-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.

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.

A one pound burger??!!?! Yes!…read more Great flavors, friendly staff. Amazing place for the whole family to find something they will love.

Friendliest folks you'll ever meet. Great sandwiches and short order food. Steak chicken excellent…read more RECOMMENDED TENDERLOIN OR GUNDER BURGER.

Awesomeness Great Food drinks…read more Atmosphere and the help is very courteous Even the Blonde behind the bar

Received a lot of angry "feedback" with anti-Semitic and racist innuendos aimed at us for sitting…read morein a "regular's" seat. Bar tender did absolutely nothing about it and just said it's a regular who's been over served (despite still being served).

Great food! If you are in the Cedar Valley/Waterloo area you should check it out. You will enjoy!read more

Since the Catfish Po' Boy was out of this world, I think it's safe to say the rest of Rodney's food…read moreis...Hats off to the simple selection, quality ingredients, and soulful touch to each meal. I will certainly return when in Waterloo and plan to spread to word to friends, family, and colleagues.

I am a wedding photographer local to the area and I LOVE when my couples book Prairie Links! The…read morespace is beautiful & the staff is amazing! Cannot recommend enough.

Note: this review is for the banquet and event services portion of Centennial Oaks -- not the golf…read morecourse or pro shop. We held our wedding reception in the reception hall of Centennial Oaks this October. Though the primary event planner left to take a job about 5 months before our event, the general manager (John) was in contact with us shortly after to assure our reception would go off without a hitch. The size is nice and the room configuration can be switched around to accommodate anywhere from 50-300 guests. There is a nice view from 2 different sets of glass doors looking out to the course. We were allowed access to the space the day before to decorate, and John was on hand to answer last minute questions including table set up, tear down, and serving guidelines. About 105 people attended our reception and it never seemed overly crowded. The buffet lines for dinner were fast moving, and Centennial Oaks provided staff to dismiss tables. For our tasting, Centennial Oaks staff worked with us to arrange a time that fit with our schedule. They were conscious of our budget, provided great suggestions, and were happy to alter our appetizer order as the size of the reception grew. We found the price to be fair, it fit our budget perfectly, and the guarantee cost for liquor and food was reasonable. Staff the night of the reception were very friendly and quick to respond. Several of our guests commented on how surprised they were at the cost of drinks we did not host -- much less than they expected, which was nice to hear. Cons: -We did not receive a proper seating chart and table information until four days before the reception. This caused a bit of a hassle as we had to re-do seating charts based on a number we had been provided earlier in the summer. -At times, the management was difficult to reach and answers to relatively easy questions seemed to take longer. -We received a refund check and when attempting to deposit it, realized the club had not signed the check; thus the bank would not accept it. D'oh! We have yet to receive a response from management about sending a new check. Pros (finish on a positive note): -Fair and reasonable pricing. -Appetizers were excellent. -Easy to work with via email contact. -Staff assisted with tear-down at end of the night, leaving less for family members to take care of. -Great guidelines for decorations -- we were allowed to hang some hand-made decorations from the ceiling and set-up of the reception was a breeze. -Great space that didn't break the bank, way less than other reception sites we priced in the Waverly and Cedar Falls area!

We decided to take a 200 miles drive for dinner across the border into a free state without the…read moreidiotic restrictions of Minnesota and couldn't have been more pleased. This is a wonderful small town bar with a great staff and wonderful food. Portions are massive and the price was not bad at all for a family of 5. This is the first time I've been to a restaurant in about a year and I'll gladly stop again when we find ourselves in the area. The food was really top notch but moreover it was great to see a bar with people in it simply and masklessly enjoying their lives. Some patrons came in with masks and to each their own but I'm done being shamed by mask lovers in my state.

Excellent pizza with an excellent menu full of unique flavors and combinations…read more A bit pricey, but REALLY good. Staff was friendly and the pizza was piping hot. Highly recommended!

Our group had six pizza's-all were great…read more Rueben pizza-loved it. Chad's Special-loved it. Crab Ragoon-loved it. Funk Burger-loved it. Bourbon Brisket-loved it. 56319-loved it.

The fries were dry and lukewarm. The chicken dippers were actually cold. My friend's wings were…read morecold and dry, and they tried to eat them the bones kept breaking in half. The appetizers were decent. The waitress was very nice.

The food tastes good, however you may receive less wings than what you pay for, when purchasing 15…read morewings sometimes you receive 10-14.

We love Fat Boys. We stop in at least once on every trip to Oelwein. Family dinners, date nights,…read moreescape from the family for an afternoon - all good at Fat Boys. Daily specials, standards on the menu, (sandwiches, fries, slaw, cottage cheese, side salads), beer, great drinks, fun atmosphere. Been here with a foursome and a group of eight. Always enjoyed our meals. Most recently we were there as a duo. Sat at the bar and enjoyed a tenderloin (yum) and a burger. Stop in and enjoy.

My boyfriend and I went to Fatboy's Saloon for a comedy show. While the show itself was ok, I was…read moreblown away by the cleanliness of the bar itself and the kindness of their staff members. We didn't get anything while we were at the bar, but both the bar tenders were very friendly and asked us if we needed anything. I did get a water later on, which tasted a bit off, but it was nothing significant. The parking situation wasn't great as there was street parking exclusively from what I could see but there was still plenty of areas to park up. Everyone knew everyone in the town and were kind towards us! Definitely would recommend to anyone stopping into Hazleton!

Excellent all around! Stopped by when we were passing through Marshalltown. Great environment,…read moreservice and food! My family of 4 split the family platter and loved all the smoked meats, sides were huge! He had plenty to take home. Kids begged to take home extra corn muffins! Way better than other locations we have been. We will definitely make a point to return.

Our waitress was attentive & brought our drinks immediately. We all ordered Saturday noon specials:…read moregirls had 3 sliders & boys had brisket French dips. We all enjoyed our food. I liked the sauces. Specials come with one side & a drink. We had baked beans, green beans, pasta salad, & Mac & cheese(.50 up charge) . All were good! Stop there!