Chez Grace

Enjoyed our 5 year anniversary dinner here. The food was fantastic. Best filet in this town!

Do you like homemade French cuisine? This is your place. Incredible meal. Incredible wine list. Everything with a personal touch. Can’t say enough good things about this hidden gem.

We really wanted to love this place — it’s a family business, where the chef does everything; he both prepares and serves the food. We went there for a special occassion and did a tasting menu. While some of the dishes were quite good, overall it was disappointing and not worth the price. Our meal cost $ 400+ with wine. We are used to dropping $ 500 for dinners in Chicago, Bay Area, and are willing to do that for excellent and innovative food, which this wasn’t, on the whole.
We had foie gras with pear as the starter, and it was truly very well-​prepared. The next dish was a filet mignon with pommes de terre. The presentation was lacking, but both were good. Then, here’s when things went south. The next course came out … and it was exactly the same presentation as the previous dish: pommes de terre, this time with steak au poivre. Nothing else on the plate. We honestly didn’t even finish this because it felt like nearly the same dish twice and was only so-​so. Last came crème brûlée — it was good, though what you’d expect at this level/​price point. We also ordered a bottle of wine — it was just meh.
Wanting to understand why Chef David would serve two very similar dishes in order in a 4 course tasting menu, we asked him about the second meat/​potatoes dish and why he didn’t include something else — a vegetable perhaps. His explanation was that Iowans don’t eat vegetables. This struck me as an odd rationale for the lack of inventiveness while providing a tasting menu. I do think this place could be really good with just a willingness to innovate a little more, and also bring prices more in line with the value of the food /​experience.

Every single time I come here, I am amazed. Iowa City is LUCKY to have a place like this!

The best restaurant in Iowa City. My husband brought me here for a surprise anniversary dinner, and I was absolutely floored by how good everything was. It’s a tiny, intimate little place tucked away in a strip mall (!) in Coralville right by a Subway and a video game store. I had no idea it was even there, actually, and I’ve lived here for years. Once we were inside, I instantly forgot we were in a strip mall. It’s a lovely little place. The chef gave us so much personal attention, and I could tell he wanted to make sure we got exactly what we wanted. The food was spectacular!
Bottom line: Tiny little gem hidden in an unexpected place. We will be back.

My wife and I had dinner here on Friday night Sep 19, 2014. We ordered the tasting Six courses and the chef told that dinner it will take at least couple of hours, and explain how the duck and the fillet needs to be prepared (medium rare). Let me tell you something this the best tasting menu I ever had in my life, and I have eaten in the best restaurants in the states, from New York to Chicago & Las Vegas. First Course Seared foie Gras with caramelized Pear was outstanding better than ever had in New York or Las Vegas. Second course Butternut Squash Soup WOW!!! Third Course was Goat Cheese salad with heirloom tomatoes, and gray Sea Salt, it was perfect seasoning and the right amount of dressing. Next comes the Magret De Canard (Duck Breast) with Orange Glaze and that was the best I ever had. I had duck at Andre’s in Las Vegas and it was not even close to this one. Next course was Fillet Mignon with black Truffles and Foie Gras and it was like heaven on a plate. and finally in the end of this wonderful, awesome, heavenly journey we had the Crème Brulee and it was perfect ending for a perfect meal from start to finish.
One of the Best Ever.

So here I am writing another 5 star review. This happens, of course, because I only choose 5 star places! This place deserves the stars — great food, attentive service, and ambiance in a stripmall location!
Chef (owner, purveyor, maitre d, waiter, etc.) David is so pleasant. What a nice treat to walk in, sit down, and tell a chef what you want to eat, rather than a 16 year old waitress that doesn’t know a truffle from a peppercorn. Granted, the menu contained all of four entrees (as david explained he’s travelling to Paris next week and is not «stocked up» as he normally would be) it did contain what I came for — the filet mignon.
The steak was very good. Well prepared with a nice sear, and perfect medium rare temp. This is the house’s temp, and was presumed rather than asked. I have a feeling that, if you like it well done, you’re in for a fight.
The pommes de terre were yummy. I can still smell the buttery, carmelly scent… Thats probably because chef is preparing another batch now for another plate. I’ve had it before where a bartender offers the remainder of a shaker that didnt fit in the glass — usually some signature drink. This was the first time I’d seen a Chef come from the kitchen with «extra» potatoes that ended up on my plate. I have to say that I agree, they are just too good to put in the waste hopper.
Appreciate the open kitchen. Not only do I appreciate local food — good to know where your food comes from — but also like to see the preparation.
Crème brûlée — very good, traditional preparation. Probably not world’s best, but pretty kick ass for iowa.
All in all a great experience for my $ 75 (including one glass of wine, and coffee with dessert). Truthfully, I’m gonna expense the meal anyway, but well worth the bucks.

