What a delightful dining experience! We dined in the outdoor patio, and the weather was equally delightful. Our waitress was attentive, pleasant, and fun. I ordered the rack of lamb, it was amazing! Literally like butter, no knife needed, cooked to perfection, the most tender lamb ever! The owners came by the table to greet and welcome us. Made us feel very special. Don't let the pricey menu deter your visit; it is well worth it. And the desserts, leave room! Full liquor bar and an amazing wine list for your choice. This is a gem for downtown Kalona! read more

This was a charming restaurant with excellent service and excellent food. We had two of the pasta dishes and they were phenomenal. There were only two issues I had concerns with. The first one is the entrance. That is definitely a hazard for both staff and customers. Customers are walking directly in the path of the staff coming out with dishes. Bad design there. You can see the main entrance was ultimately closed in order to accommodate more seating. The other issue is the noise level. That was quite bad as well due to the close proximity of the tables and overall size of the restaurant. I'm sure in the summer this might not be as bad due to the patio portion of the restaurant. Neither will hinder me returning. The food is amazing! read more

See all

We snagged a last-minute Friday night reservation at 5 PM, and from the start, the service was amazing. The staff was super friendly, and they were incredibly attentive--our water glasses never even got close to empty. For starters, we had the crab cakes--not the freshest I've had, but still flavorful with a fun spin that made them enjoyable. The real MVP of the night? The Acumen Napa Valley Cabernet 2018. This wine was insanely smooth and balanced, making every sip a perfect pairing for our meal. For mains, we got the Australian lamb chops (cooked beautifully to medium rare--juicy and flavorful) and the shrimp scampi with added roasted mushrooms, which was fresh, light, and seasoned quite well. We concluded the evening with a slice of lemon cream cake -- a refreshing and flavorful way to end the meal, though not the most memorable dish of the night. The ambiance is super cute and high class and cozy. Great for a date night. We spent about an hour and a half dining, and overall, Tuscan Moon is a fantastic choice for a solid meal with great service and delicious wine. Definitely worth coming back for! read more

See all

Service was frequent. Food was delicious. Ambiance was relaxed and fun. The boy issue was We ordered penne and received fettuccine. Noodles are noodles but.... read more

Great service and great food. Had a wonderful lunch and the burgers are 1/2 pound with chips made at the restaurant and fresh. Everything on the menu sounds very appealing. I would love to go back over and over just to try new things on the menu that i cannot get else wear. read more

Yummy lunch, outdoor seating, dog friendly, sweet staff, lovely, quaint,cozy setting. Can't ask for more! Oh, and nice prices too.

The place was very nice , great food , a little pricy but what ruined it was they sat us right next to the bathroom when the room was empty. Not much thought given. It was not good. Ruined my dinner for myself and family. read more

This place is great and a real gem in the heart of downtown Kalona , the food and service are stellar, it has that historic old brick building charm, the kitchen does top notch work. read more

The food was excellent and so was the service! They cooperated with me superbly in celebrating the 50th anniversary of my proposal to my wife! I can't say enough on how positive the experience was. They were great!!! read more

