Inconsistent is the perfect one word description for this restaurant. Have been here three times and once was great, once was average and once was mediocre. Service is good and there's lots of tables so you don't normally have to wait. Prices are a bit high - especially on their meat and pasta dishes. We eat out fairly often and haven't been back since our last visit due to both of our entrees being bland and not at all what we expected. read more

What a great dining experience our party of 8 had! Our server was excellent and we were very happy that she was wearing a mask. We were a bit disturbed to see the majority servers and staff were not wearing masks, however. Our food was amazing (prime rib, chicken marsala, chicken parm, sun-dried tomato and goat cheese chicken...). We will be back again, but will likely wait until COVID-19 is more a memory than reality, since the majority of workers were not masked and social distancing was not being practiced (1 star deduction). read more

I've been here twice. The service is always amazing. Get the pasta and the tiramisu. Don't get the prime rib. I ordered a medium rare piece of meat and a grey slab of meat came out. The martinis are too sweet for an Italian restaurant. It's hard to appreciate a Starburst martini on any menu that offers fine dining. read more

One of the better and nicer restaurant in Cedar Falls. It has great service just about every time I come here. I have been here on special occasions or just because we wanted to go. It has delivered every single time. All our family loves hopefully yours will too. The atmosphere is great here! You may have to wait sometimes for awhile but is worth it. A solution is to just get a reservation. There are many places to sit so don't worry For appetizers I recommend the cheese bread it is great! For your entree I recommend the pizza, spaghetti, lasagna, and prime rib For Dessert I would recommend the brownie pie, old fashioned sundaes, and chocolate pudding cake. These are fantastic choices, but there is much more! The price here is right. Trust me you will get your money's worth. You will always be satisfied here! read more

Stay home, watch a game show from the 1970's and eat a bowl of Special K, it will be a better night than going to this place. There is no way to make reservations on the web site so after 3 emails we finally got a positive response that "we'll put you down." When we arrived - nope, never heard of us. That's OK because at 6:00pm on a Friday night the place was empty. The meal started with a salad which included a skanky little piece of toast with two strands of human hair on it. When the menu says "home made blue cheese dressing" it must mean the cook had some blue cheese at home when he mixed up this creamy stuff because there was no cheese it in. We both had the prime rib which we both sent back as it was served chilled like it was white wine. But after a short turn in the microwave it came back warm but still as tasteless as a bowl of diet breakfast cereal. We just asked for a box so we could take it home and grill it ourselves. The dessert was excellent, but only because it was an ice cream cake clearly ordered from Schwanz. I hope we never have the misfortune of going there again. read more

I really like this place. I come to Iowa for work 2-3 times a year and always make it a point to stop here for dinner one night. Prices are extremely reasonable (although that's coming from a New Englander near NYC so take it for what it is worth.) It seems to be an Iowa, or maybe a mid-west thing, but the creamy garlic salad dressing is sooooo good. I've had a couple different veal, pasta, and chicken dishes and everything comes out hot and fresh. Staff are friendly and the decor is very warm and inviting. It's on the dark side and the restaurant is all split up between floors and rooms, it's almost like a house. read more

I picked up takeout and so wasn't sure what to expect. Looked nice on the inside, very private. Food was great though! I had the italian sausage baked penne and it included toasted bread and a decent sized side salad. Defintely recommended! read more

Cedar Falls Brown Bottle - Italian Sausage Pasta, take out. Delish! - Pizza Near Me - Cedar Falls, Iowa

When I was in college this was one of my favorite restaurant stops! It's been a few years now, but I always remember the place with fondness. The food was always good, the staff were friendly. Their ice cream with amaretto on top? Divine! Some day when I come back to visit, this will be on my stop! read more

This is first place I ate at after moving from LA to The CF we sat down 10 minutes later the girl at the table next to us looked at her Iowa man & said omg those guys are fags this set the tone for my living & dinning experiences for the next six years. It just got worse & the more we tried to help & be a part of the health care community the more we were treated like aliens from Planet X the food at brown bottle is watery & tasteless we also found hair in our food I guess someone hates wearing their hair pulled back the center of my stuffed shells was cold & gummy the wait staff was listless & uninterested the view of the water was really a bogy creek depressing as the food we never went back others have told me they feel ill every time they eat there I always said don't go back the answer but our choices are so limited! read more

The Brown Bottle is definitely a treat! The food is amazing and the classy atmosphere is the cherry on top. This restaurant is worth the price! It's a great reason to get dressed up with friends to have a nice dinner. You can't go wrong with the lasagna. P.S. Don't even think about showing up without reservations! read more

