This place deserves every great review they've gotten! Driving through Iowa on a road trip and found this on Yelp. We were a little confused how to get in - the entrance is actually inside the Ace Hardware. There's no seating inside, but there are a few tables outside. Probably the best sandwiches we've ever had! My husband had the pastrami and corned beef. I had the hoisin roast beef wrap. So good! And make sure you get the homemade cookies! read more

See all

Today I grabbed the Cobb wrap and it was delicious. This is my favorite thing on the menu. I really love this place. They use the freshest ingredients and everything always tastes absolutely amazing. read more

Nodo - Cobb wrap - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

I can't get enough of Nodo! This is my go-to restaurant whenever someone is in town. I always order the ham and mango sandwich with sweet potato fries and garlic aioli. Everyone I have ever brought has asked to go back a second time. They are a little wonky right now with restrictions and staffing, I think. When I went, we had to order at the door and couldn't even go into the restaurant. It did not detract from the quality of food though! And this location is quicker when you don't want to deal with the hassle of downtown parking and crowds. read more

Yum, yum, yum! Got an egg Sammie and coffee that was delish. Had GF bread that was so good I couldn't tell it was GF!

Accommodating of food intolerances / allergies. Most things can be made gluten free! Good location. Shop local!! Blueberry lemonade is always a win. read more

Nodo is a staff of hardworking folks trying to efficiently get you good food. You won't find much here in the way of ambiance or "extras," but that's not what they prioritize. You call, you pick up, you eat. The go-to items here are sandwiches and wraps, of which they offer a wide and interesting range. You've got your standard turkey sandwich and chicken wrap, but you've also got an artichoke sandwich, Vietnamese banh mi, a breakfast burrito, roast beef, grilled cheese, and a fairly basic burger burger. For you vegans in the house, the also have tofu and can substitute some of their sauces for vegan versions. The menu somewhat suffers from a "jack of all trades, master of none" situation--I've never been particularly wowed by an order, but I've never been actively disappointed by one either. Their sweet potato fries are delicious (hard to mess those up, really), and their beverage game is pretty strong--coffee (no espresso drinks), soda, beer, random fruit mimosas. Come to think of it, Nodo has a bizarrely diverse menu. If I had to choose one word to describe Nodo, it'd be "reliable." It's not the cheapest lunch in downtown Iowa City, but it probably tastes better than the cheapest lunch. read more

Finally got to try Nodo after hearing about it for the past 10 months from my wife and friends. We were pumped about finding her soup kitchen, but we officially have a new place to get sandwiches! Nodo, as described by others who have reviewed the place, is located just to the right of the Iowa City Ace hardware with entrances from both inside and outside. The design of the place is largely what you'd expect in a shop inside a hardware store. There is seating for about a dozen people and always plenty of papers to read while you wait. The sandwich board boasts roughly 20 choices, all of which are made before your eyes. They run the gammit from hippie loving veggie-ful to carnivorous delight! The bacon sandwich, the grilled cheese and the C&P are particularly lovely. I found myself chewing the C&P longer because the flavor was so good! The mustard combined with the rye, meats and graced with slaw is simply awesome. Standard beverage and chip selection along with a good amount of cookie and dessert options. Coffee is solid and the service is great. The art is that graces the walls is from the owner's kids and their classmates and make for good conversation pieces. Overall, this is a GREAT spot to stop for lunch. One of a few really good places for sandwiches in the area and one locale everyone should try! read more

Nodo - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

See all

Amazing hole-in-the-wall spot north of downtown IC. You enter NODO through the Ace Hardware store, which adds to the awesome ambience. You can't go wrong with any of the sandwiches, but my favorites are the #8 C&P and the #23 NODO Pork. Another location in downtown, but highly recommend coming here for the original NODO experience! read more

Nodo - an office with a chalkboard and a plant - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

It was one the first places I tried out in Iowa City. I really enjoyed it and recommend checking it out.

My favorite sandwich is the steak sandwich and my favorite location is the northside location inside ACE hardware. Its a small place but perfect to order ahead of time and pick up to eat outside or take home. Its a great way to stay safe during covid. I've never had a bad meal here and if you haven't tried them yet you should. I feel like they're one of iowa citys best kept secrets because not many people think of them when it comes to sandwiches. But its absolutely amazing and worth the wait or do like me and call ahead so you don't have to wait. read more

I was on the disappointed side with this one. Sandwiches are not sold with sides and didn't leave me thinking "that was the best damn sammie I've ever had!" Maybe it was the gruff demeanor of the guy at the cash register that through me off. I opted for the Asian inspired wrap with peanut sauce, coconut milk, spinach, shredded carrots, added chicken ($2) and bean sprouts. I imagine a healthy chunk of marinated tofu would kick this sandwich up a notch. I'll give it another try the next time I'm in town. Maybe it was my order. read more

