One of the newest additions to the Cedar Rapids area is “The Bar” located at 1100 1st St. SW in the old Lucita’s locations already has a great buzz surrounding it! What seems to be a spin on just your everyday local bar, the FNF group has definitely taken that concept and added their own wonderful spin to it.
Yes, there’s cold beer, tons of TVs, an amazingly friendly staff, and a great clientele, but to add to that is a very short listed, but absolutely delicious menu! I’m here to tell you, the Tavern style pizza they serve is the best tavern style I’ve ever had!
The FNF group is led by Tim Kindl, Tim Oathout, Cale Henderson, and Justin Zehr. When you see the FNF sign you start to eagerly anticipate what spin this group is going to take. Well….along with the amazing pies, their smashburgers are incredible. Full flavored, (the onion burger is like the popular “Oklahoma” smash burger), and filling you will not walk away disappointed.
THE PIZZA A buddy and I decided to watch the NFL draft at “The Bar”. The place was packed, the TVs were plentiful, the beer was cold and they happened to have Thursday night special of buy 1 pie and get the 2nd half off. No brainer. We each ordered one. I ordered the FNF and he went with the LPSF. They both came out looking exquisite.Absolutely no flop on the pizza, crust was perfectly cooked with a great crunch, the toppings were spread perfectly and they both tasted amazing.
This is going to be one of those places where it’s going to be hard not to eat there a few times a week. Whether it’s the burger, the pizza, or just a few apps with some cold beers, “The Bar” is legit and will become a staple in my restaurant/bar destinations! It’s worth your time to check out!
BA Imperial Stout with Hazelnut, Coconut, Cinnamon, & Cacao Nibs
Bottles of ALL 2024 will be available for purchase in person at Lua next Saturday, October 5th, starting at 11AM. First come, first served, with limits determined at open. We will have a limited number of bottles available online via TOAST at 11AM as well. Proxies are allowed. Picking up for a proxy? Just be sure to have their name & order number ready for us when you’re picking up
We also put together a 5th Anniversary ALL-you-can-eat brunch buffet by Chef James & Chef Dutch on Saturday, October 5th from 9-11AM! A limited amount of brunch tickets are available live on Toast RIGHT NOW and will remain online until sold out. Link is right there in our bio!
Purchase of a brunch ticket gets you access to our AYCE brunch buffet from 9-11AM (closed to the public), ability to pre-purchase ALL 2024 bottles to beat the line, and participation in our bottle share (bringing a bottle to share is encouraged but not required!!)
Expect brunch classics like eggs benedict, burger sliders, classic hash browns, bacon & sausage, French toast, fresh fruit, and some other healthy stuff maybe.
Draft pours of ALL 2024 will be available for purchase Saturday 10/5 at open.
ALL again, once more, but for 2024. Perhaps our favorite BA release to date, and one we enjoy revisiting. This vintage of ALL 2024 was brewed, selected, and blended in celebration of our fifth anniversary.
I wrote this review for Little Village Magazine which you can check out by clicking HERE:
The latest venture from the group that brought you Lua Brewing company has seemingly taken over Grand Avenue in West Des Moines! Either/Or restaurant (6222 Grand Ave. Des Moines) opened their doors in early Fall of 2023 and has been consistently busy since.
“Lua is about craft beer and food. It was our first, so it’s always our baby, but it’s small. Either/Or is bigger on just about every scale. We still do craft beer and handmade food as well as we can, but we have cocktails, we have a private event space, we have a huge patio with green space and a playscape and five fire pits. We have twice as many team members and so much more space. At Either/Or, you can do date night or you can do family night or you can do Friendsgiving. It’s really flexible for any occasion,” said owner Scott Selix.
