Cheesy fries with bacon and sour cream and awesomeness!
(5)
Krista K.
The reviews are right - standard pub fare. The cheese wontons were a highlight, though they did arrive with the rest of our food. So simple - TONS of cheese stuffed into a wonton wrapped and fried - and SO delicious!
(3)
Trevor F.
I thought I had wrote a review for the ID and apparently I have not but now I'am! Some friends and I went to the fire house then they all wanted to leave after 5 minutes so we decided to come to the ID, it was pretty busy and we had to wait for a little bit for a server even after one of the girls in our group asked if there was anyone to serve us then we got two girls taking our orders and bring us our drinks and appetizers. We got 2 orders of cheesy wontons, nachos and cheese fries. everyone seemed happy about the apps and there drinks. Janessa's first margarita come out with no salt on the rim but the fixed that on the next couple, Rachel was in love with her long island ice tea and said there the best there. I've eating here in the past and I'm not huge on there menu nothing really pops out and me when I go in here and I end up either getting a bunch of appetizers or the soup and the french dip, There french dip is not that good. This place is about 50/50 resturant/bar you have a lot of people going just to eat but there's a lot of people coming in right after work to have a drink weekends are always busier but this place can get busy with thirsty people during the work week as well. It's not far from my place but I usually pass it up some something more my style. This is more of an older crowd bar with the younger more mature type people in here pretty laid back atmosphere. The front door is kind of wheel chair accessible, but there's no ramps inside.
(3)
Matt R.
The ID as it's called where I work (and I bet elsewhere) is a great place with great food - don't let the weird exterior food you. From the outside it could be anything, and certainly doesn't look like a restaurant unless you see the sign. The interior is very nice with solid wood furnishings, and of course tons of wall hangings relating to famous politicians who happen to be Irish. The service I've had has always been fine, maybe a teeny bit slow. If you think of it has a bar, the atmosphere is very 'keep to yourself', so bring friends if you're planning on just drinking. The food is great! I like their salads, but whenever I think of this place I think of two things: the Aussie Burger, and cheese wontons. The Aussie Burger here is a cheeseburger with the standard lettuce and tomato, but with the big twist of a fried egg and peanut butter on top. I tried it on a dare and it was great. Since then I've been able to convince 3 or 4 others to try it; everyone has loved it so far (when my parents are in town my Dad usually insists on going here just for that burger). The cheese wontons are great when dunked in the provided sweet mustard sauce (when here with the work crew we always order one or two). It can get pretty busy during the standard rush periods, be warned. I've never made reservations, but it would probably be a good idea, especially for weekend dinner.
(4)
Brendan M.
Irish Democrat is a great place for dinner and drinks with friends. Without many windows, the place looks pretty nondescript from the outside, but the inside is friendly and welcoming: sturdy wood furnishings, plenty of booths and tables, full bar, friendly waitstaff. I usually get the chicken fingers. They're classified as an appetizer on the menu, but the portion is large enough to satisfy, and they taste great. I tried one of the pizzas once, but it was pretty disappointing. It had too much cheese, a floppy crust, and a little too much grease. The cheese wontons are an indulgence perfect for sharing (too much cheese for one person). The selection of drinks is pretty good (full bar, lots of beers to choose from). I'm also a fan of the dessert options.
(4)
Chris topher r.
Do you want to see Cedar Rapids dress up, and try to be trendy? Come here and you can see the guy who mows your lawn in a sports coat, a pair of somewhat mismatched suit pants, with white socks. Luckily for them the food and drinks are great. The food happens to be reasonably priced, the drinks get a bit ridiculous. This bar sometimes makes itself out to be a "fun" place to be. Honestly it is really a sit down and chat bar. Which is great if you brought people that you want to talk to, or you like talking to people pretending to be executives.
(3)
Marvin K.
I think my expectations were too high for this place. The food was just OK. Service was good but there are similar places in Cedar Rapids I would go before going here. Not that good but not that bad either.
(2)
Brock L.
One of my favorite places to eat in CR! Food is great, cheese wontons are a must. Great beer selection. The wait staff is full of friendly and attentive people, most of whom have worked there for years. A good choice if you like to support locally owned restaurants!
(5)
James K.
Lively, non-divey. From the outside it looks as if it has shut down. Food is well-made, but basically identical to the menus at all bars across the country with table service. Ignore the review of the hipster tool on loan from LA (my hometown as well). Unlike 99% of the bars in the region, the beer choices here are not restricted to 20 nearly identical light and lite beers. I've given a bonus star to partially counteract Pappy's review. PBR? Are you kidding me?
(5)
Chris M.
Very decent food and decent service. The ID has been a CR staple for years, and has only improved during time. The "philly" is good for a midwest version of a real philly and their burgers and appetizers are always satisfying. Since it's an irish pub style restaurant, they have the usual bar tap and an excellent "irish stew." Usually busy during lunch and really busy during dinner especially during the weekends, but the friendly staff and management make up for it. Nice atmosphere, friendly staff and pretty darn good food are all factors in why this place has stood the test of time here in CR.
(3)
Kirun M.
Pretty darn good for bar food! I really liked their Philly Cheese-steak Sandwich. Things are pretty cheap here. Pretty happening place for CR!
(4)
Shannon K.
The Irish Democrat was a place I went to for a nice pub atmosphere and good food, eventhough it was across town. Then Beckett's opened, and I all but abandoned teh Democrat. But now that Beckett's is gone, Im back on the bandwagon. Its not quite a 5 star for a few reasons: 1) Its a little too crowded. The tables are really close to each other, and navigating your way in and out can be tricky. And if the server is in the aisle, dont bother trying. 2) Menu. The food is top notch, but the menu itself is lacking. Its all there but the lighting in the Democrat is pretty low, and with a bland menu it can be hard to read. Maybe better table lighting would help. 3) No PBR?! (just kidding. No self respecting bar stocks PBR.) 4) Parking. Its pretty limited. Lots of street parking, which carries its own hazards. So there, a quality pub with a good selection of food and spirits. Could use a little polish, but otherwise a solid pick day or night, any day of the week.
