Jethro’s BBQ

Oh my gosh! I’ve found it!
My breakfast at Jethro’s today was EXACTLY what I wanted. I ordered a Des Moines Skillet: slab bacon, pit ham and cheddar cheese over a bed of crispy hash browns. I chose a biscuit as my bread so I could add a side of gravy. I also ordered coffee.
The coffee was just as I like it: dark and very strong. I complimented it to my server, and she said people love or hate the coffee (Some find it bitter.)
My skillet was fantastic! Every element was perfect, but perhaps the best thing was that the hash browns that served as a foundation were cooked just as my dad would cook them: very brown and crispy. I had asked my server for Sriracha when she delivered my breakfast, but found that the skillet was perfect as it was. The hot sauce went untouched.
I loved my server, as well. Tami was friendly and informative and attentive without being too much of any of those things.
I’ll be back! Too far Des Moines is so far from Louisville…

The best BBQ! The wings were amazing. We ordered the Thai Chili and Spicy bbq; both flavors were very flavorful and the chicken was tender. The onion rings were Fantastic and the full order was huge. The ribs were seasoned perfectly and were so tender the meat fell off the bone. We also tried the pulled pork by itself and in a sandwich, both were great. All the sides tasted good as well. Fried pickles, gumbo, creamed corn, cornbread, and potato salad all had a wonderful smoke flavor. I highly recommend stopping by Jethros if you’re in Des Moines, you won’t be disappointed.

In Des Moines for training from Phoenix, AZ. Very good BBQ.

Jethro’s is very okay Barbecue. I have been many times and have never been overly impressed with the quality of the meats they have.
I have never had a good time with their brisket, the pulled pork and shaved turkey are both decent, and they do have a very good dry rub for their wings. That along with their many really good sides (mac and cheese, cream corn, sweet potato fries, waffle fries) and monstrous portions on their appetizers (a half order of anything is almost always enough for three or less people) raised what could have been a lower rating.
If you want really good Barbecue go to Woody’s on cottage grove less than a mile away or Smokey D’s up in Ankeny. If you want a fun atmosphere, some great apps, a pretty good burger and an endless amount of drinks go to Jethro’s

Great smoked flavor. Everything we tried was amazing ! Wish we had this place in Omaha.

I honestly was really shocked about Jethro’s. I am a native but have moved away. I came how and everyone friend and family member was raving about this place. I must say BBQ and Midwest go hand in hand like the brisket nacho’s; one of my fav. I really liked the diverse menu pairings and libation options; not to mention they give you a Midwest size portion which is always a tasty way to say I appreciate your business when your hands are too greasy to shake. The wings are a signature stable and very yummy. I would advise to come in stretchy jeans if at all possible. Happy eat’n

This place is a very popular neighborhood destination for BBQ on the NW side of DSM. Spacious tables, full bar, tons of TVs, and easy to eat bar food are the main reason people come here. The service is generally very good, and you normally do not need to wait long to get a table.
The biggest reason that I don’t rate this higher is that the food is decidedly average. I think there are several places in town with better BBQ (burnt ends /​brisket @ Smokey Ds; or brisket /​ribs at Flying Mango), and many of the other dishes are fried or very bland. You won’t complain about the size of the portions, these are quite large.
There are a few unique offerings like brisket nachos, and some different sandwiches that are worth trying. Many times we come with a group of friends and share nachos /​wings and just hang out. This place is perfect for this type of activity. It is not as great for a date or if you are a big fan of traditional BBQ.
I would recommend eating here with large groups, or if you are wanting to watch a sporting event. If you are a fan of the TV show «Man vs Food», there was an episode taped at a Jethro’s not too many years ago.

We were not disappointed. I had beef and hubby had ribs. I especially loved the cream jalapeño corn. Get it. You will not be disappointed. The corn bread was great too.
The atmosphere was charming.
Yes the next time, I will come back.

This place is always packed with people, which attests to its reputation and food. However keep this in mind if you are planning to stop by for a «quick bite.» The macaroni and cheese is fantastic with a rich smokey flavor. The boneless wings are good. The garlic Parmesan sauce is wonderful, however the waitress told me their «rub» sauce was similar to honey BBQ, but I couldn’t really taste it. The wings were good, however each individual wing seemed to be bites of wing instead of a hearty piece of meat. Good place to say you have visited once in your life.

Brisket nachos: mouth-​watering and a huge portion. These were seriously some of the best nachos I have ever eaten.
I have only eaten at Jethro’s twice and the first time I think I ordered something that it wasn’t right for me. It was tasty but I wasn’t wowed. The different sauces were great and I love having the option to use multiple.
It’s a great place to watch sports and they have a bar area. The staff is fun and helpful.

