The Missus and I dined at Eighth Street Iron Works this evening. It was our first -- and probably last (see below) -- trip to the Haymarket restaurant.
Iron Works is in a bit of a difficult location within the Haymarket. Sitting on the northwest corner of 8th and Q, the site has seen several restaurants fail. Iron Works has a lot going for it, including a cozy interior that invites diners to sit and stay a spell. The servers were very friendly and helpful. The menu is contemporary American, with prices on the high side for Lincoln.
The Missus ordered a dish that featured stuffed squash (zucchini) with mushrooms, quinoa, and drizzled with truffle tea. I had the bacon-wrapped meat loaf with mashed potatoes and fresh sweet corn. Both of us really enjoyed our dishes. The emphasis at Iron Works is definitely on quality before quantity; the Missus and I are both big eaters and we could have used a bit more on our plates. Nevertheless, we were pleased with the overall experience.
The reason I'm not putting more effort into this informal review is that it seems Iron Works won't be with us much longer. I couldn't help but overhear our server speak with another customer about the restaurant's impending close. I didn't catch many details, but few were needed: if you want to catch Iron Works one more time (or for the first time), get there quickly. That's too bad, because I think the type and quality of food at Iron Works is a welcome addition to the Haymarket atmoshere. I suppose this news should technically still be filed under "rumor" since one server's chat with a customer isn't official. But when a server talks about having to find a new job while on the job ... well, that's not a good sign.
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You know I had never even heard of this place until you brought it up, and I’ve lived in Lincoln for close to 3 years now. I am glad there is some diversity at the haymarket area (cajun, indian, italian) but it would be nice to see someplace like ironworks do well with a nouveau american flavor. Your review kind of reminds me of the legendary mesa grille - which I have never been to but would love to try.
By the way I am a big fan of regional American cuisine, and would take it anyday over a standard Americana menu (steak, etc.) or a cookie-cutter French gourmet joint. I make great steaks anyway using my pan-fry then bake method.
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