New Jethro's opening in September

[capitalcityguy]

I live in KC and will put the BBQ resturants down here up against Jerthro's any day of the week. I was not all that impressed with the one time I ate at the Waukee Jethro's. To me they are just playing the marketing game well. Pile a bunch of s*** on a plate or bun, pay someone from the Food Network to come, and boom your business is set.

Well.. Smokey D's went down to KC last year and took home the top prize so don't feel too bad for us here in DM.

http://www.smokeydsbbq.com/pdf/10082013.pdf

Jethro's is good, but most put it somewhere behind Smokey D's, Woody's Smokehouse, Uncle Wendells and Flying Mango.

 

[mapnerd]

Thanks, jerks, now my mouth is watering. Gonna pass out soon.

 

[Mr Janny]

Jethro's is NOT the best BBQ Does Moines has to offer. Not even close.

So out of curiosity what are your favorite KC BBQ. I was down there recently and tried Oklahoma Joes and Jack Stacks. Oklahoma Joes was OK, but there rub was way to salty. Jack Stacks was amazing.

I had Jack Stack for the first time a couple weeks ago. I thought the sliced pork was ok, but the sausage and burnt ends were very good. And their corn was nothing short of amazing.

 

[roundball]

I've never had Texas or Carolina style, but every review I've read on Carolina isn't very good. KC and Memphis are definitely winners; I like the sweetness and tanginess of KC, but Memphis is good for when I'm in the mood for a little bit more of a kick with less mess.

I'd always eaten Kansas City BBQ, and loved it, but had no idea what I was missing until I had Carolina BBQ. The vinegar and pepper in the "sauce" are absolutely perfect complimentary flavors for smoked pork.

Now Kansas City BBQ seems almost repulsive to me. Especially at a place like Jack Stack, which goes way overboard with the sauce, it just tastes like the meat is swimming in some really sugary ketchup.

 

[JP4CY]

Especially at a place like Jack Stack, which goes way overboard with the sauce, it just tastes like the meat is swimming in some really sugary ketchup.

Most times I've been there the meat comes with sauce on the side in little bowls.

 

[roundball]

Most times I've been there the meat comes with sauce on the side in little bowls.

It might have been Gates? That's what I originally typed, but I can't remember for sure.

 

[cycloneworld]

I've always said Smokey D's meat is impossible to top in the DSM metro. But Jethro's is a better total package (sides, atmosphere, etc). Jethro's wings are a hidden gem.

Oklahoma Joe's is #1 for me. Jackstack is very, very good just overpriced in my opinion. But I'd put Smokey D's and Jethro's up there with the top KC BBQ places. They may not beat the KC joints, but they are in the conversation.

 

[urb1]

Wasabi Chi in Douglas has great sushi. Cool Basil's caterpillar roll is awesome.

Agree with previous poster about Jack Stack's corn casserole. Incredible.

 

[Angie]

Legends had a lousy reputation for food quality and service. It would be interesting to see what would happen to a restaurant that was actually worth going out of your way for in that space. Or if the new improvements addressed the awful parking situation. I agree, I never got the impression there was some sort of residents vs. students feud in Ames. Campustown is just a pain in the *** if you're not on foot.

I think Hickory Park is actually the biggest reason Jethro's would fail in that location. Even with better food, that's a lot of tradition and habit to overcome in that town.

it really is just incredibly inconvenient in Campustown. That Legends at least had some parking. I only ever went twice due to the service, though.

I didn't even think about HP battling them for the barbecue market. Their prices aren't bad, but can't really compete with HP. IMO, the food is better at Jethro's, but you should probably be the cheap option if you are in Campustown.

Carolina BBQ is my favorite, without the cole slaw on top. Mustard-based sauce with tang is 500x better than the sweeter stuff.

 

[mcblogerson]

Jethros BBQ Rub wings
go eat them even if you think Jethros isn't good and report back with your opinions

 

[capitalcityguy]

Jethros BBQ Rub wings
go eat them even if you think Jethros isn't good and report back with your opinions

I love wings and always hear Jethro's is the best but have never ordered. Appreciate the heads up on which one to try. Any other opinions on which wings at Jethro's a person should give a try?

 

[urb1]

Carolina BBQ is my favorite, without the cole slaw on top. Mustard-based sauce with tang is 500x better than the sweeter stuff.

Sorry, disagreed with you on this once before. Carolina BBQ is too vinegary. And coleslaw belongs on the sandwich!

 

[Angie]

Sorry, disagreed with you on this once before. Carolina BBQ is too vinegary. And coleslaw belongs on the sandwich!

Fighting words! :wink: Coleslaw belongs in the trash!

 

[IcSyU]

I love Jethros but to even put it in the same sentence as Oklahoma Joe's is offensive to Oklahoma Joe's.

 

[chuckd4735]

Does anyone know why the Legends in Campustown closed? Was it poor business, or other reasons (losing a license or something like that)? They might be a good indicator of how a family-style restaurant would do, depending on the reason they closed.

I will admit, I don't generally go to Campustown because it's a pain in the ***. Not enough parking, crowded at certain times of the day/year. Sometimes the students don't watch where they're walking when they cross streets, and I'm afraid of committing vehicular manslaughter. It's not at all that I have an attitude about Campustown itself, or most of the students.

From what I understand, Legends and the owner of the building never really got along...Legends tried to get several upgrades to make the logistics of having a restaurant 8 floors up easier, and the building owner refused to work with them on anything. When Legends lease was up, they ended up not renewing and left.

 

[IcSyU]

Legends couldn't secure funding for improvements either because the restaurant was losing its ***.

 

[danielyp29]

I love wings and always hear Jethro's is the best but have never ordered. Appreciate the heads up on which one to try. Any other opinions on which wings at Jethro's a person should give a try?

I love the wings at Jethro's and would definitely agree that the rub is probably one of the best... also make sure you go on a Tuesday when they have 2-for-1 wings!

 

[danielyp29]

it really is just incredibly inconvenient in Campustown. That Legends at least had some parking. I only ever went twice due to the service, though.

I didn't even think about HP battling them for the barbecue market. Their prices aren't bad, but can't really compete with HP. IMO, the food is better at Jethro's, but you should probably be the cheap option if you are in Campustown.

Carolina BBQ is my favorite, without the cole slaw on top. Mustard-based sauce with tang is 500x better than the sweeter stuff.

Have you tried the Carolina BBQ sauce at Jethro's? I've always been a bit hesitant to try out their Carolina, Georgia mustiard, and Alabama White sauces

 

[Cycsk]

From what I understand, Legends and the owner of the building never really got along...Legends tried to get several upgrades to make the logistics of having a restaurant 8 floors up easier, and the building owner refused to work with them on anything. When Legends lease was up, they ended up not renewing and left.

Hated the parking, elevator, and hallway you needed to use to get to Legends. Felt like a crummy dorm experience until you got to the restaurant.

 

[CysRage]

From what I understand, Legends and the owner of the building never really got along...Legends tried to get several upgrades to make the logistics of having a restaurant 8 floors up easier, and the building owner refused to work with them on anything. When Legends lease was up, they ended up not renewing and left.

Plus one (if not both) of the elevators in Legacy were always broken which I'm sure affected business. I really enjoyed eating up there with the great views of campus but I can understand how it didn't make it.