAN CUISINE9 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City | 319-338-6199 masalaiowacity.com | $$

Relatively recently, Masala started including meat options on its menu, to appeal to a broader audience, but their vegetarian dishes truly shine. When the lunch buffet features malai kofta, make sure you have plenty of time for a nap after lunch: It’s impossible to not eat way too much of these delicious, vegetable-and-cheese balls and their accompanying tomato cream sauce. MCWANE DAIRY QUEEN526 S. Riverside Dr., Iowa City | 319-338-9328 dairyqueen.com | $

The Riverside Drive Dairy Queen has been in the McWane family since the 1960s, and it maintains its family feel despite being damaged during the tornado of 2006. This DQ sells all the classics, so you can sit on a bench and watch the river go by as you enjoy your Peanut Buster Parfait.

MEKONG RESTAURANT5 Sturgis Corner Dr., Iowa City | 319-354-4754 | mekongic.com | $$

Mekong sells “pan-Asian” food, with the bulk of its menu featuring Americanized Chinese and Thai dishes. They’re tasty, but the restaurant’s best dishes are its Vietnamese staples, like the pho ga, a rich chicken noodle soup that’s good for what ails you. MENDOZA1303 5th St., Coralville | 319-333-1291 mendozawinebar.com | $$$

This warm, intimate wine bar and music venue strives to use as many local and organic sources as possible in their Argentinian and Spanish-inspired fare. A carefully selected and made-from-scratch menu accompanies the more than 100 available wines. Mendoza aims


Augusta


leaF kitchen301 ½ Kirkwood Ave., Iowa City leafkitchen.com

This quirky breakfast, brunch and lunch spot has rightly earned its place as one of Iowa City’s favorite restaurants. Featuring locally sourced products whenever available, Leaf serves some of the most interesting and succulent lunch specials in town. If they’re making a banh mi, get it; otherwise, the BLTEA, a BLT with egg salad and avocado served on homemade bread, is phenomenal. Take a pack of housemade shortbread cookies home with you, and just try not to eat them all in one sitting.

riDe630 Iowa Ave., Iowa City rideiowacity.com

Brand new on the Iowa City restaurant scene, the bicycle-themed Ride offers breakfast, lunch and dinner in a fun, renovated space. Save for the decor, it’s not clear how the bicycle theme fits into the restaurant as a whole, but the food is good, and there are some creative standouts on the menu—like the Creole eggs served with cheddar grits, red beans and andouille, or the Schwinn omelet, with veggies, pulled chicken and hollandaise.

el BanDitos 327 E. Market St., Iowa City elbanditosiowacity.com

Don’t overlook Banditos’ brunch: Their south of the border-inspired spreads make for one of the best breakfasts in Iowa City, and the chilaquiles with chorizo are la bomba.

the iowa river Power restaurant501 1st Ave., Coralville iowariverpower.net

Iowa River Power has a popular Sunday buffet brunch, including a carving station and a Belgian waffle station. Enjoy a mimosa in the historic, refurbished power plant while watching eagles soar over the Iowa River. (We can’t guarantee the presence of eagles.)

the mill restaurant 120 E. Burlington St., Iowa Cityicmill.com

If you’re looking for a downtown brunch that won’t have a long wait, but will have a long list of cocktails and drinks to accompany a straight-forward, no-fuss breakfast plate, The Mill is the place to go.

monDo’s DraFt house516 2nd St., Coralvillemondos.net

This dimly lit restaurant is great for larger groups and for those still experiencing side effects from the previous evening. Mondo’s has one of the most impressive all-you-can-eat buffets with breakfast, lunch and dessert options. Also: they serve bottomless mimosas.

motley cow caFe 160 N. Linn St., Iowa Citymotleycowcafe.com

The brunch buffet at Motley Cow is supplemented by a small a la carte menu. Locals love the lemon pancakes, and the brunch specials are often creative and well-executed.

Pullman Bar anD Diner17 S. Dubuque St., Iowa Citypullmandiner.com

Though new to the Iowa City restaurant scene, Pullman is already a favorite, both for its elegant-yet-relaxed atmosphere and for its diner-inspired menu that gives a nod to both American and French breakfast staples. Also of note: They have a brunch cocktail menu and an excellent coffee program.

salt Fork kitchen 112 E. Main St., Solonsaltforkkitchen.com

Using produce and eggs often sourced from the owner’s farm, Salt Fork Kitchen offers up a local spin on brunch standards, like egg sandwiches and omelets, and they also make a variety of creative breakfast favorites—try the loaded home fries with house-made lamb sausage.

trumPet Blossom caFe310 E. Prentiss St., Iowa City trumpetblossom.com

Enjoy vegan florentine, featuring a house-made English muffin topped with cashew hollandaise, steamed greens and spiced tofu, or opt for something more traditional, like French toast; either way, you can feel good about indulging in the dishes from Trumpet Blossom’s vegan, sustainably sourced kitchen.

Check websites for brunch hours.


The curative powers of the bloody mary cannot be underestimated. Between

nourishing vitamins, hydration and a piquant kick, a bloody mary is sure to banish whatever demons may reside in your hungover soul.

You can do the Sunday crossword with your face in the sun on the Deadwood patio while enjoying an exquisitely balanced bloody mary and talking to some of Iowa City’s most colorful townies. The Deadwood’s is an artfully made, spicy drink, garnished with a pickle spear, two olives and a splash of Guinness; you can also ask for a beef jerky garnish for an extra dollar, if you need a little more sustenance.

In keeping with their overall philosophy of serving fresh, local vegetables, often from the owner’s own farm, Salt Fork Kitchen features a variety of housemade pickles and sauces for their bloodies. The basic SFK bloody is clean, fresh and lightly spiced; you may augment it with the garnishes available—

The bloody mary

on a recent visit there were spicy pickles, dill pickles, pickled carrots, olives, jalapenos, horseradish, homemade hot sauces and fresh celery. The chili garlic sauce deserves special mention; it’s a freshly made version of srira-cha, and the makers of its bottled counterpart should be begging for the recipe.

Finally, as if their regular bloody wasn’t enough, with its peppery kick and bacon, pickled okra and olive garnish, Augusta (pictured) also offers the “Crazy Mary.” For 20 bucks, and on Sundays only, they offer a bloody mary garnished with a veritable sampler plate of Augusta’s specialties: an over-hard egg; a slab of steak; a crab cake; house-made sausage; a biscuit dipped in gravy; a house-made English muffin; a cheese grit cake; fried pork tenderloin; bacon; and house-made french toast. I defy even the most stubborn hangover to live through that!


Microphone check

american legion Post #173016 Muscatine Ave., Iowa City | Friday evenings

Though this spacious and welcoming bar is a bit off the beaten path, it promises not to disappoint. They pour a strong drink, have free popcorn and their karaoke is one of the best in town. In addition to its energetic MC, diverse song selection and impressive sound system, the Legion boasts a gigantic dance floor that encourages all patrons to join in the fun. BuBBleology karaoke325 E. Washington St., Iowa City | Sunday - Wednesday, 3:30-11:30 p.m.; Thursday 3:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m.; Friday-Saturday 3:30 p.m. - 4 a.m.

This subterranean karaoke lounge is perfect for throwing themed parties, as it offers private themed rooms, such as Hawkeye, Super Mario and Hello Kitty. All rooms are equipped with maracas and tambourines for visitors to jam

to the wide selection of songs available. These private karaoke rooms also double as study lounges during the afternoon. In addition to bubble tea, Bubbleology also serves food and dessert, like ramen and grass jelly with fruit. Visitors can stay and sing all night long without going hungry.

no. 18223 S. Gilbert St., Iowa City | Sunday-Thursday, 3-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 3 p.m. - 3 a.m.

Similarly, No. 18 is an Iowa City karaoke establishment offering an intimate setting. Located downtown, this karaoke and bubble tea restaurant is broken into individual rooms where you can belt out all your guilty-pleasure pop songs in luxurious privacy. No. 18 doesn’t serve alcohol, and the karaoke rooms cost money to rent, but their modern decor and sleek technology make this location feel a lot farther from home than it really is.

Turn any night into something to sing about.

EXPERIENCE: KARAOKE

From bass-booming dance clubs and live music venues to quiet hilltop taverns, Iowa City is full of places to let loose, unwind and rock out. And, if you’re ready to take the stage yourself, trust these karaoke joints to turn your night into something to sing about.

Bubbleology


M LV RECOMMENDS

to make both casual drinkers and practiced wine lovers feel comfortable as they listen to the jazz and blues performances that frequent the stage.

MESA PIZZA114 E. Washington St., Iowa City 319-351-6372 | mesapizzaia.com | $

On most evenings, a crowd of devoted undergraduates queue at Mesa for the most bang for their buck—and mac and cheese on pizza offers plenty of bang. See page 36.

MICKY’S IRISH PUB & GRILL11 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City | 319-338-6860 facebook.com/MickysIrishPubGrill | $$

Belly up to the bar, cozy into a window booth or in the summer recline on the patio of Micky’s for a perfect view of Iowa City’s bustling downtown. Micky’s serves up a famous “Conglomeration” sandwich, which includes ham, turkey, Swiss and cheddar cheese. In addition to burgers and sandwiches, they also offer classic bar food with twist. See page 68. THE MILL RESTAURANT120 E. Burlington St., Iowa City | 319-351-9529 icmill.com | $$

There’s a reason The Mill has been immortalized in song and print: It’s an Iowa City institution and a great place to kill time with a beer, especially if there’s a band playing, as there so often is. See page 25, 44 and 68.

MILLSTREAM BREWING COMPANY835 48th Ave., Amana | 319-622-3672 millstreambrewing.com | $$

The dry ciders crafted by Sutliff are handcrafted using apples from many local orchards. The taproom and outdoor seating area are situated in the lovely Iowa countryside, providing a pleasant setting for an afternoon of sipping with friends. See page 56.

