In 2015, the Johnson County Supervisors took the lead in the battle for a living wage, acting to raise the local wage in three steps to $10.10 by January 1, 2017. Now Linn, Polk, Wapello and other Iowa counties have joined the fight. But fair labor laws are only as strong as their enforcement. When these laws are violated in Iowa City, the […]
Iowa City restaurants
Posted inFood & Drink
Return of the roadhouse: Wildwood Smokehouse & Saloon re-opens
Wildwood Smokehouse & Saloon, an eastern Iowa City favorite for its barbecue, live music and spacious dance-floor, will hold its grand re-opening on Saturday, September 3. The event will feature a performance by South Carolina country rockers Outshyne. The bar and music venue has remained closed for close to a year after its previous owners […]
Posted inFood & Drink
LV Recommends: Dumpling Darling
Dumplings — adorably biteÂ-sized pockets of dough packed with various fillings — excel in convenience. At Dumpling Darling on Dubuque Street in Iowa City (their brick and mortar location shared with Pops Old n’ New BBQ), an order of Korean-Âstyle dumplings is steamed and ready to eat in about five minutes or less. But the […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Frugal Finds: Your guide to enjoying the after-happy hour in downtown Iowa City
In my years at the University of Iowa as an under-paid student employee, I developed a keen eye for the frugal finds of Iowa City’s downtown. As a young professional crawling out from under the pile of construction debris that I now realize is my student loan debt, I need even more drinks in a […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Metamorphoses: Givanni’s to become El Patrón Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Bar
When the Etre Restaurant Group closed the doors of Givanni’s Italian-American in the Ped Mall, it was unclear what the future would entail for the space. Though rumors abounded, all mysteries were dispelled this week when the former Givanni’s space displayed a sign for El Patrón Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Bar. An official website has […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Chinese restaurant to open in former Linn Street Cafe space next week
A new Chinese restaurant will be on the scene soon with Bashu opening in the former Linn Street Cafe space (121 N. Linn St.) next week. The owner, Sue Zheng, said the restaurant plans to open on Wednesday. According to Zheng, Bashu will offer traditional Chinese cuisine. The featured dish will be a “spicy crab […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Augusta restaurant will open in IC for Mardi Gras
New Orleans-style restaurant Augusta will open its new home in Iowa City next week. Last month, its owners announced that the formerly Oxford-based restaurant will take over the space formerly occupied by Ride (630 Iowa Ave.). On Tuesday, Feb. 9, Augusta will open its doors for Mardi Gras festivities. A lunch buffet will run from […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Givanni’s owners say they may reopen in current space
Changes may be coming to Givanni’s. Rumors earlier this week suggested that the Italian-American Ped Mall mainstay may be closing or replaced by another restaurant altogether. Though details are still in flux, Jason Alt, business manager at Etre Restaurant Group (which owns Givanni’s), confirms that a shakeup may be in the restaurant’s future. In an […]
Posted inFood & Drink
I Love Pho celebrates grand opening in downtown Iowa City
Highly revered Vietnamese restaurant Pho Zaika – I Love Pho opened a second location in the Old Capitol Town Center this morning. While the menu focuses on pho — a traditional Vietnamese broth served with rice noodles, herbs and your choice of meat, then garnished with lime, chili peppers, beansprouts and more herbs — the […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Hamburg Inn says no plans for ‘drastic change’ under new owners
Hamburg Inn No. 2 owner Dave Panther said today that the sale of the historic restaurant has been pushed to next week. A manager at the restaurant on Wednesday said the sale was planned for that day, but Panther later clarified, “We were going to sign the papers today, but there’s a few things that […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Hamburg Inn No. 2 is sold
The owners of Hamburg Inn No. 2 sold the historic Linn St. restaurant today. This is the first time in its 60-plus year run that the business has left the hands of the Panther family. The reach of the diner, founded in 1948 and beloved for its brunches and pie shakes, as well as its […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Dumpling Darling to open brick and mortar location in Iowa City
Dumpling Darling, the popular purveyor of Korean-style dumplings sold at retail locations and farmers markets in the area, will shack up with Pop’s Old ‘N’ New Bar-B-Que (130 N Dubuque St.) to open its first brick and mortar location the first week of February. “I met the guys at Pop’s while vending at [the] same […]
