Iowa City
I'm about to have several trips to visit the University of Iowa. What are the best independent restaurants there? I like ecclectic, especially rustic mediterranean, but am interested in just about anything as long as its genuine and not "heat & eat" of the back of a truck.
Pizza?
Tapas?
Wine?
Local Ingredients?
Thai?
Near the Campus?
Late night?
No TVs?
MFKsWolf
Sep 06, 2004 08:53PM
I don't get to Iowa City very often anymore, but I'll offer my input. There was also a post about a month ago about Cedar Rapids and Iowa City that you may want to search for.
For Pizza, Pagliai's is an instituition in Iowa City. For tapas, Devotay is well regarded (and the owner sometimes posts here-hopefully he'll see this and add his input). Local ingredients, try Linn Street Cafe or Lincoln Cafe (in Mount Vernon). Those are 2 of the better restaurants in the whole state. Near the campus, Dirty John's grocery for a sandwich. Hopefully, some of the others can fill in the rest of the details for you.
Dave R
Dave R
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I can't speak first hand, but I do have a friend in Iowa City that is married to a chef.
She also spoke highly of Devotay ( 117 N. Linn St)
Linn St. Cafe (121 N Linn)
Sushi Popo for what was voted as best sushi in Iowa.(725 Mormon Trek Blvd)
Red Avacado for vegetarian. (521 E Washington)
Hamburg Inn for breaksfast. 214 N. Linn.
I know a girl in college there, so I'll try to get you a run down on Pizza. Remember if you are there this week to pick up your Beat Iowa State button. It will get you a discount at many local eateries.
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I'm a native Chicagoan and had lived in Iowa City for 4 years and can tell you that restaraunts aren't one of the best parts of Iowa City (for that matter the entire Iowa!). Nonetheless, I reccomend Big Mike's sub shop - real good subs, crisp, etc. Sub Shop is another good Iowa place. Also Hamburg Inn is a dirty little diner, not bad for late night chow. Red Lobster and Olive Garden are always good for franchises. STAY AWAY from Paglia's pizza, it's fair at best, I guess coming from Chicago I'm spoiled with pizza, but still could never find anything great about Paglia's pizza.
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Paglias Pizza is the best pizza around. It beats out most competition from accross the country. If you're in Iowa City it's a must.
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i'll second that emotion on pagliai's pizza--it's excellent. one of my all-time favorite pizzas. quirky because it used to be beer-free (pre-1983), then they got lowenbrau on tap. lowenbrau?? anyway, get the palace special and a pitcher of whatever strange brand brew they're serving now (andecker perhaps? olympia?).
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It's been a few months since anyone posted here about Iowa City, so who knows, maybe I'll start the broth simmering again. The two best restaurants in Iowa City are Taste on Melrose and Takanami. The two partners, one the chef and the other the baker, who own Taste formerly worked for local restaurateur Jim Mondanaro before they came to their senses and went into business for themselves. The menu is something that any Midwesterner would relish, but a foodie would find it to be creative AND well-executed. Service is very good: knowledgeable, friendly, smart & efficient. The chef at Takanami used to work at Charlie Trotter's and is very imaginative. Takanami is Asian-American fusion with a full menu and a sushi bar. I have taken guests from major metropolitan centers there and they've been impressed.
There's a little place called The Motley Cow which has about ten tables. It's raggedy-looking but the chef, who went to school at the UI, apprenticed in SF and came back. The entrees change every few days depending on what ingredients look good. They always have a nice selection of cheeses. Breads and desserts are really good.
Linn Street Cafe has improved over the past few years since they made their menu a little more casual and lowered the prices. Devotay has flashes of brilliance and you'll pay dearly for the privilege. Atlas World Grill does a good job. 126 (named for its address) has its good days.
I see from the posts previous that The Lincoln Cafe gets the compliments it deserves. See we8there.com for some reviews.
