Zio Johnos

In 1984, Zio Johno’s opened its first restaurant in Cedar Rapids, launching a new concept of providing homemade fresh Italian dishes at affordable prices. This concept only works by using the highest quality ingredients to capture the authentic Italian taste.

The initial pasta dishes were spaghetti, lasagna, mostaccioli and ravioli with homemade pasta sauces. The bread, made fresh daily, for their garlic bread and famous Gondola Sub Sandwich captured customers’ taste buds. Word got around that the signature spaghetti with meat sauce and a side of fresh garlic bread pleased all.


Demand for homemade from scratch Italian dishes drove Zio Johno’s to expand their menu to include pizza, beef & cheese ravioli, tortellini, fettuccini Alfredo, gyros, sub sandwiches and more. Additional restaurants were opened… today, three restaurants: Cedar Rapids, Marion and Iowa City. Zio Johno’s is still owned and operated by the same local family.

Zio Johno’s contributes much of their success to the employees. They are considered part of the family. Everyone plays a role in providing a family serving bucket of spaghetti or individual oven baked lasagna entrée.

Community involvement is another ingredient to success. Giving back through fundraisers, donations and sponsorships to schools, churches, businesses, food banks and other community organisations has made a measurable change to both the communities they serve and to Zio Johno’s.

Youngster, teens, parents, adults…. All are satisfied with Zio Johno’s Italian dishes. Try their signature spaghetti with meat sauce and homemade fresh garlic bread. Or the pizza, ravioli, tortellini, mostaccioli, lasagna… “Simply the Best.”

Zio Johno’s is celebrating their 38th Anniversary this October (2022). Spaghetti and Garlic Bread for only $4.99. One plate of spaghetti with homemade meat sauce and one eight inch garlic bread - October 11th, 18th and 25th 2022. Dine In, Carry Out. At participating restaurants: Marion, Cedar Rapids or Iowa City.

Dine-in, Carry-out, Delivery or Catering. Experience "The Hometown Taste of Italy" at one of the four Zio Johno’s Spaghetti House restaurants in Cedar Rapids, Marion or Iowa City.