Granite City Food & Brewery
4755 1st Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52403
Granite City Food & Brewery Menu
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Address :
4755 1st Avenue SE
Cedar Rapids, IA, 52403 - Phone (319) 395-7500
- Website https://www.gcfb.net
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 12
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch, Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Michael W.
Granite City is Applebee's for Frank Lloyd Wright fans. Let me explain: the restaurant's menu duplicates the successful Applebee's formula: lots of safe American food options (burgers, steaks, pizzas, pastas, etc.) that are good but not especially memorable. Instead of lots of crazy crap on the walls, however, GC is a relatively classy affair, decked out with lots of stonework and wood in a vague Prairie style. I've never had any problems with service, but expect to wait - this place is popular, especially on Sunday mornings for the brunch buffet.
(3)Nicholas L.
I think GC is somewhere between a 3.0 and a 3.5. It's not a 4, but a straight 3 seems like selling it a little bit short to me, and it's definitely not a 2. Yes, it's an American food chain (around 20 restaurants if I recall correctly), but it's no Appleby's, the food is significantly better than that. The chicken wings are top notch, and I'm a bit of a wing aficionado. The Idaho nachos are good, but nothing special. I really love the dip though (which I think they gouge you an extre 50 cents or a buck for, but its worth it) and the quantity is enough to choke a horse (way too much for an appetizer for two people, four is better), so that's a winner in my book. I've had most of their dinner entres. Nothing is amazing but none of them are bad either. Pretty much everything is what I would consider slightly above average. You won't be amazed but I don't really see how anyone could be disappointed either, and the portions are gargantuan. The steaks they serve are solid, and I love the onion strings they serve with them (and almost all of their dinners). I like their ale & cheddar soup as well. Sunday brunch is also worth a visit.
(3)k r.
Good flavors. Good vibe. Its a chain, and the staff is inexperienced but its all good. Its more a sports bar then serious foody place.
(4)Chase M.
2013 update: This place has a weekend brunch buffet that attracts a combination of hungover 20-somethings and church folk on Sundays. It's at least amusing to see the suits & ties scooping food next to bedhead hair and tshirts with mostly dried beer stains. The beer was a nice addition to Cedar Rapids in 2007, but with all the taps at Bricks, Parlor City, and Cedar Brew, Granite City has been abandoned by beer snobs. The food has significantly improved since 2007. I think the best dish is the $22 "pick 3" (pulled pork sliders, chicken legs, a couple other options). It's too much food for 1 person, but possibly not enough for 2. The salad's are good but I have a feeling the grilled Asian chicken salad with dressing is not any fewer calories than a burger fries. Upgrading my 2007 review of 2-stars to 4-stars. 2007 review: My beer brewing friends have commented that granite city has some sort of patented way of transferring unfermented beer on trucks so that it can ferment at the restaurant. While that is kind of cool, I let taste be the final judge and the beer is good. The stout is the best of the 4, but my cedar-rapids-hops-deprived palette usually leads me to the IPA. I have had 3 of the 4 beers (not the light lager) and they were all good. The problem is the food. Hamburger: The bread is cheap or maybe was just old when I got it. The meat had something wrong with it but I couldn't place it. It might be cooked in some sort of weird not grilled way. The lettuce drenched everything in water and it made the bread soggy. Some sort of alfredo type noodle dish: I can't remember the title of this dish as it was several months ago. I do remember it looking sloppy and it reminded me of 4th grade lunch trays where something in a big pot is served with an ice cream scoop. There was very little flavor and the noodles were squishy like they had been boiled in water that wasn't hot enough. Cheese Ravioli - This was actually good, though at $15 I expected a little more... extra seasoning or something green and fresh looking sprinkled on or just anything that made it look like a $15 dish (I don't know how this cheese ravioli is one of the most expensive items). Even though it is over priced, this pulls my overall food score up a little. For beer I would give this place 5 stars and for food 2 stars. This place is fundamentally a restaurant so I'm averaging 2 and 5 to a 3.
(4)Ethan A.
Their food is good they have lots of options and if you are looking to break into trying craft beers this is an okay place to go for that, only down side they are a little expensive.
(3)Rachel W.
I've eaten at this location about a 1/2 dozen times. I've always been pleased with my food and the service. This location is crowded pretty much round the clock and I don't know that they accept reservations. Probably best to have a late lunch or early dinner here--during the week.
(4)Pat L.
Although I always have the grilled salmon oscar, it's still a killer dish. Ryan at bartender is a good guy and quick to refill beverages. Hard to go wrong with this franchise. Another MN franchise does it right!
(4)Maria E.
The staff was super friendly and we came in at 9 pm on a Saturday for happy hour. We drove up from Iowa City just to eat here and I'm glad we did. Our server was really nice and helpful... could have kept better eyes on my water, but all well. The food was hot and delish! I got the mac n cheese and my boyfriend got the steak with mashed potatoes and green beans. Also had the city cosmo and a lager...both great! I love this place :)
(4)Jamie B.
Very friendly staff but the food fell short. First the salad was prepared and served not as ordered. Then both of our steaks were cooked to the wrong temperature. For the money that I paid, it should have been a lot better.
(2)Doug M.
Outside of major chains, Granite City is the best dining option in this part of Cedar Rapids and I make it a point to eat here every time I'm in town. You can't go wrong ordering from the extensive menu. Tons of comfort food options and nothing will disappoint. Granite caters to business travelers (like me) - it can be busy even on a weeknight in February when it's 2 degrees F outside. I agree with some of the other reviews (like my friend Angie) about how the hostess seats customers. Don't take their first selection - have in mind what you want and make them put you at a better table. Be forewarned - either get a designated driver or take Uber. The beers are very good and are served in 22oz glasses. The pace is fairly slow - after two hours of merriment, you'll be pretty buzzed.
