Tenderloin Reviews

[Cpech56]

Jonesys (spelling?) In Center Point. You can thank me later.

Totally agree on this place and they just opened a new one in coralville as well. Having been to both numerous times I'd still side with Nicks on the South side of des moines.

To the Nebraska guy that said its all breading, you've never been to Nicks. It's very little breading about about 2-3 inches of meat.

 

[Cpech56]

This used to be my opinion. Last time we got their food both were a fatty gristley mess. It was awful and we did take out so didn't go back to complain. I've cooked lots of loins and I have no idea how the meat was so terrible.

I've never had that happen at Nicks. You must've caught them on a bad night because the Meats always been outstanding everytime I have been there.

 

[klamath632]

I lived in Iowa for 21 years and will never understand the obsession with the pork tenderloin sandwich. A piece of the tenderloin pounded to a millionth of an inch thick, breaded and deep fried. You might as well just eat fried breading.

Flame away

No need to flame you for that. I prefer a good ritual shunning. You will see only the back of me for the next 24 hours. Harrumph!

 

[1UNI2ISU]

Pepper's in Cedar Falls

Steamboat Gardens in Waterloo

Different, but excellent.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

Totally agree on this place and they just opened a new one in coralville as well. Having been to both numerous times I'd still side with Nicks on the South side of des moines.

To the Nebraska guy that said its all breading, you've never been to Nicks. It's very little breading about about 2-3 inches of meat.

I just live in Nebraska, that doesn't make me a Knebraska guy.

Maybe next time I m out that way I will look up Nicks and check that out.

 

[Chitowncy]

What a great way to start the day... a delicious tenderloin thread. And that first page in the blog, "Nick's Tenderloins" ... wow! Looks fantastic. Plus the onion rings in that first photo look incredible. I am going to have to try them next time we're in DSM.

 

[carvers4math]

Now I'm hungry for Goldie's in Prairie City.

 

[JP4CY]

Good tenderloin option at the little restaurant on highway 210 in Slater. Big with flaky breading! A great snack pickup while heading to Cyclone sporting events from the Des Moines area. But you will enter Jack Trice or Hilton with greasy fingers.

That's Coles ice cream stand I think?

I am really partial to the B&B tenderloin because its not pounded as thin as a lot of places and has more or a batter than bread crumb flavor.
Kelly's Little Nipper has a good one.
Smoky D's has a pretty standard/solid one.

A sneaky good one is at Benchwarmers because they give you this little cup of sweet bourbon sauce for it too.

 

[redrocket22]

Two things posted about recently that you miss when you leave Iowa - tender loins (can't find them) and the excellent schools (big or small).

 

[cmjh10]

I like grilled over fried, but I will eat both

 

[CyCloned]

Also missing Ankeny Diner and Darrell's place in Hamlin.

Holy crap, that the place. I ate a great tenderloin with fries for $5 on RAGBRAI a couple years ago. Actually it was only half a tenderloin, I split it with a buddy because is was such a big portion. I just couldn't remember where it was at, just that it was in some tiny town in NW Iowa.

There was always a bar in St. Olaf in NE Iowa that had good tenderloins, but have not been there in 10 years, so who knows.

 

[carvers4math]

Two things posted about recently that you miss when you leave Iowa - tender loins (can't find them) and the excellent schools (big or small).

Walking tacos are apparently an Iowa or midwest thing too.

 

[CyCloned]

I can tell you where not to get a tenderloin: the Hamburg Inn in Iowa City. Took my family there after moving my daughter in for her Junior year and the menu claimed that it was a freshly breaded pork loin from some farm in Johnson county. It may well have been just that, but it tasted like something you would buy in the freezer case in Walmart. Dry, tasteless, and pounded down to a quarter inch before breading. They also overcooked it. I was very disappointed, as I had always heard good things about the Hamburg. The rest of the family was not real impressed with their meals either. Maybe it was an off day, but the place is far from cheap for what it is.

 

[1100011CS]

I can tell you where not to get a tenderloin: the Hamburg Inn in Iowa City. Took my family there after moving my daughter in for her Junior year and the menu claimed that it was a freshly breaded pork loin from some farm in Johnson county. It may well have been just that, but it tasted like something you would buy in the freezer case in Walmart. Dry, tasteless, and pounded down to a quarter inch before breading. They also overcooked it. I was very disappointed, as I had always heard good things about the Hamburg. The rest of the family was not real impressed with their meals either. Maybe it was an off day, but the place is far from cheap for what it is.

Everyone in Iowa City will always tell you to go to Hamburg for breakfast too. It's just a high-priced, greasy spoon. No different than any other except they charge more and the hipsters in Iowa City will pay it.

 

[Clonefan32]

If you go to Shorts in Iowa City and get anything other than a Dundee Burger you are a ******* fool.

 

[bellzisu]

I judged a few for the Iowa Pork Producers...

B&B in Des Moines is always good

Roadhouse in Martensdale has a really good tenderloin that is thicker.

Hitchinpost in Bevington is flat cracker type breading, takes up the whole plate, but extremely thin

B&S in Carroll- Extremely good Tenderloin, thicker and big. Also their burgers are awesome. Love eating there anytime back in that area.

 

[FarminCy]

Looking at that list just made me realize how good I ate during my old crop scouting days as our regular stops were all on the list.

I really need to make a trip to Flatheads. Miss that place for lunch. Now I just need a reason to drive to St. Anthony.

 

[1100011CS]

Looking at that list just made me realize how good I ate during my old crop scouting days as our regular stops were all on the list.

I really need to make a trip to Flatheads. Miss that place for lunch. Now I just need a reason to drive to St. Anthony.

That would be the only reason wouldn't it? Although there used to be some good pheasant hunting around there.

 

[CycloneBob]

I vote for Coles in Slater.

 

[SantaRosaCy]

The Tenderloin at Jerry's in Burlington is good; but that place is like going back in time; and so are the prices! My kids love it and the servings are massive. I think they have the best pancakes I've ever eaten, and I can only order 1; it's huge. I live in California, but am back in Burlington, (and Ames) frequently and I never miss stopping at Jerry's, or grabbing a good Tenderloin!