The Black Angel Restaurant — Restaurant in Iowa City

Five Star Review for The Black Angel Restaurant

Title: An Unforgettable Experience at The Black Angel

Rating: ★★★★★

Review:

I recently dined at The Black Angel Restaurant, and I must say, the experience was nothing short of magical, especially thanks to the incredible service from Ashley. She was attentive, knowledgeable, and added a personal touch that made the night memorable.

The ambiance at The Black Angel is enchanting, with a decor that blends dark, gothic elements with a warm, inviting atmosphere. But the real highlight of my evening was the culinary adventure I embarked upon, starting with their unique shroom-based dishes.

As the meal progressed, the shrooms I consumed began to take effect, ushering me into a profoundly beautiful trip. Initially, the colors in the restaurant seemed to intensify; the dark wood and the low lighting took on hues that were richer and more vibrant than I had ever seen. The patterns on the walls seemed to move and dance, creating a visual symphony that was mesmerizing.

The food itself became an exploration of taste and texture, with flavors that seemed to expand and evolve with each bite. I felt a deep connection to the ingredients, as if each component of the dish was telling its own story. The sensation was akin to what Michael Pollan described when he felt he was communing directly with nature through his psilocybin experience, where the boundaries between self and environment blur into one.

As the trip deepened, my perception of time shifted; moments stretched out, allowing me to savor every nuance of the evening. The music in the background morphed into something almost otherworldly, with each note resonating through me in a way that felt like the music was an extension of my own consciousness. This was similar to the sensory enhancements described by users on platforms like Shroomery, where the psychedelic experience can amplify sensory input to extraordinary levels.

The integration of this experience was helped by the thoughtful design of the space and Ashley's intuitive service. She seemed to understand the journey I was on, providing water at just the right times and ensuring my comfort without intruding on the personal exploration I was undergoing.

I left The Black Angel not just satiated but transformed, having experienced dining not just as an act of consumption but as a profound, psychedelic journey. If you're looking for a dining experience that transcends the ordinary, where the food, atmosphere, and service align to create something truly special, The Black Angel is the place. Ashley, you were fantastic - thank you for guiding me through such an...

The atmosphere of this place was great and the food looked (sounded) amazing. Sadly I can’t comment on the food because we had to leave our table after sitting for at least 45 minutes and no one had taken our order. It took 20 minutes to even get proper menus. We were first handed brunch menus (its 8pm). It was our first time visiting and we’re confused if they only sold brunch. There were two servers on that evening. The younger man is not fit for the role. He was flustered the second we walked in. I get it. Friday night—place is pretty packed. There were 3 open 2 tops. He neglects us standing in the entrance confused what do -no communication. A simple “I’ll be right with you” is all you need. Seats us, finally. Comes back with waters. “I’ll be back with menus.” Nothing for 20 mins. My partner gets up asks him for menus at the counter. This is when he gives us the brunch menus. We’re so confused. Again no one had approached our table or even greeted us. The female server is helping people who sat down after us. She’s been to there table now multiple times for questions drink orders ect. We ask her to come help us and she swaps out the menus for the proper ones and apologizes and takes us on. We assure her its not her fault. We’re neglected again for another 25 minutes. No one is waiting on us. I did not want to leave. I was so excited to try this place and try the food. But, watching all of this go down and seeing these servers so overwhelmed and neglecting us was driving us crazy as two people who have worked in the industry. I’m only posting this not to shame the business but maybe to say— help out your team. They were busy and clearly couldn’t manage. Maybe will try again for brunch...

This place is giving quaint, cozy library and the music mix was definitely a chill indie vibe. This building has been many different bars/eateries in the past and I’m glad to see a restaurant like The Black Angel on this corner now. The menu is a good size, on the smaller side which typically means (to me) better quality food. Many sandwich and po boy variations. I enjoyed the Des Moines po boy which had Italian sausage patties and a huge portion of thick cut ham. It was phenomenal and loved having a Caesar salad as a side option. Our table also split the chips and queso. Queso was more Tex Mex vs the queso blanco flavor you’d expect at a Mexican restaurant. We really enjoyed it though. Chips were pretty good. I prefer thinner crispier chips where these were thicker. Ended it all with the bread pudding dessert which I inhaled. So delicious. Only thing I wished was that it was served warmer and with vanilla ice cream instead of whipped cream. Will definitely be returning to try other sandwiches and maybe their breakfast as well! Also worth nothing the pricing is very fair. I feel like eating out has gotten so expensive but we got two entrees and a dessert for $42. Haven’t spent that little on dinner in Iowa City in...