I've been to Blackstone numerous times but this is the first time I've felt compelled to leave a review. The Chimichurri Steak I had last night was absolutely amazing. Steak cooked (med. rare) and seasoned perfectly and the chimichurri sauce was out of this world. The service was, and is always, really good. But that steak? Next level. read more

Boomer road trip from WA State and stumbled on this place while visiting AAA. We've been eating 2 meals/day for 3 days straight. What a relief to eat here. Lunch in the bar. Excellent dip sandwich but the star was the Miagi beans side. The preparation was similar to shishito peppers. These should be front and center as an appetizer or as happy hour munchies. I think I can duplicate them. We won't be coming thru here again but if given a chance do treat yourself. And the bartender was very cool even though we didn't drink, lol. read more

We had booked this location for a lunch after a funeral. We were to be served half of a sandwich and a salad from a very limited menu. (3 sandwich choices and 3 salad choices) Service started off good with a waitress, taking our orders and getting us drinks. Once we had placed our orders is when the problems started to happen. We brought in a group of approximately 35 to 40 people. (We had reserved a party room) Sitting at long tables with approximately with 8 people to a table. We waited and waited for our order to be taken with some tables receiving their food before we had even ordered. The waiters and waitresses slowly went from table to table taking approximately 20-30 minutes in all to take our orders. We were the last table to place our order and people were being served prior to us even ordering. We waited for over an hour and never received our food. Some people were even done at point. Needless to say, we were a little exasperated and finally asked them just to bag our food. Believe it or not, that took them another 30 minutes. In all we were there for close to two hours without being served. And when we asked our waiter, why it was taking so long he informed us that they weren't expecting our group to be so large. I think I would've preferred a simple "I'm sorry, we messed up," or even if a manager had just shown up to let us know that they had forgotten our order completely, rather than the lame excuses that they came back with. I don't know if this was just a bad day for Blackstone or if this is what can be expected from them, but our experience there was horrible. Unfortunately, as we were from out of town, we can't go back again to see if the service will be any better. I do not recommend this place. The food may be fabulous, but we'll never know. Also be forewarned if you have any complaints the management does not care. read more

Great menu and atmosphere! Food was great! Our waitress Maggie did a wonderful job! Definitely will be back when in Iowa City. read more

The food was fine, it's a bit im between your average burger sit down restaurant and a fancier style place.

It is okay. The food is incredibly edible, but not amazing. My socks stayed on during the meal. We got a variety of items. Steak was ordered as Medium. The potatoes were really good. We had the lobster mac and the bacon mac, the bacon mac was smokier in flavor. The spinach and artichoke dip was not amazing, it seemed like it needed to be cooked/baked a bit longer. It could have been way better. I don't know what the vibe is of this restaurant, it is like trying to be fancy but isn't. The servers were very kind and made it a good experience. Parking was easy to find for a week day meal. A solid 3 stars read more

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Been in here maybe once, but I cannot remember. I walked in and immediately was greeted by a familiar face (an older sister of someone I knew), and she was very nice. We ordered quickly and my water was surprisingly good. The inside is very nice, chic atmosphere and calmly pleasant lighting. Food arrived in maybe 10-15 minutes. Not a bad waiting time. HOWEVER...$6 for like ten pieces of fruit?! Jeez! I ordered the fresh fruit as a side and it was very expensive. Sigh. The mac n cheese was nothing to complain about, it was very nice. Crispy cheese on top and bacon as well, sauce very creamy and pasta somewhat Al dente. (Hmm.) No dessert because my parents were being a little bit mean. :( But definitely would come here again. I enjoyed very much. read more

BlackStone - Mac and cheese and fresh fruit - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

The Southwest Salad was horrible. The wait staff brought out half our group's meals ... and 10 minutes later the rest of them. Mine had been sitting under a heat lamp. The lettuce, vegetables and chicken were all the temperature and texture of hot, wet socks. No one bothered to follow up on how we liked our food. At the end of the meal I was asked if I wanted a box for my untouched salad. I said it was bad. Waitress said "sorry." Bad experience all the way around. read more

This is one of our spots to take guests out. It is a solid restaurant with great service. The cocktails were great, and the food is always good. read more

