The Edison’s Raw & Bar in Bettendorf has been open since July. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
The Garrison restaurant in downtown Davenport is another “shining star” in the Davenport business community. That’s according to Davenport Mayor Mike Matson, who helped welcome the new restaurant to the community on Friday, Oct. 13. “You walk in the door and go ‘Wow.’ … This is all very exciting,” said Mr. Matson during a Quad […]
The Garrison restaurant in downtown Davenport is another “shining star” in the Davenport business community.That’s according to Davenport Mayor Mike Matson, who helped welcome the new restaurant to the community on Friday, Oct. 13.“You walk in the door and go ‘Wow.’ … This is all very exciting,” said Mr. Matson during a Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony for The Garrison.About 50 people attended the ceremony at the new restaurant at 131 W. Second St. The building is also home to Common Chord. The Garrison is on the first floor of the downtown building, across the hallway from Zeke’s Island Cafe.Garrison3: This old Ford is one of the centerpiece decorations in The Garrison restaurant. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSONThe past few days have been busy ones for The Garrison. The restaurant had a soft opening on Thursday, Oct. 12, a welcoming ceremony on Friday and its official grand opening on Saturday, Oct. 14.“I’m going through a lot of nervous energy right now. … We want to bring in as many people as possible,” said Brandon Albertson, a co-owner of The Garrison, during Friday’s events.Mr. Albertson said the new restaurant has about 86 employees. It got its start last fall when the owners bought the site, and renovation work has taken about nine months. Estes Construction was in charge of much of that work. The project is about a $2.7 million investment, he added.
Probation-era look, feel
A big part of that was to give The Garrison – described as a steakhouse with a private speakeasy in the back of the business – its Probation-era look and feel. The restaurant has dark walls, plush chairs, a piano and lounge area. But the centerpiece seems to be an antique black Ford car (with a 1925 license plate) tucked into a corner near its front entrance.“It caught me off guard when I came in here and saw that car,” Mr. Matson said.During Friday’s opening ceremonies, Conner Gildenblatt, another co-owner, said downtown is a perfect spot for this upscale restaurant. He praised city and business officials for turning the downtown area into a vibrant and lively space for new businesses.“There is just so much energy here now,” he said.The Garrison, located at 131 W. Second St., Davenport, is now open for business. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSONKyle Carter, executive director of Downtown Davenport Partnership, also praised business’ leaders for helping create that new energy by bringing the new restaurant to the downtown area. He called the building “ground zero” for the renaissance of downtown Davenport.Much of the restaurant’s energy centers on its extensive menu. Its website describes it as “fine dining, refined” with “wild recipes, adventurous spirits, interesting characters.” The Garrison menu also calls it the new definitive spot for an afterwork cocktail, an intimate dinner, or a late night get-together with old friends.
Menu offers fine dining
The lunch menu includes Moonshine Cajun chicken, Argentinian steak sandwich, Blackberry turkey melt and The Garrison burger. Some signature cocktails include Twilight tee time, Tropic smuggler and vanilla peach old fashioned. But it’s the dinner menu that especially highlights that spirit of “fine dining, refined” spirit. Items include:
Chilean sea bass: White wine buttered seared sea bass, roasted acorn squash and kale, sweet carrot puree.
Roasted Cornish hen: Pan seared crispy herb hen, sweet corn succotash, cherry tomatoes, heirloom asparagus.
A wide variety of steak dishes, pasta and much more.
That menu shows that Jonathan Neman, executive chef of The Garrison, “pushes the boundaries of the culinary world and elevates the Quad Cities’ foodie landscape to new heights,” according to the restaurant’s website.Mr. Newman, a Davenport North graduate, has extensive experience with restaurants across the country. During Friday’s ceremony, he called The Garrison’s opening a great homecoming experience for him and his family.Others highlighted great partnerships between business and city government.“It’s about partners, it’s about team members. … This has helped expand and explode the excitement” in Davenport, Mr. Matson added.The Garrison is open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. The Speakeasy portion of the business is open 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. The phone number is (563) 232-1272.
