Upscale New Restaurant Opens in Historic Cedar Rapids Bank

If you're looking for a nice restaurant to celebrate a special occasion, you might want to reserve a table at this new Cedar Rapids restaurant!

Back on November 18th, Peppercorn at the Bank officially opened its doors at 101 3rd Ave SW, the former home of Popoli. After Popoli closed its doors for good in the spring of 2022, the catering service Peppercorn Food Company took over the historic space. Now, Peppercorn is welcoming customers to try their food at their brand new restaurant! The official website reads:

"Peppercorn Food Company has proudly grown to include a stunning event space, set in the historic bank building we acquired in June 2022. This iconic location combines the charm of history with our passion for exceptional cuisine and hospitality. In November 2024, we took an exciting new step by opening our doors for dinner service, welcoming guests to enjoy not only our thoughtfully crafted menu but also the unique ambiance of this beautifully preserved venue."

Peppercorn at the Bank is located inside the Peoples Savings Bank building, which dates all the back to 1911 and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. According to Wikipedia, it was designed by Louis Sullivan, and was the second of nine "jewel box" banks that he crafted in the Midwest. The interior of the building is gorgeous, featuring stained glass windows, a huge hand-painted mural, unique chandeliers, and the original bank vault! A November article from the Gazette notes that the restaurant looks exactly the same as when Popoli closed its doors a few years ago.

The menu at Peppercorn contains a variety of "Composed Dishes," such as Chilean Sea Bass, Orange Thyme Pork Tenderloin, Carbonara-House-Made Pasta, and Beef Tenderloin Medallions. There are additional "Steaks and Chops," as well as soup, salad, and sides that are meant for sharing. And speaking of sharing, some of the appetizer options include Crispy Glazed Pork Belly, Traditional Bruschetta, the Cured Meat and Cheese Board, and Southwestern Crab Cakes. Oh, and make sure you save room for dessert! Flavor-of-the-day Creme Brûlée, Bananas Foster, and NY Style Cheesecake are a few of the sweet items available.

Early reviews of Peppercorn at the Bank are very positive. A new post from Jeremy Willia on the Cedar Rapids Area Foodies Facebook page raves about the Southwestern Crab Cakes, Orange Thyme Pork Tenderloin, Chilean Sea Bass, and Bananas Foster. He writes, "A+ visit, will absolutely go there again and recommend you do the same!" A Google review from Stan Pfoff notes that his steak was "cooked to perfection," and that his party also enjoyed the Pork Porterhouse and the Crispy Glazed Pork Belly.

Peppercorn at the Bank's current hours are Monday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. You can reserve a table on their website HERE.