Monica's
Italian restaurant · Coralville ·

Monica's

Italian restaurant · Coralville ·

Upscale Italian-American comfort food, brick-oven pizza

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Monica's by null
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Information

303 2nd St, Coralville, IA 52241 Get directions

$20–30

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Information

Static Map

303 2nd St, Coralville, IA 52241 Get directions

+1 319 338 7400
monicasonthestrip.com
@monicasots

$20–30 · Menu

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Last updated

Dec 16, 2025

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Restaurants in Boston’s North End Fight Targeted Outdoor Dining Rules and Fees | Eater Boston

"One of several North End restaurants that joined an open letter protesting a $7,500 application fee and a shortened outdoor-dining season restricted to May 1–September (depending on compliance). The letter calls the requirements harsh, exorbitant, and discriminatory, argues outdoor dining adds to the neighborhood’s cultural and tourist appeal and economic benefit, and requests fee removal and an extension of the season to September 30 without behavior-based restrictions; owners are also exploring legal action. City officials say the extra fees (plus a $458/month charge per parking space) are needed to offset trash, rodent control, and traffic problems and defend treating the dense neighborhood differently after past resident complaints about distancing, noise, smoking, and sidewalk/streets congestion that led to reprimands and truncated seasons in previous years." - Rachel Leah Blumenthal

https://boston.eater.com/2022/3/24/22994682/north-end-boston-restaurants-outdoor-dining-fees-restrictions
Monica's

jessie M.

Google
Your taste buds will love you, and your stomach will hate you! I definitely overate and feel like a beached whale. Definitely, don't drive afterward because so much love was put into that food that you'll go into a food coma.

Michelle C.

Google
I was in town visiting family for the holidays. My husband and I had our 3 year old and 5 month old with us. They were the only children in our group and they were both a little disregulated from traveling and holiday excitement. The staff at Monica's was so kind and patient. I never once felt like my kids were an annoyance even when my toddler repeatedly got in the path of various wait staff or when my infant was crying. They worked hard to get our food out fast and packed up our leftovers quickly once my son had reached his max. They made my day a little easier. Thank you!

Henry E.

Google
Only came for the desert. Bread pudding and Amish pie. We were seated right away. Server was timely and took our order and we enjoyed our dessert. Both were delicious. Can't go wrong with these. The music through the speakers was appropriate and not too loud. Restrooms were clean.

Shannon W.

Google
The best gluten free food in the entire city! Love everything from their hot soft rolls to the fettuccine afredo, amazing salads, homemade cocktails, just can’t say enough! The staff is so knowledgeable about the gluten free. I’ve been eating here for 20 years. Highly sensitive to gluten. Marjorie was tonight’s waitress and she was such a joy!

Jennifer C.

Google
Took a friend here as she had never been before. We both loved the food. She could not stop saying how much she enjoyed the Alfredo sauce on her chicken parmesan. I had the tomato bisque, with was the perfect size and so warm and filling in the cold weather. I also had a martini that had rum chat and apple in it. Will definitely be having again. Monica is a little on the louder side for my personal tastes, which detracts from the atmosphere, in my opinion. But that is just my personal preference

Jackie F.

Google
Excellent service from the bartenders. Only had to wait about 10 minutes for a table, even right after a football game. Nice design inside. Huge menu - enjoyed the calamari and beef stroganoff.

Hiba H.

Google
Literally everything we tried here at Monica's was delicious, from the tomato bisque to the bread pudding! Friendly service every time we visit. Highly recommend this Iowa gem

Robert

Google
I didn’t like the fettuccine sauce. The noodles were a perfect al dente. Atmosphere was enjoyable. I’ll give it another shot but will probably order the pizza. Service kept me satisfied from the bread and butter. The flowers were beautiful!
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Matt C.

Yelp
It nice. Not super fancy but not a dump either, but nice. The music was not too loud, the bread and butter was great. The service was quick and friendly the food was tasty and well presented. They offer tater tots which was a nice change. All in all if you are a student and looking for a place to take the parents for lunch, I recommend Monica's.
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Gregory G.

