the Webster

The best restaurant experience I've had in a long while. The best vibe, well ci.posed dishes, fresh seasonal ingredients. Flavor bombs of love 8n every bite. The wines are paired perfectly. Service is attentive and proactive. The room has perfect lighting and the vibe is City like but without the yelling across the table to have a convo. I truly enjoyed myself, and the experience here. Going back next week. Id rather come here than anywhere in Chicago. Iowa city.... never would have thought a place like this could exist here.

In town for a Gopher Hawkeye game. We ended up picking Webster from the best restaurants list. It was a solid pick!! Why? Food was fantastic michelin star quality. Oysters with an apple mignonette, chicken so tender and flavorful, and a short rib style pasta. Biscuits and fried rice were awesome. Sommelier picked a perfect wine for us. Our server Riley was wonderful. Great suggestions and timely service. Overall…so happy we picked The Webster!,

We had a great dinner at The Webster and especially loved the cast iron cornbread, the hiramasa crudo, and the orecchiette! The sakura pork chop and fioretto were also very good. Special shoutout to the amaro cocktail; it was bold and thoughtful, and made even better by the head mixologist stopping by our table to introduce it. That kind of attention really elevated the experience. The only downside was the portion sizes. They were too large for a date night with just two people. It felt like we had to over-order and take too much home. A little more à la carte flexibility or smaller portion options would go a long way, and help make the experience more approachable price-wise.

This review pertains specifically to the Chef's Counter experience offered by The Webster, but generally speaking if you like really good food and drinks in an upscale atmosphere, you owe it to yourself to try this place. Even a couple of small plates (I can't recommend the potato salad and beef tartare enough) and a couple cocktails at the bar can be a really wonderful experience. On to the (probably lengthy) review... The Chef's Counter experience had been a bucket list item for my wife and I after several years of enjoying outings to The Webster. It was easily set up by contacting the restaurant via email. I was given a rundown of the cost and process and asked about any allergies. There was an option wine pairing to add, which we declined. For the meal, you are sat literally at the counter of the restaurant overlooking the kitchen. That in and of itself was a really cool experience as you get to see dishes prepared, kitchen staff interacting, etc. If you've ever watched The Bear it was like that, minus the yelling and chaos. It was very cool. Sitting there also meant we had a direct interaction with the sous chef who was preparing our meals. Each dish came with an explanation of what we were being served and the source of the ingredients. The attention to detail and the commitment to quality ingredients really showed throughout these interactions. Now, for the food itself: simply incredible. Every bite was phenomenal. All told, we had 12 dishes, mostly small plates. We didn't order any of the items and didn't see our menu beforehand, which I fully support. We were treated to dishes that I might not have otherwise ordered. The chef told us the menu was based on what ingredients were available. Everything is fresh and the things that could logically be sourced locally (produce, beef, chicken) were. In our case, we seemed to be in a transition from sort of a summer menu to a fall menu. We were getting the last of the peaches, but also the first taste of some other items that were just coming into season. Our menu was seafood heavy (in a great way) with items including the best oyster I've ever had in my life, hamachi crudo, seared tuna, and rock shrimp. The main dish was a haub pork chop, which was delicious. The standout items were a fresh tomato salad and a wagyu beef tartare. The dishes come out in the order that you would expect for a dinner - appetizers, salad, soup, main course(s), and desserts. Between each dish, you get a fresh set of silverware and the staff comes by to wipe down the counter. It was a nice touch. On top of the food, we had phenomenal cocktails throughout the night. All in all, this is a truly phenomenal experience. The food itself is incredible, but the level of service elevates the experience even more. The staff was knowledgeable, attentive, conversant, and clearly passionate about the food. This experience does not come cheap, nor should it. If you're asking "Is it worth it?" I can't answer that for you. For us, the answer was wholeheartedly, "Yes!" After enjoying other meals at The Webster, this was an experience we had been anticipating for a long time and it delivered in every single way.

My husband and I visited The Webster for our wedding anniversary dinner. They set our table with menus saying “Happy Anniversary” on the front! The waiting staff was out of this WORLD- extremely kind & personable, knowledgeable about the menu, and knew just how many times to check in on a couple was enough. I believe each waiter/waitress in the restaurant complimented me on my outfit- how sweet! The food and drinks were delectable- so fun trying dishes from each part of the menu. Even the mocktails were delish! This place is such a treat & we will be returning!

