Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is a city area of nearly 120,000 people that offers a wide variety of culinary treats. First time visitors will be glad to know that there are good choices of places to eat ranging from an English Pub that really knows how to make true fish and chips, to a nice sit down restaurant with award winning food and its own special microbrews. The wide variety of quality cuisine surprises many visitors, but is well known and appreciated by locals.
The Best Meat Market in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Nelson's Meat Market, located on Old Marion Road, is a combination of butcher shop, meat market, and deli that is a huge favorite among locals who enjoy great food. Not only does Nelson's offer the best in local pork and beef, but less conventional meat cuts such as buffalo and lamb are available. Additional side dishes are also available for purchase.
The deli section of Nelson's offers a wide range of food from pulled pork to fish sandwiches. Wednesdays are rib nights, where an entire thick rack of pork ribs are available for $20. These are the huge ribs with a lot of meat – not the small or thin ones. Despite not having prime location, the Deli is packed during lunch times.
The Best English Pub in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
The Londoner opened in spring of 2010 in Cedar Rapids, and brings a real English Pub to the city. Not only is there a wide array of English and Irish beers served along with more conventional American choices, but the menu is distinctly and authentically English. The fish and chips are recommended by the house, and may be the best within 100 miles. Chicken and chips are offered for visitors who don't like fish, and many other traditional English dishes like blood sausage and shepherd's pie are also on the menu.
The décor is very nice, with banners from several professional British soccer teams, and the televisions are all set to soccer during the FIFA World Cup. The owners are originally from England, and as the banner on the wall states: "Stay calm and carry on."
Xavier's: Cedar Rapids Hidden Gem
Xavier's is located right on First Avenue, only two blocks from Coe College. This is an unknown gem to many residents even in Cedar Rapids because of the outside aesthetics. Xavier's just has a small sign on the building, and looks like a gray dull box with no windows that many college students refer to as "the mafia place" because of the lack of windows and Italian sounding name.
Inside the walls are filled with black and white photographs of Cedar Rapids from the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. The bar stools, booths, and bar are all made from wood, and the menu offers some of the best pasta and pizza dishes in the city, in addition to a wide variety of other foods. Any fan of angel hair pasta and chicken fettuccine Alfredo will want to check out Xavier's.
Granite City
Granite City is located at the intersection of 1st Avenue and Collins Road, two of the most important streets in the city. Granite City has high end food and award winning beer brewed on site. While the restaurant is one of the fancier ones in Cedar Rapids, casual dress is acceptable. There is a solid wine menu to go with the microbrew and a wide array of high end dishes like six cheese sausage and rigatoni, veal parmesan, and basil & garlic flat bread pizza.
Granite City is considered by many to be the best restaurant in Cedar Rapids, and is great for an individual date, a family outing, or a group of friends celebrating or treating themselves. The food is a little bit more expensive than average compared to other establishments in Cedar Rapids, but still reasonable. Three people can eat with appetizers, full entrees, and beer for around $100 with tip included.
The Metro Chinese Buffet (Southwest side)
There are two Metro Chinese Buffets in the city of Cedar Rapids. The Metro Chinese Buffet on the Southwest side of the city, in the food and lodging district around 32nd Street, is the top buffet in the entire city. The Chinese dishes are surprisingly authentic, as the owners of the franchise and most of the staff are Chinese. The General Tso's Chicken, sweet and sour chicken, and black pepper duck are all very popular. There is also a mix of non Chinese dishes like salmon, meat balls, and a wide dessert bar offers many choices. The coconut desserts are especially well prepared.
Shane Dayton - I am a full time freelance writer since 2005 who loves the written word in every form. I make my living off of business writing, content ...
Join the Conversation