Their cuisine can be described as elevated American fare with the focus being on the quality of the food that they put out. All of their burgers are ground in house, juices squeezed fresh for their amazing cocktails, and the always fresh and never frozen concept. “We have a great team. Our head brewer, Zack, did the draft beer list with input from all of us. Our chefs, James and Cesar, did the food menu. And then it was a group effort on making high-end cocktails. So it was a collection of people. And the one thing they all had in common was we created what we like. The beer list has Bierstadt and Sierra Nevada and Confluence and Lua, but also High Life and Duchesse, because that’s what we like to drink. The food menu was a collection of foods we’ve been inspired by. Cesar, our chef de cuisine, is of Mexican heritage, and so there’s some fresh Mexican inspired dishes. But he and James love Asian food as well, so there’s some Asian influence. We also make homemade bologna, which is a very lengthy process and is distinctly European/American. We grind our own burgers everyday, and we only source 100% Iowa-sourced Certified Angus Beef. We pretty much said “let’s create a restaurant we’d want to dine at,” and that’s what we did! So the food is approachable, but unlike stuff you’ll find elsewhere and always homemade (see the Bologna).”
On why the ownership group chose this particular location for Either/Or, Selix responded, “It’s actually just barely east of the WDM border, so still in Des Moines by about 100 yards. But I played soccer at the soccer fields just south of Either/Or. Some partners on the building showed us the space and once whit and I saw it, we were set on it being a restaurant. Those partners live within walking distance, so they saw potential in the building. And then we saw it right away too. The huge patio, the connection to my old soccer club, the great location on Des Moines’ front porch from WDM, it all came together pretty quick with the tremendous team we have.”
On this particular Friday, I had the pleasure of taking my two daughters with me to check out this restaurant. They are both familiar with Lua Brewing as we’ve frequented that place many times, and so when I told them the owners of Lua(Scott and Whitney Selix) have opened a restaurant and we are going to get to try it tonight, they were extremely excited. Upon entering, you are greeted with colorful and eclectic decor. The bar pops and the open kitchen gives you an inside look at how your dishes are put together. A very cool, casual, and comfortable feel right away.
We were seated immediately, although the place was already very busy. The menu had many options that appealed to us so limiting what to order was a tall task for 3 hungry patrons. The beer list was loaded with delicious options, noticing that Lua had multiple beers on tap made my decision easy though.
BEER I went with their latest double IPA, Dancer. Although it checks in at 8.6% ABV, it’s scarily drinkable and I had to convince myself to not order another. I love the hop combo on this beer and the creamy texture it brings. Lua makes some of the best beers in Iowa and this one is right up there for me as a favorite. Fantastic beer, a beer of the year candidate for sure!
APPETIZER
Quite a few delicious options on the appetizer portion of the menu, but the clear cut favorite that my daughter’s chose were the Mexican cheese curds. If cheese curds are on the menu, there’s a 99% chance that my kids would have me order them. These cheese curds, however, were very much more inspired than just your basic fried cheese curd. House battered and served with pickled fresno chiles, cilantro and a chipotle ranch dressing these were some of the best cheese curds any of us had ever eaten. The perfect bite consisted of a curd, a pickled fresno, and a leaf of cilantro with just a tiny bit of dressing. It hit all the taste buds. A great dish.
MAIN COURSE
We decided to do a bit of sharing and order a couple of sandwiches. I asked our waiter what Either/Or was known for besides the smash burgers, the fried bologna was recommended. I also wanted to try a vegetarian dish so I got the Italian mushroom sandwich. This bologna sandwich is unlike any you have had. It’s not your Oscar Meyer bologna sandwich. It’s made in house and the flavor is off the charts. Almost a pepperoni spice to it, it melts in your mouth and they stack this sandwich high with it. An excellent sandwich. The mushroom melt made you forget you weren’t eating meat. Loaded with perfectly cooked mushrooms and topped with a delicious homemade giardiniera and a side of jus, this sandwich would be perfect for not only a vegetarian diet, but even the biggest carnivores can get behind a sandwich this tasty!
