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Gene’s

3.6 (18 reviews)
Closed 10:00 am - 1:00 AM (Next day)

Gene’s Photos

GENE’S ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Hipster
Casual
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Gene’s

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Constance M.

I was so excited to try this place...I love a good theme restaurant! I ordered the "snozberry" and they were out of that. No problem. I ordered the fizzy lifting drink. We shared an order of cheese fries and each ordered the burger. The aioli that was paired with the fries was the hit of the day! The service was not so good but hoping for a better experience the next time!

This wallpaper tho! 3
Jenni H.

As Gene Wilder once said-- "Time is a precious thing. Never waste it." I mean... sure he was wearing a purple top hat, matching coat amongst some orange skinned oompa loompas in a factory of candy but that is beside the point. You won't be wasting your time at Gene's. It's Blazing Saddles meets Architectural Digest. Just the most beautiful but playful establishment in the pedmall-- bar none. With wood paneled walls, crazy light fixtures and magnificent glass garage doors that let in summertime. Booths, high tops, bar seating-- Gene's can accommodate any size group. You come to Gene's for the whimsy. And you stay for the fun, absolutely delicious cocktails. The Frosé and Snozzberrie Slushie are my go-tos. But you can't go wrong with a Waco Kid or Pure Ima-GIN-ation. (Shout out to Gene's for winning Top Chef Peoples Choice with said imaginative gin cocktail!) Plus their bartenders are so skilled, friendly and helpful. Gene's lost a star only because of their menu, which I think they're still figuring out. (I hope to amend this after my next visit.) My two 'issues' are size and value. The options are limited but really good. And I think the price is a bit steep for not including fries with a sandwich? But that being said I've inhaled fries, chicken parm sandwiches, burgers and short ribs. The food is quality folks. The best thing, IMO, is the local fresh pie. Order one with a SNOZZBERRIE slushie. You won't regret it. Trivia night is a blast here. (Come about forty five or so minutes early to snag a table) Park in the ramp, the first hour is free. The waitstaff is so friendly. We had a few hiccups with our last order-- but they rectified it in such a professional way. Kuddos to them. I can't wait for patio season-- with blue drink in hand. This is quickly becoming my must-have establishment for a cocktail. Gene's is a whimsical, adult hangout that is definitely worth a visit!

Snozberry drink
Bee H.

I finally got to try this place yesterday evening. First of all, the interior and the overall vibe is pretty cool. The popular Snozberry drink was pretty tasty too! However, when we walked in, nobody greeted us and told us to sit wherever or wait to be seated, so we had to go and ask the bartender if we just sit anywhere. After we sat, it took the bartender a while to bring us the menus/come by the table. We went when it was slow, and there was only one other table of two people. We noticed that the menu is very limited and the prices were slightly on the higher side. (But I don't know if the food amounts are generous or not since I've never ordered before.) We ended up not getting any food at this location. We ordered two snozberry drinks as we noted that these were popular and received them in wine glasses but they were not even a third full. We paid $14 total for two tiny snozberry drinks. They were fun and tasty, but I personally wouldn't buy it again for the price, to be completely honest. My first visit here was a very mixed feelings visit. I can see potential for it to become a really nice place, but I don't think I'll be going again unless someone else really wants to try this place.

Atmosphere
Johannes P.

Great atmosphere, the wings are absolutely to die for, and the bill is easy on the pocketbook. What else do you need?

Gene's yelp event! Waco Kid drink!
Hayley R.

I attended a yelp event here at Gene's and had the best time. Named after the Iowa alum Gene Wilder they incorporated A 1970's and Gene Wilder decor theme. From their 70's pool table lights to the tiny details of the Gene Wilder faces paper in the food baskets. We personally were able to meet the management staff and chef. I could tell they put a lot of thought and effort into the restaurant. We started off with a seasoned trail mix that came from Poindexter cafe attached to Gene's. Good pick me up snack for students on their way to class, along with Waco Kid a strawberry lemon Prosecco drink. Very yummy! Next we were served ribs. They were fall off the bone tender but not on the regular menu. They are a special at Gene's. For the sides we had roasted carrots, whole grain side and apple coleslaw. These are sides I wouldn't normally order when I have the option of fries but they were surprisingly delicious. For dessert they served local made blue berry pie with a ton of really good whip cream. Served with a Snozberry vodka slushee. I can't wait till summer to sit on their patio and try their other frozen drinks and enjoy the great location!

