We stop here often when we want to take a little road trip from Iowa City. Love how everything is made from scratch (homemade ketchup, even)! My favorite is the Goat Cheese Apple Salad. The beer selection is amazing. Aloha Iowa is the best!
John Sedan
Went to this location many times. Good Pizza and Great Beer Selection. Last visit, brought some friends. The six of us, shared Pizza and a few beers. Waiter said kitchen was slow today, but told him, No Hurry, we are in no rush. Pizzas came, Fine, one salad they forgot the grilled chicken, just told them to forget it. Nice Casual Day. Paid the bill and left. Later looked Closer at the Bill. We were Charged an Extra 20% Tip for Large Parties, and a 3% Credit Card Charge. Excuse Me, 6 adults, sharing Pizzas and a few Beers. The Large Group Charge is for Larger Restraunts with Full Menus. Appetizers, Salads, Entrees, Desserts. Many visits to a table, not for this location and items. That will be my last visit. 3 people paid an Extra 20% Tip, Times 2 per Bill ! Hope your happy with the Extra $30, you just lost All Our Future Business, plus I will never again Suggest This Location to Others. Bad Business Decision. Very Short Sided.
Bill Hackenberg
The flavor of beers on there web page they were out waitress screwed up order . Found one beer we liked on 5 th try . We have been here before and it was good not good this time
Tawnia Kakacek
Food good but service was terrible. Had to get our own water refills. She never brought the lemons for water request. Only saw waitress at our table for the order and the bill
Ricki Parizek
I went to Kalona on a little road trip to ride some hilly terrain and revisit this most excellent town. I was looking forward to a delicious, calorie-laden lunch after the ride, I have earned it, right?! As I rode, I found myself thinking of ways to shorten the route, “why don't I take this cutoff? It will shave a couple of miles off”. Why was I thinking this way? Because I started the ride hungry and wanted to get to lunch! So I took shortcuts, I went faster… and finished my 90-minute ride in 58 minutes. Lunchtime! When I drove up to the Kalona Brewing Company, there were suspiciously few cars out front, not a good sign. They were open, however, so I went with visions of sandwiches dancing through my head, Grilled Salmon Pesto, Southwest Chicken, Sweet and Spicy Pork Tenderloin… Drooling only slightly, I entered and was confronted by an empty (or nearly so) restaurant. Now, mind you, the other times I have visited the place, it had been packed with patrons, with the waitstaff hustling to and fro. Well, I thought I, no big thing, I'll have a quiet place to dine and write. I sat at the bar, and after a considerable pause, was told that, due to staffing issues, they were only serving pizza and salads! Horrors! It isn't that I don't like the occasional pie, but I haven't been eating a lot of pizza this season and wasn't desiring to start now. With dishes like the Fish & Chips, Spicy Cajun Pasta, and the Black and Bleu Burger unavailable (did I mention the Tenderloin?), I looked at their salads. I love salads, I eat a lot, and I do mean a lot of salads. Many of my acquaintances gently mock me for my predilection for “rabbit food”, but I wanted a sandwich, dammit. So I was faced with the House Salad (seriously?, no), or the Ceasar Salad (okay, but I am *hungry*), or the Green Apple & Goat Cheese Salad. Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner! The salad arrived in moments, spring mix, goat cheese, sliced apples, toasted almonds, and pickled red onion with a green apple vinegarette. I chose to add chicken to give the affair some satisfying protein. My sandwich-less disappointment disappeared with the first forkful. It was delicious! I forced myself to eat slowly, savor the flavors, and enjoy the freshness. Nonetheless, the salad was gone in 8 seconds, not bad for a bull rider, but a touch quick for lunch. I most sincerely hope that this fine establishment will be back to full bustle when I return, and I will definitely return. But should it be flying at half mast again, I know exactly what I will have. @RickiGoesOut
Don Steffen
great beers, great food
Levi Paulsen
7/27/2024, incredible specials by Kalona Brewing tonight; Carbonara to die for and a dessert that was out of this world. Service was great and Block Party IPA on tap; one of the best meals of the summer.
Karen Kropp
Amazing staff. Not great food, unfortunately.
