Off the chain

Dig into a shareable feast at Lion Bridge Brewing Co., a local favorite in Cedar Rapids’ historic Czech Village.

Writer: Katie Mills Giorgio

Foodies are finding their way to Cedar Rapids — and it’s not just the scent of Crunch Berries luring them in. The city many people know as the home of Quaker Oats, which operates the world’s largest cereal mill, is making a name for itself as a dining destination, too.

With plenty of locally sourced ingredients, a variety of cuisines and even a few chefs who have been nominated for the prestigious James Beard Award, folks with all kinds of tastes are sure to find a flavorful spot to please their palate. And as local foodies are very proud to point out, the city’s locally owned restaurants now outnumber the chains.

Here are a few of the spots where locals like me take out-of-towners to enjoy the best food Cedar Rapids has to offer. We hope you’re hungry.

Cobble Hill Eatery and Dispensary is one of the state’s best restaurants. Chef and co-owner Andy Schumacher has appeared on the Food Network, has been nominated for the James Beard Award and has a talent for inventive flavor combinations. With its ever-changing seasonal menu of unexpected dishes inspired by local ingredients, the restaurant rewards repeat visits. Even the desserts are artful and irresistible, and the bar selection is top notch, with some excellent mocktails. You’re sure to leave Cobble Hill with a new appreciation for fine dining.

Cobble Hill concocted cocktail “bites” inspired by an Aperol spritz for a special New Year’s celebration.

If you’re looking for great grab-and-go options, NewBo City Market is the perfect spot to take a group for lunch. An incubator for both restaurants and food-focused retailers, this thriving hub in the ever-evolving New Bohemia neighborhood has something for everyone. There’s wood-fired pizza, plus authentic Caribbean, Mediterranean and Mexican cuisine. The Full Bowl offers delightful plant-based dishes, and there are sweet treats galore, including cookies, gelato, chocolates and coffee drinks. Locals are probably biased, but Midnight Smoker BBQ might just dish up the best barbecue in the state.

And the food hall at NewBo City Market offers a world of flavors year-round.

For a taste of Italy, look no further than Bari Italian. Located on the west side of the river near the McGrath Amphitheatre, this chic fine-dining restaurant serves pasta and other Italian favorites made fresh in-house. The weekend specials are always a treat, but you can’t go wrong with the mainstays, especially the short rib ravioli, spaghetti and seafood bake. It’s another place you won’t want to miss if you enjoy a good cocktail or mocktail and a dessert.

The hip and tasty taco joint Lacayo (formerly Caucho) is definitely worth a stop, too. It recently changed hands when founder Carrie and Andy Schumacher (of Cobble Hill) sold it to Daniel and Armina Lacayo. The menu remains flavorful, and the atmosphere can’t be beat. Everything from the kitchen starts with corn — white, yellow and blue — that’s ground on a lava stone for making fresh tortillas and more. Order the queso fundido, chips and guacamole, and sample as many of the tacos as possible. And do yourself a favor: Order a margarita.

At Lacayo, the purple “Midnight in Oaxaca” gets its color from Chambord and butterfly pea syrup.

Speaking of tasty drinks, Lion Bridge Brewing Co. serves an award-winning selection of local brews — Compensation and Yard Sale are perennial favorites — as well as delectable eats. This 10-barrel brewery in the heart of the historic Czech Village is a perfect spot to grab a brew, enjoy dinner or snacks (“to share or not,” as they say here), and watch the people go by. Locals love sitting out on the patio. Try a flight of the seasonal, small-batch beers to see the full scope of the brewing team’s magical powers, which they conjure through creative local collaborations.

Lion Bridge Brewing Co.

Cedar Rapids can’t really claim to be a pizza capital, but there are plenty of good options, including the following trifecta. Try all three and we promise you’ll thank us.

Fancy’s New York is the newest slice-slinger on the scene, serving up mouth-watering New York-style pizzas that are available for pre-order on social media and often sell out. Owner Jesse Sauerbrei also owns the Lincoln Winebar in Mount Vernon, which recently landed in a New York Times list of the best pizza spots in the country. (Clearly, they haven’t yet discovered the Fancy hidden gem!)

Tomaso’s relocated to a newly renovated space in 2023, but it’s been a Cedar Rapids mainstay for a couple of decades and its motto is simple: “Make good pizza.” They do just that. Try the Mombo Combo on Detroit crust and savor each hearty slice.

At Need Pizza, you can get creative with toppings, so we dare you to try a pizza with mashed potatoes. (It’s surprisingly delicious.) You can make your dream pie on thin, gluten-free or vegan crust, too. The place has a great beer selection and its downtown location makes it convenient for a late-night slice on the weekend.

Need Pizza

Hungry yet? We could go on, but you’ll just have to come and see (and eat) for yourself. Ask any Cedar Rapidian for a recommendation, and you’ll likely add one more to the list of favorites. For more details, a good place to start is the Cedar Rapids Tourism Office’s website, at tourismcedarrapids.com.