Jethro’s serves the best hot wings in the Des Moines area.
The rest of the menu is not as good as the hot wings.

Came here for lunch with my husband and toddler. We split a dinner for 2 between us.
Pros:
1.) Wait time was shorter than we were told. Which was great especially since other places had much longer waits.
2.) The ribs we had were delicious.
3.) Food came out quick
4.) The green beans were fresh and crisp
Cons:
1.) Our waitress wasn’t very efficient. Instead of waiting at the table for us to finish our requests she raced off after the first one. This then resulted in multiple requests and us waiting for stuff.
2.) We were never given a kids menu even though we asked for one.
3.) Not once were we asked if we wanted anything for our son. We had to ask for a plate for him and luckily we brought water for him ourselves. Even though he’s not paying he was eating.
4.) The brisket was dry.
Side note: As a former server it’s in your best interest to try to up sell. A kids meal can boost your ticket. Also checking on what size beer (my husband would have preferred the large btw) also would have been helpful.
Needless to say– overall most of the food was tasty. Our server was mediocre.

All I can say is wow! As a avid seafood lover I fell in love with this burger while I was working in the area. Fresh shrimp perfectly seared… not mushy had tons of flavor and texture all on a toasty sweet buttery brioche bun. Service was very friendly as well! I crave this burger all the time and have yet to try to dupe it, tomorrow just might be the day. Lol

The original Jethro’s and still fantastic. The food has been right on every time. Portions are large. Food is fresh and hot. Staff is usually first class for a bbq place. Large place and nice seating. Outdoor seating available. Will definitely return.

during my first ever trip to des moines for a good friend’s wedding, i had to try out Jethro’s! Everyone raved about it so I went in with high hopes.
Unfortunately, I was not very pleased with my experience.
It started off with the most unhelpful server ever.
When I asked her for recommendations — the server just said «everything is good.» When someone asked «what chicken dish do you recommend?», she literally pointed out all the chicken dishes! There is a reason I like asking people for recommendations — you work here, so you can guide me in the best direction based on what I tell you I like.
Personally, the food was not as flavorful as I was expecting.

Good breakfast, big prices. Good options for the GF crowd but overall, it’s mediocre. Never had tender brisket here. It’s not bad, but there is better. Alcohol is expensive but they have creative cocktails. Sides are good, too.

Tasty BBQ in the Drake neighborhood of Des Moines! Wait staff is attentive and unpretentious. The portions are massive, so be prepared to loosen your belt.
Jethro’s is the home of the «Adam Emmenecker Challenge.» (Good luck eating spicy pickles, pork tenderloin, buffalo chicken tenders, white cheddar sauce, fried cheese curds, Texas brisket, bacon and a burger all on a bun in less than 15 minutes. Oh, and a POUND of waffle fries.)

Some have called this BBQ incredible, but I have to say it was very good. Pretty tender brisket, but not falling apart tender. It did have a small pink smoke ring, and I could tell the outside had a good lacquer. The ribs were the star for me. Very tender meat, a nice rub on the outside with just a little kick.
The waffle fries were ok… but not what I expected. Instead of waffle fries that cooked then seasoned with a blend, these are coated in a batter then fried, much like Arby’s.
The atmosphere is nothing special, but fine. Service was pretty good, fairly attentive but our server forgot a few things.

The original Jethros was named the 9^th manliest restaurant in America. Fact.
What’s to love about Jethros? The atmosphere is simple. With a steel barn kind of appearance on the inside and out, with exposed rafters — the place doesn’t pretend to be anything it’s not. The multiple screens allow you to watch the latest sports game from any angle almost.
The service is fast and friendly. After going only a few times, servers remembered what I ordered and treated me as a regular. Also– considering the food being made– it should take a lot longer to get your meal than it does. Nice work!
Lastly, the food. Jethros has probably the best bbq in Des Moines– consistently. Other places may have good bbq, but Jethros delivers every time. Their 2-​for-​1 bone in wing deals, corn muffins, waffle fries, pulled pork, and 9 $ mason jars are just a few reasons to return. The portions here are HUGE too! I’ve never left feeling like I would’ve gotten more food elsewhere. I would recommend trying something new each time, as my favorites have changed the more I tried their onion rings and apple sauce (who knew?). Definitely five stars!

Happy Easter again!
We came in for an early supper. Seated right away and helped right away.
I have to say was happily satisfied.
We shared a meal for two. Half a rack and 10 wings. This also includes 4 sides. We had so much food and couldn’t finish it all between the two of us.
I enjoy this place more than Smokey D.
The wings were a excellent rub and ribs were pretty tasty.
Gotta give a thumbs up on this visit. Everything was spot on. Good job guys.