Best Restaurants in Davenport (2025)

A downtown institution for 30-plus years, Duck City blends Midwestern hospitality with a playful, French-leaning menu—think duck breast with your name scripted in raspberry sauce or a hefty bone‑in rib chop. Regularly praised by local reporters and Quad‑City Times readers, it’s a classic pre‑ or post‑Adler Theatre dinner with lively, chef‑driven service.

Housed in a 1920s Motor Row building, The Half Nelson serves modern American plates—short rib, elderflower salmon, crab beignets—with a polished lounge vibe. In summer 2025, its Café San Lorenzo patio pop‑up channeled 1960s coastal Italy, a detail covered by regional business press and arts media.

Lunch in an 1860s home on the Gold Coast: quiche, panini, vibrant salads, homemade soups, and the beloved Honey Bee latte. Limited hours keep it special, and it consistently earns top local rankings from travelers and the River Cities’ Reader dining guide.

Iowa’s oldest brewpub (established 1992) anchors the Bucktown riverfront with Raging River IPA, salmon nachos, and Mississippi views. Little Village and local news outlets have chronicled its flood‑to‑rebirth story, and its taproom calendar shows the community roots are still strong.

A rock‑and‑roll slice shop serving massive New York‑style pies, local art, and late‑night energy. It’s a frequent local favorite for pizza, with community events and an artist‑friendly ethos that reflect Davenport’s creative streak.

Downtown’s go‑to for North Indian staples—from biryani to malai kofta—run by a veteran chef and known for generous spice options. Recommended by Little Village magazine and listed by Visit Quad Cities, it also hosts a popular lunch buffet.

A Cajun‑leaning bayou barbecue concept operated with culinary interns in the former Zeke’s space. Covered by WQAD and the Quad‑City Times, it pairs po’boys and jambalaya with house lemonades while piloting a workforce‑development model rooted in the local scene.

Pouring since 1934, Mac’s delivers Irish‑American pub fare—stuffed burgers, Guinness fish and chips, Irish stew—beneath a storied 40‑foot curved bar. Celebrated by local media and the River Cities’ Reader, it remains a downtown gathering place that feels thoroughly Davenport.

A family‑run Sicilian standby with river views, creamy garlic dressing lore, and pizzas, pastas, and calzones served inside the historic Freight House. Local coverage has chronicled the brand’s downtown history and its continued life along the riverfront.

Beloved for stacked Reubens, hot soups, and a long list of named sandwiches, this East Davenport lunch staple doubles as a reliable caterer. Praised by locals and noted in dining guides, it’s quick, friendly, and quintessentially neighborhood‑driven.

Part Mexican grocery, part home‑style taquería, La Finca wins fans for house tortillas, soulful salsas, and weekend plates like goat tacos. It’s the kind of unfussy, everyday spot locals point you to for deeply satisfying, authentic flavors.

Family‑owned by cousins Joe and Esteban Gomez since 2013, Los Primos focuses on freshness—hand‑cut veggies, specialty meats, and scratch salsas. Locals swear by the pork belly tacos, Cali burritos, and Saturday pozole for crowd‑pleasing Mexican comfort.