No matter where you are on campus and no matter when you have a few moments to grab a bite to eat, a snack, or a cup of coffee, you’re never far from a place that can offer exactly what you need. Check out these nine spots where you can grab a bite to eat between classes.
Pat’s Diner (Pappajohn Business Building)
At a good halfway point between downtown and the east-side dorms, Pat’s Diner is located on the first floor of the Pappajohn Business Building and serves pizza, chicken tenders, salads and more, while vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free items also are available. For lighter options like smoothies, snacks, and brewed coffee, check out Pat’s Too on the third floor.
Pat’s Diner is cashless and accepts flex swipes, Hawkeye Dollars, UI Charge, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. Daily hours are listed on the Pat’s Diner webpage.
Walk to IMU: 4 minutes
Walk to Kinnick Stadium: 20 minutes
Walk to downtown: 8 minutes
Cambus: Blue, Red, and Interdorm routes arrive every 10 to 12 minutes during business hours.
River Room Café (Iowa Memorial Union)
Sit near the windows to look out over the Iowa River in the River Room Café, located on the first floor of the IMU. On the menu you’ll find burgers, smoothies, burritos, sandwiches, stir fry, build-you-own pasta, and more. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free items are available, and breakfast is served until 10:30 a.m.
The River Room Café accepts flex swipes, Hawkeye Dollars, UI Charge, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. Hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Walk to Kinnick Stadium: 20 minutes
Walk to downtown: 9 minutes
Cambus: Blue, Red, and Interdorm routes arrive every 10 to 12 minutes during business hours.
Union Station Food Court (Iowa Memorial Union)
So maybe the River Room Café isn’t your jam. Head downstairs and check out Union Station Food Court on the ground floor of the IMU. Pick and choose from several outside vendors including Godfather’s Pizza, or Erbert and Gerbert sandwich shop. Made-to-order sushi and wings also are available, along with vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free items. Hours can be found on the food court’s webpage.
Union Station accepts flex swipes, cash, Hawkeye Dollars, UI Charge, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover.
Walk to Kinnick Stadium: 20 minutes
Walk to downtown: 9 minutes
Cambus: Blue, Red, and Interdorm routes arrive every 10 to 12 minutes during business hours.
Devlin Family Café (Lindquist Center)
Who knew about this one? The Devlin Family Café is located on the second floor of the Lindquist Center and serves hot and cold deli sandwiches, espresso drinks, coffee, pizza, sushi, soup, snacks, candy, soft drinks, pre-made salads, and sandwiches. This location is a perfect stop if you are heading to the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center or the west side of campus.
Devlin Family Café is cashless and accepts Hawk Dollars, UI Charge, Visa, American Express, Mastercard, and Discover. Hours can be found on the café’s webpage.
Walk to IMU: 6 minutes
Walk to Kinnick Stadium: 17 minutes
Walk to downtown: 6 minutes
Cambus: Blue, Red, and Interdorm arrive every 10 to 12 minutes during business hours.
EMRB Café (Eckstein Medical Research Building)
West side students, we got you! None of the places listed above are anywhere close to your classes, but this one can meet your needs. Check out EMRB Café on the ground floor of the Eckstein Medical Research Building. You’ll find breakfast and lunch entrees and sides along with Starbucks coffee products and more.
EMRB Cafe is cashless and accepts Hawkeye Dollars, UI Charge, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. Flex swipes are not accepted. Hours are posted on the ERMB Café webpage.
Walk to IMU: 12 minutes
Walk to Kinnick Stadium: 10minutes
Walk to downtown: 16 minutes
Cambus: Blue, Red, and Interdorm routes arrive every 10 to 12 minutes during business hours.
Street Hawk Food Truck (various locations)
Barbecue bacon burgers, buffalo fried chicken sandwiches, and tacos, oh my! You’ll find the Street Hawk Food Truck at three different locations from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. throughout the week during the academic year: Main Library Plaza (Monday, Wednesday), T. Anne Cleary Walkway (Tuesday, Friday), and the Iowa Memorial Union (Thursday). In addition to the items listed above, you’ll also find smoked meat sandwiches, homemade falafel sandwiches, and freshly made potato chips. Gluten-free buns are available upon request.
The Street Hawk accepts flex swipes, Hawkeye Dollars, UI Charge, Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover.
*Street Hawk Food Truck is closed on days that the temperature—including windchill—is 10 degrees or below.
Food for Thought Café (Main Library)
Get yourself some thinking food at the Food for Thought Café in the Learning Commons of the Main Library. Don’t weigh yourself down with greasy food, either—this menu includes paninis, deli sandwiches, Oasis falafel products, salads, fruits, and many hot and cold beverages to keep you going. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free items are available.
Food for Thought Café is cashless and accepts flex swipes, Hawkeye Dollars, UI Charge, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. Hours are posted on the café’s webpage.
Walk to IMU: 5 minutes
Walk to Kinnick Stadium: 16 minutes
Walk to downtown: 6 minutes
Cambus: Blue, Red, and Interdorm routes arrive every 10 to 12 minutes during business hours.
The Filling Station (Dental Science Building)
Get your fill at The Filling Station located inside the Dental Sciences Building. Pick up quick meals, soups, salads, sandwiches, pizza, and hot entrée items to go. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free items are available at this location.
The Filling Station accepts cash, Hawkeye Dollars, UI Charge, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover.
Walk to IMU: 20 minutes
Walk to Kinnick Stadium: 7 minutes
Walk to downtown: 25 minutes
Cambus: Blue, Red and Interdorm routes arrive every 10-12 minutes during business hours
Bump's Restaurant
A bit off the beaten path, check out Bump’s Restaurant at Finkbine Golf Course. You may have missed its grand opening during the COVID-19 pandemic, but this new’ish restaurant serves soup, salad, burgers, chili, ribs, salmon, shrimp, and pretty much any other bar-type food you can think of all with a beautiful view of the golf course. Oh, and it hosts brunch on Sunday mornings.
This is a restaurant where you order off a menu, so only cash and credit cards are accepted. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday for brunch. Reservations can be made by calling 319-335-9662.