nogaboga's Profile
Iowa City
My impression exactly. My husband had great memories from Mickey's from 10 years ago when he was an undergrad here, but on our last 2-3 visits the food was so disappointing that now Mickey's is off the list.
Iowa City
The Italian place got mixed reactions from my group of diners. Those of us who ordered the lasagna were very happy; those who ordered the eggplant pasta dish were very disappointed, mostly since the menu mentioned sausage, but the amount of sausage in the dish was miniscule. The ravioli was just okay. Oh, and the service was horrible - i am convinced that it was our server's first day. If not, they have a problem.
Altogether, for the casual prices we got casual food. Nothing was exciting, though I will go back for the lasagna.
I have had some disappointing meals lately - a badly overcooked fish at Stella that I had to send back, and an overglazed salmon at Tuscan Moon that was definitely not worth the price. Going to Augusta this evening and hoping for the best!
Iowa City
So finally, 3 years later, I made it to Konomi.
Not sure what to say here. The texture of all the fish was excellent, probably the best in town, but they were all also completely lacking in flavor. I'm not sure what would make raw fish so tasteless. Definitely not my new sushi spot.
My 4-year summary of my sushi experiences in IC is as follows:
Oyama - used to be my go-to place for a while, but no longer, following one very bad experience. I didn't get sick or anything like that, but had lunch there one day a couple of months ago and all of the raw fish on my plate were cold, tasteless and stringy.
Takanami - the sushi is okay, still think most of it doesn't have much flavor. Won't go there for dinner mostly because of the intense smell inside the restaurant in the evenings.
Popo - my safe and boring choice - nothing exciting, but also have not had any disappointments yet.
Konomi - see above
Formosa, Kicchen - I wrote about those before. Have had very poor sushi in both places.
At least there are a couple of places with okay sushi. I still have not been able to find a passable Thai, Vietnamese or Chinese place in town.
Iowa City
Not exactly half price. They shave $2-3 off the price. Same with the drinks - not really a happy hour, just a slightly-less-expensive hour. I think that at the moment, nothing beats the Happy Hour deal at the Orchard Green lounge, with its $5 menu.
Iowa City
I finally went to Hearth and was definitely impressed. My husband and I shared 5 appetizers and one entrée, and I have nothing bad to say about any of them, especially considering the low prices. I'm excited! I think this is a great new option in town.
Iowa City
Oh, and I have a Takanami-related issue that I need to raise and verify.
I was complaining to a friend of how, whenever I go to Takanami for dinner, my clothes end up with a very strong food-smell. I will usually even have to air my jacket for a few days before I can wear it again. My friend said that it's because the place is in non-compliance with some law about a vent that should be installed over the fryer and they don't have it, or something like that. Does anyone know what this is about? (By the way - I love their food and will keep eating there. This is not an attempt to discredit the place!)
Iowa City
Went to Orchard Green last night with hubby. The space is gorgeous - used to be the back room of the Brew Works, and looks absolutely fantastic as a high-end restaurant. Our server was attentive and knowledgeable, our fish and steak were cooked just right, and altogether we had a great time. The food is prepared in a rich and heavy manner, as you would expected from a French restaurant, so I would recommend ordering a light appetizer.
Can't wait to go back and try the duck and the scallops.
Iowa City
Yep. I haven't been back there in more than a year myself. The atmosphere is fantastic, but I always end up disappointed by the food.
Has anyone tried either Hearth or Orchard Green?
Iowa City
Haha. I didn't realize this was a scientific comparison of IC and its peer group. Yes, IC is great compared to other towns its size, and even compared to many larger towns (I've been to places three times the size of IC with fewer decent food options). My agreement with acespeed about the lack of choices was completely non-scientific.
And I do think that the fact that other towns this size do worse, does not mean that we shouldn't aspire to do better.
Iowa City
I'm in a general agreement with you about the lack of decent choices in IC. Have you tried the Chef's Table? I had a nice experience there.
My one comment though is about the 126 lunch. I mean, it's my default lunch place! I am yet to have found a better lunch menu in town.
