Foodies & New Friends: Iowa City | Dinner with Strangers

Everyone has something to bring to the table...literally.

When was the last time you did something completely spontaneous? Our series groups together complete strangers for a fun night out over dinner. That's right, you sign up, and we book the restaurant. We know life can get busy. Don't do city life alone and build your community with us, all the while supporting local businesses. We coordinate dinners in over 200 cities.

This gathering isn't an official event with the restaurant but rather an outing based on a table reservation. The pin on the map is not the location, but a placeholder on Eventbrite as each week is held at a different location.

Our feature on Fox 11 Los Angeles.

Please see here for our coverage in Nashville Fox 17's Growing Nashville segment.

Each evening is intended to be for 4-6 people maximum. Check out our feature in Eventbrite's 2025 TRNDS report about embracing the micro-event trend.

How does it work?

After you register, you'll be emailed an introduction message.

*Your registration does not include your individual food and drink purchases. A paid ticket simply makes you more committed to actually showing up.

*These outings are intended to help people make friends. These are not singles gatherings.

*If we don't meet our minimum number of registrants for the evening you sign up, please be open to joining us on another evening! We will complete table reservations after we hit our minimum signups, so you may reach out to us before signing up for or after you sign up to see our progress with registrations for the evening.

*If you sign up the day of the gathering and do not get a message from us in time, simply email [email protected], request a refund, or please be open to joining us on another evening.

Our vision is simple: we take the no gimmicks approach to networking. No need for yet another app to take up space on your phone - just four walls and a roof and good food for people to connect :) We coordinate with you directly, human-to-human.

If you have any more questions, please contact [email protected]! Follow us on Instagram!

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Restaurant of the Night, Iowa City, United States