Orchard Green Restaurant & Lounge – Iowa City
Orchard Green Restaurant & Lounge
521 S. Gilbert Street
319-354-1642
Valet Parking: Yes Reservations: Yes Vegetarian Options: Yes Delivery: No Budget: No
Once a brewery on the edge of campus-town, the newly remodeled Orchard Green Restaurant & Lounge is a nice, quiet place to go for dinner and drinks.
The first thing I noticed when entering through the Gilbert St. entrance was the new layout. For anyone familiar with the location when it was Fitzpatrick’s Brewing Company (Fitzies to most) or most recently, part of Old Capitol Brew Works & Public House, you will notice the same basic layout, with a few changes.
The lower-level, which was once home to the casks for the brewery, has been converted into a lounge. There is an entrance to the lounge and free valet parking here if you enter off of E. Prentiss St. Overall it looks like they did a nice job with the conversion, though we didn’t spend much time down in the lounge. The beer and wine menu is nice as well.
The menus are made of cork. How cool!
I ended up ordering the Bouillabaisse ($18).
Rachel ordered the Vegetable Risotto ($18).
In general, we had a good experience at Orchard Green, even though the service was a bit unprofessional and awkward at times. Unfortunately poor service is the norm in a college town like Iowa City. After an appetizer, a few drinks, and our entrees, we spent about $70.
Overall impressions (out of 5): Service – 2.5 Veg Friendly – 3.5 Value – 4 Atmosphere – 4.5