Brothers Bring Chicago Food to Iowa City

Giardiniera is an Italian style relish, often used as a garnish on Italian meat sandwiches.

It also happens to be a big part of childhood memories for David and Robert Meyers, the founders of , which is located on 227 E 1st St. just off Gilbert Street.

The two brothers grew up in and around the Chicago area. Forced to move around a lot due to a disruptive family situation, they relied on the steadying influence of their grandparents, Helen and Joe Helfar, which they referred to as their second parents.

Part of that stability meant comfort food. Food like the meat stands made down the street, but instead made by their grandma Helen.

Homemade, frugal, and with love.

Robert Meyers, 37, the main chef at Giardiniera, said he learned his recipes from his grandmother, and that he and his brother started the restaurant in part to celebrate the memories from their childhood.

"The way I'm looking at this [restaurant], is I'm honoring my family and friends and those who came before us," said Robert Meyers. "With the homemade food, that's definitely our grandmother's influence."

The Meyers brothers owned and operated Terrapin Coffee in Coralville from 1999 until 2010. After parting ways with that business, they said they wanted to look at starting a new specialty restaurant with high quality local ingredients, and the Chicago style menu seemed to fit.

"I thought that Iowa City would love a restaurant with high quality, quick casual food, and we just wanted to put a Chicago spin on it," said David Meyers, 34, the restaurant's general manager.

Another selling point that David Meyers emphasized is that while the menu is composed of Chicago classics such as gyros, cannoli, Italian sausage and beef, and meatball sandwiches -- the ingredients are purchased locally and the food is homemade.

"It's using Iowa ingredients to rebuild Chicago classics," David Meyers said. "It's all homemade Chicago food."

The Chicago Kitchen also offers shakes, made with locally provided . In a nod to their previous business, Terrapin Coffee is also available.

The Meyers brothers said that business has been steady since the restaurant opened in October, even though the location can be a challenging one-- the building most recently housed the Guido's Deli. David Meyers said that he hopes to have patio seating and a bike rack by the spring, and food delivery within the next month.

You can find the restaurant's website by clicking here.