Nodo - the outside of a restaurant on a sunny day - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

See all

It lived up to the hype. They got a great thing going: 1. Unique menu, stuff you don't see everywhere. 2. Quality ingredients. 3. Taste great, not Sysco processed taste. 4. Fresh made to order. 5. Large menu leaves you wanting more. 6. Looks like they may keep creating new sandwiches. This is a solid place that will only get better, I really want to try a few more of their sandwiches. Nice place to choose over the chain sandwich shops. read more

Passing through IC looking for a healthy lunch option and found Nodo on Yelp. Thought it was odd that the entrance was through the hardware store and I admit was very skeptical when we stepped foot into the establishment. I had ordered the turkey and apple salad and my husband ordered the Cobb salad wrap. Both were absolutely delicious! Definitely a very pleasant surprise. The ingredients were so fresh and definitely satisfied my needs for greens after the typical road trip fast food meals. I also ordered an almond milk latte. Was also impressed that this tiny place in the hardware store had almond milk! read more

Nodo - Turkey and apple salad. Very fresh and delicious. - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Took me a few laps around the block to realize that this amazing little sandwich shop was actually inside of an Ace hardware store! What it lacks in location it most definitely makes up for in taste. And where else can you grab a tasty lunch and pick up some plumbing hardware in the same stop?! I was recommended the corned beef pastrami swiss slaw sandwich on toasted rye and it was literally the best corned beef sandwich I have ever had. Not that I have had many to compare, but this thing was great. And to top it off I tried a 20oz glass of freshly blended blueberry lemonade. It was as delicious and refreshing as it sounds. I'm planning a trip back asap with my wife. I'll be trying the salmon or mushroom sandwich. Can't wait! read more

Nodo - Corned beef pastrami swiss slaw on toasted rye with blended blueberry lemonade! - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

These people are working their butts off to take care of their customers. The food is consistently good & well prepared. I hope their customers see how hard they are working in this Covid world to make sure everyone is safe. read more

This has become my favorite lunch and breakfast spot in Iowa City. Quirky, food-forward place where you enter through the Ace Hardware and hang a quick right into NoDo where you're immediately kissed with the smell of delicious food, made from scratch by people who love to weave together tastes from around the world. Love the soups. Love the veggie options, too. Mostly I love the artisan meats and fresh ciabatta rolls they're served on. Plus, NoDo is just outside the chaos and parking challenges of downtown Iowa City. Locally-owned, universally loved. read more

See all

I'm dubbing this Nodo location the official fuel provider of our home renovation! Previously, I thought it was odd to have such a delicious sandwich shop sharing a building with Ace Hardware, but now that my husband and I are putting every spare minute outside of work towards renovating the house we just bought, the partnership is just plain handy. In this phase of home renovation, I'm almost always exhausted or hungry - often both. So when I have to make yet another trip to Ace, a healthy and scrumptious bite to eat is exactly what I need. My all-time favorite order at Nodo is the Mushroom Sandwich (so soo good, but so soo messy!). I wish I could say I love their wraps as much as I love their hot sandwiches but I just don't. My most recent order was the Thai Peanut Wrap, vegetarian style, and it was good for a couple bites but then I was bored with it - perhaps a little marinated and grilled tofu would add just enough protein and flavor that it'd hit the spot. When on-th-go, this is the Nodo to visit. The menu is nearly the same as their downtown location, with far fewer people and easier parking. PS. let it be noted: Nodo is easily a contender for the best fries in Iowa City, and without a doubt the best sweet potato fries I've ever had! read more

See all

The best sweet potato fries and aioli in all of Iowa city!! A must go warm sandwich/panini joint.

Wow- these sandwiches are delicious! We have heard about this place for a while from family and it's one of the top-rated restaurants in Iowa City on Yelp so that has made it top of my list to try for a while. We stopped by one time on a visit and they were closed- I think it was a holiday. We were excited that it was open this weekend! My husband and his parents and I stopped in to get some sandwiches to go. The owner and other people working were very friendly. I got the chicken salad wrap and LOVED it. It was wrapped in a regular tortilla rather than a pesto one like the menu said but it was still really tasty. It had much less mayo than I was expecting (good thing) and had this delicious light tangy taste- maybe from the grapes? It was grilled chicken, a little celery, sliced red grapes, and a few almonds and probably a little mayo with a bunch of crisp romaine lettuce. I wish I lived nearby so I could get it again. Like today. My mother in law got the chicken artichoke sandwich and thought it was great. My father in law really enjoyed the steak sandwich (beef, caramelized onion, cheddar, and Guinness barbecue sauce mayo). My husband thought the turkey cranberry wrap was delicious. We were all really pleased with what we ordered. We saw that there were some extra menu items hanging under the menu board- my father in law was intrigued by the mushroom sandwich and I bet he'll get that next time if it's still on the menu. They make everything fresh while you wait. We didn't try any sides. Someone came in while we were waiting and bought several cookies- they seemed to be really affordable and looked tasty. Other people came in and the owner knew their names- I love that. I'm guessing Nodo has many regulars! We will definitely be back next time we are in town. read more

