Whether you fancy Caribbean food, Asian food, or Italian food, Davenport has got some great places to grab a bite to eat. We’ve featured 10 of the best restaurants in Davenport, Iowa below.
1. Cavort
Cavort is a unique joint, and it would remain so no matter where it lived. While Cavort is nestled in the heart of Davenport, IA, owners Alex and Rhea have crafted something unique and impossible to categorize. Cavort is open from 3-11 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, from 3-12 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and closed Monday-Tuesday.
Cavort blends fine drinks and Asian-American food with some welcome Latin influence. While the food menu is limited, it’s to ensure the best ingredients. Taquitos and rangoons are met by burgers, soups, and polenta alike with refreshing combinations of flavor – and the drink menu is both extensive and equally creative.
Swing by Cavort’s Facebook page to reach out.
2. Café d’Marie
Café d’Marie is, put simply, both a work of art and a veritable piece of Davenport’s heritage. The building is a circa 1865 home, owned and operated by Dr. DeAnna Marie Walter and chef Rick Kimmel. Café d’Marie is open from 10:30-2:30 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday and closed Monday-Tuesday.
Visitors to Café d’Marie will be equally impressed by the cozy interior and the delicious European-inspired breakfast, brunch, and drinks. Daily homemade quiches, assorted paninis, salads, and wraps accompany an extensive and expert coffee and espresso menu. Ultimately, this means that no matter one’s tastes, they’ll be impressed by Café d’Marie – it’s a truly charming place.
Go to Café d’Marie’s Facebook page to get in touch.
3. Eddy’s Snack Bar
Eddy’s Snack Bar is a simple spot with a beautiful vision – bring Davenport a top-notch Asian fusion restaurant. They’ve accomplished a great deal on the scene in a relatively short amount of time and deliver some of the best sushi and Asian-inspired dishes in the area. Eddy’s Snack Bar is open from 11-9 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday and closed Monday-Tuesday.
The menu at Eddy’s is relatively straightforward, consisting of a few simple archetypes with several outliers. They serve inspired ramen, sushi rolls, and various Japanese-inspired dumplings and steam buns. Additionally, they’ve developed an excellent take on the sushi burrito, a relatively recent trend combining the best of sushi and burritos. Seriously, what more could you need?
Head to Eddy’s Snack Bar’s contact page for more information.
4. Miss Phay Cafe
The pandemic saw many bad things, but a few good events came out of it. Miss Phay Cafe is certainly one of them, opened in 2020 by owner Mun Luangruang. It’s a Viet-Thai restaurant representing “how immigrants bring the food to the new place,” according to Luangruang. Miss Phay Cafe is open from 11-3 p.m. Monday-Saturday for breakfast service, from 5-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday for dinner, closing an hour later on Friday-Saturday. They’re available from 11-8 p.m. on Sundays.
There is really nothing else like Miss Phay Cafe. It combines the best of both Vietnamese and Thai food, both of which are inspired by countless other multicultural cuisines. Things like Banh Mi (French-Vietnamese) sandwiches, traditional Thai potstickers, and pho are served for most of the day. Light brunches are served most days of the week, and the weekend menu is great for the whole family.
Swing by Miss Phay Cafe’s contact page to get in touch.
5. Taste of Ethiopia
Ethiopian food is an oft-sought and rarely found commodity in Iowa. Davenport is fortunate to have one of the few and best such stops, with only ten Ethiopian restaurants across the whole state. Taste of Ethiopia is open from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday & Saturday-Sunday for dinner service, closing an hour later on Fridays. They’re open from 11-2 p.m. Friday-Sunday for lunch and closed Monday-Tuesday.
Those who’ve never had Ethiopian food will likely be quite unaware of what to expect. Ethiopian food is often prepared with thick stews, very unique sourdough flatbread, and generally quite spicy meat. Ultimately you’ll find a few familiar favorites in fries, kimchi, and boneless wings, but there’s so much more to experience.
Go to Taste of Ethiopia’s contact page for more information.
6. R/C Brazilian Steakhouse
Brazilian fare is somehow even more rare in Iowa than Ethiopian cuisine. While this is likely to be somewhat more familiar to most Midwesterners, Davenport is once again a lucky winner to be one of only three Brazilian restaurants in the state. R/C Brazilian Steakhouse is open from 4-8:40 p.m. Friday-Sunday and closed Monday-Thursday.
