Jethro's BBQ

We're always up for some BBQ and on a recent Sunday when 2 restaurants that we wanted to try were closed (c'mon guys - Sunday is STILL the weekend!), we found ourselves at Jethro's BBQ. We've enjoyed some great meals at both Jethro's locations, but our visit this time was at the original Drake neighborhood restaurant.

After all that driving around, we were especially happy to see this...

We ordered up a couple of 24 oz'ers and perused the menu. The menu at Jethro's is quite large, one may even call it expansive. Seriously, a ton of appetizer choices including their award winning smoked chicken wings, fresh salads - and you can order half salads - and homemade soups.

Their burgers are ground angus steak and from personal experience, the pork tenderloin is huge and very tasty for the tenderloin enthusiasts among us. They have several BBQ sandwiches and Melts and while they have some traditional sides like baked beans and coleslaw, they also feature sides like jalepeno creamed corn and sweet potato fries.

Don't forget their BBQ dinners - full and half slabs of ribs and smoked chicken, pulled pork, pulled chicken, brisket, smoked sausage, pit ham and smoked turkey. All in generous portions.

One of my favorite things about Jethro's is their selection of BBQ sauces. Besides the fact that they come in cute honey bear bottles, there's a great variety of different flavors to try. There's Jethro's Secret, Jethro's Hot BBQ, Georgia Mustard, Carolina, and Alabama White.

I chose The Melt with pulled pork. It comes grilled on Texas Toast with Swiss and American cheeses. Smokey and juicy, it really hit the spot with some crispy fries. I always slather on plenty of Jethro's Secret BBQ sauce - it's nice and thick and just a little sweet, so good.

Grant had one of the 2 meat dinners. He chose pulled pork and smoked sausage this time around, with the Campfire Baked Beans and the Jalepeno Creamed Corn. A nice 1/2 pound of meat, it also came with a corn muffin.

No one was attempting "The Adam Emmenecker" challenge while we were there, but if you recall, Adam Richman of Man vs. Food fame did take the challenge back in October, 2010. He attempted to eat the 5 pound sandwich in 15 minutes - and failed. But if you feel up to the challenge, they'll put your name up on the Wall of Fame, give you a t-shirt and buy your sandwich. 

It's great to know that you can stop in at either Jethro's location and know you'll get a good meal at a decent price. Jethro's BBQ is consistently delicious. Let us know your favorites at Jethro's and if you've taken The Adam Emmenecker challenge!

Jethro's BBQ (Drake location)

3100 Forest Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa

515.279.3300

Hours

Monday - Thursday  11am - 10pm
Friday  11am - 11pm
Saturday  9:30am - 11pm
Sunday  9:30am - 10pm

Menus and more information at www.jethrosdesmoines.com