What an amazing place. The food was incredible, the ambience took you from Iowa to France in an instant. My wife & I came across this place by Unilocal.The rave reviews were right.
The salad had all sorts of flavors, and wonderful tastes. My Filet was extraordinary, the sauce mixed well with the peppercorns and made for an unforgettable meal.
The Crème Brûlée was to die for.
All in all a meal we both will remember for a long time. To think it is located in a strip mall, next to a Falafel house is ironic. Can not say enough about the food. It is worth the cost.

There is just no place like Chez Grace! The food is so special and prepared with such soul and care. You can taste the love that goes into every dish. If my husband asks me where we should go for dinner, I always say: Chez Grace. David is so very talented and doesn’t over think his plates. Each entrée is perfectly prepared with no surprises and that is a great thing.
My favorite item on the menu is the Crème Brûlée (and I don’t even like crème brûlée). The potatoes are to die for and anytime David recommends the special menu items you have to go for it. They are always excellent. Can’t wait until my next trip, we always bring our own wine, there is no corkage fee on Sundays.

Best food I have ever had in Iowa. I’m usually a red meat girl but the swordfish was to die for!

There’s no waiter/​waitress here. Just the chef. It’s a one man show. It’s one of those places you go for the food, don’t expect a server to wait on you.
This is an open kitchen. It is clean and you can watch the chef cook your food. Just this alone, deserves a 5 star rating.
The highlight here is the food, it is very high quality food and really tasty. There is not much value here. But if you come to eat the food, you won’t be disappointed. The menu changes daily, this place is open only for dinner.
There’s an ok selection of wine here, corking fee is $ 25. No corking fee on Sunday.
I had the three course meal, salad/​entrée (duck)/crème brûlée for $ 60. Everything was served in smaller portions. I would return to try the tasting menu for $ 100.
This is a great spot for a date or special occasions, it’s intimate and one of a kind here in iowa city.
The entrée by itself for $ 45 is not worth it at all, but as a 3 course meal it is somewhat justified.
Eating here is an experience — if you’ve never been, I would recommend trying it at least once.

My husband and I visited this restaurant on our business trip based on review. Charming little restaurant with passionate chef David. I have been working in Hospitality business for 14 years. The dining experience was personalized and unique. Chef owner David prepared your entire courses as well as acted as sommelier to help with wine selection. The food presentation is simple which give more focus on to the taste of the plate. Authentic from the first course until dessert course. Menu is chef choice which will change according to ingredient availability at its best. Chef also offers 3 courses or 5 course meal at set price which I will try at our next visit when we are in town.
Do not expect a matre’D or host to seat you or wait staff greet you at your table taking drink and appetizer order. This is different kind of experience. I would compare the experience to a chef table dining.
One of a kind experience for people who appreciate food at its best.

Foie Gras was amazing, but everything else is just ok and way overpriced.

Absolutely lovely place. The chef David is great and friendly, cooks and serves personally. It is a real intimate experience, as the restaurant is small. I haven’t had anything comparable in Iowa City, except the Chef’s Table, which unfortunately closed.

Phenomenal food, and an ambiance to match.
This was my first time and I was really impressed. There is not another place like it in Iowa City/​Coralville. There are only 8 tables or so in the restaurant and they only serve 16 people a night. This leads to a very quite, relaxing atmosphere.
The food was great as well. I had a three course meal: The Celeriac Velouté Soup with Black Truffles, the Filet with Balsamic Emulsion Glaze, and the Crème Brulee; along with a bottle of red wine. The meal was fantastic! The cut of meat was high quality and the balsamic glaze was a great accent to it. The desert was one of the best crème brulees I have had. I would have the exact same meal again.
The owner of the restaurant is also the chef and the waiter. There was a sous-​chef as well, but it was a 1 man show. Quite traditional.
It is one of the most expensive meal I have had in Iowa City/​Coralville, but well worth it. I highly recommend it for special occasions.

