Went here for lunch with the family, this place has a lovely charm - and was at one point a train depot. Our server was attentive, and it was quiet enough to have a pleasant conversation over lunch. Three of our table had the daily special - a ribeye sandwich with caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato, their version of sweet and saucy steak sauce. Everyone enjoyed it - and I stole a few fries which were golden crisp and perfectly seasoned. I was assured their fries are consistently delicious. I had pork shoulder with two sides, i went with hallelujah potatoes (cheesy potato casserole) and cornbread pudding. The pork was melt in your mouth tender, perfect with the sweet and sassy bbq sauce. Each plate comes with some pickle slices and pickled onions, the onions were nice - i gave my pickles away as i am not a savory pickle girl. The hallelujah potatoes were cheesy, creamy and crunchy (topping) and the cornbread pudding tasty. The lemonade was recommended to me and it was well done - tart and sweet. Overall if I had more time in town I would definitely come back. read more

Cornbred - Pork shoulder, hallelujah potatoes and cornbread pudding. Someone forgot to snap a pic before pouring on the sweet and sassy sauce. - Barbeque Near Me - Ames, Iowa

Just some suggestions for future guests. Please ask first if guests want to be seated on patio. We were taken outside on patio, granted the plastic sheets were down, but it was a cool, rainy day. We were told the heaters would be turned on. They weren't. We asked to be moved inside and a they moved us to the loudest part, next to bathrooms and opening to patio, so still cool. Waitress had no time for us, maybe because we were asked to be moved. Idk. Food was good. If the name of your restaurant is "cornbred" you would think your meat dish would come with a piece of cornbread. Instead you have to order it as an appetizer which are muffins. How about one little muffin person placed on the table. I would also maybe include a side with your meal (maybe less meat) to accommodate for the side. Just suggestions. It is a cute place though. read more

Having lived in Kansas City for many years, I am a barbecue snob. The bar is very high. I wouldn't put Cornbred among my absolute favorite spots (that is reserved for the best of the best) but I would definitely put it on my list of very good bbq. The ribs were cooked perfectly and tasty on their own (ie without sauce). I also got a sausage (always a fave of mine at BBQ joints) and it was very, very good. The hallelujah potatoes were cheesy goodness. We started with the candied bacon and it was just okay. Good but nothing particularly special. Where they miss out on all time status was with the sauces. The sweet and sassy was good but not great for me. The tangy mustard was a nice option and also good, but I wouldn't want it slathered all over something. The third option was vinegar base and therefore not for me. Don't mistake this as an overly critical review of the sauces. They were good and I'd absolutely have them again happily, they just weren't amazing or anything. The service was fast and our waitress was excellent. The space is cool as well. If I find myself in Ames again, I would almost certainly stop back in at Cornbred to try more of their offerings (hello burnt ends!) and absolutely get another one of the sausages. read more

Came here off the recommendation of a few locals, really cool space having converted an old railroad station. Friendly service behind the car and nice crushed ice diet pepper. The burger was a bit burnt but it was still tasty, not sure if that's just how they make it. Overall just a fun experience. read more

Cornbred - Barbeque Near Me - Ames, Iowa

Wonderful food and service. We went two days in a row! Mac n cheese and burnt ends are both to die for.

This restaurant was packed when we got in the lady said it would be a 30-45 min wait which was fine because we really wanted to try it. We did wait right around 40 min to be seated. It's in an old train depot which was very cool. A lot of exposed wood beams and also pictures of what it used to be. It is a little loud but it was still fun. The restaurant serves barbecue, and oh man it was good. I got the pork shoulder and it was tender and juicy. I also got the beans which had apple in them. I thought they would be sweet but they were really good. We did have the cornbread and it was good too. We didn't have time for dessert but would have liked that too I'm sure. We will be back here again. read more

