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!

Really enjoyed the premier BBQ joint in the greater Des Moines area in my visit to Whatcha Smokin'…read morein the midst of a rural backdrop, this place was definitely worth the 45 minute trek from the state capital for delicious brisket, corn, slaw and sweet tea at a very affordable price. I appreciated the dual restaurant ambiance for a service side with waiters or a order at the register style. All BBQ restaurants have one or the other but not both. The meet was tender and juicy and as their name would suggest - smoked to perfection. I don't know if I'll find myself in Iowa ever again but if I do I will definitely make another pilgrimage to Whatcha smokin for the states best BBQ

Went here for lunch with the family, this place has a lovely charm - and was at one point a train…read moredepot. Our server was attentive, and it was quiet enough to have a pleasant conversation over lunch. Three of our table had the daily special - a ribeye sandwich with caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato, their version of sweet and saucy steak sauce. Everyone enjoyed it - and I stole a few fries which were golden crisp and perfectly seasoned. I was assured their fries are consistently delicious. I had pork shoulder with two sides, i went with hallelujah potatoes (cheesy potato casserole) and cornbread pudding. The pork was melt in your mouth tender, perfect with the sweet and sassy bbq sauce. Each plate comes with some pickle slices and pickled onions, the onions were nice - i gave my pickles away as i am not a savory pickle girl. The hallelujah potatoes were cheesy, creamy and crunchy (topping) and the cornbread pudding tasty. The lemonade was recommended to me and it was well done - tart and sweet. Overall if I had more time in town I would definitely come back.

Just some suggestions for future guests. Please ask first if guests want to be seated on patio. We…read morewere taken outside on patio, granted the plastic sheets were down, but it was a cool, rainy day. We were told the heaters would be turned on. They weren't. We asked to be moved inside and a they moved us to the loudest part, next to bathrooms and opening to patio, so still cool. Waitress had no time for us, maybe because we were asked to be moved. Idk. Food was good. If the name of your restaurant is "cornbred" you would think your meat dish would come with a piece of cornbread. Instead you have to order it as an appetizer which are muffins. How about one little muffin person placed on the table. I would also maybe include a side with your meal (maybe less meat) to accommodate for the side. Just suggestions. It is a cute place though.

Amazing wings. Their hidden gem is the avocado turkey & chicken wrap. Overall, great BBQ.read more

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.

Great, friendly service in a small local diner! We're not disappointed with the prize winning…read moretenderloin sandwich and fries! A huge, thick cut tenderloin, cooked perfectly and served on a toasted bun with all the sides. Delicious flavor and more than enough to satisfy a hungry appetite. I'll be back and highly recommend!!!

My husband and I have been wanting to try a Pork Tenderloin for awhile and this place says theirs…read moreis "award winning". The restaurant is located in downtown Ogden. There is seating in the front then you walk thru the bar area then in the back is a hip dining area of high tops, booths, tables bad chairs and bench seating. There are 4 large TVs and also seating outside. 2 pg menu. Of course we ordered the tenderloin sandwiches. They come with lettuce, pickles, tomatoes and onions and 1 side. My husband got cottage cheese, which was the size of a to go sauce. I ordered sweet potato fries which were really good. They were super busy and the food took awhile, there was 1 server for the whole back part. The vibe is fun and family like. Everyone knows everyone. There is also a room at the front for party that can be reserved. Will be trying this place again soon.

Service was great! Shout out to the girl who just turned 18. You were so sweet & very attentive!…read moreThe place is decorated on theme & they have cute shirts with their logo on them The food was a bit underwhelming unfortunately. The hot bbq sauce was good, the beans were actually the best part! The potato salad was disappointing unfortunately

The bbq here is good but as my previous review for BBQ resturant surpasses this place by far, no…read morecomparison to whatcha smokin. There is no wait staff and all our food was served in to go containers or Styrofoam. Just not as comfortable of a place again food was OK to good. Given the choice between the two I've been to given proximity I'll go to my first reviewed BBQ joint over this one any day of week.

