The Celebrity-Owned Brazen Open Kitchen Is One Of The Best Places To Grab A Bite To Eat In Iowa

Iowa does have some deep celebrity roots, including in its small towns - but one area where that doesn't seem to have translated yet is in celebrity-owned restaurants! While Guy Fieri has plans to expand into Council Bluffs in 2023, celebrity chef restaurants are few and far between - unless you head to the famous river town of Dubuque. That's where you'll find Brazen Open Kitchen, an acclaimed New American restaurant. If head chef and owner Kevin Scharpf looks familiar, that's because millions of people have seen him already - as a contestant on season 16 of Top Chef! The high-octane cooking competition has kick-started the careers of countless chefs, and Dubuque native Scharpf is one of them - and you can taste his inventive Iowa-inspired fare for yourself at this celebrity-owned restaurant in Dubuque, Iowa.

Dubuque native Kevin Scharpf competed on Top Chef Kentucky, and although he didn't win, he won over the crowd with his Hawkeye State pride.

Today, he's the head chef and owner of Brazen Open Kitchen, an inventive New American restaurant located only minutes from the Mississippi River.

As the name implies, the restaurant has an open kitchen plan where you can see your food being prepared.

You'll definitely want to start your meal with the leek fondue, an indulgent way to elevate a bread course.

The restaurant has a lot of elevated Southern and Midwestern staples, including this fantastic fried chicken and cornbread.

However, many of the composed entrees, like this short rib with goat cheese polenta, are among the best at any fine dining restaurant in Dubuque.

The desserts are equally impressive, usually combining a gorgeous appearance with delicious old-school flavors.

The cocktail program is just as creative, so adults will love finishing up with an after-dinner drink at this Top Chef alum's restaurant.

Have you eaten at Brazen Open Kitchen? Let us know what you thought of this celebrity restaurant in Dubuque, Iowa in the comments section! You can find out more about the menu at Brazen Open Kitchen on the the restaurant's website and its Facebook page. This is just one of the many best places to eat in Iowa that you'll need to try.