We've been fans of the Cedar Falls Brown Bottle for years. The 'Pricey' rating is not deserved though. Per person cost for us (a family of six) has averaged $11 to $16 per person without fail over the last few years. The salads and dressings are always excellent (the bits of bread served with the salads are always a favorite too). I would recommend the manicotti and/or prime rib and my wife loves the caneloni. The seating style is slightly odd, but it really lends itself to the homey style and privacy. read more

Reservations were specifically requested for a window-side table but we got shoved in a dark corner. The food is so-so. The entrees evidently come with a salad and your choice of side which seemed backwards. I don't believe they make all their own salad dressings any longer, my French reminded me of the same thing from the Kraft bottle. The pasta is ho-hum and several preferred the garlic chicken entree when served with angel hair on previous visits. Around our table of 4 we each pined memories of the Parmesan atop salads, fresh pepper ground tableside, extra garlic slices in the basket, having Eggplant Parmesan on the menu and more ample servings for the prices charged. read more

In My Oppinion Best Restaurant in Cedar Valley. I Live this Restaurant and Have fire years.

Brown bottle was good tonight. They have amazing salad dressings and good service. I had the shrimp in dill butter sauce. The dish was good but not enough sauce, asked for more and they provided. Would eat here again. read more

Had a wonderful dinner with friends here! Very reasonable prices and great food. One person in my party had a small issue with their entree and it was corrected immediately, she was served a new entree at no cost and the server was very apologetic and concerned. The creamy garlic dressing is amazing. I would come here again just for that! read more

Love love love one of our favorite places!! Prime rib always a fabulous choice. Pizza & pastas are top notch as well. Garlic bread is a most amazing addition to the meals. Can't go wrong here. Consistently excellent read more

Was really disappointed in the quality of food. I ordered the Chicken Parmigiana and am not sure what I got. The chicken wasn't breaded and I had to order the noodles as a side. read more

Great place for date night or family dinner. Love that they continue to keep favorites on the menu!

It's always nice nice time in there services always good, food always consistent as it is specter from a restaurant of that category and hierarchy read more

This has been the boyfriend and I's go-to for special occasions and they've always been spot on. I think we had a mishap once with a bad batch of tarimisu but other than that, amazing. I'm not a huge lover of salad but their homemade dressings make me eat every bite. I love (so much I buy it from them) their italian. My boyfriend prefers the ranch or peppecorn. I always get the scallops and they are to die for. Always cooked perfectly. And the red velvet cheesecake? THE BEST ON THE PLANET. This last time I mentioned it was our anniversary and we got a delicious brownie-like dessert on the house with a candle. The only thing I wish they'd change: the set-up of seating. We're always placed in a room with larger parties who are quite loud and it ruins the intimate setting we want. read more

Best prime rib I've ever had! The service is always top notch and the atmosphere is perfect!

foods good, overpriced. Wine is good but limited and expensive. just noting great about it...... sorry

There is absolutely nothing anyone could ever say that it's bad at this place. The staff is outstanding,outstanding and the food is outstanding even the views are outstanding. If you were looking to impress someone this is the place to take them. I just can't say enough nice things about the pillar of this community. read more

Went here as my friend remembered it from her college days, They seated 3 adults and an infant right away. Food was OK, not really a lot to write home. Biggest thing I recall is that the food ( I had Chicken Parmesan and twice baked mashed potatoes ) was lava hot from the oven. Seems to be a popular date, saw 3 separate Senior Prom tables. Ok but no burning desire to return. read more

We had been to brown bottle at Cedar falls for dinner on a Saturday. Despite our specific request to serve our entree without any chicken (secondary to dietary restrictions), our meals had chicken in it. We realized this through the meal and pointed it out to the staff as well as the manager. We were still charged completely for both these entrees. Mistakes do happen while preparing, but the courteous thing to do would be not to charge for a meal where the restaurant made a mistake. You may think that offering another entree is your way of apologizing, but not all would still want to eat at a restaurant after your meal was messed up. read more

2 words. Chicken Marsala. I could drink the juice up with a straw! Very cute, quaint and totally yummy place! When my heart brings me back to Iowa my stomach isn't that far behind. Love this place! read more

