The Java House Heirloom Salad Co North Liberty

Bluebird Cafe

➤ 650 W Cherry StIA 523179024, North Liberty, United States

Menu • Cafe • Cafés • Coffee • American

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"Some restaurants are so solid, so completely dependable, that they feel like a safe place for the itinerant diner. Such a place is the Bluebird Cafe. Or perhaps more accurately the Bluebird Cafes. The Bluebird crew actually has three locations, the original Bluebird Diner and two newer locations, a Cafe in Solon, Iowa, and another in North Liberty, Iowa. All three locations excel, but the original is a review for another day. I have been to both Cafe locations multiple times and have yet to be even slightly disappointed. Breakfast or lunch the menu is full of dishes for everyone. From the completely familiar to something interesting and new. My last breakfast was of the familiar variety, an omelet of my choosing consisting of their excellent house made sausage, red pepper, and American cheese. The omelet itself was light, fluffy, and of the half-fold variety. It was absolutely delicious. The breakfast prior to that was not common diner fare. Their Huevos Azul is a unique and tasty dish composed of a finely textured house made red pepper chili over Parmesan polenta with over easy eggs. One can add meat (chorizo, bacon, ham, or turkey) for $1, but why? This dish is really well balanced. The chili and polenta are perfect counterpoints to one another, and the eggs mix in to create a scrumptious and harmonious plate. The thoughtful touches to the menu continue with an oh-so-savory hash with an unusual base of potatoes, carrots, turnips, and parsnips. One can order a Benedict with crab cakes, spinach tomato, salmon, and, of course, double smoked ham. I'll wrap the breakfast descriptions with this incredibly delectable item, the Krakatoa Omelet. Pecan smoked bacon (oh, my), jalapeño, red onion, garlic, citrus cream cheese, and pepperjack. The richness and flavor of this dish almost defies my ability to describe it. Almost. The omelet is light and perfect. The pecan smoked bacon packs a favor profile that one can't help but notice. And that citrus cream cheese filling so creamy and somehow almost delicate in its flavor, it is truly special. Enough of breakfast, how about the midday menu? Again, it is complete with plates to satisfy all palates. A cheeseburger? Sure, available with Cheddar, American, pepperjack, bleu, Swiss, Prairie Breeze (a slightly sweet cheddar that could have its own review), mozzarella, provolone, or feta. How about a seared Yellowfin Tuna salad with a Sesame Wasabi Vinegarette with a complex flavor profile that makes one want to taste a bit of the dressing by itself The andwich list reads like a who's who of luncheon favorites but again with the thoughtful touches. The Cuban has Iowa smoked ham, pulled pork and two condiments that raise it above the average, a spicy relish and a mustard sauce that individually are excellent, but combined create an uncommon flavor to this common sammie. This theme of a little extra gets carried through to the reuben, pulled pork, BLT, tenderloin, grilled chicken, club, and French dip line up (not a complete list). I'll wrap up this love song to lunch with just one more, the Big Person Grilled Cheese. I have eaten an unimaginable amount of grilled cheese sandwiches in my life, a favorite since I can remember eating, and something I, myself, make quite well. This one is next level, with provolone and Prairie Breeze on sourdough, grilled to perfection, and in all honesty, perhaps the best I have ever had. The service in both locations is consistently excellent, not simply quick and efficient, but friendly in that professional way that many service cadres struggle to reach. We have all experienced friendly service that was perhaps a touch too friendly, or crisp service that was a bit too crisp, but the Bluebird crew strike a balance that makes the diner feel comfortable, welcome, and well taken care of. The buildings themselves are well maintained, comfortably appointed, and squeaky clean. I have dined in hundreds, if not thousands, of restaurants in my 40-year plus career, the Bluebird Cafes feel like home."

Red's Alehouse

➤ 405 N Dubuque StIA 52317, North Liberty, United States

Menu • Wine • Pizza • Grill • Burgers

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"Nice place, good beer selection of many local brews. I got the mac cheese as a side and it was a generous portion baked in its own cute little casserole dish... and it was cheesy and delicious! Seriously, hubs had it too and we both declared it the best we've had at a restaurant. Hubs burger was a little undercooked but other than that we really liked this place and would do it again!"

Mirabito's Italian

➤ 40 Sugar Creek Ln, North Liberty, United States

Menu • Pizza • Mexican • Italian • Delivery Services

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"Service was great! The bread itself was good but had too much seasoning piled on top. The oil for dipping was just plain olive oil. Usually its the oil that has an italian seasoning in it. Eating oil soaked bread was not appetizing. The Caesar Salad had so much heavy dressing on it that I couldn't eat it. I usually love Tortellini however the pesto alfredo sauce was very heavy and overpowering. And, it had large chunks of fresh raw tomatoes in it. I would think a heavy dish would have roasted tomatoes. Overall, the dishes just seemed off balanced. We will return to try the pizza."

Sushiya

➤ 745 Community Dr, 52317, North Liberty, United States

Menu • Sushi • Asian • Lunch • Japanese

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"This is literally my favorite favorite favorite Japanese restaurant (probably restaurant, period). I always come with friends during the lunch hour because everything is priced so well. I usually get the sashimi bento box (comes with a California roll, 6 pcs of sashimi including salmon, tuna and the white fish that I never know the name of as well as salad, soup, edamame and orange slices) the tempura udon (loveee the sweet potato and onion), and the black bean sauce with the udon noodles (so so good). The Singapore style noodles are so fire, and the sushi rolls honestly, try anything and I bet you’ll love it. This place is a 10/10, Id go every day if I could. Cheers!!"

Rusciano's Authentic Taste Of Napoli

➤ 710 Pacha Pkwy #5, 52317, North Liberty, US, United States

Menu • Pizza • Casual • Mexican • Italian

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"We happened upon Rusciano’s on a windy, cold, and rainy night on a trip with our grandson. The restaurant is in a strip mall, and the interior is a bit bare and not cozy like many smaller Italian restaurants. The restaurant was perhaps 1/3 full, but the man who met us at the door offered a seat right next to the door, where it was windy and even a bit wet. Who knows why? We were all wearing masks when we entered the entirely maskless restaurant... He almost seemed reluctant to seat us elsewhere, but we got a table near the back. The menu is interesting and has many dishes that look authentic. Two of us had the basil pesto pasta and grandson had pasta with olive oil and parmigiano (his favorite). My wife and I, who routinely make our own pesto and who have tried it around the world, agreed that Rusciano's pesto with pasta was some of the best we have tried, and their bread was excellent! Grandson's pasta also got his nod of approval. My $9 glass of aglianico tasted as if it had been open for a few days; our cold fish waiter asked how everything was, and we complimented them on their pasta but I mentioned the poor-quality wine. He said nothing and walked away. Rusciano's advertises true Neapolitan pizza, and I had the chance to chat with the pizzaiolo, working by the wood-fired oven. He was born in Napoli, so he definitely knows pizza from Napoli. If the service had not been so mediocre, verging on poor, I would have given Rusciano's 5 stars. With pleasant, efficient, and caring table service, this would be a true gem. As it is, it offers perhaps the best Italian food in the region. We did not have the chance to try the pizza, to compare it with what we've had many times in Napoli, but we plan to do that on a return trip."