Need a new place to go study on the weekends? You should go check out the Dingo Bar. This little coffee shop recently opened in the Peninsula neighborhood in Iowa City. They had been working on it all summer and finally opened it in the fall of 2016. The Dingo Bar atmosphere appeals to people looking for a place to get work done, and someone who wants to go and socialize with others. This coffee shop is inspired by Dingo American Bar which was in Paris. The grand opening brought many people into the shop and it has been getting more and more popular.

The Dingo Bar is near my house, so I have gone there on many occasions, mainly for studying. The space is small, so when you walk in you’re immediately surrounded by multiple conversations. This can make the environment feel fun and inclusive, or it can be a distraction if you’re going there to get work done. Personally, I wasn’t disturbed by the noise level, but that’s something to consider is you’re planning on studying. Besides the loudness, the style of the Dingo Bar is very trendy. The stunning color palette of blue and yellow is well kept throughout the entire shop, and the decor really makes it seem like a big city coffee shop. On the other hand, the small area means there’s going to be limited seating. This can be difficult, especially if you’re going to breakfast or lunch with a group of people. If you’re going during busy hours which are between 10:00 am and 12:00 pm, it’s unlikely you’ll get a seat inside. However, if you’re going by yourself, then it’s easy to quickly grab a seat at one of the tables or the breakfast bar. Overall, the environment of the Dingo Bar has a unique vibe, but it ultimately depends on what you’re looking to do there.

Not only is the Dingo Bar known for their coffee, such as their iced coffee or batch brew, but they also have a large variety of food selections. For foods, they have a breakfast and lunch menu which consist of a toast bar, specialty sandwiches, egg on a muffin, paninis and more.

When I have gone in the past, I usually get an iced vanilla latte and no food. Recently, I ordered a sausage egg biscuit–which was delicious. The bread, egg, and sausage were all high quality, but it could’ve used more seasoning. So, one thing I would recommend for the Dingo Bar to do is to put out things such as salt and pepper, hot sauce, ketchup, etc. so customers have easy access to it without having to ask a worker. This will appeal to people who like some extra flavor on their food and will avoid the awkwardness or fear some people have for asking for something. When I went with my mom, I tried two different items, the Chai tea latte and the sweet ricotta toast, which has honey, cinnamon, sugar, ricotta and dried cranberries on it. The latte was very tasty, but the flavoring could have been stronger. As for the toast, to be honest, I didn’t really know what ricotta was until I got my food, but I was pleasantly surprised with the toast. I don’t think I would order it again because it personally I would prefer something else, but it was good.

My mom got a medium batch brew coffee, she thought, “It was good. It wasn’t too bold and it was nice that they had almond milk.” She also got the farmhouse melt sandwich, which consisted of corned beef, egg, and cheddar cheese, “I had to get that one because they were out of Canadian Bacon for the one that I wanted. It was very yummy, though.”

Overall, the beverages and foods are made very well, but they could use some more seating. The service was fast and friendly and the atmosphere of the Dingo Bar is social and fun. So, if you’re looking for a good place to go do homework or socialize on the weekends, stop by the Dingo Bar and check it out.

Source: http://www.press-citizen.com/story/entertainment/2016/10/27/dingo-bar-hemingway-themed-cafe-opens-iowa-city/92766302/