I made my first visit to Whatcha Smokin BBQ & Brew in Luther last week. I had heard great things about it and wanted to pay a visit. It's a short trip from Ames and I can say first hand that I highly recommend it.
It is a unique restaurant spread between two separate building, but it can serve a large number of people. We got lucky with a parking spot near the buildings, but many cars were parked on the street. It really helped that the weather was beautiful on the night we came. We waited outside at a picnic table and had a couple beers. I kind of wanted to eat outside, but we were seated in the second building which was nice. It looked like the dining area in the primary building had open garage doors to give it that indoor/outdoor feeling. But we didn't go in that room, so can't say much about it.
They were sold out of our first choices of brisket for her and ribs for me, but they did have a combination platter available where we could get our choice of meats including brisket. I don't understand how it can be available for a platter but not separately, but it turned out to be a good choice. We split a two meat platter of brisket and pulled pork. It came with two sides. We picked cheesy potatoes and baked beans. The we could pick either a fattier brisket or a drier brisket, so we went with here recommendation that the fatty one was juicier. We also picked the cornbread over Texas toast, which was a good choice although we had to split the only piece.
We weren't really very hungry, but we loved it. I'm not generally big on pulled pork, but this was outstanding. It was juicy and flavorful. I think the GF liked the brisket better, but that is usually her choice at a BBQ place. And it was good. We would try the leaner stuff the next time. I loved the cheesy potatoes. The baked beans were nothing special and didn't live up to the meats. The cheesy potatoes may not have been special either, but they were exactly what you would expect. It's probably hard to screw up cheesy potatoes.
My next trip will definitely include the pulled pork and cheesy potatoes. I'll eat the meat without a bun. I rarely do that, but will do it at this place. She will probably try the drier brisket.
I highly recommend this place. I only have one sample, but I'd rank it better than Hickory Park, Jethros and that place in the Depot. Jethros does have excellent sides though. We will return.
It is a unique restaurant spread between two separate building, but it can serve a large number of people. We got lucky with a parking spot near the buildings, but many cars were parked on the street. It really helped that the weather was beautiful on the night we came. We waited outside at a picnic table and had a couple beers. I kind of wanted to eat outside, but we were seated in the second building which was nice. It looked like the dining area in the primary building had open garage doors to give it that indoor/outdoor feeling. But we didn't go in that room, so can't say much about it.
They were sold out of our first choices of brisket for her and ribs for me, but they did have a combination platter available where we could get our choice of meats including brisket. I don't understand how it can be available for a platter but not separately, but it turned out to be a good choice. We split a two meat platter of brisket and pulled pork. It came with two sides. We picked cheesy potatoes and baked beans. The we could pick either a fattier brisket or a drier brisket, so we went with here recommendation that the fatty one was juicier. We also picked the cornbread over Texas toast, which was a good choice although we had to split the only piece.
We weren't really very hungry, but we loved it. I'm not generally big on pulled pork, but this was outstanding. It was juicy and flavorful. I think the GF liked the brisket better, but that is usually her choice at a BBQ place. And it was good. We would try the leaner stuff the next time. I loved the cheesy potatoes. The baked beans were nothing special and didn't live up to the meats. The cheesy potatoes may not have been special either, but they were exactly what you would expect. It's probably hard to screw up cheesy potatoes.
My next trip will definitely include the pulled pork and cheesy potatoes. I'll eat the meat without a bun. I rarely do that, but will do it at this place. She will probably try the drier brisket.
I highly recommend this place. I only have one sample, but I'd rank it better than Hickory Park, Jethros and that place in the Depot. Jethros does have excellent sides though. We will return.
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