When you walk into Brewed Awakenings across the street from Coe College on First Avenue in Cedar Rapids, you immediately release your shoulders and go, “Aaaahh.” The atmosphere is exactly what a coffee shop should be. Big comfy couches against the walls, scattered tables and chairs and a raised seating area that can host a band or an intimate group looking to get away from the crowd below.

The chalkboard at the checkout counter is written in colorful and precise handwriting that makes you admire the diligent soul willing to stand there for hours inhaling chalk dust. Brewed Awakenings takes great pride in their coffee drinks, complete with delicate swirls atop each cup. They also take pride in delicious, homemade food.

The menu is comprised of soup, salad and sandwiches. Everything is made from scratch with organic ingredients as often as possible. I walked in on a freezing cold day, which isn’t hard to find this time of year, and really wanted a warm cup of soup.

However, my picky self wasn’t quite willing to try the tomato soup offered that day. I’ve gone 32 years avoiding tomato soup and that day just wasn’t the day I was going to break the record. Fortunately egg salad was at the top of the sandwich menu.

Digging into the yummy sandwich and fresh green salad on the side, I realized this may be the third or fourth time I’ve written about egg salad. To those of you absolutely exhausted by it, I offer my great apologies. But I like to think that everyone reading this article is really just looking for my happiness. And egg salad makes me happy!

It was a spectacular example of what I love in egg salad: subtle flavors, big chunks of egg and a light dressing. The salad was comprised of the greenest lettuce and freshest veggies. The raspberry vinaigrette on the side was tangy and sweet. They also feature a gleaming case of homemade baked goods. Toffee bars, brownies, cinnamon rolls. It was all so tempting, but I was in a hurry and had to pass that day.

I really do want to try their soup and looking at their Web site, I see you can find the soup schedule. So I’ll pick a day and go back for some French onion or black bean. Or I just may get the egg salad again. My happiness is top priority, after all.
— ANDREA

When I first saw the modest sign for Iron Chef Restaurant go up in the Collins Road Square in Marion I was intrigued. What type of entrepreneur would be so bold as to take on such a name — one associated with culinary excellence, daring and sassy bell pepper biting?

Iron Chef Restaurant inhabits the space formerly known as The Hungry Hobo. The interior of Iron Chef, incredibly, is more modest than their exterior foam-core sign. To put it gently, it’s stark. There are a few scattered tables with chairs and a buffet-style table with all-you-can-eat (or drink) hot tea and soup. To the owner’s credit, they made it festive for the holiday season with some gift-wrapped boxes propped up in a corner. They were, though, oddly empty gift boxes without lids.

With a bit of investigating I figured out this restaurant is a Chinese and sushi place. I ordered the egg rolls and Crispy Spicy Chicken. The genial waiter/chef/owner took my order and scurried back behind the counter to make my meal. I really, really wanted to like this place. I feel for the gutsy entrepreneur who’s trying to make it in a tough business and rough economy. But I kept coming across little things about my lunch that displeased me.

The egg rolls by all appearance were hot and crispy, and when I cut them open they steamed with delicious looking cabbage and pork. Or was it chicken? The meat left me a bit confused and the egg roll had an odd wetness about it.

My Crispy Spicy Chicken looked delicious — a pile of fresh broccoli and carrots and thin cutlets of fried chicken. The sauce was sweet and savory and not overly spiced. But once I cut into the chicken, it was all brown meat. I get picky about chicken and generally speaking, I’m a breast-only type of gal.

I really feel compelled to go back and give this place another go. Their sushi might be astounding. I may have caught the gentleman on an off day. Perhaps the spring decorations are a marvel. Regardless, a “little engine that could” like Iron Chef deserves another shot.
— ANDREA

My family and I recently found ourselves in the odd predicament of not only being alert and fully dressed early on a Saturday morning but also out of the house and well into our day. Luckily I had also just seen an ad in a local paper for Breakfast House Café. “Voted best breakfast in Eastern Iowa by the Des Moines Register,” the ad claimed. Well, I’ll be the judge of that!

Located on the southwest side of Cedar Rapids I was a little leery pulling into the parking lot. By all accounts it is in a small, seedy strip mall anchored by Jim’s Foods. No offense to Jim, I’m sure he has fine foods, but first impressions are big for me, and this was not a good one.

But it was early in the morning, and we were still crackling with ambition so we ventured forth. Once inside Breakfast House Café we were pleasantly taken aback. The interior is clean and neat with warm green and gray tones. They have an open kitchen, of which I am a big fan. I like to see what the chef is doing to my eggs at all times. It’s small, and the place was pretty packed, but we managed to get a comfy booth.