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Just FYI on your information so that its accurate, Eric is a good friend of mine and he makes great food but he never worked at Charlie Trotters. :) You should check out Formosa for some decadent sushi and the asian fondue (shabu shabu) is outstanding too. Service there has always been superb. Its on the first floor of the sweet new Hotel Vetro downtown.
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My husband Greg and I have always loved Paglia's pizza...we live in Chicago and yet we come out to Iowa City at least once every 3 mos for our addiction to it's wonderful taste and great crust. And as for Iowa-it has some of the best cooks in the WORLD.
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From an Iowa student.
Thai Spice on gilbert.
Old Chicago Pizza for deep dish pizza and really cheap beer.
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For Thai, I like Thai Flavors (I believe that's the name), corner of Gilbert and Burlington. Next door is Parthenon, which I haven't tried. My friend who lived in Thailand for several years took me to Thai Flavors, and the owners are actually Thai. I've also heard good things about Thai Spice, further down on Gilbert, but haven't been there.
Hamburg Inn, down the block from Paglia's, is good for burgers and shakes.
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Hi
I have been in and out of there recently several times and have many trips to come over the next year. I've hit a few good spots, based on comments and ideas here (thanks everyone!).
We went to Linn Street Cafe first night, and then Devotay the next night. Had the duck entree at both, and I found the food better at Linn St overall. The duck at Devotay was too saucy, while at Linn St it was roasted well and the sides were more well suited. The bacon wrapped dates at Devotay rocked, though, and the service was great with a good breadth of wine choices. Either choice I think is good and the best food in town, so far, for me.
Toward Corralville (I stay at the Hampton there), we've tried both Chinese places on 1st Ave at 2nd St and they're okay. Want to try the Vientamese place but haven't yet. The Vine, on 2nd, is good but pretty loud. The Beefstro in the hotel is dicey, though I like the grilled caesar salad. I've not been to the Power Co in a while but it was good. A little cheesey but a nice place to take clients.
Colleagues mentioned some hole-in-the-wall place around the corner from the Sheraton, Italian I take it, that I'll be trying next trip too.
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Pizza in Iowa City is a nonstarter as is Thai. Lots of mediocre stuff. For Tapas Devotay is fantastic. As mentioned Linn St is excellent (and next door to Devotay) with the best wine list in town. The best cooking in town is at Takanami, fusion with excellent sushi. Lincoln Cafe in Mt. Vernon is very much worth the 20 mile drive north of town. Other good bets are Motley Cow and Taste on Melrose, but they can be uneven. These are all within a mile of campus, none have TVs, are independently owned, and most use local ingredients.
David, in Iowa City
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Hamburg Inn's been mentioned several times already -- it's been a local favorite for years.
IC is NOT known for pizza, with most pizza joints catering to the non-discriminating and in-need-of-cheap-eats student. Trust me, as an alum -- pizza would not be something I seek out on repeat visits to campus!
Since the campus district -- specifically on the Old Capitol side -- seems to have been left out of most responses, here are a few adds:
1) Panchero's -- 32 S. Clinton St. with another location on Riverside, has its HQ in Coralville, got its start in Iowa City. Fits both the late nights and cheap eats categories. Recommend avoiding it on Thurs / Fri / Sat nights after 10pm (unless you plan to observe inebriated hungry students). But they serve up decent on-the-go Mexican fare -- queso quesadilla and soft corn tortillas abound. If you don't plan on eating for 24 hours following your meal, they'll make you a giant burrito. Further digging provided the URL below -- apparently they're making homemade tortillas now -- why couldn't they have started about 5 years earlier? ;) Sadly, it appears they no longer serve tortas... how depressing...
2) The Cottage Bakery & Cafe -- 14 S Linn St., just off Iowa Ave. Great local coffeehouse and sandwich shop, making & selling loaves of homemade bread. Those alone could make a great meal. Their lemon poppyseed bread sells out daily. Generally frequented by the grad student / faculty set. Open for breakfast and lunch, they have a great selection of fresh fillings / cheeses to make a sandwich to suit your tastes.