Wow everyone's talking about Bubbies and now we know why…read more Amazing St Louis ribs....only on WEDNESDAYS. Love their regular ribs too but wow. Absolutely amazing. My kids are picky and they prefer Bubbies. Two racks, four sides. Call ahead if you wanna eat ribs for dinner to check if they have them in stock. Every time we visit, it's packed. Came out here again for a Saturday early dinner as a family of 10 and it was packed! Service is ok. Shop is small, seats 30 maybe at tables. Then there are 10 bar seating. Not a cozy place, really a place without frills. That's fine. We came for the food only. Highly recommend a visit and will be back when we crave them ribs.

After work yesterday I took a drive a little North to Ankeny from West Des Moines through the…read more"flurries" after work... Let's get the disappointment out of the way... They had a truck not show and there was no Wednesday special tonight. A full rack of St Louis style ribs and two sides for $20. At this point I think we all understand distribution chain issues... So it is what it is. Might want to call ahead, just in case, if you are looking to take advantage of that killer deal...! Having opened in June of this year they've been around a few months now. Bubbies sits right alongside Filet and the parking lot is very good sized. It's seat yourself with a selection of low top tables and chairs along with a small bar and bar stools. The interior of the restaurant is well lit and open. The decor outside of the one wall mural is pretty plain. Ordering is done at the table and that's where your bill is presented at the end of your meal. Let's put this right up front too... The young gentleman who served me tonight did a helluva good job! I went with the Rib and Meat Platter. Four bones of baby back ribs and I paid the $5 upgrade for for the burnt ends. Sides of BBQ beans, mac and cheese, and a corn muffin. And a fountain drink (Coke products)... $31 and change before tip. This special not being on tonight's menu was the only negative. The corn muffin was small, but moist. Not the dry excuse some restaurants try to pass off as cornbread. I could have eaten a few more of these... The mac and cheese was made with a cavatappi type of pasta and a pleasant cheese blend. Creamy...not chalky. Very good. The BBQ beans were traditional and had large visible chunks of meat throughout. They didn't exactly blow my socks off...but still one of the better examples of baked beans I've had recently. The burnt ends were very good. There were a couple of pieces that were a little salty for my taste, but it wasn't all of them. Honestly I think that can be kind of normal with most seasoning and rubs. It's not always as uniform as it could be and will vary from batch to batch. I'd order their burnt ends again in a heartbeat. St Louis and baby back ribs are both pork. St Louis are smaller, thinner, and cut lower closer to the belly. Baby back are thicker, from the upper rib cage area, and cut closer to the spine. The baby back ribs were easily the star of the show! So tender. The smoke and the seasoning were on point. The meat pulled clean off the bone! They were perfect! One other thing I should mention... My food hit the table within a few minutes of me placing my order. FAST! Now I LOVE Whatcha Smokin', but I've always wondered why it takes 30 min from when I order to the food hitting the table. My guess is most of the food was taken off the smoker long before I got to the restaurant. It's sitting in a warmer and maybe needs sliced and plated. I could be wrong... If I was ordering bar drinks I could see holding me at the table for as long as possible cause we all know drinks often drive profit, but my Coke comes with free refills. Lol They're not on the menu, but ask about desserts. Tonight they were offering a mason jar cheesecake and some kind of a mousse cake. Bubbies really nailed it on service expectations. I had a great first visit with them. My server was fantastic. The food was hot, good quality, and I was in and out. Can't wait to go back and try their brisket! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=61557154408668

Found this place from a list of recommended caterers, And wanted to try it out. Came here around…read more7pm on a Monday night. This place is a hidden gem! Starting off there are so so many options for BBQ lovers and people that may have more limited tastes. They offer classic smoked meats, salads, fried chicken, sandwiches and some more creative options like BBQ nachos, brisket Mac and cheese, bomber-ritos (a variety of meats, hash browns,cheddar, jalapeño corn, your choice of sauce wrapped in a tortilla) and taco fabuloso (what we ordered pictured) The prices are a STEAL for the amount and quality of what you get. BBQ definitely adds up and can hurt your wallet, but that is not the case here. The tacos has a GENEROUS amount of pulled pork, flavorful, tender, and juicy. We stopped off just for a snack, and I was full after 1! In regards to their catering, I've heard nothing but great things and they've won several awards. Unlike some catering companies, they are transparent about their prices and it's a fantastic deal! Not going to break the bank no matter what type of event you're having. I will be back and I'm hungry for more!

