A suburb of Iowa City, Coralville,
Iowa is a lovely, small city steeped in history. Home to a Late Archaic site from 3,800 years ago, the present-day Coralville is a bustling, family-friendly community with a great food scene. Here are 10 places to try.
Backpocket Brewing Company
Founded in 2012, Backpocket Brewing Company specializes in German-inspired, handcrafted brews complemented by a tasty array of food. Within a spacious, open interior — 3,000 square feet — or outdoor patio, beer lovers can sample one (or more) of the 13 craft brews on tap. These include the Penny Whistle Hefeweizen with hints of clove and cinnamon, the Gold Coin Helles, a classic blond, plus specialty and seasonal varieties. As for tasty eats, the menu features appetizers, soups, and salads, including the giant soft pretzel served with spicy mustard and smoked gouda beer dip, plus pizzas, flatbreads, and sweet treats. Open every day, Backpocket offers free tours of the production facility weekdays at 6:30pm.
Backpocket Brewing Company, 903 Quarry Rd., Coralville, IA, USA, +1 319 466 4444
Casa Azul Restaurante y Cantina
Restaurant, Mexican, $$$
Casa Azul Restaurante y Cantina
Casa Azul Restaurante y Cantina is a welcoming restaurant featuring an array of authentic Mexican dishes. A beautiful interior space, complete with colorful decor and paintings that pay homage to Frida Khalo and Diego Rivera, enhances the cultural experience guests will have when visiting Casa Azul. Offering lunch and dinner every day, the menu is brimming with flavorful options that will delight diners whether they are meats lovers or vegetarians. Highlights include the milanesa, which is a breaded rib eye steak with fries, lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, plus tortillas, and chile rellenos with rice, beans, and tortillas. A variety of beverages plus sweet treats are also available.
Casa Azul Restaurante y Cantina, 708 1st Ave., Coralville, IA, USA, +1 319 338 2614
Chez Grace
Restaurant, French
Chez Grace
Serving dinner Tuesday through Sunday, Chez Grace is a lovely restaurant providing exquisite French cuisine. Owned and operated by Chef David Zaghloul, this intimate space, which seats 24, is beautifully decorated and features dim lighting, making it perfect for any occasion whether it be a night out with family and friends or a special celebration. Making everything to order, the chef prepares a weekly, prix fixe menu in order to reflect the freshest ingredients available. Recent dishes to note are the caramelized pear salad with Saint Rocco triple crème brie cheese and the sockeye salmon with truffle scented polenta, asparagus, and raspberry gastrique. To complement the meal, libations, including wine, along with desserts are offered. Reservations are recommended.
Chez Grace, 89 2nd St., Coralville, IA, USA, +1 319 338 1738
Exotic India
Restaurant, Indian, Dessert, $$$
Exotic India
As the name suggests, Exotic India specializes in flavorful Indian cuisine. Enticing customers with its aromatic dishes, the venue also presents an inviting, colorful interior creating a wonderful environment in which to savor a host of comforting dishes. Diners may choose to begin with the vegetable pakora, which are cauliflower, potato, and eggplant fritters. Follow this with the lamb saag with lamb and spinach cooked with ginger, garlic, plus herbs and spices or the vegetable kabobs, which are grilled in tandoor. Open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch plus dinner every night, Exotic India also offers a selection of specialty desserts and drinks.
Exotic India, 102 2nd Ave., Coralville, IA, USA, +1 319 354 4710
Iowa River Power Restaurant
Restaurant, American, Seafood, Steakhouse, Vegetarian, $$$
Iowa River Power Restaurant
Nestled inside a renovated, turn-of-the-century power plant, Iowa River Power Restaurant is a warm, inviting venue offering dinner every night along with Sunday brunch. Within a relaxing environment, complete with river views, guests will have access to a menu with everything from appetizers to entrées featuring beef, pork, seafood, and poultry to vegetarian dishes making it a place that everyone can enjoy. Highlights from the menu include the apple-glazed pork chop served with choice of sides, which can include spinach salad and seasoned new potatoes, the duck with raspberry sauce and choice of sides, and the pasta primavera in a cream sauce.
