My boyfriend and I came here to celebrate his birthday. We are from FL visiting, and this…read morerestaurant was just amazing! From the food to our server... and the owner.. wow! He made sure that we were taken care of, and attentive to our table. He came over to wish him a Happy Birthday. They gave us a complimentary birthday cake which made it so special and sweet. The hospitality is unmatched and worth visiting. We got the lamb/mash, and the hanger steak/mash. The meal was delicious! I'm glad we will be in Iowa for a little longer to visit again!

Absolutely incredible. Accommodated my gluten free Mom and myself as a vegetarian beautifully. Best…read moremashed potatoes I have ever had

Claude has been on our list forever and we finally went for our anniversary and it did not…read moredisappoint. I got the Le Fizz Parfait and he got the C'est Bon and both were so soo good. The bartenders are very talented! The vibe is everything. Obsessed with the red interior, it's so cute and feels special but still fun. Service was also fantastic, we felt very well taken care of. We didn't try food because the kitchen closes at 10 which we didn't realize, but honestly just gives us an excuse to go again. We will 100% come back soon!

This was a little spot that Iowa City needed. A cozy place to enjoy conversation and the company of…read moreothers. The decor and ambience contributes to an atmosphere of connection where you want to keep lingering. The drinks are delicious, some traditional and some with a unique fresh take. The small plates are satisfying and not too heavy. The servers are kind and engaging. Wouldn't change a thing!

Wow, what a difference a year makes!! Our waitress made sure our drinks were always full and did a…read moregreat job on checking to make sure everything was perfect. Speaking of perfect....our beef tenderloins were perfect. Not to mention the truffle risotto. It's AMAZING!!!!! The place wasn't too busy so it made for a nice laid back Friday night. Was leery about going back after my last time here but I'm so glad we did! My only complaint is that took the beef Wellington bites off their appetizers, but I understand the need to change. Can't wait to try some of the new stuff on the menu but it'll be hard to get away from the beef tenderloin.

Vesta is a great spot. We went there for valentine's day dinner and it delivered a meal with good…read morefood, service, and atmosphere. FOOD: I got a pretty basic salad and a side of mashed potatoes. My partner got the scallops. Both were perfectly good. DRINKS: we both enjoyed a Valentine's special drink (champagne with other ingredients, which we opted to forgo) which was very well priced. SERVICE: friendly and efficient. Our server did a great job while also being the perfect amount of friendly. AMBIANCE: perfect for casual or a more upscale outing!

I decided to retry Tribute after 5 years. This time was a vast improvement over my last experience…read more The server was attentive without suffocating us. My husband had 2 Zero Eddys and the Tribute two for lunch. He raved about the lobster bisque. I had the Tribute two with French Onion Soup and a really wonderful piece of chicken parm, along with iced tea. We started our meal out with the Burrata Caprese and could have made a meal out of it! We will definitely return!

We had a party of 4. We made reservations for 5pm and were there until 7pm. Our total tab was $267…read more20% tip included. Parking is atrocious. If you don't want to walk far. We walked in. We're greeted promptly and seated right away. Our waitress took our drink order, two glasses of Sauvignon Blanc , a strawberry Mojito and a local brew. Their wine list is not great. When she returned with our drinks, we ordered some appetizers. We ordered the Wagyu meatballs, the Barrata, the Caio de Pepa, garlic rosemary fries, and the deviled eggs. Apps came out in a timely manner, and then we ordered dinner. For dinner we ordered the rigatoni and the pork belly carbonara (OMG). We ended the night with two desserts. The chocolate cheesecake and the blueberry cobbler à la mode. The ambience is definitely vibing & loud but you're still able to hold conversations at your table without having to talk louder. The place was packed. It was a Friday night. Our server was phenomenal. I'm sorry I didn't catch her name. The FOOD REVIEW: Wagyu meatballs-SKIP them. They didn't taste like wagyu to us & they were overcooked and dry EVEN sitting in tomato sauce. Ick, The Barrata app was our favorite! Very flavorful. Very appetizing. The Caio de Pepa-SKIP it. Not at all what I thought was ordered. How dare they put a fried spin on an iconic Italian dish. FAIL. Deviled eggs were tasty. We really liked the pickled jalapeño topper. Maybe add a bigger square of Bacon. Garlic Rosemary Fries-Nothing special but the garlic aïoli was tasty. The rigatoni-I love the authentic Italian egg touch. The pork belly carbonara-WINNER WINNER!!!!!! This was so delicious!!!!! I couldn't get enough of it even when I was full. Absolutely hits all of your taste buds & senses!!!! I'm craving it again tonight. I want to pickup an order to bring with me back to Arizona, for my foodie friends to try. It's that good. Don't pass on the pork belly carbonara.!!!!! Chocolate cheesecake-SKIP it. Nothing special. Blueberry cobbler à la mode-GET IT!!!! Wow!!!!! Another delicious option!!!!! If I could eat, the pork belly carbonara & the blueberry cobbler à la lode, every day for the rest of my life, I would be happy!!!!!!!!