Such a great variety of sandwich options. I've only made it through a couple since they are so delicious that I keep ordering them over and over. The best place to grab a to-go order in Iowa City! read more

My boyfriend and I are in the process of moving across country and stumbled into Iowa City very hungry. Looked up food in the town and the first place we saw had awesome reviews... We became very unsure of the location when we pulled up to the Ace Hardware, but rest assured they only share a main door. The staff was super friendly and helpful. My boyfriend ordered the Steak Sandwich which he devoured, and I ordered the Bacon Sandwich... because BACON. We also ordered the blueberry lemonade. Both meals were delicious, super cheap for the quality of product served, also considering how jam packed they were of delicious meats! The lemonade was probably the best I've ever had... Why had I never thought to make blueberry lemonade?! Highly recommended! They also brought out a bowl of water for my cat. read more

Nodo - The bacon sandwich is amazing! - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Sweet potato fries with their aioli sauce are AMAZING! Chicken Artichoke Sandwich is definitely my fav sandwich from here

Nodo is certainly unlike any other restaurant you'll visit. It's in a tiny corner of the Ace Hardware store. While you'll have plenty of free close parking, you may want to get your lunch to go. There are 3 small high-top tables and that's it. There's usually a line so if you hope to get one of those tables you'd best come very early or very late. The menu consists of a wide variety of sandwiches and wraps. My personal favorites include the ham and mango, and the cobb wrap which includes turkey and bacon. The portions are all decent and the ingredients fresh and delicious. They do a lot of interesting food pairings in their sandwiches which work very well. Fries or sweet potato fries can be ordered on the side. Although you order at the counter, this is not fast-food. They will bring it out to you when it's ready and you will be very happy with what they deliver. The staff are all friendly and happy to help with any questions or special requests. This is a unique and special place. read more

LEGIT! Yummy fresh food. Lives up to the rating. Little corner shop that takes pride in what they serve. read more

Anywhere with sweet potato fries as good as theirs gets 5 stars in my book. Additionally, they get bonus points because their gluten-free sandwiches cannot be compared to ANYWHERE else in town. I love feeling like a normal person and being able to order almost anything on the menu and know I'll like it and they'll be able to make it gluten free. The staff has always been friendly and attentive and make me feel good about spending my money there. Hands down a must-try in Iowa City. Pro-tip for anyone getting lost going there, just find the giant Ace Hardware on Dodge street and its inside that building! :) read more

This place is SO Iowa city! Delicious! I came with my friend and we had the mango turkey sandwich and some fries. Very tasty for sure and a reasonable price for what you're getting. Go eat here!! read more

My star system: Three if I'd go back, four if I'd go out of my way, five if I wanted to be a regular. Not much seating, but the food is fresh, good and well priced. Friendly and helpful staff. First time I've ever eaten lunch in what is basically a hardware store! read more

Nodo - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

So good! Everything I've gotten there as been consistently amazing! I took a star away because the staff isn't always the friendliest and sometimes it seems like they don't want to be there but the food is great so what the hey. Also the manager routinely walks around to check on the customers and make sure they're enjoying the meal and I love that. read more

I used to live in this neighborhood so I was at Nodo all the time. It was so cool to tell my friends I was going to get lunch at a place inside an Ace hardware. Pretty much everything is good. The only thing to avoid is the mushroom sandwich. I've ordered this a few times and the mushrooms are way too wet and make the bread soggy. We make mushroom tacos at home and we always have to dry them really thoroughly to avoid this. read more

So glad we stopped here for a lunch as we were passing by Iowa City on I-80. It is near the university's campus. I had #18: turkey and apple salad with lots of different kinds of greens. Of course I had to try the blueberry lemonade and the sweet potato fries that previous reviewers said was so good. They're right! Both were delicious. read more

Yeah, it's in a weird location (well, you say weird, I say convenient - I always need hardware supplies), but whatever. Nodo is amazing. The sweet potato fries are to die for. Every sandwich and salad is either innovative & delicious or classic & delicious. And the service is wonderful - if you split an item with someone (I recently went out with a friend and we were only a little hungry, so we split a salad), they bring it out for you separately wrapped/presented! Because they are awesome. Support Nodo! We can't lose this place. read more

Pleasantly surprised by this inconspicuous diner serving a mean steak sandwich! Sweet potato fries and blueberry lemonade completes the Saturday afternoon. read more

