This morning marked my third visit to The Dandy Lion. From my experience, many restaurants can be good once. Being consistent is what differentiates good restaurants from great ones and this one meets said criteria. We ordered the house made cinnamon roll to split and it was delightful. Pillowy soft with a sweet icing. For the meal, I ordered the Breakfast Sandwich with sausage (as I have the other two visits). If you're wondering what you should order, refer to my last sentence. There's limited seating so I strongly recommend joining their online waitlist before you show up as it is a hot spot. You won't find friendlier staff in the area. The Dandy Lion is truly a gem. read more

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Stopped by during lunch rush and scored the last available seat at the counter. I was served by Cole, who gave me excellent service and fast arriving food. I had the French Toast with the house fried chicken - delicious! Lovely Ped Mall gem with an old school diner flair! read more

The Dandy Lion - Menu - New American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

The chicken biscuit was delicious, and the homemade hot sauce was really good. My friend LOVED her steak salad and said the dressing was delicious. My mom's French toast was ok because it was pretty dense and lacked some flavor. The homemade jam made it much better. The salmon toast was closer to a minced salad, and she would give it a 3/5. She had it before, but this time it was very different, and it was visually unappealing in how it was presented. The service was good but not great. We had to ask for coffee refills, which was slightly frustrating for a breakfast spot. The ambiance was very cool, with a local, laid-back feel. The bathroom was small, and there was no purse hook. I will definitely return, but there was room for improvement to get that last star. read more

The Dandy Lion - Chicken Biscuit with Hashbrown - New American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Cute breakfast shop with good choices. The chicken biscuit was good. A bit fatty with the thigh meat but the breading was seasoned will. Biscuits and hash brown were good. Service was a nice as they checked in with us often. read more

The Dandy Lion - Chicken biscuits - New American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Came here to say and checked it out for brunch. We put our name down and waited over an hr to be seated. Once we got seated we ordered right away, everyone was super friendly and great service, and food was delish. We tried the cinnamon roll, avocado toast, Benedict, chicken fried steak, and some drinks. The cinnamon roll was good, not too dry or overly sweet and good portion. Chicken fried steak was cooked great, loved the traditional sausage gravy but was also lucky enough to try their tomato gravy. It was also delicious and unique. The hash browns and toast were typical but good. I got a matcha latte slightly sweetened and was perfect. They also have alternative milk choices and a good variety of drinks. It's cute inside and have some merch for sale as well. Only wish the wait wasn't so long. read more

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Tony gave us outstanding service and spot-on recommendations. The French toast with coconut curd, whipped cream, and strawberries was a total winner! My dad comes here almost every weekend for the country fried steak pretty sure that's the name, so I joined him on Saturday and was impressed. I'll admit, my first visit a month or two ago wasn't great the avocado toast was just okay. I expected fresh avocado, but it came with a thin layer of avocado spread, and even the extra side of avocado was just more spread. This latest visit completely turned things around. Everything from the food to the friendly vibe was excellent, and the golden milk latte was delicious too. I'm so glad I gave this place another chance! read more

The Dandy Lion - New American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

This is my favorite breakfast spot in town. The lodger special is the best, and the tomato gravy is next level.

The Dandy Lion has easily become one of my favorite places in Iowa City. I got recommended this restaurant by a medical student and he was spot on. I've come to The Dandy Lion whenever I roll into Iowa. FOOD: I ordered the Fried Green Tomatoes BLT with a side of fries. The fries are seasoned, crispy, and a good golden hue. You can tell that they use fresh oil on the fries too. Of note, the food comes out piping hot so give it a minute or two before biting into your meal. I definitely burned my mouth this time. To satisfy my sweet tooth, I ordered 4 cinnamon rolls (and yes, I did share). The cinnamon rolls are very well done. Baked all the way through so it's not all gooey in the middle of the roll. And, there's a refreshing citrus note since the rolls are topped with orange zest. SERVICE: The Dandy Lion wastes no time taking your order and getting it back to the kitchen. I think this is because parking in the area is only good for 1hour. However, they work efficiently & don't make you feel rushed. 10/10! Absolutely coming back. read more