MOLLY’S CUPCAKES14 S. Clinton St., Iowa City | 319-333-1297 icmollys.com | $

In addition to offering carefully crafted cupcake combinations, Molly’s also gives a portion of their profits to local schools. Should your inner cupcake desires not be satisfied by their pre-set menu, choose to build your own cupcake and create your perfect treat.


w h i t e d o gIMPORT AUTOSERVICE & SALES

Since 1975

Import Service SpecialistsAudi, VW, BMW, Volvo, Subaru, Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Acura, Nissan, Infiniti, Mazda, Mini Cooper, Jaguar, Land Rover and other imports.

319.337.4616424 Highland Court, Iowa City

WHIT

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M LV RECOMMENDS

MONDO’S DRAFT HOUSE516 2nd St., Coralville | 319-337-3000 mondos.net | $$

In addition to a sizable selection of beer on tap, Mondo’s Draft House serves traditional American pub fare, plus an array of entrees, salads and sandwiches, in a relaxed, sporty environment. See page 44.

MONDO’S SALOON112 E. College St., Iowa City | 319-354-3837 mondossaloon.com | $$

In the winter months, sit at Saloon’s beautiful, 200-year-old Brunswick bar and sip on an añejo tequila. When it’s warm, enjoy one of their margaritas or a sangria on the Ped Mall patio, right in the heart of all the action.

MONICA’S303 2nd St., Coralville | 319-338-7400 monicasonthestrip.com | $$$

Located in an unassuming building on the Coralville strip, Monica’s is unlike many other area restaurants. Setting it apart is the interior, which somehow blends the aesthetics of an old school diner with a posh European hotel lobby. The Italian-American inspired menu is extensive and offers many gluten-free options and substitutions. MOTLEY COW CAFE160 N. Linn St., Iowa City | 319-688-9177 motleycowcafe.com | $$$This Northside neighborhood restaurant focuses on using local, organic food whenever possible to create eclectic, creative flavor combinations, in addition to having a well-curated bar selection. See page 22, 38 and 44.

NEW PIONEER FOOD CO-OP22 S. Van Buren St., Iowa City | 319-338-9441 newpi.coop | $$

Though open to non-members, New Pi is Iowa City’s only foods cooperative, with a selection of both prepared foods and groceries, in addition to beer, wine and spirits. See page 22 and 62.

NO. 18 KARAOKE AND BUBBLE TEA223 S. Gilbert St., Iowa City | 319-333-1265 | $

Rent a room at No. 18, and you and your friends can wail away until the wee hours. See page 46.


N LV RECOMMENDS

NODO600 N. Dodge St., Iowa City | 319-512-5028 nodoiowacity.com | $NODO DOWNTOWN5 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City | 319-359-1181 nodoiowacity.com | $

Both spots serve up excellent sandwiches, and the downtown location has a patio; the other location has the special charm of being in a hardware store. See page 34.

OASIS FALAFEL206 N. Linn St., Iowa City | 319-358-7342 oasisfalafel.com | $

Offering a little bit of the Middle East to Iowa City, Oasis’s super-authentic, super-fresh traditional dishes include their famous falafel and hummus. If they have matzo ball soup, get it. See page 34. ONE TWENTY SIX, MOONRAKERS AND HEARTH126 E. Washington St., Iowa City 319-887-1909 | onetwentysix.net | $$$

Located on Washington Street, One Twenty Six stands in the middle of the hustle and bustle of downtown Iowa City, near many performance venues. The menu features French-American cuisine made with local and organic ingredients when possible. For a real treat, choose their étouffée, a dish prepared with house-made Andouille sausage, smoked chicken, shrimp and basmati rice. Head upstairs to Moonrakers for burgers and other pub fare or to Hearth for a selection of small plates, pizzas and entrees.

ORCHARD GREEN RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE521 S. Gilbert St., Iowa City | 319-354-1642 orchardgreenrestaurant.com | $$$$

This restaurant is split into two sections: a tasteful upstairs dining room with chandeliered cathedral ceilings and white linens, and a more dark and casual lounge area downstairs. The menu features classics prepared fresh, as well as Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. A great place to go on a date, Orchard Green does not sacrifice comfort or intimacy for elegance.

OSAKA JAPANESE RESTAURANT122 E. Washington St., Iowa City 319-338-9988 | osakaiowacity.com | $$

Opened downtown in fall 2014, Osaka’s charming waitstaff serves up an array of Japanese fare, including hibachi, teriyaki and


Cream of the crop

Dane’s Dairy1460 Willow Creek Ct., Iowa City

Tucked away behind a gas station on the outskirts of town lies an adorable time capsule of Iowa City history and delicious ice cream. Each spring, for the past 50 years, Dane’s Dairy, a drive-in ice cream shack staffed by the friendliest crew of gangly teens, reopens and blesses us with sublime cones of fresh strawberry soft serve. There are other frozen treats on their vast menu, including a signature ice cream bar made with hot fudge and peanuts, but it seems there are, sadly, never enough days in summer to try them all. Curiously, there is also an assortment of what appear to be carousel animals installed around the property, so you can sit on a little metal horse while you eat your cone, and pretend you’re in a David Lynch movie. Or just sit at one of the picnic tables; the ice cream will still be exactly what you need on a hot summer evening.

Funcrest Dairy anD grill3977 W. Overlook Rd. N.E., Iowa City

Located near the Coralville Reservoir, Funcrest Dairy and Grill is open seasonally on evenings and weekends. Funcrest offers campers, cyclists and beach-goers traditional summer food: ice cream, burgers and fried goodness. The chocolate or vanilla soft serve, which is extra

rich and creamy, can be served in a cone, and also with fruit or candy to make it a shake, sundae or “Cyclone” (Funcrest’s version of a Blizzard). Funcrest is also the halfway point on one of the area’s most popular bike rides, and there’s little better than a root beer float to help you refuel for the hilly return to Iowa City.

heyn’s ice cream Parlor811 S. 1st Ave., Iowa City

Open year-round, Heyn’s has more than 40 flavors of hard ice cream, all made in-house. Flavors range from the decadent to the divine and include a stunningly creamy coconut chip, flecked with coconut and dark chocolate, as well as banana pudding, studded with vanilla wafers and as lavish as its namesake treat. There’s also a full menu of shakes and soft-serve confections. Hand-scooped pints are available to go, so if you can’t decide on a flavor, take some home and try them all. wilton’s canDy kitchen310 Cedar St., Wilton

A 30-minute drive will take you to Wilton, Iowa, home to the world’s longest continuously running ice cream parlor, open during warmer months. Opened in 1860, Wilton’s Candy Kitchen is listed on the National Historic Register, and the interior and exterior have

changed little since they opened. Sit on one of the round chrome bar stools and talk to the current owners, George and Thelma Nopoulos, who will surely have a recommendation for what to order. The ice cream is homemade, along with many of the toppings. Try the banana split, or sip on a phosphate and reminisce.

yotoPia 132 S. Clinton St., Iowa City

Amid the profusion of fro-yo shops that have opened in the Iowa City area over the past couple of years, Yotopia stands apart. For one, it is owned locally by Veronica Tessler, who makes a point to engage the community through various projects, including public art. Tessler has also built relationships with Iowa dairies, and you can taste the efforts in what is certainly the creamiest frozen yogurt in town. And the inviting space, interactive row of self-serve machines and buffet of toppings make this a downtown sweet spot.

Baroncini104 S. Linn St., Iowa City

If you are looking for a more formal atmosphere in which to enjoy your ice cream, head to Baroncini. Dessert is probably the best thing that the restaurant does, and like the rest of its menu, everything is inspired by Italian cuisine. Many of the desserts come with gelato, and while it isn’t made in house, most of the accoutrements are. The gelato “affogato con espresso e il biscotto” is pure pre-recession nostalgia: large in portion, lavish in presentation (served in a martini glass, no less) and brimming with chocolate sauce, espresso, whipped cream and strawberries. It is over-the-top indulgent, not to mention delicious.

It can get painfully hot in Iowa in the summer, and what better to cool than a creamy, frozen treat? Even in winter, Iowa’s selection of ice cream, frozen yogurt and other frozen confections is top-notch.

RECOMMENDED: SWEETS

Wilton’s Candy Kitchen


perfect and lets me feel indulgent and healthy at the same time. For a relaxing dinner, Dan and I have eaten at the Motley Cow at least once a week since we started dating five years ago, and we can’t see any reason to change at this point—we’ve tried other restaurants for our Friday night date, but nothing beats sitting at the bar at the Cow ordering little plates of whatever sounds good, chatting with the other regular customers and the front (and back) of house who we know on that semi-intimate level. I admit to being a creature of habit. There are worse habits than the Motley Cow.

Simeon Talley: Being that I work most if not every night, my favorite restaurants are those whose kitchens are open late and where I can get an above-average glass of red wine and a decent beer. If my schedule or my place of employment was different, I imagine I’d offer different opinions. And these places are where you can most likely find me working on other projects or reading the paper or a book.Clinton Street Social Club stays open late during the week and later on the weekend. There’s good food—I love the pork belly—and wine by the glass at a pretty good value.

If ever I want to try a new and interesting glass of wine, I head to Brix. I find that they offer an interesting selection of wine, the staff is knowledgeable and the food menu is evolving and expanding. Donnelly’s is my go-to spot for many of the reasons above.

Staff MealsServers offer insight into where and what to eat and drink in the Iowa City area.

What is your favorite thing to eat in Iowa City?

BB: Green curry with tofu from Thai Flavors. It is the comfort food I never knew I needed ‘til a few years ago.

LR: The beef barbacoa taco from Banditos. It’s locally sourced and perfectly seasoned.