Delicious food, wonderful service and atmosphere. We celebrated our 25th anniversary here. Will…read moredefinitely be back!

Ruthie's definitely lived up to the hype! We've had this place recommended to us for years, so to…read morecelebrate a big milestone, my fiancé took me here. We were able to snag a last-minute reservation on OpenTable, and the entire experience was wonderful. Our waitress was incredibly attentive--our water glasses were refilled frequently, and even when the restaurant got busy, she made sure to check on us. We were seated in a cozy, intimate circular booth on the side, which made the evening feel even more special. What I'd Order Again: Alaskan King Crab Legs - Pro tip: Order these as a side to another dish instead of as an entrée--it's much cheaper that way! The crab was incredibly fresh, thanks to their flash-freezing process, and it really hit the spot. Lobster Bisque - HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! I added this last-minute when our waitress mentioned that people travel just to try it, and it did not disappoint. The freshly cracked pepper, along with the truffle accents, made this so flavorful and rich. Cocktails - The drinks were fantastic! I had the Tweed Jacket cocktail and really enjoyed it. What made it even cooler was that our waitress actually created a cocktail that got added to the menu when she started working there--so cool! Scallops - Perfectly cooked with a stunning presentation. While I've had better on the coasts, I was impressed given that we're in Iowa. Desserts (HIGHLY recommend the homemade coffee ice cream & tiramisu!) - The tiramisu was amazing, and I could tell it was homemade because I nearly choked on the cocoa powder (the ultimate test!). But the real star? The homemade coffee ice cream--absolutely phenomenal. What I Wouldn't Order Again: Jumbo Crab Cake - It was good, but it had that slightly "old crab" taste and reminded me more of snow crab than the rich, sweet crab flavor I was hoping for. Given that I'm from Seattle, my seafood standards are high, so this didn't quite meet expectations. Brussels Sprouts - Great flavor, but I prefer mine extra crispy, and these weren't quite there. 10 oz Filet Mignon - It was cooked to the right temperature, but it wasn't as juicy as other steaks I've had in Iowa. Good, but not particularly memorable. Other Notes: Shareable Side Dishes - One thing I really liked was that their side dishes are all shareable, so they feel more like appetizers than traditional sides. It makes it easy to try a variety, and I definitely want to explore more of them when I come back! Location & Accessibility - Even though Ruthie's is inside a casino, it's tucked on the side, so you don't have to deal with the cigarette smell. Parking is plentiful, though depending on where you park, it might be a bit of a walk. Bathrooms - The restrooms are located outside the restaurant on the right--not too far of a walk. Final Thoughts: Ruthie's is a true gem, and I can see why it's so highly recommended. The service was outstanding, the food was top-tier, and the small details--from our cozy booth to our waitress's personal touch on the cocktail menu--made the night extra special. It's the kind of place that turns a meal into a memory, and I can't wait to come back.

Surprisingly, this was our first time at this Big Grove (we are frequent flyers of the I.C. one ;)…read more We kept hearing such positive things about this one, so we thought we would stop by. You can tell it the original one, as it's small and a little dated compared to the others that are near. But it's kinda cozy. We sat at the bar, and that's where they excelled. Our bartender Hallie, was fantastic! Best one we have had in a long time. Super nice, super informative. I had the Margherita Pizza, never have had one at a B.G. It was ok. Very saucy. Husband had the Fried Chicken Sandwich with Korean BBQ sauce. He has gotten that at the others and enjoys that sandwich a lot especially that sauce.

Big Grove is always a great experience. The Solon brewpub has a little different vibe as the other…read morelocations and the food is slightly different but great in its own way. Service was perfect, as usual!

It's our third time at this place. We waited a bit to be seated after the annual block party. The…read moreguy was incredible in moving our party to the couches. The couches is where it's at! We all ordered martinis. We are kind of all over the place. We shared each others drinks. Incredible choices. The menu is huge for martinis. We didn't have food this time around. Waitstaff was quick and nice. I love the upscale atmosphere of this place compared to the typical college bars. Come here with parents. They are flexible with kids.

Wow. What a nice adult-ish spot where anyone over 30 struggles to find a place that isn't bro ish…read moreand charotic. Small plates, tapas style menu and amazing bar and lounge set up to feel adult. The crab Rangoon pizza was very good however not over the top amazing.

Farm to table review. Amazing dishes. Great wine to accompany meal is much appreciated.read more

A distinctive feature of txakoli is the "txotx" pouring method, where the wine is poured from a…read moreheight into a glass to aerate it and release its aromas. This practice is common in Basque pintxo bars and adds a cultural ritual to the drinking experience. Only these guys can't be bothered to serve it that way. Shame on you for being lazy. Marks you as a hick bar in the cornbelt. Surprised you don't have sawdust and discarded peanut shells littering the floor.