The waitresses were attentive and eager to please. For me, the true test of any breakfast place is how they prepare my cocoa. It doesn’t have to be steamed milk and syrup, I’m fine with a packet of Swiss Miss, but

there must be whipped cream on top. Breakfast House passed with flying colors. My cocoa was hot with a hefty dollop of cream and even served in one of those classic brown ceramic mugs.

The breakfast menu was plentiful with classics and some fun twists such as breakfast paninis. I had a sweet tooth that morning and chose the stuffed French toast. It was a gleaming stack of brown sugar French toast filled with a light cream cheese filling and strawberries. The maple syrup comes in a warm decanter. The toast was yummy but the cream cheese filling was a bit overwhelming. Still, overall it was a mighty tasty concoction.

My husband ordered the Monster skillet. Every savory breakfast item you can imagine is tossed together with crispy hashbrowns, onions and green peppers. The flavors in the skillet were excellent. The onions were perfectly caramelized and tied everything together.

Once you get past the rough exterior Breakfast House Café is a wonderful little oasis in the city. I’m waiting
to pass judgment on the “best breakfast” claim; I
need to explore a little more. But so far it’s near the
top of my list.
— ANDREA

When faced with a girls’ night out dinner there are many factors to consider in choosing a restaurant. It must be delicious, exciting and a little bit dangerous. The solution? Hibachi!

Osaka’s is located in a prime location on First Ave. in Cedar Rapids toward Marion. The interior is impressive with a long, gleaming bar, crisply set tables and a sushi station. Unfortunately, once you go behind the curtain to the hibachi tables it’s a little less polished. I understand they need quick access to the soda machines but do they have to be the first thing you walk past?

Maybe I’m being picky. Since doing this restaurant review thing I’ve been to so many fantastic places that I think my expectations are becoming a bit high. Or not. I really don’t think it’s so much to ask to not have to remind the waiter that I ordered sushi 30 minutes ago. It’s the little things that add up for me.

But, back to hibachi! The hibachi concept is a really fun one. You get to sit at a big group table with other patrons just looking to have a good time. A genial teppanyaki chef puts on a dazzling show of flying knives, spatulas and eggs. And depending on the group you’re with, there are sake bombs. Many sake bombs. Which begs the question: how many are too many for the chef? Sure, it’s great fun that this little master of stir fry is willing to party with you, but at what cost? For us, the cost was many dropped knives and an unfortunately mishandled egg that ended up flying into my hair. Oh well, it’s all in good fun.

The food was yummy and plentiful. With the hibachi dinner you get a light onion soup, fresh house salad, shrimp appetizer, vegetables, fried rice and a fried banana. And I ordered sushi on top of that. By the time our slightly tipsy chef was cleaning up I was slightly tipsy from eating so much.

The teppanyaki choices are pretty straightforward: chicken, beef or seafood. I ordered the shrimp. All of the protein choices are good options as they all are flavored with similar spices as they’re chopped and tossed about on the large open grill.

It was a fun night out. The ladies and I had a good time and enjoyed dinner and a show. And my hair was positively glowing with that healthy egg wash.

— ANDREA

In these trying economic times (I’ve always wanted to type that) opening any business is a risky endeavor, especially a restaurant. In order to succeed you better be really good. Fortunately, Orchard Green Restaurant is really, really good.

Occupying a former brewery on South Gilbert St. in Iowa City, the space has nothing but character. They’ve meticulously refinished the beautiful cherry woodwork and kept the original globe chandeliers. The downstairs holds a long bar with cozy tables. It’s a casual and relaxed atmosphere with a crackling fireplace and no fewer than 12 beers on tap.

I was really impressed by the beer list. I enjoy a glass of wine every now and then but give me a really good beer and I’m in heaven. Each draft is given a loving description and I can’t wait to come back and try
them all.

The menu is also well-crafted. While I can’t say they offer anything truly unique for the area, it is a thorough and superb selection of upscale American cuisine.

Typically I stay away from chicken dishes. Chicken can be very boring at most restaurants. But I thought I’d give it a go and ordered the “Natural” Chicken Breast, a seared breast with orecchiette pasta, snap peas, pancetta, scallions and chevre carbonara sauce. The searing of the skin gave it a delicious crispy bite and kept the chicken juicy. What really put this dish over the edge was the carbonara sauce. It was silky and flavorful and pairing it with the pasta made this a new comfort food favorite.

My husband had the filet mignon, of course. When faced with such decisions it’s hard to turn down a really good steak. It was crusted with roasted garlic and paired with red onion confit, broccoli and baby carrots and thyme jus. He put it right up there as one of the best steaks ever.

We were stuffed to the brim from our wonderful meals but we took deep breaths and went ahead and ordered dessert. My husband had the cheesecake and I enjoyed a peanut butter cup parfait. My dessert was a lot of pudding with a secret little brownie bite. It was a little tricky to eat in the cup it was served in and the brownie was a tad dry. I don’t think I’d order that one again. But my husband’s cheesecake was outstanding.