Yelp
Went to Monica's for the first time and it was a delightful, fine dining experience. The dining area looks very posh and the ambient music really added to the experience. I dined on the chicken and spinach ravioli in a white Alfredo and red pasta sauce. It was divine. They also offer free bread with your choice of peppered oil or maple butter. The staff were amazing and very accommodating. 10/10, will return
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Rob J.

Yelp
Poor service, bad food, and high prices. From the bad bread and rancid olive oil and the two pasta dishes, nothing was good. I've had better frozen pasta from the supermarket. I was passing through on a trip and stopped here because of the high reviews. What a major waste of money. Travelers beware...the high prices do not equal high quality.
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Will R.

Yelp
I've been here twice now in 12 months. It's my college daughter's favorite place. Both times we had 6+ people. They handle big groups with ease. The waitstaff was attentive. They bring out the food close together which is a big deal. Menu is huge! Choices are endless. They give you tons of bread which is not healthy but irresistible. They will bring out olive oil and pepper as well. Seems a little pricy for the college area but at least portion sizes are good. The place is nice, but I would think it would be nicer given the prices. I was expecting more of a romantic, higher end establishment. It's really great for college families (when mom and dad are paying) and for college kids to splurge on a nice dinner once in a while.
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Tori S.

Yelp
Visited Monica's with a friend who loves this place. This was before a basketball game, so we had a reservation and were able to get our table right on time. We sat on the elevated platform; which felt like we were sitting in a train car - so fun. I ordered the cedar plank salmon and very much enjoyed it. It was even tasty left over.
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Emily B.

Yelp
As a gluten-free person, I love the breath of options here. Monica's offers savory, homestyle meals, which is something hard to find with food restrictions. As a bonus, they have gluten-free bread as part of the bread service with cinnamon butter. This is one of our favorite spots to visit before a Hawkeyes basketball game. There's plenty of room for lots of patrons, and the food comes our fast. And the portions are enough for leftovers.
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Julia K.

Yelp
I've recently had to do gluten free while figuring stuff out with my health. This place popped up with a gluten free menu... boy was it a menu! It was huge with so many options! The staff was so kind and helpful. We got the food to go and while we waited they gave the kids coloring pages. 10/10!

Christopher T.

Yelp
Ate there on 11/7/25. The waitress, a big long gawky lady, was rude as can be. I left her zero tip, and it appears she may have overrode that, overcharging me for the meal. Never eat there. These people are scummy and have no business running a restaurant. Food was actually passable. Not real Italian, but passable for Iowa. Pass on their crap, if you're smart.
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Robert G.

Yelp
Very nice restaurant with an incredible menu and range of meals. Took my wife and 2 sons for dinner tonight and the food and service were worth a solid write up. I had the schnitzel, my sons the chicken fried steak and the jambalaya. My wife had the ziti. All were quite good, although my son mentioned the shrimp in the jambalaya was a little fishy. Service was ok and the seating outdoors was comfortable. Glad we went.
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Andrea K.

Yelp
I liked the family diner feel, but the food was incredibly underwhelming, especially for the price. Whether it was the chicken fettuccine alfredo I ordered, the burrata mac my husband ordered, or the baked ziti my friend ordered, everything was the same unappetizing color and rather bland. The chicken that came with my dish tasted like precooked, prepackaged chicken strips. I ate around most of it, but that also just left the noodles with alfredo lacking something. The baked brie we ordered was tasty with the apples, but it was a little under done. It could have been gooier on the inside and the bottom pastry appeared slightly raw. The saving grace was the dessert menu. Without it, I would have gone as low as two stars. We tried the Amish pie, white chocolate bread pudding, and creme brule. The Amish pie was deeeeeelicious and the creme brule had a crisp, caramelized top to it that really makes the dish shine. As a group, we determined that the only time we will go back is when we are craving a dessert outing. I'm still glad it is part of the community, as it looks as though this place is a hit to many and is very involved in the area.
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Marla N.

