Chew on this: Downtown C.R. gets new eatery, NewBo gets bakery, I Love Pho gets new name

Midtown Station

A new restaurant, Midtown Station, is open at 715 Second Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, in the space that formerly housed Shawn Ryan's Irish Pub. It opened July 24 and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week, with dishes like rumchata French toast, poutine, brussels sprouts and bruschetta, plus craft cocktails.

Paulita's Pastries

NewBo City Market in Cedar Rapids has added another vendor, Paulita's Pastries. With the tagline, 'The sweet side of Mexico,” Paulita's menu includes empanadas, tartas, flan, mini cheesecakes, rollos, hojaldras, conchas and orejas. It took over a space vacated when Pinoy Cafe moved to a larger stall within the market.

Hoja

In Iowa City, Old Capitol Town Center eatery I Love Pho is under new ownership and will reopen as a restaurant named Hoja, according to an email from new owner Richard Chia, who is the current manager at local sushi restaurant Sushiya, 745 Community Dr., North Liberty, and nephew of Sushiya's owner, Vincent Chia.

'The new business name will be Hoja, meaning delicious in Taiwanese,” he wrote. 'I will keep serving popular items on the I Love Pho menu, and I also will serve good items from Sushiya.”

He said he expects Hoja to open Sept. 1.

Hospitality Award

The Iowa Restaurant Association is accepting nominations for its annual Restaurateur, Chef, Employee, Emerging Hospitality Leader, Philanthropist and American Dream awards. Winners will be recognized at the annual Celebrating Excellence Hospitality Awards during the Hospitality Expo Nov. 18 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. Nominations will be accepted through Aug. 15 at restaurantiowa.com/award-nominations.

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