Restaurant Week
2026-02-20 07:00 - 2026-02-28 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Groundswell Cafe, 201 Third Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52404, United States
We are SUPER excited to be one of the 2026 Cedar Rapids Restaurant Week participants! Enjoy our tasty Restaurant Week specials February 20th – February 28th.
Rooted in tradition and made with heart—Groundswell Cafe Manager Jack’s three Restaurant Week specials celebrate flavor, culture, and comfort. Come check them out!
Join in all the deliciousness at 201 3rd AVE SW during our open hours: Monday-Saturday, 7:00 AM – 2:PM.

Cooking for a Cause – February 12
2026-02-12 17:30 - 19:30
Cooking for a Cause: Valentine’s Edition

Celebrate Valentine’s week with a hands-on cooking experience that’s equal parts delicious and meaningful.
Join us at Groundswell Cafe for a special Valentine’s Edition of Cooking for a Cause, led by Cafe Manager Jack. Together, you’ll learn to prepare a classic, comforting menu—while also making extra meals to support the Good Meals To Go program at the Cultivate Hope Corner Store.
📅 Event Details
Date: Thursday, February 12, 2026Time: 5:30–7:30 PMLocation: Groundswell Cafe201 3rd Ave SW, Cedar Rapids, IA
🍽 February Menu

Chicken Cacciatore
Pommes Purée
Grilled Asparagus
Dessert: Panna Cotta

This class is perfect for couples looking to celebrate Valentine’s Day in a fun, interactive way. Please note: the class includes knife work and is recommended for ages 18 and up. Class attendees are welcome to bring a bottle of wine or a beverage of their choice to enjoy with dinner.
💲 Cost: $30 per person
Your registration includes:

Guided instruction from our cafe manager
A take-home recipe card
One freshly prepared meal per attendee
Plus: Your fee helps cover the food cost of additional meals prepared for the Cultivate Hope Corner Store

This class is SOLD OUT. Watch for an upcoming Cooking for a Cause!

Questions? Contact us or give us a call at 319-200-2791.

Groundswell’s 7th Birthday Celebration
2025-10-06 07:00 - 2025-10-11 14:00
Groundswell is celebrating its 7th birthday, and we want YOU to join us!
During the week of October 6-11, Groundswell Cafe is celebrating the birthday with a new Fall/Winter Menu, free birthday cookie with any meal, and festive decorations.
Breakfast, lunch, or both would be great to have you celebrate with us!

Everybody Eats Week at Groundswell Cafe
2025-08-25 07:00 - 2025-08-30 14:00
Throughout the week of August 25-30, we’ll be raising money for our Pay-It-Forward Fund, which helps cover meals for those who may not be able to pay the full amount. This fund is at the heart of our mission—it’s how we ensure that everyone who walks through our doors can sit down to enjoy a nourishing meal with dignity.
When you dine at Groundswell during Everybody Eats Week, you’ll not only enjoy fresh, delicious food—you’ll also be part of something bigger. Each meal purchased, each tip or donation given, and each story shared adds to a ripple of kindness that feeds both body and soul. Special dish this week: Bananas Foster French Toast – $2 from the sale of each special will go to our pay-it-forward fund.
Last year during this week, Groundswell raised important funds that directly supported neighbors in need. This year, we’re hoping to raise at $1500 towards our Pay-It-Forward Fund.
Come join us, invite a friend, and spread the word. Because when everybody eats, everybody wins.
👉 Visit us at Groundswell Cafe during Everybody Eats Week or donate here and help make a difference!

Cooking for a Cause – April 24
2025-04-24 17:30 - 19:30
Cooking for a Cause: Italian Night with Chef Craig
📅 Date: APRIL 24⏰ Time: 5:30 – 7:30 PM📍 Location: Groundswell – 201 3rd AVE SW, Cedar Rapids
Join us for Cooking for a Cause, a hands-on cooking class with Chef Craig, where you’ll learn to prepare a delicious Italian dinner while also giving back! As we cook together, we’ll be making extra meals to support our Good Meals To Go program at the Cultivate Hope Corner Store.
April’s Menu:
🍝 Homemade Pasta🍅 Red Sauce🧄 Garlic Bread🍮 Maybe even a dessert!
This class is perfect for beginners but does involve some knife work, so we recommend it for ages 18 and up.
💲 Cost: $25 per person (includes:)✅ Guided instruction + take-home recipe card✅ One meal per attendee✅ Your fee helps cover the food cost of the meals that will go to the Cultivate Hope Corner Store!
Spots are limited—sign up today!
Questions? Contact us or give us a call at 319-200-2791.

Restaurant Week
2025-02-21 07:00 - 2025-03-01 14:00
We are SUPER excited to be one of the 2025 Cedar Rapids Restaurant Week participants! Enjoy our tasty Restaurant Week specials February 21st – March 1, 2025.
Details on what items and specials we will be featuring that week will be coming soon!
Please join us at 201 3rd AVE SW during our open hours: Monday-Saturday, 7:00 AM – 2:PM.

Groundswell’s 6th Birthday Celebration
2024-10-12 07:00 - 14:00, 2024-10-11 07:00 - 14:00, 2024-10-10 07:00 - 14:00, 2024-10-09 07:00 - 14:00, 2024-10-08 07:00 - 14:00, 2024-10-07 07:00 - 14:00
Groundswell is celebrating its 6th birthday, and we want YOU to join us!
During the week of October 7-12, Groundswell Cafe is celebrating the birthday with free pumpkin birthday cake, festive decorations, and a flatbread pizza special!
Breakfast, lunch, or both would be great to have you celebrate with us!