Yelp
Service was great. The French Onion soup, a 5 out of 5. Caesar salad was good but a little too much dressing for my liking - I'll ask for it on the side next time. Buffalo chicken wrap was a good as well as the pizza. Glad we stopped in because we'll definitely be back!
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Melissa L.

Yelp
Not sure why it took me so long to get into this place. Once we went a couple times though, it is not hard to fall in love. It's easy to enjoy a reliably good meal at Monica's. We like to take out-of-town guests here for an expansive menu so that everyone can find something they like- they even feature a gluten free menu. Sometimes large menus are a red flag, but so far no one we've brought has been dissatisfied. Our favorites: -big salads -surprisingly good burger -bruschetta We feel lucky we got to see Randy in his last weeks, picking up trash, greeting customers and weeding the planters outside. It seems his spirit will live on at Monica's with great service and kindness to greet you each time.
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Lisa N.

Yelp
Environment reminds you of a iHop, but that's where mediocre stops. Everything else was great! Party of 5 and every plate was cleared! The salads were probably more than one could eat in a sitting... but I managed to clear my plate because it was so good (fried Brie and pears). Plus! They have a gluten free menu! Lots of vegetarian options too. Service was attentive. I'd come back for sure.
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Caitlin L.

Yelp
Monica's has a very casual vibe with lots of patio seating. I went here on my first night in Coralville and found it be to be the perfect place for some nice (but slightly elevated) comfort food. The food is a bit pricy, but they say that they try and keep the prices as low as they can without sacrificing quality. The menu was quite large. I ordered the Mac n Cheese. It was delicious with a breadcrumb top. I would absolutely order this dish again. The service was quick and our waitress was nice but nothing out of the ordinary.
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C R.

Yelp
The gluten-free pizza was delicious. The service was great and place was nicely decorated and clean. The salted caramel cheesecake was amazing and gluten-free too. Will definitely return when I am back to Iowa City. Bonus they have a gluten-free menu.

Wendy S.

Yelp
Most of the food is quite good although some items miss the Mark, but it's very spotty. Service is generally excellent on all fronts Nice family restaurant. Ambience depends upon where you sit and its proximity to the kitchen. Their named pizzas are excellent!
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Debbie H.

Yelp
Monica's is our go-to, "where everyone knows you name, " restuarant. We never hesitate to drop in for lunch or dinner whenever we want to go out v cook! Monica and her staff are always welcoming, friendly and glad to see us...but they treat everyone who walks in their door the same. It's a comfy, warm, and full of enticing aromas of what's cooking in the kitchen. Without fail, I always order my favorite...the Ryan Bowen pizza...all veggies and I add a few more and a side Caesar salad. All the pizzas are named after University of Iowa athletes according to their taste preferences. Kinda cool! Last Friday night, the place was bustling with a full house! Great! Drinks were well made and promptly delivered by our delightful server...starting off with their whole grain and white bread plate, olive oil w/pepper/parmesan cheese to taste and the brown sugar/cinnamon butter (yum!) . Pizza and a turkey/avocado paninni with fries for my husband soon followed. The spirit and hospitality of Randy Larson liives on through Monica and her staff. We'll be back again and again!
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Adam F.

Yelp
A little pricey but still very tasty. The portions were a good size. There was a large selection of alcohol and the apple margarita I ordered was surprisingly good. Lydia was fantastic, very personable and on top of anything I needed for my meal. I will definitely be back to try more of the menu!
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John C.

Yelp
This restaurant is fantastic. Great food. Nice atmosphere and the owner is there and comes around talking to the customers which is a nice touch.
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Sylvia J.