(4)Dustin B.
Had the meatloaf with garlic mashed and French Onion soup on the side along with a stout ale. The meatloaf was not hot inside but average to good with a nice sweet and sour sauce. Garlic mashed was just what you would expect. The onion soup was way salty. The waiter noticed me not eating it and asked about it. I traded for the Wisconsin cheddar and it was the best part of the meal. Service was great. Cheese soup the best. Everything else ok.
(3)Andrea B.
Favorite restaurant for the whole family. Atmosphere is great! I would suggest the asian chicken salad or the chicken caesar chalupa!
(5)Angela F.
Good service and food for lunch. I wish I would've went here sooner during my stay so I had enough time to go back for dinner.
(5)Devin K.
Looking for a local type of place we stopped in here for lunch. The restaurant was a buzz with football and their breakfast brunch buffet, which looked very good. We sat in the bar to watch football on the many TVs with multiple games. We had some very tasty Bloody Mary's, and Mimosas and I had the bacon tomato avocado sandwich. The food was very tasty and fresh, and was delivered quickly. The service was the best part of our visit, our server Britt was quick and enjoyable to talk with. Being from out of town she provided us with some information on the area and pointed out some must see places downtown. As a bonus she even sent us off with some fresh cookies for our road trip. Definitely a nice change to normal service. Thanks Britt and Jenn for the great lunch experience.
(5)Donna H.
Very disappointing. Want my food hot and even after sending back it wasn't hot. Not worth risking warm chicken.
(1)Ann D.
I've eaten here before and thought the Sunday Brunch was fairly good. Certainly lots of food. But today, I was seated in a booth in the bar with football blaring and when I asked for the overhead light to be put on they said they couldn't, too bad. When I needed to ask my waitress something she was nowhere to be found. Might be a while before I step in here again. They need to step up their game. There are other choices for Sunday Brunch now. My assessment, it's way too costly for the food, service or the atmosphere. Three strikes, I'm out of there!
(2)Kelsey C.
I went here because I was working from out of town in the area and looking for a nice place to have dinner and a few beers while I did some work. When I walked in, I explained just that, and asked if it was ok if I sat in the bar (which was only half full). The host said yes, that was totally fine and showed me the way. Again, when I was greeted by my server, I told her I would be working, pulled out my laptop and asked if there was a plug around. There was one right by my table (perfect). I ordered a great pumpkin stout, looked through the food menu and told the server I would order food in about a half hour. However, only a few minutes later when I tried to use the Wifi, I realized that my connection was extremely slow, and nothing would load. I gave it about 20 minutes to see if the connection got better. It did not. I asked the server if there was an internal network I would have the password to since my connection was so slow (this was necessary to complete my work). She said there wasn't and that she would ask her manager to "reboot the connection". She then said, "Yeah...our wifi is always really slow. People always have problems. It doesn't work very well." That comment was then confirmed by her manager who told her "the connection has been bad for a while". Seriously?? Then why even offer wifi in the first place!! Couldn't someone have identified the fact that the wifi was unusable before I ordered a pint of beer and took out all my work??? What an absolute WASTE of time! I unfortunately had to leave without finishing my beer because I needed to work. I understand that this is a restaurant/brewery, not a wifi hotspot, but when I said to multiple people that I would be working, some sort of heads up about the wifi would have been helpful. Yes, I probably would have left without ordering a beer and they wouldn't have made $10 off me...but then again they wouldn't have an irritated out of town customer writing this yelp review. Anyway, I wouldn't go back for this reason. Communication and customer service is key, and I felt "duped" when I left mid-beer after no one mentioned the wifi issue.
(2)Kristin H.
Sometimes I feel like GC is not a chain. The food is well prepared, portions are huge and enough to share, and the restaurant set up is right on. Prices are a bit high, but you will always have enough leftovers to constitute a second meal. The beer, well, not the greatest. Mug club pricing is nice though. If you are looking for a place that is nicer than a typical chain, and you want a big variety of items on the menu, this is the place for you.
(4)Mary B.
It was my first time visiting the GC brewery and I loved it! The service was top-notch. You can try samples of beer before deciding on the flavor you want. There's also quite a bit of variety on their menu. I had the flat bread pizza and also ate the pretzels with cheese. I also tried one of their burgers and some soup. The soup was a bit salty so we were given another choice. Overall, I thought the restaurant was a good choice for everyone because it has a little bit of everything. I only wish I had enough room to try their dessert.
(4)Heath L.
Super friendly waitress. Bacon, tomato, avocado sandwich had almost one slice of bacon on it. Sandwich probably had a quarter pound of cheese on it, probably to hide the complete lack of bacon. It was a doughy cheesy mess of a sloppy sandwich. Will not be back for food. My wife and I both had the same sandwich. Pretty gross.
(1)Vic T.
My friends and I are from out of town. We stopped in for lunch and were treated very very well. The asst. manager came over to welcome us, gave us cards to use for free appetizers on our next visit and even treated us to desert cookies as we left. With that kind of service I will definitely be returning. By the way, the food and drinks were awesome
(4)Christopher P.
First time being in CR and I try to find restaurants that we don't have at home in Florida. This has the restaurant chain feel but is not one that is feels like you have been there a million times. I love craft breweries and love to try new things. The Broadaxe was a good oatmeal stout. I love that the smallest size is 20oz. My wife had the Blue peppercorn burger and I had the BTA with the cheddar beer soup. Burger was great and the sandwich had fresh ingredients. Not a bad first restaurant to go to.
(4)James L.
