28 Best American Restaurants in Iowa City

“What a lovely little place! Sometimes the best experiences happen completely unexpectedly, and that was exactly the case with my visit to Graze Gourmet To-Go.

I stopped by on an incredibly hot day, and to be perfectly honest, I wasn’t even planning to buy any food. I was simply looking for some water because I was absolutely exhausted from the heat and desperately needed something to drink.

The young woman working there immediately noticed how hot and uncomfortable I was and, without hesitation, kindly told me that I could help myself to some water. Such a simple gesture, but one that genuinely made my day! I was really touched by her kindness and the fact that she was more concerned about helping someone cool down than making a sale.

I actually felt a little bad about just taking the water and leaving, especially after such a warm welcome, so I decided to buy two slices of pepperoni pizza. And I’m so glad I did!

The pizza was absolutely delicious! The slices were generously sized, with a lovely crust, plenty of cheese, and delicious pepperoni. The flavors worked beautifully together, and everything was incredibly satisfying. What started as a quick stop for water turned into a very enjoyable little lunch!

But what really made this experience memorable wasn’t just the pizza. It was the hospitality. I strongly believe that great customer service isn’t only about being polite when someone is spending money. It’s about showing genuine kindness, even when there’s nothing to gain from it. And that’s exactly what happened here.

As someone who really enjoys discovering local businesses, I especially appreciate places where customers are treated like human beings rather than just another transaction. That little act of generosity left a wonderful impression on me.

The whole experience reminded me that sometimes the smallest gestures make the biggest difference. I walked in feeling overheated and exhausted, and I walked out feeling refreshed, well-fed, and genuinely happy.

Five stars, without hesitation! Delicious pizza, generous portions, and, most importantly, wonderful hospitality. I would absolutely recommend Graze Gourmet To-Go to anyone looking for a tasty, casual bite.

Thank you to the lovely young woman who helped me that day. Your kindness certainly didn’t go unnoticed, and it’s exactly the kind of thing that makes people want to come back.

I’ll definitely be returning, and next time I’ll be coming specifically for the food! 🍕“

“Great view! Great food!!!“

“I'm gluten intolerant so I ordered the tomato bisque rather than the chips with my sandwich. The waiter heard me tell my friend why I was ordering the soup and checked to make sure I would be able to eat both the sandwich and the soup. He went above and beyond to cater to my needs. Our lunch was good and his entire demeanor and attitude were very pleasant. Worth stopping here since we were only in town for a doctor's visit at the hospital.“

“Great Service, Food, atmosphere. Will visit again when in town.“

“Excellent food, eclectic specials, one of the better and more creative restaurants in Iowa City“

“Oh my gosh. There gyro Philly is to die for. Their food is superb and taste so good. Best gyro Philly. I will drive back up here for more. I love this place. First time here and it was the best decision. Thank you for the hospitality and great service.“

“My wife and I went to the Black Angel for a late lunch about 4 pm today. We split a beef brisket sandwich with each us having a bowl of chicken tortilla soup. The soup was lukewarm and had to be reheated which was promptly and courteously done, as was all service rendered. This was our only complaint. Everything was excellent. Best Chicken Tortilla soup (not too spicy) ever had, The sandwich was great too. Yum!“

“Love it would definitely come back and bring friends“

“Ate here on November 7 in the early afternoon. I ordered the baked white fish dinner, which included a large roll, French fries and a side salad. The fish was a large portion and baked to perfection. Our waitress was friendly and took good care of us. All employees were friendly. The place appeared clean and there is ample parking. Prices are reasonable. Would definitely come back again when in Iowa City.“

“had a wonderful time the staff and atmosphere was fantastic I recommend people to check it out .“

“These burgers are fantastic! If you are a burger lover, or just someone who appreciates food, you need to try Cracken’s Grill. Absolutely worth every single bite! 10/10.“

“We come here regularly when we're in town to see a show at Hancher. Never been disappointed. We were there on May 2 for an early dinner. Best server ever! Brady -- he was new but handled everything wonderfully. Always smiling, attentive without hovering and always found an answer to any questions we had quickly. Please give this guy a raise!“

“Oh my gosh we are here for my 25th birthday and the food was *chef kiss* delicious!! From our entrees to my birthday dessert was phenomenal and I can’t wait to eat here again!! Everything was very well seasoned and so fresh!“

“Always excellent with partitions for privacy. The bar is dark. The drinks are excellent. The food is excellent. It’s always a class act every single time. Consistency and quality.“

“Good food, bright and clean atmosphere and friendly people“

“Wow great sandwiches in such a hidden spot! Brian gave particularly wonderful service and I felt very taken care of by the warm friendly staff and amazing sandwiches. As a St Louis resident with a great sandwich scene I can say the recommendation was well worth going out of my way for!“

“Best bartenders and regulars in the business! Go Griff!“

“my daughter and I decided to try this restaurant and we were glad that we did- the food was excellent, the waitress suggested the pumpkin pancakes and they were very good and even the coffee was good- we will be going here again sometime soon.“

“Hilltop is a local dive and neighborhood bar with a great menu. 3 pool tables in the back, several TV's with Iowa games featured. Great selection of canned and bottled beverages. They recently expanded their NA selection. This is a great spot for conversationalists, lunch specials, and the rural, urban crowd this spot draws in. Open Tuesday through Saturday“

“I'm consistently impressed by the exceptional service and food quality at The Bistro at the Courtyard by Marriott. Great Iowa City location just across from Kinnick Stadium in University Heights – the atmosphere is fantastic, the food is always fresh and top-notch, and the staff is outstanding. A consistently delightful experience, whether dining indoors or on the patio.“

“Our waitress was odd, she kept trying to be funny and frankly she wasn't. Also I don't think I got credit for my open table reservation. I expressly said we were celebrating and nobody asked what. Our granddaughter graduated from college.“

“The Carmel apple cider is fanominal!!! Thanks for creating another great one to drink !“

“Great service and our food was delicious! Highly recommend“

“food is always great as well as the service. oh, and they make deviled eggs much more delicate compared to most places. with the option to sprinkle bacon on top of their deviled eggs, you definitely got a chefs kiss right there“

“Ate here on November 7 in the early afternoon. I ordered the baked white fish dinner, which included a large roll, French fries and a side salad. The fish was a large portion and baked to perfection. Our waitress was friendly and took good care of us. All employees were friendly. The place appeared clean and there is ample parking. Prices are reasonable. Would definitely come back again when in Iowa City.“

“I am a celiac and was pleasantly surprised that they have a whole gluten-free menu with lots of options! One of the servers said that she is a celiac, too. That was cool.
The only thing that made me nervous was the wooden cutting boards they served my gluten free food on. Not sure how they clean them, or if they keep them separate from gluten serving boards, but I know we should mistrust all wooden utensils due to their absorbency. These had obvious cut marks on them and everything.
Happily though, I didn't feel and signs of being glutened. With major gluten ingestions I definitely feel symptoms, and I had none to report here. Hopefully that bodes well.

Dietary restrictions: Celiacs may want to be wary but I think that, pending confirmation about their serving boards, this should be safe. I did not experience symptoms of having gotten glutened, at least. The food was delicious.“

“This place was AWESOME! The shredded pork sandwich was delicious and reasonably priced. Fries were fresh and tasty. The guy taking the order was friendly and enthusiastic. And no surcharge on payments—the price on the menu is the actual price! I can’t wait to go back today. The music was a bit loud for my taste so conversation was a bit difficult.“

“Mediocre and expensive food. Terrible service - took forever to get our order, but the waitresses were friendly. $55 for two sandwiches, side salads and two beers with tip.“