Delicious food, wonderful service and atmosphere. We celebrated our 25th anniversary here. Will…read moredefinitely be back!

Ruthie's definitely lived up to the hype! We've had this place recommended to us for years, so to…read morecelebrate a big milestone, my fiancé took me here. We were able to snag a last-minute reservation on OpenTable, and the entire experience was wonderful. Our waitress was incredibly attentive--our water glasses were refilled frequently, and even when the restaurant got busy, she made sure to check on us. We were seated in a cozy, intimate circular booth on the side, which made the evening feel even more special. What I'd Order Again: Alaskan King Crab Legs - Pro tip: Order these as a side to another dish instead of as an entrée--it's much cheaper that way! The crab was incredibly fresh, thanks to their flash-freezing process, and it really hit the spot. Lobster Bisque - HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! I added this last-minute when our waitress mentioned that people travel just to try it, and it did not disappoint. The freshly cracked pepper, along with the truffle accents, made this so flavorful and rich. Cocktails - The drinks were fantastic! I had the Tweed Jacket cocktail and really enjoyed it. What made it even cooler was that our waitress actually created a cocktail that got added to the menu when she started working there--so cool! Scallops - Perfectly cooked with a stunning presentation. While I've had better on the coasts, I was impressed given that we're in Iowa. Desserts (HIGHLY recommend the homemade coffee ice cream & tiramisu!) - The tiramisu was amazing, and I could tell it was homemade because I nearly choked on the cocoa powder (the ultimate test!). But the real star? The homemade coffee ice cream--absolutely phenomenal. What I Wouldn't Order Again: Jumbo Crab Cake - It was good, but it had that slightly "old crab" taste and reminded me more of snow crab than the rich, sweet crab flavor I was hoping for. Given that I'm from Seattle, my seafood standards are high, so this didn't quite meet expectations. Brussels Sprouts - Great flavor, but I prefer mine extra crispy, and these weren't quite there. 10 oz Filet Mignon - It was cooked to the right temperature, but it wasn't as juicy as other steaks I've had in Iowa. Good, but not particularly memorable. Other Notes: Shareable Side Dishes - One thing I really liked was that their side dishes are all shareable, so they feel more like appetizers than traditional sides. It makes it easy to try a variety, and I definitely want to explore more of them when I come back! Location & Accessibility - Even though Ruthie's is inside a casino, it's tucked on the side, so you don't have to deal with the cigarette smell. Parking is plentiful, though depending on where you park, it might be a bit of a walk. Bathrooms - The restrooms are located outside the restaurant on the right--not too far of a walk. Final Thoughts: Ruthie's is a true gem, and I can see why it's so highly recommended. The service was outstanding, the food was top-tier, and the small details--from our cozy booth to our waitress's personal touch on the cocktail menu--made the night extra special. It's the kind of place that turns a meal into a memory, and I can't wait to come back.

Dropped by on a trip through Iowa. Definitely a highlight after driving through Des Moines ‍…read more We both enjoyed our meals. Fry's in the Fish and Chips were awesome. Drinks and Brews were legit. Cool old corner diner updated to a Manhattan street vibe. Service was solid for a College town. Check it out.

This is the second time i've bee. here in a week. I'm on a business trip and we were too late the…read morefirst time for the happy hour price on the seafood towers. The "seafood tower" is 1/2 off before 6:00. The larger one is $50 off before 6:00. We each got the seafood tower and that more the. enough for a meal for one. It has six oysters, which are delicious. Also six pickled sardines, which are wonderful on the provided crackers. There's also a crab claw that is lovely. The tuna poke thing is very good. There a lump crab dish in a creamy sauce I don't think it needs. The crab is good. I could lose the sauce. The only bad part was the six shrimp. They're cooked in a way that they have a flavor I didn't love. That part I did not finish. But the server was wonderful. She could not have been nicer and more professional. She made our experience great. The server on the first night we came here was also great. They have great servers. The place has a high end bar and grill atmosphere. Everything looks really clean and well put together. This is a great place to eat.

Before I came to Iowa City for a conference? i researched places to eat. This was one I wanted to…read morego to. They're well reviewed on Yelp, which I value. My friend from work and I came here tonight. Wow. They have an informal lounge downstairs and a more formal dining room upstairs. The lounge has the same menu plus a lounge menu. So we chose more choice. The lounge was kinda dark and it's not fancy. But it's clean and open. It's fine. The server was terrific. Ash accommodated our need for separate checks (for us each to bill for our meal). She was attentive and pleasant. I asked her what she liked better between a couple of things and she gave me an honest answer. I followed her recommendation, The beet salad was lovely. the dressing had some goat cheese in it and was delicious. The fresh beets on the side really worked with the dressing. My friend got the cheese platter to start and there was lots of cheese. He loved it. He got the lounge version of the salmon, which he thought was great. I got the Artic Char, which was delicate and phenomenal. It was topped with pieces of lobster and caviar like eggs. The fish was delicate and the sauce rich, but not overpowering. It was delightful. We both loved our meals and highly recommend Orchard Green.

Incredible meal at Orchard Green!…read more While the upstairs dining area was booked for the evening, we were able to walk in and have an incredible meal in the lounge portion of the restaurant. A round of mocktails, crab cakes, and my delicious filet mignon was unbeatable. The steak was cooked perfectly and the garlic topping was the perfect touch. For desert, we shared a cheesecake and peanut butter mousse. The cheesecake was great, but the peanut butter mousse... quite literally one of the best desserts of my life! The balance of peanut butter and rich chocolate was perfect. Service was friendly and helpful, and the lounge was relaxed and comfortable. Would highly recommend Orchard Green for a nice dinner in the area!

