St. Burch Tavern, Iowa City, IA - Part II, Dinner

As I was heading back to Omaha recently, I decided to break up the drive by stopping in Iowa City for the night. And high on my list of dinner spots was going back to St. Burch to try something of the evening menu. Am I glad I did...

... beer after driving?! Yes, please.

Coming out of Cedar Rapids, IA - the Lion bridge Work Comp was very very good. Starting off strong, St. B!

Then onto the main menu... Me hungy! PS - who doesn't love the font and vibe of this menu!?

As it was rainy, windy and cold out, I wanted something filling, healthy-ish, and eaten with a fork & knife (aka, fancy). What would you have gotten?...

I also had my eye on a dessert...

I went with the Salmon & a side salad - it was all very good. Can't find a fault in anything.

And how could I say no to a banana split?! It was only $1 more than the other dessert items, so I "splurged". Like the main, this was very good as well. It wasn't three-feet of split either, just a simple banana and a couple scoops of ice cream. Dare I say "dainty"?

As I've said before, if you're inthe area, stop at this place, it's that good. I haven't even tried their fresh seafood on offer, like mussels, clams, crab, etc. They even do the ole "seafood tower". Fun.

Quinton's Bar & Deli, Iowa City, IA

I've been coming through or driving near Iowa City for about 12 months now, since a job change, and have been told many times that I should stop on the drive here at Quinton's for lunch. They are known for their sandwiches, local brews, and close-to-campus location. I was able to stop in recently for lunch and found just that - the place does seem to be a perfect campus dive-bar, with great food and plenty of beers on tap.

They have a pretty big menu of classic bar apps, burgers and sandwiches (it is right next to the University of Iowa afterall - known your customer)... but they also have curated a selection of sandwiches I can't say I've seen anywhere else. Unique combinations of meats, sauces and toppings keep it interesting, very interesting. Plus, you can get all kinds of different sides with any of the sandwiches (sometimes with a little upcharge).

I was trying to feed a cold, so I went all-in with their Spicy Chicken Philly. It's their normal Chicken Philly (diced chicken breast with grilled onions and peppers), then loaded with jalapenos, and tossed/topped with Buffalo Wing Cream Cheese and Chipotle Mayo. I chose their marble rye to hold it all too.

It was great. Awesome flavors, not too much heat, but enough kick by the end of the sandwich. The sweet potato fries were also worth the $2 upcharge, imo. I washed my selection down with a Left Hand Milk Stout on nitro, which I almost always defer to if I see it on nitro. It didn't disappoint either.

My only knock, and it's minor or more of a pet-peeve, is that I was called "Sir" at least a dozen times by the bartender/waiter. Sure, I get it, I'm not a spring-chicken anymore... but I don't have to be reminded of it every time you speak to me. In fact, I think he was dressed better/older than I was too.

In any event, if you happen to be stuck on the long drive across Iowa on I-80, I think it makes perfect sense to stop at Quinton's for lunch or dinner. I'm not sure I could handle their late-night student crowd anymore, Sir, but maybe one should try that too.

Retail Therapy: The Full Kit, Iowa City, IA

I recently found myself in Iowa City for the night... on the way to Omaha. I'd never been in this city before (pretty sure), but lucked into a relatively cheap hotel room and paged through one of those "downtown" tourist magazines. I noticed a store that did some high-end gym shoes, and as any sneakerhead would do, I had to check it out the next morning. 

I arrived on a rainy Friday morning right at their opening time of 11AM, but the door was locked and no lights were on. Since I'd trudged out to the shop through the pedestrian mall in the rain, I didn't have a problem taking some exterior pics and waiting a few more minutes to see if someone showed. Plus, the storefront looked great and even if I had to wait a bit, I wanted to see inside.

As luck would have it, the proprietor arrived a few minutes later and let me right in. I was very glad I had waited. "Pretty little maids all in a row"...

They had a nice mix of product and brands from Nike, Levi's, Herchsel, Adidas, New Balance, Vans, Asics, Saucony, etc... including items like jackets, jeans, t-shirts, hats, etc. It seemed like the full price kicks had all the sizes for a size run still left, and kept the premium prices. The reduced price kicks got a break on the price, but were down to 1-3 sizes left in the size run, so you'd have to luck into your size. They also had a "skater" feel, which I would guess is how the store started, but now seems to be more of a men's fashion store with a casual or street vibe. You could still find a deck, trucks, etc. but that was alongside premium denim from Levi's skate collection (adding Cordura and Lycra), and other fashion accessories that a hardcore teenage skater wouldn't be interested in.

I don't know enough of the complexities to explain the levels of shoe store ranking for each shoe brand, but I believe this store is placed on a higher level than your local Foot Locker or Shoe Carnival. As such, they are given access to premium, exclusive, high-end products, that you can't find just anywhere. It makes the potential to be wearing a shoe almost no one else wears pretty high if you see it and buy it here. And sure, some of the shoes here are similar or the same models at larger stores.

As an example of this upper echelon product, below is a Premium series Vans shoe. High-quality, buttery leathers, and this one sports a zipped on/off option. I'd never seen one before. Pretty dang sweet, but not my size.

If you happen to be on the I-80 highway and would be driving by Iowa City anyways, I'd highly recommend you get off the highway for lunch and walk the ped mall. You can make this a quick stop and then get back on the road. I would also try-on in the store as they only offer in-store credit on returns.