Tuscan moon is a place we've been hearing about for year and after finally making it down, it lived up to the hype. The restaurant is located in downtown Kalona inside a renovated, old hotel. The entrance is through their patio area at the back of the place, but it's worth staying on the patio if the weather permits. We sat outside on a nice summer evening and with a light breeze, it was very pleasant. We stepped inside to take a look at the decor and it was quite impressive. Darker woods, some great, rustic furniture and mirrors as well as nice lighting set the ambiance for dinner and will impress the antiquarian in you (had to look that one up!). The bar was especially impressive and worth checking out. Upstairs were an additional small dining room and my favorite room in the entire place - the lounge. It's a waiting room with a small bar, some great tables and overall, a really unique feel to it - the sort of place you'd love to sit and enjoy a glass of neat scotch. Put a couple big leather chairs in here and I'd camp out all night! Back to the food now. The wine selection and beer selections are both pretty extensive. The wines included both standard choices as well as a good number for the more refined palate. The beer selection included the standard brews as well as plenty of specialty beers including the Trappiste #10 - the best beer ever ever! The selection of entrees ranged from $10 - $26 and included a half dozen pastas and 8 or so meat options, the majority of which were steaks - score! Between the four of us, we had the pasta bolognese - excellent and not too heavy, the pasta w/ dill salmon - fantastic flavor with a good amount of creaminess, but not so much that you were tasting it hours later, and a rib eye - a good steak, made great by the bleu cheese. The pastas were served al dente and they definitely got it right. The roasted garlic risotto as a side was straight awesome. It was flavorful, relatively light, and a perfect amount to share. The chef here apparently was at Lincoln cafe in the past, but got sick of the drive - Tuscan Moon wins! The five star bump here came from the atmosphere that was created with the addition of the live classical guitarist. We found out they have live music every Saturday in the summer and it really created a great feel for the place. The overall package of food, service, and ambiance made for the sort of experience we've found in many of the small town restaurants surrounding Iowa City. I'm excited to come back here in the winter when we'll get a better feel for what it's like inside. read more

See all

We LOVE this restaurant for so many reasons. The outdoor seating in the spring and summer is amazing. Perfect ambiance. The inside is also amazing. But the food is so good here. Their specials are always fantastic, with a great variety each time we've been there to eat. The 'off the menu" is always wonderful. Get the side of the cabbage and bacon! To die for....If you like dessert...have a tough time picking...share the chocolate cake...it's a massive slice of yummy. But the one thing I truly love here is the service. The owners are often there and greet or talk to everyone. The servers are wonderful. Can't think of a better place to visit in the Washington/Johnson Co area. Fine dining at its VERY best! read more

Awesome lunch. It's an eclectic kind of place with many rooms and spaces. Had lunch around 1.30 on a cold wintery day and the place was pretty full. I went with the appetizer crab cake and a cup of soup. The crab cake had a really delicious aioli paired with it. It was really good! I cannot wait to eat the other crab cake that brought home as a leftover. They are good with allergies and made the adjustments with the salmon sandwich so it was gluten and dairy free. Everything tasted fresh and the food seemed more elevated than the normal grill food. Next time, dinner! Great place in a small town. read more

Stopped on our way through Kalona, and discovered a gem. We'll be back. Service was friendly and fast. Menu is simple, but done well.

Ambience is fantastic. Wine selection is stellar. But the food was overpriced, uninventive, and salty! salty! salty! Also, servers really need to be trained on proper table side wine service . read more

Very nice atmosphere, one of the best I have seen. Classy set up, very quiet area, nice music playing, really impressed. The menu is very nice, has a lot of good choices. I love the fact that it is off the beaten path, I like going to places that you can travel a lil ways and enjoy the whole experience. read more

We love this place, great atmosphere and our food is always good. We ate on the covered patio and our Mushroom appetizers, Salmon and Shrimp and Scallops were delicious. We shared a huge piece of cheesecake for dessert. Couldn't have asked for a better meal to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. read more

See all

Love this restaurant and the patio. Service excellent and food worth every penny! We love visiting with friends and family! You can't go wrong! read more

We decided to take a road trip to Kalona today and decided to try out the Tuscan Moon Restaurant.It has been awhile since we have eaten here, but we were always been pleased with food & service.Today was no exception. We had called ahead and had a reservation & we were seated fairly quickly outside. The outside seating area is quite nice and offers shade as well as plenty of space between tables. I ordered the salmon sandwich and my partner order the rueben. Both were delicious! We are anxious to come again soon in the evening with friends. read more

Very limited menu. Reservations are limited due to staffing and training issues. Wine service completely with out training & bungled. Service nearly non existed, slow with long waits to check table needs. Food not delivered as ordered and not cooked as requested. Steaks over cooked. Two sides offered with meal from a selection of six. Four of the six were potato preparations. Menu pricing would have you think of being in New York. Several years ago was a good experience, not now. read more

Really nice seating and beautiful outdoor seating also! Food is super tasty and the staff were really friendly