Nodo - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Great fresh food! My husband I would always walk by this place and skim the menu but never would end up trying it. I read a yelp that they have the best fries-so I knew I had to try them. On our nightly stroll we decided to get the sweet potato fries with the aioli and they were delicious! So fresh, and not at all greasy! The following week we my husband and I decided to have lunch here. We got the Cajun Salmon Melt, the Fries and egg sandwich. All of them were delicious, the flavors were on point and the food was fresh! I would definitely go back to try more things! Also, the staff is super friendly and extremely nice, and make great recommendations!! I also hear they have the best cookies-so I will have to go back to try those! read more

Finally got to try Nodo today. Since I used to work in the sandwich industry, I'm always kind of skeptical of "gourmet" sandwiches since I know how to make a pretty damn good one myself. Nodo, while being on the pricey side for a sandwich place, did not disappoint. I got the BLT and the fries. Both were awesome but they were both made awesomer by the pesto mayo that was included with both. Holy f**king c**k balls that was the best goddamn mayo I've ever had. You could have given me a basket of dog shit with a side of that mayo and I would have been licking my fingers when I was done. My problem with this place is that they don't have a soda fountain. I did a thoughtful survey of the floor planned and determined that there may not be space for a soda fountain, but soda fountains are great and I think they could possibly build one that drops down from the ceiling like a periscope. Just a thought. read more

(Shameless plug time) I'm from Austin and I'd say this place contends with some of my favorite places in Austin that have gotten multiple commendations from chefs all over. I haven't been to Iowa in such a long time but I'm glad I found this spot when I did return. I've sampled 4 different sandwiches and loved every one of them. The Nodo steak, the Bacon, the Grilled Ham and Mango, and the Mushroom. Every single one of them is good but if I had to rank them, it would be Mushroom, Ham and Mango, Bacon and steak. The steak is fantastic but I've been on more of a vegetable kick lately. That's the only reason it's set lowest. The Bacon is fantastic, especially the tomato and pesto mayo in there. It combined all the ingredients in there and made the everything melt. Something about that mango relish, sweet, sour, all around good. It was one of those inexplicable things that you just accept and keep going, over and over and over again. The mushroom though. How do you take such basic ingredients and turn them into something that feels insanely savory but will not weigh you down? Fantastic. The staff is always friendly and always stop to converse with us when I have been. I tried it once and returned 3 times shortly there after. Screw the rest of the Iowa chain restaurants, this is the place to GO. read more

One of my absolute favorite food stops in IC! These guys are doing it right. I think their ingredients are sourced with an emphasis on organic/local. In any case, the veggies are always plentiful, fresh, and tasty in whatever sammy or wrap you choose. I don't ever feel guilty about ordering something with meat (hint: try the breakfast burrito which has chorizo - its steller here!). However, their veggie options will delight even the most serious carnivore. I always go to the location by the Ace Hardware. Its really small but you can dine in if you want. Everything is made when you order and I have never had to wait longer than 5 minutes for my food. My only complaint is that every time I finish my food I always wish there was more! The owner is really nice and is doing a great job. They have two locations now. This is a solid establishment in the IC :) read more

I gotta say, this little shop is really great. The sandwiches they serve here are deeeeeelicious! Now, this place is a tight little squeeze, with only about three high-top tables which are crowded up against the wall, so if you're dining in, be prepared to get cozy with your neighbors. Also, they do seem to run a little slow on the food prep here, but it could be that a)good things take time b) they were super busy with a line out the door , or c) just relax, unwind, don't worry about it. The prices seem to run between $6-$9 for most items on the menu, which, for a normal sized sandwich just two slices of bread, not a huge sub roll) might seem a little pricey, but honestly these sandwiches are worth the price. While I was there you could tell that the owner really had a connection to the neighborhood, lots of walk up traffic from locals, ppl on bikes, et cetera, and the owner seemed to know them all by name. Really left me with a nice feeling. There was a good amount of diversity in the clientele, but there did seem to be a lot of hipsters, a lot of them. Then again, that's just a side-effect of going to places in Iowa City. Don't let that dissuade you though, the food is great! SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS! read more

We have used Nodo several times for catering at work and they are great to work with. I have tried all the wraps at this point, and have a hard time picking a favorite. Probably the Hoisin Beef if I had to choose lest Rhode Island get hit with a nuclear device. read more

Love nodo. Their sweet potato fries with aioli dipping sauce is one of my favorite things. They have a goat cheese and butternut squash seasonal sandwich that is good. But my go to is their grilled cheese with tomatoes. Always delicious. read more

I'm on the fence with what we have been served since covid. It's just ok now. I'll still go, only occasionally now until they find their groove again. I miss their old menu. I'll only go to the downtown location as the Dodge st one is always closed. read more