The service is weak. I think many of the Yelpers here seem to agree. The server was "smart" about upselling and kept offering add-ons to the food that were obviously going to be charges which you won't find out until you see the ticket. I will not be tricked! However, we ordered an appetizer that comes with ranch. The server brought us a small portion of ranch along with the appetizer, which also had a small thing of ranch. She did not mention that the second random ranch she brought was an upcharge. I don't know why that was served to us. --- Across from my table, there were two ladies who were upset about something regarding the temperature of their food. The server took the food and haughtily returned and told the two ladies that their "food is taken care of and when they finish, they can just get out of here." -- She did say that in a neutral tone, but you can tell she was angry. (possibly understandable since the temp could have been the kitchen's fault)
(2)Donna W.
It's a Fri night, just got to hotel. No food at the Longbranch after 11. So party of 3 went here since open till 1am. Perfect! Not!!! Even tho bartender was awesome! No food after midnight?? Really? She did bring us chips and salsa, which were great. Beer was good as well.
(3)Fast Eddie F.
Decent food, slow service. Pricey for the quality. Good crowd for the football game tonight. This room has so much possibility and a convenient location. Clearly needs fresh management - someone needs to spark this place up.
(2)C G.
Went there for our daughter's 16th birthday. We all ordered pasta dishes and they were mediocre at best. Had the cheese soup for an app and it was watered down in a tiny cup. Ordered the bread but it came way late because "they were making a fresh batch" -e.g....forgot about it. This is the second time in a row food has not been good. First time leaving a review though. Won't go back which is unfortunate. We liked that place.
(1)Bridget F.
Food was so-so. My burger was poorly cooked. But with the group I was there with sending it back was not an option! The waitress seemed like she would have given us the check when we sat down if she could. I would like to put my sandwich down on my plate and finishing chewing before you ask about dessert! Food was nothing great. The GC Nachos are made on top of French Fries? I didn't order them, but really?? Food was iffy and service was like going through a drive through.....
(3)Gavin B.
This was my first time here, but I will definitely return. Servers were super nice. We mentioned that it was our first visit, and a few minutes later the manager came to our table with complimentary appetizer coupons for the next time. Food was delivered quickly and was delicious. Steak was ordered medium-rare and that's how it came out. Vegetable portions were equally tasty and good sized. Even got some complimentary cookies on the way out as first-timers. Happy that we found this place via Yelp app.
(5)Emily W.
Dinner was really good and our waitress was pretty decent ( minus the attitude at the end when we wanted to go into the bar). Once we got to the bar the bartender was cranky and complaining about another employee. It was extremely unprofessional. The beer was great though!! :)
(4)Megan K.
My waiter recommended the adult mac and cheese. It was "ok." The texture of the chicken was similar to that made in a microwave. Of course he didn't end up asking if I liked it, but at the end of the meal, he asked if I wanted a box. I let him know that I didn't want to take it home, because I didnt like it. I got a pretty unapologetic, "I'm sorry." And that was it. If I'm paying $60 for a meal for two, I'd hope I would enjoy it. I won't be coming back.
(2)David B.
It was okay...Not a GLB But then again there is only ONE of those!!!
(3)Cory C.
This place use to have great service back about a year ago and to me it seems to be going downhill. Strike 1: our waitress told us that the staff changes so much there she didn't even know her co workers! That can't be a good thing in the management end. Strike 2: Our waitress also could not answer questions we had about menu items because she said she had never been trained on the menu items Strike 3: well this might just be a man thing...ha, but the entire time we were there I was completely ignored by our waitress no eye contact nothing! all questions were asked to my girlfriend as if I was not there. Even when it came to water refills she would just ignore my glass! Then when the check came she hands it to my girlfriend hmmm. Me and her found it very odd! But hey that didn't effect the rating just funny! The burgers always seem be cooked well and I must say I do love the better cheddar burger. I have tried a lot of the menu items and I find that it's best to stick to burgers and the appetizers. They all seem to taste great. My girlfriend had the shrimp Alfredo and the shrimp was very over cooked and sauce seemed very thick! The one saving grace for this place is the beer and outdoor seating. I really enjoy all the beers they offer especially the two pull... There version of a Black and Tan. This place wont wow you but it's ok food for an ok price!
(3)Hollea H.
The food was excellent but the service was horrible. We were there at about 830pm. We were sat immediately because they weren't busy. Our waitress took forever to come take our drink order then, walked right by us twice without stopping to see if we were ready to order. Someone else delivered our appetizer but never brought us plates so we burned our fingers on them trying to hold on to it cause we had no place to set it. Then other waitresses walked past we had empty glasses yet none of them attempted to fill it up.
(1)John L.
Every time I go to this place I like it a bit more. The fare is consistently good, and the variety in the menu is impressive. Beer is variable, but they will give you tastings before you commit to a selection.
(4)Brian S.
food was good. Took a long time to come out, but that did not bother me. I was with a group of about 9, so there was enough going on to keep us busy. Had I been with a smaller group, however, I would have been a little upset about how long the food took. This, however, did not affect the star rating. I ordered the regular burger. Though it was good, it was definitely not the best burger I have ever had. Additionally, it was a little overcooked. In fact, this was the most dissapointing part of the restaurant. Many of the people in my party ordered steaks and spend a good deal of money in the restaurant. For most people their steaks were over cooked. In one instance, a mid-rare steak came out as well done. This is the purpose of the 3 star rating. The beer, however, was very good, and the prices were reasonable. Though I was not overly impressed with the restaurant, I have no reason not to go back, and think perhaps it was just an off night for the kitchen. I imagine I will be back, especially since there are so few restaurants in the area.
(3)Scott Y.