This is a sentimental favorite, as it was the place my friends and I went in conjunction with nearly every high school dance. The food is mostly solid and predictable, with some stand-outs. On this last trip to Cedar Falls I went there twice. The cheese manicotti was good, not great, but the vegetarian lasagna was totally delicious and I would definitely order it again. Love the homemade salad dressings, especially the blue cheese, and the pizza is very good too. Favorite dessert is any of their ice cream drinks, especially the Nutty Irishman, just ice cream mixed with liqueur and garnished with an Italian cookie. Ask to sit in the room where you can see the wide variety of bird feeders, which draw everything from woodpeckers, nuthatches, and orioles, and even once a wild turkey! read more

I have been eating here for 40+ years, mostly for birthdays and special occasions. Our most recent visit was over Christmas break with friends and family. We were a party of 5 adults and 6 kids. The obviously inexperienced waitress stood at the end of the table and shouted at the people on the end. My daughter ordered the kids chicken fingers and asked to sub a salad for her side. The waitress said no. Despite my friendly protest we opted for the fruit and added a salad for an extra $6. Seriously a handful of bagged lettuce for $6. The chicken was microwaved and fruit was in a cup you had to peel off the plastic. You would think an upscale restaurant could keep some fresh fruit on hand. Orange roughy was cold and unseasoned. That being said it wasn't all bad. Lasagna was awesome as usual. Twice baked potatoes awesome. Salad dressings were awesome as usual. For an upscale restaurant they really have some work to do. read more

Whenever in the area, we always try to visit. It is a "must do" on our list while visiting family. The salad dressing is great. The menu, well rounded. The food, more than adequate. Love to sit on the patio, have a glass of wine and enjoy our time in Iowa. 3 generations of loving Brown Bottle! Bravo! read more

Very good food. Best in Waterloo/Cedar Falls. Reasonably priced. Only down side is the space is a bit tight so make reservations and be prepared for close encounters. read more

We were visiting from out of town, so we thought we would try this restaurant. The only good thing about the dinner was the Sangria. The chicken marsala was the worst I have ever experienced, and I have it wherever I can find it! It was served with a small little plate of pasta with a choice of sauce. My spring greens salad was uncut greens on a small little plate that I had to cut myself in order to even eat it! The dinnerware was cheap looking for what I thought was one of Cedar Falls' older, established dining venues. The whole meal presentation was plain and unappealing! Needless to say we won't be going back again! read more

This place used to be amazing. While the service is okay, that's probably all there is to look forward to. I can make really bad chicken Marsala at home. I used to always order prime rib, lasagna or their shrimp in dill garlic butter sauce. I would always take my family here when they came to town. Within the last year, they also commented on how terrible the food is. We used to look forward to eating here but it's incredibly bland in every way possible, now. Not sure what happened. This place absolutely sucks now. read more

Italian is good, salad is the poorest in town. I just don't get opening a bag and plopping it in a bowl and calling it salad. They have the worst salad in town for a expensive restaurant. They add nothing to it. Maybe they should eat at Texas Road House to see how a salad should be made!!!! Grr read more

My boyfriend and I went there for valentines day and had a fine experience. The dining area was split into four smaller rooms which made the atmosphere warm and intimate. The waitress was talkative and friendly. The lasagna was good the fettucchine alfredo pasta was average. I would go back again. read more

I ordered the prime rib medium rare and it was absolutely delicious. Easy to cut and chew. The cheese bread was absolutely delicious and I loved the side salad. Service was very good. I did not like how separate the rooms were. Also, silverware was set up on the wrong side. I will definitely come back! read more

We went to the Brown Bottle after my grandson graduation from UNI on Sat May 22. His parents were hosting the dinner. My husband and I stay away from Italian restaurants because my husband is deadly allergic to olive oil. My husband and I arrived earlier then the rest of party. We talked to Cassie our waitress, server. She was excellent. She talked to the kitchen staff, went over the menu with us. She gave him suggestions as to what did and didn't have olive in it. What she thought would be best. Her help made what could have been a difficult afternoon into a very enjoyable experience. I feel I have her name correctly. This was a party of 14 . She was wonderful. Food was excellent as well. Connie V.E. read more

Chicken or veal marsala, chili pepper penne, or lasagne are second to none!

Ordered the sausage pasta plate that's an oven dish. It was really good. Salad was good with the pepper cracked dressing ( don't try the blue cheese if your expecting a crumb type of dressing;very runny) after returning the blue cheese. Isaac the waiter I had on the top floor was superb ! This is a place to go to if your near it !!! read more

Very good service. Had Lasagna that was very good. My wife stated that her fettuccine was also very good. Would definitely come back.

Went with a bachelorette party over the summer. Our server was great and everyone seemed to love the food. It is higher price so it is something I probably will not go to often but that was to be expected. read more