Yelp
Ask Monica --- I order delivery from here once a week. #noshame And, my order is pretty much the same thing....every week. What can I say I'm a creature of habit and when I find something I love why order anything else. So here is my order which should be your order too. 1. Black fettuccine with lobster - heavenly. 2. Side dinner salad with ranch Simple, but so brilliant. See photos for evidence. NB: I do not know Monica or if Monica is a real person lol. Just know that if she is, sending over a thank you for her restaurant in Iowa City.
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Mary P.

Yelp
We were disappointed. Everything was average. We started with drinks--my Bellini was good. Friend's Tini Bellini was good, too. Guys draft beers were good. Onion rings were thick & ok. Ranch was good. My ziti was ok--I paid more for shrimp & got 3. Not much pancetta but a lot of chicken breast. I took home 1/2 of it. No salad, No roll & mine was the most expensive meal. Hubby enjoyed his angel hair with seafood. Friend's meatloaf was blah--too much filler! The mashed potatoes were cool & thick. He left 1/2 & didn't want a to go box. Friend's wife's chicken Parmesan sandwich was average--needed more seasoning & marinara. Her salad was good. The complimentary bread & oil& cinnamon butter was tasty. Service was fine. Owner greeted us & thanked us for coming in as we left.
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Crescida J.

Yelp
Made reservations for a 8 member family dinner. Our waitress was incredible! She was attentive without being overbearing. The manager (I guess?) came by to check on it, but didn't really stop moving, so not sure what he would have done if we had a problem, as he just walked past us, said "everything ok?" and didn't even wait or look to see. However, the food was very good. Would definitely recommend!
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Sheller K.

Yelp
This is a diner close to campus. Reasonable prices and great food. I didn't know they had diners in the Midwest! I had a dinner salad, chicken and spinach ravioli, and a dessert. Chocolate cake with ice cream. Everything was so good. Sometimes when the menu is large nothing is good, but everything is good here. Highly recommend!
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Yixuan L.

Yelp
So glad I got to try Monica's after hearing so many great things about this place! The place is taking really great Covid-19 precautions. There are plastic dividers between all the tables and some rows are blocked off for social distancing. Really impressed! The menu is HUGE, there's probably over 100 things on there including drinks. We ordered three things between the two of us: baked ziti pasta, shrimp po boy, and fried calamari. The services are very generous, we had plenty of leftovers. The ziti pasta was my favorite! Super rich and creamy. There's a long cheese pull with every bite. If you're in the mood for some yummy comfort food, this is a must try! The shrimp po boy was alright. The shrimps were yummy but there were only 5 pieces of shrimp and there was way too much bread. Some bites were only bread and lettuce which was a bit disappointing. The bread they use is the same bread as the complimentary starter. The calamari was SO good. Fresh, well done and super crispy!! Loved the bread with cinnamon butter, you must try this!! Really great service and super friendly staff. Would recommend if you're in the area!
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Alex D.

Yelp
We came at lunch time, just after opening. We should have just sat outside because we were bothered by flies at our table indoors the entire time. We got the artichoke crab dip to start, and that was probably the highlight. Super rich and delicious! We then had the black noodles and ziti. My husband had the ziti and was surprised at the size for the price. When I asked him how it tasted, he shrugged and said, "it's ziti". So, we'd say the ziti isn't bad, just nothing special. We also paid to add shrimp, and although the shrimp are large, you're paying about $1 for each shrimp added. I had the black noodles with lobster and was surprised to find I simply didn't like the dish. I tried to trade with my husband, but it was a no-go as he did not like the flavor either. Maybe we just didn't order the right thing, but between the underwhelming food, the flies, and the poor service (did I not mention the poor service yet? That's because it was basically non-existent), I don't think we will be back.
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Rachel W.