As someone who has eaten at Granite City a fair number of times, I think that I might be able to shed some light on the disparate reviews here. Granite City has a pretty ambitious menu, but it's really more of a meat and potatoes place. I don't mean that in a derogatory sense. I mean that they really knock things like steak, pork, and meatloaf out of the park. The problem, I think, is that people who stick to those basics really talk Granite City up to their friends. Those friends then go there and order one of the more exotic menu items, and leave disappointed. It's not that those items are bad. They're just not going to wow anyone. If you're trying Granite City for the first time, I would recommend that you order the meatloaf (served with a pepper and onion relish-esque sauce over ciabatta bread). I would also recommend adding a cup of the French onion soup
(4)Hil H.
The only reason I'd go to Granite City is the breakfast brunch. It is absolutely delicious. They have a really delicious Eggs Benedict Bar, and they refresh the buffet regularly throughout the morning. The Unlimited Mimosas are TO DIE FOR. I would definitely recommend this restaurant on a Sunday morning.
(4)Jessica W.
I really don't get the hype with Granite City. It's really just okay IMHO. Service is usually pleasant, it's the food that is the biggest downfall. It's just sort of...blah blah BLAND. What's hilarious is the last time I ate here, the assistant manager came to our table twice, both times asking how the food was, and then promptly answering his own question by saying "absolutely incredible, right?!". Of course I was like, yes everything was good, because it's not like it was awful or inedible or anything... but absolutely incredible? Don't kid yourself man. Ultimately this place falls into the category of "I will eat there, but only when prompted."
(2)AK C.
Update because we went here again recently. Still pretty good food, but not as good as in the past and I had two problems with the service. First, the waitress brought a refill of a mango lemonade drink that we didn't order, and then charged us for it. Second, I swapped out kale for broccoli as a side dish and the waitress didn't warn me that they put bacon in the kale. Who puts bacon in kale?!? A person who orders kale probably doesn't want bacon!! I don't eat bacon and didn't notice it at first, so I was pretty disgusted by it. I mentioned this to the waitress and she just blew it off like it was no big deal. It won't kill me, but there are a lot of people who would be even more offended by this than I am. Otherwise, pretty good, but going downhill. Still great beer, though.
(3)Heather L.
Went back a week later... did have to wait for a table, but the wait was about 25 minutes, even though they told us it would only be 15-20 minutes. Our waitress was so friendly and attentive. She was very helpful and just went the extra mile to give us good service. We had some of their bread before our food came out. Some of the bread was warm, but the slices that weren't were a bit hard. My mom ordered the Grilled Salmon Oscar. She said she really enjoyed the crab meat on top, but didn't seem as enthusiastic about the wild rice pilaf. I did try the salmon and it was delicious and nicely cooked. I ordered the Grilled Garlic Butter Sirloin. I asked for medium, specifying that I didn't want it bloody, but still a little on the pink side in the middle. The waitress said that I should get it medium well then... so that's what I did. The steak still came out a little on the bloody side, which made the onion straws underneath soggy and also made some of the mashed potatoes (which were already a bit mushy) soggy as well. The sirloin, however, was nice and tender, although I didn't really taste any garlic butter, but that was ok with me. Because the steak is only served with mashed potatoes, I added a side of broccoli. It is a large bowl of broccoli, but I appreciated it on a separate plate so it would end up in the blood of the steak. As far as the mashed potatoes... they were a bit on the mushy side and the flavor wasn't that great... so either opt for a baked potato, or substitute something else for it. However, I still enjoyed my steak and for that I would still give them a high rating.
(4)Nick B.
I live in San Diego and travel regularly to Cedar Rapids for work. The menu here rotates seasonally and food has been great each and every time. I'm a big proponent of eating healthy and they always accommodate my veggie substitutions with a smile. The staff even remembers my name and I'm only in CR one week a month. I would say if you haven't given this place a try its well worth a shot, and the prices are decent as well.
(5)Jonathon R.
The only reason I'm giving this review 1 star is because the first time I came here the food was decent. This time the food was skirting close to a total disaster. Ordered the muscles with the vodka sauce. Very bland and had to throw out half the muscles because they did not open (from lack of cooking and rushing the dish out). Tried to play it safe with the Blue Peppercorn Burger but was again let down. The burger was very bland and tastless. And then of course there was hair in my ranch dressing. Would not go back after this experience
(1)N N.
Well we went here with high hopes of getting a great tasting meal accompanied by an outstanding beer. Sadly we were disappointed in almost every aspect of the meal. I must say that it was a Saturday night during NFL playoffs and a bit busy though that really shouldn't matter. I must say that the beer was good as for the food it was over priced over salted and over cooked. The service is mediocre at best. For this reason I won't be back.
(1)John M.
The food here is incredible and they have a pretty good selection of beers.
(4)HOLLY M.
Although the waiter was friendly and the staff fixed a large table for our group, the food was lackluster at best. I got a vegetable Alfredo linguine that was very boring and tasteless. The vegetables in the dish were all way overcooked. Just about everyone at our table was not really impressed with their dishes.
(1)K-show H.
Took 30 min for appetizers. Was pretty bad food and service. The only reason they even get a star was for our waitress.
(1)Lisa V.
Back again for another visit to Iowa and I ordered the same steak. I will say it was tasty but I ordered it medium and there was still plenty of blood on the plate. This time the mashed potatoes tasted bland and as if they were out of a box and the service was lame. Two people in my group ordered the same steak well done and it came out medium. When their new steaks came out they had butter on them but mine didn't. To this point I had eaten half of my steak (it took quite a long time for their new steaks). When I asked the server why didn't I get butter she said well you should have, why do you want it now. I responded with, "well since I have half a steak left and it came with it then yes". I wasn't trying to be rude but she looked at me like I was crazy for wanting what I ordered. One guy in our group ordered a patron margarita which was served in a shaker with a martini glass filled with ice. It was awkward. When he asked her for a regular glass and explained why she took the martini glass and came with beer glass and no ice. We had to laugh it off because the girl seemed lost. Normally when I visit I am in a group of 3-4 this time there was 9 of us. Maybe the size of the group was a bit much for them. I may have to pass of my next visit.
