BBQ that is worth a try!…read more I think the standout feature of this restaurant, however, is its array of side dishes. I especially loved the baked beans and creamed corn. As for the portions, the shared platters are surprisingly small for what you pay for.

-0 Stars: Blue Barn BBQ (Cedar Falls) Blue Barn BBQ…read more623 E 18th St, Cedar Falls, IA 50613 I wanted this meal to be a win. I went in expecting the kind of comfort and bold flavor that good barbecue is known for. The smell, the name, the idea of brisket and wings, it all sounds like it should be hard to mess up. But this was one of the most disappointing barbecue orders I have had in a long time, and I have eaten barbecue all over the country. Let me start with the only reason I can say anything positive at all. Two sides were genuinely good. The jalapeño cream corn was the standout. It had real flavor, a smooth creamy texture, and just enough jalapeño to give it a pleasant kick without overwhelming the dish. It tasted like someone actually cared about seasoning it. The potato salad was also outstanding. It was balanced, not bland, not overly sweet, not drowning in heavy dressing. It had that classic comfort taste you want on a barbecue plate. If I had only ordered those two sides, I would have walked away thinking, okay, maybe there is hope here. But the main items, the reason people order barbecue, were a complete letdown. The brisket was dry. Not slightly dry. Not needs a little sauce dry. I mean dry in a way that makes you stop chewing and think, is this really brisket. Brisket should have a rich beef flavor, a smoky edge, and at least some tenderness that makes each bite feel worth it. This had none of that. It tasted flat, like it had been cooked too long, held too long, or both. The texture was tired and lifeless, and instead of melting or pulling apart the way brisket should, it just sat in your mouth like flavorless shredded disappointment. Then there were the wings, and somehow they were also dry. Wings should be the easy part. Even average wings can still be enjoyable because the skin, the seasoning, and the fat usually help carry the flavor. Not here. Both wings were dry, and worse, they had no flavor. No punch. No smoke. No seasoning that made you pause and say, okay, at least they tried. They tasted like they were cooked without confidence and served without care. And let's talk about the sauces, because sauce is often the "save" when the meat is struggling. I tried them hoping they would bring the plate back to life. They did not. The sauces did not enhance anything. They did not add depth. They did not add sweetness, tang, spice, or a smoky finish. They were just there, and even with sauce, the food still tasted dry and empty. That is the worst part. Sauce should help. Here, it was like pouring effort onto something that was already beyond saving. The biggest issue is simple. Barbecue is supposed to have flavor. Barbecue is supposed to feel like time, smoke, seasoning, and patience all came together for a reason. This felt like the opposite. The meat came across as overcooked, under-seasoned, and handled like an afterthought. When you spend money on brisket and wings, you should not be working this hard to find something enjoyable. I hate leaving reviews like this, but honesty matters. I would definitely not order from Blue Barn BBQ again. If you go, the jalapeño cream corn and potato salad might make you think you made a good choice. But if you are there for brisket and wings, which should be the main event, this place was a major disappointment.

Fantastic find for our road trip lunch. The honey peach old fashioned was the best old fashioned…read moreI've ever had! Burgers were great, ambiance is upscale, waitstaff were super friendly. Highly recommend!

The food(steaks & Prime Rib) were substandard for the price. Service was adequate, we were a party…read moreof 5 & I ordered 2 orders of Dill pickle fries and when the bill came the appetizers were split into 1/4 and put on each of our bills, never had that happen before, then I was charged $16 for 2 vodka martinis and there was an additional $10 charge for requesting Absolute vodka, that certainly seems suspicious to me. Service was so-so. Ambiance was satisfactory. Would I recommend this place, CERTAINLY NOT! There are much better options for steak places, such as Montage which is no comparison and MUCH BETTER but we couldn't get reservations.

Always great service, fresh food, and cold drinks when we stop in. Typically open seating unless…read morethere's an event dinner being held.

We used Starbucks to cater an event and everyone left fat and happy. I will say the brisket was on…read morethe drier side and I've heard it's not usually like that. All the other dishes: pulled pork, pulled chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, Mac n cheese, and corn bread were a hit. The interior is also neat and definitely pays tribute to a classic southern BBQ joint with all the lights and signs you could imagine. It's not quite at the top of BBQ places that I've tried but falls somewhere right in the middle. Juicer brisket, fattier burnt ends Will brine it to the next level!

Very odd way of ordering first and sitting down to wait for food. Staff was friendly but not…read morecircling the tables often. When I asked for a knife for my sausage, staff looked at me weird so I tried cutting sausage with fork and too thick of skin. We both laughed and she brought me a knife. A tad bit pricy at $125 for a dinner for four but the food tasted excellent and the BBQ sauces were great. Dining area is kind of old and dated, seemed the same as 10 years ago when we were there.

Ordered last minute on Thanksgiving day, Paid online (and tipped!!), my wife arrived and was told…read moreshe owed a penny. Funny stuff, anyway food was great and appreciate the last minute help. No issues at all

We were just passing thru and stoped on a whim and the food was delicious. I love falafel and they…read morehave the best I've ever had! The pistachio baklava is also fantastic. My husband and I will definitely be back.

I chose this restaurant based on its great reviews, but unfortunately, my experience was very…read moredisappointing. When I walked in to pick up my order, the employee assembling my food wiped her gloved hands on her pants before continuing to prepare my meal. She also used those same gloves, which were covered in food and sauce, to bag my order. The outside of the takeout containers and bag was greasy, and after seeing how my food was handled, I couldn't get past it. I only ate a few bites before losing my appetite. I also got the pita chips, but they were extremely dark and tasted like old oil, as if they had been overcooked or fried more than once. We had been driving all day and were passing through, so I was really looking forward to a good meal. Instead, I left feeling disappointed and honestly grossed out. I hope the restaurant takes food handling and quality control more seriously because the reviews led me to expect a much better experience.

Such a great spot. I highly recommend eating here. Owner is extremely kind and from Chicago so you…read morealready know the food is going to be great!

We ordered their Spicy Italian Sandwich with signature "Lemon-Pepper" fries, friendly staff. The…read morefood was hot and delicious. Fresh cut peppers and carrots on the sandwich. The sandwich was cut for us, dipped in au-jus and the fry order was split. The fries were hot a tasted great, recommend them for a different tasting treat. We will definitely return to try the pan fried lemon pepper catfish or lemon pepper fried chicken sandwich.

This was not very good and I'm not happy with the new owner. Different hours everyday and it's not…read morein a good spot at all.

The pulled chicken, pulled pork and slaw are FANTASTIC. They were out of brisket the night we went…read morethere, so no report on that. There is no dining room, just an order window for to-go orders, which was fine with us. The prices are exactly what you'd expect; not cheap, but not outrageous either.