Quad Cities Bars

The J Bar in the Holiday Inn in Davenport opened Sep 8, and when we and our friends Dave & Robin (rare thing to have company when I add a new bar to my list) hit it for the first time, it was too busy to sit inside.  The patio was heated and very cool, with a fire feature bisecting it.  Unfortunately it was still too cold to hang around too long, so I went back the next day and sat at the bar.  Good food, unique menu, and a $40,000 argon filled wine cooler.  All very hip, and I think will make a really nice hotel bar, but really very corporate. The Field House (same owners as the original one in downtown Iowa City) occupies what used to be Habaneros in North Park Mall.  This place is Hawkeye heaven with its gold and black décor and 20+ flat screens, and the food is good enough to be a draw even on non-football Saturdays.  They opened 9/2, but I didn’t even notice it until over a week later. We also hit the first of the three Market Cafes...

In Port Byron, the Riverbottom Chop House formally changed hands from G’s Riverfront Cafe on August 1, and stayed open through Tugfest during some light remodeling.  They then closed for the remainder of August and began their two day invite-only soft opening Sep 3.  We are RSVP’d for the 4th, and are looking forward to see the changes, though we’ll certainly miss G’s.  Not only was it a top notch restaurant with fare every bit on a par with Duck City , Le Figaro , and Bass Street Chop House (though priced a little more reasonably), you could count on some of the finest musicians randomly taking the stage after Jeff Miller (the dinner time entertainment, and a great musician in his own right) finished up at 9.  While the remaining lineup varied with who was in town, you’d usually see owner and chef Dave Killinger, veteran of Tortilla Flats and the 70’s QC/Clinton music scene, taking the stage around ten with sous chef Paul Mikles on bass, son Graham Killinger on ...