And, while not a food recommendation, no visit to Iowa City is complete without stopping at Prairie Lights Books. It's regarded as one of the finest independent bookshops in the nation.
Link: http://www.pancheros.com/index.cfm?te...
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Am scanning the entire board for Twin Cities listings, but came across a past thread about Iowa City that reminded me of some additional options.
Again, in the Old Capitol area, a local not-to-miss is Micky's for a Conglomeration... (cholesterol city, but tasty)
Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/...
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I was born in Iowa City and lived there through high school. I still visit every summer and don't miss Hamburg Inn when I'm in town. Thai Flavors is definitely the place for Thai. They are very active in the local community and do speical nights were a portion of their profits are donated to a selected (usually progressive) charity or group. Great fried noodles, tofu and very friendly staff. Much cheaper than Thai spice. Pagliai's for Pizza-get the Pagliai's special (sausage, green pepper, and onion. I think everything else was mentioned already. Go Hawks!!
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I just moved to IC, and this thread has been a lot of help, thanks everybody. One update though - I was told that Thai Flavors has just changed owners. I don't know what it was like before, but I left very unimpressed after last night's meal.
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I live in Cedar Rapids just up the road from Iowa City and I love to escape to Iowa City where I went to the Big U for good food. Among my favorites:
Sushi Popo for Japanese
Hamburg Inn for burgers or Tenderloins (ubiquitous in Iowa but I have never seen them elsewhere) and fries, or breakfast
I love Pagliai's for Pizza, good memories from my college days.
Takanami.
I really like Mondo's in Coralville for a good lunch with clients.
There are a few great Asian restaurants around-- Aoeshe on S.Gilbert and two in Coralville on the same road that goes out to I80 in Coralville.
I have to say the the Motley Cow on Market Street is always good. Delightful, fresh, delicious, even great coffee with dessert. (So many places in Iowa have horrid coffee, apparently the farmers have to have weak coffee so they can hit the sack at 7 p.m.)
I don't know if the Airliner is still in business but used to be a great place for a beer, burger and fries. .
RubyBluebird in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
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Hi All. A few observations from a food and wine fan who's spent a looooong time in I.C.
Pagliai's is good, 50s era pie. Tight ship, but get it to go--weird interior is mindful of a midwestern rec room circa 1983. And what's with the western imagery?
The Hamburg Inn. Well, I guess I'd miss if it were gone, but I'd rather eat at the hospital. Hamburg is a staple that serves to illustrate the fact that in 2006, there still is no good breakfast option in the I.C. area outside of my kitchen.
Sushi Popo. Haven't been there since Takanami opened a few years ago. Speaking of which, Takanami defies logic for the landlocked sushi jones. The entrees though at times a little klunky, can really satisfy. It happens when you take chances. And gratefully, they're figuring out wine. Kendall Jackson chardonnay days be gone forever!
Mondo's. Well, plenty of parking?
The Motley Cow Cafe seems to be enjoying a cult following and why shouldn't they? They feature truly local produce, a talented chef who understands restraint, and a menu that evolves to reflect seasonal change in a landscape where haut cuisine is largely about eating flavored butter to the Buena Vista Social Club soundtrack. In addition, they are mostly organic, very affordable (oddly cheaper than the Sysco emporiums), and have an astute wine list. There should be line out the door, but thank Gawd there is not.
Redhead. 10 min. up the road in Solon, this is generally good, Mason-Dixon comfort food. All homemade, quirky and lovable. There's a lot of heart in this place and that helps to offset some less than graceful moments on the floor. Patience, they say is a virtue. AND it's half the distance to the Lincoln cafe.
speaking of the Lincoln. This is good, but totally overhyped and put on the map by out-of-towners bemused by the concept of a reasonable restaurant ACTUALLY existing in a small Iowa town. You DO get your $$ worth (i.e. each entree is often 2 or 3 entrees rolled into 1) and you can bring your own wine, which, given the state of most local winelists, is salvation.
