Woody's Smoke Shack: User Reviews

Good food, tiny place
By NG77, February 12, 2010

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Good food at a great price. Despite being packed with the Saturday lunch crowd, (the eating area is tiny) the service was friendly and quick. When we first arrived, there was free cornbread fresh from the oven for sampling, and it was great! Everything is homemade and you can tell. The brisket and ham sandwiches we ordered were tender and wonderful with the homemade BBQ sauce. Be careful to read the bottles as I accidentally put the hot BBQ sauce on my brisket instead of the mild! For sides, we ordered the beans, cole slaw, cheesey potatoes, and potato salad, and none of them dissapointed. The beans were sweet and smokey and almost the best I've ever had. Even though we were stuffed by the end of the meal, I was very tempted to try some of their homemade pies, but decided to wait until our next visit. I do wish the dining area was a bit larger as we were jostled a bit by new customers arriving and food coming out of the kitchen, but overall it's a great place. With really good BBQ and a bill under $20, I can't complain. We will definitely be back to try the ribs (and pie)!

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Great pulled chicken
By jonnyonthespotdsm, January 27, 2010

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Woody's is always one our our family's stops for dinner. The pulled chicken is amazing and sitting on the patio, even in winter, is a treat.

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Loved everything about it
By MegF, December 1, 2009

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We finally visited Woody's Smoke Shack! I had no idea what to expect, but I had heard great things about their food. I went in with an open mind. The atmosphere is very family owned, relaxed, quirkly bbq joint. The owner greeted us warmly as we walked in and figured out that we ordered at the counter. The place is pretty small, but the patio was warm with heaters, so that added some nice space. I decided to go with the one meat and two sides option and chose a brisket sandwich, cheesy potatoes and pasta salad. My fiance ordered 1/4 slab of ribs, baked beans and the cheesy potatoes for his sides. Our food came out quickly, along with a genuinly friendly waitress, who treated us like friends of hers. I am not a big cornbread fan because I usually find it too dry. The complimentary cornbread was moist and amazing with honey.

I got a bit jealous of my fiances baked beans-im definitely getting them next time. I absolutely loved my pasta salad. It was just the classic rotini noodles and veggies, but the mayo based dressing was perfectly execute-not too rich. The cheesy potatoes were baked to perfection, soft and cheesy in the middle and a bit crispy on top. My fiance loved his ribs, and we have both become big fans of Woody's BBQ sauce. I would like the hot one to have a bit more of a kick than it did, but it was still delicious. I cant wait to go back and try the pulled pork!

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Decent BBQ with horrid sides
By missfamu, October 22, 2009

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I did not like that overly moist and sweet cornbread (I am a southerner), nor thattasteless goo they called macaroni and cheese. The actual BBQ was not memorable.

Not at all worth the trip or money.

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Great Food, Great Atmosphere, Great Service!!!!
By ddevine108, October 9, 2009

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I'm visiting from Denver and my friend suggested Woody's for lunch. I chose the brisket meal deal with baked beans and cheesy potatoes. The brisket was tender and the bbq sauce added a perfect mouth-watering flavor. The baked beans and cheesy potatoes are very delicious. I will recommend to my friends and will stop by on my next vist to Des Moines! Thanks Cheryl and Woody!

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Datebook diner missed it! Best BBQ anywhere!
By krzykatk, August 27, 2009

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Don't miss out! Woody's is the best BBQ around. The brisket is fabulous and the ribs even better! When I have family in from out of town we have it catered and it is still the most moist, succulent brisket as if they just took it off the smoker. I have to order extras because they want to have it twice. Don't miss out on the cornbread, it is delicious!

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Why go anywhere else for BBQ?
By mythoughts, August 27, 2009

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The only regret that I have about Woody's is that I had not tried it before. I have had BBQ from all over this wonderful country of ours and never had any as fine and tender as that served at Woody's Smoke Shack!! The ribs fall off the bone - when they are supposed to - and have a mouth watering flavor - and are not greasy like most BBQ places. The Brisket is tender and served in a generous portion. The pulled pork was tender and flavorful. I can't wait to try the pulled chicken. The sides I have tried were delicious without detracting from the main course. The sauces are of the right viscosity and flavor without trying to amaze you with heat that distracts you from the flavor of the meat. When someone asks where to get the best BBQ my only answer will be WOODY'S... Well done Wassons...

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Eatin' good in the 'Hood
By W01fgang, June 24, 2009

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I love good bar-b-que and I was overjoyed when a new place moved into the Drake Neighborhood. Woody's has fantastic BBQ and in the relatively short time they have occupied that space, they have become an integral part of the Drake community. Great Food, Great People and supporting a local business, not some national chain.

I LOVE IT!!

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I finally tried it- and I loved it!
By girasol9476, June 17, 2009

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After driving by this place a million times, I finally ordered food to go last night- it was so delicious!!! We tried the ham, the brisket, the chicken and the ribs- all amazing! The sides need some more excitement and it would have been nice to get a little more sauce in the cups and maybe some butter & honey to take home for the wonderful cornbread but when it comes down to the heart of the matter which is the BBQ MEAT- AMAZING!!!!

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Great ribs.
By Inthewater, June 8, 2009

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Ribs are the sort of thing that really divides people. Dry or sauced, spare ribs or back ribs...lots of different choices. Woody's ribs were fantastic, in my opinion. The staff was very friendly, allowing me to stay and enjoy my ribs when they closed just as I entered. They even allowed other folks to come in and served until they were out of smoked meats. Nice touch, and made the place seem like a "family run joint". I will definitely return for these tasty ribs in the future as well as to try some of the other smoked meats on the menu.

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