Yelp
Monica's had been on my list of restaurants to try since moving to the area. We received a Grub Hub gift card and found out that Monica's accepts these. Yay! We ordered the fried ravioli appetizer, black fettuccini with lobster and a black bean burger w/ onion rings. I generally thought everything was 'ok', but wasn't blown away by any of it. For the prices we paid, nice photos on their website, and the many other positive reviews, I was expecting more than mediocre. I didn't care for any of the sauces; alfredo and tomato that came with the ravioli, ranch with the onion rings and a ranch-salsa sauce that came with the burger. Sauces were plentiful, but none were bursting with flavor. I found myself wanting ketchup. I like my onion rings a little sweet, and these were not. A bummer when onion rings disappoint. The burger was good, but I added Havarti cheese and mushrooms to it. Had it not been for the toppings the only thing I would have remembered about the dish was the nice bun. The burger itself is your standard restaurant black bean burger, but at a whopping $18. The pasta was fine, but again, not overly flavorful. The sauce was very light, but I loved the mushrooms. I assume the cost of lobster has something to do with the $26 price, but there were just a few pieces of lobster in the entire dish. Liked the bread and cinnamon-sugar butter. Monica's does offer a diverse menu with many side-dish options which is nice. Online ordering via Grub Hub was very easy and I placed the order ahead of time with a 5:45 delivery. The restaurant had the order ready on time and our delivery person was spot on. The order was made perfectly, so kudos to the restaurant for catching the additions and omissions. Monica's does have a disclaimer on their website about prices and paying their employees a fair wage. I totally understand this. It doesn't much change my opinion when it comes to the flavors and robustness of the food. Based on other reviews it seems that they've been pricey for years and can now lean on the pandemic to justify raising their prices when they need to. Quality of the food was good and the majority of the food is homemade. Monica's just didn't do it for me, but maybe my tastebuds deceived me and you'll think otherwise.
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Morganne M.

Yelp
Monica's was an absolute delight. There's a great selection on the menu for food, wine and other drinks. There's a lot of options for all types of diets as well. We were immediately tended to and the food was delicious. Everything came out quickly and we were checked on multiple times and felt fully cared for. This was easily one of the best service experiences we've ever had. It wasn't too loud and it was a relaxed atmosphere that could've also been super nice if you wanted to go out for a nice dinner. We asked to speak with the manager about how amazing our service was and it was the owner who came and thanked us for coming. This showed me how much she cares about her restaurant. The Caesar salad was amazing, my partner got a sandwich, and I got the chicken. We also got the crab artichoke dip that was to die for. Last, we got creme brûlée which was easily one of the best ones I've ever had. We will definitely be back.
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Brita R.

Yelp
I went to Monica's in Coralville to get some lunch on my day off. I walked in and was greeted and seated. I had the choice of sitting in the room with the TVs or of sitting in the room with the serene music. I chose to sit in the music room. The inside of Monica's was decorated beautifully and the atmosphere was elegant and calming. I loved their choice of opera music that they had playing. I ordered their Spinach and Goat Cheese salad which was absolutely delicious. I also ordered their Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee which was absolutely delicious as well. The service was fantastic as well. I loved that they had allergy-free / gluten-free options on their menu and that the chefs/service cared to make sure that I was able to enjoy a delicious lunch even with my allergies. In addition, it was not too pricey. A definite must stop for everyone! I can't wait to go back!

Tam L.

Yelp
Beautiful restaurant with friendly staff. Menu would lead you to believe that it is a higher end restaurant. But don't be fooled. Waiters lack attention to detail and are not well trained in service. Crab cakes were served with a nice crust but were processed, densely packed with something not sure of what. The angel hair pasta was so overcooked it was plain mush. Parmesan was not offered but when asked a pizza shaker was brought to the table. Had to ask waiter to take away dirty dishes from appetizers.
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Natdanai P.

Yelp
Love all the pasta & other Italian / German cuisines. They provide fresh bread appetizer. The service is amazing even the owner walked to our table one time and chat with us about our experience and suggestion.
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Tommy T.