Cornbred - Pork Shoulder, beans and fries - Barbeque Near Me - Ames, Iowa

Come on in for a delicious carving of tender and flavor rich beef ribs as well as a creative selection of your favorite craft. The side dishes of street corn and potato hash is over the top served with honey rich corn muffins. The wait staff was friendly and greeted everyone as if family. The total environment was full of cheer and pleasurable fun as everyone seemed to enjoy their favorite meal and libations. read more

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We stopped by here in between basketball games. We were seated quickly (i'm sure the fact that there was an IA State Basketball game helped). Service was attentive. Pig candy - delish Cornbread - delish Hushbuppies - delish (i could have gone for more sauce drizzle) Burnt ends - mixed reviews (husband loved, son & i weren't keen on the flavor) Brisket chili - very good and unique -Brisket meal - husband thought it was a little dry read more

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Wow! Absolutely worth the wait on a busy Sunday to grab brunch with my ISU student. He is a bit of a foodie so he was also impressed with the menu. Not a crumb was left and we were stuffed with all the BBQ brunch wondefulness. And what a great value for the portions and quality. We sat inside but I would love to sit outside next time. read more

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Excellent service- great hazy beer and brisket, pulled pork, ribs, cole slaw, and brussels sprouts. Turkey was not as great- still good but a bit on the dry side. Fun vibe. read more

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Possibly one of the best restaurants I've ever been to, with I think the best ribs I've ever eaten. From entering the space to being seated in an upstairs loft space and having conversations with our wait staff, it was a fantastic experience the whole time. Our kids are not adventurous eaters so for them we ordered just a simple burger, but the waitress was happy to oblige the request and the kids absolutely demolished them. We had the pig candy and cornbread appetizers and they were fantastic. I had ribs and my husband had a sandwich, and both were very good. Also, the pineapple coleslaw might have been the best coleslaw I've ever had as well. I wasn't sure what to expect but it was fantastic. Absolutely recommend stopping here when you're in Ames. You won't be sorry. read more

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After reading reviews as well as a recommendation from our hotel, we decided to eat dinner at Cornbred. All three of us thoroughly enjoyed our meals and will definitely return! The restaurant has a main floor, upper and a nice patio. Our server was very friendly and made several recommendations. Overall a wonderful experience! The only thing we'd change is the chips as they didn't have much flavor and seemed to be overcooked. read more

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We walked into cornbred and right away we could tell this is going to be a great experience. The atmosphere is unique and comfortable. We all ordered brisket but in different variations. Regular brisket slices , brisket burnt ends and a brisket hoagie sandwich. Sides were excellent and obviously homemade. All the brisket meat was absolutely fantastic! Will definitely be back. read more

This review is on the precipice of a 4.5 star review. Upsides: Welcomed immediately upon entering. All staff members that I interacted with were very friendly and seemed to be enjoying their jobs. I started with a single order of the pig candy (I got two slices?), as well as an order of the cornbread mini muffins. These were both fantastic! Not overly sweet; but subtle. I do think the mini muffins would be slightly better if some honey was drizzled over the top. I might be able to subside off the pig candy alone next time... The rib was truly off the bone. I wish I had ordered more of them. Good flavor; no chewy parts to them at all. The hallelujah potatoes themselves were very good. I could have done without the cornflake topping. Beans were awesome; good smoke flavor throughout. I saved the sausage and half the sides for my lunch tomorrow; I'll update when I eat that. The turkey was very tender...nice thick pieces. On the advice of another bar patron; I used the sweet & sassy sauce. Good flavor balance. The vinegar sauce is also very flavorful; but is intended to go with the pork shoulder. Downside: The menu needs to provide a little more guidance; descriptions of the menu items would be nice. It's a "me thing", but I don't like having to pepper the staff with a bunch of questions. Also a "me thing"; the slice of bread was put on top of the beans, meaning that parts of the bread were ruined. Some kind of butter would have been good with this too. read more