126. Under new ownership as of this summer. I suppose I'll retry as I'd long given up on its former inception.
Taste on Melrose. Solid, admirable, and well-executed. Bread made on-premise, (unbelievable that real bread in a restaurant is worth special mention) and usually good service. No real culinary earthquake here, just dependable and competent cooking.
Aeoshe. Been twice in the last two years. Two times too often. Get it to go if you must.
Thai spice. Easily the best Thai around. Sometimes I think of the Moo Pad Prik when I'm driving. If you have a party, reserve the private dining room, order as much as you can, pass and taste. Nice little wine list too.
Devotay. charming, but I don't get it. Very hyped, and self-promoted, but that said, it beats anything downtown, and features the best winelist I've seen there to date.
Linn St. Any comments from anyone here? I stopped going years ago, and it's a pricey roll of the dice. Still too much meat and Shiraz?
Airliner. yes, still in business. yes, still very avoidable. The facelift did little to alleviate the stale beer smell and the Ruben I had there was inedible--literally. On duty mngr. merely shrugged when I asked about the leathery, grilled(?!) corned beef. O college. Stick to Micky's.
other notes:
the Sausage platter at Venuto's
the tacos at that Taqueria out by Econo food (sorry, I can't remember the name.
Tempeh stir fry at the Red Avocado
sandwiches at the Prairie Table
all natural Brats outside of Tait's
depending on who's cooking, the bacon-cheddar burger at Micky's
the ruben at Shakespeare's
farmer's market
Yours in better eating, Kellog Sully, Iowa City
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kellog sully - The Airliner was my dad's beverage of choice when we lived in IC 1953-56.
In the many trips I've made to IC as an adult over the past 30+ years, I've simply never had the desire to set foot in the place. Too many unhappy childhood memories of being dragged there for hours on end, bored to tears and sometimes frightened of the loud, drunken men.
Somehow I'm not at all surprised that the joint still stinks of stale beer and the sandwich was lousy. Fits my image of the place.
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All this talk about Pagliai's and no mention of the real pizza power house in IC, SAMS. I dream at night of SAMS deep dish. Wish I had a peice right now.
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Just to add to the chorus in favor of The Motley Cow: I am from Boston, and was in Iowa City for one night recently (Sept. 2006). I had dinner at TMC and cannot recommend it enough. On a Monday night, the place was relaxed but cheerful and attentive, and the food was delicious. Flavors were adventurous and interesting without being wild or distracting, and everything was prepared skillfully. Ingredients stood up on their own, too (if only every pork chop I ate were that good!). The chef and waiter took a few minutes to chat with us, and were friendly as can be. They could've charged 50% more for the meal, and I would've happily coughed up the dough. A real find (and thanks to Chowhound for leading me to it!).
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Kellog,
Thanks for the plug, we truly appreciate everyone who likes our food. And yes, I suppose I am guilty of shameless self promotion, but it's all about the love of the food (truly). I evangelize for local food and traditions of the table in various media outlets, and since I've had some success at it, my own profile has increased.
I'm as egotistical as the next guy, but please believe (as the title of one of my columns says) "It's about the food."
And on a side note to the pronunciation police above (daferawewer), Pagliai's is a block from my restaurant. The owners, Armand and Polly, are friends of mine. It's their family name and they pronounce it "polly-eyes," regardless of what anyone in Italy may think (where they'd use a soft, gutteral "g" anyway.
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Fair Enough. Keep on cookin.' Best, Kellog
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yes, thank you. I lived in iowa city from birth to 20 years and I too can attest that it is polly-eyes. Yes, some people pronounce that 'g', but those in the know always look askance.
also- Thai Spice is far superior to Thai Flavors, as much as I respect Thai Flavors community activism. Very watered down Thai. True, however, that service at Thai Spice often sucks. Good reason for takeout.
