’Tis the season of Oktoberfests, tailgates, haunted houses, film festivals and some of the best beer releases of the year. Starting in mid-August, Iowa brewers begin announcing the debut of German-style lagers, fall flavors, special collabs and session beers, ideal for sipping as you take in some live, local tunes. Keep an eye out for […]
Food & Drink
Posted inCentral Iowa
LV Recommends: With delectable mozzarella, Gossip Tea Coffee is helping turn Ankeny into Iowa’s K-dog capital
After enjoying K-dogs at Naughtea earlier this year, I did not anticipate going back to Ankeny, the mother of all Des Moines suburbs, to peruse a whole new menu of Korean corn dogs and tasty drinks so soon. But there I was on a warm July afternoon — back in Ankeny to try the second […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Ramen chefs across Iowa are making magic with noodles and broth
Over the last few years, Iowa has seen a range of ramen-focused shops open, from DSM Ramen Club, a monthly ramen pop-up in Des Moines; to Ramen Belly, an intimate shop in Iowa City’s Peninsula neighborhood; to Broth Lab 641, an Asian-influenced restaurant in Fairfield; plus various pop-ups throughout Eastern Iowa. Each of these newer […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Hamburg Inn No. 2 will reopen later this year under new ownership
Hamburg Inn No. 2, a fixture of Iowa City’s Northside for 75 years, will reopen this fall, the restaurant’s new owners said on Monday. Hamburg Inn closed suddenly in July. It was the second time it shut down this year. “The Burg needs some fixing up,” Nate Kaeding of Gold Cap Hospitality said in a […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Hungry for a hike? Try these Iowa state park and local restaurant pairings
It’s easy to work up a hunger exploring a state park. Refuel for your next adventure at these nearby eateries. Illustrations by Ethan Edvenson Palisades State Park 700 Kepler Dr, Mt. Vernon Palisades-Kepler State Park is located just outside Mt. Vernon, making it readily accessible for folks in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. It’s also […]
Posted inEastern Iowa
With La Wine Bar, ShanShan Kong has turned an unlucky block into a downtown IC oasis
ShanShan Kong has been making hard-to-come-by Korean and Chinese dishes available in downtown Iowa City for three years. She opened La Wine Bar & Restaurant in fall 2019 at 180 E Burlington — the short-lived home of a Zombie Burger and a BeerBurger franchise — and mustered through the pandemic. She now operates several other […]
Posted inEastern Iowa
Eastern Iowa restaurant insiders dish on their go-to meals, best food memories and tips for diners
What are you looking for in a meal off the clock? Anthony Green: Something very different than what I just spent the last 14-16 hours cooking. Oftentimes if it’s simple, delicious and prepared by someone else, that will hit the spot. Aaron Hall: I have certain places along my delivery route that I know I […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Meet Alex Smith, Iowa City’s newest chef, recipe developer and restaurateur
Meet Alex Smith, Iowa City’s newest foodie transplant from Bloomington, Indiana. She’s the driving force behind Plated Table, a business specializing in small event catering, weekly meal deliveries and dreamy, intimate dinner parties. Smith takes on a variety of events and clients, cooking and creating menus for weddings and celebratory brunches, hosting ticketed multi-course seasonal […]
Posted inEastern Iowa Food & Drink
LV Recommends: Raise a slice to Leonardo’s, Cedar Rapids’ 70-year-old time capsule
Cedar Rapids — the city of five seasons/smells, and home of Iowa’s best pizza scene. To celebrate the foundational piece of CR pizza that is Leonardo’s (2228 16th Ave SW) let’s take a look at its origins. The story begins in the early 1950s when Tony and Leo Naso opened Cedar Rapids’ first pizzeria, Naso’s […]
Posted inCommunity/News
‘They’re devastated. I’m shocked’: Iowa River Power Restaurant is closing
Iowa River Power Restaurant is closing its doors in November. And while it’s possible the restaurant may reopen after the owner of its building finishes a major renovation project of the property, the restaurant’s owners, staff and Sunday brunch beloved by local diners over the past three decades will never be the same. Iowa River […]
Posted inEastern Iowa
25 Iowa food festivals celebrating sweet corn, bacon, beer and more
Add these homegrown food festivals to your 2023-24 calendar: Sweet Corn Festival, West Point, Thursday-Sunday, Aug. 10-13, 2023, Free Taste of Iowa City, Downtown Iowa City, Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, Free Latino Fest, Downtown Iowa City, Saturday, Aug 26, 2023, Free World Food & Music Festival, Western Gateway Park, Des Moines, Friday-Sunday, Aug. 25-27, 2023, […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Hamburg Inn has closed indefinitely for the second time this year
This story originally appeared in LV Daily, Little Village’s Monday-Friday email newsletter. Sign up to have it delivered for free to your inbox. Republicans running for president are moving into full-campaign mode in Iowa as the state GOP hosts its annual Lincoln Dinner fundraiser on Friday night, featuring 10-minute speeches from 13 candidates (including Donald […]