Been here three times so far since they've opened, and I will say this is a gem! The quality of food and presentation is worth the price! Not to mention the service and experience alone makes me wanting to come back for more- I will always recommend this place to anyone local who's never been, or anyone out of town! Definitely a one of a kind restaurant in downtown Iowa City

Big expectations. Some met, others not so much. We gladly paid the corkage on a ten year old special Napa Cab we brought with us. We did get it decanted properly. A+ to the waitstaff. Started with Sourdough and shrimp cocktail. $15 Sourdough was dry and sent to the bin. Shrimp was fresh and crisp and poached well to that special cool crispness. Pea soup was amazing with great presentation. Duck egg pasta house made was also a highlight. Needed some peas and bacon in the pasta, but then that's a pasta carbonara right? Hint to the chef. Scallops were done to perfection and vegetables were fresh. We wanted red meat to go with the wine, but the only offering was a 52oz aged Waygu for $365. Not very couple friendly. We would have loved to order a sharable filet or smaller bone in ribeye. None were offered. Would have liked to see a whole fish option or at least something like Seabass or black cod offered. You won't find white tablecloths here, nor black or white table linen offered even though you would expect that at this price level. We lingered and did not feel rushed. Crowd was typical college town vibe. Parking is on the street, be prepared to walk.

Fantastic place, creative and plays on humble ingredients executed with precision. Ask the sommelier for a recommendation, it's going to be good. Look for the upcoming "carrot cake" it's to die for.

We came to Iowa City in order to dine here - and while for the most part I'm glad we did - I don't need to come back. Pro: upscale modern interior, friendly (for the most part) staff, attentive to our children's (5 & 3) food and attention span needs. There is a kids menu and ours enjoyed their food very much. One staff brought a Lego box in addition to the coloring pages and crayons. The squash soup was delicious - hands down the best thing we had. Neutral: the biscuits were good but my wife remarked that they tasted "warmed-up" as in not fresh. The Shishito peppers were underwhelming and my skeptical assumption is that they were recommended to us because the profit margin was particularly high on that dish. The rotating nature of the menu left it with a sense of lacked coordination. Cons: we ordered at 5:59pm (confirmed on the bill) - it took one hour and 40 minutes to get our final plate - the scallop large plate - which the first thing I noticed when it was sat on the table was an odor that tells me these scallops would not be fresh. 4 scallops for $49 is wild, but when they aren't fresh and they're overpowered by the sauce and accompanying beans, it's a real disappointment. Mind you, we waited 100 minutes for this unfortunate last dish. We asked our waiter at one point if he would please check on them, after a while he said they would be "out in a few minutes." Strangely, there was no recognition on his behalf that they were taking a long time, or that this was clearly an inconvenience. Nonsensical: there are two single restrooms tucked away in a rear hallway near the entrance to the back kitchen. The line queue was at a dozen people crammed into that small hallway.

I need another star in order to properly rate the Webster. We got the banana cocktail and wine⁣, sourdough with ricotta⁣, bone marrow⁣ special, pasta with sausage and spicy tuna⁣, and agnolotti with shaved truffle⁣. I felt blown away, or maybe I was just feeling extra fancy. The banana cocktail was unique and an interesting combination of sweet and sour. We loved snacking on some perfectly soft inside and crunchy on the outside bread with smooth ricotta. What a good mouth feel. Also I was happy with how much ricotta there was This was my first time having bone marrow so nothing to compare to but it felt buttery and smooth and spreadable. The agnolotti with black truffle was my favorite and the truffle really made it for me I was savoring every single bite of both pastas because I did not want it to end! I can't believe it's taken me this long but I'm sure I'll be back. It will definitely be my new special occasion choice⁣. I felt welcomed by both the people and the place right from the start and loved the big windows.

