Kevin M.
Yelp
Came here based on great Yelp ratings and it being within walking distance to my office and hotel. I would never have found this place but for Yelp because it is located in a large complex of buildings off University.
This place should be a destination just for the Brussels Sprouts. Wow. I need to dissect what I ate: a small poached egg atop a myriad of other stuff - thick and large Parmesan cheese flakes, bacon, some kind of nut. OMG, incredible. It is a perfect medley of flavors and textures. This is hands down the best Brussels Sprouts I have had. I will be back just for that.
I also chose this based on the trout on the Yelp menu. When I told the waitress, Beth, that I did not need to see the menu because I already saw it on Yelp and knew what I wanted, she warned me the menu changes. D'oh. No trout.
She instead suggested I get a fish I had never heard of, the pan roasted Barramundi, which I looked up is an Asian Sea Bass, but packed with high omega-3s. $28 vs $14 for the trout ...
So what arrived was a giant saucer plate with one of the most artistic food displays I have seen, with two pieces of what looked like ordinary baked cod - just kidding. Okay, so the fish itself initially looked disappointing, but it was still very good ... maybe not super flavorful by itself, but the mixture of sauces, incredible cooked spinach and mashed potatoes and vegetables, it was superb. The fish by itself, I would give a three, but in combination, it pops, a five. I would think there are more flavorful fish types, but what do I know? Honestly, I would order it again. And again.
I also went here knowing that this is a wine place. I am a snobby specialty brew dude. See my other posts. I was not at all surprised the drink menu is all wine and hard liquor. Beth surprised me by stating they in fact have three local Iowa beers on tap, and a fourth in a can from Big Grove Brewery in Iowa City, which IMO, is one of the best on the planet.
However, there were no IPAs. The only one on tap that sounded great, a quad Belgium, was in fact out. I could hear a discussion at the bar about how two of the three taps could be out. The only one on tap was Iowa Nice by Lake Time Brewery, which per the UNTAPPD app, is a very light lager, but still highly rated. Again, I am picky.
I still give them five stars for the attempt at a local Iowan menu, and having something for all those poor dudes who must get dragged here by their wine drinking dates. I know my wife and her friends all complain how the breweries do not have wine.
I was seated immediately around 5:30 at a small table for two. Every table has a bottle of water already there. Cloth knapkin. Dim lighting. Noise not too loud. I can see coming here on date night. The crowd grew over time.
Beth was awesome. Perfect touch - not bugging me. She also really knew her beer - city of origin even. One of my other Yelp reviews about a fancy restaurant in Minnesota I gripe about a waiter who only knew about wine and zero about the beer they sold. Unacceptable. Beth knows her stuff. And she even gave me a complimentary small glass of a stout for the inconvenience of the tap being out. Super classy. I really appreciate the extra touch. Food came out fast.
I will be back.