Great bbq to be had at Kue'd Smokehouse!…read more I am a big Smokey D's fan but my cousins said this place was just as good and I have to say I'm a convert. Some things were better, others not as good, but good overall. Great brisket and burnt ends were ok but a little light on the smoke to be honest. The pulled pork was dry in some places and nice and juicy in others. The smoked Mac and cheese is mighty tasty and not too bitter from the smoke. Glad we tried the redneck nachos. They are made on house made potato chips and are a very unique treat. Also great bbq sauce! The original and spicy have excellent flavor. Glad to have another bbq spot in the DSM area to go to!

There's a particular smell that good barbecue joints carry -- the low, sweet perfume of wood smoke…read morethat clings to your clothes long after you leave. It's the smell of patience, of time, of a pitmaster standing watch over a stubborn hunk of meat for half a day or more. Walking into Kue'd, I was hoping for that smell. What I found instead was something a little more complicated. I ordered a half pound of brisket and a half pound of burnt ends, with a side of poblano creamed corn -- thirty-two bucks all in. Not bad. In the modern barbecue economy, where smoked meat is starting to cost what a decent steak once did, that's a respectable number. The brisket arrived looking the part. Sliced, tender enough, with a decent beefy flavor. But the first bite told a different story. Where you expect the deep campfire soul of smoked meat -- that unmistakable bark, that blackened, peppery crust that whispers of hours in the pit -- there was... nothing. No bark to speak of. No smoke that lingered. If someone had told me it was roast beef pulled from an oven instead of a smoker, I wouldn't have had much evidence to argue otherwise. It wasn't offensive. It just wasn't barbecue. Then came the burnt ends. Now these were the reason to be here. Juicy, tender little cubes of beef with the kind of bark the brisket should have had in the first place -- dark, caramelized, and deeply smoky. The fat rendered just right, the meat pulling apart with that perfect balance of resistance and surrender. Each bite carried the flavor of the pit that the brisket seemed to miss entirely. The regular barbecue sauce was solid -- sweet, balanced, and clearly designed to complement the meat rather than smother it. The vinegar-based sauce, on the other hand, promised Carolina but delivered something closer to pancake syrup. Sweet, thick, and missing the sharp, nose-tickling tang that vinegar sauce is supposed to bring to the party. The poblano creamed corn was good -- comforting, creamy, with a mild pepper warmth -- but it played things a little too safe. One note, pleasant but forgettable. Like a song that never quite reaches a chorus. Still, when you step back and look at the whole tray -- a pound of meat, a side, and change left in your wallet -- the value is hard to argue with. Not every barbecue meal has to be transcendent. Sometimes it just has to be honest. And here's the thing: those burnt ends? They were honest. Next time I walk into Kue'd, I'll know what to do. Burnt ends again, no question. Maybe some pulled pork. And I'll give the baked beans and potato casserole a shot -- because every barbecue place deserves a second look, especially when they've already proven they know how to get at least one thing very, very right.

Stop by first time. Ordered ribs and pork/brisket sandwiches. Service friendly and the decorum is…read moregreat. Food served hot and ready. Ribs very good and meaty. Sandwiches was super. Family friendly. Has small bar with several TVs to watch sports. A great spot in small town. Worth the visit.

This place it's great. It's not huge, but very popular. Their smoked meat is very flavorful. The…read morepulled pork was tender and juicy, however, their brisket was tough. The brisket had great flavor and the server apologized for the toughness. She offered to serve me more pulled pork and invited me to come back and try their brisket. I will definitely be back!

If you are looking for an amazing ham for the Holidays, this is the place!…read more This may also be a Veteran owned or operated business, but can't confirm. I can confirm they are Veteran Friendly and Support Veterans. This is my second year coming to Berkwood Farms and it won't be my last. What do they have that isn't delicious. Last year I got a Cherry Wood Smoked ham and it was absolutely amazing. This year I got a pit ham, Apple wood Ham, Cherry Wood Bacon, and Berkwood Dogs. I believe maybe the owner not sure, but he was also a Veteran gave me the bacon for free. Everything I have had, has been absolutely freaking delicious and had amazing flavor. No additives. The flavors are top notch and quality through the roof. I will be back more often because that bacon was like an additive drug and the pit ham was like pure addiction, and I am planning on going back to get my fix. The Gal at the register and the guy who gave me the bacon were super super nice. They also gave me a veterans discount which was awesome!