SC: That would be a toss-up—either the Banditos benedictos (eggs over homemade polenta, topped with spinach and chipotle hollandaise, and liberally doused in Georgina’s

Mama Eloi hot sauce) or the chilaquiles (also known as “breakfast nachos with beans,” but substituting carnitas for chicken—it’s worth the extra three bucks), both of which can only be had on Saturday and Sunday mornings at El Banditos Mexican Restaurant. I admit, I never go to Banditos as a diner to sit and eat, and the food might taste better if I did—but both are still delicious even eaten in little bites on the fly from a quickly cooling plate sitting on top of the chip warmer—which is saying something.

ST: Pork belly. Pork belly. Pork belly. At Share and at Social Club.

What is your favorite thing to drink in Iowa City?

BB: The old fashioned from Clinton Street Social Club. Classic.

What are your three favorite restaurants in the area?

Becca Breazeale: Leaf Kitchen for the delicious, locally sourced food and fresh squeezed juice, but also for the quaint ambience and friendly service. Oasis, because it’s the best hummus, and because of the condiment bar. Nodo: Fresh bakery items and Brew City fries add magic to their already magical sandwich board.

Lou Richter: I work nearly every night, so I frequent my favorite restaurants for lunch. For

my money the best places to grab lunch in Iowa City are Nodo (either location), Leaf Kitchen and Sushi Kicchin. These spots have an open, bustling atmosphere and friendly staff. Nodo features a huge menu and I can’t find anything I don’t like. Leaf Kitchen offers specials that are simply not available anywhere else in Iowa City. And Sushi Kicchin is affordable and delicious. The staff and dining area are tiny here, and it’s often just yourself and the person preparing your food. The savvy staff keeps things entertaining.

Suke Cody: For something quick and satisfying to eat after work, I head up the street to George’s Buffet for one of their legendarily delicious burgers and a tall draw of Saga.For sit-down-and-be-waited-on lunch, I go to Oyama—I have a Japanese food thing and love my raw fish, and their chirashi sushi (slices of raw fish laid over a bed of rice) is simple and

“I admit to being a creature of habit. There are worse habits than the Motley Cow.” Suke Cody,El Banditos

“Pork Belly. Pork Belly. Pork Belly. At Share and at Social Club.”

Simeon Talley,Moonrakers

“For my money the best places to grab lunch in Iowa City are Nodo, Leaf Kitchen and Sushi Kicchin.”

Lou RichterClinton Street Social Club


LR: I’m a big fan of the negroni: a gin, Campari and sweet vermouth cocktail.

SC: I love a good bloody mary, and if forced to choose only one to drink on a desert island for the rest of my life I’d opt for the bloody mary I stumbled onto at Brix Wine and Cheese back when they did brunch—maybe they still do brunch, but I’m normally working brunch, so it’s hard to keep track of these things.

ST: To be honest I don’t really have a favorite drink. I love red wine and am always in search of reds that are full-bodied and earthy, with lots of tannin.

What is the best thing you’ve ever eaten?

BB: This is a truly impossible question, but I have to go with a heaping plate of barbacoa, served with fresh crema, I once had at about 4 a.m. in Chicago after a wonderfully weird night out.

LR: The pork belly at Clinton Street Social Club. The flavor of that dish is unforgettable.

SC: If you ever get the chance to go to Isla Mujeres and you are traveling without children, do make it a point to stay at Villa la Bella, a bed-and-breakfast perched on a small bit of cliff

on the ocean side of the island. If you stay long enough (I recommend at least a week) and are just a little lucky, one of those gorgeous island mornings, Curtis, the owner, will present you with a little slice of culinary heaven—his Mayan roasted chicken enchiladas with mole sauce. For breakfast. With some seriously potent coffee and a big glass of fresh squeezed orange juice.

ST: About a year and a half ago I had a grilled bass dish from Motley Cow. It was HUGE! The eyes were left in it, along with the bones. The meat was tender and flaky coming right off the bone. And it was by far the best thing I’ve ever eaten in Iowa City.

“Green curry with tofu from Thai Flavors. It is the comfort food I never knew I needed.”

Becca Breazeale, Forbidden Planet



riversiDe casino3184 Hwy. 22, Riverside

If you and your date like gambling, Riverside is a no-brainer; there are thousands of casino favorites for all skill levels, ranging from penny slots to Texas Hold ‘Em. There’s also a golf course, and a spa, where you can get a couples’ massage and then enjoy the spa services, like a hot tub and steam room, for the remainder of the day. The resort hotel has lavish rooms with tasteful, modern decor and luxurious beds. Perhaps you and your date can play a round of golf, win some money with the highrollers at craps, blow your winnings on a gorgeous 14-ounce hunk of prime angus Delmonico ribeye topped with lump crab Oscar and a bottle of Michael David RAPTURE, carefully selected by your attentive server, and then repair to your room for some postprandial petting. Or maybe you prefer penny slots and Robert’s Buffet, or the Ripple Diner; that’s fine, too.

Get your game onIf you’re looking for some action, here are six places where you can show your stuff.

ForBiDDen Planet Pizza + arcaDe111 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City

If your tastes lean more toward pizza and videogames, you don’t have to leave town for a family-friendly excursion. Forbidden Planet has arcade games to suit all ages, and expertly crafted pizza and cocktails. You can play it old school and enjoy a bottle of High Life, a traditional margherita pizza, and a game of Centipede or Galaga, or you can live on the edge with a “Resident Evil,” a signature tequila cocktail featuring a kick of ginger, jalapeno and cilantro. The thin-crust pizza stays true to its Neapolitan counterparts, with a nicely chewy crust; thick-crust monstrosities like the “Italian Stallion Medallion,” which features pepperoni, sausage, andouille, salami, bacon and mozzarella, are far less traditional but no less delicious. Just try not to get sauce on the gorgeous Wizard of Oz pinball machine!

wilDwooD smokehouse anD saloon4919 Dolphin Dr. S.E., Iowa City

If you’re in the mood to put on your dancing shoes, or in this case cowboy boots, Wildwood is the honky tonk just for that. If dancing isn’t your thing—although on Thursday nights free country dance lessons are available—there are many other social activities. You can tip your hat to the weekend while riding their mechanical bull, Spanky, or raise your glass to a local country star performing on stage. Whether you’re looking for a place to let loose with a cocktail or a cold one, Wildwood has a full-service bar. Last, but certainly not least, barbecue! Wildwood is known for their amazing smoked wings, ribs, brisket and barbecue sauces. Escape from the hustle and bustle of downtown and enjoy some good ol’ Southern food and entertainment.

colonial lanes2253 Old Hwy. 218 S., Iowa City

Located on the southwest side of Iowa City, Colonial Lanes is a divebar amusement park contained in a warehouse-sized brick building decorated to evoke Colonial architecture. In addition to 24 bowling lanes, they have a mini-golf course, arcade games, darts, pool, a mini

EXPERIENCE: PLAYDATE

Colonial Lanes


‘50s diner and a sunken bar. The bar’s specialty is Jell-O shots; if that’s not the type of night that you’re going for, opt for something less potent like a domestic beer, or go to the diner for a root beer float.

tcB114 E. College St., Iowa City

With an open floor plan and plenty of bar games, TCB is great for a group playdate. There are 10 pool tables that make the room feel like a smoky billiards hall—except without the smoke. Because of its location on the Ped Mall, it sometimes fills with undergrads, but if you get there early you’re sure to get a good table. If pool isn’t your thing, try your hand at shuffleboard or darts.

Filmscene118 E. College St., Iowa City

For those looking for a more thought-provoking evening, head to FilmScene in downtown Iowa City. They have a good selection of wines and beers, so you can grab a local craft brew and some Iowa popcorn and snuggle in for a good movie. The intimate theater’s constantly changing roster of arty, independent, foreign and classic films will be the perfect way to start a stimulating post-film conversation.



Downtown Iowa City118 E College St

East Village Des Moines500 E Locust St

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I T ’ S A L L A B O U T Y O U4 South Linn St.

Iowa City, IA 52240zensalonspaic.com

319.337.2448

Voted Best Day Spa and Salon

in Eastern Iowa

Zen is an Aveda Lifestyle Salon & Spa tin the heart of the downtown community o�ering waxing, massages, facials, nail services as well as premier salon services including cut, color and botanical treatments.

O LV RECOMMENDS

bento dishes. Be sure to order their hand rolls, crafted to order. An exciting perk: They deliver. The service is offered until 10:30 p.m. on weekends, 9:30 p.m. on weeknights—but the presentation is beautiful, so eat in if you can.

OYAMA SUSHI1853 Lower Muscatine Rd., Iowa City 319-337-8801 | oyamaiowa.com | $$5350 Council St. N.E., Cedar Rapids319-832-1800 | oyamasushi.com | $$

There are two Oyama sushi locations, one in Iowa City and one in Cedar Rapids, and they have separate owners. Though the Cedar Rapids location is less convenient for Iowa City residents, it is owned by the original proprietor of both locations, Darren, who is one of the best reasons to make the trek up 380. The food at both locations is good: solid nigiri, sashimi and rolls, and some excellent cooked dishes as well. But Darren’s effusive friendliness, occasional little gifts from the kitchen, artful sushi and expertly executed stir fries and noodle dishes place it one notch above its Iowa City location. PALISADES CAFE117 1st St. N.W., Mount Vernon | 319-895-4041 cafepalisades.com | $$$

With a small but solid menu, Palisades features a few standout sandwiches, but the regularly changing features are the true stars. See page 8.

PEKING BUFFET93 2nd St., Coralville | 319-333-1369 | $

This place is weird, cheap and perfect if you have a bottomless stomach. Their buffet has everything: frogs’ legs, Americanized Chinese, sushi, Mongolian barbecue, ice cream and Jell-O.

