Jimmy Jack’s Rib Shack
1940 Lower Muscatine Rd, Iowa City, IA, 52240
Jimmy Jack’s Rib Shack Menu
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Address :
1940 Lower Muscatine Rd
Iowa City, IA, 52240 - Phone (319) 354-7427
- Website https://www.jimmyjacksribshack.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
- Mon : 11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : Yes
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
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Bryan M.
Oh man, this place is good at what it does. Just be prepared for what you will get, which is big, heavy food. The meats and cornbread are delicious, as are the sauces that come with it. When I went here as a vegetarian, I really enjoyed the portobello sandwich as well.
(5)Beau N.
best bbq i ever 8. i didnt know what to get so i asked one of the girls at the counter, i think her name was janey or jenny (i dont remember lol), what the best thing on the menu is and she recommended the sampler for my first time. i ordered ribs, sausage, and brisket with fries and slaw. ITS SOO GOOD OMFG. the cowboy sauce, carolina vinegar, and the pickles/onions are the best. the only things i would change about jimmy jacks would be the uncomfortable wooden seating and the confined feeling i experienced in the dining room. while i was eating the same girl who helped me order returned and made sure i was enjoying my dinner. she even refilled my drink and brought me extra napkins! i offered to tip her but she politely declined and continued assisting other customers. this girl needs to be in management, she knows how to make ppl feel at home! restaurant was very clean and all the staff seemed really happy. 10/10 will recommend and go again!
(5)Keyla R.
Great BBQ for Iowa City, with friendly, welcoming staff and a family atmosphere! Worth stopping in for their corn bread alone. It comes slathered and dripping with sweet honey, dense and slighty moist. No corn inside, though, if you like it that way. And, it's not made cast-iron style, but it's damn delicious nevertheless. I had the lean brisket dinner, which includes a sandwich, two sides of your choice, and that damned tasty corn bread. The sandwich is plenty big for me - I couldn't even finish it all - but if you want, you can make it supreme size, which is a King Kong portion of beef. You order, grab your number, and choose your own BBQ sauce - regular, cowboy, mustard-based - and they bring it to your table. For sides, I had french fries - okay but not particularly inspiring - and, baked beans. The beans were an unfortunate miss for me. I don't like large chunks for onions in my beans, and I don't understand the use of kidney beans in my baked beans, but maybe this is just a regional thing that I'm just not gonna love (like mashed potatoes in my burritos - which fortunately they don't even have here). Honestly, the flavor of the beans - the saucy part - was just great. And, it did have meat - pork, I think - in it, of which I am a fan. So even with the kidney beans, and the onion chunks, I would still recommend it and even eat it again. Though, I will be the weirdo picking out the large onion pieces carefully before I dig in. Truth - I like the place and will be back.
(4)Mike M.
Good, but not great. Still on the hunt for great brisket that isn't sliced so thin that all the juice and bark are gone. Jimmy Jack's was better than some of the places I've tried, but still not what I crave. Sauces were decent, nothing was outstanding, but nothing to avoid either. Beans were too heavy on the onions as they overpowered anything else. Pulled pork was pretty good. Nice touch having jalapenos available and the condiment bar.
(3)Clem M.
This place is one of the top fifteen restaurants that will blow your mind according to Movoto. The staff are extremely courtes and friendly, they make you feel welcome and at home. They are very familiar with the menu and great at making recommendations. I ordered the sampler with ribs, pulled pork, and brisket. The ribs didn't blow my mind or even impress me. They didn't fall off the bone and didn't have any smoked flavor. I felt they were just OK. The lean brisket was excellent and had a great smoke ring, was very lean and had magnificent flavor. I would recommend the brisket, they don't give you very much with the sampler. I might try a two meat combo next time. The pulled pork was obliterated, it was just a mass of tiny pieces, thankfully they were willing to provide a bun. Making a sandwich is the best option. I also was not blown away by the pulled pork. I just felt it was average. They have a great selection of sauces and I recommend trying the Carolina Mustard. The other sauces work well based on your taste. The sides were fantastic. I recommend the fries which were large, hot, and had a great flavor. I also got the beans that had an excellent flavor. The corn bread is fantastic and absolutely amazing. I highly recommend it. I will definitely give this place another try due to the fact that I came an hour before closing.