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Oh my! What a wonderful establishment. In addition to top notch food, this cute restaurant has a beautiful interior and decor and is filled with wonderful servers providing top-notch service. FOOD: I got my standard weekend lunch-- egg whites omelette, side salad, toast, and iced tea. Not only did they make everything perfect (even with my slightly annoying modifications) but the food was so well made in general. We also tried their apple cider donut and cinnamon roll. The apple cider donut was perfection with crisp and cinnamon-y exterior and a soft interior. The cinnamon roll itself was wonderfully doughy yet firm, though I have to say that the frosting was not the icing style of cinnamon roll topping I like the most. This was more of a buttercream. Not bad at all, just not my fav. But wow what wonderful food. MENU: a feat of cute puns, witty language, and concision. Don't let its size fool you-- this is a wide ranging menu. It's just so well worded and concise that it's deceivingly small. I'm all for it! SERVICE: oh wow. Not only did the service exceed expectations and was very friendly, but they are also just such a sweet community of people. As they began closing up and we were paying our bill and getting ready to leave, the staff was all eating lunch together and it just made me so happy. They clearly had a friendly rapport with each other and that's such a great community feel to have in a restaurant. This is the sort of small-business family I want to support! Also, when we had a question about the baked goods containing dairy, our server said he would ask the baker, who was right down the aisle. I love the small/close-nit feel of this place yet its expansive options. Such a fan! AMBIANCE: a well decorated restaurant with comfortable seating, and a great "solid" feel. We sat at the bar and that can sometimes be an uncomfortable experience, but not here! It was great and such a comfortable setup. PARKING: there's a nearby city parking ramp where parking is $2/hr (with first hour free) as of September 2024. Overall, I highly recommend stopping here if you find yourself nearby Iowa City. You won't be disappointed by the food, service, or ambiance... a true triple threat! read more

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The owner is so genuine and kind. Servers are great. Food is delicious. We love coming here for the food and the vibes.

Group of 4 ate here on Thursday morning. It was half full and they sat us immediately. Waitstaff was quick to get us menus and drinks. Nice to see a restaurant with plenty of staff. I ordered the standard and tried the impossible sausage. It was interesting. Tasted a little bit like sausage . I'd eat it again if "regular " sausage is unavailable. Avocado toast comes with eggs which I think makes the price justifiable. Bacon looked crispy but not burnt. We were able to get our check quickly and be on in our way. We could even take our coffee and pop to go. We really liked this place. I'm glad we didn't settle for Starbucks. read more

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Best brunch place in Iowa City. It's close between it and Bluebird but if you're stuck between the 2 I'd lean here.

Fun atmosphere. Good food. Friendly service. Location is great, near the college. Lots of fun shops nearby. read more

Service was incredible, all the workers know their stuff about the menu and the place they work at. The food was incredible and came out quickly. Best poached eggs I've had. I also got the Vietnamese iced coffee and was great. read more

The Dandy Lion - Salmon toast with poached eggs and hashbrowns - New American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Favorite breakfast spot in Iowa City. Cute diner vibe with friendly staff and amazing food. Small place so typically there is a wait but it's 100% worth it. Tried the biscuits and gravy this time with half sausage and half tomato gravy which i highly recommend! Their eggs are always cooked to perfection and tasting Vietnamese coffee. read more

The Dandy Lion - breakfast burrito - New American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

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I came to Iowa City to visit my sister-in-law over New Year's, and since their main weekend activity is going to brunch, they decided to take us to The Dandy Lion. We got here around 10:45 am without a reservation and only had to wait a few minutes before they were able to have a table ready for 4. Granted, it was quite cold this Saturday (I think the high was 9 degrees) so we were lucky that we didn't have a wait. We ordered the Irish coffee, brewed coffee, chicken and waffles (a special), blueberry pancakes, their chocolate black out cake, and I got what was basically a charcuterie plate in a sandwich form that was served with fries. I was worried that the Irish coffee would be too sweet but it was perfectly balanced and definitely not too sweet. The chicken and waffles were delicious as well as the blueberry pancakes. The pancakes were so fluffy and came with strawberry jam as well as syrup. DELICIOUS. The chocolate black out cake was also perfectly moist. My sandwich was okay--it was a little sour and the bread pieces were toasted and buttered, which I would prefer for it not to be. The service was amazing, we had a really friendly waitress who had really good recommendations. Whenever we come back to Iowa City, we will probably be back for brunch. Hopefully it won't be too long of a wait. read more

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S+++ Tier. One of the best restaurants in Iowa City. These chefs know how to COOK with PASSION. Plus it never gets old because there are new specials every single time you go there which are always extremely creative and something you would see on youtube shorts in a good way. The food is so good here your eyes might roll into the back of your head. read more