We nabbed a reservation at the Webster on Resy for a Saturday night at 7:30pm and this place was poppin'! My hubby and I have been wanting to try the Webster for a while now and we were in Iowa City for the weekend so we had to make a visit. Our server did a great job, despite it being extremely busy. We had a pre-dinner cocktail and one with our during and both of mine were pretty good. I got the Veruca Salt and a carrot-based cocktail with egg white that was surprisingly good, I can't recall the name of it. Now for the food... I want to also preface that I was deciding between 3 stars and 4 stars when it comes to the food and here's why. We felt like the dinner menu was not as cohesive as we would have hoped for. Individually, each dish (except for the entree we chose) was quite tasty -- we had the Sourdough, Hamachi Crudo, Wagyu Tartare, and a pasta dish. Standouts include the Sourdough with the whipped ricotta (with a side of freezer jam) and the Tartare. It took about 40 minutes for our pasta to come out so by the time we got to our entree, we were pretty full. For the entree, we were looking forward to ordering the Dry Aged Prime Cote De Boeuf but unfortunately they sold out by 7:30pm on a Saturday night. We found this to be surprising given that it was prime dinner time. This was disappointing as the other entrees options did not excite us. Our server recommended the Smoked Sakura Pork Coppa and it fell short for us -- on the salty time and was reminiscent of a holiday ham. I think that the feeling we got was that there wasn't a theme that weaved the menu together. There were aspects of Italian, French, Japanese, and American which I think overwhelms the menu. We are all for fusion cuisine but this was a miss for us. I do appreciate the Webster is bringing modern dining to the scene in Iowa. The staff were great, the ambiance and decor is very modern and sleek. Would we return? Most likely not. But were we happy we gave it a try? Absolutely.

The Webster is a favorite date night spot or if we need an excuse to celebrate with some wine and food that is both beautiful and delicious. My husband and I have been going here since they opened and we have never been disappointed. I am stunned I haven't reviewed it yet. On our most recent visit to the Webster we made sure to order a variety of dishes to share. We started with sourdough bread with whipped ricotta topped with fresh herbs which was simply but delicious. We also order tuna crudo, asparagus with king crab and a pasta dish. For our main course we decided to try the seared skate which was so delicate and just melted in your mouth. We ordered a bottle of wine to go along with the meal and have never been disappointed with the recommendations made after a quick description of what type of wine we like and are looking for to accompany the meal. Overall we always leave the Webster full, happy and planning our reason for our next visit. Tip: For an extra special experience consider booking the chef's table your stomach won't be disappointed.

We wish we could have experienced this meal all over again. Every bite was magic. Our lovely, very knowledgeable server recommended the 10/10 Homemade biscuits + strawberry jam, IOWA corn soup bone in pork chop, broccolini and blueberry+ strawberry+ peach crisp.

My husband and I had a wonderful experience at the webster last night. I would highly recommend if you want a more fine dining elevated type of night out for food and/or drinks. Since it was last minute we ended up eating at the bar but it was a good experience as well. Great bar to come in for a drink and a small plate to share before venturing out in the city. We had beer and wine as our drink choices. Small plates we ordered were oysters and wagyu tartar. The large plates ordered were trout and scallops. A side of potato salad was shared as well. And for dessert the sticky toffee pudding with ice cream. Oysters were good with the apple kimchi sauce. I do prefer more of the strong lemon citrus flavors. They did state the Island creek variety oysters aren't served around the area that they have seen. Wagyu tartar (locally sourced from Jiyu American Wagyu Farms) was great and the seasoning was nice with the cumin flavor coming out. The warm in house pita chips/bread it was served with were very tasty as well. The trout was very good and the sauce it was served with was delightful. I was craving scallops since it had been a minute so I ordered the scallops. They were cooked perfectly! The items it was served with weren't my favorite- quinoa and escarole and were too cold for my liking. The potato salad side dish was sooo good as well. Highly recommend this one. I wanted to try the hyped up lemon curd but opted for more our style of dessert the sticky toffee pudding with ice cream and it was sooo good if you are craving the more moist and gooey style of dessert. We were sooo full but had to have the dessert. The service was top notch. Next time perhaps we will splurge on the dry aged beef and I want to try the famous duck noodles. And the tuna or hamachi crudo.

The ambiance was great - luxurious and elevated. Service was fast and our waiter was extremely helpful as we navigated the menu for the first time. We ended up doing drinks, apps, and dessert but promised ourselves we'd come back for an entree another time. Prices are far more reasonable than we anticipated, especially with meals being served family style.

Big expectations. Some met, others not so much. We gladly paid the corkage on a ten year old special Napa Cab we brought with us. We did get it decanted properly. A+ to the waitstaff. Started with Sourdough and shrimp cocktail. $15 Sourdough was dry and sent to the bin. Shrimp was fresh and crisp and poached well to that special cool crispness. Pea soup was amazing with great presentation. Duck egg pasta house made was also a highlight. Needed some peas and bacon in the pasta, but then that's a pasta carbonara right? Hint to the chef. Scallops were done to perfection and vegetables were fresh. We wanted red meat to go with the wine, but the only offering was a 52oz aged Waygu for $365. Not very couple friendly. We would have loved to order a sharable filet or smaller bone in ribeye. None were offered. Would have liked to see a whole fish option or at least something like Seabass or black cod offered. You won't find white tablecloths here, nor black or white table linen offered even though you would expect that at this price level. We lingered and did not feel rushed. Crowd was typical college town vibe. Parking is on the street, be prepared to walk.