DESSERT There was no question what dessert we were going to order. My kids have been rice pudding lovers since they were little. Either/Or’s rice pudding was extraordinary. Either/Or added some apple compote and then topped their pudding off with a sesame tuile, which is a baked wafer. A great final dish to cap off a really wonderful meal.
OVERALL I’m really excited to see what Either/Or brings to their menu and what they will come up with for their seasonal offerings. Their menu is ever changing and the way they play with fresh ingredients and the detail put into their dishes is commendable and appreciated. This place will be consistently busy, their food is delicious and approachable. This ownership group is doing all the right things and they continue to set the bar high for other establishments. If you are in the West Des Moines area, this is a must stop for a truly wonderful meal!
The latest restaurant endeavor from the creative minds of FNF restaurant group will be officially opening their doors to the public this coming Tuesday! (4/18) Taco Gato (209 3rd St. SE) is the newest restaurant in downtown Cedar Rapids and features spins on Mexican and southern cuisine.
I was lucky enough to be invited to the soft opening this past Friday night and was joined by three kids. The decor of the place is definitely Mexican inspired and my kids enjoyed seeing the array of Luchador wrestling masks around the restaurant. The bar was dimly lit as light from the beautiful stained glass showcased the many bottles of booze that go towards the many cocktails Taco Gato offered.
Upon seating and seeing the menu my kids are instantly drawn to anything that reads “queso”. So, a starter of salsas (red/traditional + tomatillo) along with guac and the ever popular queso. Chips were delicious and well seasoned. I’m a sucker for tomatillo salsa and would put it on about anything. A great start to the meal. Queso didn’t stand a chance.
I let the kids decide what to order as my focus automatically goes to fish tacos and pastor tacos. My son went with the fried crawfish tacos but also wanted to try the shrimp and grits, and my daughters went with the gumbo. Enough to feed an army but grateful my kids are willing to try and experience new foods.
The flavor on every single dish was out of this world. The fish tacos were perfectly cooked….crunchy and a delicious batter. Your taco orders of two come in a bento style serving box accompanied by delicious refried beans, rice, and fried edamame. I’ll get the fish tacos every time! Pastor were just as good…fresh pineapple pico and perfectly cooked pork. I was lucky enough to get a small bite of the fried crawfish tacos as my son isn’t exactly the best at sharing meals, especially when they taste as good as this.
The gumbo was excellent. A dark roux with copious amounts of crawfish and chorizo. Wonderful and filling! The star of the show that everyone raved about however was the “Almost Shrimp and Grits”. Cotija creamed corn, chorizo, collards, and enough blackened shrimp to feed an army. So much flavor, so delicious. Besides the tacos, if there’s a dish that Taco Gato can use as a calling card it may be this one!
Overall: Another wonderful dining experience. It’s what you come to expect from the FNF restaurant group…wonderfully talented, creative, and inspired dishes that make visiting their establishments an always memorable experience. Can’t recommend enough, opening Tuesday to the public! Cheers!
It’s always fun when you are traveling through a big town or city and see a random restaurant/bar/tavern pop up on a neighborhood corner far seemingly far removed from the chains that have taken over main drag USA. Heading down a street in the Oak Hill Jackson neighborhood in downtown Cedar Rapids and seeing a lovely sign of a cow with a halo over its head was a welcomed sight! Sacred Cow Tavern was calling my name and I couldn’t wait to answer!
Opened in October of 2022 as a the brainchild of the FNF restaurant group, this restaurant has quite a history, including being a church a few different times! This restaurant group is known for a wide range of food items that can satisfy any diet and they’ve done an amazing job incorporating vegan/vegetarian dishes to be part of their main menu as well. Appetizers, smash burgers, sandwiches, wings, salads and much more with a wonderfully revamped image of those dishes and executed perfectly as well as their vegan/vegetarian options that are more than just a black bean burger, this menu is packed with flavor.