(4)
mel c.
isssyight. atleast they have a real Guinness on tap. the crowd is kinda strange...not strange in an 'i'm Irish and i brought my party pants' way- more like- 'i havent been out in public in 81/2 years' kind of way...? whatever happened to 'mingling'? j/w
(3)
Carissa O.
I do love the food at the ID, however sometimes the service is not the best. If ordering an appetizer make sure to order it well in advance of your meal, as you may get them at the same time. It is a great place to have drinks with friends, as the atmosphere is cozy and inviting.
(4)
Jeff Y.
Well made food even if most of it is pretty standard sandwhiches and salads. However the atmospher is great especially for cedar rapids with the dark interior and hardwood bars and floors. If you are a first time visit you should absolutely try the fried cheese wontons and the chicken fingers which are handbreaded. For some reason this place seems to have the best frosted beer mugs of any bar I have ever been and it seems like they have the best Boulevard on tap of any place else as well. Four stars because it just seems to do everything well.
(4)
Paige P.
5 stars = Keeping the atmosphere so charming, cozy and retro. Love the carpet look! (For real!) 5 stars = location 3 stars = the food was good. I will definitely be back for more!
(4)
Dani W.
Food was good. We were seated right away after arriving, but we did show up a little before 5pm so it wasn't very busy. Staff was courteous and didn't come to the table a bunch of times while eating. The appetizers and main meal came a little too close together. I didn't even make a dent in my salad when my sandwich arrived. I had the French dip and the meat was very lean and au jus very good. My salad was a little limp. A few pieces of "older" lettuce but dressing wad really good. My husband had the stuffed mushroom caps which he enjoyed them but the stuffing to mushroom ratio was a little high. It overpowered the taste of the mushroom. He also had a reuben which was perfect.
(4)
Jeff W.
Mixed bag on this one... Living just up the street it's an easy go-to during happy hour (2-4-1 drinks from 3-6). Draft beer selection is pretty small though, with a half-assed attempt to serve nicher markets. Bell's Two-Hearted, Guinness, and some Fat Tire...with some others aside from the typical 'domestic' drafts, HOWEVER they have a recurring issue with dirty lines that make my go-to (Two-Hearted) cloudy and yeasty every few weeks...:/ Irish...what? Jameson and Glenfiddich are the only whiskey/scotch brands on hand, NEEEWP. They do have some late-night specials (after 9pm) on drinks and food but nothing to make this a destination for afterhours shenanigans unless you like some worn-out pool with warped ques. Food is going to be another hit-or-miss affair, the onion 'rings' are bountiful and tasty, assuming the fryer has been cleaned/changed recently. The pizza can be good too, if the right conditions are happening in the kitchen. Crowd is older or family oriented during rush hour, with a younger base late night. Decor is a grab-bag of Iowa kitsch, and the servers can range from cute and perky to angry and sulky, with a few competent bartenders sticking around for a year or more (I was a semi-regular for almost a year) but turnover making this reviewer iterate that it's hit-or-miss. Upper management seems to be a problem with most employees moving on after just a few months. Managers have been known to berate regular customers for perceived slights of their invited friends (don't dare invite opinionated or loud-when-drunk associates). Not a terrible place if you like dark, worn and 'classic' bars, but don't expect anything that would blow your mind. Even after 2-3 nights a week as a customer, my own service was spotty...even my reg bartenders were ambivalent to my needs.
(2)
Austin G.
Great hometown bar and grill. They have awesome cheese wontons with house honey mustard. The honey mustard is very sweet and different in comparison to other honey mustards. I have had the steak sandwich, ID poppers, and Manhattan Wings. None of the food items have disappointed me yet.
(4)
Angie E.
If I want mediocre food and watered down drinks from a pompous waiter, I'll... wait, who wants that? The ID used to be a good place, then it was a meat market for preppy dickheads and now it's just not worth going. I'm always amazed to see good reviews on this place, but I guess people in CR like tasteless food and bad service. Try the famous cheese wonton without the honey mustard once..no flavor at all. The most interesting thing there is the dusty stuff on the walls.
(1)
Nic P.
One of the few places in Cedar Rapids that is casual dining and worth eating at. Most menu options are well prepared, descent unique menu though it's pretty much your typical bar food. A rare bar-like menu that is appreciative of vegetarians are there re several menu options for vegetarians outside of a dinner salad.
(5)
Mason V.
Last few visits our food has been cold. Our waitress was rude, took our order and we never saw her again.. Only to assist other tables. Never asked how our food was, never got us refills. When it came time to pay she took my card and said nothing after. Very rude.. Other than that great atmosphere! Cheese wontons are a must!
Regulars at the ID. Generally love the place but our last visit was one if the worst experiences. Marissa the waitress acted disinterested, uneducated about their menu (I had to tell her about items they served) and made a number of mistakes with little attempt to resolve any of them. Visit at your own risk.
(1)
Cynthia S.
Great service! Food was pretty good. Would go back for the fun more than the food. Great drinks.
(4)
Joshua F.
Nice and cozy, I almost want to say low key and cool. It's a great spot for lunch and dinner, and a great place to get a drink. The ambiance is nice a chill, I enjoy the dim lighting. Food was terrific and the service was great. Staff is really friendly and very attentive. The food them is pub themed as hinted by their name. I recommend trying this place at least once it's a great overall experience for eating or if you just want to chill and catch a drink.
(5)
Michael J.
Republicans must have taken over this one time excellent establishment. Food has really taken a downturn. Will they remove Guinness from the libation menu next?
(2)
Nick N.
For a good Lenten option the fish and chips are a solid choice. They do also work throughout the year as well, but a tad on the pricey side. The cheese wontons are understandably popular. As always, it was busy on a Friday night. There was no direction on table assignment upon entering, however this was soon resolved and our wait time was not bad. Underwhelmed by the wait staff, however it was rather busy.