Service:great Ambiance: great Food: wings were horrible. Dry, Boring no meat stale flavor Take them off the menu dudes

We had an amazing dinner tonight. The food was excellent a bit slow but good stuff takes time. The kitchen staff work hard. They have an open kitchen. My most favorite dish were the crudo and pasta. The trout was cooked perfectly tho. Highly recommend

Wonderful service from our LSAT studying waitress! Hamachi crudo was delicate and flavorful. Duck egg noodles were exquisite! Words cannot adequately describe the flavors. Finished with grilled squash. Will be back next time we are in Iowa City!

Food good, quite good this time, but sometimes good sometimes not. Always pricy. Portions small considering price. Treated poorly by seating manager. Seated outside by street; noise and exhaust made meal disgusting. (I noticed that after we were finished they did not seat anyone else directly on street.). They sacrifice parties of two for parties of six.

We were in town visiting our daughter and took her out to eat here. Fantastic service & delicious food! We tried several dishes/small plates, all fabulous. The bucatini pasta, pork t-bone & squash soup were a few of our favorites! We will definitely be back.

OVERVIEW: Few restaurants are deserving of a perfect 5-star rating but after dining at The Webster a half-dozen times by now, there's no doubt that this is well-deserving. Easily one of the best restaurants I've had the pleasure of experiencing. THE FOOD: A true farm-to-table restaurant, The Webster isn't the only farm-to-table restaurant in Iowa City, something I don't take for granted. From Friendly Farm and Local Crumb, they lean heavily into supporting local farmers and producers and it shows, from the aforementioned Local Crumb sourdough with whipped Wisconsin ricotta, herbs and olive oil to the whole chicken. Co-owner Sam Gelman is an Iowa City native and he and wife Riene have worked and led some of the top restaurants in the U.S., including Sam's tenure at Momofuku in New York to Riene's stint at Eleven Madison Park, a three-Michelin-starred restaurant. It's no wonder The Webster made The New York Times Top 50 Restaurants List of 2024 and USA Today's Restaurants of the Year in 2024. DRINKS: Every cocktail I've had has been well-balanced, priced well and unique. I especially love The Lass from Madras, Miss Honey, and Per Diem. ATMOSPHERE: Housed in a beautiful new construction building on Iowa City's increasingly hip and hyper-local Northside, the restaurants massive windows and adorable patio overlook century-plus old buildings. The bar is buzzy, the kitchen exudes high-energy, yet the main dining room manages to remain composed and elegant. SERVICE: Service is always exceptional, with the owners regularly making a point to stop by. Wait staff are attentive and helpful without being overbearing. TIPS: ALWAYS save room for dessert and make a day of it by grabbing cocktails at other restaurants in the neighborhood and be sure to stop by and pickup local gifts from the many nearby local businesses, from Prairie Kitchen Store and RSVP to Artifacts.

Stellar place! I was a bit surprised at how small it is but that makes sense now that I've seen how things are done here. Incredibly locally sourced produce and livestock is all prepared and carefully presented. Please believe them when they say it is family style and meant to be shared. The spoon with the potato salad in my picture is more like a ladle, much larger than a tablespoon. Two of us shared most of the offered courses. I had enough pork and potatoes to fill me up at breakfast the next morning. The wine selection showed that it was carefully considered and not overwhelming; much like the rest of the menu and establishment. The price is the only thing to caution you about. It is respectable for the quality of food and service. But it will not fit most people's weekly budget.

Visiting from TX. Our reservation was at 8, we had a table at 9! The manager didn't want to clear a table for us and rush the customers, so WHY do the have a reservation system if they will lot honor it? Yes, the manager gave us a drink for free but again, we had to wait one hour to be seated WITH a reservation made. Also bad is that the waitress kept rushing us to finish (they didn't rush the other tables) because they wanted to close. At some point I had to tell the waitress to stop taking away our plates without asking if we were finished. My suggestion is: do NOT expect that they will respect and honor your reservation, get yourself another restaurant that is respectful to their customers time and a business where they do not rush customers because of their lack of planning. Food was ok but not out of this world. Would I go there again? Never! Not even with or without a reservation....