(2)George X.
Granite City is an excellent place to dine when they're not busy. They're only so-so when busy... primarily because of the service. We ate there this past Christmas Eve. The place was dead. Other than an epic fail with the initial seating, our service was top notch. As was the food. Their Sunday brunch buffet is also very good, one of the best. Even the eggs are good, and that's quite a feat for a buffet. Service does tend to slip noticeably when they're busy. Except for special occasions or family events I don't have the patience to wait, so I usually avoid them at their busiest times. Prices are a tad on the high side, but not outrageous.
(4)Glenn W.
I went here for lunch recently and was very happy with the experience. I got a very interesting Napa valley burger and a flight of beer. I almost fell over when I realized my 8 - 5oz samples of beer was only $3.75. You really can't beat that. The beers were all tasty, but not spectacular, and the burger was cooked just right. This is the only place I've been in cedar Rapids, but I'd definitely recommend it for lunch or drinks.
(4)Gerald P.
Went for Thursday soup special. Arrived cold. Manager did not charge us. We took it to grand ate at sushi house instead. Yum! Gets 2 stars. Soup is good hot.
(2)Sean W.
I've been up & down here each time I've visited. Sometimes I get great service and great food. Other times, totally opposite. It is a good menu with great choices. I do like their flat bread pizza and mussels and many other dishes. Beers and drink menu is good. I am a Mug Club member which has some benefits (which just got knocked back and less and less now). Sunday brunch is good from what I've heard. Last visit, we had a long wait. Ordered.. my burger (med), cam out raw/seared (still bleeding) no sauce (to the version I ordered), and cold. They replaced the entire order after awhile, but everyone else was done eating and ready to go, so I boxed it and never got to eat it. And wasnt compensated for price or a beer refill or anything. Disappointed. And I've had decent experiences there too. So like I said, its up&down. Nice decor, nice open kitchen. Bar area needs more seating along with waiting area (always cramped).
(3)Dan S.
Oh man...I feel like a break up is pending...when we first met you were so fun, exciting, your portions were fair to the price you charged and your service was great, although very scripted, but I could look past that...it was love...now your portions have decreased as your prices have increased...your taste on nearly everything is very salty and over seasoned...your service again, although friendly it feels less genuine...i.e. your bartenders introduce themselves with a handshake, which is great, but I have met some of them over 30 times now...and each time it is as if you have forgotten the other 29 meetings and the time we shared..."am I not a man made of flesh and blood?" - Bill Shakespeare.... I remember when being one of your chosen suitors....sir Mug Club member meant something...it meant red carpet service, a special boarding area with felt ropes and velvet stools for which to sit upon as I enjoyed the company of your barley offerings...but now it means much of nothing...a database, a reduction of a quarter here and fifty cents there...you are not the person I fell in love with...in this case it is you, not me..."I will find someone like you..." -Adele
(1)Sarah P.
As a San Francisco foodie, eating in Iowa is always an experience. I've been hanging in Cedar Rapids for the past couple of years (daughter in college here) and I LIKE Granite City. A lot. Because if you're looking for decently presented food, okay wine list, better beer list and fairly good service, this is the place. Haven't had a bad meal here. Yet. But it could happen. Honestly, it's not like there are a ton of choices in Cedar Rapids, folks. I would LOVE to open up a really good restaurant here...like the Lincoln in Mt. Vernon. In the interim, don't bad mouth the chains. They fill in where scared entrepreneurs (like me) fail to take a chance. I had excellent service here the other night (mid blizzard). Our server was informed about the menu and very personable. I've been here in the summer when it's busy and the service was pretty good.
(3)Ed N.
Food and service were great and earned them the three stars. The beers they brew not so much. Three or four of their beers are blends of their other beers. $25.00 for a growler initial purchase was way over the top. It's kind of disappointing for us true beer connoisseurs to get good local advice about going here for their "world class" beers. I guess that just shows us the beer palette of the area. Fix the beer recipes and this place would be unrivaled.
(3)Heather J.
This is mostly due to the recent service I received. A while ago my mother and I stopped here for a weekday lunch after shopping in the surrounding area. My mother ordered the pull pork sandwich with fries and I ordered the turkey tortilla, hold the aioli, grille with fresh fruit. Not liking honeydew or cantaloupe I asked the server if they could just give me strawberries...expecting to receive just a few. My plate came out with a pound of fresh delicious strawberries...and mayo. The server brought me a small plate so I could continue to enjoy my berries and said entree would just take a few seconds...apologizing of course. The server brought out my accurately made tortilla grille and another pound of berries. A few minor hiccups but great service recovery. We left a nice tip due to same even though our bill was small.
(5)Chad S.
This place used to easily rate 5 stars in my book but started to go downhill about two years ago. Food and service isn't nearly as good anymore. I tried it again tonight after not going for about a year. Food was okay but service is still lacking.
(2)Reed N.
I'm not sure about the service complaints in other reviews. Our service was fine and it was packed. There were a ton of staff to take care of us. The food was fine. Med-rare steak was not over done... BIG surprise to me. No complaints. I did not try the beer. I am sure it is fine, too. This place had a short wait on a Wednesday night in a bad economy. That speaks volumes. The prices were reasonable as well.
(4)Angie W.
