From empanadas to masala, jollof rice to donburi, let these international eateries take your tastebuds on a trip. Pinoy Cafe 1100 3rd St SE, Cedar Rapids 319-343-8081 View Website Blanche Vega’s Filipino restaurant, Pinoy Cafe, got its start in a small spot in Cedar Rapids’ NewBo City Market in 2018. Vega graduated to a slightly […]
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Posted inBread & Butter Dining Guide
Where are the best chicken wings? Ask the Iowa City Wingmen
Since 2019, the original Iowa City Wingmen (Jeff Mannix and Brian Johannesen) have tirelessly scoured the Iowa City chicken wing scene in search of that perfect combination of flavor and texture with the intent of crowning the ultimate, most bodacious chicken wing in Iowa City. Well, that’s a bit dramatic. We mostly just like chicken […]
Posted inBread & Butter Dining Guide
Breakfast spots with colorful kids meals (and not just menu coloring)
Is it just us or is it harder to get out of bed at the end of the week? Our parents have tried a bunch of ways to try to get us up. By Friday morning, nothing but a guarantee of unlimited screen time could get us moving. That is until they started holding a […]
Posted inBread & Butter Dining Guide
LV Recommends: The CRANDIC’s coolest ice cream shops
Nothing soothes the soul quite like a scoop, cone or mixture named after a weather event. The Brass Fountain 122 E Main St, Solon 319-624-6122 View Website An ode to the soda fountains and malt shops of a bygone era, The Brass Fountain tastes like a trip to the past. And since it’s run by […]
Posted inBread & Butter Dining Guide
Carried away: Great local takeout and where to enjoy it outside
During the lockdown portion of the COVID-19 pandemic, our family took the opportunity to dive much deeper into two of our interests: exploring nature and eating takeout. The marriage of these two activities can go wrong easily—a soggy, sloppy sandwich in a poorly balanced Styrofoam container spilling onto your jeans in the great outdoors can […]
Posted inBread & Butter Dining Guide
LV Recommends: Restaurants that feel like home
Foodies who spent the last two years dining only al fresco — or simply a casa — are itching for a change of scenery. While these local spots offer a range of fare, what they all have in common is a comfy, casual atmosphere that will help ease you back into the dine-in experience. Sanctuary […]
Posted inEastern Iowa
A 2022 CSA guide for the Iowa City and Cedar Rapids area
There are many different types of CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) options within Iowa. We’ve compiled a list of those located within one hour (and often much closer) of Iowa City and Cedar Rapids, or offering pickup in these areas. Many of these CSAs sell a combination of items, so be sure to check out what […]
Posted inBread & Butter Dining Guide
Tender is the loin: The quest to find the CRANDIC’s most perfect pork tenderloin
Photos by Zak Neumann / Little Village The pork tenderloin sandwich ranks among Iowa’s most important culinary contributions, alongside Maid-Rites, puppy chow and Casey’s breakfast pizza. The formula is simple: A piece of pork loin is pounded thin, battered and deep fried, served on a bun which it humorously dwarfs in size and topped most […]
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LV Recommends: Notable restaurant newbies in Eastern Iowa
Opening a restaurant is no small feat, but opening your doors for the first time in the middle of a global pandemic is next level. These new spots are worthy of a gold star. Alebrije Restaurant 401 S Linn St, Iowa City 319-569-1083 View Website Named for the brightly colored Mexican folk art sculptures you’ll […]
Posted inEastern Iowa
Micky’s Irish Pub & Grill expands to North Liberty
Almost 42 years to the day after Micky’s Irish Pub and Grill opened its doors on S Dubuque Street in Iowa City, a second location will debut roughly nine miles up the road. On July 11, a Facebook post announced that the long-running downtown institution would expand to North Liberty in August, taking over the […]
Posted inFood & Drink
LV Recommends: Lachele’s Fine Foods will point you towards your smashburger soulmate
As I stepped into Lachele’s Fine Foods, it felt like a blast from the past. With black and white tile flooring, salmon-colored walls and turquoise seating, this hole-in-the-wall diner mixes mid-century modern with a contemporary touch. According to Executive Chef Jake Cole, this is on purpose. He and owner Cory Wendel wanted to give a […]
Posted inFood & Drink
The Takeaway: IC’s new Salvadorian restaurant proves Mesa can do more than pizza
If the name Mesa 503 rings a bell, it might be because it’s the sister business of Mesa Pizza, an Iowa City institution for over a decade. Owners Yolanda Amaya and Luis Hernandez immigrated to the U.S. from El Salvador in 1993 and have made visits back home every year, always looking forward to revisiting […]