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Hi all,
I have some questions for local diners:
Anyone tried Saigon to Bangkok lately, or the "new" 126?
How about Guido's? I stopped to sniff around and found the deli meats were Hormel. C'mon, guys. It's like a Jewish deli with Carl Buddig Corned Beef.
Any word on the last Mondonaro Zeppelin, Joseph's?
Still haven't tried Verde. Anyone?
Finally, what's all the fuss about the Public House. The beer, I suppose, is better than it was, but I found them all to be innocuous and grainy.
I love being an armchair critic. Kellog Sully
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I love Saigon to Bangkok. They have the best crab rangoons in the area. They're not on the menu, but will be made, no problems. Also the price is great. I go exclusively for the vietnamese food, of which is very good. I'm not as interested in the thai available and was not impressed with the pad thai.
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Kellog,
I like your style - not holding back, especially your take on the burg. I don't agree with all your assessments (Lincoln is outstanding in my book) but I agree with the substantial majority. You might try Baldys Wraps for breakfast, if you haven't already. I am afraid that is the best IC can do. As for Taste on Melrose I have had some of the most horrible service I have ever had at a fine dining establishment there (e.g. ordered a particular white wine on the server's recomendation to accompany a particular dish. After wine is poured the server came back to say they were out of the dish. When I couldn't find a dish on the menu that I wanted that would go well with the wine, I asked them if they would take back the wine and allow us to order another to accompany a new dinner choice they said no.)
Linn St is still a crap shoot. The same dish can be great one night and then lousy a week or two later due to poor execution.
I like Joseph's. They do an excellent job cooking steak and have prime beef. There are some clunkers on the menu so you have to be careful though. The tuna appetizer is also excellent.
Jewish Deli in IC? - we can dream. At least we have a good farmers market (which was excellent this morning by the way).
David
PS Let's try to keep the Motley Cow a well kept secret.
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Good luck keeping Motley Cow a secret. David does a great job over there.
As for a Jewish Deli, you'd have to go to Postville & Jacob's Table for that, but there are mighty good sandwiches to be had at Prairie Table and Tait's
I wanted to throw in a mention for David's Place, at Linn & Washington. Odd place - it has typical bar food for appetizers, but the whole entree menu is outasight Ethiopian, realy good stuff.
Too bad about Mander's experience at Taste. I know the owner, Christian, has much higher standards than that and I highly recommend that you give them another shot.
Oh, and I agree about Baldy's, except I have a hard time getting out of there without ordering anyting but the Jambalaya wrap. It's an addiction. Get t with the Bass Ale.
Peace,
kmf
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Thanks for the tip on David's Place. I've been hearing good things but have yet to go. I'll make it a priority now. Based on my two bad service experiences at Taste I won't be going back until I have to (e.g. work related dinner) but I will try to go with an open mind based on Kurt's recommendation. Yes indeed Taits and Prarie Table have changed the sandwich market in IC dramatically for the better in the last year.
David
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Hi,
Thanks for the word on David's Place. I've been curious, but my interest was thwarted by the Lite Beer neons in the window. Also, I agree with KMF on Taste. I've heard stories of lousy service, but have never had that experience myself.
Finally, in a previous post, I mentioned a "taqueria out by Econo Foods," and could not remember the name. It is La Reyna, and the chicken tacos are the Lord's own. (although, I think the Lord's arteries are probably hardening). Also, apparently Econo Foods is gone. O the nostalgia. Kellog
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Just to jump in kind of late on this topic - I live in IC and can agree with many of Kellogg Sully's (this wouldn't be a reference to where you're from would it? Newton here) and KMF's assessments.
Comment on Guido's - went there once looking for smoked gouda after the Co-op's supplier went belly up. Very average lunch offerings, but they do offer a nice small dinner menu and are BYO with a small corkage. Not nearly as good as Lincoln Cafe (count me among the fans) but an easier drive home after a bottle of wine.
Thanks for the tip on the taqueria - we're always looking for something that can rival El Olmito in Muscatine.