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We had great food here. I tried their brisket chili. It's one of the best, most unique dishes I've ever had. Brisket on top was just what you would expect: Smokey, tender, flavorful. But then you got the chili components too. Putting what I consider "cornbread paste" as the base is perfect. That sweet, corn flavor mixes beautifully on the palate with the chili and barbecue flavors. We finished the meal with bread pudding. They change flavors all the time so I had raspberry bread pudding. Our biggest mistake was ordering two. One was more than enough for three people. That said, I did not share my leftover dessert. Wait to get in Friday homecoming weekend at 5:45 pm was about 30 minutes. Had we come at 6:30 pm, I think there would have been no wait time. On the patio, they played music bingo to we stayed a bit longer to enjoy two rounds. Only poor experience was the waitress. She was pretty slow. We also think she forgot to put in our appetizer order. I will come here again next time in Ames, probably will not try a different dish. read more

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Food was amazing - cocktail at the bar not so much. Overall, great experience and will be back.

Amazing food, atmosphere. Ordered burnt ends - Amazing. Hallelujah potatoes were full over flavor, loved the added crunch. Coleslaw was fine but not special like everything else. Others in the party order the Brisket & Chill. Maybe the coolest dish I've ever seen. Wonderful place. Wish it was closer. read more

Cornbred - Burnt ends - Barbeque Near Me - Ames, Iowa

First visit to Cornbred and really enjoyed it! We sat outside and the atmosphere was great. Started with a cocktail from the outside bar. Waitress was very pleasant and helpful. We ordered a starter- candied bacon. How can this not be great? Sweet, smoky flavor. Had the sandwich -Three Little Pigs. The pulled pork, bacon and ham was delicious with the pepper jelly and slaw on the toasted bread. Would recommend Cornbred! read more

Cornbred - Three Little Pigs with homemade chips - Barbeque Near Me - Ames, Iowa

Father's Day! We are a group of 5 today. Our other plans got derailed. We were in search of a tenderloin for Dad. We saw the photos online and headed here. It's about noon, and we had a little bit of a wait. Greeted warmly by the hostest. There was seating outside but it was too hot. There is also seating on the main level plus stairs up both directions to a loft area. We asked for seating on the main level. The wait was going to be about 20 minutes. While we were waiting, I snagged a menu to take a look. I noticed that Tenderloin was not on the menu. I asked and was informed that tenderloins were not served on Sunday brunch. Luckily dad was low key and went with the flow. The vibe of the restaurant is farm town, farm house, and rustic. There is merchandise you can buy right inside the door. When seated, the waiter was super friendly. He complimented us over and over on different things. We pretty much knew what we wanted. The menu is limited, but the food is on point. The flavors are wow! I really enjoyed the brisket burrito. We all enjoyed our meals. No one had any complaints. 2 people had the poutine. I got to snag a couple of bites from the hubby, and it was so full of flavors. I don't like gravy, but I would 100% get it. If we lived in Ames we would be back sooner, but I still want to make the trip back to try more. Need to come try the Tenderloin. read more

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My Friends and I were in Ames for the weekend to attend a concert. When arricing at this restaurant, the weight time was not bad. When they took us back to our seats, she took us to the patio that was enclosed with a plastic tent. It was a cold rainy day. When we asked if we could be moved to the inside, the waitress became very annoyed with us. She moved us by the kitchen door, so it was really loud. She took our order but was not very helpful when asked for suggestions. We assumed we would get cornbread with our bar-b-que since the name is Cornbread, but no such luck. You have to pay for it, in fact, everything is priced individually. Once our food was brought to us, the waitress would not come back to check on us, we would have to flag her down and ask for more water. She never showed a smile until it was time for us to pay our bill. We reluctantly tipped her, but was very disappointed in the service. read more

The food and service were 5 star. Attention to details of cleaning? 1 star. I love their food options, high quality and reasonable prices. Staff always is friendly and helpful. I continue to question their cleanliness and basic protocols. The vent by our table looks like it hasn't been cleaned in years. The floor upstairs is always sticky. We are early and there was an audible sound as our shoes stuck to the floor. After a fantastic meal, I went to was my hands and the vent in the restroom was filthy. Am I being too critical? I do t think so. If you can't address the obvious public spaces- how are cleaning the kitchen? I'm hopeful they will make an effort with cleaning. It's a great place and desirable 5 star review. read more

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Ribs, brisket, Burnt ends, corn bread, potatoes with cornflakes, brussels, yes and yes! Great cocktails as well.

