Heading to Kinnick Stadium for an Iowa football game? Here’s where to eat in Iowa City
POV: You’ve just spent hours under the sun sitting in the bleachers at Kinnick Stadium, screeching at every interception and cheering when you can nearly taste a touchdown.
Your feet are tired, you’re possibly buzzed — both from alcohol consumption and the thrill of the game — and you’re stomach seems to be rumbling louder than the thousands of fans that just attended the game.
It’s time to grub.
If you’re still in Iowa City and looking for a place to eat, there’s certainly many fantastic choices.
From mouthwatering burgers to pizza, the Press-Citizen recommends these three places to try before or after an Iowa Hawkeyes game.
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Micky’s Irish Pub & Grill
Step inside Micky's Irish Pub & Grill, the local bar that has been in Iowa City for four decades. The dark wood panels along the bar, neon signs of Budweiser and Guinness and the slightly dim lighting adds a fitting mood for a pub.
Micky's offers a variety of burgers with tasty toppings — onion rings, a fried egg, ham and more. Go for the Bruce Hornsby, named after the singer-songwriter because he called it his favorite burger when he visited in the 1980s, according to Micky's Irish Pub & Grill. The pub also serves sandwiches, breakfast fare and plenty of appetizers to share, including cheese curds and pretzel bites.
Prices range from about $6 to $15.
Micky's Irish Pub & Grill is located at 11 S. Dubuque St. and is open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.
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Wig & Pen Pizza Pub
With three locations just within Johnson County, Wig & Pen Pizza Pub is not only a tasty option, it's convenient for folks who want to catch a bite without being in the busy downtown streets.
The pizzeria gets its name after a London club exclusive to lawyers and journalists dating back to 17th century, according to the restaurant's website.
If you want Chicago-style pizza or thin crust, pineapple on top or mounds of spicy Italian sausage, Wig & Pen has it. Sticking with the United Kingdom theme, try the Union Jack pizza, which has Italian sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, onions and red peppers.
Keep in mind that the Coralville location is the only dine-in spot, but that doesn't mean you can't grab some pizzas to-go and picnic in one of Iowa City's many parks or chow down curbside at the other locations.
Prices range from about $7 to $27.
Wig & Pen Pizza Pub's Iowa City location is at 363 N. First Ave. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily.
Hamburg Inn No. 2
If you're able to get a seat at this Iowa City staple, enjoy it.
The Hamburg Inn No. 2 serves all the diner fare classics and pie shakes — a must have. If you're in agreement that breakfast can be enjoyed at any time of the day, order yourself some home fries and biscuits and gravy.
Hamburg Inn No. 2 opened in 1948 by Fritz Panther before it was passed to his son and longtime owner David Panther in 1979. In 2016, Michael Lee purchased the beloved spot.
Prices range from about $4 to $20.
Hamburg Inn No. 2 is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and closes at 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Need a bar to catch the game? Here's where to watch an Iowa football game in the Iowa City area
Now, if you’re opting to catch the game at a local bar, there’s plenty to chose from both in downtown Iowa City and the surrounding area.
Some Iowa City favorites include Joe's Place, located at 115 Iowa Ave. It closes at 2 a.m. daily, and has a rooftop bar that's a real treat when the weather is nice.
Folks might also want to stop by the Vine Tavern & Eatery at 330 E. Prentiss St. The corner bar is known for its wings and has a location in Coralville as well. The Vine Tavern & Eatery is open until midnight except for Sundays.
Outside downtown Iowa City is Tavern Blue, the pizza-and-craft-beer, mini-golf and tiki-themed bar in Coralville. Located at 805 Second St., Tavern Blue’s hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, perfect for a night of fun that doesn't extend to the wee hours of the morning.
Another Coralville spot is the Iowa Athletic Club, a bar that opened in the Iowa River Landing last year. If the name’s any indication, it’s a sports bar, and it promises to have the coldest beer in town and “the best place around to watch live sports,” per the bar’s website. It’s open from 11 a.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. The Iowa Athletic Club is located at 200 E. Ninth St., Suite 205.
Paris Barraza covers entertainment, lifestyle and arts at the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Reach her at PBarraza@press-citizen.com or 319-519-9731. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Best places to eat in Iowa City after an Iowa football game