We went for our anniversary and we enjoyed the dinner the moment we were seated. They printed "happy anniversary" on our menu. Then, we got to learning how to order here: 1. Our waitress recommended 3-5 plates. We did 4 plates. We loved the fish and hot potato salad most. We wanted dessert, but we were stuffed. 2. Plates come out family style so keep that in mind. 3. They have a large drink selection and are very knowledgeable. 4. Reservations seemed to be very common and we made ours about 2 weeks in advance. 5. We saw the kitchen is very organized and service was phenomenal.

First, our server was great. She had good recommendations and was knowledgeable about the menu. We started with some small plates including the wagyu tartar and hamachi crudo. Amazing. For the large plate, we had some amazing pasta and the pork chop. So good. But here is the thing: GET THE POTATO SALAD. I'm not kidding. It was incredible. Bar was well stocked and the dessert was delicious. I would stack this place up against the best restaurants in the country. A fantastic meal!

A mixed bag. Love the space, it's beautiful. Great to have a restaurant like this in IC. Been here a handful of times hoping for more but always seems to miss the mark and leave disappointed about multiple things - a huge issue at this price. Their small plates are consistently good and have been the best things on their menu since day one. The entrees have been quite hit or miss every time we have come. Last night the pesto pasta was overly salted and the sausage and corn pasta dish while quite tasty but obscenely greasy and was swimming in a sea of oil which I assume was drippings from the sausage - I guess they don't know how to cook that separately and drain first. And then there's always my favorite course, dessert - their options have literally not changed in years. They aren't bad but they aren't exciting and never change. They really need to step it up.

Love The Webster. Owned by Astoria, NY to Iowa transplants (i also lived in Astoria for 10 years) this place opened during the pandemic and it is exactly what Iowa City needs. Local ingredients with a seasonal menu, it has this complex (yet simple) combinations of Midwest + Asian (Korean). And the service is top notch, not to mention that you walk in and feel transformed into the heart of a large city -- it really could stand up against many of the legacies in NY or Chicago. Everything is good but I especially like the liver toast, the scallop/gnocchi pasta and they make a mean old fashioned. My preference is to sit at the bar with a book, alone. Nothing like it after a long day.

Great small plate, shared plate menu. Very well done and menu changes every day. Took one star off as their corkage fee is $35, which is $10 higher than most similar upscale restaurants. Will be back to enjoy the menu as the seasons change. Their squash soup is amazing. Attentive professional staff

I'm all for fancy foods, quality foods but to not find one or two simple dishes for someone who isn't a fan of duck liver or waygu or confit something... I wouldn't go back until that happens. Loved the atmosphere, the wine collection, the quality of all aspects otherwise. Service is top notch.

For the starter we had the Burrata with Sourdough. I was surprised how much I enjoyed peaches amoungst the other flavors. Grilled sourdough was of course delicious. The Burrata itself was wonderful. For our entree, we went with the Yellow Fin Tuna. The sear was spot on and perfectly seasoned. A nice crispness along side of that rare inside. There were smoked potatoes underneath. I was very impressed with how well the flavors all worked together, yet could also stand alone. The dessert was lemon curd. It was super rich. If you're a lemon lover, this is a must try. The place was bumping, so if you do go, make reservations! I love the ambiance and the service team was excellent as well. Legit, this is in my top 3 restaurants I've had in the state.

Everything about this dinner was exceptional. Service (Alek) was spot on, pre-dinner cocktails were tasty, and everything we ate was at the top of anything we've had recently in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area. Price matches the quality of the food. We ate outside in a delightful setting on a closed street with acoustic music playing. If you are hearing impaired, the noise was quite loud in the restaurant on Friday night. We will return soon!

Used to love the Webster. Unfortunately, the food has gone downhill. Hoping they can improve bc it was an amazing spot. There's better options in town.

Always delicious. Sausage orecchiette and arugula salad on the Spring 2025 menu were especially fresh and tasty. Server Audrey hooked me up with a perfect wine pairing and fabulous service!