One good appetizer (pork belly), one over priced appetizer (2 tablespoons on smoked whitefish dip with 1/2 a pita and WAY too much lemon), overcooked pasta with chicken from a freezer, and salmon cooked to the consistency of cat food. We had to ask the bartender for our bottle of wine that sat on the bar while we finished the appetizers we ordered to pair with the wine. Plenty of staff, terrible service. read more

Tuscan Moon does NOT hit your eye like a big piece of pie. And it's NOT amore. It kinda flops against you like a limp noodle and is a-mediocray. First of all, talk about weird. It's in Kalona in the heart of Amish country but is this kinda sophisticated, Italian date spot? *blinks* The crux of business in this area is for visitors day shopping like antiques, quilts, jams, scented candles, yarn...that usual hokey jive. It looks like a converted house (and I bet it is) all spruced up. So a group of us went to the souped up cottage on a slightly off dining hour (2:30pm) and entered the foyer, to a hall w a host stand no one was at, to the first dining room to ask to be seated. A man and woman working seemed rather flustered by this. I found this odd since there was only one other smaller group and they were in the other dining area. Push 2 tables together, we will all be ok. After they endeavored this task we were sat. In spite of being dead the service lagged. Another thing that irks me.. While the service was snail city the manager guy sat near us and was using his laptop. I discussed this matter w a friend (who's on yelp too) and we agreed its unprofessional and off putting when staff sit by you while you dine. It's a total "that's me in the corner! That's me in the spotlight!" moment and awkward. Plus made him look wack seeing as we waited for refills and such. Everyone ordered different things except 2 women ordered burgers and fries. I think they all liked their meals but weren't like blown away. But who care's right? I got a flatbread pizza that was pretty good. Perfect portion size, fresh toppings that played well off each other. My meal was clearly the envy of the table. Unfortunately, Tuscan Moon is eclipsed by it's dodgy service and awkward concept for the area. read more

For Kalona, this place is great. It's Kalona-nice, Kalona-fancy, and does a pretty good job of living up to the reviews. Atmosphere - it's great! Very clean & classy. Servers are friendly and professional, and well-dressed. Food - the flavor is there, but the presentation is lacking. With just a little more effort and flare, they could really have something great going on here. But side dishes lack garnishes, and overall plate presentation is a bit sloppy. The price points are high - which would be fine if the rough edges were smoothed out a bit, but there's no way the restaurant would survive in Iowa City proper, especially compared with places like Linn Street Cafe or Devotay. read more

Tuscan Moon is our favorite restaurant in Iowa City. Yes, we know it's not in Iowa City but it's better than anything in Iowa City and only about a 20 minute drive away. Whenever we want a nice meal out, we will drive to Kalona to eat here. And plus, Kalona is super cute! We have eaten here several times and have always had excellent food, wonderful service, and great wine. Highlights on the menu are the crab cakes, lamb chops, dill salmon pasta, and the lemon cake. Oh, the lemon cake. They often have really great specials. Everything has a lovely presentation and is tasty, tasty, tasty. I wish my stomach was bigger when I eat here. And the wine list is extensive, and if you need a suggestion, the owners are very helpful. So this place is awesome! Very nice, homey feeling, patio seating when the weather's nice. Call for reservations even if you don't think you don't need them because it can be busy even on a random Thursday night. read more

Only here for desserts. We had the chocolate cake, cheese cake & tiramisu. The chocolate cake was very chocolatey, the cheese cake we added berries & the tiramisu was perfect. Glad we were able to have a few different desserts. read more

It's simple, this is the best restaurant if you want a great meal and great atmosphere. The owners are fantastic people. My wife and I moved here from NY and we love hinging out at Tuscan Moon. Sit outside, drink from the fantastic selection of wines and enjoy the night! read more

A fantastic little surprise awaits you in Kalona IA. Great food, wine list, bar, chef, with high quality HOMEMADE recipes from sandwiches to near gourmet entrees. Try the Rueben, or the pasta Carbonara. Yeah, see what I mean? Great Job, by people that care. read more

