"Since November 2019, Whitney and Scott Selix’s microbrewery has been charting new territory on both the food and drink fronts. At Lua (named after the couple’s Staffordshire bull terrier), they tap new seasonal sours, stouts, ales, and IPAs several times a month, and in 2023, they partnered with neighbors at Big Grove Brewery to launch Iowa’s first cannabis-infused “social drink” (spirit-free sparkling water), Climbing Kites. Chef James Arbaugh, who honed his culinary chops at Michelin-starred restaurants in Chicago and the Bay Area, works with partners to fly in fresh-caught seafood for Dungeness crab cakes and fish and chips. Burgers, wings, unique vegetable sides and salads, and caviar are also frequently in rotation. Dining with kids? Pull up a chair at Lua’s family-friendly sister on the west side of town, Either/Or." - Karla Walsh