Iowa River Power Restaurant, 501 1st Ave., Coralville, IA, USA, +1 319 351 1904
Konomi Grill
Restaurant, Japanese, Sushi, $$$
Konomi Grill
Opened in 2008, Konomi Grill attracts diners with its selection of fresh sushi and other Japanese delicacies. Serving lunch Tuesday through Saturday and dinner every night, the grill’s menu is brimming with dishes for seafood lovers plus many entrees highlighting beef and poultry. Within a friendly atmosphere, diners can choose delicious options, such as the salmon teriyaki with shitake mushrooms, vegetable tempura, and steamed rice, the caramelized pork belly sandwich with yuzu aioli plus coleslaw, and the stir-fry yakisoba noodles with cabbage, carrots, plus a choice of vegetables, chicken, beef, or shrimp. Sake, Japanese beer, and handcrafted cocktails are also on the menu.
Konomi Grill, 843 Quarry Rd., Coralville, IA, USA, +1 319 351 2880
Petra Falafel House
Restaurant, Mediterranean, American, $$$
Petra Falafel House
Petra Falafel House is a budget-friendly restaurant serving the tasty Mediterranean specialty, falafel, along with other delights. This casual venue has everything from vegetarian options to dishes for meat lovers plus something for those guests with a sweet tooth. Highlights include the falafel pita with five falafel balls plus other ingredients wrapped in pita bread, the shish kabob platter with two skewers of a grilled beef-lamb mixture served with hummus, rice or fries, salad, and pita bread, and the chicken curry platter accompanied by pita and rice. Try these recipes and more for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday.
Petra Falafel House, 89 2nd St., Coralville, IA, USA, +1 319 354 2030
Pho Zaika
Have a craving for a big bowl of steaming pho? Pho Zaika is the place to go for this comforting dish. While specializing in pho, the venue also offers several other Vietnamese recipes that are sure to make mouths water. Open Tuesday through Saturday for both lunch and dinner, Pho Zaika’s notable dishes include the pho, which includes a choice of meat in a flavorful broth with rice noodles, onion, green onion, cilantro, and served with bean sprouts and sweet basil. It also offers the hearty com tam, which is rice with a pork chop marinated in garlic and fish sauce then grilled, a fried egg, a slice of egg-and-pork meatloaf, fresh cucumber, shredded pork skin, dipping sauce, and broth.
Pho Zaika, 2020 8th St., Coralville, IA, USA, +1 319 383 3953
Vesta
Restaurant, Mediterranean, Gluten-free, Spanish, Italian, American, $$$
Vesta
Vesta is a spacious restaurant serving Mediterranean-inspired dishes from France, Spain, Greece, Italy, and North Africa, all with an American twist. Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, Vesta also offers guests al fresco dining when weather permits. A varied menu along with gluten-free and dairy-free menus ensures that a wide range of tastes are catered for. Highlights include the Iowa elk stroganoff on a bed of penne pasta tossed with mushrooms, pearl onions, and tomato cream and the sweet potato napoleon, which is a pecan-sweet potato patty on black bean succotash with pineapple salsa. To complement the meal, cocktails, beer, and wine are also available.
Vesta, 849 Quarry Rd., Coralville, IA, USA, +1 319 338 3782
Waterstreet Coffee Bar
Bar, Coffee Shop, Tea
Waterstreet Coffee Bar
Jenny Henningsen’s passion came to fruition in 2013 when she opened Waterstreet Coffee Bar, which is open every day. A wonderful spot where people can enjoy comforting coffee drinks along with tasty eats, this coffee house is perfect for a gathering with friends or a relaxing solo outing. In addition to espresso drinks, including macchiatos and cappuccinos, a variety of non-coffee beverages, such as chai, hot cocoa, juice, and tea plus wine and beer, is also available. As for edibles, the menu features local sweet treats, including pastries and cookies, breakfast sandwiches, and small plates with the hummus and pita and the deviled eggs in both classic and curry varieties being highlights.
Waterstreet Coffee Bar, 925 E. 2nd Ave., Coralville, IA, USA, +1 319 351 9317
