
Address and Contact Information
Address: 202 N Linn St, Iowa City, IA 52245
Phone: (319) 800-0720
Website: http://www.thewebsteric.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: resy.com
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Reviews
It was a solid pick!! Why?
Food was fantastic michelin star quality. Oysters with an apple mignonette, chicken so tender and flavorful, and a short rib style pasta. Biscuits and fried rice were awesome.
Sommelier picked a perfect wine for us.
Our server Riley was wonderful. Great suggestions and timely service.
Overall…so happy we picked The Webster!,
On to the (probably lengthy) review…
The Chef’s Counter experience had been a bucket list item for my wife and I after several years of enjoying outings to The Webster. It was easily set up by contacting the restaurant via email. I was given a rundown of the cost and process and asked about any allergies. There was an option wine pairing to add, which we declined.
For the meal, you are sat literally at the counter of the restaurant overlooking the kitchen. That in and of itself was a really cool experience as you get to see dishes prepared, kitchen staff interacting, etc. If you’ve ever watched The Bear it was like that, minus the yelling and chaos. It was very cool.
Sitting there also meant we had a direct interaction with the sous chef who was preparing our meals. Each dish came with an explanation of what we were being served and the source of the ingredients. The attention to detail and the commitment to quality ingredients really showed throughout these interactions.
Now, for the food itself: simply incredible. Every bite was phenomenal. All told, we had 12 dishes, mostly small plates. We didn’t order any of the items and didn’t see our menu beforehand, which I fully support. We were treated to dishes that I might not have otherwise ordered.
The chef told us the menu was based on what ingredients were available. Everything is fresh and the things that could logically be sourced locally (produce, beef, chicken) were. In our case, we seemed to be in a transition from sort of a summer menu to a fall menu. We were getting the last of the peaches, but also the first taste of some other items that were just coming into season.
Our menu was seafood heavy (in a great way) with items including the best oyster I’ve ever had in my life, hamachi crudo, seared tuna, and rock shrimp. The main dish was a haub pork chop, which was delicious. The standout items were a fresh tomato salad and a wagyu beef tartare.
The dishes come out in the order that you would expect for a dinner – appetizers, salad, soup, main course(s), and desserts. Between each dish, you get a fresh set of silverware and the staff comes by to wipe down the counter. It was a nice touch.
On top of the food, we had phenomenal cocktails throughout the night.
All in all, this is a truly phenomenal experience. The food itself is incredible, but the level of service elevates the experience even more. The staff was knowledgeable, attentive, conversant, and clearly passionate about the food.
This experience does not come cheap, nor should it. If you’re asking “Is it worth it?” I can’t answer that for you. For us, the answer was wholeheartedly, “Yes!” After enjoying other meals at The Webster, this was an experience we had been anticipating for a long time and it delivered in every single way.
The only downside was the portion sizes. They were too large for a date night with just two people. It felt like we had to over-order and take too much home. A little more à la carte flexibility or smaller portion options would go a long way, and help make the experience more approachable price-wise.
The texture is somehow both rich and delicate, like the cow or what ever animal contributed its last words in a spa. a culinary magic trick that makes you pause mid-chew and stare into the middle distance, wondering why we don’t eat more things that sound weird but taste incredible. The sauce involved knows its role and does not try to steal the spotlight. This sandwich is not about chaos. It is about harmony.
By the end, I felt smug, joyful, and faintly superior to my former self who once said, “I don’t know about tongue.”
Five stars. Six if you count taste buds.
The food and drinks were delectable- so fun trying dishes from each part of the menu. Even the mocktails were delish!
This place is such a treat & we will be returning!
Update 6/28/2024 – returned with my parents and had a fabulous time. We ordered the asparagus, chicken thigh, beef rib, and potato salad. Some of the best food I’ve ever had. They take such good care with presentation and ingredients. They are also mindful of allergies. I love that they wipe your table in between courses and check in frequently. It does get very loud in there and is usually packed so we did find we were talking very loud to communicate at our table.