PETRA FALAFEL HOUSE89 2nd St., Coralville | 319-354-2030 petrafalafelhouse.com | $$

While their falafel is tasty, you should go to Petra for the shawerma, served with an addictively pungent creamy garlic sauce, or the fattoush, the traditional Middle Eastern salad of fresh vegetables and crispy pita. Be prepared for a too-loud broadcast of Jordanian television; for this reason, it might be best to get your food to go.


Every Sunday 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

May to Octoberat Pacha Parkway by Highway

965 & Penn Street in North Libertypennlandingmarket.org

Penn Landing MarketNorth Liberty’s Farmers’ Market

On the menu tOday in nOrth Liberty: bangers and mash ◆ burnt ends

and live music in the park ◆ a world-class beer cellar ◆ food trucks at the farmers’

market ◆ fat burritos and shrimp from Faro Viejo ◆ refined comfort food ◆ coffee from fresh roasted AA beans ◆ sub sandwiches for

your bicycle basket ◆ classic Italian and a bottle of Chianti ◆ fried tenderloins during the game ◆ pizza and a movie or at the lake ◆ cookie chunks and

sprinkles on your froyo ◆ all-day breakfast ◆ a quick bite for the family ◆ broasted chicken at the lunch counter ◆ summer patio time ◆ sushi straight from the coast ◆ sinfully succulent cupcakes and a lot more. You might be surprised by what you find.


PHO MAI2315 Edgewood Rd. S.W., Cedar Rapids 319-396-4337 | maiphocr.com | $$

The menu at Pho Mai is loaded with traditional Vietnamese dishes, each more intriguing than the last. The signature dish, pho, boasts a clean, well-spiced broth with lots of meat and noodles, and it is available in a few variations. The real standout, though, is the bun thit heo nuong: springy rice vermicelli with tender, crispy pork, flecked through with refreshing mint.

PHO ZAIKA2020 8th St., Coralville | 319-855-4796 | $$

Pho Zaika opened early in 2015, to the delight of Iowa City diners. The menu here is small, but the pho is phenomenal. Available with an assortment of meat choices, the rich, savory soup features perfectly balanced, fragrant broth and a wealth of the garnishes that make pho such fun to eat. And the small, family staff is impossibly friendly and kind.

PITA PIT113 Iowa Ave., Iowa City | 319-351-7482 pitapit.com | $

Offering hearty pita bread-based sandwiches rolled into a tight, burrito shape, Pita Pit is the place to go when you don’t necessarily want to break the bank on your next meal but wish to avoid the grease and potential self-loathing that comes along with fast food. PRAIRIE CANARY924 Main St., Grinnell | 641-236-0205 theprairiecanary.com | $$$

If you thought you hated Brussels sprouts, think again. Lightly fried, sprinkled with Parmesan cheese and served with chili-lime dipping sauce, what you avoided as a kid is a must at Prairie Canary. With a wide-ranging menu—from seared salmon to the best veggie burger around—as well as the comfortable atmosphere combining elements of classic small-town Iowa with a modern vibe, the Prairie Canary is worth the trip to Grinnell.

PRAIRIE LIGHTS BOOKS15 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City | 319-337-2681 prairielights.com | $

Have a cortado and write the next great American novel, or simply sip a houndstooth, a curious combination of Schlitz beer and espresso that will make your teeth chatter with its caffeinated, boozy buzz. See page 40.

PULLMAN BAR & DINER17 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City | 319-338-1808 | pullmandiner.com | $$$

While new on the Iowa City scene, Pullman is already generating a lot of buzz for its great location and super-cool decor, as well as for the many talented people associated with the business. The menu features updated classics and more-traditional bistro fare, and there’s a small yet creative selection of beer, wine and cocktails. See page 8 and 44.

QUINTON’S BAR & DELI215 E. Washington St., Iowa City | 319-354-7074 | quintonsbaranddeli.com | $$

A bar and deli combo, Quinton’s has great food and drink specials every day of the week. They specialize in burgers and sandwiches, but the most unique offerings are definitely the spuds, where you can find nearly any condiment you may (or may not) have wanted piled high on a baked potato approximately the size of your head.

REDS ALEHOUSE 405 N. Dubuque St., North Liberty 319-626-2100 | redsalehouse.com | $$

Located about eight miles up Dubuque Street, Reds Alehouse is, for some, an ideal bike ride from Iowa City. At happy hour, you can enjoy 2-for-1 drinks; their beer list is extensive and features lots of interesting craft brews. In warmer months have a stellar, decadent pork belly sandwich on the gigantic patio, or enjoy the cool comfort of the indoors.

RELISH834 Park St., Grinnell | 641-236-3657 relishgrinnell.com | $$

Fully embodying their slogan, “Local Foods, Global Flavors,” Chef Kamal Hammouda mixes Midwestern flavors, local ingredients and recipes from the Middle East to create Relish’s diverse menu. Always looking to bolster the Grinnell community, Relish frequently hosts local musicians, adding to the already comfortable and charming atmosphere of the historic Victorian home in which Relish is situated. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options are always available, not to mention that Relish prepares arguably the best baklava in Iowa.


A. kalona Brewing comPany19 miles from Iowa City405 B Ave., Kalona

Spacious, simple and modern, with a seemingly mile-long tap line to boot, the Kalona Brewing Company in downtown Kalona provides a pleasant and relaxing atmosphere to sit back and enjoy a good brew. The bar and eating area feature a few couches, a fireplace and a view of the stainless steel tanks in the brewing area. An outdoor seating area is open during warmer weather. Kalona strives to serve locally sourced meat and produce, and the mountain of beer-battered onion rings served with a special house sauce is an excellent appetizer.

Be sure to try: Sucha Half Wit, a blend of

Shift gears

Kalona’s IPA and Belgian-style wheat that is only available at the brewery.

B. BackPocket Brewing4 miles from Iowa City903 Quarry Rd., Coralville Instead of being its own separate space, the dining room at Backpocket is part of the brewery, so customers feel included in the process of making the beer. The brewery serves signature pizzas and flatbreads baked in a brick oven. The beer garden out front features a grill, fire pit and yard games, and, during the summer, hosts outdoor movie screenings at night. Be sure to try: Wooden Nickel, a tasty lager influenced by both German and Scottish brewing traditions.

Between RAGBRAI, Millstream’s Tour de Brew and the Culinary Ride, food- and beer-soaked bike rides are a guilty pleasure in our area, but a tradition nonetheless. Ride safely!

EXPERIENCE: BIKEABLE BREWERIES C. Big grove Brewery12 miles from Iowa City101 W. Main St., Solon

Fittingly homey and woodsy, a little like a cabin in the woods, Big Grove is an ideal pit stop on the way to and from Lake Macbride. Refuel with a pound of Parmesan fries, burgers served on bread baked in-house or homemade pizzas. Fourteen tap lines feature a rotation of guest and Big Grove brews. Thirst is required during happy hour (3–6 p.m.), which features a two-for-one special, where two beers are served at the same time.

Be sure to try: Arms Race Pale Ale, an invigorating beer made with Citra hops and featuring lots of citrus and tropical fruit aromas and flavors.

D. millstream Brewing comPany25 Miles from Iowa City835 48th Ave., Amana

Established in 1985, Millstream is Iowa’s oldest microbrewery. With live music and fun events scheduled throughout the year, it is the place

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to be in the Amana Colonies. Grab a beer in the brewery’s taproom, which not only serves Millstream’s award-winning beers but also sells six-packs and growlers to take home. Relax with a pint of Iowa Pale Ale or John’s Generations White Ale outside on their patio, which features communal tables, hanging plants and vine-covered pergolas. An indoor seating area, with a view of the brewing tanks, is also available.

Be sure to try: Back Road Stout, a robust, opaque, black-colored stout that won a gold medal at the 2011 Great American Beer Festival.

E. sutliFF ciDer comPany23 miles from Iowa City382 Sutliff Rd., Lisbon

Just five miles north of the historic Sutliff Bridge over the Cedar River is the Sutliff Cider Company, which presses apples, ferments the juice and bottles the finished cider in two historic barns. The taproom—located on the ground floor of a barn built in the late 19th century—and outdoor seating area are a popular destination for those out on a scenic drive or long bike ride. The taproom is only open seasonally on Sundays from 11 a.m.–6 p.m. The 2015 season opens on April 26 and ends Oct. 25.

Be sure to try: Sutliff Hard Cider, a dry, Champagne-style cider, fermented in French oak barrels, that weighs in at 6.25 percent ABV.

F. lion BriDge Brewing comPany27 Miles from Iowa City59 16th Ave. S.W., Cedar Rapids

Located in the former Fritz’s Food Market in Cedar Rapids’ Czech Village, Lion Bridge brews world-class beers for the Corridor. The taproom offers eight to 12 Lion Bridge beers alongside three to five guest taps. Beer-centric snacks, appetizers and sandwiches, all made with locally sourced ingredients, are available from the kitchen.

Be sure to try: Workman’s Compensation. Classified by the brewery as a dark mild, Workman’s Compensation is sessionable at 4.7 percent ABV and features notes of biscuit, toffee and chocolate. It was awarded a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival in 2014.



R LV RECOMMENDS

RIDE630 Iowa Ave., Iowa City | 319-359-1521 rideiowacity.com | $$

This newcomer, opened late in 2014, is a welcome addition to the Iowa City breakfast scene, and they also provide a solid, traditional American lunch and dinner. See page 44.

RIVERSIDE CASINO AND GOLF RESORT3184 Hwy. 22, Riverside | 319-648-1234 riversidecasinoandresort.com | $-$$$$

Riverside Casino and Golf Resort has three dining options for visitors: Ripple Diner, Robert’s Buffet and Ruthie’s Steakhouse. Whether you’re in the mood for a quick burger and fries; a varied buffet with nightly specials, like crab or barbecue; or a beef tenderloin and a bottle of wine, you’ll find it at this popular area destination. See page 52.

