2 days Ago By GANNON HANEVOLD [email protected]
To commemorate one year of living in the Quad-Cities, I've gone back twice this month to the place where I first dined out in the area: The Tangled Wood. Last year, after a long day of moving into a new apartment and hauling Facebook Marketplace dressers across town, my girlfriend and I went to this Bettendorf bar and grill as a way to celebrate. We sat outside, participated in their music bingo event that night and thoroughly enjoyed our meal.
Quad-City Times Reporter Gannon Hanevold As former West Coasters, it seemed like the Midwestern pride was seeping in by osmosis. A campfire burned. It was 80 degrees and humid.
My girlfriend, with a fruity wheat ale in her hand, said for the first time: "I think I could see myself liking beer." I shed a tear of joy. When I went back this weekend, it felt the same.
The temperature, the tasty food, the cold beer. It's just a little more familiar now. So this week feels like a good time for the long overdue Tangled Wood feature in this food column.
Of course, I ordered the same dish that captured my heart last year: the Southern Comfort Mac & Cheese. The Southern Comfort Mac & Cheese at The Tangled Wood was the best thing I ate this week. This dish is a classic mac and cheese made with a four cheese sauce, a thick and crispy layer of breadcrumbs on top, a breaded chicken filet and a sprinkle of green onion.
Let's start with the pasta, which is predictably delicious. Bread crumbs on mac is a 50-50 proposition to me. Sometimes it's great, sometimes it ruins the dish.
Here, it's the signature. The crunch on each bite gives the whole meal another dimension of texture and flavor. The chicken is also 10-out-of-10.
The breading is so crispy that it falls right off the meat with each cut into the filet. With that in mind, you'll likely end up with some bites of just breading and pasta, and others with just chicken. But it all tastes great, so I won't complain.
The Southern Comfort Mac & Cheese is tasty enough that, even after three visits, I've still never tried another dish at The Tangled Wood. Maybe someday I'll take a chance on one of their many burgers and bowls. The price is on the higher end for typical bar-and-grill fare.
But I wouldn't be recommending it if it wasn't worth it. This dish is also easily splitable with a date or friend, especially if you pair it with a small side of fries or a few draft brews. If you can't decide on just one drink, they even offer beer flights.
On my most recent visit, I ordered one of my favorite local beers, the Uncommon Stout from Bent River, and didn't have enough room for all the mac once it came to the table. I'll never complain about leftovers. The Tangled Wood is located at 3636 Tanglewood Road in Bettendorf.
The Tangled Wood is located at 3636 Tanglewood Road in Bettendorf. They're open from 11 a.m.
to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.
m. to 11 p.m.
on Friday and Saturday. They have two designated parking spaces for curbside pickup, in case you want to just grab food and go. My tip? Tangled Wood is in close proximity to Crow Creek Park, in case you need to walk off the calories after lunch.
The patio at The Tangled Wood is the perfect spot for a family hangout. The Tangled Wood undoubtedly has one of the best outdoor dining experiences in the Quad-Cities. The space as a whole, according to the restaurant's website, is 7,400 square feet.
And the outdoor area somehow feels even bigger. There are fire pits with Adirondack chairs circled around them and four cornhole boards to settle rivalries on. It truly captures the energy of a backyard barbecue or family camping trip.
The patio at The Tangled Wood has lawn games and plenty of seating. The seating options are overwhelmingly abundant and there is even a limited outdoor kitchen and outdoor bar counter. If you're lucky, you can even catch live music on The Tangled Wood's outdoor stage.
A few weeks ago, I listened to local '90s cover band Semi Charmed play hits by blink-182, Weezer and the like. If you're just looking for a drink and a few activities, The Tangled Wood is the cream of the crop in Bettendorf. The Tangled Wood has campfire circles in the front and back of the restaurant.
As the weather gets cooler, the restaurant's huge interior might look a little more appealing. It's a great spot for watching football on Saturdays and Sundays. The Hawkeye game was on almost every single one of the 10 TVs in the bar area during my Saturday visit last week.
U.S. solo dining reservations rose 29% over the last two years, according to OpenTable, the restaurant reservation site.
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