After decades of feeding and entertaining Cedar Rapidians, chef Basil Hadjis passed away last month at the age of 62. Owner of the Vernon Inn, Fourth Street Diner and Sweet Basil’s Pizza Pie and Basil’s Food, Hadjis was a mainstay of the local culinary scene. Most recently, Hadjis could be found at the Mount Vernon Road Hy-Vee, preparing meals at the Market Grille.
Cedar Rapids Food
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Crab rangoon pizza is coming to Cedar Rapids
Beloved Des Moines-based restaurant and tiki bar Fong’s Pizza will open its third location in the New Bohemia District later this year. As first reported by The Gazette, Full Court Press, the group behind the restaurant, plans to open the new location by early May. The location of first Fong’s Pizza was once home to King-Ying-Low, Des Moines’ oldest Chinese restaurant, which inspired the Asian influence in Fong’s menu and decor.
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LV Recommends: The Pig & Porter
Though the flood of 2008 devastated sections of Cedar Rapids, the rebirth of the downtown, Czech Village and New Bohemia districts make the losses easier to take. Post-flood, a restaurant renaissance has occurred. Diners less than enthused by chain restaurants are now spoiled for choice with new eateries featuring creative menus and eclectic beverages. The […]
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LV Recommends: Sauce Bar & Bistro
When people ask me to recommend Italian food in Iowa, it prompts a string of questions that usually culminates in, “Do you mean real Italian, or, like, sickly sticky cream sauce and overcooked pasta like you’d get at a chain Italian restaurant?” Usually, thankfully, they mean the former, in which case, I often send them […]
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First Look: The Pig & Porter opens in Cedar Rapids’ New Bohemia district
The Pig & Porter (1028 3rd St. SE) opens today in Cedar Rapids’ New Bohemia District. Co-owners Will Monk and Matt Melone met while working at Cobble Hill. Their new collaboration will be open for dinner only, featuring a selection of small and medium-sized plates and a limited number of large dishes made for sharing. […]
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LV Recommends: Black Sheep Social Club
When Black Sheep Social Club recommends reservations, they aren’t kidding. The new Cedar Rapids restaurant hummed over the lunch hour on a recent Tuesday. Located in the former Great Furniture Mart building on First Street downtown, the social club opened for business Apr. 19 and has generated plenty of conversation among the city’s foodies. The […]
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Chicken Little Reviews: The Lost Cuban
Since 2012, The Lost Cuban in Cedar Rapids has been consistently serving flavorful Cuban favorites, garnering well-deserved buzz along way. The restaurant’s dining room is colorful and clean, free from the clutter of knickknacks. Customers order at the register, and friendly, helpful servers bring the food out to the table when it’s ready (which doesn’t […]
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Cedar Rapids Baconfest sizzles this weekend
Calling all bacon enthusiasts! On Saturday, Sept. 20, Townsquare Media Cedar Rapids will host the Second Annual Cedar Rapids Baconfest, a celebration of all things bacon. The festival will be held at NewBo City Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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Chicken Little Reviews: Cobble Hill
Cedar Rapids’ restaurant history is rather infamous. Prohibition began there five years before the rest of America. On the outskirts of town, supper clubs like the Lighthouse Inn and Ced-Rel flirted with the likes of Al Capone and John Dillinger. Cobble Hill came to fruition in 2013, when Carrie and Andy Schumacher took over the […]
