Cedar Rapids Restaurant Week returns with 21 restaurants for 2023

Lobster & shrimp cheese ramen appears at The hip-stir in Marion in November 2021. The restaurant, part of the lineup for Cedar Rapids Restaurant Week 2023, will offer new specials from Feb. 17 to 26. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Crab stuffed walleye over a chicken stock pilaf with blistered cherry tomatoes photographed at Crosby’s in Cedar Rapids in January 2022. Crosby’s is featured for the first time in this year’s Cedar Rapids Restaurant Week lineup. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

The roasted bone marrow appetizer at Midtown Reserve in Cedar Rapids in October 2022. The restaurant is featured for the first time in this year’s Cedar Rapids Restaurant Week lineup. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

The shrimp boil at Sacred Cow Tavern in Cedar Rapids in November 2022. Sacred Cow is featured for the first time in this year’s Cedar Rapids Restaurant Week lineup. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Mahi-mahi is seen at Chophouse Downtown on Feb. 17, 2022 for the 10th Annual Cedar Rapids Restaurant Week. This year, the restaurant returns to the lineup with a swordfish chop. (Elijah Decious/The Gazette)

CEDAR RAPIDS — The Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance is turning pandemic adaptations into a tradition that gives diners and restaurants more flexibility for Cedar Rapids Restaurant Week.

The 11th annual Cedar Rapids Restaurant Week, running from Friday, Feb. 17, to Sunday, Feb. 26, features 21 restaurants, breweries and distilleries in Cedar Rapids, Marion and Swisher. The 10-day format, covering two full weekends, will give local foodies more opportunities to taste limited-time specials — many of which are exclusive to Restaurant Week.

“We saw so much success with the 10-day extended time for the 2022 event, it only made sense to do it again for this year,” said Nikki Wilcox, communications and marketing director at the Economic Alliance. “Restaurant Week is a community favorite and we’re looking forward to showcasing the amazing cuisine we have in the metro later this month.”

If you go:

What: Cedar Rapids Restaurant Week

Where: 21 participating restaurants

When: Friday, Feb. 17, through Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023

Details: Enjoy restaurants at your own pace over 10 days and win prizes while doing it. Find punch cards at participating restaurants and receive a stamp from restaurants with purchases of $20. Punch cards can be turned in to the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance for the chance to win prizes and gift cards to local restaurants.

Amid unprecedented staffing challenges in the restaurant industry, the 10-day format was introduced last year to replace the Fork and Knife Feast kickoff that used to bring diners and restaurants into one place for a day. Previously, Restaurant Weeks lasted seven days.

Restaurants offering a diverse array of cuisine options and price points are selected by an outside committee.

Check out this year’s menu:

30 Hop (951 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE): Barbecue bacon grilled chicken sandwich; bulgogi steak nachos with Korean barbecue beef; crispy avocado cups with panko breaded avocado stuffed with sauteed shrimp.

Black Sheep Social Club (600 First St. SE): Steak carne asada with watermelon salsa and avocado mousse; churro cake with dulce de leche cream.

Cedar Ridge (1441 Marak Road NW, Swisher): Cherry bourbon barbecue pork pizza with basil pesto drizzle; B&B Dip with broccoli, applewood-smoked bacon and three cheeses; Pom Pom Sour with pomegranate syrup and bourbon whiskey; Just Peachy with Bagger vodka, peach syrup and orange bitters.

Chophouse Downtown (411 First St. SE): Wild-caught swordfish chop with strawberry salsa fresca and housemade bourbon glaze.

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Crosby’s (1028 Third St. SE, Suite 1): Chicken potpie; champagne risotto salmon; pear and honey tart with honey orange and honey chantilly cream; chocolate raspberry Old Fashioned.

Dash Coffee Roasters (120 Third Ave. SW, Suite 2): Breakfast enchiladas with green enchilada sauce and homemade queso; Cajun biscuits and gravy topped with sunny-side-up egg; Crunchberry French toast with homemade brioche; Southwest chopped salad; carnitas street tacos.

Groundswell Cafe (201 Third Ave. SW): King Cake Crepes with cream cheese, pears, berries and mint; Louisiana-style grits with eggs and sausage; sausage and chicken gumbo; Southern pesto sandwich with crispy butternut squash and tomato; fried fish po’boy.

La Cantina Bar N Grill (5400 Edgewood Rd. NE): Margarita flight with lime, mango, peach, strawberry and raspberry; pineapple Dole Whip; Guerita Margarita with mezcal; Elote Locos corncob with Tajin; cheese flight; seafood trio; carnitas grilled cheese; Cantina Combo; ChurriCream with fried churros and ice cream.

Lion Bridge Brewing Company (59 16th Ave. SW): Pork chile verde poutine with Dan & Debbie’s cheese curds; butternut squash chile verde poutine with pepitas (vegan); chicken and waffles; Chick’n and waffles (vegetarian).

Lucky’s on 16th (86 16th Ave. SW): Personal breakfast pizza; breakfast nachos; hand-breaded pork tenderloin; seafood po’boy with lobster, shrimp and crab.

Midtown Reserve (319 Seventh St. SE): Three-course dinner featuring roasted pear salad, Prime filet and chocolate mousse tower; Tres Ceviche with shrimp and scallops; Down the Rabbit Hole with bourbon and spiced pear liqueur.

Need Pizza (207 Second Ave. SE): Weak in the Knees — an Italian calzone stuffed with pepperoni, salami, red onions, black olives and mozzarella cheese.

O’s Grill (3911 Center Point Rd. NE): Moroccan Meat Lover Gyro with gyro meat, Moroccan-seasoned chicken and ground chuck; O’s Thai chicken with Kalbi chicken and sweet peanut sauce.

Pedalers Fork (2010 Sylvia Ave. NE): Sirloin and Shrimp Spectacular on a bed of Onion Tanglers with Bearnaise sauce; Cajun shrimp and andouille pasta with griddled challah bread; Thai chili shrimp Asian salad; buffalo chicken nachos; Smothered Southwest chicken; cranberry champagne cocktail with gin; Z’s Coquito with coconut rum.

Pub 217 (217 Third St. SE): Fried flautas with pork or chicken; French Onion chicken with Gruyere cheese on Texas toast and thyme white wine gravy.

Sacred Cow Tavern (1000 Seventh St. SE): Grilled chicken wings with Cajun aioli and grilled corn; Walking Taco burger with nacho cheese Doritos; spicy margarita with jalapeno-infused tequila.

The Class Act Restaurant (7725 Kirkwood Blvd. SW): The Filet Dip with beef tenderloin; The Duck Pie slow-roasted duck topped with mashed potatoes; The Crunch Berry with a confetti blondie and Crunchberry ice cream.

The Edison Pub and Eatery (475 Northland Ave. NE): Three-course meal with soup or salad; choice of macaroni and cheese, burger, barbecue pork ribs or corned beef and cabbage; choice of chocolate or carrot cake.

The hip-stir (1120 Seventh Ave, Marion): Okonomiyaki Korean-style shrimp and scallion pancake with kimchi; braised goat enchiladas; Maiz de la Vida with elote corn liqueur and hibiscus syrup.

The Map Room (416 Third St. SE): Two-course meal including poutine-style fries with cheese curds and a crawfish boil burger with andouille sausage, collard greens and Old Bay aioli. Paired with Classic Hurricane and Classic Sazerac cocktails, respectively.

Tic Toc (600 17th St. NE): Marinated chicken breast with Swiss cheese, bacon and avocado on toasted bread; Winter Paradise with cucumber vodka and strawberry puree; Drunken Snowman with Bailey’s, Kahlua and cocoa.