We use their catering services for our wedding. They were super professional, responsive, and the…read morefood was delicious! Highly recommend!

I stole some of my colleagues food it was so delectable…read more Service with a smiley face and the day was perfect for the patio dining. Great experience all around!!

This is the place I hold as the gold standard for brisket. They season the meat so well, and it's…read morecooked to perfection. The sweet potato fries are excellent and served with a sauce I could eat with a spoon. They cater, and the menu includes burgers, salmon, chicken and prime rib. This is a solid 10/10. They don't pay me to say this. Every out of town person I've brought here also raves about the food. The brisket and burnt ends are my favorite.

The service was attentive. The food was very well priced. There were lots of locals on a week night…read more. The atmosphere is decorated with cowboy themes to fit with barbecue. We ordered the mix barbecue for 2. There was plenty of food.

I brought 25 people to Hickory Park. The service was great, and the food was delicious. I highly…read morerecommend.

Busy concert night. The "Add yourself to the Waitlist" is a great addition!! In and out quickly and…read morevery nice server.

8.1 BBQ Easily runs right with anything from Des Moines and…read morestands up to many KCMO regulars. Brisket, ribs, sausage in that order. Sides were meh, bar was welcome with a good to great not all local beers. Food prices are right, drinks a bit high. It's a good place, I'll be back next time through. Great Job !

Best BBQ this side of Texas! The sides, the sauces, everything first rate and delicious. Bathrooms…read morewere clean, bonus points. Wifey is barbecue aficionado it met her high standards.

Amazing food. We've lived in the area for a year and just tried it for the first time. I regret no…read morecoming sooner. I had the cowboy burger, fresh onion rings and great sauce. I've never had a smashed pork burger, great idea. Wife had pulled pork platter and son had the brisket. Both of them raved. Fried pickles are fresh and really good. Will be back for sure.

My daughter and I took a road trip to the Dutchman store in Cantril. She found this place on yelp…read more It was 40 minutes out of our way but we decided to try it. The owner took our order and answered a few questions about the menu. There was another patron eating who chatted with us while we waited. Everyone was friendly and the vibe was good. Our food came out promptly and the owner brought us several homemade BBQ sauces to try. I had the brisket platter and everything was amazing! Great flavor and sauces were so good! My favorite was his mustard sauce. My daughter had the Burnt end platter. I only tried the Ends and they were fantastic! That's what I'm getting next time. She said her beans were awesome as well as the Mac! I would highly recommend and will make the trip again!

"I do not disagree with their name," says my friend visiting from out of state after enjoying his…read moreburger and fried mushrooms. I had the delicious BBQ pork burger with cheese and enjoyed its glorious Smokey flavor. I can't say I've been to that many burger cafe's but this was definitely a great experience. The staff/cook crew were extremely friendly. I was nervous by the long line, but they grilled the food up pretty quick and it was all fab. Enjoyed drinks came with meal. Definitely recommend!

