the Webster

I’ve wanted to eat at the Webster since I moved to Iowa City. The server was friendly and knowledgeable. They brought over the sommelier who recommended a great wine based off our meal and palate. Be prepared to order your entire meal at one time, but the delivery of items was so well timed that everything came out at the perfect temperature and the perfect time. Aerin, Riene, and chef Sam delivered an exquisite meal and presentation

This place is amazing. I've been here twice and both times I had a very good experience. I've had the steak salad as well as their bread and a pork dish and everything was delicious. Our waiter was very nice and knowledgeable about the food and drinks. This is definitely a more pricey place, but it's worth it.

This restaurant is an experience for sure! The wait staff is professional and they know the menu like the back of their hand. The food is served family style so you can share a plate. You do need to buy the sides separately. Small menu that is seasonal. Lots of seafood options. The lemon tart is a must. f you live in Iowa City and want a Gordon Ramsey like experience- check it out.

My wife and I had such a lovely Valentine's Day dinner at The Webster. We had a 4-course meal and tried a few different cocktails which were all outstanding. It was extremely busy but our server was still very attentive. The highlights for me were the Wagyu steak and the Panna Cotta. The steak was easily the most tender and flavorful that I've had. After three courses, the Panna Cotta was a perfect way to end the meal; light and tart. The highlights for my wife were the Rock Shrimp pasta and scallops (not pictured). Looking forward to returning and trying their regular menu!

Absolutely phenomenal. There wasn’t a single dish I didn’t love. Biscuits— I make a lot of biscuits from scratch and have gone to multiple restaurants that pride themselves on their biscuits and the ones at Webster were the best I ever remember having. The perfect crunch on the outside and tenderness in the middle. Soft and light and full of wonderful flavor and the rhubarb jam was heavenly. Not too sweet. Tartare—I’ve never had tartare before and I wasn’t sure what I would think of raw meat on bread. But we followed the advice of our lovely waitress who said that that The Webster was a really good place for trying a dish like tartare for the first time and she was spot on. It was like nothing I had ever had before, it was packed with all sorts of perfectly complementing flavors and it was delicious. This was my husband’s favorite dish. Bucatini—incredible flavored sauce with tender shrimp! I loved the pieces of bacon in the red sauce. Scallops—we chose this dish based on our waitress’s recommendation and it did not disappoint. The scallops were so tender and delicious, seared to flavorful perfection. And the sauce! Oh my gosh, that sauce was to die for, I’ve never had a sauce like it before. And the smoked potato on top was incredibly unique and added the most lovely flavor without any heaviness. The peas were the perfect thing to pair it all with. This was my favorite dish. Lemon curd—Perfectly tart and sweet and made to a perfect consistency. Huge portion! Blueberry shortcake—the shortcake was like shortbread cookies, which we really enjoyed! The blueberry sauce was sweet and tart and the Michigan blueberries were flavorful. Just the right proportions of whipped cream, blueberry sauce and shortbread cookies. We loved eating this with the lemon curd pie, they complemented each other beautifully. One of the most delicious restaurants I’ve ever been to and the perfect place to try dishes you’ve never experienced before. Our waitress was a gem and the atmosphere was lovely! We will be back!

An outstanding, understated culinary experience. We absolutely loved the food and drinks. 10/10 would dine again. A welcome addition to the Iowa City food scene. Update 6/28/2024 - returned with my parents and had a fabulous time. We ordered the asparagus, chicken thigh, beef rib, and potato salad. Some of the best food I’ve ever had. They take such good care with presentation and ingredients. They are also mindful of allergies. I love that they wipe your table in between courses and check in frequently. It does get very loud in there and is usually packed so we did find we were talking very loud to communicate at our table.

A stellar addition to Iowa City's strong dining scene, The Webster shines in all categories every time I visit: service, selection, quality of ingredients and taste. Local is the name of the game here, with the majority of ingredients sourced within a few dozen miles or less of the restaurant. The menu changes regularly, but I especially love the duck egg noodles, kale and chicory salad, warm nugget potato salad, brussels sprouts, and roasted Grimm Farms chicken. Iowa City has a standout cocktail scene for a community it size, and The Webster doesn't disappoint here, either (plus a great wine selection). I also love grabbing a few drinks across the street at Goosetown Cafe before making the short walk across the street here. Chef Sam is not only an Iowa City West High graduate and graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in New York, he cut his teeth at some of the highest-rated restaurants in the country. But it doesn't stop there. His incredible spouse and co-founder, Riene, too has a top-notch culinary background, having worked at Clio in Boston and Craft in New York. Whether you're coming here for a birthday, date night, special anniversary, or while visiting Iowa City, the Webster is a must-stop.

• Cast Iron Cornbread 5 • Buttermilk Biscuits 4 • Sweet Corn Soup 5 • Grande Creamery Burrata 4.5 • Duck Egg Tagliatelle 4.5 • Mafalde (Summer Version) 5 • Beeler’s Pork Chop 5 • Sweet Corn Side 3.5 • Lemon Yuzu Dessert 5 We love visiting The Webster. They have great cocktails, amazing food, and great service, (rated 4 stars on service due to our last server, it’s usually great). We wish there were some sweeter wines on the menu by the glass instead of all dry options. My absolute favorite dish I’ve had at The Webster is their summer Mafalde. Overall, this is a great date spot, night out with friends, or place to celebrate!