Big Grove Brewpub, located in Solon, is an extension of Big Grove Brewery in Iowa City. The brewpub menu specializes in “classic, seasonal Iowa dishes, with a flair for the adventurous.”
The brewpub opened in 2013, not knowing how a small-scale brewery would turn out, but in 2017 Big Grove opened the second and larger location in Iowa City. This location has now turned into a brewery laboratory where the team creates new beer recipes. Today, Big Grove is one of the most popular restaurants in Eastern Iowa, with a location opening in Des Moines this summer.
Big Grove Brewpub in Solon offers upscale food, with a casual and inviting atmosphere. There is a bar area, a dining room and a patio with ample seating, heaters and fire pits during those cooler days. Whether you are looking for a date night, an evening with friends, a great happy hour spot or a place to watch some Iowa football, you have found the right spot at Big Grove in Solon.
There are several craft cocktails to choose from or for the beers lovers, this brewery has many different locally made beers to offer–there are 14 Big Grove beers on tap. On the weekends, you will often see many cyclists stopped at Big Grove for a snack or beverage or two during the warmer months. Big Grove in Solon is located very close to the bike trail, so it makes for a perfect afternoon stop.
To start your dinner off right, the Brussels sprouts are flash-fried sprouts with sriracha, honey, soy, almonds and cilantro. The veggies are soft with a beautiful charring, with a slight heat from the sriracha and a sweet finish from the honey. The two seasonal salads are the beet salad and the kale and avocado salad. The beet salad is floral and fresh, with a beautiful and bright presentation. There is a tanginess from the fines herbs and a sharpness from the red onion. The kale and avocado salad has muted and earthy flavors. The sweet potatoes and kale leave you feeling full.
There are many wonderful menu items to choose from, but the pork secreto and doppio ravioli are worth mentioning. The pork secreto is thinly sliced pork covered with a cranberry and peanut matcha that adds a nice heat to the dish. The white beans and braised greens complement the pork perfectly. The latter dish spotlights three large ravioli pieces in a white cream sauce. It is paired with roasted squash and braised greens, and the ravioli is filled with mortadella and the savory sauce is a perfect with the sweet squash.
For dessert, the bourbon caramel semifredo is light and creamy with the caramel flavor that instantly hits your mouth. This ice cream-type dessert has a caramel wafer and muddled cherries in the center. This refreshing and light dessert with certainly satisfy your sweet tooth.
Big Grove Brewpub in Solon has been a staple restaurant in the Cedar Rapids area and makes you feel right at home as soon as you step inside. The brewpub offers happy hour every day from 3 to 6 p.m. The brewpub is open Tuesday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 am. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
For more information on Big Grove Brewpub in Solon, visit biggrove.com/solon-brewpub.