Mary Bunting
Service was great but that is where it stopped. We ordered Brussel Sprouts for the appetizer. We put the spoon in and it was like air. Just full of the layers. There were a total of 6 halves. That is 3 Brussel Sprouts for $11. The French dip was good but not $20. The fries appeared to be hand cut. However, they were undercooked. Tasted like a raw potato. Then the Mongolian Beef Stir Fry had very little beef in it. I was surprised how small of a portion it was AND had to dig around to find the beef. I sat what I could find to the side. There was maybe a max of 1.5 to 2 ounces. Bloody Mary was bland and in a very small glass for $10. Beer was fine.
Geoff Warmouth
Kalona special was light and tasty. Fish and chips, large portions, crispy batter. Potatoes soup was loaded. Servers were friendly. Try it if you're in the area.
Beer garden is generally filled with flies as it is next to brewing waste. The other day a group of 5 rode bikes out to enjoy a beer in the AC. The receptionist said there were no tables available inside, as they were numerous tables inside. The next group was seated inside without reservations. Our group sat with the heat & flies outback and were not allowed to order appetizers as it is policy to not have food in the beer garden. Terrible experience.
Chelci
Tried to give this place a chance so many times. The food sounds delicious when you read the description on their menu but it honestly tastes like fancy cafeteria food by the time it comes out. If you drink enough Sucha Much beer though you'll forget all about it!! Side note, the sidewalk on the west side of the building is literally black with trash bag juice from the staff dragging out trash bags and it smells absolutely rank, idk how people can stand to eat on their back patio.
Pastor Sheri LoCascio
Delicious food, great root beer, super nice and friendly service
Scott S. Netser
Grew up in Kalona, moved to Cedar Rapids just before junior high. Left Iowa for more than a dozen years serving this country. Every year, at least 4 times a year I stop, visit friends & family. Most importantly I make it a special point to stop after a Memorial Day of planting Flags& Flowers to Kalona Brewing Company !!! Yesterday May 26th . As I got to the door I was met by an employee who at the same time as I opened the door stating they were closed...I was taken aback by this as I had checked the website prior to heading out that day. She informed me they closed at 7pm. With a quick look quite a lot of customers and only 710 pm...
We stop here often when we want to take a little road trip from Iowa City. Love how everything is made from scratch (homemade ketchup, even)! My favorite is the Goat Cheese Apple Salad. The beer selection is amazing. Aloha Iowa is the best!
Went to this location many times. Good Pizza and Great Beer Selection. Last visit, brought some friends. The six of us, shared Pizza and a few beers. Waiter said kitchen was slow today, but told him, No Hurry, we are in no rush. Pizzas came, Fine, one salad they forgot the grilled chicken, just told them to forget it. Nice Casual Day. Paid the bill and left. Later looked Closer at the Bill. We were Charged an Extra 20% Tip for Large Parties, and a 3% Credit Card Charge. Excuse Me, 6 adults, sharing Pizzas and a few Beers. The Large Group Charge is for Larger Restraunts with Full Menus. Appetizers, Salads, Entrees, Desserts. Many visits to a table, not for this location and items. That will be my last visit. 3 people paid an Extra 20% Tip, Times 2 per Bill ! Hope your happy with the Extra $30, you just lost All Our Future Business, plus I will never again Suggest This Location to Others. Bad Business Decision. Very Short Sided.
The flavor of beers on there web page they were out waitress screwed up order . Found one beer we liked on 5 th try . We have been here before and it was good not good this time
Food good but service was terrible. Had to get our own water refills. She never brought the lemons for water request. Only saw waitress at our table for the order and the bill
I went to Kalona on a little road trip to ride some hilly terrain and revisit this most excellent town. I was looking forward to a delicious, calorie-laden lunch after the ride, I have earned it, right?! As I rode, I found myself thinking of ways to shorten the route, “why don't I take this cutoff? It will shave a couple of miles off”. Why was I thinking this way? Because I started the ride hungry and wanted to get to lunch!
So I took shortcuts, I went faster… and finished my 90-minute ride in 58 minutes. Lunchtime!
