We just got a peek of DC’s River Walk Pub & Eatery, Cedar Rapids newest bar/restaurant, which opens today in the space once home to Bistro on First and more recently Kostantinos at 411 1st St. SE.
Their Grand Opening Celebration will be on St. Patrick’s Day, with Jeff Bruner taking the stage at 3 p.m.
Today though, owner Dave Carey gave us a quick tour as the kitchen, wait and bar staff filled the last ketchup bottles and rolled the final few pieces of silverware.
Dave is part owner in a half dozen or so bars in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Des Moines, including a DC’s in Iowa City. He’s had a lot of opening days. But this one is different, he says.
For one, DC’s Riverwalk is all his. No partners. He’s the only one on the line.
For another, the road to today has been a long one.
DC’s was a week from opening in June, when the floods hit. The waters destroyed everything, even the flat-screens hung high on the walls. So he had to start over, from scratch.
The result is a wide-open space with a large U-shaped bar. There’s a main dining area to the right of the bar. More tables are up a step in an area partitioned by railings flanked with faux street lanterns. Original brick walls lend to the pub atmosphere as well.
To the back of the space is a large game room with more tables, a pool table, games and more flat screens.
Dave says the menu is the same as Third Base Brewery, with the addition of shrimp, salmon, pork chops and steak entrees. Order from the full menu until 10 p.m., appetizers until 11 p.m.
Details: 411 1st St. SE, Cedar Rapids; eat-in or carry out; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday; call (319) 362-0310; Facebook and MySpace