Paige Harris My go-to spots in Iowa City for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, & drinks. And Think Iowa City Foodie February is the perfect time to find a new favorite! Lastly, thank you to Think Iowa City for sponsoring this post.
I’ve officially lived in Iowa City for 5 months, so obviously it’s time that I let you in on a little secret:
The food here? It’s incredible.
When I first told my family and friends that I was moving to Iowa City, they were skeptical. Not because it wouldn’t be a safe place to live, but because they knew how much of a foodie I am.
And let’s face it, the Midwest isn’t exactly known for culinary masterpieces. Most people on the east coast imagine that it’s a lot of corn, supersized portions, and deep fried Oreos (not that I wouldn’t try that last one at some point…)
But Iowa City is different. This city has surprised me in so many ways, but the best surprise has been how freaking amazing the food is. It’s fresh, it’s innovative, and you can definitely tell that it’s made with love.
Here’s a list of my absolute favorites from sunrise to after sunset. Be sure to check them out and definitely let me know what your favorites are!
Coffee: Dash Coffee Roasters
There are plenty of coffee shops scattered around Iowa City, but this one takes the cake. Dash is one of the first places I discovered when I moved here, and I love stopping in to have one of their delicious almond milk lattes when I feel like treating myself. And even though I may not be drinking as much caffeine as I did as an undergrad, Dash has plenty of herbal tea offerings to keep me warm without the jitters.
They also have one of the most aesthetic spaces around to sit and work, with some big windows to people-watch too. Now I just need to go back and try one of their delicious looking avocado toasts!
And if you live in Cedar Rapids, you’re in luck. Dash’s flagship location is conveniently located downtown and there’s a third location in Kingston, too!
Breakfast: Bluebird Diner
I got the chance to try Bluebird Diner for the first time last week and I can’t believe I didn’t get there sooner.
This place is everything you could ask for in a diner. It’s retro, homey, and serves food that tastes as good and fresh as it looks. If you’re sick of greasy plates of pancakes and hash browns dripping with oil, you need to try Bluebird.
Breakfast is available all day every day, and there’s almost always a crowd of people waiting outside for a table. So if you’re planning to go with a big group, check the weather first — you may be waiting outside. If you get the chance to go, be sure to try out the Slammin’ Salmon Omelette and pay the extra 50 cents for a slice of delicious house-made sourdough.
Lunch: St. Burch Tavern
I don’t go out for lunch very often. But when Jordan’s family came to town to visit less than a week after we moved, we had to make an exception. And boy am I glad we did!
It was the middle of August and sweltering hot, so I ordered the delicious dish above. It featured salmon with everything bagel seasoning, heirloom tomatoes, pickled red onions, slivered cucumbers, and greens in one of the best dressings I’ve ever had. We also ordered Dan and Debbie’s Cheese Curds as an appetizer, and guys. They’re the best in IC.
If you decide to stop in for lunch, be sure to check out their $12 Pick Two menu. You can get half of a killer sandwich and a side of salad or soup, and I promise it’s way more delicious than anything you’d find at Panera. I’d go for the Mushroom Melt & Greek Salad!
Drinks: Big Grove Brewery
If there was one thing I could take from Germany and bring to the US, it would be beer gardens.
Luckily for me, I found one to call home in Iowa.
Big Grove is one of the first places Jordan and I visited here. Needless to say, it quickly became our new favorite brewery. From the consistent Boomtown Golden Ale to their seasonal Festbier Märzen and even their funky Strawberry Lemonade Sour, I’ve never been disappointed by any of their beers — and this is coming from a girl who usually prefers a glass of vino!
The atmosphere is also out-of-this-world at Big Grove. Their beer garden is full of fire pits and over-sized chairs, and the whole place is surrounded by twinkling lights that you can see from all the way across the river.
And don’t even get me started on how great their food is, too. (Just try the Buffalo Wings and thank me later.)
Dinner: Marquee
And now the pièce de résistance: Marquee Pizzeria.
Full disclosure: I IG-stalked Marquee hard before moving to Iowa City. I knew that I was going to have to find a new pizza spot before leaving my beloved Pizza Taglio back in Pittsburgh.
And wow. Wow wow wow.
Marquee’s pizza is the pizza you need in your life. By now I’ve had almost every pizza on the menu — for about a month in the fall I was there twice a week — and I’ve never been disappointed. I started off my love affair with the Keeping It Local pesto-based vegetarian pie. But I do have to say that their Vice City pizza holds the true key to my heart. It features smoked mozzarella, sausage, pepperoni, pickled pepper sauce, & hot honey. If you ask nicely, they’ll add some pickled onions to it, too.
If you manage to tear yourself away from the delicious pizzas, their house-made pastas are also incredible and perfectly portioned. On Tuesdays every pasta dish is $10, so get in there and try one! I recommend the Chicken Parm.
I wanted to give a round of applause to the amazing staff, too. I’ve never felt more at home in a restaurant in my entire life.
If you end up trying only one place on this list, make it Marquee!
Dessert: La Vecina
I know I know, who actually orders dessert in a restaurant? Spoiler alert: me.
Once the waiter at La Vecina mentioned that they had their Plátanos on the menu, that is.
This fire roasted plantain with cajeta caramel (like dulce de leche), toasted pecans, whipped cream, and house-made cinnamon ice cream might be the best dessert I’ve ever eaten at a restaurant in the continental US (with the Chocolate Soufflé at Poulet Bleu in Pittsburgh being a close contender).
Jordan also commented that this is not the only delicious dessert on their menu. Apparently the Pastel de Chocolate (a flourless chocolate-chile cake with vanilla bean anglaise) is equally as mouthwatering.
So if you find yourself at La Vecina for a delicious meal, make sure you save enough room for dessert!
But wait, what’s Foodie February?
Think Iowa City Foodie February is a month long celebration of the amazing culinary scene in Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty, and the surrounding area. And trust me, there’s a lot to celebrate!
It kicks off with the Think Iowa City Foodie Festival on February 15th at the Coralville Marriott Hotel & Conference Center. This is the first time an event like this has happened in IC, and boy am I glad that I get to go! Your ticket for the tasting event includes access to wine, a full bar, and small bites created by the talented chefs at a few of the restaurants around the area, including Marquee, La Vecina, and St. Burch Tavern.
And the best part? All of the proceeds for this event benefit the CommUnity Food Bank, the Coralville Community Food Pantry, and the North Liberty Community Food Pantry.
Head to this link to grab a ticket before it’s too late!
If you can’t make the Festival, don’t sweat it. Restaurant Week is happening the 15th to the 24th. I’m sure you’ll be able to find a time in there somewhere to head to one of these restaurants. They’ll all be offering a prix fixe menu for either lunch, dinner, or both so that you can go and try a ton of new food at a smart cost. If you’ve never eaten prix fixe before, do it! You get to try an appetizer, a main course, and a dessert for one low price. Students, I’m looking at you!
Lastly, if you’re hunting to find a new favorite place and want to save a ton of cash, be sure to pick up a Foodie February Passport at the at Think Iowa City’s event on the 15th. If you take that passport to three participating restaurant week restaurants and then return it to the Think Iowa City office, you’ll be entered to win a gift card to every single restaurant in Restaurant Week.
Guys. That’s a TON of good eats.
If you’re an Iowa City local, take advantage of Foodie February and start exploring the amazing food our city has to offer. It won’t disappoint.