(4)
Adriane P.
I'm from Chicago and been going to bar and grills for infinity so I'm quite used to an establishment tying itself to a nationality (faux Irish places, Brit pubs, Mickey Mouse Mex, ect.) as some insincere marketing ploy. But never one that UPPED the ante and also tied it's image to a political affiliation as well. So this Welsh Nihilist shagged ass to see what its all about. It's a run of the mill bar and grill; like a nicer mom and pop Applebee's so you can go for a brewski but you'll see a few families noshing. The beer list was embarrassingly small. I don't get their motive with that. Also the menu served few Irish items. Maybe the menu is what they think Democrats eat?? We ordered: Macho Nachos Corn tortilla chips w chicken, green peppers, tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, and two layers of pepper jack and Sharp cheddar cheeses. They hit the hunger spot, but nothing special, Why green bell peppers? And no guac or sour cream? Tsk. Manhattan Wings Deep fried w barbecue sauce, celery and ranch dressing. There's a Manhattan in Ireland? Anyways I don't get why they don't serve Buffalo wings if they are going to have wings at all. They were typical, not crazy about the sauce. Voting against the Irish Democrat.
(2)
John L.
We have always eaten in the main restaurant, frequently early during "happy hour". Sometimes we do not drink our second happy hour drink and receive a chip for use later at happy hour. Tonight, for the very first time, they would not serve us dinner and happy hour drinks in the main dining area (which was nearly empty) but said "we're trying to promote business in the bar" and we could only use the chips if we were actually sitting in the bar for dinner. The bar was extremely noisy and the only table available was next to the window and front door, and it was a very cold today. Since we could not enjoy our quiet dinner in a warm spot, we walked out (after a spirited discussion with the management over this stupid policy); will never return.
(1)
Travis B.
Stopped for a late lunch on a Monday and had to wait to be seated. While waiting, we watched what appeared to be a manager seat others who arrived AFTER we did. Have been here before and never had a pleasant server either. I would recommend fast food if you're looking for mediocre service and quality of food.
(1)
Josh S.
Reliably good burgers with great pub fare and a decent enough selection of beer. The place is pretty packed most nights with a festive crowd. The only real problem is a combination of insufficient and inadequate wait staff. Depending on the night, the bar could quite easily be staffed with someone who thinks that a Long Island is a glass full of Lipton with vodka. That said, the food will always be great and the atmosphere is pretty solid. If you're trying to figure out what the food has to do with the name, I can't help you.
(4)
Madie K.
Service is sometimes slow but this place is great for any occasion. If you get an app try the wontons!!!
(4)
Tim T.
The ID is no longer what it use to be including the food. What happened? Also too pricey.
(2)
Shannon S.
I used to enjoy this place and suggest it to friends. After a few recent disappointing experiences, I won't be so quick to return. For example, my last experience started out with a $7 Irish coffee that wasn't even warm and didn't have whip cream like the menu promised. My meal was a whopping $14 for a naked burger and a sad house salad. They charged me $4 to get a (pathetic) salad instead of fries, and then they also up charged me $1 for my dressing!! Who does that?? Sorry, Irish Democrat...I agree with other yelpers--you're just not what you used to be. I have way better options in this town and will not be considering you a fav anymore.
(2)
R S.
Had a nice night pre St. Paddys day. A proper pint of Guiness, complimented by Macho Nachos. An international stereotypical American night out......it was just fine and fun.
(4)
Hannah W.
The Aussie Burger is damn good, and the decor makes you want to come back so you can sit at every table to see all the walls. Fried cheese wontons with honey mustard sauce are the definition of perfect. Definitely coming back.
(5)
Kyle P.
Great happy hour (two for ones 3-6 p.m. M-F). Excellent appetizers,and overall the food is very good. My only real complaint, as others have brought up, is that happy hour is not offered on the dining side.
(4)
Cheri C.
Every time I get back from Hawaii I can't wait to come to this place!! The stuffed mushrooms are amazing.. Love this place
(5)
Nick B.
I'm here often for work and the group of people in client services LOVE this place. At first glance I have to admit that I wasn't sure I was going to be a fan. I try to avoid beer generally and am not a big bar food kinda guy. I have to say though after the group ordered almost every appetizer on the menu for out party of ten I was pleasantly surprised. It's a fun joint and the food is made quick and simply. Nothing fancy, no flare, just good ole bar food. The people at the table beside us had a mean looking burger... My next visit that will be what I order. The nachos are great, the chicken fingers were done well, the cheese popper things were tasty ... Overall no complaints :) I will be back for another round.
(4)
Denise C.
If you go on Friday night they have Happy Hour until 6pm, but only on the bar side. We arrived at 4:45 the bar side was completely full, standing room only. We wanted to order appetizers & not eat them standing up. We grabbed a table on the other side, our waitress came to take our order, she informed us that if we wanted the Happy Hour special we would need to go to the bar and order. We did, but it seemed ridiculous, especially when the bar next to the kitchen was seeing no action then.
(3)
Sue M.
Ate there once, large party. Kind of slow service, but that may have been related to the size of the party. Good food, friendly waitress
(4)
Scott S.
On the 3/4 line -- serviceable place, quite popular, the Friday lunch crowd had us waiting about 10 minutes to be seated. Burger was solid, not exceptional, waiter refused to serve me the beer (a New Belgium seasonal) that I had just seen on the tap handle ("We don't have that beer.") When he brought me my second choice, he confessed that he just found out that they had that beer, but he brought me my second choice anyway. ? I plan to return to double check on the service.
(3)
Todd J.
One of my favorite restaurants in Cedar Rapids...if not THE favorite. Great service, great food and love the atmosphere. This place to me is the vintage local restaurant in CR. I usually get the Democrat Special, but also enjoy the blackened chicken.
(5)
Lisa K.