And the Prairie Table filet mignon sandwich - wow!
As for the Motley Cow - shhhhhh! :)
Iowagirl
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Must strongly disagree regarding David's Place. As a lover of ethiopian food, I was very excited about the prospect of eating ethiopian when I came home to iowa, rather than in Montreal or Boston or Chicago. But David's was terrible- it was not remotely related to any ethiopian food i have eaten in the past. I have hope that maybe as they realize that iowa citians appreciate authentic food they will improve.
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Odd. While I've never been to Ethiopia and therefore cannot comment firstand on its authenticity, I found the food to be delicious and interesting at David's Place, as well as fun to eat. I do think it's odd that he has the "barfood" apps and the more tradtional entrees, but hey, if it works for his business plan, I guess I'm OK with that.
My only disapointment is in atmosphere. That location, which I considered taking when it was available, is capable of so much more. As it is now, it's what I call "the restaurant on the moon" - great food, no atmosphere.
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I would recommend giving David's Place another chance. As a huge fan of Ethiopian food, and someone who spent 3 months in Ethiopia, I used to travel to Chicago or Minneapolis just to get my fix, and was thrilled when David's Place opened in IC. After my first dinner there, I didn't go back for a year, I was so disappointed. The injera was crusty, the selection slim and not very flavorful. My husband talked me into trying it again and I have to say it has improved dramatically. The selection was better and the food was much better. We've been back several times since. I don't think the injera you get in the US is ever going to have quite that sour taste that makes Ethiopian injera so distinctive, but as far as American Ethiopian food goes, I am very happy with David's Place and glad to have it in town.
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I think the collards are super, both times I've had them they just melted...
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re: verde-
Having tried both verde and devotay several times, I would give a thumbs up to verde. Devotay has a cozier down home feel, but i prefer the food at verde.
re: breakfast places
Please try the bakery on summit street- Bakery Deluxe. Not everything is perfect, but their pecan rolls and cinnamon dunked pecan muffins are delectable. Every out of town guest we have taken there has loved it and requested a repeat performance. I think their coffee is great too.
re: 126
I think that 126 is a great place for lunch, and their service is quite a bit better than other places. Prices for lunch are very reasonable.
David's is cheap and tasty, and it's tasty vegetarian options make up for what it lacks in ambience.
I would second comments about redhead- sometimes the menu is a bit uneven (some things are great, others fall flat) and I would not recommend dessert. The desserts generally sound great, but I have been disappointed one too many times. That being said, they really do focus on using local in season ingredients, and their soups and salads have never disappointed.
Our favorite pizza place is a bit of a drive- Zoey's in Marion, IA. I'm not a fan of their deep dish, but their so-called new york style pizza is a favorite (note that this is a much thicker crust than true New York pizza). So if you are looking for something between pagliai's and deep dish, Zoey's wins hands down.
would eat at taste more, but the menu rarely changes, and I get bored.
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Hey, thanks for reminding me of Zoeys, I'll have to get up there. They used to have a store here in IC, and hte pizza was awfully good. I'll make the drive soon and report back.
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I grew up in Iowa City and lived next door to the Pagliais for 8 years. I can assure you, they themselves call it "polly-eyes".
I love their pizza, as do most people I know who grew up there. Love-love, really love. For anyone perusing this thread, I think the fact that it is controversial should make it a must-visit so you can decide for yourself. Their entire menu fits on the front and back of a little table tent. This is because their ingredients are so fresh and well-done they don't need to mess around with too much stuff. I recommend the Palace Special and a pitcher.
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Going on the assumption that ALL chain restaurants are terrible wastes of space, that really only leaves a few places that are worth eating in Iowa City, and for the most part i won't be talking about those at the moment.
I agree with Kellog on <La Reyna>. I have yet to try the carnitas but the tacos are quite nice. You may want to get them to go so you don't have to sit in a parking lot on boyrum street.
