Reviews of Chez Grace - Nouveau French Cuisine (Restaurant)

Clipper Hall

Everything is perfect, every time. I love this place.

Michael Phippen

Very relaxing space, really cool to have conversations with the owner while he cooks. My favorite place to have creme brulee by far.

Max Hailperin

Great wine and great food. The six-course tasting menu was perfect for a special occasion.

John Singer

Went here for a dinner. It was one of the best meals/experiences I've had at a restaurant in a long time. The owner/chef/maître d' does it all and does it well. Excellent house wine by the glass, a really impressive list of high end wines by the bottle, the lobster and mushroom bisque was delicious and unique, and the chateaubriand was cooked perfectly and seasoned exquisitely. I'll definitely be coming back. You definitely get what you pay for here. If you're looking for a place to celebrate a special occasion or just want a really good meal be sure to check this place out.

Matthew

This experience has no comp for me. Awesome food, fantastic chef, intimate setting. The strip mall location, while not ideal, might actually keep some people away, thereby having the positive effect of making it easier to get a reservation. Their Web site had me thinking they would take my credit card info. when I made the reservation. It might depend on the total reserved and how far out you make it, but that didn't happen to me. Not that it would have been an issue as we were committed to going away. While it was too pricey for me to repeat very frequently, I am fine with it being a special treat. Totally worth it and no regrets at all.

Ian Martin

Amazing! Very intimate, personal dining experience. It's got the European feel of dining in someone's home. Food was excellent. The balsamic glaze is the best I've ever had. You must visit this place!

Amy Lorenz

I processed my thoughts for several hours after spending a few hundred dollars (2 people) at this restaurant based on the reviews that have been submitted. I do not understand the 5 star reviews. With that being said, the food Tasted fabulous.... every course, we did the 5-course meal ($105/ea..additional 35 of you get the filet w frau graois) and everything was delicious. However, it was not worth the price $$$. We generally enjoy spending money on food and wine and enjoy both immensely. we do not think that the value was worth the price here. I think that the plating itself Severely lacked color and appeal.. more creative work on the plates would have made the price tag a little bit more palatable. $75+ bottles of wine should absolutely be served with a decanter. Creme Brulee should be served warm. Reviews really built us up for this place but we left feeling disappointed at how much we spent vs what we experienced. Again, food tasted great but was not worth the $$$$ with severely lacked color/artistic plating appeal.

Conor Carr

Absolutely delicious French cuisine. The chef seats you and personally sees to your order. Every bite of each entree my group had was amazing. I highly recommend Chez Grace to anyone who enjoys good food in the area. Wine selection is excellent, but a bit lacking for those who enjoy a good beer. Try the filet mignon!

Anna Graeff

This was a very nice restaurant. I enjoyed the experience especially, it was just one guy serving as well as cooking the food. It is a small space and you can actually watch him cook while you sit at your table, which I liked. Food was excellent.

Henry Carroll

Absolutely fantastic. Just go and experience. The intimacy of a family French restaurant with the cuisine of Cordon Bleu. Enjoy

Isaac F.

As someone who's been lucky enough to dine in some of the world's most famous food regions, I can assure you that Chef David's restaurant, Chez Grace, is simply world class. The most iconic French classics, including (but not limited to) foie gras, steak au poivre, and crème brûlée, are prepared to perfection. The food here is Michelin quality; it truly compares to some of the finer restaurants in France, where one may pay significantly higher prices (although this place certainly is not cheap). I am typically reluctant to give high praise to restaurants, but my experiences here have been so pleasant (which doesn't just include the food; the setting is a combination of intimate and sophisticated, and Chef David is quite friendly, passionate, and interesting to talk to) that I felt I had to write this review. Iowa City area residents are so lucky to have this jewell of a restaurant.

Joshua Moe

The food was fantastic and the chef (who will also be your server) was friendly and kind. Expect layers of rich (heavy) flavor. It is also very expensive for the Iowa City area--so expensive I expected full service and a fine dining experience--not an open kitchen in a strip mall storefront.

Will T

My family has been all over Europe, we have never had a better meal than we had here. Chef David is an expert on picking wine. All the food is fresh and prepared with expertise. To miss the opportunity to eat at Chez Grace would be an atrocity.