We came here on a Tuesday night, and this place was packed. We had a party of 8, but they were able to seat us quickly. The hostess was going to originally split our party into two tables. When we sat down, we noticed that the two tables were really far apart. Our table was in a section intended for a bunch of small tables, but was only populated by our table. I give credit to our waitresses for figuring out that it was better to move the 2nd table into our section so that our party could sit together. The food was decent and the beer was decent too. My prime rib sandwich could have been better if it was medium rare vs well done. It was not Lawry's prime rib, but I was hungry and scarfed it down. My Northern Light Lager went well with my meal.
(3)Robin D.
We went on labor day weekend when it was busy. We had to wait over 45 minutes to get in since we had a large group of people. I had the salad with the beets on it and it was amazing! I ordered a drink that had cucumber and mint and something else and it was wayyy too sweet when it came. Our waitress, Bethany was fantastic. She suggested I add gin to it, so I ordered a shot and it was perfect. My sister's pasta dish was not as creamy as she expected, so Bethany suggested some Alfredo sauce and my sis agreed so it was brought in a small bowl. She even brought another bowl to mix it all together into. She was very knowledgable of their drinks and foods and had great suggestions for drinks and desserts. Service was top notch! Best waitress EVER! We even left a message for the manager how good she was. Everyone said their food was good except for my son who got the Reuben; it was just okay. I have been here before and had not been impressed. I am happy with changes they made.
(4)Emily L.
I find Granite City to be a good place to go when someone from out of state comes to town and you can't figure out a place that would be suitable for you both to go. Perhaps you don't know exactly what kind of cuisine the individual likes, and you ask them and they say they don't know, and then you don't know because you want to make sure that they like the restaurant that you take them to..... and so on. So, I think Granite City is a good safe restaurant. I recently had my sister come in from out of town, and it was her first trip to Cedar Rapids. We went out to supper to celebrate her birthday and her recent marriage. A good, safe restaurant was necessary in this situation. Service: The service was good. It was relatively busy, so I can appreciate a little bit slower of service and more hectic than if it were an empty restaurant. Rush hours are rough as hell for servers, so I give mine credit. We were asked if we had been there before, my sister stated that she had not. We both ordered diet cokes and both of us got regular, so that was a bit of a bummer. The waitress almost argued with us, but a loyal diet coke drinker knows diet from regular. She kept struggling with our drinks, so eventually we just got water. She stated that the machine was having issues... okay. I can buy it. So, we just got water. Food: We ordered two flatbreads to share. One was an olive flatbread and the other was a chicken. Both were good... but the one with the olive tapenade was great. We also got the every famous Idaho nachos as our appetizer. They recently have changed these, and now it includes, "queso". The waitress almost gave us (more specifically me, as I have been there before) and asked if we wanted the "queso" on the side. I heeded her advice, and we ordered it on the side. Turns out... it is the beer cheddar soup. Do not label cheddar ale soup as "queso"! That is almost sacrilegious! The good news of this was that I asked for a spoon and felt like I got a win as we got a little cup of soup with our nachos. These were delicious with some of the wonderful Granite City sauce on the side. Near the end of our meal, the waitress brought my sister a large skillet cookie, which was to die for, in celebration of her birthday. Also, because it was my sister's first time, the manager welcomed her, and gave us a bag of cookies to go. Heck yea! Overall, I think some folks forget that this is a chain. It isn't a local place... so with that in mind, it was excellent. I have found that if things are wrong, you may have gotten screwed and have a crappy server, but the managers tend to check in on diners, and they will take care of fixing or comp-ing your issue. I appreciate that.
(4)Don M.
Granite City is a great place to go and experience an excellent variety of crafted and bottled beers. Their Sunday brunch buffet is world-class! However the food service during week is an epic FAIL! On three different visits it took 15 minutes to get drink service and menus. Then another 15 minutes for our order to be taken. The food was delivered in a timely manner, but my medium steak was rare, almost still mooing. My date's chicken was undercooked. I live close by so I stop with friends weekly for drinks, but we're all in agreement that we eat elsewhere.
(2)Megan B.
I must say, I REALLY used to like this place. Good burgers, good service, and an AMAZING brunch. That being said, the last couple of times I've been here, spread across a couple of years, it's been going downhill. First off, the burgers. The burgers we ordered came to the table and both of the grilled buns were cold to the touch, not a good sign at all. Probably cus they waited in the pick up window for more that a couple of minutes?? My side of broccoli also had curiously a short strand of what looked to be fettucine alfredo. Ok, I can sort of live with that, I guess. But the place was DEAD on a Saturday night around 9-ish. If you knew about Granite City's fabled past in Cedar Rapids, you'd think something was amiss. It's always been busy, but not so much the last couple, non-brunch times I've been here. The previous outing I had one of the game-time specials, a flatbread pizza which had to be sent back to the kitchen because a good half of the crust was burnt. And I saw other flatbreads returning to the kitchen/dishroom half eaten. Next off is the service. Going to Granite City in the past meant good service. I know someone who has worked there and he said that the management is so strict that if you show up to your orientation there without a pen, you'll be let go immediately. Being a former waitress myself, I think that is a good rule, as I would commonly lose pens to my co-workers after I lent them one. Anyway, the service here has really gone downhill. Absent waitstaff, curt waitstaff, you name it. This trip there was a question over the bill and the mug club rewards(10% subtracted from your bill) not being taken off. After what seemed an eternity, the waitress curtly came by with the adjusted check. No apologies for the discrepancy at all. Looking again over the check, she was unable to get the 10% off, which would've been $2.80. More than just about the missing deduction, but about the overall lackluster dining experience, my bf went to talk to the manager. He brought up most of the points I've talked about. Surprisingly, my bf walked away with a FULLY comp'd meal, and a free $25 giftcard. Now the question is, do we use it for their brunch or re-gift it to a friend?
(2)Tom L.
Good chain bar/restaurant in the MN and IA area. Steak and salad for under $30. Good food. Don't like the onion strips under the steak. Loses a star for the 19 minute wait for dinner salad on a slow Sunday night.