Frozen alcoholic slushees - jack and coke is a great
Amanda M.

Wow this place is awesome. They are connected with point dexter and the graduate hotel so you are allowed to bring food and drinks between the locations. They have a great bar with some unique drinks. I loved their frozen rose, vodka lemonade and frozen jack and coke slushees. The food is also phenomenal and fresh! The menu is limited, but their fries are amazing and crisp. The turkey club and steak burger are very savory and delicious. My hands were pretty greasy and saucy when I was done so be prepared for that. This is a great addition to downtown. The summer months will be great because their huge garage door windows open right onto the ped mall.

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The Webster - Tuna and sausage pasta

The Webster

4.3(94 reviews)
0.4 mi

Miss Sharon was a great waitress and we loved her thank for having her ,she greatread more

To be honest I feel bad leaving such a low review for a fine dining staple, but came today for my…read moreDad's 75th birthday and quite possibly has the worst $200 meal on my life. The $50 sirloin steak was served cold. Because our waitress, Grace H, failed to even ask how our food was the entire time until after we had eaten everything I couldn't even send it back. I spent the entire time trying to make eye contact with her but she was busy taking new tables. When she finally came to ask how our food was and was told, her response was I will let the kitchen know. Not "I will bring you another plate" or even discount or comp the entree. Not what you'd expect from Iowa city's fine dining flagship. The prices were not just expensive, but over the top expensive. $50 for an 8 ounce sirloin. $56 for 12 average oysters. To be honest it's below average in value to a nice restaurant in LA, NY or Chicago. They may thrive because the IC elite doesn't have many options for upscale dining. But for someone who has lived in those cities and eaten at Michelin star culinary venues this place is lacking in both food and service for the prices they charge. It was enough of a bad experience that I will never be back. There's Chez Grace, Joseph's and 126 which offer quality food, much better value and food service. Posting my food pics and the receipt to see what $200 gets you here.

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The Webster - Open kitchen and floor plan

Open kitchen and floor plan

The Webster - Lemon Curd

Lemon Curd

The Webster - Pasta  dish. $24.

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Pasta dish. $24.

The Black Angel - Bar / dining

The Black Angel

4.7(31 reviews)
0.4 mi

Went on a hopping Friday night. Given all the customers, service was good. Almost every table was…read morefull the entire time we were there. This is a sleeper of a Mexican restaurant. What I mean by that is, it does not look like a Mexican restaurant. But it EXCELS at Mexican cuisine. I highly recommend ordering anything you'd see at a Mexican restaurant. The drinks: The Blueberry Fields drink was good but pricey given the size and wasn't "blueberry" enough for my husband. I liked it, but I'd want it by the mason jar, and that would be super expensive. I had the hibiscus margarita and it was *very* enjoyable. The food: My husband had the Des Moines Po' Boy. I wish he would have realized that he was basically getting a sub. He liked the soft bread. Overall though, he wasn't impressed. He said it was kind of bland. But he loved the fries and ranch. I had the puerco en salsa verde--this dish is incredible! Really tender chunks of pork in a rich tomatillo salsa verde with beans and rice. The only thing that could be better is if there were 3 fresh corn tortillas instead of 2. There is so much rich, delicious, saucy pork to eat, that you need 3 to enjoy it all. The tortillas are fresh made too. So yummy! In summary: Go here and enjoy all the Mexican dishes!