Orchard Green Restaurant seems to have a winning formula. I’ll do my part to make sure they’re around for a long time.

Some business buildings are little Bermuda Triangles of commerce. You’ve seen them, one month it’s an ice cream shop, the next a bead store. The home of GG’s Diner is in such a location on Center Point Road in Cedar Rapids. Over the years I’ve frequently driven past the area and noted its incarnations. One day I decided to finally get a sundae from the ice cream shop and it had been mysteriously transformed into cafe.

So I’m rooting for little GG’s Diner. I’m certain this business will sail straight through the Bermuda Triangle into the safe harbor of success. They’ve got a good formula: a menu full of diner standards such as hamburgers and turkey melts and breakfast served all day. They even have the diner classic, slices of pie, created by the infamous Kathy of Kathy’s Pies fame.

GG’s is decked out in a retro feel with heavy black and red paint and a counter with stools for customers to sidle up and take down a slice of banana cream. The one downside to the space is that the bathrooms are a little tricky to get to. In fact, it appears they can be accessed from outside, which leads me to believe that at one point this little building-that-could may have been a gas station. From what I could witness you can get to the restroom from the inside but you have to wind your way through the kitchen. Which, frankly, is a bit awkward for all parties involved.

But I digress. Aside from the minor inconveniences, GG’s is a warm and inviting place to enjoy a comforting meal. I ordered the Jilladilla, a human head-sized grilled tortilla overflowing with melted cheddar, grilled tomatoes, onions and cilantro and I added chicken for an extra $1. My meal started at a meager $5.95 so I didn’t feel that was too much to ask. Sandwiches come with a choice of side and, feeling nostalgic, I picked potato salad. It was smooth and creamy with hearty chunks of potato.

My meal was quite large and very filling. Unfortunately I didn’t have room for a slice of pie. Believe me, I really, really wanted one but I just could not bring myself to eat one more bite.

But I’m sure GG’s Diner will be around a long time so save me a slice of that pie.

DETAILS: GG’s Diner, 4242 Center Point Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids; 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily; (319) 393-1094; www.ggsdiner.com

I venture forth yet again into the unknown lands of North Liberty. Forgive me, I’m almost done reading a Lord of the Rings-esque book and seem to be channeling the language. My last dinner in North Liberty was a huge success so I figured there must be so much more to see.

We stuck to the main drag and found a nondescript strip mall housing several options. Chinese or Mexican? Hmmm… heavy decisions. We chose the comfort and warmth of a giant basket of chips and salsa.

Iguana’s Bar and Grill seems like a fairly average Mexican joint from the exterior but the interior rises above. Once inside you’re greeted with refined decorations from unique sculptures on the walls to giant, flowery paintings. It’s bright and colorful and very clean.

The menu ranges from traditional fajitas to enchiladas with a few specials thrown in. Of course, there is the requisite basket of chips and salsa. The chips were crispy and salty and the salsa fresh.

Feeling frisky, I ordered the chimichanga, spicy chicken wrapped in a flour tortilla and deep-fried. My husband had the enchilada platter, which was comprised of no fewer than four types of enchiladas: beef, chicken, cheese and bean.

The other thing that makes Iguana’s stand out is their prolific use of garnish. No weak little piles of lettuce pushed to the side. Each plate is a masterpiece of color and vitality. My chimi had an actual salad on the side, none of that shredded iceberg junk.

I really enjoyed Iguana’s for their verve and freshness. Their nourishing food and drink imbibed me with the strength to travel on to untold fortunes. Shew. It’s a good thing I’m almost done with that book.

— ANDREA

I recently celebrated my birthday and my good friend, Mandy, was so kind as to meet me in downtown Cedar Rapids for dinner. They say age is just a number and when you’ve reached 32, they’re pretty much right. Talk about the most boring age ever. You’ve moved beyond the dread and excitement of turning 30 and have a long ways to go before achieving cougar-status at 40.

I find it’s best to pass the time by eating really good food. Zins is a great place to do just that. The concept of Zins is one I wholeheartedly adore. They are a small plate restaurant, which means appetizers, entrees and desserts are served in bite-sized portions. You’re encouraged to try a little bit of everything. And when something as decadent as Pan-Seared Sea Bass is only $12, how could you not?

The menu is vast and eclectic and they break it into categories that direct you where to start and how to end. Mandy chose to “Nibble” on some barbecue ribs for starters while I chose to “Begin” with the crab cake. Her ribs were presented in a tidy little stack with Napa cabbage slaw on the side. My crab cake was heavenly. Some places tend to over-season their crab cakes or fry them into oily little masses. This one honored the freshness of the lump crab and kept the flavors focused.

Once we devoured our appetizers we moved on to our entree. I chose a 4-ounce bacon wrapped beef tenderloin and Mandy had the macaroni and cheese.

