Iconic Iowa City restaurant. The food is as good as ever! I have been eating here since 1970s and I love the atmosphere and food. Don't change!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cristie Severson
My brother got married there, and is the last to do so, since they are being forced out by Randy's Carpets, the owner. I will miss this place. It's always had great food and staff. Thanks for the memories.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tonya Daniels
We love this place. Many memories made here. We celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary and my son and his wife had their wedding reception here, my daughter had a prom dinner here.The food is incredible and the service was great and attentive.The view we had was breathtaking.Iowa River Power you are going to be very, very much missed.Thank you for the memories.
Very nice restaurant. This was power generation plant before. River side view .
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alicia M Carstens
The food here is really amazing but it does get very crowded and reservations are most definitely recommended even for small parties.Bottomless, mimosas or champagne is included in the buffet price. The service is great but the clientele isn’t your normal bar crowd so if you’re looking to take advantage of the bottomless mimosas, a good idea to let your server know to ‘keep ‘em comin’. Never had an issue.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kathryn Wilson
We love this place but unfortunately the building owner didn't renew the lease and will be closing in the next couple of months. We were there 36 years ago when we were in training. Excellent prime rib ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Caesar Salad
S Graham
Amazing food! Perfectly cooked steaks, potatoes that has THE best flavor! The shrimp was excellent too! Service was top notch. Normally you need a reservation which we did not know but we made in just between! Super glad we finally were able to eat here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Caesar Salad
troy McIntosh
Absolutely love this place when we go to a Hawkeye Game! Disappointing to hear they are changing the characteristics and image of such a historical restaurant. The waiter I spoke to during our brunch was so compassionate for how the restaurant is currently and physically upset what the venue will be. The waiter absolutely was devastated what is coming down the road for a great restaurant. If it isn't broke don't fix it!!! Keep the Iowa River Power Restaurant as it is for the patrons and the dedicated staff!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Erika J. Worley
So sad the building is changing tenants!! Go while you still can!!Sunday brunch was so good. Everything I had was divine. Biscuits & gravy, free mimosas, waffles with berries, chocolate dipped strawberries... The cheesecake tasted like it came out of a box but that's my one and only complaint. Staff were nice and attentive. (Thanks, Andy!) Buffet lines move quickly. Wondrrful!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chocolate Cake, Desserts
denisep1223
We were celebrating our 38th wedding anniversary (a couple of weeks late) and happened to be in Iowa City. We loved the window seating, the appetizers, the ribeye and scallops, and Jacob!!!!
A long-time Iowa City standard, this place is on its way out, so if you've never been here, it's worth a visit to see the unique layout in a repurposed hydropower plant. The food is OK, I once remarked that it reminded me of any one of dozens of average places I've eaten at over years of business travel. One favorite thing is the hot bacon vinegar salad dressing on spinach salad. Pretty much anything on the menu will be good but not out of this world. Many people like the Sunday brunch, but I always found it overpriced and overcrowded. If you go, be sure to try the prime rib. Even though I haven't frequented this place in the last twenty years or so, it will be sad to see it go. I hope something much better takes its place.
todd taylor
Food and service was very good. We have dined there many times and have never had s bad experience. Salad was large, Prime Rib was excellent and my wife enjoyed the Duck. Calamari plus the cocktail sauce never disappoints. 4.5 stars overall.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Duck, Desserts
Dawn Cleer
Boyfriend brought me here last week to celebrate my birthday which was noted on the reservation. We were seated promptly. Waited awhile for someone to come by with water. Waited another 10 minutes or so for the waiter to come up and say “do you know what you want?” No introduction so we didn’t even know how to address him or the person he was training. Filet was a little undercooked to our liking but we dealt. Ribeye had no marbling or flavor and was over cooked. The waiter was very nice and while I was going to just eat a few bites and be done he insisted on having a new steak made. This one was very undercooked, gristly, flavorless. Potatoes were mushy and should have just been mashed at that point. Mushrooms were very underwhelming with no flavor until loaded with salt (we have a restaurant in our home town that has top notch sautéed mushrooms that are hard to beat). No mention of what the seasonal vegetable was that came with the meal and neither one of us are fans of sugar snap peas and would have asked for broccoli instead had we known. For being a local staple recommended to us while in town we expected better. Two stars for the prompt seating and waiter wanting us to have food cooked to our liking but honestly it feels like since they are closing, they don’t care what kind of service or food is offered here. Not one to post reviews but this was unpleasant enough to want to share the experience.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 2
Shawn King
So hoping this place doesn't shut down, very very delicious and very great staff. It was my first time, and I want to take my daughter when she could actually eat adult food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: French Onion Soup Au Gratin, Calamari, Onion Rings, Caesar Salad, Chicken Parmesan, Steak Oscar, Potato Skins, Stuffed Mushrooms, Monterey Shrimp, Duck, Stuffed Chicken, Roast Duck, Desserts
Disneybus
Traveling from New Jersey and touring Iowa, we found the evening very satisfying. We called for an early reservation and were accommodated with a window view overlooking the Iowa river. We were fortunate getting the Friday reservation that day, as the place filled up within an hour. Our server Jacob, was very engaging and efficient. After our tasty bread service, my wife and I shared a nice artichoke dip as an appetizer. I had the salmon and my wife opted for the Mahi-Mahi. Both dishes were tasty and nicely presented; we also shared a generous side of broccoli Hollandaise. The décor, ambiance, and comfortable seating helped enhance the evening. Our dinning experience was most satisfying, and we recommend an evening at The River Power.