SAM’S PIZZA441 S. Gilbert St., Iowa City | 319-337-8200 samspizzaic.com | $$

Pizza and calzones are the specialty at Sam’s, and both these options go along quite nicely with the full-service bar. Enjoy a beer along with your pizza when you’ve finally grown tired of delivery and carry-out. Try a thin-crust pie, or choose from sandwiches, soups and appetizers.

SANCTUARY PUB405 S. Gilbert St., Iowa City | 319-351-5692 sanctuarypub.com | $$

The Sanctuary has a stunning selection of local, national and imported bottled and draft beers, and its hardwood interior, complete with a fireplace and overstuffed chairs, is the perfect place to cozy up and sample a few.

The pizza is popular, or you can enjoy a meat and cheese plate, featuring local delicacies from La Quercia and Milton Creamery, with a beer. See page 68.

SALT FORK KITCHEN 112 E. Main St., Solon | 319-624-2081 saltforkkitchen.com | $$

This downtown Solon restaurant is an outlet for Salt Fork Farm’s produce, chickens and eggs, and the freshness is evident in their homestyle dishes. See page 44 and 45. SEOUL GRILL201 S. Clinton St., Iowa City | 319-338-5747 $$

If you have an adventurous palate and you like spice, Seoul Grill will be your haven—as long as you’re available for the 12 hours per week that it’s open. See page 15. SHAKESPEARE’S819 1st Ave., Iowa City | 319-337-7275 shakespearesic.com | $$

This Eastside neighborhood bar serves some of the best lowbrow pub food in town, as well as more ritzy specials like, occasionally, prime rib. There’s a pool table and some video games, but it’s most fun to watch the locals and sip a draft beer from an impossibly frosty mug. Wings are especially meaty; burgers are hand-formed and available with a variety of toppings; and they have tater tots, deep fried to crispy, golden perfection.

SHARE210 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City | 319-337-4058 sheratoniowacity.com | $$$

With a prime downtown location and a multicultural menu, Share is a good gathering place for a cocktail and a snack. It’s especially

welcoming in the warmer months, when you can enjoy the patio. See page 12. SHORT’S BURGERS EASTSIDE521 Westbury Dr., Iowa City | 319-338-7743 |shortseastside.com | $$SHORT’S BURGER & SHINE18 S. Clinton St., Iowa City | 319-337-4678 shortsburgerandshine.com | $$

There are 26 different burger options at Short’s, along with chicken and black bean alternatives, so it’s nearly impossible for the menu to ever get old. The beef comes from within Iowa’s own state lines, and they pride themselves on their vast selection of Iowa craft beers and ciders. Be sure to taste the stellar Short’s Whiskey that they recently started distilling in partnership with Cedar Ridge micro distillery in Swisher. See page 68.

SPARTI’S GYROS61 2nd St., Coralville | 319-512-5005 spartisgyros.com | $

Though located in Coralville, Sparti’s is one of the only restaurants in the Iowa City area able to offer delivery of items like burgers, gyros and hot dogs, which is a godsend for people without cars (and for all us lazy people). They provide a fairly extensive and unique menu that drifts from Chicago classics to a Greek souvlaki sandwich. The only real issue is that delivery times can be long, and the wait can be grueling. STELLA1006 Melrose Ave., Iowa City | 319-887-5564 stellaiowacity.com | $$

Venture a little farther up Melrose Avenue from Kinnick Stadium to Stella, where you can watch the next big game on the big screens and sink your teeth into a mouthwatering burger made with Iowa-bred beef, a house-


Family Law & DivorceBankruptcy Criminal DefenseGeneral Practice

432 E. Bloomington St.(319) 354-6000daigwilliam.com


made vegetarian black bean burger or a grilled chicken sandwich. For something a little different, try the gumbo or jambalaya.

STUDIO 1313 S. Linn St., Iowa City | 267-713-2697 sthirteen.com | $

As Iowa City’s only GLBTQ bar and nightclub, Studio 13 is home to the drag queen Sasha Belle, a fierce competitor on the 2015 season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, and boasts weekly drag queen performances. It is also home to Iowa City’s very own I.C. King’s drag king troupe, who perform at Studio 13 the last Thursday of every month. If you want lasers, strobe lights, smoke machines and techno beats, then Studio 13 is your dance scene. And if you love the atmosphere surrounding drag king and queen culture, you can find performance information on their website.

SUSHI KICCHIN201 S. Clinton St., Iowa City | 319-338-1606 | $

This tiny restaurant offers sushi made quickly by friendly people in the heart of downtown Iowa City. See page 34.

SUSHI POPO725 Mormon Trek Blvd., Iowa City 319-338-7676 | sushipopo.net | $$

Serving classic sushi and popular Japanese, Chinese and Korean entrees, what really makes Sushi Popo stand out is the jam bong—a hearty, smoky, spicy Korean soup served in an enormous bowl, rich with chunks of vegetables, udon noodles, pork and seafood (or tofu for a vegetarian option). Here’s a secret: order it “green” for the jalapeño-based broth, rather than the typical red chili stock, and you’ll leave blissfully full and warm.

SUSHIYA745 Community Dr., Ste. A, North Liberty 319-626-6666 | sushiyaia.com | $$

Relatively new on the area restaurant scene, Sushiya offers expertly made, intensely delicious sushi, in addition to a large variety of entrees and appertizers. There are many Americanized Chinese options on the menu, and they’re tasty, but the traditional Japanese dishes are truly superlative. See page 10, 32 and 38.

SUTLIFF CIDER COMPANY382 Sutliff Rd., Lisbon | 319-455-4093 sutliffcider.com | $$

The dry ciders crafted by Sutliff are handcrafted using apples from many local orchards. The taproom and outdoor seating area are situated in the lovely Iowa countryside, providing a pleasant setting for an afternoon of sipping with friends. See page 57.

SZECHUAN HOUSE320 E. Burlington St., Iowa City | 319-338-6788 szechuanhouseiowacity.com | $$

The menu can be daunting, but the rewards at Szechuan House are worth the investment. The food is super authentic and is often sublimely delicious. See page 32. TCB POOL HALL114 E. College St., Iowa City | 319-887-2665 | $

Even if you don’t play pool, TCB’s a fun place to hang out and have a beer; in addition to the 10 pool tables, they also have shuffleboard and darts. See page 52.


acaPulco 21937 Keokuk St., Iowa CityOpen Monday-Sunday, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Acapulco 2 has a wide selection of produce, a meat counter and also Mexican breads and sweets. Their tres leches cake and flan are particular customer favorites.

Bai Jia asian market906 2nd St., #3, CoralvilleOpen Sunday-Thursday, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Find an extensive selection of Asian groceries, including produce and meats, and a smaller selection of other ethnic products. They also carry an assortment of imported housewares and toiletries.

Bootleggin’ Barzini’s412 1st Ave., CoralvilleOpen Monday-Thursday 11 a.m. - 12 a.m. Friday-Saturday 11 a.m. - 1:45 a.m. Sun 12 p.m. - 12 a.m.

This liquor emporium has one of the area’s most diverse selections of spirits and is known to bring in bottles that might not otherwise be

available anywhere else in the state. They also have an extensive wine and beer selection and a friendly, knowledgeable staff.

BreaD garDen market 225 S. Linn St., Iowa CityOpen daily 6:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Customers return to Bread Garden for its wide range of imported, domestic and local groceries, in addition to their many homemade products, including bread, pasta and cold-pressed juices.

Brix cheese shoP & wine Bar209 N. Linn St., #1, Iowa CityHours vary by season; call 319-359-1999

In addition to their small in-house menu, Brix offers a selection of cheeses, wine and gift baskets for retail sale.

central Discount grocery2298 540th St., KalonaOpen Monday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Wednesday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Local grocersThe area’s many specialty groceries reflect and serve a diverse population.

GUIDES: SPECIALTY MARKETS

An Amish-run salvage store, Central Discount Grocery sells packaged food at deep discount prices. The physical wear of the food items can vary, so you may have to hunt for mint condition canned and boxed items; also, be sure to check expiration dates.

chong’s suPermarket 905 2nd St., CoralvilleOpen Sunday-Thursday, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

In addition to a tremendous variety of Asian packaged food, Chong’s Supermarket offers an extensive selection of fresh produce.

east-west oriental FooDs 624 S. Gilbert St., Iowa CityOpen Monday-Thursday, 9:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Sunday, 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Located just south of downtown, East-West Oriental Foods sells Asian packaged and frozen food, as well as a small selection of fresh produce.

el Paso mexican market601 Hollywood Blvd., Iowa CityOpen Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Find Mexican grocery staples, plus candles, pinatas and the occasional pair of ostrich-skin cowboy boots. There’s also a little taqueria counter in the back of the store, where you can pick up prepared foods like tacos and burritos.

gloBal mart 89 2nd St., CoralvilleOpen Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Head here for a variety of of Mediterranean food and halal products.

great wall220 Stevens Dr., Iowa CityOpen Monday, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Wednesday-Saturday, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Tucked away in a corner of Iowa City, Great Wall specializes in Chinese packaged food and boast one of the area’s larger selections of Chinese sausages.

Acapulco 2


T LV RECOMMENDS

TAKANAMI219 Iowa Ave., Iowa City | 319-351-5125 takanamidowntown.com | $$$

This sushi restaurant’s selection is a little more limited than its sibling restaurant Formosa, but what options they do have, they do well. Takanami has a tendency to frost their rolls in spicy mayo sauce, and this can be a good or bad thing depending on your palate. TEDDY’S BIGGER BURGERS324 E. Washington St., Iowa City 319-354-6888 | teddysbiggerburgers.com | $

This fast-food spot holds the monopoly on speedy, to-go style burgers in downtown Iowa City, and the generous portions and Hawaiian-style sauce make Teddy’s a popular choice. See page 34.