Based off the reviews and wait times, I had high hopes for this restaurant. However, I feel like the food was not that great and my review reflects that. I got the lodger special, and it was ok. I asked if the sausage was undercooked since the inside was pink and the waitress said the sausage was homemade and that was what led to the pink tint of the interior, but I felt like it still didn't taste that great. Also, the top was covered in what tasted like vodka tomato sauce, I scraped most of that to the side as it didn't really add to the dish. I felt a big nauseous after eating, so I would most likely not go again. The dishes around me, of people who ordered more basic menu items, seemed to have better dishes. So if I went again I would stray away from any special dishes. We went twice. The first time we went we were quoted 45 minutes. After waiting 1 hour 15 minutes we gave up. We went back the next day and were quoted 25-30 and were sat at 30 minutes. If you want to get a seat it seems the earlier in the morning the less of a wait. The staff was nice. It seems like they are known for their desserts based on the framed awards on the walls. read more

The Dandy Lion - lodger special - New American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Excellent friendly and lunch spot. The best I found in Iowa city when I'm visiting. I really like their poached eggs and they have many menu options. Nice atmosphere very welcoming. read more

The Dandy Lion - Front entry with picnic tables - New American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

My server was wonderful and the service at the bar was fantastic. Seating took awhile for a single patron but a wait is always expected on the weekends. The one thing I really can't come to terms with is how you would consider this a poached egg?.. to let this leave the kitchen is almost hard to imagine going unnoticed. For the price it would be alright but even the smoked salmon was very very dry. The environment is very pleasant and a classic/modern blend. I just wish they focused more on the dishes being dropped off proper. This unfortunately wasn't the first time they've dropped the ball on their food the last time their French toast was burnt when I stopped in for breakfast drinks with my friend. Speaking of the Parsol is a very delicious cocktail! read more

The Dandy Lion - Poached egg on salmon toast - New American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

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This is a really nice place to have breakfast. The food was quite good, the service was friendly and helpful, and the restaurant was comfortable. Our food was slow to arrive but we were compensated for the inconvenience. We will certainly return. read more

Such a cute diner located right on Iowa's Campus! The cinnamon rolls are AMAZINGGGG and a must try! Lots of food options and plenty of veggie options too (one of the only places I've found with a vegetarian biscuits and gravy)! Def recommend getting on the waitlist before you go otherwise it might be a bit of a wait (though there's plenty to walk around and see nearby). read more

The Dandy Lion - Cinnamon roll and chai - New American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

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The place was quite packed with almost all of the seats full on a Monday. Other than that people were super friendly and nice to us checking in once in a while. I had to eggs Benedict which gave me a reasonable amount of food. The food was good, but the hash browns were cold and the eggs were little sour. Other than that everything else was fine. read more

Love this place! The wait usually goes fast. Their breakfast sandwich is my favorite with a chai tea latte. Every baked good I've had is fantastic! The French silk donut was to die for. And the service is top-notch (especially Stephanie)! Highly recommend! read more

The Dandy Lion - Chai donut and chai tea latte - New American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

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This is my absolute favorite brunch place in town. The food is outstanding, and Tommy (the owner) is just the nicest guy. Many staff members have been there a while, which tells me he treats his staff well. Everyone just always looks happy. It's a smaller place, so it can be harder to get a table during peak hours Friday-Sunday, so if you're looking to go on a weekend make sure to get there early. During the warmer months, they have outdoor seating, which expands their capacity. Many people I do business with frequent The Dandy Lion for lunch on the weekdays, so I try to pop over then. They're closed on Tuesdays, which is a bummer, but always have great and creative daily specials. 10/10 recommend if you're a local or just passing through Iowa City. If you're looking to make a day of your visit downtown, it is conveniently located in the heart of great shopping. read more

Super cute little place, very friendly service and staff. Traditional diner, vibe, except exceptionally creative ensembles. The tomato gravy was amazing and the homemade buttermilk biscuit was perfect. read more

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Eaten at Dandy Lion quite a few times, but not recently. Ordered the biscuits and (sausage) gravy. Biscuits were hard, bottom was burnt. Gravy was good but the amount was stingy. Should've sent it back but I was in a hurry. Scrambled eggs was pretty mediocre. And there was no toast. On the plus side, coffee was okay. But I don't think I'd be this disappointed if I didn't have better experiences with the place back in the day. read more

Cute little place my sister & I went to on the pedestrian mall in downtown Iowa City. The service was OK, not great - "we don't have low fat milk, just almond or oatmeal" then showed up w/ my chai latte w/ 2% milk‍. Our food was good. They do have GF Bread options. Toast came out dry but she asked after she brought it whether I'd like jam or butter...It was interesting that all the female servers had on crop tops w/ midriff showing but the males didn't... read more

