Chappy’s Safari Lounge

Safari Lounge is one of the oldest bars in Cedar Rapids.

They are known for having good wings, homemade lunch specials, and karaoke.  In my opinion, they have some of the best thin-crust pizza in town as well.  Today I got the beef stroganoff lunch special and the Triple Pork sandwich.

The whole reason I decided to come on a Monday was to try out the beef stroganoff.  I have been hearing about it for a while now, but they had stopped making it when I first found out about it.  Now that it’s back on the menu, I finally got to taste some.

Chappy’s Homemade Beef Stroganoff & Texas Toast

I can count on one hand the number of times I have had homemade beef stroganoff.  Usually, it comes from a box of hamburger helper or a frozen dinner from Walmart.  Whenever I find legitimate homemade beef stroganoff that was made from scratch, I make a point to try it.

The version that I tried at Chappy’s today did not disappoint.  It also came with some really good Texas toast, which is another thing that is super hard to find in this area.

The Triple Pork

The triple pork is a tenderloin sandwich, and you can get it grilled or breaded.  As the name suggests, it comes with three kinds of pork.  So, if you are craving multiple levels of meat all at once, this might be the best choice for you.  It has lettuce, tomato, onions, and pickles, and comes with a side of your choice.

A Cheesy Special Request- a Sonic Substitute

I asked if they could put cheese on the tater tots. If you’ve ever eaten at a Sonic you know what I mean. To my surprise, they made it happen.  I have struggled to find a substitute for Sonic tater tots around here, but (as pictured above) Chappy’s did it right.  You would be surprised how many other places can find ways to screw up something as simple as a tater tot, but they do.

Homemade Comfort Food that’s Worth the Trip

Chappy’s is one of the few bars in Cedar Rapids that has homemade comfort food for lunch specials during the week.  If you are like me, and you seek out this type of food, be sure to put Chappy’s on your list of potential options.

Forget Frozen Food…

With the demise of buffet restaurants and the rise of everything frozen, deep-fried, and microwaved, places like this can be a real blessing.  I believe that they have homemade meatloaf on their regular rotation, and quite a few people plan a weekly trip just to come to get a plate.

The Entertainment of Chappy’s Safari Lounge

The first time I ever went to the Safari Lounge was for Karaoke.  This is definitely one of the hot spots for Karaoke in Cedar Rapids.  I was disappointed when all that stopped during the pandemic, and I wasn’t sure if they would ever start having Karaoke again.  As of now, Karaoke is back, and it happens on Fridays and Sundays.

Safari-Chic Unique Décor

The décor is pretty unique, and I’m assuming it’s supposed to make you feel like you are surrounded by little huts while you are on a safari looking for exotic animals.  I’m very curious about how long the décor has been in place, and I wonder if it was around from the original time that this place took on the name Safari Lounge.