Chew on This: Rosy’s Salvadoran restaurant, ChopHouse steakhouse open in Cedar Rapids

A new steakhouse has opened in the Hach Building in downtown Cedar Rapids.

ChopHouse Downtown had a soft opening Sept. 22 and a grand opening this past Saturday at 411 First St. SE, featuring a menu of burgers, steaks, specialty cocktails and more.

Owners Heather Adams, Ryan Avila-Burillo and Joe Avila-Burillo bring experience from a previously closed steakhouse in Cedar Rapids. Ryan Avila-Burillo said the new steakhouse has hired many of their 39 employees from Butcher Block, which closed abruptly at the beginning of August.

Joe had experience running several high-end restaurants in southern California before moving to Cedar Rapids in 2018 with Ryan.

Rosy’s brings new Salvadoran and Mexican cuisine

Rosy’s seems to be the only restaurant currently bringing a taste of El Salvador to the table in Cedar Rapids.

Its location, 2201 16th Ave. SW, was previously home to Happy Dogs and More. Rosy’s held its grand opening Sept. 10.

In addition to offering more familiar Mexican fare, the menu features the Salvadoran signature pupusa — a savory, thick griddle cake made with cornmeal or rice flour and filled with your choice of cheese and beans, chicken, jalapenos, chicharron or spinach.

NaRa Thai seeks buyer

The owners of NaRa Thai in Marion announced plans to find a buyer for the restaurant in a Sept. 19 social media post.

Owners Natta Tantipanyathep Thomsen and her husband, Ray Thomsen, said they have no plans to close Nara any time soon. They opened the restaurant three years ago.

“Our current situation is driven as much by a need to find a proper work/life balance as by finances. Like many restaurant owners who are active managers, we have both been working about 70 hours/week for the past 3 years and need to change that,” Ray said. “We are NOT having cash flow/cash availability issues, although we have had an unacceptable loss of margin due to food prices being roughly double what they were pre-COVID.”

He said they are considering selling the restaurant outright, taking on a new business partner to lighten their load or overhauling their business model to ease their role as direct managers.

Beer tastings abound this October with Northside Oktoberfest, Trailside Tastings and NewBo Oktoberfest

October means Oktoberfest, and there is no shortage of beer to go around in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City this month.

Northside Oktoberfest celebrates its 25th anniversary Saturday, Oct. 2, with Iowa City BrewFest and the Northside Oktoberfest Outdoor Bier Hall.

While BrewFest tickets — which were limited to 600 — are sold out, you can still purchase an Outdoor Bier Hall mug ($10) or VIP table for 8 ($600). The event will be held on North Linn Street in Iowa City from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday.

In Cedar Rapids, Trailside Tastings will offer live music, food and beverage tastings from 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 7, set to the backdrop of Indian Creek Nature Center as autumn colors arrive. Tickets are $40 for members, $45 for non-members.

Vendors include Lion Bridge Brewing Company, Cedar Ridge Distillery, Big Grove Brewery, Iowa Brewing Company, Wilson’s Orchard, Eisbach Kombuchery, and Beans, Teas and Other Things.

Taste and learn about a variety of beer styles from local brewing specialists at Iowa Brewing Company in Cedar Rapids’ NewBo City Market on Friday, Oct. 1 from 6 to 8 p.m.. The class includes beer samples and a complimentary beverage from NewBo Beer and Wine.

NewBo City Market and Iowa Brewing Company also will host a free family-friendly Oktoberfest day with games on the yard, live music and beer on Oct. 2 from 2 to 6 p.m. Admission is free.

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