Iconic Iowa City restaurant. The food is as good as ever! I have been eating here since 1970s and I love the atmosphere and food. Don't change!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My brother got married there, and is the last to do so, since they are being forced out by Randy's Carpets, the owner. I will miss this place. It's always had great food and staff. Thanks for the memories.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We love this place. Many memories made here. We celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary and my son and his wife had their wedding reception here, my daughter had a prom dinner here.The food is incredible and the service was great and attentive.The view we had was breathtaking.Iowa River Power you are going to be very, very much missed.Thank you for the memories.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Creme Brulee, Chocolate Cake, Chicken Parmesan, Filet of Beef, Stuffed Mushrooms, Desserts
Very nice restaurant. This was power generation plant before. River side view .
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food here is really amazing but it does get very crowded and reservations are most definitely recommended even for small parties.Bottomless, mimosas or champagne is included in the buffet price. The service is great but the clientele isn’t your normal bar crowd so if you’re looking to take advantage of the bottomless mimosas, a good idea to let your server know to ‘keep ‘em comin’. Never had an issue.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
We love this place but unfortunately the building owner didn't renew the lease and will be closing in the next couple of months. We were there 36 years ago when we were in training. Excellent prime rib ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Caesar Salad
Amazing food! Perfectly cooked steaks, potatoes that has THE best flavor! The shrimp was excellent too! Service was top notch. Normally you need a reservation which we did not know but we made in just between! Super glad we finally were able to eat here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Caesar Salad
Absolutely love this place when we go to a Hawkeye Game! Disappointing to hear they are changing the characteristics and image of such a historical restaurant. The waiter I spoke to during our brunch was so compassionate for how the restaurant is currently and physically upset what the venue will be. The waiter absolutely was devastated what is coming down the road for a great restaurant. If it isn't broke don't fix it!!! Keep the Iowa River Power Restaurant as it is for the patrons and the dedicated staff!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
So sad the building is changing tenants!! Go while you still can!!Sunday brunch was so good. Everything I had was divine. Biscuits & gravy, free mimosas, waffles with berries, chocolate dipped strawberries... The cheesecake tasted like it came out of a box but that's my one and only complaint. Staff were nice and attentive. (Thanks, Andy!) Buffet lines move quickly. Wondrrful!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chocolate Cake, Desserts
We were celebrating our 38th wedding anniversary (a couple of weeks late) and happened to be in Iowa City. We loved the window seating, the appetizers, the ribeye and scallops, and Jacob!!!!
Restaurantji Recommends
A long-time Iowa City standard, this place is on its way out, so if you've never been here, it's worth a visit to see the unique layout in a repurposed hydropower plant. The food is OK, I once remarked that it reminded me of any one of dozens of average places I've eaten at over years of business travel. One favorite thing is the hot bacon vinegar salad dressing on spinach salad. Pretty much anything on the menu will be good but not out of this world. Many people like the Sunday brunch, but I always found it overpriced and overcrowded. If you go, be sure to try the prime rib. Even though I haven't frequented this place in the last twenty years or so, it will be sad to see it go. I hope something much better takes its place.
Food and service was very good. We have dined there many times and have never had s bad experience. Salad was large, Prime Rib was excellent and my wife enjoyed the Duck. Calamari plus the cocktail sauce never disappoints. 4.5 stars overall.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Duck, Desserts
Boyfriend brought me here last week to celebrate my birthday which was noted on the reservation. We were seated promptly. Waited awhile for someone to come by with water. Waited another 10 minutes or so for the waiter to come up and say “do you know what you want?” No introduction so we didn’t even know how to address him or the person he was training. Filet was a little undercooked to our liking but we dealt. Ribeye had no marbling or flavor and was over cooked. The waiter was very nice and while I was going to just eat a few bites and be done he insisted on having a new steak made. This one was very undercooked, gristly, flavorless. Potatoes were mushy and should have just been mashed at that point. Mushrooms were very underwhelming with no flavor until loaded with salt (we have a restaurant in our home town that has top notch sautéed mushrooms that are hard to beat). No mention of what the seasonal vegetable was that came with the meal and neither one of us are fans of sugar snap peas and would have asked for broccoli instead had we known. For being a local staple recommended to us while in town we expected better. Two stars for the prompt seating and waiter wanting us to have food cooked to our liking but honestly it feels like since they are closing, they don’t care what kind of service or food is offered here. Not one to post reviews but this was unpleasant enough to want to share the experience.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 2
So hoping this place doesn't shut down, very very delicious and very great staff. It was my first time, and I want to take my daughter when she could actually eat adult food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: French Onion Soup Au Gratin, Calamari, Onion Rings, Caesar Salad, Chicken Parmesan, Steak Oscar, Potato Skins, Stuffed Mushrooms, Monterey Shrimp, Duck, Stuffed Chicken, Roast Duck, Desserts
Traveling from New Jersey and touring Iowa, we found the evening very satisfying. We called for an early reservation and were accommodated with a window view overlooking the Iowa river. We were fortunate getting the Friday reservation that day, as the place filled up within an hour. Our server Jacob, was very engaging and efficient. After our tasty bread service, my wife and I shared a nice artichoke dip as an appetizer. I had the salmon and my wife opted for the Mahi-Mahi. Both dishes were tasty and nicely presented; we also shared a generous side of broccoli Hollandaise. The décor, ambiance, and comfortable seating helped enhance the evening. Our dinning experience was most satisfying, and we recommend an evening at The River Power.