(4)Kristy S.
Went here for the first time and it was great, I wasn't expecting an order in kind of place but it wasn't bad at all. My boyfriend and I ordered pulled pork dinner, which comes with 2 sides and a honey cornbread. Mine came with baked beans and kettle chips, his was baked beans and fries. It was A LOT of food for a reasonable price! The sauces were great, I'm not a huge fan of sauces in general, but out of the 5 available I was a fan of 3. The original, the cowboy and the Carolina Mustard were my favorite but that's because I have a sweet tooth my boyfriend like all of them but the cowboy was his favorite. The honey cornbread slice was ginormous but it was absolutely delicious! I would recommend this place to anyone in the area that wants BBQ, by far the best BBQ I've had in Iowa City to date!
(4)Marina R.
Not bad but not good either. Neither the ribs or the pulled pork tasted much like anything. They needed some serious seasoning. I'm more of a dry rub girl and they are more of a saucy joint. The corn bread was so sweet and syrupy I was not able to have more than one bite. My husband thought it was okay but a little too sweet as well. The mustard and the fries were outstanding. The staff was friendly and the decor was nice so they get points for that.
(2)Sachin G.
Hands down the best barbeque place in Iowa City. The fatty beef brisket is my favorite, so are the ribs. They have a lot of bbq sauce options to choose from. Staff are friendly and the service is quick. A great place to visit with friends.
(5)Alexis K.
AMAZING!!!! The sandwiches are good, but add any one of the sauces and they are great. The best french fries in town. The only thing we don't love is the corn bread.
(5)Jason G.
I make it a point to try new restaurants in cities that I frequent, especially if I'm likely to not be back. I searched and found this place on Yelp to get pretty good ratings and reviews. Overall, it has a nice outside appeal and seems like a fun place to eat. I took my dinner to go and got a variety of meats to sample. The ribs, brisket, pulled pork, and sausage were all pretty good.
(3)j c.
Best BBQ in town is correct. Not too bad compared to big city places. I like the simple menu. You can get brisket and pulled pork sandwiches but I like their combo where you can get little bit of everything. Ribs are hit and miss. Some days, they are fall off the bone tender, other times, they are tough to chew. Brisket can be dry. Pulled pork is consistently good. The sides are great including sweet cornbread, smoky baked beans, refreshing slaws and meaty wedge fries. Nice touch to have home made sauces of varying ignition points. Casually divey and hip inside decor.
(4)Rick D.
Will try soon!
(5)Rachel S.
Yummmmm! As a Kansas City girl, I can tell you this is the real deal! I will definitely be back. Get the Cowboy sauce! (Apple BBQ sauce was the feature and it was way too sweet for me.)
(5)Lizz M.
Based on the great reviews, I'm going to assume Iowa City doesn't have that many choices when it comes to barbecue. My favorite part about Jimmy Jack's was the fries, which says something about the meat. To get the real feel for the place i ordered the sampler platter of pulled pork, beef brisket, and ribs. My sides were fries and coleslaw, and the meal came with a piece of corn bread. The meats in order of deliciousness: pulled pork, ribs, and brisket. The pulled pork was well smoked, only needed a small bit of sauce. Ribs were also solid. Skip the brisket, seriously. The brisket is the driest I've ever tasted. Sides: Fries are well-seasoned and nice and thick. The coleslaw was bland, but improved after adding a bit of salt. The corn bread is...weird. I still can't decide whether or not i like it. Maybe it's because I'd rather eat Texas toast? In conclusion, I'd come back to eat more pulled pork, fries, and to try other meats.
(3)Mel W.
We usually get a pound of carry out pulled pork and it has always been consistently delicious. A little pricey but that hasn't kept us from going back!
(5)Liz S.
Best BBQ in town! The turkey sandwich is the best sandwich. Huge thick slices of turkey on delicious bread. They have tons of bbq sauce options if you want mild, hot, or just a regular flavor. Their cornbread is so thick and it's covered in a honey like substance. I would recommend getting the French fries too. I love French fries and these are thick cut and delicious. Service is quick and easy and they have fun seating options inside and outside. They also have great catering options for special events.
(5)David G.