(2)Dan H.
Expensive but good food. All of their beers are good too. I prefer the Two Pull. Join the Mug Club and get free food and cheap drinks during the Mug Club parties.
(4)Douglas L.
25 min ticket for dinner on a steady night...NOT slammed. Luke warm alfredo instead of re-fire on the fly...they just nuked it. Clueless waitress (nice personality just not on the ball). My friends Salmon was seared and raw on the inside. Manager picked up entire tab...should have gone somewhere else and I knew better too! Oh yeah...beer is so-so...want awesome? Get something from Founders Brewing Grand Rapids, MI
(1)Erin M.
Never again. Hubby's teenage nieces said they love this place and I probably would too as a teenager, but as an adult with more advanced (hopefully) culinary experience, it was pretty abysmal. The good: the beer was pretty good and the service was great. Our server was extremely nice and helpful. Also the manager came over to welcome us and ask how things were going. He also gave us helpful suggestions for other good restaurants in Cedar Rapids. Unfortunately, he came before our food arrived, so we didn't get to express our discontent. The food is EXTREMELY overpriced for the quality. Here, they believe in quantity, not quality, which again, would have been fine with me as a teenager, but now is just an ick-factor. I hate seeing a pile of mediocrity in front of me and feeling the need to still eat it because we paid good money for it with no refunds. Sigh. What I was highly disturbed about also was being seated near the glass partition which separates the eating area and the food preparation area. I counted at least 15 flies on the glass which were on the food preparation side. This really grossed me out and even though I tried to ignore them (seeing that ignorance is usually bliss), my eyes were inexplicably drawn back throughout the meal. We will definitely not return. But it seemed busy, so apparently they don't need our business anyway.
(2)Evan S.
Always a good choice. I have been to Granite City to many times to count. They have large portion size. I have never had a bad meal there. They have several new items in the last few months. You have to try the Napa Valley burger. Since I am a beer aficionado.... or at least I think I am... Their beer is some of the best micro beer I have had. Some people will say its not true micro beer since it is trucked into the store... but I don't see the problem. Overall this is one of my favorite places in CR... even though we don't have much to choose from around here!!
(4)K P.
I really like this place. I have tried several dishes (spicy Alfredo, Cuban, burgers, and others), and all were awesome. The beer is amazing! I really don't get the negative reviews. Out of all the times we were here, my wife got one plate that was bad, and it isn't on the menu anymore.
(5)Lisa H.
I really like Granite City, this is the first one I was ever at. The Sunday bunch was great, it's $14 a person and comes with the buffet which has about a dozen hot foods, pastries, fruit and other cold items, as well as a sweet roll for each person. The other food is also good and we have always had good service at all of the locations.
(4)Jason C.
Staff was incredibly and sincerely friendly. It's amazing what sincere friendliness can do to enhance an experience. I had the Asian Salad on their recommendation. It was super. Definitely would suggest it. Very clean atmosphere. I do not drink alcohol but this is a micro-brewery. Bar looked classy. I ate lunch around 1pm, and it wasnt loud at all. I dont know why reviews arent higher for this location. Most definitely would recommend this as a good place to eat.
(4)Carrie S.
The food is pretty good here. Way too expensive for my taste however. The weekend breakfast buffet is great.
(2)Abby I.
I came here for dinner on a Tuesday night and they were packed. As a newbie to Granite City, I wasn't sure what to expect. They brew their own beers here which is pretty exciting. I got the Northern Light which went down very smoothly with my Baked Three Cheese Ravioli entree. The waffle fries were amazing. Portions are pretty large here as 4 people shared the plate of fries. Service was great, food was great - I'd definitely want to check out their Sunday brunch!
(4)Carolyn S.
We stopped in for beers and food one Thursday night and I was pleasantly impressed by both. I went for the beer sampler, which included a number of their standard brews, plus a couple of seasonal options. The Bock and Stout were excellent, and the rest of the brews were decent too. However, I was not a fan of the seasonal "blueberry" beer as it tasted like it was flavored with blueberry sauce rather than real blueberries. For dinner (on recommendation by the waitress) I had the Blackened Chicken Linguini. The chicken was tender and flavorful with just the right amount of charbroiled saltiness to go with the creamy pasta. The linguini was served al dente with a delicious parmesan sauce, diced tomatoes, béarnaise sauce and green onions. The only drawback to the place was that the famed dipping sauce never arrived with our french fries. Despite pointing this out to our waitress, the dipping sauce was charged to our bill. The matter was easily rectified and in the end we left happy and satisfied.
(3)Z M.
Great drinks but pasta was cold two visits in a row. Chicken wasn't cooked the third visit. Don't eat at this place. Beer is excellent but the service is below average. The waitress came to take our order and to bring us our check; everything else was done by random people. Ended up waiting for bread 25 mins and had to ask 3 times to get it too.
(1)Dustin S.
Try the rosemary filet. It was excellent. The sides were just ok but overall I'd definitely recommend the place. Get there early or be prepared to wait a bit.
(4)James K.
Red meat is great, yada, yada. Have a beer with it... the serving size for an $8 Jim Beam is pathetic.
(2)Nick G.
Not good for vegetarians. All soups have meat stock. No veggie burgers. Cesar salad nothing to remember. And fries (which I expect to be good) were cold and uninspiring. Setting is nice and clean. TVs in bar great for watching sports. Staff friendly.
(2)Manny F.
The beer was not so great here but the salmon was nice! I did not really feel the vibes in this spot, maybe cos I was the only brown man and did not feel as welcome. The place had a total small town mentality and put a place like the TV show "Cheers" to shame. I mean, people stuck to themselves and did not even want to offer that one empty seat to sit at the bar- I had to pry it out of amongst the WASPY folks. Besides, I really did not have the time to get into conversation with someone about Jesus. All in all, if you're stuck in Cedar Rapids, get a meal and run to your hotel room!