For a small town place this place has out of this world BBQ. I would have never expected it to be…read morethis good but it's outward clean pleasant appearance is what brought me into the establishment. I'm happy that I stopped and if trucking ever brings me back I will be stopping in again! PS. You have to get the Ham Ball! Mmm mmm mmm!!

These street tacos were so good! The price is perfect and they were absolutely delicious! We also…read moregot a churro and it was cooked perfectly. The tacos were so full of flavor and the ingredients were really fresh. Definitely our new street taco spot!

Wow, what a find, and all thanks to Yelp!…read more A few blocks east of Duff Road on the south side of Lincoln Way, Rico's Tacos is a wonderful combination of customer service, personality, and a quality food product. We visit Ames frequently for family and were comparing taco trucks on Yelp before making our initial trip to Rico's. Manny was working the truck and is a good guy who knows his product. He guided me to their burrito, which was amazing. The tortilla did not fall apart, and its contents were spectacular, merging asada beef with scrambled eggs and other items to yield a great meal. I loved both of their sauces, with the red-hot red narrowly defeating the tasty green salsa! There is a lot of parking in this location, and the truck's staff makes it a positive experience due to their interaction and people skills. A taco truck isn't supposed to be an elegant experience! Thanks to customer Jessie, who visited as I was ordering and used Rico's for her wedding catering, giving me keen insight to their food!

Yelp review brought us in for the Tenderloin. I grabbed my…read morefather, a lover of a good tenderloin and we made our way to Farm Boys on a Wed evening. Street parking available. This is a tiny venue and from my understanding it is branched from the love of food from the food truck. It has been around since Oct '24. We got in and sat down at one of the 3 tables right inside the door. You walk in, put in your order and steal a spot. The great news is that we got a spot and watched call in order after call order get picked up. It was one of the owners working the register and his wife in the kitchen. She may be an owner as well. It was Wing Wed and smoked rubbed wings were $.75. I was there for the tenderloin and had my heart set on it, although he was talking up the wings. You get your choice of side with your tenderloin for a great price. After we got the order put in, I still kinda wanted to try the wings. I asked very sweetly if I could buy just a couple to taste and he was kind enough to bring a couple out to the table to try. ** Yep, I want wings on the next visit. The crispy skin and great taste. Really good rub that is available to buy. Our tenderloins didn't take very long to come out. Hot and fresh. They are NOT pounded flat which I love. They are thicker and still you might as well ask for 2 more buns the way the meat was way more than one bun can handle. We even noticed that it was a brioche bun. That is a better quality bun and you can taste the difference than a cheap bun. The batter of the tenderloin is fantastic. Never before have I had this type of breading. He share that it was oyster crackers. What a perfect idea. Great crunch and flavor all around. You get pickles and condiments as needed with your sandwich. With the size of the tenderloin that is provided, I couldn't eat the whole thing. I barely made it through a third. My side was the jalapeno creamed corn. Creamy and no to spicy this was a treat in the middle of winter. It had the perfect pairing with the sandwich. My dad also enjoyed his tenderloin. He got the side of onion rings and couldn't finish it all either. I really enjoyed speaking with the owner. He was happy to share that they provide the best part of the tenderloin for the sandwich. Nice big pieces and plenty of food for the cost. The overall experience was great. I am ready to turn around and go back for more.

Honestly this was more then I expected when we got here. This is a new place and the location is…read moreideal when stopping at the brewery next door and I can't wait for patio season. This location should be mostly considered carry out as there is only a few tables inside but don't let that denture you in anyway. We had a nice polite your man serve us and it came out quickly. Quicker then some fast food places I've been to. The tenderloin was so good I loved the little crunch and it had flavor unlike alot of places. I was tickled on how good the cheese curds were almost a little smokey which was awesome. The table next to us didn't finish there brisket and offered a slice to try and boy it didn't disappoint either is was perfectly tender moist and delicious. If I could give it more stars I would. Also, if you pay with cash you get a discount. Thank me later ;)

Yesterday while riding the bus saw the food truck driver road rage and yell re***d at the bus. Then…read moretoday at the Kildee bus stop he was aggressively honking at a parked car. Doesn't seem like a good way to run a small business, especially when there are more options around. Needless to say I won't be eating here.