Just finished lunch here today. Unfortunately, I have eaten a substantial amount of great BBQ from SC to Texas, to St Louis, to TN, Etc. very few times have I run into brisket and ribs as dry and overcooked as these. Even if it was just this batch of meat, I would have thrown it out. I ordered the sampler plate with baked beans, fries and cornbread. The meats included ribs, brisket and sausage. After trying the ribs and brisket, I moved on to the sausage. It's ok. The beans would have been better if I liked green bell pepper, but I don't. Also, what BBQ joint doesn't have sweet tea? This one! Very disappointed on that note. Finally, the highlight of the entire meal was the cornbread. I don't think I have had cornbread that tasty in a very long time! I was hoping to use these guys to cater an event for me next month. I just can't risk it. I'll just go with Hy-Vee and their pulled pork. Nothing against the kind and attentive staff or the atmosphere; I probably won't return anytime soon.
(2)Patrick L.
Everything was delicious and reasonably priced. Service was prompt and friendly. My wife & I shared Jack's Sampler. We chose the ribs, pulled pork, and fatty brisket. All of the available sauces were very tasty. We'll definitely be coming back for more.
(5)Tom S.
Holy fuck this was good! The ribs were falling straight off the bone. Their 4 alarm BBQ sauce had the perfect level of heat. The baked beans were great. By the end of our meal my friend and myself looked like a BBQ sauce crime scene. And not a single fuck was given.
(5)Matthew O.
This place is a great place to eat. The food is out of this world. Only draw back is very uncomfortable seating.
(5)Shambavi K.
It's good and well priced. I have been here twice while visiting friends in Iowa City. Pulled pork is very popular and so are the fries. Their fatty brisket was decent too. Note: their meats are not pre-sauced and they are not dry :) They have a self service BBQ sauce and condiments bar which we enjoyed testing our taste buds. The little to-go containers with the sharpie markers at the bar made things so easy to pack take-out. It's really the little details... I can't speak for the other sides as I didn't try them (it just didn't stand out to me). The honey butter corn bread was just okay... I probably won't get that again. The fries were great..crispy wedges/sticks but not dense. We enjoyed it for sure.
(4)Michael B.
Stopped by here in the middle of a long drive to Omaha and was really impressed. Walking up I knew I had made a good decision smelling everything outside and looking at the menu - very reasonable prices too. I decided to share the sampler with ribs, brisket, and pulled pork. The cornbread was very good, a little sweet for me, but I was really focused on saving room for the meat. The ribs were the highlight for me - great smoky flavor and bark. Pulled pork was good, but I would pass on the brisket if coming back again. The regular sauce here was outstanding, and was very good with the fries as well. Overall extremely friendly and great BBQ, wish I had a spot like this closer to home!
(4)Tony R.
Awesom place to eat. Corn bread good. Chicken good. Brisket good! Pulled pork good! Too bad they are small! But that's the nice thing
(5)Ed P.
First time back after a long time. Still great BBQ. The ribs had a good smoke ring and great flavor. The baked beans were just as good as I remember. I had corn bread, which while still good, is a little different than I remember. The only thing I didn't like was that the chips were out of a bag. Those should be house made.
(4)K S.
Located in the heart of SE Iowa City this little red building brings a blast flavor. The smoked ribs are great. The meat falls off the bone. It lite crossed adds to the flavor. The fries are outstanding. Be sure to try them with the mustard. 4 sauce is all excellent. Even leave sausage link had a lot of flair. I would recommend the sampler. Be sure you bring to. There's enough food there to fill too hungry mouse. Having a sampled barbecue from the south and southwest. This place is a fun hang out for a barbecue lover. The chili was a little mild for my taste. However everything else picked up the beat. If you order too much. There's always the boxes in the back of the building for you to help yourself with and bring some flavor home. I'll stop by again. If you're on interstate 80 stop off at bandanas and save your trip across town. Similar flavors.
(4)Tom B.
Excellent BBQ. Had sampler of three meats to taste the variety. Friendly staff. Good service. Great cornbread. Generous portions. Sat outside on patio, good indoor space. Clean. Reasonably priced.
(5)Alicia R.
I love this place a lot. They have a deal where if you buy 9 sandwiches you get a tenth free. My only complaint is that I wish they had more choices for sides, but what they do have is delicious.