Yelp
Our first visit, and definitely got that friendly neighborhood Italian food feel. Driving by they had a cute sign saying patio season was back and congratulated the 2024 grads. That told me they cared about the local community. Parking was easy in the large lot and walking to the entrance there are 2 doors side by side (we realized one was for the patio seating). Walking inside we were greeted with 6 young servers and hosts. Seriously. At first i thought it was a grad party, but after sitting in a booth I could see there is like a prep station at the front where they fold napkins and stand in between waiting tables. Once inside i could tell this is a place everyone likes to come and eat at. Older couples, families with kids and single guys sitting at the bar watching sports. Something for everyone. I tried the fettuccini with grilled shrimp. It was ok. The noodles were too firm for me and the sauce was very thin. The side salad was fresh and the dressing was a little salty but tasty. The ice tea was super dark and tasted like a powdered tea I havent had since 6th grade. I think we will try a pizza next time.
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Karan V.

Yelp
I am usually big on explaining and letting everyone know about my detailed experience in my reviews. But here I will come straight to the point, why a 2star review. So the reason We wanted to sit inside and not on the patio is because of Iowa bugs. Those tiny gnads mosquitoes are annoying. And if you keep the door open(I get it its because of covid), but that doesn't help the person like me. I am their biggest bate. I was bothered so much and was bit at so many places on my body is frustrating. I was so mad that I couldn't eat & wrapped up all my dinner and went back to my place. I am even skeptical I will even eat that leftover meal again. Again thinking about how many bugs were around the light and around food, the glass of water and drinks. I practically feel wasted all my money and slept empty stomach even after paying over $70. Apologies here for venting out my frustration on a public forum. I had heard good things about this place. Not sure about my future visits.
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Scot N.

Yelp
I am torn between giving Monicas five stars or four stars. The food was five stars. The service was five stars. Randy, the owner, with his never ending smile and wonderful cheer, were five stars. The parking situation on a Friday night at 6 PM is one star. First off, let's talk about all of the good things with the restaurant. The menu is extensive and borderlines on overwhelming. The food we got was wonderful but I am concerned that with as many choices as there were, does that increase the likelihood that some of these dishes won't be good. A jack of all, master of none, problem. The jambalaya was incredible. And there was so much of it that I needed to take some home. The service was exceptional. Even though we only saw our waitress once or twice, it appeared that the staff had been trained to attend to any table that seemed to need something. There was never a time when we had a dirty dish on our table for more than a minute or two and our drinks were always full. If I were to find fault with anything inside of the restaurant it would be that the overall design doesn't seem to know what it wants to be. The restaurant part itself is a stylishly decorated contemporary establishment that is well lit. However, the waiting area has numerous Iowa Hawkeye pictures on the walls and throughout the restaurant there are large flatscreen TVs which were playing ESPN. It just feels that if I am going to be paying $80-$100 for two people to eat dinner and have a couple of drinks, I wouldn't expect to have college basketball playing on flatscreen TVs around me. If I wanted to watch college basketball I would go to a sports bar. Finally, It is not an exaggeration when I say that multiple people were parking illegally in the parking lot because there was no room anywhere. To make matters worse, there is no on street parking and the only other choice you have is to park in one of the non-connected parking lots next to the restaurant and hope you don't get towed away. It seems as if I have talked myself into giving Monica is four stars. It just doesn't seem as if Monica's has really decided what it wants to be. If you want to charge $20-$25 per plate then don't have Iowa sports paraphernalia hanging around and large screen TVs playing basketball games like a sports bar. If you want to be a sports bar with large screen TVs and Iowa sports memorabilia hanging on the walls, charge 10 or $12 per plate and scale back on the number of items on the menu.
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Mark S.

Yelp
Fantastic meal! Had delicious pizza with my wife. I'll be back as there is such a full and delicious meal to explore! Great food! Great service!!

Kathy D.