After taking a field trip to the legendary Black Angel grave marker in Oakland Cemetery, my…read moreboyfriend and I capped off the evening by hitting the nearby restaurant of the same name. The interior is quaint, cozy, and clean. Lighting and bits of stained glass create the feeling you're in a spot directly influenced by Iowa City's famous statue. The menu is somewhat unexpected. The Black Angel serves up Mexican food and all-day breakfast fare. I ordered the Chorizo and Eggs, which came with two flour tortillas and a cup of black beans. My boyfriend ordered a similar item and we both agreed the black beans had a liquified consistency. (Was this unconventional preparation the work of the Black Angel herself...?) My breakfast tacos were delicious and I had no complaints on that end. I also enjoyed a margarita which was on happy hour special (half-off). It was a generous serving size and decently strong yet drinkable. Our waitress was attentive, fetching our drinks and food in snappy time. She also checked on us after being served to make sure all was well and we weren't having any Black Angel-inspired bad luck with our dining experience. I recommend you spread your wings and check out this local eatery. It pairs well with a visit to the cemetery, too!

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The Black Angel
The Black Angel
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The Stuffed Olive

The Stuffed Olive

3.7(28 reviews)
0.0 mi

Wow. What a nice adult-ish spot where anyone over 30 struggles to find a place that isn't bro ish…read moreand charotic. Small plates, tapas style menu and amazing bar and lounge set up to feel adult. The crab Rangoon pizza was very good however not over the top amazing.

This is a 3.5 star review…read more The Stuffed Olive lives in the heart of the ped mall. It gives non-college town vibes with crystal light fixtures, tiled walls, big city pictures-- and just an overall 'swanky' feel. The menu has something for everyone-- from small plates to flat breads to (oddly) a plethora of seafood entrees. Additionally, you can get stuffed olives by the skewer to order. I think this is the only place in town to have such a diverse offering of olives. (But I suppose, with a name like the Stuffed Olive-- you can't not.) I ordered a charcuterie to go and I thought bang per buck was ok? But the quality of ingredients as well as how it was packed was less than to be desired. That being said-- the greeting I got from staff when I walked in to pick up my order was great! I got my order on time and in a hurry. The real star of this IC watering hole is its extensive martini menu -- from traditional to dessert. I've popped in a time or two to enjoy these. And now that I know Mondays are buy one, get one for a penny-- I may pop in a time or two more! Staff has been hit or miss my few visits. Pricing seems on point. Parking, as always in downtown IC, is tricky. I recommend the Dubuque Parking Ramp. Overall, this is a welcomed addition to the downtown scene. I can totally see myself having a date night or girls night with a martini in hand at Stuffed Olive.

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The Stuffed Olive
The Stuffed Olive
The Stuffed Olive

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Pullman Bar & Diner - Triple pullman burger

Pullman Bar & Diner

4.4(741 reviews)
0.1 mi
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If I could give more than 5 stars, I would. We ended up at Pullman Bar & Diner three mornings in a…read morerow during our trip, and honestly, it became one of the highlights of our weekend. Every single thing we ordered felt fresh, thoughtful, and just really well done. My kids were obsessed with the chocolate chip pancakes (which says a lot), and my dad and I worked our way through a few different dishes. The biscuits and gravy were comforting and rich without being too heavy, and even the simple eggs were cooked perfectly. But the standout? The breakfast tacos. They were insane. The pork was seasoned perfectly, super flavorful without being overwhelming, and everything just worked together so well. Also, do not skip the fresh squeezed orange juice or the local sourdough with homemade preserves. You can taste the difference. It's one of those places where you can tell they really care about the ingredients. Service was warm and easy, and the vibe just makes you want to sit and stay a while. We'll 100% be back if we're ever in Iowa City again!

Adorable restaurant on the University of Iowa campus with exposed brick walls and a masculine,…read moremodern contemporary diner feel. Food 3/5 Service 5/5 Ambiance 4/5 Croque Madame 3/5. The hollandaise sauce with jammy egg on top was fabulous, but the sandwich itself was just ok. Garganelli 2/5. I liked the mushrooms but was disappointed that this dish was rather bland, especially for this price point.

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Pullman Bar & Diner - Table dining

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Gene’s - salad - Updated May 2026

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