Iowa City
I keep doing the rounds of Linn St. - Devotay - Motley Cow, and keep waiting for the magic to happen. It's not that their food is not good - it IS good - but it's not *exciting*. I guess that I just want to be excited.
The last place to excite me was Takanami - way to go with those chef's special rolls. Some simply melted in our mouths.
As for the redhead, now that it's motorcycle season again, I'm definitely going to pay her a visit. Kim is the sweetest person and I can't believe I'm yet to have eaten there.
Iowa City
Taking the year off? How sad! I celebrated my birthday there last year over lamb and a lot of red wine. Now where will I go this year?..
Iowa City
Last nail in the food coffin - I went to Takanami yesterday and looked for that one dish I mentioned in my last reply. It's called "Fusion Sashimi", and out of the 3 variations that used to exist, they took out the one that I liked and left the other two in the menu. Ha!
I'll have to offer another competitor then (and I'm focusing on individual dishes here and not the entire place) - the duck confit appetizer at 126. I don't know when they have it on the menu, but I happened to have been there when they did, and it was delicious.
Iowa City
Of course, I meant Devotay. Sorry for that slip. Thanks for the correction.
Iowa City
Ah, excellent question. I went back in my mind to locate the yummiest edible I have had here in the last couple of years.
The winner: Takanami has a "chef's sashimi combination" (or something like that) dish which is just to die for. The menu includes 3 possible combinations, each composed of three pieces of sashimi with a matching sauce, spices and vegetables. It's all very small and pretty expensive for an appetizer, but the flavor combination is fantastic. I had it about a year ago and can still taste it if I sit back and think about it.
Lizzy69 - I have to challenge your Verde choice. Last time I was there, I received two different back-to-back dishes in the exact same sauce (red peppers). In my book, that's a big no-no.
So - one vote Verde, one vote Takanami.
Iowa City
Has anybody been to Short's yet? That's the burger bar located where Baldy's used to be. I was just there for a first visit, and have to say that I walked out disappointed - the burger was okay, but nothing more, and for a place that serves nothing but burgers, you expect the burger to be incredible. I liked everything in my bun better than the burger itself (no. 4 on the menu - the Dundee: egg, Canadian bacon, garlic aioli and mushrooms). The burger itself was very bland and slightly on the dry side, and the fries were not exciting at all. Altogether, I'm very unexcited. Anybody volunteering to change my mind?
Iowa City
I don't think it's less appealing, it's just less "George's". The place had a distinct smell, and now it's gone.
Still my favorite bar in town, no doubt (followed by the Club Car and The Hilltop, as long as you don't touch their food).
Iowa City
Is this going to be a 24/7 diner? There are only so many George's burgers one can eat at 1 AM.
Iowa City
Why not, let me add to the sushi debate.
A necessary qualification is that I have been spoiled in NYC, and have become somewhat of a sushi-snob. So here:
Oyama - have only visited once and was disappointed by the quality. The appetizers were tasty and creative, but the sashimi and nigiri were below par.
Popo - just okay. Not worth the drive to the west side.
Formosa - right after they opened I had a couple of really good experiences there, but my last 3 visits were so bad that I never went back. The sushi was just not good, and if I remember correctly, a couple of pieces were even too cold. Brrr.
Takanami - the best I found so far, though I have to say that it varies. Their salmon is delicious, but the tuna and yellowtail can be completely tasteless at times. Still, one of my favorite lunch spots, and the place where I will most likely go for sushi.
Aeoshe, 3 samurai - have not tried their sushi. They're on my list.
There's also a new place at the old capitol mall. BEWARE. That must have been the worst sushi I have ever tried in my life. I took one bite of each fish and threw the entire thing straight into the garbage. Literally.
I'm surprised so many people swear by Oyama. Maybe I was there on a bad night?
Iowa City
I just moved to IC, and this thread has been a lot of help, thanks everybody. One update though - I was told that Thai Flavors has just changed owners. I don't know what it was like before, but I left very unimpressed after last night's meal.