We are in the middle of a cross country drive from Southern CA and were so lucky they had room for us. We are only here one day. We ordered vegetarian and shared everything. They have nice mock tails as well as a lot of beer and wine choices. Sharing plates is definitely encouraged, which makes it more interesting. Everything was so fresh. We especially loved the toasted sour dough bread with ricotta dip, the green beans and the larger vegan potato dish. I understand the vegan dish changes at times. We ordered two salads from the small plates- both excellent. All dressings, all sauces and the coffee were all amazing. The dishes were very unique. It is one of the best restaurants that my husband and I have tried. I am sure everything is good here. I would have tried the pretty desserts ( especially the lemon choice) but both of us were too full.

Taste of a big city restaurant in Iowa City, a much welcome addition that will raise the bar for the area. This is exactly the type of gourmet place your hear about in the food hub cities that's now available locally. Easily one of the top places in Iowa. The atmosphere is beautiful, excellent interior design with an open concept kitchen. This all helps with the overall positive and lively experience. The food is top notch here as you could already tell I was going to say. A lot of things are designed for sharing here, I recommend ordering up to get the best experience. I tried several dishes already and loved them all, definitely ready to try their whole menu. You'll most likely have to book ahead, spots have filled up fast early on and with the buzz that is happening I'm sure it might get a little harder. Go check them out!

A very very welcome addition to the Iowa City food scene. Every detail is on point, from the flooring, to the tables, to the open concept kitchen. Not to mention the drool worthy food. Fresh foods with a uniqueness that is sure to appeal. They do a great job with pacing of the meal so that you can enjoy each selection, as well as your company. Menu items are seasonal, and local. Have enjoyed everything we've tried and cannot wait to go back and try even more of the delicious menu items. Thank you for the exceptional service as well. Because of knowledgeable and kind servers we were able to have fantastic experience.

One of the nicest fine dining options in the area. We absolutely loved the food. Service and ambiance were excellent. Great drinks menu. I absolutely recommend their Wagyu beef. 100% recommend this place!!

Great atmosphere, but honestly I came here to talk about the sea scallops and sticky toffee pudding. Seriously the best I've ever had! I involuntarily closed my eyes to savor each bite. Incredible. The wait staff was awesome as well. Perfect date night location!

Great atmosphere with a sense of bustling intimacy and the patrons tend to be a who's who of Iowa City. The food is fantastic. Servers tend to know the menu well and are helpful when engaged. I am not a "foodie" but I have enjoyed everything that I have ever ordered, even the more exotic fare. For the less adventurous, the duck egg tagliatelle is basically buttery cheesy pasta and there is a pretty good burger on the bar menu). Highly recommended.

Dinner can just be a meal, but it can also be a celebration. Tonight's dinner at The Webster was a celebration of my son's moving back to Iowa City and for me a return after thirty years. Our family celebrated these events with a spectacular dinner at The Webster in downtown Iowa City. The meal was extraordinary because of The Webster's exceptional food quality, creative family style meals, and great service. It wasn't just a plate of food in front of us, but four courses of food shared family style. We began with deliciously fresh biscuits with butter and strawberry jam. The second course was an early fall salad of pears, fried egg, and candied almonds. Next were two delicious al dente pasta plates -- bucatini and a surprising casarecce pesto with gulf shrimp, kale, and pine nuts. Finally, there were two large plates - roasted grim farm chicken and the beeler's pork chop. They were incredible-- the meats were very tender and flavorful. I never tasted pork so tender mixed with pear, dandelion, escarole in a delicious jus and the chicken asty with butternuts, apple, and farro mix. It was a great homecoming for us and made special because of The Webster's exceptional food and quality service. Our server Anderson was very warm and welcoming, efficient, and explained in detail the foods in each of our family meals. Each meal course flowed quickly from the cooks to our table. The Webster made our homecoming enjoyable and memorable. There was nothing like this in Iowa City when we lived there. The Webster is the new Iowa City.

The best restaurant in Iowa City and only place for really good upscale date nights if you ask me. The service is always excellent and the servers are incredibly knowledgeable about their ever changing menu!

The service is subpar here. The server plays favorites and I can't tell if it's because our table is people of color... He was very chummy with the table next to us but whenever we asked for help he is too busy to assist. The food is over salted. Our table found our food too salty all around. The yuzu / lemon curd tastes extremely eggy. Lastly, I have allergies and one of the dishes they brought out has something I cannot eat even though the server said he checked and it is okay. How dangerous? The ambiance is great, definitely something worth going for. However, I wouldn't personally return. It's not worth the price tag to have subpar food and extremely terrible service. I took my best friend here when she was visiting Iowa from NYC and it's a bummer that this turned out to be just very mediocre.