One of my "go to" places when I'm in Cedar Rapids. Love the cheese wontons, chicken nachos, terkayki chicken salad, Mediteranean salad and cheese fries! (Yes I've been here often!) Be sure to sit near the large moose if you want to watch the Friday night happy hour activity. The place is booming with former Cedar Rapidians for St Pat's, Thanksgiving eve and a few days before Christmas. Good service, great prices and a fun place whether you are from CR or just passing thru. Back parking lot is large and can accomodate many cars.
(4)
Chad S.
Yuck, what happened to this place, it used to be awesome. I stopped in here tonight with a party of 5. The service was non existent. It's always awesome to stare at your empty glass while watching the server stand at the bar and talk to her coworkers. I had the Cajun chicken, barely big enough to cover the bun and over cooked to a dry rubbery state. My onion rings were a greasy mess with burnt bits of chicken and fish mixed in from the fryer. Another person at our table had the brisket sandwich, dried and tough. Someone else had a wrap with chicken, pineapple, and plum sauce. It was a soggy mess of soaked through tortilla. The only good part of the meal was the cheese wontons. You can get those at other places in town now so I don't think I'll ever be back to the Democrat. Too bad, this place used to be the bomb.
(1)
Kate M.
Eh, I'm not a huge fan of the Irish Democrat, but it's ok. I think it's definitely more of a restaurant than a bar, and that's disappointing. On a few different occasions I've ended up at the Irish Democrat on a weekend evening thinking they'd be packed and it would be lively and fun.....no, no it's not. Don't even get your hopes up. This is a sit around with your friends and chat kinda place. They have a pool table which I have only once seen people use and we were those people, so I'm not sure if that counts. As bars go I like to not see children when I'm there. Not that I dislike children at all, I love 'em, but they don't belong in a bar. In my opinion there are too many kids in this place for it to be a "bar".
(3)
Matthew H.
Love the Philly cheese steak sandwich and blacken chicken sandwich. Not so much Irish food as you think tho, more american but you will see suit and tie guys right along with the blue collar guys.
(4)
David W.
Marginal food, bad attitude servers
(2)
Colin C.
We came here at around 7:00 on a Tuesday night and were seated right away. The bartender promptly turned the TVs by our table to the channel I requested (Go Green!). I had the fish and chips which were delicious. The coleslaw was pretty tasty, fries were good, if anything, the tartar sauce could've used less vingar. Overall though, everything was delicious and we had a nice time.
(4)
Justin B.
The menu on the whole isn't that great but there are a few things that will knock your socks off. I am a fan of the cheese wontons & beef brisket sandwich. The happy hour & late night drink specials are pretty good as well - bogo on any draft beer, including Stella, Smithwicks, and Fat Tire! Friendly bartenders & laid back vibe are bonuses. On weekdays I would bump it up to four stars but it's always packed on the weekends.
(3)
Joseph B.
We used yelp to find a good place to have a few drinks and something to eat. We have not been back to Big CR in 4-5 yrs. This place was a pleasant surprise to find in my home town. Service was great, food was very good...place was packed full of people from all ages and walks of life! I would highly recommend it...enjoy...we did!
(4)
Chris C.
I came here for the first time on Saturday night and had a fun experience. The atmosphere inside is warm and cozy - the walls decorated with posters and campaign memorabilia from different Democratic presidential candidates from Alfred Smith to JFK. The restaurant area is actually much larger than I expected it to be, so it's definitely more than just a bar with some tables. We split an order of onion rings and potato skins as appetizers, and I ended up eating the cajun buffalo wings as my meal. The potato skins were great, the onion rings were so-so but too greasy, and the wings were okay but tasted just like any wings you could buy in the freezer aisle and heat up at home. The service was fairly slow considering that they weren't too busy, and our server wasn't the most friendly either so that's why I'm rounding down to three stars. Considering the lack of other options in Cedar Rapids, this place is certainly worth checking out and I'm definitely planning to come back again.
(3)
Tim W.
I just came back from a family gathering in Iowa. I met old friends for a little bit for food and a lot of drinks at the ID. The crowd was quiet considering it was at 6pm on a Thursday. Mostly regulars and/or people stopping through after work. Waitresses and bartenders were very cool and even better looking (not expected). They serve classic bar food and have a limited selection of beers. All-in-All, if you are stuck in Cedar Rapids for a night I would recommend stopping in the ID for a few drinks and an app.
(3)
Nick B.
Great food, great people, great decor, great atmosphere. That's really all there is to say. Every time I come back to CR for a few days or more I have to come back to this place. The French Dip will turn you vegetarian just so you can have the experience of coming back to meat with this sandwich. It just melts in your mouth. The chicken fingers, cheese wontons, and burgers are fan favorites.
(5)
Sam S.
Gets pretty busy around lunchtime. Service is usually good, but occasionally inconsistent. Most things I've had are pretty good, but my fave is the CR Cheesesteak. It's far better than the French Dip, which is just plain roast beef. (For the best of both worlds, ask for the dip's au jus with the cheesesteak.)
(4)
Jennifer B.
One of my favorite places in Cedar Rapids. The cheese wontons and honey mustard are delicious, I've never had bad food, and the service has always been great. There's plenty of parking in back and usually not a long wait.
(5)
Lori R.
server was too busy talking to another table about her dogs to even realize our drinks were empty for 20 minutes!......this used to be a great place to go eat! The food is just so so now & the servers are in their own little world! Save your money for something better!
(1)
Craig M.
Went here with some coworkers and they said I had to have the aussie burger. I ordered it and was not disappointed. They also have great nachos and other appetizers.
(4)
Stephanie S.
I love the atmosphere and drinks at Irish Democrat. The food isn't bad either, but I have only eaten there a couple of times. I almost always have good service there except on a busy weekend night which is to be expected. Sometimes they have live music which just adds to the fun atmosphere. When friends come from out of town for drinks, I almost always head to Irish Democrat.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Tue, Wed, Thu Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Heather J.
Cheesy fries with bacon and sour cream and awesomeness!
(5)Krista K.
