Rodina, the Cedar Rapids restaurant serving Midwestern comfort food, announces it will close in November
The Cedar Rapids restaurant Rodina helmed by a James Beard Award semifinalist is set to close its doors later this year.
The restaurant located in the historic Czech Village neighborhood announced the news on Facebook Thursday night, prompting dozens of comments expressing regret over the news.
Rodina will close in November, according to the Facebook post.
“When this project began, the stars aligned and allowed us to bring to fruition our dreams, supported by some epically talented and incredible people that we believe will have an impactful and lasting effect on the Iowa food scene,” the restaurant wrote on Facebook. “Our world has evolved a great deal in the 4.5 years Rodina was opened. Now, in the momentum of our best year yet, a changing wind is blowing, and it seems stars have shifted.”
More: How Rodina's focus on Midwestern foods made this Iowa chef a James Beard semifinalist
Rodina opened in 2019 by chef Samuel Charles and his wife and co-owner Phoebe.
The restaurant serves "Midwest comfort food," presenting “high-quality food that we cook properly,” Charles told the Des Moines Register earlier this year.
“We wanted to create a restaurant that reminded people how easy food can be,” he said. “You can roast a chicken and bake some potatoes and if that chicken is high quality and that potato is high quality, that meal is going to be high quality.”
Like restaurants across the nation, Rodina was challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic and shifted to do more catering, private events and hosted a small number of guests at their restaurant for a tasting menu. In early January 2022, Rodina temporarily shifted to the concept SureBurger when the restaurant’s walk-in coolers broke.
“Join us with the time we have left, not by filling it with whys and what-ifs, but rather heartfelt hellos, joyous meetings, and nostalgic gatherings,” Rodina wrote on social media. “Until the end of our last service, we will proudly share our passion for hospitality, food, and the experience you’ve grown to love at Rodina. Let us celebrate these final moments in our brightest fashion.”
Rodina chef and owner named a James Beard Award semifinalist
Charles was named a James Beard Award semifinalist for the Best Chef Midwest category earlier this year. The James Beard Awards are a prestigious honor in the culinary world.
While Charles was not one of the five finalists — the winner will be announced at an awards ceremony in Chicago on June 5 — he was the only semifinalist from Iowa in the Best Chef Midwest category this year.
That’s on top of Charles being named Chef of the Year by the Iowa Restaurant Association in 2021, and numerous achievements while working in restaurants in Chicago and Denver, including being a StarChef’s Colorado Rising Star in 2017 during his time at restaurant and bar The Way Back.
More: A comprehensive guide to finding James Beard Foundation-nominated chefs, restaurants in Iowa
Where to find Rodina
Location: 1507 C Street S.W., Cedar Rapids
Contact: 319-200-2515 or rodinaiowa.com
Hours: Monday, Thursday and Sunday from 4 to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 4 to 9:30 p.m.; Sunday brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
More: How Rodina's focus on Midwestern foods made this Iowa chef a James Beard semifinalist
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 Des Moines Register: Cedar Rapids restaurant led by James Beard Award semifinalist to close