THAI FLAVORS340 E. Burlington St., Iowa City | 319-339-8900 thaiflavors.net | $$

Located in downtown Iowa City, Thai Flavors offers solid, tasty Thai standards available for delivery, or you can eat in their brightly lit dining room.

THAI SPICE1210 S. Gilbert St., Iowa City | 319-351-2581 thethaispice.com | $$

It’s easy to get lost in their menu, which has many pages of traditional Thai fare, but once you find something you like, the pungent, balanced flavors are addictive, so be careful! See page 10.

THREE SAMURAI JAPANESE RESTAURANT1801 2nd St., Coralville | 319-337-3340 threesamurairestaurant.com | $$$

In addition to their vast menu of sushi and Japanese-inflected entrees, Three Samurai has a small selection of tasty Vietnamese dishes that set the restaurant apart from its sushi brethren. See page 15.

TRUMPET BLOSSOM CAFE310 E. Prentiss St., Iowa City | 319-248-0077 trumpetblossom.com | $$$

Iowa City’s only vegan restaurant, Trumpet Blossom is delicious in its own right. Even omnivores can find something satisfying on this creative, thoughtful menu, and the cocktails are excellent. See page 22 and 44.


Pita SandwichesFALAFEL PITA: Plain or whole wheat pita filled with hummus, babba ganoush, mediterranean salad and falafel. ... $5.95 ($4.25/half)ADD chicken, beef kafta, gyro, grilled vegetables,chicken shawarma or lamb ... $7.95 ($6.25/half)SABICH: Moroccan eggplant, hard-boiled egg and hummus in pocket pita. ... $5.95 ($4.25/half) PREMIUM FILLINGS ($0.75): Moroccan Eggplant Pickles, Tabbouleh, Feta, Couscous, Hard-Boiled Egg ($1)

EntréesKEBAB PLATE: KEBAB PLATE: Choose Two: Chicken, Beef Kafta, Grilled Vegetables, Chicken Shawarma, Gyro or Lamb + any two sides & pita. ... $10.95SULTAN’S PLATE: Choose any four sides + pita. ... $8.45GENIE’S PLATE: Choose any three sides + pita. ... $6.95GREEK SALAD: Mixed greens with feta, kalamata olives, cucumbers and housemade balsamic dressing on the side. ... $4ADD Hard-boiled egg. ... $1

Let Oasis cater yournext event!


harvest oil & vinegar 1150 5th St., CoralvilleOpen Monday-Tuesday 10 a.m.- 6.p.m.; Wednesday-Thursday 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Like the name suggests, Harvest Oil & Vinegar is an entire store dedicated to olive oils and vinegars.

John’s grocery401 E. Market St., Iowa CityOpen Sunday-Thursday, 7:30 a.m. - 12 a.m.; Friday-Saturday, 7:30 a.m. - 2 a.m.

In addition to one of the most extensive beer selections in Iowa, John’s also has a superb wine and craft spirit offerings, in addition to snack staples, grocery basics and baked goods.

la regia market436 Hwy. 1, Iowa CityOpen Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Though small, La Regia Market sells a large selection of meat, produce, herbs, spices and candy, along with a small selection of household products.

newBo city market1100 3rd St. S.E., Cedar RapidsOpen Thursday, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Friday-Sunday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Some of the shops at NewBo City Market, a collection of vendors, include Pappardelle’s Pasta, Greyhound Deli and Frontier Herbs, and Roasters Coffee House. new Pioneer FooD co-oP3338 Center Point Rd. N.E., Cedar Rapids; 1101 2nd St., Coralville; 22 S. Van Buren St., Iowa CityOpen daily from 7 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Memberships are encouraged but are not required to shop at the Co-op, which takes pride in its ability to offer the best in organic, natural and local food.

stringtown grocery 2204 540th St., KalonaOpen Monday, Tuesday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

An Amish grocery store packed with many handmade items you can’t find in most supermarkets, Stringtown Grocery is best known for their expansive spice selection and inexpensive bulk foods. They also feature a large assortment of preserves and pickles, in addition to local dairy and produce.


Zaza’s Pasta Shop

. . . . . . . .

TO SUGGEST AN UPDATE TO THIS LIST, PLEASE CONTACT LITTLE VILLAGEAT [email protected]

taJ international FooDs216 1st Ave., CoralvilleOpen Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.; Friday, 11:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 10:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Focusing on Indian staples and spices, Taj International Foods receives their order of fresh vegetables on Wednesdays.

winestyles920 E. 2nd Ave., #115, CoralvilleOpen Monday-Wednesday, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Offering a wide range of wines and craft beers, WineStyles serves glasses of wine on-site and offers a selection of wine tasting events.

zaza’s Pasta shoP anD italian market518 Bowery St., Iowa CityOpen Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Find a small selection of imported Italian foods alongside the handmade pasta at ZaZa’s.


taste oF iowa cityAug. 26 | Iowa City | Downtowndowntowniowacity.com

This food festival celebrates the culinary diversity of the Downtown and Northside districts with sample portions from more than 35 local restaurants.

toP cheF: DowntownMarch 20 | Iowa City | hotelVetrodowntowniowacity.com

In this friendly competition, local restaurants prepare signature dishes, competing to earn the title of “top chef.”

northsiDe oktoBerFestOct. 3 | Iowa City | North Side Marketplacefacebook.com/northsideoktoberfest

At this popular Northside beer festival, patrons enjoy live music, local food vendors and a tremendous selection of beer. There is also a smaller SodaFest, so the whole family can enjoy the day.

eat Drink local weekApril 19-26 | Iowa City | Downtowndowntowniowacity.com

This week-long celebration of Iowa City’s flourishing culinary scene emphasizes ingredients from Iowa’s own farmers, artisans and brewers.

mission creek FestivalMarch 31 - April 5 | Iowa City | Downtownmissionfreak.com

A week-long festival taking place

Annual FestivalsGUIDES: SEASONAL CELEBRATIONS

Expertly curated by area food and culture mavens, festivals combine a selection of dining, drinking and cultural options to offer fun for the whole family.

in venues all across downtown Iowa City, Mission Creek celebrates music, literature, art, food and culture.

maiFestMay 2-3 | Amana Colonies festivalsinamana.com

A family-oriented celebration of the arrival of spring, Maifest highlights Amana’s German heritage through food and culture.

oktoBerFest in the amana colonies Oct. 2 - 4 | Amana Colonies festivalsinamana.com

Amana’s Oktoberfest is a traditional celebration with entertainment, dancing and German food and beer. There is


also a wealth of kids’ activities, including pony rides, cookie decorating and a pumpkin toss.

BrrrFestJanuary | Coralville | Coralville Marriottbackpocketbrewing.com

An annual event calling attention to the beers of winter, Brrrfest makes sure to give special focus to craft breweries of Iowa and the Midwest.

BackPocket oktoBerFestSeptember | Coralville | Coralville Marriottbackpocketbrewing.com

Backpocket’s Oktoberfest allows guests to enjoy German food, live music and the local brewery’s craft beer as the Coralville Mariott is

transformed into a classic Munich beer hall.

culinary riDeLate summer | Begins in Iowa City culinaryride.com

A “bicycle tour of local farms, food and fermentation,” Culinary Ride allows cyclists to enjoy samples of local food while taking in Iowa’s gorgeous scenery, and route lengths vary.

FielD to Family FestivalSept. 17-20 | Iowa City | fieldtofamily.org

This food festival takes the homegrown ingredients of local farms and gardens and places them in the hands of skilled chefs, giving people the chance to taste a variety of food while supporting Iowa farmers and gardens.

TEXT “IOWA” TO 77948 FOR IC AREA EVENTS


aBBe hills garDenMount Vernon | 319-895-6924 | abbehills.com Contents: Vegetables, eggsSeason: Early June through late OctoberDistribution: Mount Vernon

amBlesiDe FarmOnslow | 319-310-2210 | ambleside-farm.comContents: Vegetables, greens, melons, eggsSeason: Year-roundDistribution: Monticello

eBersole cattle co. Kellerton | 515-971-8462 | ebersolecattle.comContents: BeefSeason: Year-roundDistribution: Iowa City

echollectiveMechanicsville | 319-325-3910 | echollectivecsa.blogspot.com Contents: Vegetables, melons, herbs, herbal tinctures and salvesSeason: May through OctoberDistribution: Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Quad Cities

Locally grown

Family Farm csaIowa City | 319-936-1317Contents: Vegetables, fruits, herbsSeason: Late May/early June through mid-SeptemberDistribution: Between Iowa City and Solon

garDen on the PrairieTama | 641-484-2052Contents: Vegetables, fruits, herbs, hops, beef, dairy, eggs, honey, syrup, jamsSeason: Early May through early AugustDistribution: Tama

given garDensDecorah | 563-382-3216Contents: Vegetables, herbsSeason: June through OctoberDistribution: Cedar Rapids and Decorah

gooseBury hill suBscriPtion ProDuceIowa City | 319-354-7260Contents: Vegetables, fruits, herbs, eggs, dairySeason: June through SeptemberDistribution: Iowa City

grass run FarmsDorchester | 563-492-3400 | grassrunfarms.comContents: Beef, porkSeason: May through SeptemberDistribution: Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Coralville

grinnell heritage FarmGrinnell | 641-236-4374 | grinnellheritagefarm.com Contents: Vegetables, herbs, greensSeason: Year-roundDistribution: Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Iowa City and Hiawatha

hue hill FarmIowa City | 319-339-0624Contents: Bread, herbs, vegetables, eggs, chickenSeason: Late April through DecemberDistribution: Iowa City and Cedar Rapids

local harvest csaSolon | 319-929-5032 | zjfarms.com Contents: Vegetables, bread, eggs, flowersSeason: Late April through DecemberDistribution: Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, North Liberty and Solon

maharishi veDic city csaFairfield | 641-919-7010 | mvccsa.com Contents: Vegetables, fruit, herbs, greensSeason: Year-roundDistribution: Des Moines, Iowa City, Fairfield, Ottumwa, Vedic City and Washington

