Jethro's BBQ: User Reviews
Jethro's BBQ
3102 Forest Ave. - Des Moines515-279-3300
Went to the Drake location tonight for Mother's Day dinner 2013, and was not let down. I had the single dinner with brisket/mac & cheese/mashed potatoes. My dad had a turkey sandwich with sweet potato fries which were not very warm. My son had a grilled cheese which was a cold cheese sandwich. The service is mediocre at best but man, the brisket/meat/BBQ is sooooo delicious! My suggestion is that they get better servers, make sure everything is HOT when it comes to the table, and offer some sort of description of the BBQ sauces on the table.
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I've given Jethro's in waukee 3 shots and have been highly disappointed each time. The texas dip is about the only thing worth eating so far and that's because you dip it in something that covers up the dryness of the meat and bread. I've tried ribs, brisket, pulled pork, and a po boy. The bread on the shrimp po boy had to be at least two weeks old. The rest of the shrimp were cooked well but bland. I thought this was an isolated incident but I confirmed with two other people that have had the exact same experience. Dried out bread and bland sandwich.
All of the meats by themselves have been incredibly dry with decent smoke flavor. The rub is nothing special.
The service is good and it makes a pretty decent sports bar but if you are looking for BBQ worth the price they are charging look elsewhere.
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Just out at the new Waukee Jethros and froze myself. The three of us had to wear our winter coats almost the entire meal. The design is terrrible for letting cold windy air in and the staff that seats you does not seem to care much. Then our order was wrong. Food was good but I do not think I will waste my money on this restraurant!
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I am writing this review to commend two people on staff at the Jethro's BBQ, at 3100 Forest Ave, in Des Moines, IA. I was issued a RiteInRain pen during my tour in Iraq, and this pen holds tons of sentimental value to me. I now work for the Department of Homeland Security. In between details today (June 14th, 2011), we decided to stop at Jethro's BBQ for lunch/dinner. The food was outstanding and the service was exceptional. But more than that, I left my pen there on accident. I called approximately 6 hours later, and spoke with CHAD BURTON. He remembered our group and our server ANN BOBO. She still had my pen! She noticed it was different from the other pens in her apron and had separated it from them! CHAD told me he would mail it to me in Omaha. I cannot begin to express how thoughtful, empathetic, and helpful these two individuals are. And now on to the food! I ate the Catfish w/ fries, and a 10 piece wings with their signature "BBQ RUB". They are seriously out of this world! I brought home half the order for my wife to see if I can sway her loyalty from another wing specialty restaurant! Again, my most heartfelt thank you goes to two of your staff, CHAD BURTON and ANN BOBO.
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I liked the drake area location, I've had the food there and I was happy. But this morning I tried the Altoona location and man was I disappointed! The biscuits and gravy was probably the worst I think I've ever had, and the 2 eggs that came with it we're frickin runny! First impressions are everything, you failed me! sorry fellas........
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Jethro's adds a great place for the Drake neighborhood. I've been there for dinner and lunch, got take-out, and told friends about it. This is one of my favorite places in DM. While the sandwiches are good, I'd just go there for the sides.
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First time coming to Jethro's. Loved it. I can't say the meat was the best I've ever had, but they completely made up for it with a great atmosphere and strong drinks. We went on a Tuesday, so they had $3 Margaritas and Long Islands, and 2 for 1 wings. These were great wings. Tons of meat, and the sauce was great. I got Chile Teriyaki. Probably my new favorite wing place. Their sides are second to none too. Jalapeno cream corn, and mac and cheese I definitely recommend. And their service was speedy even when they brought the wrong thing for one of the people in our group. They accidentally brought Gumbo instead of her sandwich, but it was quickly replaced and let us keep the gumbo as a bonus.
Great place to eat out. Will definitely be back.
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Somebody must be being a turd and purposely rating the place low. The overall star rating is 2 1/2 but the other four catagories all rank 4 stars or above. Doesn't make sense. Don't believe the overall rating! This place is a 4-5 star eatery easily. Best BBQ in DM!
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I have a hard time believing some of those bad reviews about Jethro's. It is one of the best barbeque joints outside of Kansas City and certainly at the top of the list for the Des Moines area. I have been there no less than ten times and each time the food's taste and the service is stellar! I guess if you have had a bad experience there then you need to give it another fair shake. Bad servers don't last in any restaurant so most likely the one's described have gone the way of the Dodo. I love Jethro's and I'm sure it will become a permanent fixture in the Drake area. I haven't had a complaint about any of their food and I have tried their largest dishes. I have taken the Jethro and Adam Emmenecker challenge and tried the pulled pork,chicken, sausage and have enjoyed their great burgers as well. My personal favorite is the Bulldog. I also love the jalapeno creamed corn and the sweet potato fries and those awesome onion rings! I am also a fan of the wings. They could compete with any wing place.
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Great food, good value, wonderful outdoor dining! Carolina barbecue is the best!
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Review Summary
The following scores represent the average rating submitted by 97 users:
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