The Webster

Review Highlights

In 2023, the New York Times sent critic Brett Anderson to Iowa City to assess The Webster for its annual '50 places in America we're most excited about right now' list. The restaurant occupies a former drugstore — Pearson's — where chef Sam Gelman ate lunch as a child, just down the block from the hospital where his grandfather worked as an orthopedic surgeon. After years as a top lieutenant in David Chang's Momofuku group across New York, Toronto, and Los Angeles, Gelman returned home with his wife Riene to open the restaurant, naming it after that same grandfather. Anderson finds a window-lined dining room that treats Gelman's hometown 'as an asset, and serves as a compelling enticement to visit this cosmopolitan corner of the Midwest.'

• ·Yellowtail Crudo — cara cara orange, ponzu, radish, and cilantro; a bright, citrus-driven starter that channels the Asian accent threading through Gelman's menu, informed by his years in the Momofuku group
• ·Wisconsin Goat Cheese Occhi — pillowy pasta with beet, cassis, and pistachio; a vegetarian course that leans into Midwestern ingredients elevated by fine-dining technique
• ·Lobster Bisque — enriched with heirloom chimayo pepper and pickled green tomato, a refined soup that bridges luxury and warmth, reflective of Gelman's commitment to ingredient-driven cooking
• ·Dry Aged Beef — served with parsnip, apple, and black truffle, the kind of luxury-meets-Midwest main course that defines the Webster's cosmopolitan-heartland identity
• ·Seared Halibut — with beet, fennel, citrus, and beurre rouge; a seafood entrée that showcases the kitchen's precision with seasonal produce and classic French technique
• ·Ginger-Yuzu Float — yuzu and citrus soda poured over ginger ice cream with mint; a playful, Asian-inflected dessert that captures the restaurant's personality in a glass

The New York Times named The Webster one of the 50 best restaurants in America in 2023, with Brett Anderson praising Gelman for making his hometown feel like a destination rather than a backdrop. For Iowa City, The Webster delivers a dining experience that wouldn't feel out of place in a major coastal city — yet it's firmly grounded in Midwestern ingredients and the warmth of a family-run restaurant in a former drugstore.

About

The Webster is a cosmopolitan restaurant with a Midwest heart, serving contemporary American cuisine in a relaxed but refined environment in downtown Iowa City. Chef-owner Sam Gelman — an Iowa City native who spent years as a top lieutenant in David Chang's Momofuku group across New York, Toronto, and Los Angeles — opened the restaurant in May 2021 with his wife Riene, naming it after his grandfather and occupying the very former drugstore where he ate lunch as a child. The seasonally driven menu blends Gelman's globe-trotting culinary experience with a deep commitment to Midwestern sourcing, pairing refined technique with the warmth of Iowa hospitality.