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 […]
Eastern Iowa Food & Drink
Posted inFood & Drink
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 […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Kalona Brewing will close at the end of this month
Kalona Brewing Company will close at the end of the month. The craft brewery and restaurant located in downtown Kalona will serve its final beers on Oct. 31. “Unfortunately, we have been unable to recover financially from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” owners Ted and Becky Nagy said in a post on the brewery’s […]
Posted inEastern Iowa
John’s Grocery fried chicken returns for one night only as part of Chicken Town, a FEaST fundraiser
Many Iowa Citians have had a fried chicken-shaped hole in their lives since John’s Grocery closed its kitchen in early 2022. But this month, they’ll have a chance to fill that void with a two-piece (or two), if they act quickly. The fried chicken that was a staple for University of Iowa students and other […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Dodge Street Coffeehouse will reopen next month, but not on Dodge Street
Dodge Street Coffeehouse, an Iowa City favorite that closed its doors earlier this year, will reopen. Just not on Dodge Street. “Next month we’ll be opening at South District Market!” the coffeehouse’s owner announced in a Facebook post on Saturday. “We’re excited to join the lovely folks there and get to know the neighborhood. It’s quite […]
Posted inFood & Drink
LV Recommends: 8 local restaurants to try in the Quad Cities
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Spirits is a classic Northern Indian restaurant that has been a staple of downtown Davenport cuisine for years. Best known for their lunch buffet,
Posted inCommunity/News
Taste of Iowa City returns on Wednesday with food from dozens of restaurants, live music by Dave Zollo
Taste of Iowa City returns for its 16th year on Wednesday. This year’s event will feature food from 48 downtown and Northside eateries, as well as live music. Taste of Iowa City “offers the perfect opportunity for new students and food lovers to experience the diverse culinary offerings from our local downtown restaurants and chefs” […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Market After Dark returns to Cedar Rapids on Saturday
Market After Dark is returning for its ninth year, as the Cedar Rapids Downtown Farmers Market’s 2024 season nears its end. There will be more than 125 market vendors offering their wares at the four-and-an-half-hour event, which starts at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday. “This festive event is known for its unique atmosphere where patrons 21 […]
Posted inFood & Drink
LV Recommends: 14 local restaurants to try in Cedar Rapids
Nestled into the back corner of the Town & Country Shopping Center, Siamville is one of those spots that’s easy to miss but hard to forget. It’s the perfect place for a casual lunch date, with a pad thai that’s right at the ideal intersection of sweet and savory.
Posted inFood & Drink
Already an Iowa City street-food favorite, Snacky Mini Mart puts the ‘bing’ in mind-blowing
Starting a new restaurant can feel like surfing a tsunami. Luckily, the cousin-cousin culinary team behind Snacky Mini Mart has a great sense of balance. Sandy and Vivian Pei launched their pan-Asian food stall at the Iowa City Farmers Market in spring 2023, cooking under a red canopy and hand-painted signs made by Sandy, one […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Fire destroys the Lighthouse Inn, a Cedar Rapids landmark and one of Iowa’s oldest restaurants
The Lighthouse Inn, a century-old supper club and Cedar Rapids landmark, was destroyed by a fire on Wednesday morning. According to the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, shortly after 5 a.m., a 911 caller reported seeing “smoke and flame coming from the roof” of the Lighthouse. Deputies along with Cedar Rapids firefighters were dispatched to the […]
Posted inFood & Drink
LV Recommends: 13 local restaurants to try in Iowa City & Coralville
A popular breakfast eatery for nearly 90 years, Hamburg Inn No. 2 found new life in 2023 when new owners saved it from certain death.