Pretty cool place to try some new dishes. A unique take on shared small plates. We ordered corn soup, beef tartare, side of corn, spring arugula, Duck egg noodles.

I had a marvelous dinner at The Webster tonight with a large group in their 20-person private dining room. We had a limited menu with passed appetizers, plated appetizers, main, and dessert. Absolutely everything was delicious! Mushroom soup shots were delicious and creamy with great flavor Oysters with kimchi sauce were fresh and tender Tuna cubes atop shrimp crackers were lovely and I had to refrain from eating the whole plate. Amaretto sour was delightful, with whipped egg whites Wagyu steak tartare was delicious (the texture of the egg yolk on top was so perfect!) Grilled octopus was perfectly cooked, not rubbery at all, and deliciously seasoned. Cote de boeuf was split among a group of us and it was perfectly seasoned and properly rare. The chocolate mousse/tart was a nice collection of textures, not too sweet, lots of chocolatey joy! The lemon curd tart was e.nor.mous and dense lemoney meringey joy (I will be coming back to get one of these all for me!) The service was great, and being able to dine in a separate room with our party was perfect. The upstairs room had large windows facing Market street, but to use the bathroom you had to go back downstairs.

Celebrated my son's birthday here and was beyond impressed. Wonderful food, attentive service and great over atmosphere. Highly recommend!

All I can say is WOW! We had an incredible experience at the Webster. The biscuits were an amazing starter and the trout is an absolute must! All dishes are to be shared family style so don't be discourage with menu prices as most portions and the chefs skills reflect it. The ambiance was modern yet comfortable and the staff were all friendly and very attentive! Everything coming out of the kitchen looked delicious! We can't wait to make it back to Iowa City to try more!

If you don't want to read my essay, just skip down to the food, a few paragraphs down. My wife and I had not been to Iowa City, but we drove in from Minneapolis last Thursday to see the great Greg Brown concert in the equally great Englert Theater. The Theater is wonderful. You have a real gem there. We wanted to find an equally great dinner spot Friday night. Yelp does not fail. I made a few choices for us to compare, and we chose The Webster based on reviews and an interesting menu. Though it's a 4 1/2 hour drive, I'd consider coming back just to have dinner. It was that good. I like cocktails, and though the cocktail menu looked good (my wife had a tequila/marshmallow (!) type of cocktail that was excellent) I asked what the bartender liked to make, and ordered a Last Word. Very good. Next, I had a Sazerac, a fussy cocktail to make right, but they nailed it! A Sazerac is a good test for any bar. Onward to two appetizers, a chicken liver pâté that was pass out good and a burrata on French bread toasts, also excellent. Next was a caramelized shallot pasta with crunchy bread crumbs. I cook a lot. I'm a good book. I've made a lot of pasta recipes. This was the best pasta dish I've ever had. I wanted a few more servings but we had the pork chop coming. Wonderful. Whew, what a great meal. We're done now, right? Mercy, we looked at the dessert menu. Sticky toffee pudding. I was helpless. And hopeless. We ended the dinner with a pass out good dessert just as we started it with a pass out good appetizers. So, here's what to do. 1-go to Iowa City. 2-maybe find a show or concert at the Englert Theater. 3-stay at The Graduate Hotel. 4-whatever else you do, have dinner at The Webster. Trust me.

Interesting menu, wine list and atmosphere. Never been asked if I had any food allergies after I had ordered! Ordered the potato salad and clam stew. Both were first-rate. Nice white wine selections by the glass that you don't often see- a Chenin Blanc and a white Rhone! I'll be back next time I'm in town.

Visiting from out of town and was told this was the hot new place to eat in IC Ambience was excellent and service was very good The wine by the glass was very pedestrian - both the Pinot noir and the Cabernet unfortunately very limited options by the glass Food was ok. Good but not great Overall did not live up to the hype