(5)Jirakate M.
My boyfriend took me to this place 2 months ago. I like it very much and we keep coming back every 2wks. Must try 4alarm sauce!
(5)Kate T.
My new favorite place to eat! The ice cream sandwich is amazing, but only available in the summer.
(5)Carly M.
The food is really good.. We ate there with our three young children and wish we would have got it to go... It's pretty small inside and we felt our kids were a little loud for the space!! But it's really nice for an older crowd
(4)Martin F.
This is good, tender, tasty 'que at a good price served quickly. They care about the decor and ambiance. The folks behind the counter are friendly. I think the brisket was reheated though.... Almost all of the tell tale red from the smoker was replaced by grey. I sampled several of the sauces, and while the four alarm had some heat, I guess they must go on a scale of 8 out here as it wasn't as hot as I was expecting. The only other nit I have was the coated fries.... The extra touches - if you want, you can drink your coffee in a ceramic mug, a self serve selection of pickles, onions, jalepenos.
(4)Gabe L.
Interior is very clean and menu boards are easy to read! Some BBQ joints tend to have too many choices but I feel jimmy jacks does a great job at keeping it simple and sticking to what they know best! I ordered food to go: Italian sausage and the supreme sandwich (recommended by the server) Italian sausage sandwich was a little small but had great flavor! The supreme was all that, SUPREME! Moist, meaty, and big! Had fries and come slaw for sides. Fries were battered not a normal cut which I liked and the cole slaw was great, not spicy but had a good vinegar taste like a normal slaw should. Oh and the corn bread! So great!! I was very happy with my first experience and will definitely be back to try the ribs! I would recommend this joint any day!
(5)Kris A.
I'm thrilled to write a glowing review for Jimmy Jacks catering. They made it SO easy for me to order and asked me questions to make sure I was getting just the right amount of everything from buns to meats to sauce. I called back the day before my delivery and asked to make a change based on changes in the people attending and it was handled extremely well. Delivery was exactly on time and handled very professionally. The food was amazing! Our entire party loved it. Thank you so much for the great experience.
(5)Brandon M.
My wife and I have now been here 6 times. Only ever ordered the fatty brisket. Best BBQ in Iowa City hands down! You'll also find the staff extremely helpful and positive. Have had multiple conversations with them not only about the ordering options, but sauces. Also, while not a driving factor the blues music they play is a great added touch. My wife loves Johnny Cash and it always seems to be on when were there. Great overall atmosphere on top of the already great food.
(5)Miles U.
The ribs were amazing and were smoked to perfection! The fries were great with there special seasoning, and the corn bread was so rich it tasted like cake. Many sauces to choose from and great customer service! A+
(5)John T.
Friendly and fast service. This is the best BBQ in Iowa City.
(4)Kristin M.
I'm writing this review after many delicious carryout meals from Jimmy Jacks over the years. The staff are ultra friendly, even when you call minutes before close. The food is always hot, and the sides are almost as delicious as the main dishes. We usually order a half rack of ribs and chicken wings. The seasoned fries are AMAZING. The sauces available for takeout are varied and flavorful. The dining area is clean and family friendly. We are never disappointed. I'd imagine that delivery might be the only missing feature.
(5)Mark J.
Update: VERY Celiac/Gluten Free friendly. All their meats and sauces are GF. The staff is very knowledgeable of safe food items and cross-contam. concerns. Whoever says gluten-free is great weight loss has never discovered this place :)
(5)Terry G.
The meat is very moist and flavorful. They have a good selection of BBQ and smoked meats with excellent side dishes. The service was relatively quick as well.
(5)Eric C.
Great BBQ joint. I'll definitely be making regular trips back. They have six or seven (I think) sauces, all very delicious. I had the brisket, pulled pork, and ribs. I don't want to overstate anything, so I'm not going to say it was the best I've ever had, but I will say it was among the better BBQ I've had (the brisket, in particular, would be hard to beat). You won't be disappointed. Friendly staff, pleasant environment. Side note: their cornbread was decent, but not what I hoped for. Next time, I'll probably do French fries or potato chips as my side.
(4)James T.
