Cornbred Barbecue — Restaurant in Ames

Title: A Celebration of Authenticity: An Evening at Cornbred

In the heartland of Iowa lies a culinary gem called Cornbred. Situated in the cozy town of Ames, it’s not just a restaurant, but an epitome of rustic elegance and culinary excellence. From the moment we stepped in, the warm ambiance embraced us, promising an unforgettable dining experience.

The evening commenced with a frolic of flavors through craft beers - Exile, Ruthie Lager and a Toppling Goliath Pale Ale, an ode to Iowa's burgeoning craft beer scene. They paired immaculately with the starter ensemble, lending a refreshing contrast to the robust flavors that were to follow.

Our appetizer tableau comprised Pork Belly Brussel Sprouts, Cornbread Mini Muffins, and Flappers - slow smoked chicken wings glazed in honey garlic. Each bite was a harmony of taste and texture, leading us on a journey through smoky, savory, and subtly sweet landscapes.

The essence of freshness pervaded every dish, showcasing Cornbred’s commitment to quality and authenticity. The presentation was a visual feast, with a palette of colors and meticulous plating that was nothing short of artistry.

As we delved into the entrees, the star of the evening was undoubtedly the Brisket & Chill. The brisket, tender to the touch and rich in flavor, was beautifully complemented by a house crema and escabeche over a bed of jalapeño corn pudding, embodying the essence of Southern comfort food. The Burnt Ends, a crowd favorite, was another hearty celebration of craft meats, delivering a smoky resonance which was beautifully offset by the crunch of pickles and pickled onions. The sweet and savory play continued with house-made sauces - Sweet & Sassy, Tangy Mustard, and Pepper Vinegar, each adding a unique note to the melt-in-your-mouth brisket.

The chosen trimmings were more than just sides; they were a narrative of taste and tradition. Hallelujah Potatoes, Apple Pork and Beans, Cornbread Pudding, Creamy Pineapple Slaw, and Street Corn Salad - each had a story to tell, complimenting the mains like a well-orchestrated symphony.

Concluding the culinary saga was Aunt Liz’s Carrot Cake, a dish of homely yet refined sweetness, embodying the rustic allure that is Cornbred.

The staff, courteous and attentive, added to the charm, making our dining experience seamless and pleasurable. Their smiles were as warm as the comforting Iowa hospitality, ensuring every patron felt at home.

Cornbred isn’t merely a dining spot; it's a rendezvous of tradition, taste, and heartwarming hospitality. It's where every dish is a narration of stories old and new, a place where the heart, quite literally, feels at home. Our expedition through the comforting and hearty American fare was not just a feast for our taste buds, but a soothing balm...

The meat was absolutely mind blowing. One of the best burnt end brisket I had. Ever. Jumping strongly at the very top of my personal list. The chef entrée (Fireside Beef) was very well balanced, meat cooked to perfection. I appreciated some details, as the grilled waxed beans. I actually loved that my plate arrived with lightly pan seared spinaches accompanying the beans, instead of a more aggressive arugula. They were flowless in taste and texture. The environment is very hipster-ish (for being Iowa) and comfy. The carrot cake was not memorable, but I wasn't there for the dessert. Despite the objectively noteworthy food, I'm almost tempted for a 4 not 5 stars review. I would definitely go for a 4.5 if Google would allow me to. The main reason? The service. Don't get me wrong, the chefs are obviously awesome, and the blond cool dining room manager was lovely. However, the hostess asked me if I wanted, as an alone customer, to dine at the bar. Common. Even if this is VERY usual in this continent, I still hate it. Sorry. Asia and Europe waaaaay passed this. People go to restaurants or trucks or night markets for GOOD FOOD, fundamentally. Eventually, you can SHARE the experience to have delicious food. But, yeah, outside there, in the world, people love to enjoy cuisine and wine also alone. Additionally, very common as well, she gave me the most remote and corner table available. Pro tip. Never assume. Never. I can easily order food for 4 people. So, simply, don't. I'm not wasting your space, I guarantee you. And here it comes my waitress disappointment. She was fakely polite, nothing bad, very usual. I would not even mention it. However, she decided that I could not possibly want the brisket AND the main beef entrée AND the bacon (which was sold out, BTW) AND the chick-a-rones. She said that "maybe" I could have just the entrée, forget the chicken, and have the brisket to go (this is why in my pics it is in a box already). Fine, I appreciate you tried to save it for me before it was sold out (which would be indeed a tragedy, since it's delicious). Give it to me in a box, if this makes more sense in your world where alone customers just want to rush out or going back home with their briskets. I will eat something else HERE. But, nope. When I finished my Fireside Beef she jumped asking me if I wanted a desert. Exactly when I genuinely was thinking to have the chick-a-rones, after all. Ok, fine. I order the dessert. And now I'm writing this, instead of running out -ashamed- after paying my bill, which was given to me in the middle of my carrot cake. Just a suggestion....

I took my mom here for her birthday since it has such a high reputation. Man, Cornbred let me down. Great staff, but the food man, no thanks.

Apps: Cowboy Caviar: Cowboy caviar tasted a lot like jarred corn and bean tomato salsa. The chips it came with were fried flour tortilla chips as opposed to corn chips, which is a shame because corn chips don't immediately get soggy when they touch salsa, frankly taste better with tomato salsa, and the name of the restaurant is corn related. I don't know why anyone would choose fried flour tortilla over corn tortilla chips. It was a choice. Just not my thing.

Mini Corn Muffins: The mini muffins were hard and dry and also didn't taste much like cornbread, maybe on account of being served in a bath of syrup. Any flavor washed away by sweetness. It's more of a dessert than an appetizer.

Entree: Brisket: I'm not sure what the hype is about on this brisket. It's pretty average, maybe a little dry. All of the sauces, like the muffins, are sugary to the nth degree.

Green Salad with Smoked Chicken: Man. I was sad. It was a sad salad. The smoked chicken itself is fine. Not great, wasn't a fan of the pepper crust but it was fine. But the rest of the salad, oh dear. The dressing was meant to be a lemon thyme dressing, but was so sweet that it tasted only of sugar and vinegar. The root vegetables that were served on the salad had the mealy texture of a potato that's just come out of the fridge. And the fried pita croutons tasted stale.

Man, salads at bbq joints are usually dope because you get the smoked meat with the greens and it's got the dressing saucing it up and it all just works. This one was a bummer.

Drinks: Pear Sour: Good. It was not sour, it tasted sweet, and I wouldn't have two for how sweet that it was, but maybe the categorization of it as a sour is reflective of how sweet this restaurant seems to lean overall.

Dessert: Carrot Cake: Tasty! The candied walnuts are another overzealous smack of sugar that really didn't need to be there but the cake itself was tasty! Woohoo! And the wait staff was so nice about it being a birthday.

TLDR: BBQ doesn't live up to it's reputation, food doesn't seem to be very fresh, and food is across the board heavily sweetened. But the staff are...