Restaurant Week
2024-02-16 07:00 - 2024-02-24 14:00
We are SUPER excited to be one of the 2024 Cedar Rapids Restaurant Week participants! Enjoy our tasty Restaurant Specials February 16th – February 24, 2024.
We will be featuring:

Duo of Breakfast Toasts
Florentine Roll-Up
Grilled Vegetable & Fritter Wrap
Croque Monsieur or Croque Madame (with an egg on top) French Sandwiches
Winter Salad & Soup Combo
Chicken and Waffle
Sweet Pretzel-Bread Pudding with Caramel

Please join us at 201 3rd AVE SW during our open hours: Monday-Saturday, 7:00 AM – 2:PM.

Cooking for a Cause – Oct 16
2023-10-16 17:30 - 19:30
Join us at 5:30 pm on Oct. 16 for a Cooking for a Cause class, where Chef Jason will lead you through the preparation and cooking of a recipe, while making extras for our Good Meals To Go meal program at our nonprofit Cultivate Hope Corner Store.
October’s class will include a demonstration on Japanese tea stylings mixed in with two recipes on homemade Japanese Soba and Udon. This class is suitable for beginners, but will include some work with kitchen knives, so this class is recommended for ages 18 and up.
Cost: $20
Includes:

Instructional Class and take-home recipe card
One meal per attendee
Your cost also covers some of the food costs for the meals that will go to the Cultivate Hope Corner Store!

Details:
$20/person, purchase tickets below
5:30-7:30 pm on Oct. 16, 2023
Hosted at Groundswell Cafe, 201 Third Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids

Questions? Contact us or give us a call at 319-200-2791.

Groundswell’s 5th Birthday Celebration
2023-10-14 07:00 - 14:00, 2023-10-13 07:00 - 14:00, 2023-10-12 07:00 - 14:00, 2023-10-11 07:00 - 14:00, 2023-10-10 07:00 - 14:00, 2023-10-09 07:00 - 14:00
Groundswell is celebrating its 5th birthday, and we want YOU to join us!
For the entire week of October 9-14, Groundswell Cafe will be giving out a free cookie with every meal and will offer a variety of fall-themed specials, such as pumpkin cinnamon rolls, pumpkin spice coffee, and pumpkin chai tea.
Stop by the week before (Oct 2-7) and do some creative crafting to help make fun decor for the birthday bash!

Cooking for a Cause – Aug. 28
2023-08-28 17:30 - 19:30
Join us at 5:30 pm on Aug. 28 for a Cooking for a Cause class, where Chefs Philip and Jason will lead you through the preparation and cooking of a recipe, while making extras for our Good Meals To Go meal program at the nonprofit Cultivate Hope Corner Store.
August’s class will be all about homemade pasta and pizza, as well as other farm-fresh recipes with an Italian theme. Participants will have small bites throughout the class, and dinner will be provided at the Cultivate Hope Mega Market on Thursday, Aug. 31 with a complimentary pizza that you will make!
Cost: $20
Includes:

Instructional Class and take-home recipe card
One meal per attendee
Your cost also covers some of the food costs for the meals that will go to the Cultivate Hope Corner Store!

Details:
$20/person, purchase tickets below
5:30-7:30 pm on Aug. 28, 2023
Hosted at Groundswell Cafe, 201 Third Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids

Questions? Contact us or give us a call at 319-200-2791.

Cooking for a Cause – June 19
2023-06-19 17:30 - 19:30
Join us at 5:30 pm on June 19 for a Cooking for a Cause class, where Chefs Philip and Jason will lead you through the preparation and cooking of a recipe, while making extras for our Good Meals To Go meal program at the nonprofit Cultivate Hope Corner Store.
June’s class will be all about Mediterranean dishes, including spanakopita, braised chicken, and our Groundswell Hummus recipe! This class is suitable for beginners, but will include some work with kitchen knives, so this class is recommended for ages 18 and up.
Cost: $20
Includes:

Instructional Class and take-home recipe card
One meal per attendee
Your cost also covers some of the food costs for the meals that will go to the Cultivate Hope Corner Store!

Details:
$20/person, purchase tickets below
5:30-7:30 pm on June 19, 2023
Hosted at Groundswell Cafe, 201 Third Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids

Questions? Contact us or give us a call at 319-200-2791.

Cooking for a Cause
2023-05-22 12:30 - 14:30
Join us at 5:30 pm on May 22 for a Cooking for a Cause class, where Chefs Philip and Jason will lead you through the preparation and cooking of a recipe, while making extras for our Good Meals To Go meal program at the nonprofit Cultivate Hope Corner Store.
This month, we are doing another introduction to veggie sushi rolling! This class is suitable for beginners, but will include some work with kitchen knives, so this class is recommended for ages 18 and up.
Cost: $20
Includes:

Instructional Class and take-home recipe card
One meal per attendee
Your cost also covers some of the food costs for the meals that will go to the Cultivate Hope Corner Store!

Details:
$20/person
5:30-7:30 pm on May 22, 2023
Hosted at Groundswell Cafe, 201 Third Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids
Get tickets now!

Cooking for a Cause
2023-04-03 12:30 - 14:30
Join us at 5:30 pm on April 3 for a Cooking for a Cause class, where Chefs Philip and Jason will lead you through the preparation and cooking of a recipe, while making extras for our Good Meals To Go meal program at the nonprofit Cultivate Hope Corner Store.
April’s class will feature some of Chef Philip’s Easter dinner favorites! This class is suitable for beginners, but will include some work with kitchen knives, so this class is recommended for ages 18 and up.
Cost: $20, click here to register!
Includes:

Instructional Class and take-home recipe card
One meal per attendee
Your cost also covers some of the food costs for the meals that will go to the Cultivate Hope Corner Store!

Details:
$20/person
5:30-7:30 pm on April 3, 2023
Hosted at Groundswell Cafe, 201 Third Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids
