We ate at the Tuscan Moon last night.  Mark said he wanted to hear my impressions, and since there is nothing pressing to do at this exact moment (how unusual), I thought I’d write something up.

First, keep the context in mind.  Kalona, Iowa, is a tiny little town about 20 miles from Iowa City known mostly for its Amish Mennonite population.  Not everyone (or even most people) subscribe to that life philosophy, but it’s a visible enclave.  Other than that, it’s a pretty typical little town—cute-ish downtown with some nice local businesses, a few streets with pretty old homes, and lots of farmland surrounding it.  It’s more of a pork-tenderloin-on-a-bun town than a fois gras town (and don’t get me wrong—I appreciate a well-tendered loin).

The Tuscan Moon is an aesthetic gem.  The restaurant occupies a former hotel, and there is dining available on a patio and in several rooms on various floors.  The building is well-preserved and decorated in a pleasantly antique (but not cloying) style.  It would be a great place for a small rehearsal dinner or private party.  Also charming is the secluded bar/lounge upstairs, which would be nice to linger in before or after a meal.

The food is certainly above average.  I am dubious about some of its authenticity (alfredo sauce in a pasta carbonara dish?  Really?), but everything was nicely presented and was certainly a notch above a typical meal. I had what was billed as Rosemary Grilled Chicken.  It was served on a bed of fluffy polenta, which was the highlight of the meal and nicely balanced with a noticeable hint of rosemary.  The chicken was tender, moist, and juicy, but it was covered so liberally in a balsamic vinegar reduction that I couldn’t taste anything else.  Also present was a large serving of sauteed red onions, which were a little out of proportion.

Denny ordered a pasta “al diablo,” (another mixed metaphor—did they think people wouldn’t understand “a la diavola”)?  He had been warned by our dining companions that it was outrageously spicy, so he asked the server whether it was very hot.  He may have expressed concern, though he didn’t specifically ask that it be weakened for him; what he got was not spicy at all (and our dining companions agreed that it was much less spicy than when they’d last had it).  However, he still enjoyed the flavor.  I haven’t tried it yet, but he brought half of it home, so I might get to.

Also of note:  we didn’t personally experience it, but on Friday and Saturday nights they have live music, either out on the patio or inside, depending on weather.  That would be fun, because it’s very much a destination place.  Nobody ever made us feel rushed.

They seem to have a nice wine collection with a variety of types, including dessert wines (which, of course, I didn’t get to sample).  We were too full for dessert, but the choices seemed like a nice mix of traditional (chocolate layer cake) and more unusual (island spice cheesecake).

One small thing:  the non-alcoholic beverages were served in plastic cups.  Maybe that’s only the practice on the patio; still, I would have appreciated a glass.  It was a little jarring with the otherwise lovely environs.  The service was excellent; refills were offered frequently, and our server was happy to split our check and run two credit cards.

My general impression:  I would go back, but it would be a better experience if I could relax with a glass of wine for a while.  I think I would also get a steak; I could smell steaks from the kitchen and I bet they were fabulous.  I would like some more of that polenta, please.

I applaud the Tuscan Moon for bringing a classy dining option to an underserved area.  Go for a fun date night.