I.C. Eats: The College-Town Classics That Hawkeyes Still Crave

It’s been more than 15 years since Joe Reilly (10BA) slung sandwiches to the hungry night owls of Iowa City’s ped mall. But he still won’t divulge the ingredients to the perfect Marco’s grilled cheese.

“There’s something in the butter, and there’s a certain type of bread,” says Reilly, who worked the Marco’s cart on Thursday nights while earning his theatre arts degree at the University of Iowa. “But I don’t want to give away their secrets.”

PHOTOS: KELSEY HANSEN; FOOD STYLING: SAMMY MILA; PROP STYLING: STEPHANIE HUNTER Marco's Grilled Cheese has been an Iowa City favorite since 2000.

What Reilly will talk about, however, is his deep appreciation for Iowa City’s eclectic food scene. “I always liken our downtown to the community’s kitchen,” he says. “Because when you’re at a party, everyone always hangs out in the kitchen.”

Today, Reilly serves as Iowa City’s Nighttime Mayor, a role created by the Downtown District in 2017 to champion the city’s arts, culture, and nightlife. Few people know the local restaurants better than Reilly, whose job has given him a front-row seat to the city’s diverse food landscape—from the classic college-town pizza at Pagliai’s to chef-driven dining at the Webster to hip luncheonettes like the Dandy Lion.

“Once you’re here, you’re never too far away from your next great culinary experience,” he says.

Downtown Iowa City alone boasts more than 90 restaurants, including beloved institutions like Hamburg Inn and the Airliner, which have fed generations of Hawkeyes. Among these favorites is Marco’s Grilled Cheese, whose founders Mark Paterno (99BA) and Pete Johnson (01BA) rolled their first food cart into the ped mall in 2000. Now, 25 years later, Marco’s has expanded into a fleet of grilled cheese, gyro, and taco stands, plus a brick-and-mortar restaurant on North Linn Street.

Although Reilly remains tight-lipped about Marco’s secret recipe, he still makes a mean grilled cheese at home. “I get a little crazy,” he says. “I get like three kinds of cheeses, hot sauce, you’ve got to get a dollop of sour cream in there, and we’ll do diced tomatoes. That’s what I’d add when I got a free grilled cheese during my Marco’s shift.”

We recently asked Reilly and other alumni to help us put together a list of quintessential Iowa City foods. Here are 10 more timeless favorites that Hawkeyes can’t stop craving.

Pancheros
Burrito

NASA instruments, the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and the Pancheros burrito. Of Iowa City’s greatest innovations, only one can be packed full of carnitas and guac. Founded in 1992 at the corner of Clinton and Washington streets—and now with locations in more than a dozen states—Pancheros is famous for its burritos the size of Herky’s head. In fact, the only thing guaranteed to bring a crowd to its feet as fast as Herky is the Pancheros Burrito Lift, a timeout tradition at Kinnick Stadium and Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Gumby’s  Pizza
Pokey Stix

It’s midnight on a Thursday, and you’re locked in a heated GoldenEye tournament with your dormmates instead of writing your term paper. Everyone’s hungry. The solution? Tear a coupon from The Daily Iowan and dial up Gumby’s Pizza, a college town chain whose phone number alumni still have memorized. Minutes later arrives the carb-laden box of Pokey Stix—cheesy bread lathered in the mysterious and magical Pokey Butter. Life is good. The term paper can wait.

Hamburg  Inn
Pie Shake

The signature dessert of this historic eatery blends two diner staples into one frozen concoction that’s been heartily endorsed by countless politicians. UI alumni and restaurateurs Nate Kaeding (04BA, 15MBA) and Ben Smart (04BS) revitalized this popular campaign stop in 2023, preserving its famous Coffee Bean Caucus and traditional diner fare. The Burg’s current menu offers four pie shake varieties: Dutch apple, maple pecan, French silk, and blueberry. Cast your vote wisely.

Vine
Wings

Nothing beats cheering on the Hawkeyes in person. But let’s face it—people look at you funny when you scarf a plate of chicken wings in the stands. Thankfully, the Vine Tavern & Eatery, a hot spot for Iowa fans on game day, provides a way to watch the Hawkeyes and buzzsaw your way through a basket of its famous wings. With flavors ranging from mango habanero to spicy honey mustard, you’ll leave more bones behind than the Hawks after steamrolling the Cyclones.

Big  Grove  Brewery
Beer at Kinnick Stadium

As an ancient Hawkeye proverb puts it, “In heaven there is no beer, that’s why we drink it here.” Here, of course, meaning Kinnick Stadium. For many fans of legal age, their drink of choice comes from Big Grove Brewery, which last year signed a marketing partnership to become an official craft brewery of the Iowa Hawkeyes that sells its beer at games. In addition to its award-winning Easy Eddy hazy IPA, Big Grove also brews a brown ale called Burch the Bear that’s named after the UI’s first mascot, as well as an amber ale dubbed 1939—a nod to Iowa’s legendary Ironmen team.

Bump’s  Restaurant
Cranberry Almond Chicken Salad Sandwich

Chalmers “Bump” Elliott elevated Hawkeye athletics to new heights, bringing legendary coaches like Dan Gable and Hayden Fry to Iowa City. That same standard of excellence is reflected at Bump’s, a restaurant at the UI’s Finkbine Golf Course named after the former athletics director. Bump’s most popular golf-season offering is its fresh take on the classic chicken-salad sandwich, featuring cranberry rice bread that adds a touch of light sweetness. After 18 holes, there’s no better way to finish the round than with a clubhouse meal worthy of a Hawkeye legend.

Micky’s  Irish  Pub
Micky’s Famous Conglomeration

Known to locals simply as “The Conglo,” this grilled sandwich is a favorite for patrons at Micky’s Irish Pub, a South Dubuque Street mainstay since 1980. Pony up to Micky’s historic, solid-oak bar—originally built in 1870—and savor the in-house roasted ham and turkey topped with melted Swiss and cheddar on a grilled sourdough bun. While Micky’s offers a taste of Ireland, it doesn’t get any more Iowa than the Conglo’s requisite side of ranch.

Java  House
Pour-Over Coffee and Scotcharoo

For many Hawkeyes, caffeine and sugar fuel finals week—especially at Java House, an Iowa City institution for 30-plus years. Founded by alumna Tara Cronbaugh (98BA) from a business plan developed during an entrepreneur class, Java House now boasts four local cafés and a UI medical campus coffee bar. And while Iowans know the sweetness of the scotcharoo, newcomers quickly embrace this distinctly Midwest take on the Rice Krispies treat.

Oasis
Falafel Pita

After earning his engineering degree, alumnus Ofer Sivan (03BSE) teamed up with restaurant co-founder Naftaly Stramer to introduce Iowans to the Mediterranean flavors they grew up with. The business partners started with a humble downtown food cart and soon began engineering top-notch falafel and hummus at Oasis, their Northside restaurant. Today, the duo’s Middle Eastern food empire extends across the Midwest, with Oasis Street Food hummus stocked in more than 100 grocery stores.

George’s  Buffet
Cheeseburger

The only thing more legendary than the writers who’ve tipped a pint at George’s Buffet is its cheeseburger. Just like the unassuming Iowa Writers’ Workshop hangout itself, George’s burger keeps it simple: a perfectly cooked beef patty topped with American cheese, ketchup, mustard, pickles, and chopped white onions on a sesame seed bun. The secret? A vintage Clark electric broiler, which gives the burger its signature juicy taste. Pair it with a good book—or the novel you’re writing.