The reviews are right - standard pub fare. The cheese wontons were a highlight, though they did arrive with the rest of our food. So simple - TONS of cheese stuffed into a wonton wrapped and fried - and SO delicious!
(3)Trevor F.
I thought I had wrote a review for the ID and apparently I have not but now I'am! Some friends and I went to the fire house then they all wanted to leave after 5 minutes so we decided to come to the ID, it was pretty busy and we had to wait for a little bit for a server even after one of the girls in our group asked if there was anyone to serve us then we got two girls taking our orders and bring us our drinks and appetizers. We got 2 orders of cheesy wontons, nachos and cheese fries. everyone seemed happy about the apps and there drinks. Janessa's first margarita come out with no salt on the rim but the fixed that on the next couple, Rachel was in love with her long island ice tea and said there the best there. I've eating here in the past and I'm not huge on there menu nothing really pops out and me when I go in here and I end up either getting a bunch of appetizers or the soup and the french dip, There french dip is not that good. This place is about 50/50 resturant/bar you have a lot of people going just to eat but there's a lot of people coming in right after work to have a drink weekends are always busier but this place can get busy with thirsty people during the work week as well. It's not far from my place but I usually pass it up some something more my style. This is more of an older crowd bar with the younger more mature type people in here pretty laid back atmosphere. The front door is kind of wheel chair accessible, but there's no ramps inside.
(3)Matt R.
The ID as it's called where I work (and I bet elsewhere) is a great place with great food - don't let the weird exterior food you. From the outside it could be anything, and certainly doesn't look like a restaurant unless you see the sign. The interior is very nice with solid wood furnishings, and of course tons of wall hangings relating to famous politicians who happen to be Irish. The service I've had has always been fine, maybe a teeny bit slow. If you think of it has a bar, the atmosphere is very 'keep to yourself', so bring friends if you're planning on just drinking. The food is great! I like their salads, but whenever I think of this place I think of two things: the Aussie Burger, and cheese wontons. The Aussie Burger here is a cheeseburger with the standard lettuce and tomato, but with the big twist of a fried egg and peanut butter on top. I tried it on a dare and it was great. Since then I've been able to convince 3 or 4 others to try it; everyone has loved it so far (when my parents are in town my Dad usually insists on going here just for that burger). The cheese wontons are great when dunked in the provided sweet mustard sauce (when here with the work crew we always order one or two). It can get pretty busy during the standard rush periods, be warned. I've never made reservations, but it would probably be a good idea, especially for weekend dinner.
(4)Brendan M.
Irish Democrat is a great place for dinner and drinks with friends. Without many windows, the place looks pretty nondescript from the outside, but the inside is friendly and welcoming: sturdy wood furnishings, plenty of booths and tables, full bar, friendly waitstaff. I usually get the chicken fingers. They're classified as an appetizer on the menu, but the portion is large enough to satisfy, and they taste great. I tried one of the pizzas once, but it was pretty disappointing. It had too much cheese, a floppy crust, and a little too much grease. The cheese wontons are an indulgence perfect for sharing (too much cheese for one person). The selection of drinks is pretty good (full bar, lots of beers to choose from). I'm also a fan of the dessert options.
(4)Chris topher r.
Do you want to see Cedar Rapids dress up, and try to be trendy? Come here and you can see the guy who mows your lawn in a sports coat, a pair of somewhat mismatched suit pants, with white socks. Luckily for them the food and drinks are great. The food happens to be reasonably priced, the drinks get a bit ridiculous. This bar sometimes makes itself out to be a "fun" place to be. Honestly it is really a sit down and chat bar. Which is great if you brought people that you want to talk to, or you like talking to people pretending to be executives.
(3)Marvin K.
I think my expectations were too high for this place. The food was just OK. Service was good but there are similar places in Cedar Rapids I would go before going here. Not that good but not that bad either.
(2)Brock L.
One of my favorite places to eat in CR! Food is great, cheese wontons are a must. Great beer selection. The wait staff is full of friendly and attentive people, most of whom have worked there for years. A good choice if you like to support locally owned restaurants!
(5)James K.
Lively, non-divey. From the outside it looks as if it has shut down. Food is well-made, but basically identical to the menus at all bars across the country with table service. Ignore the review of the hipster tool on loan from LA (my hometown as well). Unlike 99% of the bars in the region, the beer choices here are not restricted to 20 nearly identical light and lite beers. I've given a bonus star to partially counteract Pappy's review. PBR? Are you kidding me?
(5)Chris M.
Very decent food and decent service. The ID has been a CR staple for years, and has only improved during time. The "philly" is good for a midwest version of a real philly and their burgers and appetizers are always satisfying. Since it's an irish pub style restaurant, they have the usual bar tap and an excellent "irish stew." Usually busy during lunch and really busy during dinner especially during the weekends, but the friendly staff and management make up for it. Nice atmosphere, friendly staff and pretty darn good food are all factors in why this place has stood the test of time here in CR.
(3)Kirun M.
Pretty darn good for bar food! I really liked their Philly Cheese-steak Sandwich. Things are pretty cheap here. Pretty happening place for CR!
(4)Shannon K.
The Irish Democrat was a place I went to for a nice pub atmosphere and good food, eventhough it was across town. Then Beckett's opened, and I all but abandoned teh Democrat. But now that Beckett's is gone, Im back on the bandwagon. Its not quite a 5 star for a few reasons: 1) Its a little too crowded. The tables are really close to each other, and navigating your way in and out can be tricky. And if the server is in the aisle, dont bother trying. 2) Menu. The food is top notch, but the menu itself is lacking. Its all there but the lighting in the Democrat is pretty low, and with a bland menu it can be hard to read. Maybe better table lighting would help. 3) No PBR?! (just kidding. No self respecting bar stocks PBR.) 4) Parking. Its pretty limited. Lots of street parking, which carries its own hazards. So there, a quality pub with a good selection of food and spirits. Could use a little polish, but otherwise a solid pick day or night, any day of the week.