GUIDES: COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE

Community supported agriculture, or CSA, allows community members to purchase shares, or memberships, with area farms. Contribution early in the season allows farmers to properly gauge demand. In return for purchasing a CSA share, community members receive farm-fresh product, without the retail markups.


oak hill acresAtalissa | 319-560-4826 | oakhillacres.com Contents: Vegetables, greens, herbsSeason: May through OctoberDistribution: Coralville, Iowa City, Muscatine, Quad Cities and West Liberty

salt Fork FarmSolon | 319-270-3449 | saltforkfarms.com Contents: Vegetables, fruits, herbs, eggs, chicken, flowersSeason: May through NovemberDistribution: Iowa City and Solon

sass Family FarmRiverside | 319-648-3788 | sassfamilyfarm.com Contents: Vegetables, herbs, eggs, jams, honey, baked goodsSeason: May through OctoberDistribution: Riverside

suPernatural organicsMarion | 319-210-1390 | supernaturalorganics.comContents: Vegetables, greens, herbsSeason: Early June through mid-OctoberDistribution: Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha and Marion

the little reD BarnVinton | 319-361-2169 | littleredbarncsa.comContents: Vegetables, pork, beef, poultry, eggsSeason: May through OctoberDistribution: Vinton


T LV RECOMMENDS

TUSCAN MOON GRILL ON FIFTH203 5th St., Kalona | 319-656-3315 tuscan-moon.com | $$$$

It is more than worth the drive to Tuscan Moon, a traditional steakhouse with a vast patio and a friendly staff. Their steaks are delicious, and their wine list and specials shine. See page 25.

UPTOWN BILL’S COFFEE HOUSE & NEIGHBORHOOD ARTS CENTER730 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City | 319-339-0804 uptownbills.org | $

This cozy coffeehouse and community performance venue offers a wide range of organic coffees and teas and perhaps the best selection of soda in all of Iowa City. What truly sets Uptown Bill’s apart, though, is their commitment to nurturing and encouraging people with disabilities: They provide employment and enterprise opportunities to people with disabilities, in addition to offering a community forum to raise awareness about people with disabilities. Their open mic nights, poetry readings and regular music concerts foster this tight-knit and inviting atmosphere.

VESTA849 Quarry Rd., Coralville | 319-338-3782 vestaiowa.com | $$$

Vesta has an extensive menu featuring Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. The patio is a favorite perch during FryFest—the kickoff festival for the Iowa Hawkeye football season. VINE TAVERN & EATERY330 E. Prentiss St., Iowa City | 319-354-8767 vinetavern.com | $$39 2nd St., Coralville | 319-338-7770 vinetavern.com | $$

Students and residents head to the Vine for the bar food options and daily food and drink specials. The Iowa City location has a more classic college-bar atmosphere, with dimmed lighting and giant TVs, while the Coralville location is more family-friendly. WATERSTREET COFFEE BAR925 E 2nd Ave., Coralville | 319-351-9317 waterstreetcoffeebar.com | $

Located on the Iowa River Landing, Waterstreet Coffee Bar is a lovely place to escape from downtown and enjoy your own, personal Chemex pot of excellent brewed coffee. It is clear the staff views coffee as an art, and that is as it should be. See page 40.

WEDGE PIZZERIA517 S. Riverside Dr., Iowa City | 319-337-6677 thewedgepizza.com | $$

The Wedge offers takeout and delivery of their many specialty pizzas, in addition to a few calzone options. See page 36. WHITEY’S ICE CREAM1451 Coral Ridge Ave., Coralville 319-338-4776 | whiteysicecream.com | $

This ice cream shop is something of an Iowa City institution, and rightly so. The shakes are blended on an old-fashioned shake machine, and the ice cream selection contains some really creative, interesting blends. Try the black raspberry chocolate chip, with giant chunks of dark chocolate blended into a sweet, fruity cream.

WIG AND PEN PIZZA PUB1220 Hwy. 6 W., Iowa City | 319-354-2767 wigandpenpizza.com | $$ 363 N. 1st Ave., Iowa City | 319-351-2327 wigandpenpizza.com | $$

Popular with families and sports fans, Wig and Pen can get a bit crowded on game days, but that’s not daunting for its loyal following, who can’t get enough of its pizza and bar fare. See page 36. WILDWOOD SMOKEHOUSE AND SALOON4919 B Walleye Dr. S.E., Iowa City 319-338-2211 | wildwoodsaloon.com | $$

There’s barbecue, dancing and drinks, and on weekends, you can try your hand at riding a mechanical bull. It’s like someone brought a little bit of Texas to Iowa! See page 52.

WILTON CANDY KITCHEN310 Cedar St., Wilton | 563-732-2278 wiltoncandykitchen.com | $

While only a short drive from Iowa City, Wilton Candy Kitchen feels like you’ve traveled in a time machine, back to a simpler day when after-school fun involved banana splits and bike rides. See page 49. YOTOPIA FROZEN YOGURT132 S. Clinton St., Iowa City | 319-338-0500 facebook.com/yotopiafrozenyogurt | $

This is downtown Iowa City’s only locally owned frozen yogurt shop, and this, along with other little touches, makes it a standout among the crowd. See page 49.


Clinton Street Social Club18 ½ S. Clinton St., Iowa Cityclintonstreetsocial.com

With the strongest bar program in the area, Clinton Street’s liquor shelf is full of boutique and hard-to-find spirits, and their staff can talk extensively about each one. Their most popular drink: a good ol’ old fashioned.

Dave’s Fox Head Tavern402 E. Market St., Iowa City

Don’t overthink the drink—save all your brainpower for the conversations you’ll likely have in this writer-filled bar. A Jameson neat with a beer back is all you need.

Donnelly’s Pub110 E. College St., Iowa City

The name might not be PC, but they are tasty: Donnelly’s patrons enjoy Irish Car Bombs.

Dublin Underground5 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City

Surprisingly, this Irish bar’s most popular whiskey is Bulleit bourbon. Not surprisingly, their most popular beer is Guinesss.

Gabe’s Oasis330 E. Washington St., Iowa Cityicgabes.com

When at Gabe’s, grab a tallboy of PBR and hit the patio.

Pick Your Potion

IC Ugly’s Saloon210 N. Linn St., Iowa Cityicuglys.com

Half the crowd at this Northside, townie bar loves the drink specials, like the Pop Rocks martini; the other half relies on standards like a frosty mug of domestic beer.

Martini’s 127 E. College St., Iowa City martinisic.com

Martini’s is a favorite for the undergrad crowd, whose cocktail knowledge leans toward simple, low-calorie choices like vodka, water and lime.

Micky’s Irish Pub & Grill11 S. Dubuque St., Iowa Cityfacebook.com/MickysIrishPubGrill

Even though Micky’s is an Irish Pub, they make a killer Moscow mule, served in an ice-cold copper mug; it’s delicious and refreshing.

The Mill Restaurant120 E. Burlington St., Iowa Cityicmill.com

People who visit The Mill enjoy the bar’s great selection of craft beers but can’t get enough of Bell’s Two Hearted Ale.

Whether you are looking for a club, a pub or to fill your stein with the latest craft beer release, downtown Iowa City has a lot to offer a drinking crowd. Explore some of the area’s bars through their most popular drinks.

212 S. CLINTON STREET • IOWA CITY, IA 52240 • 319.358.0776 • WWW.JOSEPHSSTEAK.COM

Sanctuary Pub405 S. Gilbert St., Iowa City sanctuarypub.com

The Sanctuary has one of the strongest craft and import beer programs in Iowa City. They do a great job of highlighting local and regional brews.

Short’s Burger & Shine18 S. Clinton St., Iowa Cityshortsburgerandshine.com

Short’s recently started collaborating with Cedar Ridge, a local distillery, to make Short’s Whiskey. This Iowa whiskey is delicious on its own, but many enjoy it in their whiskey Cokes.

Sports Column12 S. Dubuque St., Iowa Citysportscolumnbar.com

Especially packed on game days, Sports Column tends to attract a lot of students and alumni. They are also a go-to for birthdays, when they offer 20 pitchers of beer for $25.

Summit10 S. Clinton St., Iowa Cityfacebook.com/summit.iowacity

Visitors to the Summit love the Iowa City Iced Water, a variation on the Long Island Iced Tea, that includes gin, Absolut vodka and lime juice.

Yacht Club13 S. Linn St., Iowa Cityiowacityyachtclub.org

At this popular music venue, it depends on who’s playing, but more often than not the crowd here wants a shot of Fireball and a PBR.

GUIDES: DOWNTOWN BARS


30hop


Across the country, in cities like Portland, Minneapolis and now Des Moines, food carts have become popular, not only for diners who enjoy the often quick service and lower prices, but also for many entrepreneurs who want to cook creative food but may not have the capital to invest in a storefront.

The area culinary scene includes some food carts, but due to relatively strict food-

service laws, as well as pushback from local brick-and-mortar restaurants who worry about competition, many are only able to operate at seasonal farmers’ markets or during downtown festivals. This is a shame, because outside of the five food stands currently licensed by the city to set up in the Ped Mall, there aren’t many mobile food options.

But fear not, Iowa City food lovers: Iowa City Assistant City Manager Geoff Fruin says the first few months of the new year are likely to bring delicious changes to the Iowa City area’s mobile food landscape.