I don't think <Atlas> has come up in the thread, so i will set the record straight. If you like all of your food in burrito form this is the spot for you. Not wraps, burritos, they may very well have been ahead of the curve on the low carb diet, but really, a fish and chips burrito packed with coleslaw give me a break! After going for a couple lunches and being totally unimpressed i find it difficult to dine there for an evening meal. Please someone, anything good to say?
<Fresh Food Concepts> haven't been grasped yet at any of "The Mondo's" restaurants. These uninspired restaurants are: <Givanni's>, <Joseph's>, <Mondos Tomato Pie>, maybe a <Bonehead's> is floating around in Cedar Rapids and a host of smokey college town bars. I would lump all these in the same heap and put a tag on them that states: "OVER PRICED PUB GRUB". I will say however having been stuck in the Coral Ridge Mall, the <Bread Garden> was a sight for sore eyes. The <Bread Garden> has many bread choices and is very consistent in the quality, that is why they supply a good chunk of Iowa City's restaurants with their bread. However, being one of the few people to tour the back of many Iowa City Kitchens i grow very tired of seeing the bread delivery arrive from the Bread Garden in large clear Garbage Bags (food storage quality i am sure).
I will have to get back to this and maybe defend some of the statements i have made.
Maybe next time i will try to focus on the Food i like.
Electric Gib
PS Palace Special is the only way to fly.
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Ah yes, Atlas. Menu brought to by, THC: Enhancing creativity since the dawn of civilization. And by, Sysco: Doing the work, so you don't have to. I must confess, and though I still find it bizarre, to liking the Buffalo Wrap. Fried chicken and mashed potato burrito topped with onion rings and blue cheese. Maybe once a year? The beers on tap are the usual cast of corporate drizzle, and the markup on the wine list should be reported to the Better Bus. Bureau, but the place doesn't seem to hurt for biz.
"Fresh Food Concepts" Tip: avoid places that emphasize the word "fresh." "Fresh chicken breast; fresh garden salad," etc. Seems like "fresh" ought to be a given? Was there a time when the use of fresh ingredients, like chicken breast, was some kind of food revolution?
Vive le Palace Special! K.S.
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Just moved to IC from Chicago three weeks ago. Thanks to a temporary expense account and a bit of restlessness, I got out to just about every major restaurant in town. Still can't get used to the pace of life out here, though...
What I've liked:
-Motley Cow Cafe
-Lincoln Cafe
-Devotay
Is it any coincidence that all three of these places emphasize clean, contemporary American flavors. I would say only Lincoln can compare to a starred Chicago restaurant--obnoxious weekend waits included--but the other two more than hold their own. Motley Cow in particular is a true gem.
-Thai Flavors and Thai Spice were both fine.
-I like Takanami as well, but I would refer you to Frank Bruni's review of Japonais for discussion on the pan-asian conundrum rather than
What I haven't:
-Verde: Cute room, but the menu is a mess: way too many things going on on it to be effective. Food was either too timid or oversalted.
-Formosa: Pretentious, and the rolls were off(I haven't tried the shabyu shabyu though). Service botched my order; what did come was drowned in way too many conflicting ingredients, with sauces to boo. They even messed up yellowtail jaw.
-Linn St. Cafe & 126: My pet peeve are "nice" restaurants that deliver entirely average food for $20+ entree prices. Both remind of places in Highland Park (say, Mimosa or Timbers) that cater to the crowd who loves that sort of stuff. Count me out of that.
-Givanni's: I thought I ordered a pretty simple meal, but th kitchen over complicated things. The carpaccio was semi-cooked, and a linguini with mushrooms was overly salty (canned?)Odd room--what's with the fluorescent lighting?
-Atlas: see above for a much better description than I could offer.
I'd appreciate any other suggestions about where to go...there's a ton of bars that serve food here, but I don't know which ones are worth seeking out. I also still need to hit India Cafe and Masala.
so Prairie Table serves food?