I went to Jimmy jacks last week and bought two meals. The hostess was very nice and my meal came out fast. The girl forgot to put my two cookies in my bag and when I called them they swiftly handled it. They sent me a gift card for $15 which was pretty much what my whole meal cost! Only time I have ever had any type of negative experience there and they really impressed me with their prompt and very generous actions. Been living on the east side of Iowa City for 20 years. This is the only place within 100 miles that I go to (Jethro's in Des Moines)
(5)Steve W.
Came here twice in same day. So gooooooood! Ribs were tasty w/o sauce- true testament to high quality. Live the cowboy and original sauces. Jimmy four alarm sauce was too hot for me!
(5)Rick M.
I have been here ..at least 15 times in the last 5yrs. This is one of the best BBQ in this 50mi raidius. This is almost (except for Bandana's) that has this intense smokey flavor. Meats are moist....awesome...cornbread is also AWESOME!!GOD DAYEM I wish I could make cornbred this friggin' good so I would not have to drive20 mi for this BBQ...sorry..and cornbread!! Sides?You can;t lose.Coleslaw?....not recommended...because I prefer the creamy spicy type...like KFC coleslaw...my bad. I have had 1...only 1...time with dry meat...warm...not hot...but I still go there...make the drive....there is not much in this area-this good.And in ANY area it would be good! Chicken is ALWAYS excellent.The choice of BBQ sauces are also great. For me..it is WELL worth the 20mi drive when I want BBQ....GO FOR IT!!
(5)Christian T.
This is, hands-down, the best Barbecue restaurant in Iowa City or the surrounding area. If you're looking to gut-check the quality of a barbecue joint, go for the ribs (puns puns puns). Jimmy Jack's ribs are fantastic; they're heavily smoked, meaty, moist and tender. Even without sauce they have a surprisingly robust flavor that I didn't expect to find in the state of Iowa whatsoever. That said, my absolute favorite item on the menu is the Deluxe sandwich, a savory triad of pulled pork, turkey, and brisket that radiates flavor. Even if you get it made into a combo (includes two sides + corn bread) and then make it a jumbo with double the meat (twice the meat, twice the love!) it comes out to $11.49, which is still a fantastic value considering the mountain of food you're getting. And then there are the sauces: as numerous as they are tasty. The sauces are made in house and are shockingly good, again absolutely demolishing my modest expectations. There are only two items on the menu that aren't quite up to the standard the rest of the food is held to. For one, their coleslaw sucks, there's no other way to say it. BUT I am happy to say there's a fix, if you just put in one or two pumps of their Carolina Mustard. Secondly their corn bread is... strange. It's unlike any corn bread I've had before, with all the flavor concentrated in the glaze on top, with very little moisture or flavor distributed throughout the rest. Every other side is great. Final verdict: Some of the best barbecue I've had, period - even better than places I've dined at in Texas and Tennessee. If you're in the area and craving barbecue, eat here. Sushi? Forget it, eat here. Middle Eastern? Still no, eat here. If you're a vegetarian seeking treatment for your ailment, this is the best care you can get. Seriously, you need to run, not walk, to Jimmy Jack's.
(5)Michael H.
I am usually skeptical of BBQ joints on the road. I opted to trust the reviews on this one and went. I love me some BBQ. This place was great. The ribs were tender and tasty, the sauce and spicy sauce were hearty. The sides were corn bread, fries, and slaw. Everything was fantastic. I'd go out of my way again to eat here.
(5)Mark G.
Great BBQ, meat has nice smoked flavor, meat is tender and cooked just right. The brisket,pulled pork, ribs, and smoked wings are awesome.They have a few different sauces I usually get them all and they have a nice Carolina vinegar sauce as well, love that. Fries, cookies, beans, and cornbread sides are very good as well.Food comes out quick as most BBQ places do, very nice staff, and nice decor with a good amount of seating inside. I really like this place a lot, been here several times as they are always consistent and delicious.
(5)Charles S.
This place has awesome pulled pork sandwiches and French fries. I wonder if the fries are homemade or frozen, regardless they are better than you can make yourself (or I can, at least). The sauces are amazing. I've never eaten at the place, always call ahead for carry out ... only takes 10 minutes for them to get it ready. Possible areas of improvement: 1. Less fat in the pulled pork. Sometimes you can get a chunk of fat and it is gross. Most of the time it is A-OK. 2. Better baked beans and coleslaw consistency. Sometimes it is good and other times it has been sitting for awhile and is old and not good. If Arnold Schwarzenegger ate here he would say "I'll be back" and so will I.