My new favorite meal and restaurant is the brisket chili at Cornbred! It's amazing in its taste and heartiness. You can order it in a cup, bowl or meal and the cost is amazingly low given how filling it is. Always love the service and given the autumn weather outside, order the brisket chili and prepare to be amazed! read more

Cornbred - Buck and Ro smiling after a great meal at Cornbred! - Barbeque Near Me - Ames, Iowa

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Overall was good, had to ask them to reheat food. Was served cold. Candied Pig was an intensely maple drink. Also got a peach habanero lime agua Fresca with tequila. Favorite was hallelujah potatoes. read more

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Food was amazing. The flavor of the smoke in the meat was perfect. It was a great balance. Quality of meat was great. Side were amazing. The kids absolutely LOVED the Mac and Cheese. It was so creamy and Filled with cheese. Wasn't on the kids meal it was the normal Mac off the menu. Great Place! read more

I'm not sure one heads to Ames expecting world-class BBQ, but you may want to consider it now. Cornbred is just, well, great. My wife had the Brisket and Chill, which consists of a slice of brisket on top of a bed of brisket chile and jalapeño ornbread pudding with pickled vegetables. Honestly, the brisket was fork tender, the chile was amazing. She loved the cornbread pudding, which was sweet and tender. I thought the pickled vegetables were simply amazing. I ordered the burnt ends with a pork rib. I love the option to add a rib! My side was the Hallelujah Potatoes. Folks, this was my first time with this type of potatoes. I'm not from the Midwest. OMG, these are amazing. Cheesy potatoes, topped with cornflakes and green onions. Special. I loved the burnt ends. They were very tender, well-spiced. I have to be honest though. The rib was special. The bone just slipped out of the meat. So juicy, so tender, so delicious. Next time, it's a rack of ribs. You cannot go wrong here! Make the drive and prepare to be surprised. (Especially by the trains running next to the restaurant. It's an old depot. I loved it!) read more

Cornbred - Brisket and Chill - Barbeque Near Me - Ames, Iowa

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Fun trendy BBQ joint. Stopped by here on the way to the DSM. Plenty of parking and it appears to be a renovated train station or something. The interior was millennial brick revival and a mature hipster vibe. Staff were friendly and the beer selection was broad. Food: I ordered a plate of ribs with brisket and the tomato and cucumber salad. Generally speaking Midwest BBQ is sweeter than my preference and subtle on the spices. The ribs were fall off the bone and had good flavor. The brisket was little dry, but tasted good as well. The cucumber and tomato salad was a great fresh side to balance the heaviness of the meats. House sauces were pretty decent and the variety was nice. Overall it's a great local spot, but a lone star traveler may not take a detour to check it out. read more

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In town for my oldest daughter's basketball tournament so we stopped in for breakfast. We arrived about 10 minutes before opening and a line was quickly forming. We had the fried chicken with cheese grits. It came with hot sauce and a watermelon salsa! The salsa was divine. Also, an order of Hallelujah potatoes! This place is fun and I highly recommend! Staff and service was excellent. read more

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Great place! Appetizers were hit or miss. Candy bacon a must. Rest of entrées all good. Great service and great bar. A sure bet for your lunch or dinner for sure. read more

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Surprised that the only cornbread they serve is muffins. They were a bit disappointing - dry. Their burnt tips were fatty. I had the Three Little Pigs sandwich which was very good. I love how an old train depot has been repurposed for the restaurant. The retrofit has been nicely done. read more