I come here for my tiramisu and wine night out with a few. Food is always quality and the couple always there. Takes care of everything. I love the high back booths. read more

Note: Lunch rating only Small Amish/Mennonite community off the beaten path. Limited menu, but what's there seems quite good. The black bean/chicken/garlic soup was excellent. Nice wine selection. 4 stars considering the limited menu was for lunch and I don't know their dinner offerings We will be going back to try their dinner at some point. read more

Tuscan Moon - Dining room is original old hotel lobby. - Italian Near Me - Kalona, Iowa

Our first experience there. The patio was a lovely environment. Interior was kept to the original building and absolutely lovely. There were 8 of us and we all ended up ordering something different. There was not a complaint to be heard. Of course we had to try the desserts. We ordered 1 of each. Let me tell you they were ALL amazing. Not sure which one was my favorite. Our group immediately has decided we will plan a trip in the winter and experience this again because it is SO worth it!!!! read more

The moon fish special was excellent. Wonderful atmosphere, excellent food, prices ok. Totally enjoyed this.

We went to Tuscan Moon last night and I was so angry that no one was wearing masks. When we had been there 3 weeks ago everyone was wearing masks including all wait staff and the owners. What happened? I was so disappointed since this has always been one of my favourite restaurants. Get a clue! If you are going to try to be an upscale restaurant, wear masks!! read more

Great sevice! Delicious food! Must have dessert while your here. Cheesecake was the best. They do holiday parties too! We will be coming back! read more

Had a great lunch experience last Saturday! My only critique would be that the honey mustard sauce on the chicken wrap was fairly spicy. It wasn't unbearable but high on the spice content for honey mustard sauce. The portions are just a smidgen smaller then average but reasonably priced. read more

Everything about this place is special, starting with the owners, Warren and Paula, who are two of the warmest people you will ever meet. The Tuscan Moon is their labor of love and it shows. The restaurant is beautiful and, during the summer, the patio is even more inviting. The kitchen, manned by Ben and his capable staff, turns out inventive and consistently delicious food. Warren's wine list is impressive, carefully chosen, and attractively priced. This is the kind of place that leaves you with a warm glow and a desire to return again and again. By your second or third visit, you'll be greeted as a regular. The Tuscan Moon is a treasure. That it thrives in little Kalona, Iowa is a miracle. read more

This is a sophisticated, upscale but unpretentious restaurant, with superb food and atmosphere. Easily worth the trip from Cedar Rapids or farther.Two standout things: the steaks (perhaps best in Eastern Iowa) and the wines. But everything I've tried has been prepared perfectly. I was amazed by the most extensive wine list I've seen in Iowa, especially with fine California wines. Friendly, accommodating service is also part of the hometown charm. A very talented acoustic guitarist on weekends compliments the warmth of the staff and surroundings. Costs a little more, but so worth it. read more

Well seasoned food but overpriced. The pasta didn't seem as authentic as we were hoping to relive our time in Italy. Shrimp in the pasta however was amazing. Too long of a drive to go back again. read more

Came back to visit my parents, I live in San Diego now. We drove in from over by Williamsburg. What a great experience. Beautiful place and the live music we had on a Saturday night was delightful. Our service was amazing, never an empty glass. Huge portions for great prices. The wine selection and prices were surprisingly amazing. Would recommend the crab cakes as a must have. read more

See all

Ordered the following: * Pork Belly - Melts in your mouth * Soup of the day - Creamy and Fresh; Very Hearty too * Rib-eye - One juicy steak cooked to perfection * Shrimp & Scallops - Large and succulent If I could give it 6 stars I would. Atmosphere was amazing with a great guitarist playing soft tunes. It honestly doesn't get any better. Quite possibly my favorite restaurant in all of USA. I would definitely return to Kalona just for this. read more

So we returned and this place just went downhill. You would expect them to put in extra effort on NYE but that wasn't the case. This time, the food was bad (as was the service), and the prices were steep (as usual). We returned home disappointed. They blew their second chance. Not planning on going back to that place! read more