The city has already made efforts to expand opportunities for mobile food vendors. In 2014, the city launched a mobile food-vending pilot program, which Fruin says could have gone a lot better than it did. Five food vendors were present at the program’s launch in mid-July, but by its conclusion in late October only two remained, due to issues with low pedestrian traffic and overall lack of visibility. According to Fruin, even the food stands that participated until the end have since indicated that they would not be interested in participating if the same program were offered next year.

“I think we can take those lessons and apply them to some regulations in a manner that expands mobile vending opportunities, yet doesn’t compete directly with the brick-and-mortar restaurants,” Fruin said.

In collaboration with city staff, Fruin put together a memo—reviewed by the directly affected mobile vendors—for the city council,

which proposed two options to help expand mobile vending: One is a new mobile food pilot program in a different area of town, possibly Riverfront Crossing, but definitely nowhere near the center of downtown; the other proposes that the council make wholesale changes to laws that currently prohibit mobile food vendors from selling their goods on public property.

While it is clear that vendors face some hurdles, with support from several city departments and ongoing cooperation from the vendors themselves, it’s easy to be optimistic about the chances of seeing more mobile food vendors in Iowa City over the coming year.

PeD mall FooD carts: • Marco’s Grilled Cheese• Paco’s Tacos• George’s Best Gyros• Pop’s Italian Beef• CorNroc

iowa city Farmers market FooD carts:• Bread Garden Market’s Gelato Bike• The Box Lunch• Caribbean Kitchen• CinnaMini• Dumpling Darling• El Banditos • Get Fresh• Griddle Me This• Local Burrito• Maestro Empanadas • Maggie’s Farm• Swanson’s Catering

GUIDE: MOBILE MEALS

State of the Cart By John Miller

CREATIVE SERVICES

MOBILEWEBSITES

DIGITAL & PRINT

ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS

GRAPHIC DESIGN

PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO

CUSTOM PUBLICATION

DESIGN

Contact us today for a free consultation:

(319) [email protected]


AMANA Millstream Brewery 46, 56

CEDAR RAPIDSCed-Rel Supper Club 14Cobble Hill Restaurant 10, 14Greyhound Deli & Frontier Herbs 26Lighthouse Inn Supper Club 41Lion Bridge Brewing Company 8, 41, 47The Lost Cuban 41Maggie’s Farm Pizza 41NewBo City Market 62Pho Mai 55

CORALVILLE30hop 9, 25Backpocket Brewing 13, 56Bootleggin’ Barzini’s 60Caffe Crema 14, 40Chong’s Supermarket 60Exotic India 24Global Mart 60Harvest Oil & Vinegar 62Iowa River Power Restaurant 32, 44Konomi Restaurant 38, 39Mendoza 43Mondo’s Draft House 44, 47Monica’s 47Peking Buffet 54Petra Falafel House 54Pho Zaika 55Sparti’s Gyros 58Three Samurai Japanese Restaurant 15, 61Vesta 67Vine Tavern & Eatery 67Waterstreet Coffee Bar 40, 67Whitey’s Ice Cream 67WineStyles 63Taj International Foods 63

FAIRFIELDThe Arbor Bar 11Cafe Paradiso 14

GRINNELL Prairie Canary 55Relish 55

IOWA CITY2 Dogs Pub 9A & A Pagliai’s Pizza 36, 11Acapulco 2 60The Airliner 11American Legion #17 11, 46

Atlas World Grill 11, 15, 25Baroncini Ristorante Italiano 13, 49Basta 13, 15, 25Best China 13Blackstone 13Bluebird Diner 13, 42Bob’s Your Uncle 13Bo James 13Bread Garden Market 14, 22Brix Cheese Shop and Wine Bar 12, 14Bubble Pop 14Bubbleology Karaoke & Cafe 14, 46Cactus Mexican Restaurant 14Cactus #2 14Cate’s Frozen Yogurt 14Clinton Street Social Club 12, 14, 38, 68The Club Car 14Colonial Lanes 19, 52Cottage Bakery & Cafe 19Crêpes de Luxe Café 19Dane’s Dairy 19, 49Dave’s Fox Head Tavern 19, 68Daylight Donuts 23Deadwood Tavern 23Deluxe Cakes and Pastries 23Devotay 12, 23Donnelly’s Pub 23, 68Dublin Underground 24, 68East-West Oriental Foods 60El Banditos 24, 44El Paso Taqueria and Latin Market 24Fabian’s Seafood 38Fair Grounds Cafe 24Falbos Bros. Pizzeria 24, 36FilmScene 24, 53Forbidden Planet Pizza + Arcade 8, 24, 52Formosa 24Funcrest Dairy & Grill 24, 49Gabe’s Oasis 26, 68George’s Buffet 10, 26Givanni’s 26Great Wall 60Gumby’s Pizza 27Hamburg Inn No. 2, Inc. 27, 42Her Soup Kitchen 27Heyn’s Ice Cream 27, 49High Ground Cafe 27, 40Hilltop Tavern 27IC Ugly’s Saloon 68India Cafe 32Iowa Chop House 32Java House 32

Jimmy Jack’s Rib Shack 35Joe’s Place 35John’s Grocery 35, 62Joseph’s Steakhouse 35Korean Barbeque 39La Regia Taqueria 32, 39Leaf Kitchen 39, 42Linn Street Cafe 41Los Portales 41Mama’s Deli & Catering 41Mami’s Authentic Mexican Food Service 34, 43Masala Indian Cuisine 43Martini’s 68McWane Dairy Queen 43Mekong Restaurant 43Mesa Pizza 36, 46Micky’s Irish Pub & Grill 46, 68The Mill 25, 44, 46, 68Molly’s Cupcakes 46Mondo’s Saloon 47Motley Cow Cafe 22, 38, 44, 47New Pioneer Food Co-op 22, 47, 62No. 18 Karaoke & Bubble Tea 46, 47Nodo 34, 48Oasis Falafel 34, 48One Twenty Six, Moonrakers and Hearth 48Orchard Green Restaurant and Lounge 48Osaka Japanese Restaurant 48Oyama Sushi 54Pita Pit 55Prairie Lights Books & Cafe 40, 55Pullman Bar & Diner 8, 44, 55Quinton’s Bar & Deli 55Ride 44, 58Sam’s Pizza 58Sanctuary Pub 58, 68Seoul Grill 15, 58Shakespeare’s 58Share 12, 58Short’s Burger & Shine 58, 68Sports Column 68Stella 58Studio 13 59Summit 68Sushi Kicchin 34, 59Sushi Popo 59Szechuan House 32, 59TCB Pool Hall 53, 59Takanami 61Teddy’s Bigger Burgers 34, 61Thai Flavors 61

Thai Spice 10, 61Trumpet Blossom Cafe 22, 44, 61Uptown Bill’s Coffee House & Neighborhood Arts Center 67Vine Tavern & Eatery 67Wedge Pizzeria 36, 67Wig & Pen Pizza Pub 36, 67Wildwood Smokehouse and Saloon 52, 67Yacht Club 68Yotopia Frozen Yogurt 49, 67ZaZa’s Pasta Shop 15, 63

KALONACentral Discount Grocery 60 Golden Delight Bakery 26Kalona Brewing Company 39, 56Stringtown Grocery 62Tuscan Moon Grill on Fifth 25, 67

MOUNT VERNONFuel Nest 24, 40Lincoln Wine Bar 37, 41Palisades Cafe 8, 54

NORTH LIBERTYBluebird Diner 13, 42Club 76 14Reds Alehouse 55Sushiya 10, 32, 38, 59

NORWALKLa Quercia 32

OXFORDAugusta Restaurant 10,11, 42Geyer’s Oven 10, 26

RIVERSIDERiverside Casino & Golf Resort 52, 58

SOLON Big Grove Brewery 13, 56Salt Fork Kitchen 44, 58

SUTLIFFSutliff Cider 57, 59

WEST LIBERTYGabby’s Mexican Restaurant 26

WILTONWilton’s Candy Kitchen 49, 67

180+ restaurants, bars, markets and other dining destinations, recommended by Little Village.Directory


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30HOP30hop.com

WINESTYLESwinestyles.com

WATERSTREET COFFEE BARwaterstreetcoffeebar.com

SCRATCH CUPCAKERYscratchcupcakery.com

BACKPOCKET BREWINGbackpocketbrewing.com

VESTAvestaiowa.com

KONOMI GRILLkonomigrill.com

EDGEWATER GRILLE & RIVER BARmarriott.com

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JUST OFF I-80 (EXIT 242) AND 1ST AVENUE IN CORALVILLE

30HOP30hop.com

WINESTYLESwinestyles.com

WATERSTREET COFFEE BARwaterstreetcoffeebar.com

SCRATCH CUPCAKERYscratchcupcakery.com

BACKPOCKET BREWINGbackpocketbrewing.com

VESTAvestaiowa.com

KONOMI GRILLkonomigrill.com

EDGEWATER GRILLE & RIVER BARmarriott.com

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CANTEBURY INN& Suites

(319) 351-0400704 1st Ave, Coralville, IA 52241

bestwestern.com/canteburyinnsuites

2 Room Suites With Hot Tub Option

Indoor Pool

Complimentary Wifi

Fitness Center

Meeting Room

Complimentary Hot Breakfast


Perfect for Retirement Celebrations, Receptions and Reunions!For more information about these facilities please

contact 402-677-1821 or email [email protected]

The Marina at Terry Trueblood Recreation Area

Ned Ashton House820 Park Road

The Park Lodge at Terry Trueblood Recreation Area579 McCollister Blvd.

Riverside Festival StageLower City Park


Date post:	08-Apr-2016
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The Iowa City Area's Bread & Butter

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