(4)Abby R.
Been here about 20+ times. They have a really good "Supreme Sandwich" thats my mom and dads favorite, I love their turkey sandwich dinner which comes with their amazing delicious fries and a cookie. Try their homemade mustard it will make your dinner even better!!!!
(5)Ashleigh G.
Best pulled pork I've ever had in my life. The cowboy sauce is amazing on it. It's reasonably priced too. Highly recommended to all. They also just started a punch card! Love Jimmy Jacks Rib Shack!!
(5)Shannon G.
Yum! Great pulled pork sandwich. Great ribs- very meaty and tender. Various sauces which are all very different- you are bound to find one you like. Amazing corn bread. Food is sourced as much local as possible. Cole slaw is homemade, as well as the ice cream sandwiches. My favorite sauce was the Cowboy, which was a little sweeter, while my husband loved the Original (spicy) and Four Alarm (spiciest). The Carolina Mustard would taste amazing with fries. We spent two years living in Southern California and looking for a BBQ place with good sauce and good meat, but couldn't find a great combination. But moved to Iowa City and found an amazing BBQ place. Highly recommend.
(4)Mark N.
The service was great. The food was very good. Ribs might have have been smoked a little to long but still amazing taste and flavor. The sauces were all great, cowboy sauce had a great smokey flavor to it. The hot sauce is HOT but good. Worth stopping in Hawkeye country when we are from Husker country!
(5)Matt B.
Bring back the brats and mustard!!!!
(4)Cory C.
Whenever I have the craving for good BBQ this is where I head! It really is a rib"shack". The staff behind the counter is always friendly, food comes out within 10 min of ordering, they have yet to mess up my orders so I think there service is on point! I have sampled all the sauces and I personally love the cowboy but each sauce offers there own uniqueness. I have had both the ribs and pulled pork and I must say they are both great. I am also a huge fan of there coated french fries...not to many places you can get those, there honey cornbread and there baked beans! i guess what I'm getting at is you can't really go wrong! Prices aren't bad either at about $10 a person for a rather good sized basket of food. You will be full! Well worth a stop in.
(4)Rene V.
This place is decent. They make there own sauces and they are really good. I found the brisket to be too dry and the ribs were cooked well, but just didn't have that much flavor. I'd recommend but it won't blow your socks off.
(3)Carla F.
Even though I hail from Texas, I'm not going to talk about the great barbecue I've eaten and how Jimmy Jack's is a sad reminder of what I don't have because that's not true. The pulled pork sandwich that I had here was EXACTLY what I'd been craving. The portion was a good size for the price ($4.29) and came without sauce so I could indulge in all four JJ's offered, including the tangy mustard. I also ordered a side of fries ($1.99) that were so crispy and wonderful it made me forget that I told myself I'd order coleslaw because it was a "vegetable". I do agree with some reviewers that it'd be nice to have more side options and I do have to wave my Texan card and ask for white onions and pickles to be served on the side because that's how us folks do it down there, y'all. The service was quick and the cashiers were kind, I'll definitely be back.
(4)Sara E.
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(4)A W.
Stopped here based on Yelp reviews while traveling on a road trip. Thank you once again fellow Yelpers! This place was great. I had the pulled pork sandwich dinner with cornbread, beans and fries. Husband had The Supreme with cornbread, beans and cole slaw. I thought everything was delicious. The only exception being the cole slaw seemed a smidge on the dry side for me. The place itself is very clean and organized. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful. Would certainly recommend!
(5)Sean W.
Simply put, the best BBQ in IC. Good meat, good sides, good toppings, good sauces, good staff, good atmosphere, good blues music, all around good. Honey corn bread is great too, and I usually get the pulled pork or brisket. If you want BBQ in IC, this is place to go. I would however put it up in a Food Wars against BBQ This! in CR. Both are comparable.
(4)Janis F.
I love the meat here, particularly the chicken, but I selfishly wish they offered more sides. If you guys can make such awesome fries, surely you could pull off some onion rings or tater tots?
