On the corner of Linn and Bloomington in downtown Iowa City’s Northside, Kindred Coffee fills its sunny, plant-lined space with lattes, cappuccinos and the occasional troupe of dancers. (In May, it hosted a show by University of Iowa dance students and DanceWorks Chicago performers; more recently, IC Dance Company put on a “Dancer Social” in […]
Eastern Iowa Food & Drink
Take the cannolis — and the crab ceviche, po’ boys and more from these Q.C. eateries
For the 2025 Bread & Butter dining guide, Little Village food reviewers Lacey Skorepa and Liv Carrow visited and reviewed eight restaurants in the Quad Cities. You can find more local restaurant coverage here. Me & Billy 200 W 3rd St, Davenport, 563-323-1195 Me & Billy blends comfort and craft in a way that feels […]
Big burgers, bookish beverages and other place(s) to dine around Cedar Falls and Waterloo
For the 2025 Bread & Butter dining guide, Little Village food reviewer Abby McClatchey reviewed five Cedar Falls and Waterloo eateries. You can find more local restaurant coverage here. Big Head Burger 324 W 4th St, Waterloo It was Two Dollar Off Tuesday, so going with the Big Head Burger house special was a no-brainer. No substitutions, because they […]
Slow-cooked meat served quick, lab-grown coffee flights and other welcome delights in Dubuque
For the 2025 Bread & Butter dining guide, Little Village food reviewer Sunil Malapati visited and reviewed six Dubuque eateries. You can find more local restaurant coverage here. Adobos Mexican Grill 756 Main St, 563-556-4407 View this post on Instagram A post shared by Adobos (@adobosdubuquegalena) For a quick lunch getaway or a more leisurely dinner, Chef Jaimie Salazar’s […]
Ramen, pastries and that vindaloo they do so well at Iowa City and Coralville restaurants
For the 2025 Bread & Butter dining guide, Little Village food reviewers visited and reviewed six Iowa City area eateries, including a few notable newbies to the scene. Saj Grill, 23 S Dubuque St, Iowa City: Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dining have come full force to downtown Iowa City. Locals boast about the quality of its Jordanian cuisine — falafel, shawarma, baba ganoush, hummus, gyros and more — citing it as “food that tastes like home.” Owners promise bold spices, fresh ingredients and halal-certified meat.
Cult-favorite pasta salad, the perfect ‘mother-in-law restaurant’ and more eats in Cedar Rapids and Marion
For the 2025 Bread & Butter dining guide, Little Village food reviewers visited and reviewed 10 Cedar Rapids area eateries. You can find more local restaurant coverage here. MARION New York Gyro 808 7th Ave, Marion, 319-200-1750 I feel like once a year when I do these reviews, there’s always one restaurant I’ve never visited […]
Kitty-corner from the Old Cap is a social club so charming, you’ll want to take home the staff
The first cat café in the world opened in Taipei, Taiwan in 1998. Called Cat Flower Garden, it was born out of its founders’ love for local strays and from a desire to set their café apart from others in the area. All the cats are permanent residents of the cafe. The concept quickly spread […]
The Wedge and its signature specialty pizzas are back in downtown Iowa City
After being gone for a decade, The Wedge Pizzeria has returned to downtown Iowa City. Known for its innovative specialty pizzas, The Wedge debuted in its new location at 113 Iowa Ave, next to Joe’s Place, on Wednesday. “The space is pretty cool,” Regina Miller, the pizzeria’s co-owner, told Little Village. “It’s got high-ceilings, we’ve […]
LV Recommends: Plus Saporis brings flaming appetizers, elevated comfort food to Bettendorf
Last month, I had the pleasure of taking a weekend trip to Chicago. One of my goals, while there, was to find a great restaurant, a relatively easy task in big cities. I poured over restaurant reviews and menus and looked for available reservations.
Souper Bowl XXVIII will feature stock from 28 local restaurants to support DVIP & RVAP
Tickets are now on sale for the 2025 Souper Bowl, the annual event that lets you do good by enjoying good soup. Over the last 28 years, the Souper Bowl has grown into the biggest annual fundraiser for the Domestic Violence Intervention Program — now the Domestic Violence Intervention Program and Rape Victim Advocacy Program […]
Sanctuary Pub has closed, with building’s owner seeking new tenant
Since its debut in 1972, Sanctuary Pub has become as much a part of Iowa City’s cultural fabric as the Ped Mall, est. 1979. At least among locals, Sanctuary is as well-known for its intimate performances and literary events as its pizza, burgers and wide selection of beer on tap. The venue’s familiar facade is […]
Peak Iowa: What’s the secret to the perfect dill spread? Ask Elijah Wood.
Years ago, Cedar Rapids was a real deli town. You could pop out of work or school to grab a good sandwich at any number of locally owned shops peppered throughout the quadrants. But the city looks different after decades of restaurant closures — Cork ‘n Fork in 2014, Sub City and Emil’s Delicatessen in […]

