Restaurants with Local History

Pubs

A longtime hangout for the literary crowd, The Mill Restaurant is worth a visit. It began life several decades ago as an Italian-style restaurant, but has since migrated toward pub food. Notable entrees are the Denver sandwich and The Mill’s famous egg-special sandwich. The Mill also has a reputation for supporting local and regional musicians. Be prepared to wait – they have a reputation for slow service.
Another pub with literary pretensions is Donnelly’s. Dylan Thomas was famously ejected from this pub. Kurt Vonnegut drank there. Unfortunately, the original pub was demolished during a 1970’s-era urban renewal push. The franchise opened in their new location in the 1990s. The deviled eggs are made in house and the chicken club is worth a visit.
The back bar from the original Donnelly’s now rests at Micky’s Irish Pub. It’s worth a look. Micky’s has standard pub fare, with Micky’s “famous conglomeration” sandwich, and a tasty 7-layer dip.
The Sanctuary got its name from the pews that comprised its first seats. Decades of students have patronized this pub with 27 beers on tap. You’ll see a modern fusion menu with many locally sourced dishes such as cauliflower roasted in garlic confit with romanesco sauce, a shepherd’s pie with local lamb, and coppa & apples flatbread.

Sanctuary Pub features locally sourced fare with 27 beers on tap!

The Airliner is a student pub that’s been right across the street from the Pentacrest since 1944. Famous for their pizza, this is where Ashton Kutcher was scoped out by a modeling agent in 1997.

Airliner: a student pub famous for its pizza

The Vine has been an Iowa City institution since 1983. Housed in a building that once held New Pioneer Coop, it also has standard pub fare. There’s a second location in Coralville, on the Strip, if you find yourself in that direction.

The Vine

Worth mentioning as a historical eatery is the Hilltop Tavern. It’s one of Iowa City’s longest standing institutions: it has been in the same location since 1933. It a classic taproom with bar food – sliders, tenderloin sandwiches, onion rings, etc. – competently prepared. Their chocolate chip cookies are also exceptional (and made on site).

Pagliai’s (pronounced pally eyes) opened their first pizza house in Ames Iowa, in 1957, after serving pizza in their bar from 1953 onward. The Iowa City location features front windows that look directly into the kitchen, so that every diner can seat pizza chefs tossing dough by hand. It’s part of the experience!
Hamburg Inn #2 is nationally famous for hosting presidential election candidates. Hillary Clinton had one of their famous pie shakes when she was here on the campaign trail in 2016. Their coffee bean caucus routinely has Democrats winning. A family restaurant since 1948, it is locally famous for breakfast, making omelets to order. They also sell sandwiches, soups, and salads.
An Iowa City original with a shorter history is Pancheros Mexican Grill, which makes their tortillas on the spot. They are located across from the Pentacrest. Since opening the first location in Iowa City, Pancheros now has 67 locations in college towns throughout the Midwest.