I have had ham, ribs, bacon, brats and sausages from there. All quality meats. People are…read morefriendly and helpful too!

Best Cappuccino! Breakfast was also very good - when I visit a new area that is not familiar to me…read moreI try local places. I thought this was a regular restaurant and when I stopped it's also a gas station. But they have great food! Yummy!

The Filling Station is a gas station, an extra stocked convenience store, a breakfast/lunch food…read morecounter, and a tables inside and out to enjoy your refreshments and the view. Gayle and I stopped in today after reading about it within some "48 hours in Ames" article. I ordered a brisket grilled cheese sandwich, while Gayle chose a similar one with blackberry flavoring. We split a can of Guinness off the convenience store fridge, and then sat outside for our street and car wash view. We had nice shade on a not too hot day and took the opportunity to hang out bit after we finished our meal. This was a tasty and pleasant experience of good value overall.

Had to stop on my way through Des Moines. If you love BBQ don't miss the chance to eat at Smokey…read moreD's. Jalapeño Cheddar Hot links were so amazing. Smokey, cheesey and a little kick. So tasty and juicy. I should have bought two orders because my friend wanted to eat all of it. Brisket burnt ends were amazing! The bark was so yummy. Brisket was moist and Smokey. Perfect size, too. Pulled pork was also juicy and Smokey. Pork at other places can dry out quickly, but not at Smokey D's. It was filled with flavor and I couldn't stop eating it (until I had eaten all of it). Baked beans were very tasty and good. Coleslaw was just the right creamy sweetness to keep the palette clean. Not pictured was the two orders of garlic toast I ordered after eating the piece that came with the plate. Overall a sweet 10/10 from me, or as a BBQ judge, I give it all straight 9's.

We were early, right at opening, party of 2. The smell alone lets you know you've been invited for…read moresome good BBQ. The lady at the counter, she's got your back and is very friendly helping you through the menu. Staff all around is super nice and helpful! The food just can't be beat when it comes to BBQ in DSM. Don't get me wrong, there are a couple spots, but Smokey D's knocks it out of the park with their consistency and quality, every single time. Thanks for the grub! See you for our next birthday lunch!

I stole some of my colleagues food it was so delectable…read more Service with a smiley face and the day was perfect for the patio dining. Great experience all around!!

About an hour and a half drive but well worth the trip!…read moreSaturday early afternoon and it was packed...about a half hour wait for seating was the only downside. Service was outstanding and the staff seemed to be handling multiple aspects of the jobs and helping each other out...no one just did one thing and I think that really sped up the service. Katie was our primary server and was outstanding! We ordered up a two and a three meat deal and had Campground Beans, Creamy Coleslaw, Cheesy Potatoes,, and Mac & Cheese as sides as well as a slice of Texas Toast and Cornbread as sides....oh, and Golden Corn Nuggets as an appetizer. The Corn Nuggets were good and sweet and served up with honey and a ranch sauce for dipping. The meat choices were 3) Ribs, Pork Loin, and Turkey Breast....and 2) Pork Loin and Turkey Breast. The smoke on everything was amazing and just the right amount for excellent flavors..the ribs were very meaty. Some places ribs leave you wanting but not at Watcha Smoking! The Pork Loin and the Turkey Breast were both very good as well...still tender and not dried out. I liked the Neck of the Woods sauce the best (mild tomato based) as well as the Carolina Gold sauce...it had nice kick to it. The sides were all good but the only issue was the Cheesy Potatoes were a bit dry.....I'm thinking that it must've been towards the end of the batch and had been sitting around for a bit. Cornbread was excellent, Texas Toast tops, Coleslaw was a good shredded, wet slaw, the Mac and Cheese very good, and the Campground Beans were the preferred side as they had some good chunks of smoked meats mixed in. Fantastic place, great for small groups and large groups as well...great food and great service...Definitely worth the trip!