The ambiance upon walking in gives you complete comfort, a homey vibe and a place where you don’t necessarily want to leave. First point of order….BEER…..need to check out the beer menu. Although Sacred Cow does not have any tap beer, they do offer a variety of cans from local breweries plus a fully stocked bar for mixers and wine. I went light, a Backpocket 319 lager, knowing that I was going to be putting some food away.
It was restaurant week and so, like many other local establishments, Sacred Cow had a few specials that they were advertising. One special was Elote Chicken Wings. If you’re not familiar with elote, it’s a popular Mexican street dish of corn on the cob slathered in mayo/cream sauce dusted with chili powder and cilantro. Sacred Cow took the sauce dimension, added some grilled corn and cilantro to their extremely crispy chicken wings and final result were some of the best and most creative wings I’ve had! Hoping these find their way to the menu!
The other special item for “Restaurant Week” was a walking taco smashburger. I’m a lover all of kinds of burgers and smashburgers are always hard to pass up, add walking taco ingredients to it and I’m sold. A smashed patty, perfectly cooked, topped with cheese, doritos, a cilantro lime crema and lettuce was more than a mouthful in every bite! Excellent burger, something I would order again.
Overall, this is a place I hope to be a patron of for a long time to come and I hope many more neighborhood bars begin popping up in our area. Sacred Cow Tavern is definitely a welcoming place for any and all! Cheers!
If there is any better way to throw a beer tasting event by handing out “Golden Tickets” I have yet to see one. Blackstone restaurant in Iowa City, IA held their Stout Night last night by giving golden tickets to customers who paid $25 to enjoy different stouts. Which leads to this:
A great lineup of brews to accompany a few appetizers made for a great night of fun. The lineup of beers was headlined by North Coast brewings’ Barrel-Aged Old Rasputin XV. At 11.9% ABV it was definitely a sipper but the scary thing about this beer is how smooth and drinkable it is. Nice chocolate flavor that goes perfectly with the vanilla flavor that comes from the barrel aging. Terrific beer to go with Blackstone’s chocolate ganache cupcake. Before I jumped on the North Coast pour I started with Toppling Goliath Brown Sugar. Not a stout, I know, but I’m really glad Blackstone decided to have this in the lineup to showcases some Iowa beers. This brown was a bit different from most browns I’ve had as it had a much deeper roasted flavor than others. Very enjoyable and I hope to have access to this brew in the future. Next, I moved on to Green Flash Double Stout. I had yet to have this beer and to enjoy it on tap was very rewarding. This is what a stout should be like; rich, smooth, creamy, and very drinkable. Not boozy like some double or imperials, just bold and flavorful.
Bell’s Expedition Stout was up next and beside the Old Rasp this was probably the highlight of my night. Roasted malts, chocolate, and coffee dominate the palate with this beer. 10.5% ABV is in the aroma more than the taste making this dangerously drinkable. Awesome beer!
Overall, my wife and I give this a big thumbs up and are looking forward to more events at Blackstone. The wait staff, the menu, the beers all make this a great place to enjoy an evening of eating and beer drinking.
If there is any better way to throw a beer tasting event by handing out “Golden Tickets” I have yet to see one. Blackstone restaurant in Iowa City, IA held their Stout Night last night by giving golden tickets to customers who paid $25 to enjoy different stouts. Which leads to this:
A great lineup of brews to accompany a few appetizers made for a great night of fun. The lineup of beers was headlined by North Coast brewings’ Barrel-Aged Old Rasputin XV. At 11.9% ABV it was definitely a sipper but the scary thing about this beer is how smooth and drinkable it is. Nice chocolate flavor that goes perfectly with the vanilla flavor that comes from the barrel aging. Terrific beer to go with Blackstone’s chocolate ganache cupcake. Before I jumped on the North Coast pour I started with Toppling Goliath Brown Sugar. Not a stout, I know, but I’m really glad Blackstone decided to have this in the lineup to showcases some Iowa beers. This brown was a bit different from most browns I’ve had as it had a much deeper roasted flavor than others. Very enjoyable and I hope to have access to this brew in the future. Next, I moved on to Green Flash Double Stout. I had yet to have this beer and to enjoy it on tap was very rewarding. This is what a stout should be like; rich, smooth, creamy, and very drinkable. Not boozy like some double or imperials, just bold and flavorful.
