the Webster — Restaurant in Iowa City

This review pertains specifically to the Chef's Counter experience offered by The Webster, but generally speaking if you like really good food and drinks in an upscale atmosphere, you owe it to yourself to try this place. Even a couple of small plates (I can't recommend the potato salad and beef tartare enough) and a couple cocktails at the bar can be a really wonderful experience.

On to the (probably lengthy) review...

The Chef's Counter experience had been a bucket list item for my wife and I after several years of enjoying outings to The Webster. It was easily set up by contacting the restaurant via email. I was given a rundown of the cost and process and asked about any allergies. There was an option wine pairing to add, which we declined.

For the meal, you are sat literally at the counter of the restaurant overlooking the kitchen. That in and of itself was a really cool experience as you get to see dishes prepared, kitchen staff interacting, etc. If you've ever watched The Bear it was like that, minus the yelling and chaos. It was very cool.

Sitting there also meant we had a direct interaction with the sous chef who was preparing our meals. Each dish came with an explanation of what we were being served and the source of the ingredients. The attention to detail and the commitment to quality ingredients really showed throughout these interactions.

Now, for the food itself: simply incredible. Every bite was phenomenal. All told, we had 12 dishes, mostly small plates. We didn't order any of the items and didn't see our menu beforehand, which I fully support. We were treated to dishes that I might not have otherwise ordered.

The chef told us the menu was based on what ingredients were available. Everything is fresh and the things that could logically be sourced locally (produce, beef, chicken) were. In our case, we seemed to be in a transition from sort of a summer menu to a fall menu. We were getting the last of the peaches, but also the first taste of some other items that were just coming into season.

Our menu was seafood heavy (in a great way) with items including the best oyster I've ever had in my life, hamachi crudo, seared tuna, and rock shrimp. The main dish was a haub pork chop, which was delicious. The standout items were a fresh tomato salad and a wagyu beef tartare.

The dishes come out in the order that you would expect for a dinner - appetizers, salad, soup, main course(s), and desserts. Between each dish, you get a fresh set of silverware and the staff comes by to wipe down the counter. It was a nice touch.

On top of the food, we had phenomenal cocktails throughout the night.

All in all, this is a truly phenomenal experience. The food itself is incredible, but the level of service elevates the experience even more. The staff was knowledgeable, attentive, conversant, and clearly passionate about the food.

This experience does not come cheap, nor should it. If you're asking "Is it worth it?" I can't answer that for you. For us, the answer was wholeheartedly, "Yes!" After enjoying other meals at The Webster, this was an experience we had been anticipating for a long time and it delivered in...

I had a very underwhelming experience at the Webster recently for which I had gone to an anniversary dinner... So disappointing in fact that the dinner warranted me writing a critical and thorough review.

But first I'll start with the pros: they are flexible with reservation timing, the hostess was nice and friendly, the food I actually ordered and finally reached me had a good taste (although colder than it should have been), and the downstairs venue looks nice. But I ended up going up an elevator to eat upstairs, which is where the bad time started.

The reason I say the food I actually got is that food got dropped off to my table that was the neighboring tables' dinner. This happened with the appetizers and then again with the main course. I understand it happening once, but to happen twice was just annoying for me but I'm sure a bit offensive for the neighboring table as they saw their food go to us before them and then just picked up and given to them as if fresh from the kitchen. I was aware enough to recognize it was not what we ordered, so I didn't touch the food, but if I had touched it, I'm sure the server would have just given it to the right table rather than replacing it fresh. The server didn't even apologize to us, just said "Oh, that's the wrong table, I'll give it to the right one." and left. It would have been nice if the server acknowledged the mistake, and then again apologized after it happened twice.

In terms of the venue itself, the downstairs is very flashy and aesthetic, great environment to bring a group of 2-6 people. However, I was asked if I wanted to go upstairs at an earlier time, which lined up better for my schedule. However, they didn't give any warning or heads up that upstairs feels like a storage room with a couple tables. After dinner, I felt as if I had just eaten at a hotel breakfast bar, and not the nice kind, more like a motel. I had gone to the Webster for an anniversary dinner, but by the end of the meal we were in foul moods after being given the wrong food TWICE, and sat upstairs where the vibe is 1% of what the downstairs is.

Importantly, there are NO STAIRS to go eat upstairs. You have to wait for an elevator (a very slow elevator) to take you up from the aesthetic first floor to the dull prison-like second floor. To call these two rooms the same restaurant is outlandish. If you have the option, only eat on the first floor don't bother going upstairs.

The fact that they dropped off the wrong food not once, but twice, left us second guessing our actual food when it came to us. After confirming it was indeed our food this time, we ate cold bread and room temp pasta. I'm sure it ended up being cold, because the food had to come up from the downstairs kitchen, on the pass, waiting for an elevator ride, then finally to the right table.

Overall, the food is a bit overpriced for what it is, you're paying more for the environment, but it's only possibly worth it if you are sitting downstairs. The slow elevator makes food going upstairs colder than it should be, and service is meh. I will not be going there again unless someone buys me dinner with a table on the...

My mom and I walked in without reservations on a Thursday night and took seats at the bar for dessert and drinks. Lo, the bartender, helped us tonight and was so friendly, professional, and helpful and even took a few special requests with an “of course!” She made several suggestions to us for dessert and drinks and even recommended a non-alcoholic drink for my mom! Incredible service that makes you feel special! It is also really cool to see Chef Sam Gelman and all of his kitchen staff working hard, basically no matter where you are sitting in the place they are cooking up something amazing back there. There was a fun, not-too-loud vibe with lots of interesting people watching in there. It can be quite an intimate setting as there are some small tables for two, but would also be great for groups.

Specifics: we ordered the rhubarb panna cotta (seriously the star dessert of the night!!!) as well as the lemon curd pie (really big serving, and delicious!). Riene Gelman, the chef’s wife, hand delivered our desserts to us with a huge smile and you could see she was so proud of their food! I tried two drinks “El Jardin” — really spicy and green and sweet with a tajin cucumber side (HIGHLY recommended) as well as the California Dreamin’ (not on the menu, made by special request by the bartender, Lo).

I will be back for dinner as the menu looked INCREDIBLE!!!

The context: I have lived all over the country, including Philly for 4 years, Boston for 3 years, and Los Angeles for 7 years. Iowa city truly had an empty niche for this type of food and I so badly want them to succeed!! I also hope to host some events here if possible.

Hints: word on the street is that there will some day be a chefs tasting menu with seating right over by the kitchen. I want to take part AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! Check out their website and click the “Book Now” button to check for upcoming events such as wine tastings.

P.S. this might be one of the best reviews I’ve ever given for a restaurant, but I swear this is not sponsored or anything! I am just passionate about good food as an art form and I think the tongue can experience love