(4)mel c.
isssyight. atleast they have a real Guinness on tap. the crowd is kinda strange...not strange in an 'i'm Irish and i brought my party pants' way- more like- 'i havent been out in public in 81/2 years' kind of way...? whatever happened to 'mingling'? j/w
(3)Carissa O.
I do love the food at the ID, however sometimes the service is not the best. If ordering an appetizer make sure to order it well in advance of your meal, as you may get them at the same time. It is a great place to have drinks with friends, as the atmosphere is cozy and inviting.
(4)Jeff Y.
Well made food even if most of it is pretty standard sandwhiches and salads. However the atmospher is great especially for cedar rapids with the dark interior and hardwood bars and floors. If you are a first time visit you should absolutely try the fried cheese wontons and the chicken fingers which are handbreaded. For some reason this place seems to have the best frosted beer mugs of any bar I have ever been and it seems like they have the best Boulevard on tap of any place else as well. Four stars because it just seems to do everything well.
(4)Paige P.
5 stars = Keeping the atmosphere so charming, cozy and retro. Love the carpet look! (For real!) 5 stars = location 3 stars = the food was good. I will definitely be back for more!
(4)Dani W.
Food was good. We were seated right away after arriving, but we did show up a little before 5pm so it wasn't very busy. Staff was courteous and didn't come to the table a bunch of times while eating. The appetizers and main meal came a little too close together. I didn't even make a dent in my salad when my sandwich arrived. I had the French dip and the meat was very lean and au jus very good. My salad was a little limp. A few pieces of "older" lettuce but dressing wad really good. My husband had the stuffed mushroom caps which he enjoyed them but the stuffing to mushroom ratio was a little high. It overpowered the taste of the mushroom. He also had a reuben which was perfect.
(4)Jeff W.
Mixed bag on this one... Living just up the street it's an easy go-to during happy hour (2-4-1 drinks from 3-6). Draft beer selection is pretty small though, with a half-assed attempt to serve nicher markets. Bell's Two-Hearted, Guinness, and some Fat Tire...with some others aside from the typical 'domestic' drafts, HOWEVER they have a recurring issue with dirty lines that make my go-to (Two-Hearted) cloudy and yeasty every few weeks...:/ Irish...what? Jameson and Glenfiddich are the only whiskey/scotch brands on hand, NEEEWP. They do have some late-night specials (after 9pm) on drinks and food but nothing to make this a destination for afterhours shenanigans unless you like some worn-out pool with warped ques. Food is going to be another hit-or-miss affair, the onion 'rings' are bountiful and tasty, assuming the fryer has been cleaned/changed recently. The pizza can be good too, if the right conditions are happening in the kitchen. Crowd is older or family oriented during rush hour, with a younger base late night. Decor is a grab-bag of Iowa kitsch, and the servers can range from cute and perky to angry and sulky, with a few competent bartenders sticking around for a year or more (I was a semi-regular for almost a year) but turnover making this reviewer iterate that it's hit-or-miss. Upper management seems to be a problem with most employees moving on after just a few months. Managers have been known to berate regular customers for perceived slights of their invited friends (don't dare invite opinionated or loud-when-drunk associates). Not a terrible place if you like dark, worn and 'classic' bars, but don't expect anything that would blow your mind. Even after 2-3 nights a week as a customer, my own service was spotty...even my reg bartenders were ambivalent to my needs.
(2)Austin G.
Great hometown bar and grill. They have awesome cheese wontons with house honey mustard. The honey mustard is very sweet and different in comparison to other honey mustards. I have had the steak sandwich, ID poppers, and Manhattan Wings. None of the food items have disappointed me yet.
(4)Angie E.
If I want mediocre food and watered down drinks from a pompous waiter, I'll... wait, who wants that? The ID used to be a good place, then it was a meat market for preppy dickheads and now it's just not worth going. I'm always amazed to see good reviews on this place, but I guess people in CR like tasteless food and bad service. Try the famous cheese wonton without the honey mustard once..no flavor at all. The most interesting thing there is the dusty stuff on the walls.
(1)Nic P.
One of the few places in Cedar Rapids that is casual dining and worth eating at. Most menu options are well prepared, descent unique menu though it's pretty much your typical bar food. A rare bar-like menu that is appreciative of vegetarians are there re several menu options for vegetarians outside of a dinner salad.
(5)Mason V.
Last few visits our food has been cold. Our waitress was rude, took our order and we never saw her again.. Only to assist other tables. Never asked how our food was, never got us refills. When it came time to pay she took my card and said nothing after. Very rude.. Other than that great atmosphere! Cheese wontons are a must!
(3)Rachel W.
If you want something cheese filled or cheese covered, this may be the place for you. Fried cheese wontons with honey mustard dipping sauce are tasty, so are the cheese fries. Aside from these menu items, that's where my admiration for this place stops. Beer selection is embarrassing and the mixed drinks are 'meh.' Décor is Applebee's-esque, not much to rave about there. Service IMO is hit and miss. You better off trying one of the new up and coming bars in downtown CR...the 'ID' really needs a facelift.
(2)Sean K.
Regulars at the ID. Generally love the place but our last visit was one if the worst experiences. Marissa the waitress acted disinterested, uneducated about their menu (I had to tell her about items they served) and made a number of mistakes with little attempt to resolve any of them. Visit at your own risk.
(1)Cynthia S.
Great service! Food was pretty good. Would go back for the fun more than the food. Great drinks.
(4)Joshua F.
Nice and cozy, I almost want to say low key and cool. It's a great spot for lunch and dinner, and a great place to get a drink. The ambiance is nice a chill, I enjoy the dim lighting. Food was terrific and the service was great. Staff is really friendly and very attentive. The food them is pub themed as hinted by their name. I recommend trying this place at least once it's a great overall experience for eating or if you just want to chill and catch a drink.
(5)Michael J.
Republicans must have taken over this one time excellent establishment. Food has really taken a downturn. Will they remove Guinness from the libation menu next?
(2)Nick N.