When I drove up to the Kalona Brewing Company, there were suspiciously few cars out front, not a good sign. They were open, however, so I went with visions of sandwiches dancing through my head, Grilled Salmon Pesto, Southwest Chicken, Sweet and Spicy Pork Tenderloin…
Drooling only slightly, I entered and was confronted by an empty (or nearly so) restaurant. Now, mind you, the other times I have visited the place, it had been packed with patrons, with the waitstaff hustling to and fro.
Well, I thought I, no big thing, I'll have a quiet place to dine and write. I sat at the bar, and after a considerable pause, was told that, due to staffing issues, they were only serving pizza and salads! Horrors! It isn't that I don't like the occasional pie, but I haven't been eating a lot of pizza this season and wasn't desiring to start now. With dishes like the Fish & Chips, Spicy Cajun Pasta, and the Black and Bleu Burger unavailable (did I mention the Tenderloin?), I looked at their salads.
I love salads, I eat a lot, and I do mean a lot of salads. Many of my acquaintances gently mock me for my predilection for “rabbit food”, but I wanted a sandwich, dammit.
So I was faced with the House Salad (seriously?, no), or the Ceasar Salad (okay, but I am *hungry*), or the Green Apple & Goat Cheese Salad. Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner!
The salad arrived in moments, spring mix, goat cheese, sliced apples, toasted almonds, and pickled red onion with a green apple vinegarette.
I chose to add chicken to give the affair some satisfying protein.
My sandwich-less disappointment disappeared with the first forkful. It was delicious! I forced myself to eat slowly, savor the flavors, and enjoy the freshness. Nonetheless, the salad was gone in 8 seconds, not bad for a bull rider, but a touch quick for lunch.
I most sincerely hope that this fine establishment will be back to full bustle when I return, and I will definitely return. But should it be flying at half mast again, I know exactly what I will have.
@RickiGoesOut
great beers, great food
7/27/2024, incredible specials by Kalona Brewing tonight; Carbonara to die for and a dessert that was out of this world. Service was great and Block Party IPA on tap; one of the best meals of the summer.
Amazing staff. Not great food, unfortunately.
Service was great but that is where it stopped. We ordered Brussel Sprouts for the appetizer. We put the spoon in and it was like air. Just full of the layers. There were a total of 6 halves. That is 3 Brussel Sprouts for $11. The French dip was good but not $20. The fries appeared to be hand cut. However, they were undercooked. Tasted like a raw potato. Then the Mongolian Beef Stir Fry had very little beef in it. I was surprised how small of a portion it was AND had to dig around to find the beef. I sat what I could find to the side. There was maybe a max of 1.5 to 2 ounces. Bloody Mary was bland and in a very small glass for $10. Beer was fine.
Kalona special was light and tasty. Fish and chips, large portions, crispy batter. Potatoes soup was loaded. Servers were friendly. Try it if you're in the area.
Restaurantji Recommends
Beers are tasty
Beer garden is generally filled with flies as it is next to brewing waste. The other day a group of 5 rode bikes out to enjoy a beer in the AC. The receptionist said there were no tables available inside, as they were numerous tables inside. The next group was seated inside without reservations. Our group sat with the heat & flies outback and were not allowed to order appetizers as it is policy to not have food in the beer garden. Terrible experience.
Tried to give this place a chance so many times. The food sounds delicious when you read the description on their menu but it honestly tastes like fancy cafeteria food by the time it comes out. If you drink enough Sucha Much beer though you'll forget all about it!! Side note, the sidewalk on the west side of the building is literally black with trash bag juice from the staff dragging out trash bags and it smells absolutely rank, idk how people can stand to eat on their back patio.
Delicious food, great root beer, super nice and friendly service
Grew up in Kalona, moved to Cedar Rapids just before junior high. Left Iowa for more than a dozen years serving this country. Every year, at least 4 times a year I stop, visit friends & family. Most importantly I make it a special point to stop after a Memorial Day of planting Flags& Flowers to Kalona Brewing Company !!! Yesterday May 26th . As I got to the door I was met by an employee who at the same time as I opened the door stating they were closed...I was taken aback by this
as I had checked the website prior to heading out that day. She informed me they closed at 7pm. With a quick look quite a lot of customers and only 710 pm...
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