"We ended up here quite by accident--another local favorite was washing off their patio at 11:45 AM and we wanted to eat outdoors--and what a wonderful accident it turned out to be! I tried the salmon salad, a go-to for me at many Iowa City places. This was the best ever by miles! Fresh, succulent salmon--a large portion--beautifully grilled with ribbons of carrots, edamame, sections of mandarin oranges, a zesty ginger dressing, gorgeous leafy greens, and crispy won ton strips. It was HUGE, something you don't take for granted these days. There was plenty left over for another whole meal. My friend had a reasonably-priced combo of yummy tomato soup, a sophisticated adult grilled cheese, and a pretty house salad. Like the salmon, we were hooked! I've returned at least once a week since that first fortuitous visit and have never been disappointed. Took a tremendous crowd here for a birthday brunch and another on Father's Day. Where can you please folks from age three to seventy and everyone in between? TIN ROOST, that's where! The younger ones lapped up fluffy pancakes, bacon, with spicy chicken and waffles, while the rest of us found so many pleasing choices it was difficult to decide. Brioche French toast, a Southern-style platter of light-as-a-feather biscuits and sausage gravy, fresh fruit (the GOOD kind, not a bunch of green melon), huevos rancheros, and a chicken tortilla salad left us happy, full, and smiling like a bunch of proverbial clams! That chicken tortilla salad is heaven on a plate, btw! Lots of complex flavors vie for your attention. Nicely charred white chicken, crisp greens and grape tomatoes coated lightly in a wowza-hot dressing, fresh sweet corn, black beans, shredded jack cheese, avocado, and WHAT magic did they perform on that lightly-browned tortilla shell? Usually, you leave the shell on the plate and just eat the salad, but you won't with this one! Sprinkle on some salt and you'll be tempted to munch it like a plate of crisps! The wait staff, whether old hands or, in one delightful case, a young lady on her very first day, has been universally cheerful, helpful, and competent. As many times as I have visited over the past months, NOTHING has been missing, added, or mistakenly served to anyone in my party. Where can you find THAT kind of service these days? Smiles are the norm. Orders are placed to the kitchen directly from the table with hand-held devices, and that's the way you pay, too. Fewer chances for error. The outdoor patio is nothing short of a masterpiece; tables overlook a winding waterway, a picturesque bridge lined with blooming flower boxes, an enormous sunken fire pit surrounded by benches, all decorated with striking ceramic planters (some shaped like fish with flowers bursting from their mouths There is shade aplenty, thanks to generous roof awnings and enormously wide umbrellas. I love seeing folks lingering over Sunday coffees or cocktails, the occasional well-behaved canine companion at their feet. Kids, teens, adults, and seniors (plus those doggies) all seem delighted to be a part of this enchanting scene. In case you haven't guessed, this is my new favorite place to dine!"