Visited BlackStone yesterday evening before a show and ordered 2 specialty N/A drinks- XOX & the blackberry mojito along with the smokehouse brisket nachos. The nachos were pretty tasty and enough for 4 people. Their drinks were refreshing and tasty as well. The hostesses greeted us very warmly. The restaurant wasn't terribly busy- most likely due to the game on. It was a pleasant quick nosh before we headed to our event. Would have liked to have seen some not so typical menu items. Nevertheless, our visit was still nice. read more

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I got enticed to try this place because they were having a special beer tapping and I wanted to try it. It's located in a neighborhood that isn't really handy to get to, but I found it to be worth the trip. I'm going to skew my review a little bit since it was especially busy, but like most businesses, I'm sure they are short staffed. The venue is warm and comfortable to be in. It's homey and the staff is friendly. We decided to have some appetizers and chose the saganaki, a favorite if mine, and the nachos. The saganaki was not the best I've had, but then it's not a dedicated Greek restaurant. It was good, but not stellar. We enjoyed the nachos. The had a barbecue flair versus the traditional Mexican. Is definitely like tontrybtjis place again when it's not so busy. read more

BlackStone - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Service was really good....................,. Ambiance fit for Iowa. .................. Food was tasty. .................... read more

Blackstone will always be a favorite of mine. Good for date night! Or in my case a lunch date. It wasn't busy at all making service very fast! I tend to always get the bubbly Mac n cheese because it's my favorite but they have many good options. Their flaming cheese appetizer is always a crowd pleaser. read more

BlackStone - Merry mule - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

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We found this restaurant on Yelp and had lunch here as we traveled thru town on our way out west. We started with their sweet corn dip and homemade chips. One just cannot travel thru this state and not get something corny. It was quite good. I got the "pick two" and choose the meltaway club along with a Blackstone salad. My husband got a crispy chicken sandwich and fries. Everything was very good. The service that Adam gave us was stellar. The restaurant was bright and clean. The only complaint that I would have is that the bathroom was very dark. They really should think about providing better lighting.... I really did have a hard time seeing while I was in there. read more

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the service wasn't that great. waitress didn't check on us much. the food there is mid and tastes very bland

I figured I would provide a review based on small-party experience, too. My husband and I enjoyed a nice dinner on Friday evening, leisurely taking our time to enjoy an app, entrees, and a dessert over ~1.25 hours. We ate at a booth indoors, which had plenty of space for us to enjoy conversation without other table noises to combat with. Taking advantage of the HH $6 pours of wine, we sipped on some flavorful Pinot Project Pinot Noir as we savored the Burrata (get there before 6pm for the deal). The Satay Sampler I ordered had steak, chicken, and shrimp, which all were bountifully seasoned. To the side of them was the combination of the three sauces that the chef feathered on the plate. Though the flavors were interesting together, I would have preferred that the sauces were separated from one another so I could decide how much of each I want per bite. (The feathering looked cool, though). My husband had the tuna, and noted that the tuna seemed to be slightly over cooked and was a by dry. He still enjoyed it with the sauces and sides, but would perhaps enjoy it a little less cooked in the future. We ordered the creme brûlée to finish our meal, but, due to a problem with their flambé torch, they switched our dessert to the cheesecake and comped it, which was a very nice gesture. The cheesecake was creamy and had a small chocolate layer across the top that was neither too much or too little. The flavors balanced well. Overall, I'm glad we went back and hate to think we have forgotten this gem for so long. I look forward to going back when I'm on that side of town again. read more

BlackStone - Satay Sampler - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

We had a new waitress and she was fine but the fish and chips was so fishy it wasn't even edible. I for eggplant Parmesan which I typically love but the eggplant was rubbery and there was really not any way to cut through it - even with a sharp knife. read more

Excellent always. I had the Iowa chop, with you can't go wrong with. Also the hot and dirty martini, yum! Exceptional service and great atmosphere. Always an A*. read more

Been here a few times since, and dare I say this is one of the best places in Iowa City area. The drinks are strong and delicious, the ale string onion app is other worldly and Nay's pasta is one of the best dishes I've had all year. Go and enjoy this gem of a restaurant!!! read more

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Very high quality food makes sense for their higher prices. Devoured their lobster Mac n cheese and would definitely recommend to anyone looking to eat out somewhere nice/higher end. read more