Manhattan caliber cocktails for Iowa's City prices!! Best thing you'll have in the city, promise you

the Webster is a true delight. Let's start with location and digs. It's a cute contemporary spot on the Northside. It boasts limited outdoor seating and an airy, no frills interior. I recommend street parking further down on Linn but the Tower Place Parking Ramp is a short, quarter mile jaunt away. Reservations are a MUST. They're only open Tuesday thru Saturday and only for dinner service (5:30-9 or 10PM). Spots fill up-- though a week in advance should work. The largest group they take is six-- FYI. The food. O. M. G. What an eclectic, well thought-out menu. A group of two should expect to buy 4-5 dishes, as a rule of thumb. That being said, the main entree is hearty. Everything we had from the sourdough with ricotta to the striped bass crudo to the wagyu beef tartare was well executed. (Though, word to the wise, the beef tartare is served with bread. You do not need a bread dish as well as that...) My three big take aways... 1. The yellowfin tuna berkshire lardo bolognese was an unexpected delight. The pasta itself was perfectly cooked and the sauce was nutmeg laced heaven. A true autumnal treat. Who knew tuna should be on pasta? 2. The potato salad is unassuming star on the menu. While one of the least expensive dishes, it is a must-have. How an upscale restaurant can include bologna and togarashi -- making them perfectly blend, I will never know. But I know I will come back for drinks and this. 3. the Webster is a labor of love. I was amazed to see the owner, Chef Sam, perfecting each and every dish prior to it leaving the kitchen on a Friday night. It was great to see and really had Hells Kitchen with Chef Ramsey vibes. Prices are high but worth every penny. (Though, I would not order the crudo again just due to its small size and bigger price point.) The service is incredible-- knowledgeable, prompt, kind. the Webster boasts an extensive wine menu-- with many by the bottle options vs just a few by the glass. I recommend getting a bottle if you plan to have a couple drinks with a friend. Pricing is reasonable. The cocktail menu is small but the drinks are tasty! This is a one of a kind spot in Iowa City that is worthy of any major life event (birthday or anniversary) -- it is the epitome of upscale local with a twist on so many delightful dishes. You will be wowed at the Webster.

We went on a Saturday night with two other couples. All around outstanding in regards to the attention to detail and the cuisine. Subtle touches reflect a high degree of forethought and care toward the details. We all agreed that it was a fantastic experience. Highly recommended!

If I had the time and money, I'd eat three times a week at The Webster. The food, ambiance, chef and staff have found the balance of somehow both new and interesting but still comfortable. You don't need my bite-by-bite, and besides, the menu changes regularly. Just be ready for a culinary treat. But you do need me to remind you to make reservations. I'll suggest at least two days in advance - maybe more. It's the holidays - make it a week. Oh, and thanks to The Webster for keeping their bottles of wine reasonably priced! Smart!

New, pricey steakhouse, but 100% worth your money! The food was absolutely incredible!!! Waygu steak was cooked just right and had the perfect seasoning and pairings. It would be nice if they offered some sort of tasting and pairing menu that's already chosen for you. Cocktails were also very good! All the staff and chefs definitely know what they are doing! Plan to go here for a special occasion or just feeling a fancy night out. Will be coming back here for sure!!!

They KILLED IT (again)! Had the Chef's Counter menu last night (first time doing that) and was blown away even though I've been here twice before. I live in Silicon Valley where there is no shortage of great restaurants and it's easy to say this place would beat a majority of them in quality, taste, and presentation any day. Kudos to the chef and team. I can't wait to come back.

tl;dr: this place lived up to the hype The food was unbelievably good, the service was impeccable, the outdoor patio seating is perfection and the restaurant's interior is gorgeous. We started the meal with cocktails, which were delicious and very creative. I did the piedmont fizz, which has a strong anise/licorice flavor, so if that's not your vibe you should definitely pass. The buttermilk biscuits are to die for--flaky and substantial--and we had to order a second plate of them because we couldn't get enough. We also shared the watermelon feta appetizer, which was light and a great flavor combo. Very unique. I ordered the ricotta occhi and although the flavors were out-of-this-world good (blistered tomatoes, melt in your mouth pasta, etc.), the portion size was quite small. I didn't mind because I was at least half biscuit at this point, but it's worth noting. My husband's pasta (the lumache) was a much more generous portion for the same price point, so I was kind of surprised. Do NOT skip dessert. We did the lemon-yuzu curd topped with meringue, and they nailed it with the perfect combo of sweet, spiced, and tangy. I can't comprehend how one person could eat it--we split it between the four of us and it was more than enough! We were celebrating a birthday (I noted it in my reservation), and our printed menus included a "happy birthday" note, and someone stopped by our table to wish my mother happy birthday, which I thought was a nice touch. With four hungry people satiated, our moods were made even better when the grand total for dinner and drinks, with tip, was $200. For a super fancy meal for four with cocktails, that's pretty dang good! I'll be back, no question about it.