Food & Drink

From dinner and dancing to daytime balloon drops, activities about for all ages

There were 10 stories hungry readers couldn’t get enough of as restaurants opened and closed through the year.

The restaurant from Andres Torres, owner of Villa’s Patio in Cedar Rapids and Marion, offered several novelties in the crowded Mexican food scene, including a Sinaloa focus from the Pacific coast, Mexican-inspired sushi and steak options.

The Marion site previously was home to Bistro 3 Nineteen.

The Coralville location will close on Dec. 31 after almost nine years in business at Coral Ridge Mall.

The shop, previously managed by Cedar Rapids pop singer Alisabeth Von Presley, reopened Dec. 2, revealing a new, cozy aesthetic — a sharp departure from its previously pink, flamboyant decor.

Raging Ryno’s, opened near Coe College in Cedar Rapids, exhibits its managing partner’s personality in a way few restaurants do.

So, what do you need to know about navigating the holidays when it comes to guests following a gluten-free diet? Let’s start by breaking down the basics of what exactly gluten is and how you can help gluten-free guests coming to your holiday celebration.

A new restaurant has opened in the brick building previously home to Fong’s Pizza in the New Bohemia neighborhood.

Only a year after it opened, Dash’s third attempt to expand will close on Christmas Eve.

While it is an exciting time of year, it’s still cold. I have the perfect comfort food for winter -- Chicken and Dumplings.

Despite earning the crowning jewel on Chef Mon Sayasit’s prestigious awards, there’s no rarefied air around him. With a reach far beyond his own kitchen, Iowa’s Chef of the Year for 2023 manages remarkable influence with humble groundings.