So thankful that we found this place on our last day in Ames. From the ambience to the delicious smells to the friendly staff and then the excellent food- we couldn't have asked for a better Sunday brunch! We were able to sit outside and the heaters were just enough- it was a beautiful day. My kids are foodies and everyone was impressed. Highly recommend this spot if you are visiting Ames! read more

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Delightful experience. We were sat immediately, which was amazing considering how busy it got. The brussel sprouts, burnt ends, and Mac and Cheese were my favorites. The variety of pickled side items were also tasty. But the single best menu item was the brown sugar lemonade with free refills. Only downside was I wish there was a way to add meat directly to the Mac and Cheese. Excellent service, we will be back! read more

I loved my first trip to Cornbred last year, but it was on a chilly day. I had a different experience this week, which was, unexpectedly, even better. As much as the magic of sitting in a refurbished rail depot is cool and nostalgic, enjoying Cornbred's delicious menu in their expansive outdoor dining area was another level. They maintained their terrific customer service, but their outdoor area is spaced out well, it's undercover to eliminate a hot sunny day, and occasional freight trains passing through just a few feet away made for a fun evening. Their Tex-Mex menu option rotates, and I selected the exceptional chicken dish with tasty in-season vegetables and a superb street corn addition. I added a side of Pig Candy, their amazing crispy bacon. We had seven in our party, and it was flawlessly executed by the staff! read more

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Fantastic food and ambience for this local BBQ restaurant in the heart of Ames, Iowa.

Might be my first six-star restaurant ever. BBQ is out of this world. Appetizer Korean ribs were fall off the bone tender and ridiculously flavorful. Speaking of flavor, the three sauces at the table were three of the best BBQ sauces I've ever had and we've had Memphis BBQ and Texas BBQ. The vinegar one was especially interesting and tangy. Server found us a single appetizers hushpuppy for my son to try for the first time. Best one of those I've ever had. Brisket was excellent. Hamburger was amazing. Pineapple coleslaw was bananas. Never making boring coleslaw again. Hallelujah potatoes (au gratin) were ridiculous. Like a potato had a love child with some mac n cheese. We are absolutely having dinner there again tomorrow night. Will probably five star them again because they deserve it. Going to remember to skip lunch tomorrow so we have room for dessert... read more

I had the brisket and it was amazing, fall apart with good flavor. Service was spot on by Nic, out on the patio. Ambiance was great, background music load enough to hear but not affecting anyone from communicating at all normal tone. I'll be back when in town. read more

Cornbred - Old Fashioned - Barbeque Near Me - Ames, Iowa

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Cornbred did not disappoint. I was in town for a conference and was fortunate enough to eat there twice (first and last night. Between the two nights and some group sharing I was able to try many of the menu items, including the pig candy, burnt ends, smoked sausage, pork tenderloin sandwich, cornbread, and bread pudding. They were all delicious. I also enjoyed three of their signature cocktails. Prices were very reasonable and service both nights was excellent. read more

The building and decor is stunning with a pleasant vibe and the smoked turkey is easily one of the best I've had. My boyfriend got the burnt ends and they were so good as well! As for the cons, I thought the paper menus were odd/tacky, as well as the slice of bread on the side of our meals. I was honestly hoping that cornbread would be on the side or be an option for a side seeing as the establishment is called cornbread read more

Cornbred - Smoked turkey - Barbeque Near Me - Ames, Iowa

First, let me say our server Zach was awesome. He was attentive and down-to-earth, making our dining experience top-notch. When we arrived, it was packed, but we were seated right away. I really liked that you could choose the portion size of their craft meats--1 lb, a half pound, or even a quarter pound. Score! Their meats were so flavorful. I was sad they were out of spareribs, but the pulled pork and burnt ends were absolutely yummy. I also had the hushpuppies, which were a little spicy with the aioli. Next time, I'd get the aioli on the side. All in all, a fantastic meal with great service. Can't wait to go back! read more

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Was back in Ames for another work week, and by popular demand of the team, back at Cornbred. Just like our first visit, just outstanding all around. The food was delicious, and the service was Iowa-Nice if you know what I mean. read more

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