Yelp
Monica's was my go-to place in the IC area for many years. The food was great and the service was exemplary. I owned a local business and ate at Monica's a couple times a week with friends and co workers. But recently my daughter and I were seated in the dining room.....and then ignored for about 25 minutes during which time two tables (TWO) were seated in our area. They were given menus and served water and bread. Meanwhile we're continued to be overlooked. Needless to say, we left. I voiced my complaint but no offer of reseating or service was made. And just as well I guess... Still, it is a sad statement of how far they have they have declined in the area of the good service that has defined them in the past. I won't be returning to Monica's...
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Paul V.

Yelp
Great place! My visit was on a busy Saturday night, yet I was able to get a table very quickly. The owner was helping get people seated as well as checking in on tables, which is engagement you like to see. They provide free bread with olive oil and cinnamon butter as you browse the menu, which were delicious. The server was very helpful, yet also gave us plenty of space as we struggled to decide on what to order - attentive but not overbearing. The menu is massive and everything sounds good. After a long decision, I went with the baked ziti, touted at the #1 seller. The meal was very good, packed with meat and pasta in a creamy sauce. Would definitely eat again. It's been far too long between visits at Monica's, a mistake I won't be making again. I can't wait to try some of their pizzas and other entrees.
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Shaquilera A.

Yelp
My partner and I are very big foodies, we have travelled around the world for food. We decided to visit this place because of their high google reviews. As it was our first time, we usually ask our waiter for recommendations, what people come here for, and so we ordered one pizza dish and one pasta dish. We had one bite each, and could not fathom taking a second. When telling our waiter, despite seeing only 2 bites were taken from each dish, still made us pay 50%. This was not good food, i dont know where all those reviews come from, but it was very well below average.
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Marianne H.

Yelp
Amazing!!!! In town for the evening and decided pizza was exactly what was needed. Ordered through GrubHub and the meal was marked as a favorite. Ordered margarita pizza. Order was perfect when it arrived. The cheese was so hot it had slid to one side but didn't change the great flavor of the pizza. I was additionally surprised with a side of bread and cinnamon sugar butter. Perfect sweet to end the meal. Will definitely order there again when I am in town. Hoping I can have an inperson experience.
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Jenni H.

Yelp
Monica's does it all. Here's how I mean... 1. Their menu is freaking huge. The pizza is good. They do comfort food well (helllllllllo buffalo chicken burrito). Heck, even Italian dishes are a slam dunk. My last visit, the onion rings were a special. HOLY COW. Those were some amazing rings. 2. They deliver and have takeout. There's also a patio and you can currently eat in during COVID. We intended to dine on the patio but it rained! Eek. However, we were greeted with masked employees, had our temperatures taken and thing were definitely social distanced. (Even plastic barriers were put up between booths!) 3. The kid menu is legit. Mac n Cheese, Pizza, Cheese Burgers, Grilled Cheese, Spaghetti, Alfredo, Buttered Noodles AND Chicken Fingers. Wowza. Your little will definitely find something to devour. Coralville really lacks in local options, IMO. But Monica's is a solid choice!
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Kevin M.

Yelp
Came here with a party of nine on Saturday, August 15, 2020. Made a dinner reservation for the patio out front. The table was ready at the reserved time. Had my first ever restaurant touch less forehead temperature check - super cool - and thankfully we all passed. Staff all had masks. We have all been here before, pre-pandemic. Our daughters are Hawkeyes. The old dude who I assume is the owner asked us if we have been there before, and thanked us for returning.very nice. The menu is huge and an odd mix of Italian and Midwest comfort food. I got a dish I have not seen anywhere in thirty years, back when my grandmother was still cooking: scalloped potatoes with ham. Think big chunks of ham, sliced potatoes and creamy cheese. Super good and worth the trillion calorie hit. Complimented it with a side of sautéed vegetables which were a true medley of veggies, large and really good. So was the Big Grove Brewery "Arms Race" IPA. Others in our party got the Potato Balls (huge) and a smorgasbord of traditional Italian fare. The ladies had a couple pomegranate mules and I can say the drinks were visibly strong based on the effect. Many of us brought home leftovers. There are many other great menu choices for future visits. Shout out for the local brews. Iowa has fantastic brews. Service outstanding. Waitress was prompt, food came out quickly, temp check, high quality food all well worth a 30% tip. We will be back. Highly recommend.

