116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Riley’s Cafe is revived by Riley’s on 5th opening in Cedar Rapids
Oak Hill Jackson breakfast spot brings back old favorites, new signatures
Oct. 2, 2024 5:00 am, Updated: Oct. 2, 2024 12:04 pm
Florentine eggs Benedict at Riley’s on 5th, 804 Fifth St. SE, Cedar Rapids. The location of the longtime Cedar Rapids staple, under new ownership, occupies the space where Oak Hill Tavern and Glazed and Infused Donut Shop once were. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Screwball French toast at Riley’s on 5th, 804 Fifth St. SE, Cedar Rapids. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
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CEDAR RAPIDS — Riley’s Cafe is making a comeback under a slightly different name.
Over 15 years, the longtime staple became synonymous with breakfast in Cedar Rapids.
Originally opened as Diner on First by Phil Pankey, Riley’s had its first location at 836 First Ave. NE in June 2004. Another one later opened at 568 Boyson Rd. NE, as well as on Seventh Avenue in Marion. In August 2012, Riley’s gained the attention of President Barack Obama, who made a surprise visit for breakfast.
In October 2021, the string of local diners became victim to the pandemic, like many restaurants.
Decor in one of the dining rooms includes the original bell wheel from Immaculate Conception Church in Cedar Rapids as well as items from Sykora Bakery at Riley’s on 5th, 804 Fifth St. SE, Cedar Rapids. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Decor in one of the dining rooms includes the original bell wheel from Immaculate Conception Church in Cedar Rapids as well as items from Sykora Bakery at Riley’s on 5th, 804 Fifth St. SE, Cedar Rapids. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
But in September, nearly three years after closing, many of its favorites are back at the new Riley’s on 5th, 804 Fifth St. SE — in the former Bostons location.
The new opening, operating under Kory Nanke’s restaurant group, Epic Catering LLC, is trying its hand at recreating both the taste and the feel of the old favorite as it evolves into a brand of its own.
“Phil spent a lot of years developing the menus and the theme of the restaurant, and even though he is no longer in Cedar Rapids, we wanted to keep the Riley’s name going,” said Nanke.
“The Nanke group saw to bring back a very popular brand,” Pankey said.
If you go
What: Riley’s on 5th
Where: 804 Fifth St. SE, Cedar Rapids
Hours: 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily
Website: Find Riley’s on 5th on Facebook
Phone: (319) 200-4476
Details: Find old breakfast favorites from Riley’s Cafe and new signatures in a curated but evolving menu, alongside alcoholic beverages and abbreviated lunch offerings. Entrees average $10 to $15.
Inside the new Riley’s
Carrying original recipes from Riley’s Cafe in the new kitchen, the menu has been distilled to its essence — from about six pages down to three. In a concentrated form with a few tweaks, diners can find many of the things they loved most.
With an enclosed patio, bar and seating across two areas, managing partner Darci Bunting’s first order of business was recreating the cozy feeling of Riley’s.
“Riley’s was kind of known for having the walls plastered with things. I’m looking for a more organized approach, but still paying homage to Riley’s,” Bunting said. “That name recognition has brought in a lot of people.”
Plenty of old photos, a bell wheel, and lightning rod were donated by the Pankey family to adorn the new restaurant, which fills the void left by the short-lived Oak Hill Tavern and Glazed and Infused. One of the dining rooms has been repainted in the same shade of cream that Riley’s was painted in, thanks to inside information shared by Phil Pankey.
One dining room, in addition to serving overflow for regular restaurant hours, will be available for private reservations.
Nanke purchased the rights to Riley’s Cafe in 2021. Bunting said they were simply waiting for the right space to put it back to work.
They opened Labor Day weekend.
The menu
Bunting, a former bartender at Pickle Palace and manager of Kickstand and Sag Wagon, will be serving up the menu at the helm of breakfast cook Tony Schloss, who brings a few years of experience from Lucky’s on 16th and Czech Town Station in the Czech Village.
Appetizers include quesadilla options and standard bar samples. Speaking of the bar — a Bloody Mary buffet offers a build-your-own style for cocktails.
One page is dominated by elaborate grilled cheese options, sandwiches like BLTs, and wraps like chicken bacon ranch and Philly steak. Shipwrecks and omelets are offered through a few custom recipes or as build-your-own, each served with a choice of hash browns, breakfast potatoes, black beans or mixed fruit.
A few breakfast sandwiches offer options like brioche French toast, a BLT variation and California Breakfast with smoked turkey and guacamole. Next to them, try eggs Benedict in four options including the Riley’s Original with Canadian bacon and hollandaise on an English muffin, or blackened salmon under poached eggs.
The specialties page includes a range of sweet and savory with a breakfast burrito, breakfast quesadilla, and build-your-own French toast and pancake options with choice of toppings.
“I feel like everyone kind of has their favorites. Some people tell me the potatoes; I think our pancakes are great,” Bunting said. “The breakfast burrito was a really popular one. And shipwrecks — always shipwrecks.”
In addition to specials and “eclectic” items, she’s considering frequent diner inquiries for more burgers.
“I’d kind of consider this our startup menu, and we’ll add things as we go along,” Bunting said. “I want to keep it a diner feel.”
Comments: Features reporter Elijah Decious can be reached at (319) 398-8340 or elijah.decious@thegazette.com.
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