We had a delicious, intimate meal. We each had the Filet Au Poivre; the steak was beautifully cooked with a delicious peppercorn cream sauce. The salad and soup prior to the meal were also very tasty. We have no quarrel with the quality and execution of the food. Our three-​star rating is based on the fact that the menu is extremely limited (four choices) and quite expensive; all the entrees were over $ 30/​person. In the Iowa City area, there are many options whose food quality and execution are nearly as good, but have options that are a better value for the money (e.g. Joseph’s, 126, Orchard Green). I hope the menu can be tweaked without a sacrifice in quality as we really like the food.

A unique dining experience. The first word that comes to mind is intimate. Only 12 ppl are seated per night (call ahead). This allows Chef David to do things his own way. He greets everyone himself, explains the ever changing menu himself, meticulously cooks your food to order, and then personally brings it to you piping hot.
The atmosphere is quaint, elegant, candle lit, and quiet.
The food itself focuses on the finest quality, locally grown ingredients whenever possible. The presentation is simple no frills. It’s clearly more about the taste here, which did not disappoint. I had the Steak au Poivre which was perfection — juicy, succulent, bursting with flavor. I hear the best things on the menu are the fois gras and the duck.

Please, go here.
Once a month as a date night, do this.
The exterior is blah, but the food is so exquisite, so perfect that salt and pepper are not on the table, why you will NEVER ever think about wanting to add salt to your dinner.
The interior was wonderful, gentle music, soft romantic lighting, classic date night dining all the way. It set up for a meal I will never forget.
The owner, chef, and waiter is the same man who has such a passion for food he brought out the duck breast I had ordered to show me the size of it and where it was sourced from.
Starting with the wine list, get a house red wine a glass and you will be set, sip it gently from start to finish while savoring each course of perfection on a plate.
If you want a bottle the wine list is extensive, wonderful and a true joy to see a restaurant with such an in-​depth knowledge of wine in the area.
I had asparagus soup, duck and crème brûlée, however at the first bite of the soup I was in heaven and the journey only got better.
The soup was perfection in a bowl, smooth flavorful wonderful and just season so perfectly I wish I could have taken a gallon of the soup home.
My girlfriend had the roasted beet salad, which was so well balanced I never had such a well dressed salad in my life, but there where more surprises in store.
Onto the entrees, between the two of us we had filet, and duck breast. The filet was melt in your mouth tender, with a balsamic reduction sauce that was out of this world, hard seared steak with such a perfect tenderness and seasoned so wonderfully as only a master chef can achieve through years of passion for great food. For the duck breast, an orange glaze, cooked to a perfect medium rare, tender juicy a great sear rendering of the duck fat to perfection this was heaven, I love duck and use it as a standard for restaurants that have it and I was not surprised in the least bit by how well the orange sauce complimented both the roasted potatoes and the duck. I would gladly order the duck again and again and again. Both entrees came with roasted yukon gold potatoes which where better than anything I’ve had melt in your mouth soft, well cook, well seasoned, how a potato should taste!
Now for desert. The flavor the skill the love the passion that went into this desert is that of a man consumed with a love of great food. It was so wonderful so delicate and just perfection.
Overall it was the best meal I’ve had out to eat, hands down. From start to finish the whole dining experience was mind blowing, this isn’t just about good food, it’s about eating and knowing how to enjoy great wine, great food and all prepared by a man so passionate that the meal can and will blow your mind!

Fantastic meals that are prepared by someone who truly loves food.
David is a delight and will both serve your meal as well as cook it perfectly.
Try the foie gras and pear appetizer. It’s fantastic!

Please, please don’t let the exterior of this little gem fool you. Yes, it is in a strip mall next to a Chinese buffet. Yes, it is likely that the place will not be packed with diners (the owner only takes 12 people a night to ensure quality — make reservations). But once you’re inside, this place is wonderful.
The owner is friendly and takes good care of you from start to finish (seats you, waits on you, cooks, he was the only one there).
We had a group of six and did a lot of sharing/​tasting and everything was really excellent. We had a pear and goat cheese salad, foie gras, steak au poivre, fillet mignon, lamb and of course tried the crème brûlée. Portion sizes were generous and steaks came with delicious butter gold potatoes.
Price wise, it is a bit of a splurge, but very intimate and you really do forget you’re in Coralville. The atmosphere is very lovely, with dim lights and soft music. With the open kitchen and single staffer, it almost feels like you’re at a dinner party at a friend’s house… if you happen to have a friend who doubles as a French chef… (lucky you).
BYO on Sunday nights when there is no corking fee.