Chef Sam Gelman grills Iowa pork at The Webster restaurant in Iowa City. Gelman and his wife, Riene Gelman, announced plans to a new ramen restaurant and cocktail lounge duo with Webster team member Edwin Lee. The new restaurant will open in October 2024. (Cliff Jette/Freelance for The Gazette)
IOWA CITY — The owners of an upscale restaurant in Iowa City have partnered with one of their team members for a new ramen shop and cocktail lounge opening in October.
Paper Crane, from the founders of The Webster, promises to bring an “innovative and fresh dining experience” to the Northside neighborhood at the helm of owners Sam and Riene Gelman. The new venture marks the couple’s new partnership with chef partner Edwin Lee, a longtime staffer at The Webster.
Lee, who has been integral to The Webster’s kitchen since its opening in 2021, will lead the new restaurant’s kitchen with a personal take on ramen developed through successful pop-ups at The Webster. In an area where Asian cuisine remains slim, his offerings hope to offer a more dynamic range of both traditional and seasonal selections.
“We’ve created something truly special that brings a new energy to the dining scene. There’s nothing quite like it here, and I believe it will set a new standard for the type of experiences people can expect downtown,” Lee said.
The new venue at 121 N. Linn St. will be presented through a pair of two distinct spaces.
The ramen restaurant will deliver a full-service experience through a fast-casual concept ideal for a quick lunch or dinner. Alongside it, an intimate cocktail lounge will bring a “moody, sophisticated ambience” serving cocktails and a curated small plate menu for “an adult crowd with refined tastes.”
“We’ve thoughtfully developed Paper Crane to offer something truly unique to Iowa City — combining both our passion for exceptional food with a design and dining experience that reflects both creativity and comfort,” Riene Gelman said.
Before opening The Webster, Sam and Riene Gelman spent 30 combined years as a chef and manager, respectively, at renowned restaurants like Momofuku, Eleven Madison Park and Craft in New York City.
The Webster’s seasonally oriented fine dining was named one of the best in the country in February by USA Today.
Comments: Features reporter Elijah Decious can be reached at (319) 398-8340 or elijah.decious@thegazette.com.
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Publish date : 2024-09-24 23:30:00
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