Doug Bermingham

My wife and I went here for dinner on new years eve and tried the Chef's tasting menu which consisted of five courses: the fois gras, soup, salad, a main course, and the creme brulee dessert. The fois gras was incredible - never having tried it before, this was quite the treat. The soup, a butternut squash bisque, was also supreme. The salad was comprised of micro-greens, a goat cheese, and a balsamic vinegar and olive oil dressing which was quite tasty. The tomatoes in the salad were a little disappointing - they were mealy and seemed to have been refrigerated, a big no-no with tomatoes. For the main course I got sea scallops which were seared perfectly on the outside and not at all over-cooked. They were served with a gastrique - I believe it was a cherry gastrique - which paired well with the scallops but also tasted faintly like it had come out of a jar. This may simply be the result of the way chef David created the gastrique, but also detracted from my experience a bit. The dish was served with polenta and asparagus which were both done well. My wife ordered the filet mignon which came with a side of potatoes. The filet was cooked well but just a tidge over-done (nearing medium/medium-rare), and the potatoes were incredible. Still, we felt the dish was a bit lacking and could have used another side - some sauteed greens or mushrooms. The creme brulee was also quite good - the custard was cold, the dish was warm, and the carmelized sugar was crackable and tasty. A bit small, but good. Overall, this was a good experience. Chef David waited on all tables and was knowledgeable about wine pairings. He let us take our time (dinner took 2.5 hours, and is reminiscent of eating dinner in Europe!), and the atmosphere was intimate and quiet. Our major complaint was the price of the food - the food *is* good, but my wife and I both felt it was overpriced. I would give this 5 stars if the price came down, or if the plates were a bit more complete. Having said that, if you have money to burn and want an intimate, leisurely dinner with good food and a friendly and skilled chef, Chez Grace is a winner.

Christine Smith

This place is perfection! If you have the chance don't miss it. The duck and the Foie Gras were amazing. The Creme Brule is perfect. The squash soup was literally magic. We will be back often!

Jessica

I only wish I had tried this place sooner. The strip mall location does not at all match the inside ambiance (nor the delicious menu). It's an intimate setting, with the chef himself greeting you, taking your order, and serving each mouth-watering course. I've lived in the area for almost 10 years and have some places I like around town for special occasions, but none of them compare, not even close. Don't let the outside fool you--what you'll find inside is so worth it. The menu changes weekly, so you'll be able to try something new each time you visit. Of course it is pricey but not out of line for a 4 course meal for a special occasion, and it's priced similar to places like Joseph's, Orchard Green, One Twenty Six, etc. However, the food is more interesting and you'll be served by the chef himself!

Cody Johnson

Great atmosphere. The chef runs the entire show and came out and had a great conversation with us about the menu while we were making our choices. A truly unique experience in Iowa City area. The food was simple, yet excellently executed. Went to celebrate a special occasion with my wife. We both hope to back soon.

Courtney Siders

This place is fantastic, the filet and potato were the best I have eaten in years. It is a bit of a long dinner so go with plenty of time, the owner cooks everything. It is well worth the wait, it’s just delicious and the owner is wonderful!

Bob DeBorde

Some of the best food we've had in years!! Very unique experience and definitely recommend.

Shaunesy Daly

David is attentive to his customers needs and provides delicious French cuisine and an excellent selection of wines. I highly recommend Chez Grace to anyone looking for an intimate dining experience. Be sure to make reservations, and prepare to enjoy.

Tom Wilcox

Absolutely amazing. Worth every dollar.

Shara Mahoutchian

Succulent duck, crisp, fresh salad, and delightful soup - a better meal than any I had recently in France!!! Beautiful ambience - you'll forget you're just off a busy intersection in Iowa!

Irving Treadway

We haven't had Ethiopian around here in a long time, but I eat it as often as I can when I am traveling. I am extremely excited to have this place open. It is excellent!

Allan Andersen

Simply the best.

Suzanne Stock

A true gem. Best potatoes I've ever had, best mushrooms I've ever had, and perfectly cooked, mouth-watering steak. The chef stays on his toes all night and makes you feel well taken care of.

Josh L

My wife and I were fans of Chef Z's former restaurant, Cafe Z, and Chez Grace is just as great. Chef Z (David) truly cares about his customers and each visit to his restaurant feels more like visiting a friend who happens to be an incredible chef than going to a restaurant. The decor is elegant and the food is, quite simply, the best I have had anywhere. I want to be clear here: I don't mean the best food of a certain type; I mean that Chef Z creates the most delicious food I have ever eaten. The menu is small, but every item on it is worth eating. I usually have the "Z Salad" which is served perfectly dressed and with an amazing goat cheese. I generally choose the Steak Au Poivre for my main course, though I tried the duck on my last visit and was blown away, then finish things up with an expertly prepared Crem Brulee. Chez Grace is not a typical restaurant in that the portions are reasonable rather than oversized. There are certainly cheaper dining options in town. Still, you can eat here for less than a comparable meal at somewhere like Joseph's downtown and the food here is so much better. It is a very small restaurant with less than ten tables, so I highly recommend reservations. Still, if you are at all interested in trying truly gourmet cuisine made by a master chef without going to a big city, give Chez Grace a try. You won't regret it.

Jesse Thomas

Incredible.

Craig Lehman

What more could you ask for? You get the personal attention of the chef. He asks if you any questions & is happy to explain anything about the menu. And the food was fantastic! Pricey, so not your (or at least not my) every weekend destination, but well worth it for that special occasion.

jean emlet

Fabulous!