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Bcawn--
You'll get used to the pace in IC--your'e still suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. Pretty soon, you'll find yourself gently rocking on your front porch, quoting thornton Wilder, and growing quietly senile. Think of IC as a bathysphere--Chicago's only a few endless hours away.....the Indian restaurants are decent lunch options, but like anywhere, the food off the menu at night is contingent upon who's doing the cooking. Lot's of reheating, but not bad....they COOKED the Carpaccio at Givanni's? What a riot. Did you tell them it wasn't Steak-Um?... I've mentioned it already, but Redhead in Solon can be really good. It can also be really weird. Good luck w/ that. It's worth a try....Unless you are chronic carnivore, the Red Avocado (vegan and organic) can really be great. Before it's too chilly, grab a bottle (or 2) of wine and sit out on their patio....somehow, Pubgrub is like pizza in IC--mostly terrible (please everyone, this is NOT provocation to start another thread about Pagliai's). One would think that w/ the number of bars, someone could pull off good grease. It ain't haut cuisine, but it is a genre that is constantly overlooked and usually poorly executed.
Thanks for the word on Verde and Formosa, two places I have yet to venture into. Anyone else have a perspective on these two places? Bestest, KS
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The pepper jack burger from Shakespeare's, sided with tater tots and cottage cheese and served on a chewy kaiser roll -- why, by the way, is there nowhere to get a fried egg and cheese on a good kaiser roll, preferably grilled in a lunch truck? -- is a perfect Sunday brunch, with either a good bloody or a mug of Lite so cold its top inch is a beer slurpee. The Wazmo's garlic and jalapeno wings there are also archetypal. And although a single item may not constitute "grub," the George's cheeseburger -- the only item on the menu, save some microwave pizza and occasional chili -- is perfect at midnight with a whiskey.
There's much to discover here, and much of it happens after midnight.
Who's heard about the Formose late-night deal? As a member of the service industry, I've long wanted good late-night food -- and by good, I mean reasonably healthy because who wants to eat pizza or a burger at midnight regularly? -- but I hate that Vetro concrete floor and the contrived decor at Formosa. Something about the space makes me not want to enter it. Am I being unreasonable? Is it worth it in any way?
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my girlfriend and i had a great time at Formosa. the service was great, friendly, and knew what they were talking about. i also don't like schmoozie service that just wants a great tip. i actually like to be entertained with my guests when i go out and they did a great job of it. the food was delicious, i can totally see how they won best sushi in town two years in a row! i also hate trendy restaurant music, they always play great eclectic beats and throw down a good show in comparison to most bars and clubs in town. plus, the daily drink specials definitely don't hurt at all. i give it many many many thumbs up!
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Sushi is good at Formosa, some of the special rolls are very good, and if you're into the bar scene, I hear it's great. However, I think Oyama is still the best if you're just looking for good sushi (see recent posts about Oyama), but I'm sure they're not open too late. Also, ctscorp's comments about the decor at Formosa are not too far off...luckily one doesn't have to sit on the floor, but the benches are as hard as concrete. Also, the tables are very wide to accommodate the hot pots, and I always feel like I'm sitting 298 miles away from my husband. It's not very comfortable or intimate, although I get the feeling that they're trying to be both. Maybe some pillows would help??
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Lots of good ides from Iowa City gourmands. I would agree with those who detailed good experience at Verde, Motley Cow, Devotay, and the Lincoln Café, these establishments seem to have invested in the philosophy of flavor, style, and sustainability. In addition, I was happy to see the mention of La Reyna (don’t forget to ask for their pico), but I would include the fare from El Paso, and the warming bowls of PHO at Saigon to Bannock. It was the mention of pub grub, however, that caught my eye. Pub grub, the grease that oils the joints of life, nothing could be finer that the art of the deep fryer in combination with and ice cold Newcastle. After an exhaustive search in Eastern Iowa, one place rose to the top of the fryer basket like a well done tater-tot, Shake spears. As any Eastsider knows, this little Shake spears and its head