Food & Drink

Asks for tips have gotten more widespread. In this week’s Curious Iowa from The Gazette, a look at why, and what experts say you should be tipping.

There is so much flavor and texture to this simple recipe that it will be a conversation piece at gatherings and everyone will want the recipe.

Irish-themed restaurants and bars are nothing new in America. But at Olde Brick House pub in Cedar Rapids, you won’t find the cheap caricatures of Ireland that have long plagued many attempts.

The shop specializes in hand-painted artisan chocolates, homemade cakes and cupcakes, and specialties like tiramisu.

A new menu update, released on Oct. 23, brings back some of the old favorites that were popular during their previous tenure, like seared tuna, the Black & Bleu burger, spinach artichoke dip and Monterrey flatbread.

With over 30 locations, Hokkaido Ramen House will join two other new restaurants filling out vacant spaces in Coralville’s Iowa River Landing.

The restaurant cited barriers to profitability as they worked to get off the ground through the pandemic and derecho. Operators thanked their loyal customers, referring them to Midnight Smoker BBQ in NewBo City Market for “top notch ‘que.”

Over its five-year course in the Czech Village, Chef Samuel Charles made a name for Rodina by pioneering Midwest comfort food as its own distinct category of cuisine. He was named Chef of the Year in 2021 by the Iowa Restaurant Association and earned a semifinalist nod for the 2023 James Beard Award.

From bibimbap and kimbap to bulgogi wraps, Oja offers a curation of the essentials from South Korean cuisine.

The Bep Teahouse’s menu offers fruit teas, boba milk teas with traditional, chewy tapioca pearls, and other smoothies.

The pizzeria with a rare, imported Czech beer closed with a two-day notice over the weekend.

From the decor to the menu, see what’s new in one of Iowa City’s oldest diners.