(4)Erin G.
great ribs and chicken!
(4)Kat H.
love the ribs. soo tasty, and tender. love the variety of sauces- theres also a super spicy one, and jalapenos too. only drawback is no tvs! had to sit and chat with my eating partner the whole time (the bf).
(5)Melissa T.
Holy crap. BBQ doesn't get much better than this. (If it does, then send me there.) The meat, sauces and sides are traditional but perfectly seasoned in generous portions. The staff is friendly, the menu is easy and they've done an acceptable job revamping the decor from what it used to be. I crave Jimmy Jacks more than a person should...
(5)Ultra V.
If you're about due for another epic feeding frenzy, this is just the place for you. Their ribs are Dee-lish with a Capital D. While their side dishes are not quite as over-the-top yummy, they are definitely above-adequate. Most employees seem friendly enough and a few of them are even kinda foxy.
(4)Heather L.
If you are going to do something, do it well... and Jimmy Jack's does BBQ well! If you don't like BBQ, you'll have to go somewhere else because their menu focuses in a few items, which in my opinion probably explains the high quality of the items they offer. I do have to admit that we did take out on this particular night because we were not sure they would have any place to put two car seats, so I have not actually been in the restaurant, just eaten the goods. They have a website so you can take a look at their menu and decide what you would like. While I am usually a sucker for anything with pulled pork, I decided on the half slab of ribs, with your choice of two sides and a piece of the honey cornbread. The half slab, plus all the sides is a lot of food, so make sure you bring your game face... and stretchy pants. The ribs come dry, so if you like your ribs sloppy and dripping with BBQ sauce, make sure to get some extra cups of BBQ sauce. Usually I like lots of sauce with mine, but I have to say that I did enjoy the ribs as they came. They weren't quite fall-off-the-bone tender, but they were still tender and close to that stage. I'm not sure which one of the sauces my sister-in-law grabbed for us, and while it wasn't my favourite, I could definitely tell that it was a homemade sauce as you could taste the different spices and everything that was used to make the sauce... which I appreciate. The sauce was tangy and a bit on the tart side. I actually preferred dipping my fries in it than putting it on my ribs. The fries were delicious... I imagine that they are probably crisp if you eat in, but I am one of those weirdos that appreciates the soggy fry and these make for good soggy fries... the kind that sop up any left over sauce you may have. The coleslaw was great, a nice refreshing side when you have the smoky ribs and stodgy fries. And the cornbread! That alone was so delicious... in fact I had to stop eating ribs, fries, and coleslaw just to make sure that I could eat the entire (very large piece) bit of cornbread. I saw a review where someone said it was pricey, but I don't think it is that pricey... The chicken I think is on the cheap side for a BBQ place and the price of the ribs I think is about average of what you would pay at a good BBQ restaurant. Ribs are always a bit pricier than some of the other items on any menu, in addition to ribs not being the cheapest cut of meat and the time it takes to cook them to get them just right... I think it is worth it. The only reason I deducted a star was that they didn't get the order right and there were a couple of items that were left out of our order and since we were in Cedar Rapids, there was no way we were going to drive all the way back just to collect the couple of sides that were left out.
(4)Emily L.
Hands down, the best ribs I've ever had. The meat was tender and just slid off the bone. Delicious smoky flavor that doesn't overpower the meat's porky essence. They have a bunch of dipping sauces which are fantastic too (not that you need them). My husband and I shared a full rack and we literally did not speak to each other while devouring the ribs other than the occasion guttural grunt of happy happy. After we demolished the ribs, we started on the sides which were equally tasty! Cornbread with a nice amount of honey, delicious beans, refreshing coleslaw.
(5)Nicole S.
Fantastic BBQ period! I was in Iowa with some friends over the weekend and they decided on taking me to Jimmy Jacks for my Birthday Dinner based on the great ratings and reviews. I had the Pulled Pork dinner with coleslaw and beans and each dinner comes with amazing cornbread drizzled with honey. I'm a condiment freak so I could not wait to try thier sauce selection and boy were they good! I loved the original which had a nice bite to it and I tried the carolina mustard which was really good too. I dipped some pickles in the 5 alarm which is quite hot and had my sinuses running almost immediately ha but I ended up using a generous amount of the original on my pork. Everyone raved about thier meals and how we cannot wait to go back for next years trip, I am so happy we found this BBQ gem!
