★★★★★
The dog days of summer can be so delicious.
Driving and exploring all morning and afternoon lead us to needing some food and beer to refresh and recharge our batteries. Emily wanted to check out Five Cities based on their logo containing a dog and liking most of their beer offerings.
We dropped in around 1pm to a mostly empty place as there was only one other table. The bartender was beyond friendly and helped us at every step of the way. We ordered our drinks at the bar and took them to a table where we could be alone. Emily started with the Bikini Bottom and I got the Here Kitty Kitty Kitty. Emily’s drink came in a pineapple glass and was very strong on the pineapple flavor. Here Kitty Kitty Kitty was just about perfect for an IPA. We ordered a second drink with our food. I stuck with the Kitty and Emily switched to the Crush Tangerine.
Next door is Central Standard Craft Burgers & Beer. As we were walking in, I jokingly said it would be funny if the food we order here came from next door. Sure enough, that is exactly what happens. Emily got The Standard Club with coleslaw, and I got the Fire & Smoke burger. I’d say within 10 minutes of our bartender taking our order (which we had to do at the bar), our food was in front of us in these neat little boxes. Once you crack the sticker, heaven is waiting for you inside. My burger came with lightly battered french fries. This style is my favorite, by far.
Both Emily and I were in heaven eating our delicious food. From the first bite to the last fry was some of the best food I’ve had in months, maybe all year. Pair it with the beer and we didn’t want to leave. I’d say I would like to try out Central Standard itself and see if the experience is the same there.
All in all, we had a blast at Five Cities Brewing. I got a shirt and some (free at the time) stickers in their merch corner. Emily got a koozie and some stickers herself. The shirt I got was a medium and ended up running on the smaller/athletic side. If I can lose about 15 pounds, you’ll get to see the fun shirt pop up in a future review as it has a funny saying on the back.
★★★★★
I like Central Standard and have visited there for many a burger over their time in Bettendorf. I hadn't as of yet visited Five Cities Brewing, however. Recent recommendations from work colleagues lead me to want to try a beer or two, such that tonight became the night to stop in. I was free and not on duty, so why not?
The exterior of the space, even obscured slightly by the evening rain, is pretty fantastic. There's an outdoor seating area out front that's partially enveloped by large wood 4x4s draped with a few strings of decorative lights. In a warmer, less rainy part of the year, I could picture myself sitting on the patio with a drink or three in an evening.
The interior aesthetic continues and evolves that of the patio. The floors are lined with darker wood laminate, the ceiling wood supports and HVAC ductwork are unobscured by a drop ceiling, and a mix of high top and booth seating is available throughout the space. The brushed stainless steel bar is prominent at one end of the space and contains a full view of the brewing equipment through a window in the adjacent space. The shuffle puck table and stack of board games further present an image of a place that not only wishes to provide fine artisanal libations to its patrons, but also invites them to have a bit of fun while they're visiting.
I chose to sit at the bar and sip a Bikini Bottom Pineapple Wheat Ale and snack on some popcorn. The beer was a specific recommendation from a friend - a really great one, it turns out. This particular beer had the body and mouth feel of a typical wheat beer and a pronounced and noticeable sweetness and pineapple flavor, Al without any harsh notes or off flavors. If it weren't a work night, I could envision having one or four more of these.
As I sat and sipped my beer, another important aspect of this space became prominent, namely the carefully curated noise level. The pop music wasn't really to my preference, but played at the chosen low volume, facilitates quiet conversation and contemplation throughout the space. No one was struggling to speak above the music, contributing to an overall low noise level. I wish more places kept this overall ambiance.
I'd come back here again, especially to get food brought over from Central Standard. Their food is good, the beer here was great - a fantastic combination overall. Thanks for the good drink, Five Cities. I'll see you again soon.
