Iowa Style Midwest BBQ at Jethro's

Jethro's BBQ
3100 Forest Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50311
(515) 279-3300
 Accepts Credit Cards

Hrs:
      M-F: 11 AM till late in the evening,
      Sat and Sun: 9:30 AM till late in the evening.
Brunch Menu: Sat and Sun from 9:30 AM to 2 PM
Takeout and catering available, no reservations accepted.
http://www.jethrosdesmoines.com/

Located on the edge of the Drake University campus, Jethro's, with it's piping hot BBQ menu is a most welcome relief from the icy cold winter on the Iowan plains.  While its menu is country themed, it has a lively big city sports bar atmosphere with a dozen HDTVs to watch your favorite games (no doubt in part to serve the student body of Drake University).  The waitstaff greets you as if you have been a loyal patron for years, and the service is prompt.

The BBQ dinner combinations (served anytime of the day) are a great way to sample a wide selection of Jethro's cooking in a single meal.  For a reasonable price of $21.95*, the Dinner for two option gets you 4 sides, and 4 meats in quantities that will still give you leftovers for another meal. 

My favorite sides were the cornbread which is sweet but not too sweet and the apple sauce which has the delicious taste of a warm apple pie filling.  As for Jethro's signature slow cooked meats, if it weren't for my stomach capacity, I'd still be there consuming the ribs, chicken, pulled pork and brisket.  As if the tastiness of the meats weren't enough, Jethro's adds a taste-bud delighting selection of BBQ sauces to its arsenal.  I personally recommend the Georgia Mustard and Jethro's Secret. 

Jethro's is extremely popular with the locals (it has been voted best BBQ in Des Moines) so if you want to beat the weekday lunch crowd, try showing up just before noon after which the flood gates open.

*Prices as of  March 2, 2010.

Copyright 2010 Conan L. Hom