We've been wanting to visit the bank since coming through on RAGBRAI a few years ago and is this place a gem!
On a lazy Friday we took a leisurely drive on over and were blown away! It seemed like this was the only thing in town - besides the gentleman sitting in an old golf cart outside his place (he was there when we left too). Totally worth the trip!
Upon entering, we were greeted by the owner and were very impressed with the place. Two seating areas were at our disposal - the bar, which was located inside the old teller area and had some really cool memorabilia and chairs in a small seating area aside the actual bar, and the larger area in what was the bank lobby. With only 3 or 4 tables and total seating for about 15 people it offers a pretty intimate atmosphere, but is big enough to host a solid group of friends. Regardless of your party size, it's best to call ahead and make sure you've got a seat.
The decor in the bank was very fun and a good combination of both historic and modern. Plenty of decorative items give it a little flare and compliment the high ceilings and stone walls. The four wisdom filled sayings around the ceiling were good food for thought and are ones Ben Franklin would appreciate.
The wine list and beer selection were both very impressive. The beer list was no less than 25 deep and had a great variety of lights to darks from all over the world. The Obolon Dark was particularly nice! The wine selections were equally impressive with roughly 30 bottle available and tastes for any palate.
The food is where the magic truly happens here and we go so far as to say this is some of the best food we've ever had. Served small plates style with both cold and hot options, there's plenty to fill you up and even more to sample/share. The Stromboli Bianco was heavenly - quintessential meat and cheese with a pesto that was amazing. Plenty heavy to serve as the big item of your group. The La Quercia Prosciutto is a local favorite and is considered by many to be the best Prosciutto you can get. The presentation was excellent and served with olives, it made for a lovely bacon-esk treat! Next we samples the mushroom tart and it too was lovely. Flaky crust with a delicious and rich mushroom center.
The final item we sampled is probably on the top 5 list of things I've ever tried. The "Devil's on Horseback" is sheer genius and something that everyone who comes here should try. It's so good, it get's it's own paragraph! Â "Lightly toasted pinenuts inside sweet dates and wrapped in applewood smoked back". This description sounded so good I read it three times! The pinenuts gave just a little crunch and smokey flavor that complimented the dates very nicely. Wrapped in legit bacon and this was ready for primetime! The kicker however was the addition of maple whipped cream. I was like a beautiful maple hug that was there simply for our pleasure. Put another way - imagine if Chuck Norris and his beard had a child - that child would eat this exclusively.
The ambiance was lovely. Classical music in a very relaxed setting with some incredible food and (for me) great company as my better half was there too!
Bottom line - this is a place worth driving 40 minutes to and checking out. It's a different and unique setting that serves some incredible food and drink. Â The food is familiar enough for those who don't want to stray too far, but different enough for those of us wanting some adventure. We found it to be the perfect place to spend an hour and a half eating, chatting and just enjoying an evening. This is where we'll be taking friends that come into town and somewhere we plan to be back to as often as we're able.
I came all the way from San Diego to see for myself if the rumors were true. The reality is that this place, the food, the wine and the hosts exceeded my expectations. From the moment I walked in with my friends who live in nearby Marengo, I heard Bocelli playing in the background (from a CD, he wasn't really there, as least while I was there). From there I met Brad and Collen and felt as welcomed as I would in their own living room. I ordered a nice Malbec and already knew what I wanted to eat since I read the menu on-line before we left the house. Two words: Yum mee! We enjoyed the Italian ham, the delicious empanadas and the stromboli. Whoa! It was all awesome. I will promise that the next time I am anywhere near Iowa, I will head back to the bank ASAP!
Thank you for a wonderful experience. Your newest devotee, Jaime Hernandes - San Diego.
A great little bar in an amazing building. Â Ladora barely exists, but the Bank Bistro makes it worth a visit. Â Both the beer and wine lists are well considered and interesting. Â The food is highly sharable appetizers a which can easily make a nice meal.
With only two people running the show things can the a little slow on a busy night, but I've never minded with the lovely setting, the food and drink, and the friendly people.
Verdict: I wish the Bank Bistro was local. Â The drive is a little much most days, but totally worth it.
An adorable little wine bar seemingly in the middle of nowhere. This former bank has a wonderful retro feel to it from the historic stone walls and high ceilings, to the intact teller windows with brass detail. The wine list is quite impressive for such a small establishment. While only a few are available by the glass, if you agree to drink half a bottle (2 glasses) the owners will be happy to open most bottles - so take your pick! The appetizers (meant for sharing) were delicious. The prosciutto platter was fantastic and went quite well with the hot fresh bread. The mushroom tart was delicious as were all of the strombolis. The Maytag blue cheese platter was also very good, served with candied pecans and dried fruit.
The owners of the Bistro were friendly and helpful. They were very good about letting us split the bill (we had a large party) and they even remembered by name those of us who had been to the bar before.
A true diamond in the rough! Ladora Bank is about half an hour from Iowa City, and totally worth the trip.
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