City Loafers brings ‘gourmet style deli’ to Davenport

A sign in a corner window at the new City Loafers restaurant in downtown Davenport states: “Welcome to Davenport Midwest Unexpected.” City Loafers, located at 215 N. Main St., inside The Current Iowa hotel, could be called a new and unexpected surprise for people looking to grab a quick lunch or a bigger evening dinner. […]

A sign in a corner window at the new City Loafers restaurant in downtown Davenport states: “Welcome to Davenport Midwest Unexpected.”

City Loafers, located at 215 N. Main St., inside The Current Iowa hotel, could be called a new and unexpected surprise for people looking to grab a quick lunch or a bigger evening dinner. Since opening in January, the downtown restaurant has been building up a steady following of customers who enjoy the location and menu of City Loafers. “We’ve been getting a really good lunch crowd. … The feedback from people has been great,” said Kate Griffith, the sales and marketing director for Hotel Blackhawk and The Current Iowa, which oversees the new restaurant. Ms. Griffith added that some of the foodie favorites have centered on the dishes with the fresh baked bread. (City Loafers, of course, bakes its own bread in house.) Some of those dishes include:

• The Mo’Dough, a starter that includes cheddar and parmesan focaccia (that’s a favorite of Ms. Griffith).
• The Lil’ Piggy sandwich with smoked gouda, country ham and yellow mustard.
• The Fowl Play sandwich with turkey, white cheddar, arugula and smoked bacon.
• The Angus Young with angus ribeye, swiss cheese, portabella mushroom on a brioche bun.

“One might describe it as a gourmet style deli,” City Loafers General Manager Nick Cox said on the restaurant’s Facebook page. City Loafers’ gourmet style deli offerings also includes a breakfast menu of ham and cheese omelet; Denver omelet; breakfast burrito and more. But customers might be attracted by more than the menu. City Loafers has a very artistic feel with everything from colorful paintings on the walls to a giant stuffed teddy bear in one corner. Ms. Griffith said The Current Iowa features regional artists’ works in every room and every corner of the boutique hotel developed by Restoration St. Louis and is now part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection. The owners decided to expand the art theme to the restaurant.

The look and menu of City Loafers are welcome attractions to the downtown Davenport area, according to a business advocate. “It’s great to see activation of The Current’s first floor with the opening of City Loafers,” said Kyle Carter, executive director of the Downtown Davenport Partnership. “More lunch spots downtown are always appreciated by our office-dwellers and visitors, especially at a key corner like Second and Main.”  City Loafers has a seating capacity of 80 customers. The restaurant, which has about 10 workers per shift, is open daily 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, see facebook.com/cityloafersIA/.