A longtime Iowa City institution is officially closing its doors after 58 years, according to a Facebook post on the business’s page Thursday afternoon. The Mill is known for its pizza and spaghetti, vintage pew seating, vine-draped patio and, of course, its performance space.
Iowa City restaurants
Put your money where your mouth is: Black-owned restaurants in the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids area
The Eastern Iowa area is blessed to be home to a plethora of businesses owned and operated by black chefs and entrepreneurs. We’ve sung their praises in these pages before, but we haven’t covered them all yet—something that we aim to rectify in coming issues. In celebration of our black community, we’ll be focusing on […]
Life without restaurants
“It is a happy condition of affairs that philosophers, poets, merchants and artists can join together at a dinner, and without a blush perform the function of feeding themselves open in public.” –Lin Yutang, The Importance of Living On March 13, I consumed one of my last meals in a restaurant for the foreseeable future. […]
Here are the winning entrees, desserts and drinks at the 10th Top Chef Downtown competition
The Iowa City Downtown District (ICDD) held its 10th annual Top Chef Downtown at The Graduate on Monday night. This year’s event featured offerings from 29 Iowa City restaurants. Competing entrees ranged from classics like St. Burch Tavern’s braised short rib to less familiar fare like Oasis’s mansaf, as well as desserts such as The […]
Openings, closings and wanderings: 2019 restaurant news in review
It was a turbulent year for many restaurants in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids. Two that opened in January — BeerBurger in downtown Iowa City and Linn Street Dive — closed before the end of summer. But BeerBurger still has its North Liberty location, and in December, Linn Street Dive became Marco’s Grilled Cheese. Melk […]
Your Village: Why is George’s Buffet called ‘George’s Buffet’ when it doesn’t have a buffet?
“Why is George’s called ‘George’s Buffet’ when there’s no buffet?” – Elizabeth, Iowa City. At this point, the most accurate answer is probably “tradition.” Apparently, when George Kanak opened the bar in February 1939, he meant to make it stand out from other bars that served food by offering a full buffet. But if George’s ever had
Marco’s Grilled Cheese will open in December in the former Devotay and Linn Street Dive space
Linn Street Dive, which closed in May, will reopen as Marco’s Grilled Cheese at the beginning of December. The target date is Monday, Dec. 2, according to Mark Paterno, who owns the former Linn Street Dive space along with his wife Jade. The new restaurant will be a brick-and-mortar version of the Marco’s Grilled Cheese food cart
Sun Cafe and Zio Johno’s move, and Guild Wurst Tavern makes a major change
Two Iowa City restaurants are in the process of moving, and this will be the last week before a Coralville eatery dramatically cuts its hours. Sun Cafe is moving into Zio Johno’s spot on Riverside Drive, and Zio Johno’s has moving around the corner and will reopen in part of what used to be Paul’s Discount.
A snacking guide to Witching Hour 2019
Since 2015, Witching Hour has worked to expand the consciousness of festival-goers by stretching imaginations and perceptions of what a festival can and ought to be: a two-day smorgasboard of obscure discussions and performances that take place just as the weather starts to turn horrible. I’m here to stretch how you imagine filling your gullets.
Linn Street Dive (formerly Devotay) will reopen as a brick-and-mortar Marco’s Grilled Cheese
More than four months after Linn Street Dive closed down, owners Jade and Mark Paterno have announced their plans for the future of the Northside Iowa City restaurant: when the doors reopen on Nov. 1, it won’t be as Linn Street Dive, but Marco’s Grilled Cheese. The Paternos are also the owners of the Marco’s Grilled Cheese food cart
La Wine Bar & Restaurant is taking over the former BeerBurger space in downtown Iowa City
After being home to two short-lived burger joints — Zombie Burger and BeerBurger — the space at 180 E Burlington St is getting is getting a fresh start. La Wine Bar & Restaurant will bring an Asian-style bar to downtown Iowa City. “I want to try to make something different,” owner ShanShan Kong told Little Village.
Melk Diner & Cereal Bar has closed
“Melk is closed forever,” according to a note posted on the door of the downtown Iowa City restaurant. The short-lived diner and cereal bar opened in December.

