Only a five minute walk from the Old Capital there is a popular restaurant. Right in the heart of downtown, nestled between several food options, is a local restaurant that has expanded into a franchise. Z’Mariks Noodle Cafe opened its first of four locations in Iowa City in 2002. Dave and Ellie Allen, the founders, wanted to provide the community with a place for fresh, healthy, and fast food at an affordable price. Z’Mariks also promises friendly service and food served to your table within minutes. The name of the restaurant stems from the Greek word for pasta “Zimarika” to recognize Ellie’s Greek roots, a culture that extends to the menu.
Upon entering the door to Z’Mariks, we immediately noticed the cleanliness and modern charm of the space. Canvases of noodle themed art are tastefully placed on the walls, and a small ledge conveniently separates the ordering line from their spacious seating area. Because we first visited when they opened at 10:30 am, the restaurant was rather peaceful. We sat down to examine the menu and learn more about the restaurant.
The rewards system jumped out right away. As college students, saving and being intentional with money is always a top priority for us, and unlike some reward systems, Z’Mariks gives a $5 off coupon just for signing up. With the reasonable prices of all of the dishes, that discount alone almost covers an entire meal. From there, this Frequent Noodler program will send you $5 off every time you spend $50 and a $5 reward during your birthday month.
Dishes at the cafe include popular American classics such as mac and cheese, as well as Italian favorites, and several traditional Greek foods. They feature pasta, rice bowls, soups, and salads. Dishes range from $6 to $9 with smaller sizes available for a lesser price. We also appreciated their specials, which include $4 mac and cheese on Mondays, as well as a $5 bowl of the week.
After the initial menu scan, we headed to their website again to look for additional nutrition information the company provides. Like many people, dietary accommodations are important to us. We needed to make sure Z’Mariks could safely feed us and specifically looked at the menu through the perspective of a peanut and treenut allergy. The website offers dish by dish nutrition information and appears to flag which of the top eight allergens each bowl includes. This helped us to discover that only 3 of the meals are made with peanuts or tree nuts and that there are still numerous, safe options to choose from.
Their 4.3 star rating on Google intrigued us further. One reviewer wrote that Z’Mariks is “one of my favorite restaurants in Iowa City,” and another customer claims that “all their options are wonderful.” We were eager to try some of the dishes ourselves, and in an effort to put their service to the test, we went at their busiest time- 6:00pm. Z’Mariks was lively with several people enjoying their food and company. We were able to order immediately and the cashier recommended the mac and cheese. We decided to try the z’pesto and the z’mac and cheese. Our food arrived steaming and to our table in around ten minutes. The portions were a good size for the price, and we both thought these dishes were fresher and better than similar dishes at Noodles and Company. For fans of pasta, this is a must-visit restaurant downtown.
After we finished our meal, we decided to ask an employee some questions. The employee informed us that the main difference he sees between Noodles and Company and Z’Mariks is that “We’re more focused on the people… That’s what gives it the quality [difference]”. He also commented on the local feel attracting customers opposed to a larger chain.
Overall, Z’Mariks impressed both of us and our taste buds. Between the delicious array of dishes, convenient location, and affordable prices we will surely dine there again. On top of that, we are confident that our Frequent Noodler rewards will send us more discounts soon. We encourage you to sign up too and enjoy your first meal at a ridiculously cheap price!
Written by Jenna Swisher and Lauren de Guzman
Hours: Sunday- Saturday 10:30am-8:30pm
Primetime Iowa City Guide 
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