Iowa River Power’s Brunch Has Returned to a New Supper Club

Ever since the closure of Iowa River Power Restaurant in Coralville, Eastern Iowans have been missing their famous Sunday brunch. Well, some of those brunch favorites have returned to a new location!

The story starts with the Highlander Supper Club, which was built in 1967. In 1974, the supper club added the hotel, featuring a ballroom and a pool. According to the official website, "for the next 30 years, both experienced extraordinary success playing host to celebrities like Micky Mantle, Joan Baez, and Arnold Palmer, arguably becoming one of the most popular entertainment, event, dining, and hotel destinations in Iowa history." 

The Highlander eventually fell into a state of disrepair, until it was purchased by Angela Harrington in 2019. She completely transformed the space into a 70s-inspired "chic boutique urban resort," and brought back the hotel's famous supper club. That supper club is now being revamped with the help of Danise Petsel.

Danise was the owner of the popular Iowa River Power Restaurant, which closed in late 2023. The Homegrown Iowan reports that when Angela heard the news of the closure, she reached out to Danise with a cool opportunity. Angela told the publication, "I called her up and said, ‘Wondering if you and your team might need a home. You are better than me at food, and my hotel needs a real supper club menu and a full-service, over-the-top catering operation to accommodate our growing corporate retreat and social event business.” Fortunately, Danise accepted the offer!

According to the Homegrown Iowan, the new supper club will be "a fusion of the Highlander’s fun vibe and IRP’s prowess as an affordably priced steak and seafood house." Sunday brunch officially began on March 24th and will take place every Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The food is served buffet style and include a Belgian waffle station, a carving station, a salad station, fruits and vegetables, desserts, and more. Check out the menu HERE.

You can reserve a table for brunch online HERE, or by emailing hello@highlanderhotel.us or calling the hotel at 319-354-2000. The supper club will also offer dinner Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. beginning on April 4th. The dinner menu will be arriving soon.

Take a peek inside The Highlander below!