Boyd’s Grille & Spirits

We have recently moved to the area and this was the first time we visited Boyd, s. It was our Son’s birthday meal, so we were hoping for a nice meal followed by a movie. The four of us (2 kids/​2 Adults) arrived at 5:15 on a Saturday evening and the place was virtually empty, which is surprising. We were first served by a waitress who took our drink orders. I asked for a Diet Pepsi and mentioned to her it was our sons birthday and we wanted all the signing and bells and whistles for him and she replied, you get.
When our drinks came, we were given a different waitress. My drink was Dr. pepper and when I mentioned it to her she responded by saying well the other girl said it was Dr Pepper.
We then ordered an appetizer which was the bacon cheese fries. The menus states it comes with Ranch Dressing and assumed the ranch came on the side like you normally see. The appetizer came quick, the fries appeared to me the frozen kind you find at the store, very little cheese was on the, and the entire tray was covered in ranch. When we mentioned we preferred the ranch on the side, the waitress responded well the menu says it comes with ranch. We stated we felt it would be on the side, she then asked us what we wanted then and we said a new order with ranch on the side.
We all then placed our orders. Our birthday boy got the pizza and it was good and he was happy. The wife ordered the breaded tenderloin, fried chips and a salad. Her salad was filled with the white parts of lettuce and a large number of rotten pieces were found. My other son ordered the steak sandwich and he commented the bread tasted funny. We tasted it and it was different but could not place the flavor. I ordered the 10oz sirloin med well, fried chips and fruit.
Now, I should note, I often expect my med well steaks to be slightly over cooked and I am okay with that. When my steak at Boyds arrived I noticed a few things. One, there was no seasoning, not even salt and pepper or butter. The steak was charged heavily on one side and the other not so much. The steak was so over cooked even the steak knife struggled to cut off a piece, which pretty much just shredded the steak. The taste was awful. If I didn’t know better it looked and tasted like it was cooked and cooled at some point and then either cooked again or microwaved. Either that, or the piece of meat was not fresh, because the flavor seemed off.
When I complained to the waitress she asked if I wanted something else. I explained I did not because we were on our way to a movie. She said she would talk to her manager. When she came back, she said all he can do is offer anything off the menu I wanted. I stated I was not interested in that because we’re heading to a movie and not going home. She said «do you want me to get the manager» and I said yes. When he came out in his old t-​shirt and blue jeans he again replied I can have anything off the menu, and I restarted my position. It was then he decided to refund my portion of the bill. Which, it was a good thing I asked the waitress when she came back because it was still on the bill. She asked us if that was what he said, making it clear he never spoke to her about it.
In the end, we still ended up paying over $ 60.00 for 3 meals, appetizer and 3 drinks (wife had water). There is no way the value and the quality of the food was even remotely worth this amount. You can get a far better tasting meal at some national chain 3^rd tier steak restaurant at a much better price. The pizza was good, but everything else was extremely disappointing, the service was questionable and thus we have no plans on ever going back. Btw when we left at about 6:20, the restaurant was not even half full on a Saturday night.

Visited this place for the first time and got a stuffed crust pizza. Well… Their stuffed crust is more like a deep dish pizza so buyers beware. But that said… The pizza was pretty good! It was well seasoned and the crust was quite flavorful. Some problems, the place lacks any kind of atmosphere… The walls are bland there was hardly anybody there and there didn’t seem to be a dress code for the staff. Also despite the fact there weren’t anybody there the server was trying to get us out the door! This place needs to find its identity. The food is promising but people are looking for a dining experience not just good food.

Since the last time I was in, the place has really turned it self around. The staff was really professional. The food was really good. I am impressed by the changes.

Nice inside.
Our food was great, we had sirloins and they were cooked perfectly. The cheddar casserole is yummy!
Service was just OK, a bit slow (not busy at all) they didn’t bring all of our meals out at the same time, (1 adult and 2 kids meals were 10 mins after everyone else’s) our children’s meals were the last to come out, which was not a great idea, they should always cooks kids meals first!
Good food though!

Not impressed at all. Freezing inside. Food took about an hour to come. Salad came with buffalo chicken even though menu did not indicate it. Burger was pink when well done was requested. 3^rd entrée was cold. Wouldn’t go back.

I am not sure what the other reviewers experienced, but my experience was exceptional. I was not sure what to expect but was more than pleasantly surprised. We were seated quickly and had a very nice server. I ordered the crab-​stuffed shrimp, asparagus and mushrooms, and twice baked potato. The only reason that this restaurant received a 4 star was because the food took a long time to be served. However, when it arrived the presentation was beautiful. The food was excellent. Everything was at the proper temperature and really delicious. I will definitely be back.

Good new restaurant here. The GM is bringing some nice entres from other restaurants he has run. FYI I have had the chicken tenders mentioned above in first review and they are top notch. Actual real full on chicken breasts. On tender is like half a chicken breast. Great buffalo style. Think the ones above many have been burnt a little and the did take them off their bill. Just saying. TRY the tenders. Better then the typical of «chicken strip». Great addition t Iowa City. Oh and they still make he Airliner pizza too!

Service was fine in terms of getting us seated and getting our drinks quickly. However, the waitress seemed extremely bored and was not very welcoming, like she wanted us just to eat and get out. The environment was nice, the bar had big TVs everywhere and good music which is why I gave two stars. Now, the food looked and sounded really good. I ordered the boneless BBQ tenders (which I imagined to be smaller, bite size BBQ bites) and when it came, I took one bite and returned it right away. One of them was clearly burnt, and looked like a deep fried rat. Management apologized and took it off my bill with no questions asked. I got the shrimp fettuccini instead and it was good, EXTREMELY filling. my partner got the cod salad with chicken and enjoyed it very much, although the waitress had to ask what she got again because she forgot (she didn’t write our orders down at all) and she got the wrong dressing. Overall, it was good but could’ve been better if we had a nicer, more enthusiastic server and a different cook. Oh well!