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Sunday, Feb 23, 2025, was an extra-special day! Our son's birthday, #38! We always get together and he chooses where to go out to eat. The Dandy Lion was it! Arrived early and already there were lots of people ahead of us but we entertained ourselves and in about an hour we were texted our # came up! We were heartily welcomed by the owner, who also kindly stored my wheelchair. Full house, happy noise of conversations and food prep. Our server, Stephanie, was exceptional! She quickly brought one of their famous cinnamon rolls w/lit silver candle, placed in front of our son. Smiles all around. Drink orders taken and in front of us in no time. Food? Oh my! I had the Eggs Benedict with spinach, hollandaise sauce...was thee best ever! Grandkids had pancakes (fab!), avocado toast, breakfast sandwich, Denver omelette...all with crispy hash browns...every single dish was delicious and sumptuous. Any little request was met w/o fail by Stephanie. It was the total experience of amazing food, great cocktails and Mimosas, homemade strawberry jam, ambience and fun! Our son felt well celebrated and we all left well served, satisfied and happy! Thank you, Dandy Lion. read more

The Dandy Lion - My Mimosa! - New American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

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We spent a cold Iowa City morning being warmed by the good cheer of the Dandy Lion. First - do not miss the tomato gravy - this is not a vegetarian-only delicacy. Next - the coffee here is to be trusted. Go ahead and order it. Our table enjoyed a variety of breakfast items and a sandwich, as well as a cinnamon roll for the table. All food tasty, as described, and served with enthusiasm. Take time to read the menu descriptions, you'll have to visit to see what I mean. Totally recommend!! read more

The Dandy Lion - Delicious breakfast - New American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Great brunch spot. Make sure you get there early to put your name down for a table as it can get busy. But the food was delicious and the service was great. I will definitely come back and bring my parents to brunch! read more

Wait was exceptionally long on a busy Saturday morning. Put your name on the list before arriving (their system is pretty efficient on wait time. Estimated 50 mins for a party of 3, took about an hour in real time). Cinnamon roll made up for the wait, delicious. Get one. Breakfast was decent. Got biscuits and gravy, a little salty but gravy was full of sausage. Eggs cooked as requested. Hash browns needed salt. Yummy coffee. Service was super friendly and fast. read more

Brunch place that's worth going to if you have leisurely time. Food: Prawn Toast and Eggs which was a play on the dim sum prawn toast with some poached eggs on top. It was surprisingly good given the toast was crispy and there was a generous amount of prawn spread with black sesame seeds on top. The eggs were poached well and runny which mixed well with the toast. Side potatoes were crispy and well seasoned. Service: pretty slow and typical of a small college town. I wasn't too happy about some of the service people's attitude but the food made up for most of it. You just have to wait a little longer for your food. There are some seats where you're jammed into a corner and have slower service but it depends on how busy the restaurant is. Ambiance: small diner that has trendy decorations. Clean facilities and bathroom. read more

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The dandelion was recommended by a local. A great go to place for breakfast. I would do it again in a heartbeat Service was outstanding. And the ambience was traditional diner which I loved. read more

Came here for breakfast because it was so close to the hotel we stayed at. We came a few minutes after they opened and it was already packed. Since I had a small group we were still seated quickly at the bar. The food took a reasonable amount of time given that everyone ordered at the same time . I didn't mind because the food was worth the wait. I highly recommend getting the house made sourdough. read more

The Dandy Lion - Pancakes - New American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

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What a neat little breakfast-y, brunch-y place in Iowa City. We enjoyed biscuits and gravy and also some chicken fried steak! Yummy! We also ordered some cocktails, which we liked a bit less, but we were probably to blame for ordering the wrong one! The place was packed when we stopped in on Friday, but there was seating at the bar, which we gobbled up. The bartender who waited on us seemed less than enthused to be there, but everyone else was super friendly and nice. I recommend this place- my travel buddy wanted to come back the next day but we didn't have time. read more

I went on a Saturday morning; it was busy. Wait time took a bit, but nothing too crazy. Order: I give the breakfast sandwich a solid 7/10. The Hawaiian bun was soft and warm, paired with the aioli and ham. It was delightful. Paired with the Chocolate chip pancakes it was very solid. read more

Chicken biscuit is incredible!!! I will definitely be coming back. Breakfast burrito was also delicious.

We gave dandy lion a try after years of not going (thanks pandemic) and it did not disappoint! We had a great server who was clever, funny, and gave us great recommendations. The warmed cinnamon rolls were awesome; it's clear why they've won awards! I do feel like some of the dishes are a bit heavy, such as the gravy and eggs. I enjoy the golden milk latte and the coffee cocktails! read more

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Really great food and service! We went for a later breakfast and had great meals, the standard and biscuits and gravy were delicious. The cinnamon roll and house made sourdough were very good! It was friendly and inviting with their decor and table set up for their space. read more

The Dandy Lion - Cinnamon roll - New American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

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