Is this absolutely MY best (aka favorite) burger...? Is it the best burger I've personally had in…read moreIowa...? Probably not. BUT it is the best burger I've ever had out of a gas station in Iowa...! Actually... I'm not exactly sure which way this place actually goes... Is this a gas station that sells food... Or a restaurant that sells gas? Potato...potatoe! Lol And it IS a very good burger overall too...! But not only do they serve burgers... They have other menu selections... Mostly all deep fried and grill options... And ice cream! I've seen signs for Iowa's Best Burger Cafe for years while running back and forth on I-80 from the Des Moines metro... Kellogg is about halfway between Newton and Grinnell. We've never stopped here until this past weekend when we were on our way home from the What Cheer IA flea market... Iowa's Best Burger Cafe is just off the highway... The first thing I noticed as the GPS said our route was about to end... It looked like it ended at an Amoco gas station... Huh? And then I noticed the signage for the Iowa's Best Burger Cafe on the building... Oh... So we're here...? Not exactly what I expected..., but I eat at food trucks too so it wasn't going to stop me. I did glance at my girlfriend to see if I could tell whether she was feeling it or not... I think she was just really hungry at that point and didn't really care. Lol There's ample parking. As you enter the building it kind of looks like a standard gas station convenience store...until you turn and look to your Right. Red plastic booth seating. There are two counters and a case that sit adjacent to one another. The counter you order at also displays the ice cream. There's a case displaying some ready to eat options. The register is on a shorter counter closest to the entrance. It's an open kitchen. There is also another small room of seating further to the left as you face the counters. The tables are kind of faux marble. Napkins, salt, pepper, ketchup, and mustard are available in each booth. We were greeted as we walked and I let them know it was our first time there and we didn't know the drill. They let us know you order standing there at the counter. Take a seat. They bring the food out to you when it's ready. You pay at the register when you are done. Cash or card...and there is an ATM on site. They bus your table. There are a couple of menu placards on the counter where you place your order... The 16 flavors of ice cream selection are plainly labeled. The two ladies behind the counter were very helpful and were both personable! We ordered: 2x half pound burger combos (one with cheese, bacon, onions and pickles and one with cheese, onions, pickles, mayo, and lettuce) 1x upgraded side to garlic mushrooms 1x upgraded side to onion rings 2x fountain drinks (Coke products...comes with combo) 1x mozarella sticks 1x two scoop bowl of ice cream 1x single cone of ice cream The wait for food wasn't long. Everything was served hot and fresh! They'd asked us if we wanted ranch... My girlfriend always wants ranch! Not only did they bring us ranch... They brought us a HUGE squeeze bottle of ranch! This is how every restaurant should bring you ranch! While we dined in (as did a couple of other customers) most of the business appeared to be take out. One pro tip... The standard half pound burger comes with two patties. I heard a customer ask a guy, at the booth next to her, how many patties he had on his burger... Huh? He had four patties on his burger... A full pounder! So there has to be a way to add an additonal patty (or patties) too... If you want a bigger burger... Ask...! The bathrooms...not horrible. The food was all great. Good service. No complaints. I wouldn't hesitate to stop in here again! And I know what to expect next time...!

So I joined a bike ride across Iowa (RAGBRAI) again this year when I found out one of the overnight…read morestops was in Oelwein! I could meet Thyron Matthew of BBQ fame and BBQ Brawl competition!! They were set up in their outside setting and food truck TnT in the center of all the excitement host towns bring to the RAGBRAI experience! He was so sweet to meet and I had the best ribs I've ever tasted!!! The service was quick and they were so kind. I hope to come back and visit soon!

Best burger ever ,baked beans awesome ,burnt ends WOW…read more Thanks for stopping in mason city

This meal was life changing. Get the $2 bacon as a side and you…read morewill not regret a thing. The service was incredible and the food is some of the best I've had in my whole life. 10/10 will return again!!!

Great menu, food was outstanding, portions were dare I say too big but so tasty!! Service was…read moreattentive even on a busy Saturday afternoon.

OMG this place is absolutely awesome, really great food and service is top notch!!! great place to…read moreeat and have a conversation with someone or outside on their deck, its an all around very great place!!! i have recommended family and friends here and they enjoy it sooooo much they drive from out of town just to eat here...

Visited here for lunch, and got the special of the day- turkey BBQ sandwich and a side. The price…read morewas right, $10, but I felt like the quality of the food was so-so. The turkey was less than tender and lacked flavor, the green beans were stringy and over-cooked. I'm willing to try this place again- maybe their beef, chicken, or pork is of better quality and flavor, and maybe their other sides are better, but their turkey and green beans didn't sit with me too well. Final note- the atmosphere of the place and counter service was fine, so plusses on that. Three stars for mediocre food quality- I expect better from a barbeque joint, especially located in the Midwest.

Absolutely love Kue'd! This is one of our regular stops in the Des Moines area. The BBQ is great, I…read morepersonally love the pulled pork. But the sides really put it over the top. The corn bread and honey butter are amazing and my family regularly fights for the extra cornbread! The Mac n cheese is as creamy as can be and the Cole slaw is a great topper with the pulled pork or other bbq meats. The variety of sauces are also delish. For us, this is a grab and go place. There is some seating but it is minimal and simple. We'd rather grab and take home!

Great bbq to be had at Kue'd Smokehouse!…read more I am a big Smokey D's fan but my cousins said this place was just as good and I have to say I'm a convert. Some things were better, others not as good, but good overall. Great brisket and burnt ends were ok but a little light on the smoke to be honest. The pulled pork was dry in some places and nice and juicy in others. The smoked Mac and cheese is mighty tasty and not too bitter from the smoke. Glad we tried the redneck nachos. They are made on house made potato chips and are a very unique treat. Also great bbq sauce! The original and spicy have excellent flavor. Glad to have another bbq spot in the DSM area to go to!