ShortE's BBQ was a really pleasant surprise. I had the ribs and smoked wings, and both were…read moreexcellent. The ribs were cooked perfectly -- tender, flavorful, and honestly didn't even need BBQ sauce because the seasoning and smoke flavor were that good. The smoked wings were also spot on with great flavor. The mac and cheese was pretty good, and the seasoned fries were solid as well, but the real star of the show was definitely the meat. I'm pretty picky when it comes to BBQ and often leave disappointed at most places, but ShortE's absolutely delivered. I'll definitely be back.

There are a few BBQ options in the area, but this one is one of the better ones. Nice atmosphere,…read morefeels like a traditional hole in the wall BBQ joint. At one point you ordered at the counter, but recent visits have had table service. My go to order is the Texas Mike sandwich. This masterpiece has thick sliced brisket and chopped brisket along with cheesy corn and bbq beans on 2 slices of Texas toast. I like to remove the top slice and eat it like an open faced sandwich. The brisket is super tender and the beans and corn add a nice amount of flavor and texture. I add their sweet sauce, but the spicy is good too. It comes with an additional side, so add the seasoned fries. They are crispy with a nice seasoning. And again, pair with the sweet sauce. Give them a try.

Came on a whim... wanted bbq on a Sunday. I was worried cuz it wasn't busy at all, but pleasantly…read moresurprised. Good food, friendly service, and great sauces to choose from ! Will be back !

Always a hit! The…read morebattered and fried tenderloin and mushrooms put this place on the epic scale. Not much to look at, decor is pretty old school, but it's the food that counts! Hit CB's today with a group of seven old co-workers... That's old as in former, but most of us would probably qualify as literally old now too. Lol If you haven't checked out Cactus Bob's... Get there! If you've been, but it hasn't been recently... You deserve to go back soon! Enjoy!

Great service!! Incredible food! Fun atmosphere. Will be bringing many people back when they are in…read moretown.

Great food and drinks...came here for the brisket! We've…read morevisited before and received great food and service. Got the brisket AND the Memphis style ribs. Great flavor. Memphis flavor is medium level spicy. Cowboy beans, cornbread, and coleslaw were our sides. All were flavored very well and Smokey. Ordered the Mango margarita and the Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Beer. Margarita was a nice light flavor. Service was excellent and very accommodating to dairy intolerance. Our server did everything she could to keep us happy. We would def go back

Very lively BBQ spot!! They have a decent sized parking lot, which is good because this place is…read morealways busy. It can get pretty full and loud, probably because they're great for large groups and families. The atmosphere is very fun. I like that they have meat challenges and their news articles all over the walls. They also have a big bar and plenty of TVs to watch games. The BBQ was pretty good! I got the Two BBQ Dinner 2 Meat: Pulled pork, pulled chicken, Campfire baked beans, and jalapeño cream corn. The BBQs sauces on the table really helped it. The classic is rich and sweet, and the hot had a bit of kick to it. The meat was tender. The baked beans were pretty good- I liked that it was a variety of beans. The jalapeño creamed corn wasn't spicy in the least but it was still my favorite. It was creamy and warm!! Service was nice and it didn't take too long, even with how crowded it was.

We stumbled upon this BBQ spot right across from the Adventureland campgrounds, and honestly it was…read morethe perfect find after a long day. The vibe is exactly what you want from a casual BBQ joint laid back, a little loud, TVs on, and that classic neighborhood bar feel. Super easy, no pressure, just good food and a place to hang out. We ordered a mix of things to try and everything came out hot and packed with flavor. The wings were crispy and saucy (definitely a highlight), and the waffle fries were seasoned perfectly and so good dipped in their ranch. The BBQ plate was super solid too tender, smoky meat with classic sides like green beans, mac and cheese, and cornbread that felt comforting and homemade. Also have to mention the chips and queso moment, simple but hit the spot. Service was friendly and quick, which made it even better after a long day of traveling and being outside. Overall, if you're staying at Adventureland or passing through, this is such an easy, satisfying stop. Nothing fancy, just good, hearty BBQ and a fun atmosphere. Would definitely come back.