Bell’s Expedition Stout was up next and beside the Old Rasp this was probably the highlight of my night. Roasted malts, chocolate, and coffee dominate the palate with this beer. 10.5% ABV is in the aroma more than the taste making this dangerously drinkable. Awesome beer!
Overall, my wife and I give this a big thumbs up and are looking forward to more events at Blackstone. The wait staff, the menu, the beers all make this a great place to enjoy an evening of eating and beer drinking.
Usually, when Fall winds down I fall into a deep depression that I’m facing the seasonal hell of winter brews; probably my least favorite besides summer brews. I know I can continue to drink stouts, porters, etc. but coming off a high of fantastic Octoberfests and pumpkin ales it’s tough to get excited about winter ales…..until now…………. Just got my newsletter from Sam Adams and they are bringing two new brews to their winter lineup. A new white ale and a gingerbread stout! Check it out!
Source: Boston Beer Company Newsletter
“As the temperature continues to drop and we inch closer towards the winter season, we have been busy brewing a variety of styles that perfectly suit these colder days. Early November will mark the beginning of one of our long standing favorites, Winter Classics. This year’s lineup will include Samuel Adams Boston Lager®, Winter Lager, Old Fezziwig Ale®, Holiday Porter, Chocolate Bock and a brand new holiday brew, >White Christmas.
An unfiltered white ale brewed with holidays spices (cinnamon, nutmeg and orange peel), White Christmas brings together the familiar citrus and wheat characters of a white ale with classic warming holiday spices. This limited edition winter brew can be found in the Winter Classics variety pack as well as in its own 6-pack.
We’re also excited to introduce Samuel Adams® Merry Mischief, a gingerbread stout, as the latest addition to our small batch brews. Only available for a short time starting in November, this rich, dark gingerbread stout bursts with the aromas of the holidays. The smooth sweetness and heartiness of dark roasted malts and a touch of wheat combine with rich warming spices like cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, & ginger to create the essence of gingerbread for a spicy and festive holiday treat.”
Usually, when Fall winds down I fall into a deep depression that I’m facing the seasonal hell of winter brews; probably my least favorite besides summer brews. I know I can continue to drink stouts, porters, etc. but coming off a high of fantastic Octoberfests and pumpkin ales it’s tough to get excited about winter ales…..until now…………. Just got my newsletter from Sam Adams and they are bringing two new brews to their winter lineup. A new white ale and a gingerbread stout! Check it out!
Source: Boston Beer Company Newsletter
“As the temperature continues to drop and we inch closer towards the winter season, we have been busy brewing a variety of styles that perfectly suit these colder days. Early November will mark the beginning of one of our long standing favorites, Winter Classics. This year’s lineup will include Samuel Adams Boston Lager®, Winter Lager, Old Fezziwig Ale®, Holiday Porter, Chocolate Bock and a brand new holiday brew, >White Christmas.
An unfiltered white ale brewed with holidays spices (cinnamon, nutmeg and orange peel), White Christmas brings together the familiar citrus and wheat characters of a white ale with classic warming holiday spices. This limited edition winter brew can be found in the Winter Classics variety pack as well as in its own 6-pack.
We’re also excited to introduce Samuel Adams® Merry Mischief, a gingerbread stout, as the latest addition to our small batch brews. Only available for a short time starting in November, this rich, dark gingerbread stout bursts with the aromas of the holidays. The smooth sweetness and heartiness of dark roasted malts and a touch of wheat combine with rich warming spices like cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, & ginger to create the essence of gingerbread for a spicy and festive holiday treat.”