(3)Jessica T.
The short version: food is pretty good for the price, service leaves much to be desired. Every time we've been to Granite City, there's a wait, and often a long one (30 min is not uncommon). Because it's so busy, parking can be tight, but there are always spots if you're willing to walk. One of my travel buddies likes that place very much and we go with her when she recommends it. The restaurant itself is pleasant. The tables and booths are generally clean and in good condition. The specials are usually also worth looking into. The food overall is good. The portion sizes are a good size, somewhere between "Just enough" and "I'm going to die if I eat another bite." We had the homemade potato chips (yum!!). At one visit, I had the caesar salad with dinner (also yum!) and the chicken parmesan (triple yum for the win!). At another, I had the asian chicken salad (pretty good!). My dining partners had steak or burgers or ravioli and they all enjoyed their food. The food is generally good quality, good tasting, and is devoured when it arrives. WHEN it arrives. For as nice as the atmosphere and food are, Granite City has poor service. (Not mediocre. Poor.) Special requests are forgotten (a side of ranch dressing) and it takes forever to get drinks, get food, and get the check. (At our most recent meal, it took more than half an hour for us to get our drinks, and one in our party had to ask for his at least four times before it was brought to him. And the bread for the pasta dishes came just as they were bussing the empty pasta plates at the end of the meal.) Even when the house isn't crowded, before the dinner rush, the service staff is hard to find - except in that one minute interval between when the food has come to the table and before you've had a chance to take a bite, when they never fail to ask, "How does everything taste?" before anybody has tasted anything. Drinks don't get refilled, the delay between salad and entree can be 30 minutes or more, and (to my absolute astonishment) it can take more than 15 minutes just to get the check after requesting it. I guess if I was with a bunch of friends - and making good use of their reputedly tasty microbrews - and had plenty of time to kill, it might not bother me so much. But for a mid-week dinner after a long business day I can't say I look forward to returning to Granite City in the future.
(2)Ed F.
We ate here for a birthday party on Saturday night. There were long lines as usual (no reservations). Our party of 10 got seated after about 45 - 50 minutes, not too bad. Our server was very friendly and efficient. It's the food that brings them down. It is presented well and the portions are generous, but the taste really disappoints. One friend ordered the Island Tuna and said it was undercooked and bland. The Chicago style prime beef sandwich wasn't any better, it was very messy and the meat was more like Steakumms than thinly sliced steak. The deal-breaker for me was the Bleu Peppercorn burger I had. The 1/2 pound burger is topped with crumbled blue cheese, thin sliced bacon, cheddar, onion strings and of course cracked peppercorn. It just wasn't very good, not the thick, juicy burger you would expect when you order it medium. A few hours later I woke up at 3:00 AM with the worst case of acid reflux I've ever had. This is from a guy who can eat jalapenos for a bedtime snack with no adverse affects. I was up for hours and suffered all the next day too. Had the blue cheese gone bad? Too heavy on the peppercorns? I blame the blue cheese, but I won't be back to try to find out. The bar is great and decent appetizers, just don't waste your money on dinner.
(2)Tom B.
I was very reluctant to choose Granite City based on some of the other reviews. I'm glad we decided to take a chance on them. We visited on the night before Thanksgiving with a group of 10 (including 4 kids). We were seated within 10 minutes of arrival which is pretty spectacular since they were already packed. The atmosphere is very nice - classy and clean. I don't understand all the negative comments about the service - we had just one server for our large group and she was very attentive. Our orders were correct both on the plate and on the bill. Everyone in our group raved about the food also. We were expecting either average food or something less than average and we ended up having excellent food and drinks. They are a true brewery and I sampled several of their drafts and was pleased with the variety. This is a good place for families as well as small groups or couples. Overall, I could not ask for more. Service, atmosphere and food were all great. Probably the best part is that I got the Holiday Gift Card before eating. The purchase of that card ($50 min) results in a free holiday Growler (normally $20), a $5 refill card (normally $10) AND a $5 supplemental gift card. I was able to use the original gift card the same night for our dinner. I'm drinking one of their ales (from the Growler) right now as I write this review!
(4)Brian G.
Stopped here for a late Sunday dinner. We were greeted by the hostess and advised that there was a slight wait of about 10 to 20 min they held true to their word and we were seated in about 15min. as we passed the hostess podium we were thanked for waiting which was a nice gesture even though we had not been waiting long. We were seated in the bar at a high table and the hostess even took the time to say that there was a vent that was blowing on a cretin side of the table and to sit on the other side to avoid a constant breeze which was very thoughtful. We started with the hot wings which took quite some time to come out the wait staff was on top of things as well as the floor manager who stopped by to make sure we were ok and to let us know that they were aware of the wait. We chose the butter garlic steak which she ordered medium well and I went with rare my steak was cooked perfectly where hers was a bit undercooked but still VERY good. This place can be hit and miss but they really don't miss by much and their attentive wait staff always make sure they stay on top of things.
(4)Carissa O.
I'm definitely a fan of Granite City. Mostly for it's food and beer. The service is hit or miss, with a long wait to be had at the door. The dining is loud, so if you prefer peace and quiet, this is not your place. Fortunately, the food usually comes quick and with a smile. Though slightly pricey, I would recommend visiting Granite City.
(4)Shannon K.
Food... good. Beer... good. Service.. .good Prices.... ACK. Way over priced. They are very proud of themselves. And its a little over crowded in there. They have really packed in the tables. Get a booth if you can because the tables tend to be a little tight. The food and service are the only reason this still rates a 3.
(3)