HELP! Aniversary dinner options (Iowa City, Dubuque: hotel, work, college)

[mustangman915l]

hello, i am new to this site, but not to the helpful information of forum members. my name is josh and i have been with my girlfriend for four years now. we try to do something every year on our anniversary. first year we went to Timmerman's supper club in east Dubuque and rode the spirit of Dubuque. last year we ate at a restaurant near maquoketa, Bluff Lake and spent the day at the caves. this year i want to do something new. i live in cedar rapids and do not desire to go furtherer then i couple hours away. i was hoping that you guys could give me some ideas for a nice, but not too expensive, restaurant where i can take my lady. i would also like to be able to spend some of the day in that town doing something that the town has to offer. also, i do not desire a place that we have to get real dressy for (no coat and tie). i dont want to call myself cheap, but we are both college students that could probably find other things to spend our money on. your comments are greatly appreciated. i look forward to your responses.

thanks again, josh

[PJW3565]

Try historic Galena, Illinois...might be more than an hour tho...

[PJW3565]

And by the way, Congrats on the anniversary and cudos for wanting to make it special!

[SharpHawkeye]

Devotay won the "Best Place for a Romantic Dinner" in Iowa City again (I think this is like the 3rd or 4th year running)...I hear it's a nice place to go. You could also try one of the Japanese restaurants (Takanami or Formosa) if you're feeling adventurous (and wealthy). Then you could just sort of cruise around downtown, ducking into the various cool little shops and galleries. Or if you planned it right, you could go see a show at the Englert or a friday night ped mall concert. (Sorry, I got a little link-happy there...)

[Go Ne]

Well, if you were up to it, you could drive all the way to Omaha and go to the Old Market, a mall or too, and maybe the Zoo and stay the night in a hotel, though this might be something like a five year thing.

[mustangman915l]

thanks for that info, but i don't think that these places will work this year. what do you guys know about the amana colonies? i know that they have good restaurants. any recommendations? whats around there to do afterwards? i also want to hear any other ideas.

[iaborn42]

Oxyoke inn has always been good the times I have been there. I can't remember which Colony it is in though, been a few years. They have nice little shops and winery's you could look at.