My beef tenderloin was not quite as outstanding as the crab cake. It was overly seared on the outside but was cooked well on the inside. There wasn’t a ton of flavor to the beef, but that’s the beauty of having small portions. You can try a bit of everything and find the best on the menu.

Dessert is the best thing at Zins. Each one is only $2, so there’s really no excuse to not order them all. Alas, my stomach was about at its breaking point so I only had two. My cherry tart was OK, a little lacking in pizazz, but the chocolate bread pudding was amazing.

The presentation of the food is lovely with very attentive service and the atmosphere at Zins is upscale yet comfortable. The owner made it a point to approach every table and ask how our meal was going. Typically I’m not a fan of this, but he was very pleasant and not obnoxious about it at all.

As far as birthday dinners go, this one was a hit. And I’ve got lots of time to keep sampling until I get to the exciting age of 33.

— Andrea

Details: Zins, 227 Second Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids; lunch 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, dinner 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, brunch 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday; (319) 363-ZINS; www.zinsrestaurant.com

In life, one is faced with many challenging decisions. Where do I go to college? Should I get married? Do I really have to give my brother that kidney? And where should I go out to dinner on a Thursday night in Iowa City?

It’s the last question that’s truly hard. Walking the streets of downtown Iowa City there are loads of yummy places to go. Fortunately, the wind blew my friend and I right to the door of OneTwentySix.

It was a lovely night outside so the sidewalk dining was full, but we were seated inside right away. The interior of OneTwentySix is a bit compact. It’s a long dining room with exposed brick walls and an open kitchen. Though the space was condensed, we didn’t feel squeezed in or claustrophobic at all.

Our server was extremely hospitable. Almost too much. He was one of those waiters that likes to hunker down right at eye level. I tend to be very protective of my personal space so an attentive stranger in my fortress of solitude was a bit overwhelming. But a couple glasses of wine took the edge off and all was forgiven. “More wine? Sure! How about a hug?”
The menu at OneTwentySix is ripe with succulent dishes such as roast rack of lamb and gnocchi with eggplant caponata. We started with an appetizer of sautéed sustainably-harvested shrimp in a spicy garlic and parsley lemon sauce with caper berries. The shrimp were tender and sweet and the crusty bread was perfect for soaking up the flavorful sauce.

The special for this evening was swordfish with fingerling potatoes and fresh corn succotash. My friend had the grilled natural hanger steak with spinach-leek gratin, Maytag butter and red wine syrup.

My swordfish was tender, and I absolutely love fresh sweet corn. My friend’s steak was cooked to perfection, though she was a touch disappointed that a mound of Maytag butter wasn’t easy to spot. In retrospect we agreed that seeing a large pile of butter probably isn’t a requirement of a delicious dinner.

OneTwentySix turned out to be the right decision for me. As for life’s other big decisions, I’ll chew on those later.

- ANDREA

Details: OneTwentySix, 126 E. Washington St., Iowa City, lunch 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and dinner 5 to 9:30 p.m. daily, (319) 887-1909 or www.onetwentysix.net

Lou Henri

I love going out for breakfast. The thought of making my own bacon and eggs is absolutely daunting. Give me the option of someone else getting spattered with bacon grease and cracking shells, and, well, I’ll go with plan B.

Lou Henri’s is an idyllic breakfast stop. Located on the corner of South Dodge Street and Iowa Avenue in Iowa City, this unassuming little building is buzzing with breakfast energy. The interior has a comfy diner vibe and you feel welcome and relaxed by the friendly staff. There is also a small patio area for outside dining, which is perfect for this oddly mild summer we’ve been having.

The breakfast menu is fairly standard with bacon and egg options, omelettes and hashbrowns. But since this is Iowa City there are wonders such as avocado and tempeh and banana bread French toast.

Yes, I said banana bread, and it is my new very favorite breakfast food. Thick, semi-dense slices of decadent banana bread are dipped in egg and cooked up French toast-style. The slices are then topped with walnuts, fresh banana and a sprinkling of cinnamon. On the side is a cup of glorious maple syrup. It was warm and homey and, to my surprise, didn’t fill me up instantly. I could have stayed and eaten slice after slice all day long.

Of course, I got the obligatory bacon on the side, which was cooked just right. Not too crisp and not too soggy. We ordered my daughter the Pig in a Blanket so I was able to cover both of my favorite breakfast meats. The sausage was plump and flavorful. And my husband had the omelette, a breakfast staple, brimming with ham and cheese, surrounded by fluffy eggs.

I have some bananas at home just begging to be turned into bread. But I’m certain my attempt at French toast won’t be the same, so I’ll stick with Lou Henri’s.

Details: Lou Henri’s, 630 Iowa Ave., Iowa City; 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily; (319) 351-3637