Top Chef: Downtown Iowa City returned Monday night as 26 local restaurants competed for Best Entrée, Best Dessert and Best Mixology. The event was back in-person after last year’s at-home experience, and tickets were completely sold out.

The Iowa City Downtown District donated a portion of the proceeds to Strengthen – Grow – Evolve, a campaign organized by Englert Theatre and FilmScene, to help support local art.

The Top Chef winners:

Best Entrée
1st Place – Pullman Bar & Diner
2nd Place – The Webster
3rd Place – St. Burch’s Tavern

People’s Choice Best Entrée
1st Place – The Webster
2nd Place – Pullman Bar & Diner
3rd Place – Baroncini Ristorante Italiano and Pizza

Best Dessert – The KETO Kitchen
People’s Choice Best Dessert – Sweets and Treats

Best Mixology
1st Place – Get Fresh Cafe
2nd Place – Wild Culture Kombucha

People’s Choice Best Mixology
1st Place – SpareMe Bowl & Arcade
2nd Place – Gene’s

Baroncini Ristorante Italiano and Pizza took home third place for People’s Choice Best Entrée. — Adria Carpenter/Little Village
The staff of Pullman’s Bar & Diner plate up their dish, which won Best Entrée. — Adria Carpenter/Little Village
The Webster’s dish, which won People’s Choice Best Entrée — Adria Carpenter/Little Village
The “Grill Master” at Mama’s Chicken and Fish serves a long line of guests at Top Chef Iowa City 2022. — Adria Carpenter/Little Village
Crêpes de Luxe Cafe’s dates cookie, made with honey instead of sugar, and topped with an almond. — Adria Carpenter/Little Village
A SpareMe Bowl & Arcade mixologist pours drinks at Top Chef. — Adria Carpenter/Little Village
Top Chef Downtown Iowa City returns as local restaurants, bars and cafés compete in Best Entrée, Best Dessert and Best Mixology, in Iowa City, Iowa, on Monday, February 28, 2022. — Adria Carpenter/Little Village