For a good Lenten option the fish and chips are a solid choice. They do also work throughout the year as well, but a tad on the pricey side. The cheese wontons are understandably popular. As always, it was busy on a Friday night. There was no direction on table assignment upon entering, however this was soon resolved and our wait time was not bad. Underwhelmed by the wait staff, however it was rather busy.
(4)Adriane P.
I'm from Chicago and been going to bar and grills for infinity so I'm quite used to an establishment tying itself to a nationality (faux Irish places, Brit pubs, Mickey Mouse Mex, ect.) as some insincere marketing ploy. But never one that UPPED the ante and also tied it's image to a political affiliation as well. So this Welsh Nihilist shagged ass to see what its all about. It's a run of the mill bar and grill; like a nicer mom and pop Applebee's so you can go for a brewski but you'll see a few families noshing. The beer list was embarrassingly small. I don't get their motive with that. Also the menu served few Irish items. Maybe the menu is what they think Democrats eat?? We ordered: Macho Nachos Corn tortilla chips w chicken, green peppers, tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, and two layers of pepper jack and Sharp cheddar cheeses. They hit the hunger spot, but nothing special, Why green bell peppers? And no guac or sour cream? Tsk. Manhattan Wings Deep fried w barbecue sauce, celery and ranch dressing. There's a Manhattan in Ireland? Anyways I don't get why they don't serve Buffalo wings if they are going to have wings at all. They were typical, not crazy about the sauce. Voting against the Irish Democrat.
(2)John L.
We have always eaten in the main restaurant, frequently early during "happy hour". Sometimes we do not drink our second happy hour drink and receive a chip for use later at happy hour. Tonight, for the very first time, they would not serve us dinner and happy hour drinks in the main dining area (which was nearly empty) but said "we're trying to promote business in the bar" and we could only use the chips if we were actually sitting in the bar for dinner. The bar was extremely noisy and the only table available was next to the window and front door, and it was a very cold today. Since we could not enjoy our quiet dinner in a warm spot, we walked out (after a spirited discussion with the management over this stupid policy); will never return.
(1)Travis B.
Stopped for a late lunch on a Monday and had to wait to be seated. While waiting, we watched what appeared to be a manager seat others who arrived AFTER we did. Have been here before and never had a pleasant server either. I would recommend fast food if you're looking for mediocre service and quality of food.
(1)Josh S.
Reliably good burgers with great pub fare and a decent enough selection of beer. The place is pretty packed most nights with a festive crowd. The only real problem is a combination of insufficient and inadequate wait staff. Depending on the night, the bar could quite easily be staffed with someone who thinks that a Long Island is a glass full of Lipton with vodka. That said, the food will always be great and the atmosphere is pretty solid. If you're trying to figure out what the food has to do with the name, I can't help you.
(4)Madie K.
Service is sometimes slow but this place is great for any occasion. If you get an app try the wontons!!!
(4)Tim T.
The ID is no longer what it use to be including the food. What happened? Also too pricey.
(2)Shannon S.
I used to enjoy this place and suggest it to friends. After a few recent disappointing experiences, I won't be so quick to return. For example, my last experience started out with a $7 Irish coffee that wasn't even warm and didn't have whip cream like the menu promised. My meal was a whopping $14 for a naked burger and a sad house salad. They charged me $4 to get a (pathetic) salad instead of fries, and then they also up charged me $1 for my dressing!! Who does that?? Sorry, Irish Democrat...I agree with other yelpers--you're just not what you used to be. I have way better options in this town and will not be considering you a fav anymore.
(2)R S.
Had a nice night pre St. Paddys day. A proper pint of Guiness, complimented by Macho Nachos. An international stereotypical American night out......it was just fine and fun.
(4)Hannah W.
The Aussie Burger is damn good, and the decor makes you want to come back so you can sit at every table to see all the walls. Fried cheese wontons with honey mustard sauce are the definition of perfect. Definitely coming back.
(5)Kyle P.
Great happy hour (two for ones 3-6 p.m. M-F). Excellent appetizers,and overall the food is very good. My only real complaint, as others have brought up, is that happy hour is not offered on the dining side.
(4)Cheri C.
Every time I get back from Hawaii I can't wait to come to this place!! The stuffed mushrooms are amazing.. Love this place
(5)Nick B.
I'm here often for work and the group of people in client services LOVE this place. At first glance I have to admit that I wasn't sure I was going to be a fan. I try to avoid beer generally and am not a big bar food kinda guy. I have to say though after the group ordered almost every appetizer on the menu for out party of ten I was pleasantly surprised. It's a fun joint and the food is made quick and simply. Nothing fancy, no flare, just good ole bar food. The people at the table beside us had a mean looking burger... My next visit that will be what I order. The nachos are great, the chicken fingers were done well, the cheese popper things were tasty ... Overall no complaints :) I will be back for another round.
(4)Denise C.
If you go on Friday night they have Happy Hour until 6pm, but only on the bar side. We arrived at 4:45 the bar side was completely full, standing room only. We wanted to order appetizers & not eat them standing up. We grabbed a table on the other side, our waitress came to take our order, she informed us that if we wanted the Happy Hour special we would need to go to the bar and order. We did, but it seemed ridiculous, especially when the bar next to the kitchen was seeing no action then.
(3)Sue M.
Ate there once, large party. Kind of slow service, but that may have been related to the size of the party. Good food, friendly waitress
(4)Scott S.
On the 3/4 line -- serviceable place, quite popular, the Friday lunch crowd had us waiting about 10 minutes to be seated. Burger was solid, not exceptional, waiter refused to serve me the beer (a New Belgium seasonal) that I had just seen on the tap handle ("We don't have that beer.") When he brought me my second choice, he confessed that he just found out that they had that beer, but he brought me my second choice anyway. ? I plan to return to double check on the service.
(3)Todd J.
One of my favorite restaurants in Cedar Rapids...if not THE favorite. Great service, great food and love the atmosphere. This place to me is the vintage local restaurant in CR. I usually get the Democrat Special, but also enjoy the blackened chicken.