BlackStone - Lobster Mac N Cheese - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Me and my friends were trying to find the perfect place to go to eat before prom, and we decided on Blackstone. Because of the classy ambiance and delicious food, we've gone there every year since! An extra plus is that it isn't overwhelmingly crowded, but certainly popular. It was nice that even on prom night there was some room to breathe. Reserving a table is very easy, we've called in a reservation but also have used their online Google Booking service. They are very friendly and we've always gotten great seats. The food choices are great: there's more high-end selections but also high-quality classics, so there's something for the whole family to enjoy. You can get a New York Strip for a fancier date night or get some burgers and mac n cheese for a more casual meal. Definitely try the onion strings appetizer, it's delicious! The ambiance is very classy, as I said before. Real candles are on each table and the lighting is dim and warm. There is indoor and outdoor seating, with a bar section as well. The bathrooms are upscale and very clean. There are even complimentary mints on your way out the door! 10/10 would recommend. read more

I wasn't really sure what to expect when we decided to try BlackStone for dinner the other night with my family. I definitely wasn't expecting it to be in a strip mall, but the space inside was more upscale and they have an adorable little patio. Service was prompt and friendly. I ended up taking our waiter's suggestion between two dishes I'd been wavering on and it may have been the best choice at the table. The food was overall good, but not great. The menu offers variety, but the food doesn't always deliver. First and foremost, an old fashioned for my grandmother and it did not disappoint. They have a full bar AND list several specialty old fashioned-s (?) on their drink menu so I was sure this would be a winner for her. Choosing appetizers was tricky. We ended up with burrata and the satay sampler, both of which were excellent. I am a sucker for fresh mozz. For the main event, as recommended I ordered the mediterranean chicken and paired it with garlic mashed potatoes. The chicken and the mini Greek salad were delicious, but the mashed potatoes were pretty boring and dry. My dad went with seared tuna and Matt got the Cuban sandwich, each with a fruit cup. Both reported their meals were "pretty good". And Nana, against all of our advice, ordered Thai stir fry with shrimp. She insisted it was just bowl of onions and picked wearily at it the entire meal. Overall, I guess I happened to choose the right dish or maybe it was an off day. Seems like a great date night spot. 3/4 would visit again (but don't take that too much to heart because clearly my Nana can't even trust her own judgement lol.) read more

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Think last call at a college bar when the lights are turned full bright, bad 80s music is blasted through the speakers and the staff just walks around ignoring people in every attempt to get them to leave. That was the experience at Blackstone except it was 8:30 dinner on a Friday night. If the "closing time" vibe is what they were going for, it worked as the restaurant was nearly empty including even the bar area where we sat. Despite basically no customers being there, the service still managed to be terrible and slow. We ordered two drinks and two apps. I'll spare most of the details except that the second app appeared at the table 35 minutes after the first with no apology or explanation. A clear indication it was time for us to go and most likely not return. Dining experience is a big piece of an evening but the quality of food and price point also matter. The food is of good quality, in the upper half of what you can find in Iowa City. The price point is too high. Too high for anywhere in Iowa City and much too high for a restaurant that sits on the east edge of town. However, we're willing to pay for quality food AND a good experience. Blackstone simply falls way short on the experience piece. read more

I specifically ordered the Cobb salad because I cannot eat weird lettuce. The pic show what I got, definitely not iceberg lettuce like the menu says. Very disappointed. read more

BlackStone - Supposed to be a Cobb salad with iceberg lettuce, it clearly is NOT. - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

This place is absolutely wonderful. Dog friendly patio for the pups! We had their brunch which to our surprise included $1.00 mimosas! They promptly brought our lovely pup a giant bowl of water. We all had the Scrambled egg breakfast with bacon. The food was delicious. The service was awesome. I highly recommend this establishment! read more

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The place has an odd layout inside. The parking is terrible. The bar is way to big for the space. Was here for a beer release, had a drawing with it, never came around when calling numbers, we had to find them and ask what numbers were being drawn. Very loud inside. The Saganaki was not creamy, it was crispy and firm, very disappointing. Way out of the way place and nothing really great here. read more

BlackStone - Martini and background is Saganaki - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

The most expensive lobster Kraft Mac&cheese I've ever had, but I never was able to tell the server because they didn't ask why I ate 4 bites. I paid my bill and left with no incident; I'll just never go back. read more

came for lunch and was surprised by how nice the place and menu was! loved the food and can't wait to try more from them read more