Very disappointing experience. The rice and beans basic staples of Mexican food were poorly made…read moreand lacked flavor. The tacos were soggy, not crispy, and clearly not properly prepared. What made it worse was being told the food is "made for gringos." As someone Mexican, that felt like a poor representation of my own culture.Authenticity shouldn't be optional it should be the standard. The only reason I order that, is because is hard to messed up a hard Shell Taco. Thanks

I only visited this place once so my review may change. We came out for a birthday dinner for a…read morefriend. We were not too hungry so we split a couple meals. The food was good but I doubt I would pass up the plethora of other Mexican places to come here. I did enjoy the salsa and chips and I have tried many! We came at 7:00 pm on a week night and there was not many patrons at this time.We are not sure if that could be why the service was good. He was polite and helpful when asked. The place reminded me of a cafeteria with the open floor plan and lots of windows on 3 sides. So, this place looks good for groups. There were some decorations but nothing too much. I will probably go back to try a few more different dishes but mainly because our friends like to come to this place.

They've been so great about our orders and their fish crab and other seafood is amazing. Great…read moreprices

We have enjoyed Fabian's wonderful seafood for many years! Everything is fresh and ice cold. All…read morethe representatives from Fabian's are so friendly and helpful. Many thanks FABIAN'S Mike and Phyllis Iowa City, Iowa 52240

First and foremost the food is excellent! There is plenty of food you will not leave hungry! We had…read morethe crab pots you got 3 huge, meaty, juicy and delicious claws, with potato, corn and sausage. The garlic butter was so good to dip everything in & if you like spicy like a few with us they said it was so flavorful. The service was outstanding and the owners were so nice! You definitely need to check this place out, even if a little out of your way. We live in Illinois and will be returning!

We enjoyed our first meal at Shakin' Shellfish, a new restaurant in Ottumwa tonight. We had to try…read morethe shrimp boil, crawfish boil and crab boil. My favorite was the crab boil with Epic Eateries Garlic Butter seasoning. We had the shrimp and crawfish flavored in the Kickin' Cajun Garlic Butter. We will definitely be back! The owner even gave us a sample of the Spicy Ranch Hard Pretzels and the Hotter Than Hellfire Pretzels. We had to get a bag to take home! Be sure and make plans to try their Friday night special. It changes monthly. June is 2x shrimp tacos with pico de gallo and a side of pineapple for $10! I can't wait to try them!

Absolutely love this place, the environment the ambiance. Everything mixed together topped with the…read moreamazing food and service makes this place a must try!

After trying both breakfast/brunch and dinner items at Rayo, I will say you should eat there. The…read morebreakfast menu has a good variety of items, and the skillets and chimis are really good. The Three Star Skillet has just the right mix of meats, eggs, cheese to go with tots that were just the right amount of done. Will definitely order again. Quesa birria is generally quite delicious, and Rayo checked that box as well. I want to keep exploring the menu, but it can be hard when you start off with items that hit a high note from the start. Rayo has a done a good job repurposing the space, including using the room in the back for various events. Service has been solid and I'm happy to have another place to find a breakfast burrito in town!

Great food and margaritas. Service was excellent with our server. Place is well lit and great place…read moreas big as any other place near by. Had a great time.

Not enough food while we were there! Not too impressed about their food. Service was okay! Ambiance…read morewas not Impressive.

High quality diner with swag…read more Phenomenal place. Great, top quality food and friendly staff. The Prince Chilli Chicken is fried chicken from beyond. Hot/spicy, but approachable from a Midwestern perspective. The beet salad was excellent. Super glad I ordered - everything is scratch made. (From a prior visit) Their burger is amazing. Order it. Say thank you.

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.

This summer (somehow) I explored the outdoors a shi*t ton while also feeling absolutely trapped in…read moremy home? I don't know if that makes sense to you? But... COVID-19. Amiright?! Hickory Hill Park has been on my gotta-try list all summer. FINALLY on Labor Day weekend, we found the time to drive across town, to the wayyyyy east side to check it out. LET ME TELL YOU. THIS PARK IS BEAUTIFUL. There's tons of trails for jogging, walking and hiking! From wooded ones, to paths through the prairie. There is something for everyone. Picnic shelters, too. There are a couple reasons this is a four vs five star. 1. There's not a lot of signage on the trails, so it is very easy to get lost or not know where to continue on to! Make sure you have a map online pulled up when you visit. 2. Hickory Hill boasts very, very narrow paths. So during a pandemic-- BRING YOUR MASK! We typically are the family just try to distance when we are hiking outdoors... but distancing is hard on trails at this east side gem.

Clearly long cold Iowa winters have made me far more brave than I would have imagined. I mean who…read moresays, "It's a beautiful day lets go check out a new park" when its December and 30 degrees out. Never thought that would be me, but sure enough now knowing subzero temperatures have brainwashed me to think 30 degrees is a gorgeous winter day! With this new found appreciation for 30 degree days I packed the pups in the car and headed to check out Hickory Hill Park. What a nice park full of no shortage of multiple winding trails through the woods and prairies. All the trails were very well maintained and were perfect for exploring with our dogs. This is the perfect park if you are just looking to enjoy nature. So want to trail run, walk/hike, stroll with your dog? Then you found the right spot! I also imagine this would be a great spot for snowshoeing or cross country skiing if there was a significant snow fall. It wasn't muddy when we went since the ground was frozen but I imagine if there was recently a lot of rain this place could get pretty muddy.