Julie B.

Yelp
We enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. Will definitely return again.. the service was really good. The waitress was very friendly .
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Constance M.

Yelp
Had delivery from Monica's yesterday. All of my friends and myself opted for the Louisiana Shrimp Salad. The salad has shrimp, potatoes, cheese, and this marvelous dressing. Delivery was quick and free!
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Mike S.

Yelp
My sister and I ate dinner here on 9/29, and the service, food, pricing and portions were out of this world. Highly recommended all around!
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Mark O.

Yelp
I ordered using their free delivery service ($15 minimum). In a college town that seemingly has minimal options, its nice to have something outside of pizza and Chinese food available for delivery. I ordered the fried chicken, which is essentially a chicken fried steak, only better. This dish is sided with sour cream & cream cheese mashed potatoes, along with another side. I opted for the house salad with balsamic vinaigrette dressing. I also ordered French Onion soup, in which the onions were properly caramelized. The fried chicken was delightfully crispy. Generous-sized portion. No gristle, no fat. Gravy was creamy and nicely spiced. Good notes of pepper. Obviously, great care goes into each dish that is made here. The balsamic dressing has nice tang. Delivery driver was friendly and food was packaged with great caution. Soup was wrapped in plastic to avoid leakage. No complaints at all with this restaurant.
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Tiffani G.

Yelp
So when I put five stars I wish that I could put more. Monica's is not only a great place to go, the service is attentive and friendly from the start when you walk into the door. My partner and I came for a date night and were able to get a table on a fairly busy Saturday night. Mesarah was our waitress, she was kind, attentive, and made sure that we never had to ask for anything. From the complimentary bread, our meals, and our dessert was amazing. We had an overall amazing experience, probably the best experience we have had out in a long time. Thank you guys. We will definitely be back.

Joni C.

Yelp
I guess I'd say I had the worst nearly $14 side salad that I'd ever had. First of all $14 for a side salad! I am sorry but mixed greens with the few grape tomatoes and croutons does not a fourteen dollar salad make! And I commented to my husband that it tasted like leaves off a tree, and I wasn't joking. But that wasn't even why I was writing. We were appalled to see at a seemingly high end restaurant according to the prices, that the waitresses were dressed in short, short shorts. Fresh in our mind was listening to our son, who owns three high end restaurants telling his cousin how important the wait staff's dress is for professionalism and for their clientele's expectation. We weren't at a beachfront bar and that's what it felt like.
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Mike B.

Yelp
fthey featur aantastic menu,offering a delicious variety of unique signature pizzas we enjoyed the Italian DISH STAPLES:Parmesan, bread ended perfectly & fried, to a crispy deliciously accented by red Mariana a sauce and one smooth,Parmesan sauce,the result, is one HAPPY PALATE! THIS IS Our G O TO"",RESTAURANT,when we host GLUTEN ADVERSE, GUEST, THEY, can prepare any menu item GLUTEN-FREE, without any loss in taste! MOST IMPORTANTLY,THE STAFF enjoys working at MONICA'S & IT SHOWS! you will feel,,like,you are their highest priority
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Sarah P.

Yelp
Legitimately one of the best family restaurants in Iowa. The service is unparalleled--the staff really cares. The food, from sandwiches to Italian dinners to steaks, really sings. Super high quality, friendly, and tasty. Try it!! If you want carry out, just call them!
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K S.

Yelp
This restaurant was quite pricy and the food was average. The cost of dinner for an entree was $20+. I had the Brick Oven Baked Ziti and was underwhelmed for $26. My colleague had the Bolognese and thought it was ok. The cost of dinner with drink and dessert was $50. The service was excellent. Be prepared to pay $$$ for a meal that should be half the cost.