One.Twenty.Six.

One of my favorite restaurants in Iowa City is One Twenty Six. One of my favorite perks of being 37 weeks pregnant is that “Dad-to-be” is feeling more generous than ever…and taking Mama out to her favorite joints! Why is it that enjoying a dinner out feels like such a treat?!

As our time “alone” winds down, we decided to head out to 126 in Iowa City to celebrate another healthy visit to the doctor’s office and another cm of dilation! My body is doing exactly what it is supposed to…and my stomach is reminding me how much fuel this requires!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with 126, I encourage you to check it out. The ambience inside is romantic, eclectic, and charming. I sometimes wonder what I love most about 126…the food…or ambience! The small patio outside is quaint and relaxing. On a warm, quiet evening like last Thursday, there couldn’t have been a better spot for the two of us to plop down, indulge in a glass of wine, delicious dinner, conversation, and people-watching in the pedestrian mall.

To start our meal, we ordered up the crab cakes. The presentation was artsy (which I know my husband loved) and the flavors delicious. Did I mention that the crab cakes were perfectly moist but not soggy….and full of crab!

Maryland Crabcakes with Citrus-Ginger Coulis, Basil Aioli, and Chipotle Purée.

For our main course, Ryan opted for the Trout entree. He seems to have been on a fish-kick lately and said he was also tempted by the risotto…another Ryan favorite!

Pan-Seared Ruby Trout with Roasted Tomato Risotto, Asparagus, and Artichoke Vinaigrette.

I, on the other hand, briefly reviewed the menu before deciding that I was kidding myself if I thought I was going to order anything other than the scallop pasta. MY FAVORITE. Even though my taste-buds are a little off right now, this lemony, creamy, seafood pasta hit the spot!

Sustainably Harvested Shrimp and Bay Scallops with Spinach Linguine, Roast Tomatoes, Spinach, Fennel, Lemon, and Cream.

And maybe one of the biggest treats of the night…a glass of wine! To my surprise, 126 had my all-time-favortite white on the menu as a special…Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc.

While I didn’t want to indulge in a full glass, I did order one up and share with Ryan (he couldn’t decide between that and a Pinot Noir anyhow). He may have gotten the better end of the deal on that bargain…but I was plenty happy with the portion I did enjoy.