Brazilian fare, for the uninformed, consists of equal parts traditional Latin mainstays (flavorful meat, citrus, spice) with a more choice-rich BBQ experience. Visitors will experience authentic fine dining alongside Brazilian classics like Picanha (top sirloin cap, to Americans), black bean terrine, and an ever-changing accompaniment of delicate, tender meat.
Head to R/C Brazilian Steakhouse’s contact page to learn more.
7. Soi 3 Thai Noodle Shop
Soi 3 Thai Noodle Shop is a straightforward yet simultaneously diverse Thai restaurant in the heart of downtown Davenport. They specialize in classic Thai fare, unsurprisingly focusing more on noodles. Soi 3 Thai Noodle Shop is open for lunch from 11-3 p.m. and 4-9 p.m. for dinner, Monday-Friday. They’re available from 12-9 p.m. on Saturday and closed on Sunday.
The menu at Soi 3 has quite a few Thai staples. Dumplings (both shrimp and pork), spring rolls, sauces, and curries are ever-present. Those expecting Pad Thai will be disappointed, though, as Soi 3 only serves actual Thai food. (That’s right – Pad Thai was invented for foreign palates!) However, each meal on offer at Soi 3 is flavorful, fresh, and genuinely authentic – so grab a plate.
Head to Soi 3 Thai Noodle Shop’s Facebook page to reach out.
8. Kitchen Brigade
The Kitchen Brigade is Davenport’s resident European-inspired “hipster-chic” bar and restaurant. While the interior isn’t directly reminiscent of traditional fine dining, the food (and, importantly, the plating) echoes the staff’s attention to detail and need for perfection. The Kitchen Brigade is open from 5-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 4-10 on Fridays, 12-10 on Saturdays, and 12-7 on Sundays. The Kitchen Brigade is closed on Mondays.
The menu comprises several categories: snacks and starters (salad, stuffed olives, or a snow crab tostada) and shared plates such as hummus or wings. You’ll find burgers, schnitzel, chicken and grits, and drunken mussels for the main course, and for dessert, there’s a daily-made rotating choice of crepes or Pots de Crème.
Swing by the Kitchen Brigade’s Facebook page to learn more.
9. Zeke’s Island Cafe
Next up, we have Zeke’s Island Cafe. While this list has leaned a bit more toward the more upscale, Zeke’s is a classic, simple, and casual chain of various shops. Davenport has the Island Cafe, consisting of equal parts Caribbean and Hawaiian meals in abundance. Zeke’s Island Cafe is open from 11-2 p.m. for lunch service and from 4:30-8:30 p.m. for dinner Tuesday-Friday. Zeke’s is open from 11-8:30 p.m. on Saturdays and closed on Sundays.
Whether you want to sample Caribbean flavors like Jerk spiced chicken and garlic chili shrimp or lean more towards the Hawaiian isles, there’s something for everyone at Zeke’s. They offer loads of tender Hawaiian pulled pork, “island nachos, tacos, and bowls,” and even a few well-loaded “island sliders.” Zeke’s is your stop if you want to taste the Pacific while in landlocked Iowa.
Go to Zeke’s Island Cafe’s Facebook page for more information.
10. Antonella’s II: Sicilian Pizzeria
And last (but absolutely not least) on this list is Antonella’s II: Sicilian Pizzeria. Antonella’s II is a family-owned and operated restaurant consisting of fourth-generation Sicilian immigrants. The family opened their first joint in 1971, eventually expanding into the now-beloved Davenport staple. Antonella’s II: Sicilian Pizzeria is open from 4-9 p.m. Tuesday-Friday for dinner and for lunch from 11-2 p.m. Thursday-Friday. They’re open from 2-9 p.m. on Saturdays, 4-8 p.m. on Sundays, and closed on Mondays.
While they are a pizzeria, Antonella’s II is a Sicilian joint first. As such, they offer the usual spread of Sicilian pizzas alongside pasta, paninis, and a handful of universally-beloved Italian appetizers. From garlic bread and bruschetta to cannelloni and ziti, there’s a Sicilian flavor for everyone at Antonella’s II.