BlackStone - tuna salad - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

I usually have a really good experience at black stone but my family and I went out to dinner the other day and our food was brought out cold and it took forever to get our order in and get the food. We had to ask for water three times. read more

I wish I found out about this place BEFORE I graduated. A big group of us went here for graduation dinner. It was amazing. We tried the satay sampler like all the reviews said. Sooo good like everything was delish. It was so good I forgot to take pics of it before hand for my food account. They have a really great drink selection too. I tried the tropical style mule. read more

BlackStone - Villa Sirloin - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

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The food was delicious. We ordered an appetizer and two entrees. Good sized booths. The server was interactive. Bathrooms were clean (that matters to me haha). read more

LOVED the Thursday night special chicken pot pie. We came specifically to try it and we were not disappointed! So delicious I wish it was on the regular menu, I'll definitely come back on another Thursday. read more

BlackStone - Chicken Pot Pie - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

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Nice variety of things on the menu and food as well prepared and tasty. The staff is always friendly.

Love, love, loveeee this place! Great for parties, dates, family dinners, and just hanging out after work. Definitely worth the drive from Cedar Rapids for us. We are always impressed with their drinks and appetizers, and we're slowly trying to test out everything on the menu. We like to come here for special occasions to keep it more of a special spot to go. read more

BlackStone - Entrance - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Visited friends from the area and they took us to this restaurant. Had the eggplant parmigiana. Lots of breading, very little marinara, very little mozzarella and no pasta which was a shock. The marinara was even sold as being special but there was hardly any sign of it. In summary, just four stacks of heavily breaded eggplant lightly topped with sauce and a little bit of cheese. Nothing really true to the dish from an Italian view. read more

A friend and I came here for their Thursday night chicken pot pie special and it was phenomenal. The food was great and the atmosphere was welcoming. The pot pie had great flavor and the "crust" was crispy and well-seasoned. I definitely will be back! read more

BlackStone - Chicken Pot Pie - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

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We've been hearing about Blackstone for quite some time and finally made it for dinner. I'm goint to have to disagree with some of my compatriots here who've had less than good experiences as ours was pretty legit. We arrived and while we found it to be quite busy, we found a booth in the bar quickly. The servers were very attentive and made some solid drink recommendations including a delicious dark belgian beer and, for me lady, the half price martinis! The appetizers were solid ranging from the standard calamari and sliders to the one tried - The Saganaki. A spectacular piece of kasseri cheese flamed with brandy! It was not only awesome to watch them flambe', but was one of the better appetizers we've had in the area. Prices were $5-12. The variety of entree's was impressive. They had everything from burgers and flatbreads to pastas and steaks. Very reminiscent of Mondo's with a more extensive selection of sandwiches. We shared a burger and it was a 8 of 10 burger. The true magic however was the side of chips that came with it. Seriously, they figured out how to infuse them with cocaine - they were radness in chip form! Finally, for dessert we had a couple sweet shots - one cherry cheesecake and one brownie. They were awesome little shot glasses with the aforementioned cakes, some custard and some delicious sauce on top. Just the right size to end the night with some sweet, but not get overly full. Overall, Blackstone was a solid 4 of 5. Good food, friendly service and they did well even when really busy. Food is on par with Red's or Mondo's as a good spot to get a mix of things that range from cheap to pricey and where the quality is solid. The beer selection in the top quarter of places and the martini selection is excellent for the ladies. The bar was loud, but there was ample seating for groups and couples alike. It doesn't quite get the 5 star nod, but it's a solid 4 and a good place to go when you're in the mood for something a few steps up from TGI Fridays and a beer you can't buy at 7-11. read more

BlackStone - S.O.B burger with salad! - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

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Food was excellent, service outstanding, and a fantastic ambiance. It was a great spot to celebrate our Hawkeye graduate!

Bailey was our server for our private party of 15 and she was absolutely wonderful. She was attentive, prompt, friendly, and fantastic at recommending things to fit everyone's preferences. We can't say enough nice things about Bailey. The food and drinks were also excellent read more

The food is always good, service has been much better in years past. I have two experiences lately that haven't gone that well. After a visit with my grandmas doctor across the street I ordered from their website to pick up just a child's size macaroni and cheese as a treat for gma and a break for myself. When I picked up my order they couldn't find it, and then told me that someone had already picked it up. They had to make a new one because the other wasn't actually made. This whole process took an additional 30 minutes. read more