CORALVILLE
Barrett’s Quality Eats
3242 Crosspark Rd, Coralville
319-626-2227
The opening of this combination bakery, deli, cafe and fine dining dinner spot in July 2023 fulfilled a lifelong dream of owner Cory Barrett, who has served as pastry chef and executive chef in some of the nation’s most renowned restaurants (not to mention won the fifth season of Food Network’s Spring Baking Championship). With its Dartmouth green sign, farmhouse/bistro theming and bountiful interior and patio space, Barrett’s is the kind of spot you take out-of-towners for an impressive breakfast or lunch. You can’t go wrong picking anything from the pastry case: their large, crispy croissants, rich chocolates, light-as-air custards and meringues tarts with fresh, plump fruit. Barrett launched a full dinner service in April 2024, tempting parties to north Coralville for his prime rib, slow-cooked salmon, pork belly, rotisserie chicken and, of course, cutting-edge desserts.
—Emma McClatchey
IOWA CITY
Restaurant Gaï
104 1st Ave, Coralville
For a couple years now, the former El Cactus space in Coralville has hosted a whole new fusion concept. Restaurant Gaï blends West African, Asian and European fare, including jollof rice, plantains, beignets, escargot, and beef or chicken smothered in d’arachide peanut butter sauce. Head chef and owner Félicité Kolie grew up in Guinea, learning to cook from her Guinean father and Vietnamese mother, who operated a restaurant together. She eventually opened her own, then brought this food and business prowess to her new home in Iowa, utilizing Iowa ingredients to craft international dishes.
—Emma McClatchey
CEDAR RAPIDS
Pickle Palace
101 1st Ave SW, Cedar Rapids
319-582-4780
While “Pickle” is a reference to the indoor pickleball courts, “Palace” could just as easily refer to this food and entertainment complex’s generous footprint, huge windows and lofty ceilings. The three-story building features restaurants on its first and third floors, each with its own menu, dog-friendly patio and gorgeously appointed bar. You’ll find the titular pickleball on the main level and duckpin bowling, ping-pong and shuffleboard on the third level. Both restaurants offer Southern-tinged bar and grill fare — think cornmeal crusted fish and a remoulade you’ll want to put on everything — and beers on tap from Cedar Rapids’ own Clockhouse Brewing.
—Tiffani Green
WATERLOO
Ten Wasp Brewing Company
112 W 1st St, Sumner
563-578-9015
Ten Wasp opened on a snowy February day in the small Bremer County town of Sumner. Along with introducing beers like the Rhuby May, a rhubarb wheat, and Electric Shonk, a mango-pineapple sour, the team of owners wasted no time integrating with the community. They facilitate a run/walk club, group hikes, game nights, painting classes, live music, holiday events and pop-up dinners with local eateries. Ten Wasp also raises money for a local food pantry with $5 tours of the brewery on the first and third day of every month. Their malty, zesty hazy IPA, The Merc, pays homage to the historic building they occupy called The Mercantile, which was once an ’80s mini-mall. With Peace Tree ending their brewing operations after 15 years of bottling Blonde Fatale, Red Rambler and other Iowa favorites, it’s comforting to know new microbreweries can find a foothold in 2024.
—Emma McClatchey
DES MOINES
Zavy Kitchen
111 E Grand Ave, Ste 101, Des Moines
515-515-9289
Pho Real Kitchen’s sister eatery, Zavy Kitchen, opened this spring in Des Moines’ East Village. It’s a bright, airy space with warm lighting to match the building’s mass timber ceilings, with cute butterfly-shaped lights floating over its centerpiece bar. Their extensive beverage menus include smoothies, flavored lemonades, Vietnamese iced coffees and soju, as well as standard beer and wine. One cocktail, Baby Pink, turns soju into a sweet, creamy treat with yogurt and strawberry cream soda that screams bachelorette party drink. The family at Zavy knows many locals are new to Vietnamese cuisine, so items like the bánh xèo — a crepe-like dish with shrimp, bean sprouts and scallions — come with directions on how to eat it. As demonstrated by their massive vermicelli bowl, portions are generous, and the dishes are both visually and texturally charming.
—Seeta Lee
Oak Park
3901 Ingersoll Ave, Des Moines
515-620-2185
Opened in late 2023, Oak Park is a traditional white-tablecloth fine dining restaurant led by Executive Chef Ian Robertson. The food is well made, but what you’re really paying for is the experience of being truly waited on. Expect exceptional service and a three-course meal brought to you at a pace curated for your relaxation. Their sommelier, Des Moines native Sam Tuttle, will guide you through what they call the best wine program in the state, designed to include “every great region and grape on earth.” The experienced staff also offer caviar cones, fresh oysters, ingredients picked directly from their garden and a $100 banana split (which includes foie gras ice cream, champagne mousse, armagnac caviar, gold leaf and a souvenir spoon) to top it all off. Make a reservation here for a special occasion to make the ultimate impression.
—Dan Ray
QUAD CITIES
D’Savor House
689 Avenue of the Cities, East Moline
309-553-1324
This West African restaurant housed in a former, but not quite renovated, Maid-Rite location serves regional staples including peanut stew, jollof rice, fried plantains, palm nut sauce, oxtail soup, Pinon (a savory cassava custard) and a variety of other dishes you’re unlikely to find elsewhere in town. Opening in March 2024, D’Savor strives to serve as a “hub for cultural exchange and community engagement, fostering connections that transcend borders through shared experiences.” It’s a fine goal, and they’ve got the magnetic menu to make it happen.
—Liv Carrow
This article was originally published in Little Village’s 2024 Bread & Butter special issue. Don’t see your favorite restaurant or neighborhood on the list? Let us know at editor@littlevillagemag.com.