(5)Lisa K.
One of my "go to" places when I'm in Cedar Rapids. Love the cheese wontons, chicken nachos, terkayki chicken salad, Mediteranean salad and cheese fries! (Yes I've been here often!) Be sure to sit near the large moose if you want to watch the Friday night happy hour activity. The place is booming with former Cedar Rapidians for St Pat's, Thanksgiving eve and a few days before Christmas. Good service, great prices and a fun place whether you are from CR or just passing thru. Back parking lot is large and can accomodate many cars.
(4)Chad S.
Yuck, what happened to this place, it used to be awesome. I stopped in here tonight with a party of 5. The service was non existent. It's always awesome to stare at your empty glass while watching the server stand at the bar and talk to her coworkers. I had the Cajun chicken, barely big enough to cover the bun and over cooked to a dry rubbery state. My onion rings were a greasy mess with burnt bits of chicken and fish mixed in from the fryer. Another person at our table had the brisket sandwich, dried and tough. Someone else had a wrap with chicken, pineapple, and plum sauce. It was a soggy mess of soaked through tortilla. The only good part of the meal was the cheese wontons. You can get those at other places in town now so I don't think I'll ever be back to the Democrat. Too bad, this place used to be the bomb.
(1)Kate M.
Eh, I'm not a huge fan of the Irish Democrat, but it's ok. I think it's definitely more of a restaurant than a bar, and that's disappointing. On a few different occasions I've ended up at the Irish Democrat on a weekend evening thinking they'd be packed and it would be lively and fun.....no, no it's not. Don't even get your hopes up. This is a sit around with your friends and chat kinda place. They have a pool table which I have only once seen people use and we were those people, so I'm not sure if that counts. As bars go I like to not see children when I'm there. Not that I dislike children at all, I love 'em, but they don't belong in a bar. In my opinion there are too many kids in this place for it to be a "bar".
(3)Matthew H.
Love the Philly cheese steak sandwich and blacken chicken sandwich. Not so much Irish food as you think tho, more american but you will see suit and tie guys right along with the blue collar guys.
(4)David W.
Marginal food, bad attitude servers
(2)Colin C.
We came here at around 7:00 on a Tuesday night and were seated right away. The bartender promptly turned the TVs by our table to the channel I requested (Go Green!). I had the fish and chips which were delicious. The coleslaw was pretty tasty, fries were good, if anything, the tartar sauce could've used less vingar. Overall though, everything was delicious and we had a nice time.
(4)Justin B.
The menu on the whole isn't that great but there are a few things that will knock your socks off. I am a fan of the cheese wontons & beef brisket sandwich. The happy hour & late night drink specials are pretty good as well - bogo on any draft beer, including Stella, Smithwicks, and Fat Tire! Friendly bartenders & laid back vibe are bonuses. On weekdays I would bump it up to four stars but it's always packed on the weekends.
(3)Joseph B.
We used yelp to find a good place to have a few drinks and something to eat. We have not been back to Big CR in 4-5 yrs. This place was a pleasant surprise to find in my home town. Service was great, food was very good...place was packed full of people from all ages and walks of life! I would highly recommend it...enjoy...we did!
(4)Chris C.
I came here for the first time on Saturday night and had a fun experience. The atmosphere inside is warm and cozy - the walls decorated with posters and campaign memorabilia from different Democratic presidential candidates from Alfred Smith to JFK. The restaurant area is actually much larger than I expected it to be, so it's definitely more than just a bar with some tables. We split an order of onion rings and potato skins as appetizers, and I ended up eating the cajun buffalo wings as my meal. The potato skins were great, the onion rings were so-so but too greasy, and the wings were okay but tasted just like any wings you could buy in the freezer aisle and heat up at home. The service was fairly slow considering that they weren't too busy, and our server wasn't the most friendly either so that's why I'm rounding down to three stars. Considering the lack of other options in Cedar Rapids, this place is certainly worth checking out and I'm definitely planning to come back again.
(3)Tim W.
I just came back from a family gathering in Iowa. I met old friends for a little bit for food and a lot of drinks at the ID. The crowd was quiet considering it was at 6pm on a Thursday. Mostly regulars and/or people stopping through after work. Waitresses and bartenders were very cool and even better looking (not expected). They serve classic bar food and have a limited selection of beers. All-in-All, if you are stuck in Cedar Rapids for a night I would recommend stopping in the ID for a few drinks and an app.
(3)Nick B.
Great food, great people, great decor, great atmosphere. That's really all there is to say. Every time I come back to CR for a few days or more I have to come back to this place. The French Dip will turn you vegetarian just so you can have the experience of coming back to meat with this sandwich. It just melts in your mouth. The chicken fingers, cheese wontons, and burgers are fan favorites.
(5)Sam S.
Gets pretty busy around lunchtime. Service is usually good, but occasionally inconsistent. Most things I've had are pretty good, but my fave is the CR Cheesesteak. It's far better than the French Dip, which is just plain roast beef. (For the best of both worlds, ask for the dip's au jus with the cheesesteak.)
(4)Jennifer B.
One of my favorite places in Cedar Rapids. The cheese wontons and honey mustard are delicious, I've never had bad food, and the service has always been great. There's plenty of parking in back and usually not a long wait.
(5)Lori R.
server was too busy talking to another table about her dogs to even realize our drinks were empty for 20 minutes!......this used to be a great place to go eat! The food is just so so now & the servers are in their own little world! Save your money for something better!
(1)Craig M.
Went here with some coworkers and they said I had to have the aussie burger. I ordered it and was not disappointed. They also have great nachos and other appetizers.
(4)Stephanie S.
I love the atmosphere and drinks at Irish Democrat. The food isn't bad either, but I have only eaten there a couple of times. I almost always have good service there except on a busy weekend night which is to be expected. Sometimes they have live music which just adds to the fun atmosphere. When friends come from out of town for drinks, I almost always head to Irish Democrat.
(4)