(5)Karlton K.
Jimmy Jack's is a real gem. Approaching the front door in the summer your senses are teased by the aroma of fresh herbs farmed in the planters out front, mingling with the savory smoky waft of delight emanating from the smoker out back. The ribs are excellent with a variety of dipping sauces, the Carolina Mustard being one of my favorites. Side dishes are quality items and include homemade beans with bits of smoked pork, french fries with a crunchy spicy coating, fresh made cole slaw, and an excellent honey-buttered corn bread. Alternatives to ribs are the typical pulled pork and beef brisket sandwiches. Smoked chicken halves are another popular and delicious alternative as is one of my favorites: The Smoked Italian Sausage sandwich with roasted red peppers. I would order that all the time if the ribs weren't so darned good! Service is casual. Walk in, place your order at the window, and take a seat. Help yourself to the soda fountain and sauce bar. The building is an old Long John Silver's from the 70's, and until Jimmy Jack's was established, had housed a string of short -lived restaurants in a seemingly cursed location. The decor is typical of the "shack" theme, with wood tables and benches, touches of galvanized steel siding, and antique tools adorning the walls. The dining area is small and with bench seating there are no seat backs to hang your coat on. Coat trees are provided. During the warmer months an outdoor seating area is also available. Since the success of Jimmy Jack's other rib joints have sprung up in town, but I keep returning to the original Iowa City rib shack: Jimmy Jack's
(5)Anna H.
Can't go wrong with anything on this menu.
(5)Sean P.
This is a really quick, excellent place to stop in Iowa City. Not a lot of people seem too familiar with it (probably due to its location), but its one of the best BBQ places you will find in the area. Indoor and outdoor seating available, and you can be in and out in 15-20 minutes while taking in some great food. Now if only it were closer to where I live... Can't have it all, I guess.
(4)Scott A.
Service was nice, Food was out to us quickly. The front counter employee taking our order was very friendly and when I asked him what he liked he gave me his thoughts and told us what other customers have told him they liked and why. My wife and I had Pulled Pork Diner with corn bread, baked beans and I had the chocolate chip cookie and my wife had the fries. The Pork was very tasty and had a good smoke to it with a nice bark. Loved the sandwich. Fries are great and the cookie was to die for. The corn bread was also good. The beans on the other had was just OK. I will go again but next time it will be fries and cookie for the sides. The sandwich is served dry and you add sauce from a choose of Cowboy BBQ, Jimmy jack's BBQ or Mustard. I loved the Cowboy BBQ because I like my sauce on the sweet and tangy side, It was great. My wife like the Jimmy Jack's sauce, because it had a little bit of heat to it. Both of the BBQ sauces are great. We used the mustard sauce to dip the fries in. The mustard was awesome and was the surprising highlight of the meal. There is both indoor and outdoor seating and we sat inside. it is a casual atmosphere but very clean and nice. Looks lie you would want a BBQ place to look. My wife was not happy with the wood bench type seats. She would of like to see a padded seat with a back on it. I did not mind the seating. Over all would would go again and tell my friends to give the place a try. It is not the best I have ever had but it is one of the best I have had in Iowa. PS. The employee said he loves the brisket, but most customers ordered the pulled pork and loved it.
(4)Mike O.
Limited service dining (order at the counter) for limited service dining the staff is very friendly and helpful. The menu is extremely limited nothing but BBQ. Limited seating and backless chairs are one of the only drawbacks. All the food is served on or in paper. Sauces: a good variety of sauces the original is good but the Cowboy is their best and the best I have ever had. Ribs: So far the best I have had, somewhat sweet and a good full smoked flavor. Pulled Pork: good smoked flavor Sides: again the sides are extremely limited only three to choose from. I don't usually eat French fries but these are the best I have ever had. Overall: When it comes to just plain meat and sauces this place has the best. I will drive to Iowa City just to eat here. Have been impressed each time with the staff.
(5)Kayla M.
The ribs are amazing - meat is practically falling off the bone, super tender. The sauces you add on your own so you can pick and choose as much as you like which is nice. I didn't think the sauces were particularly outstanding but they went well with the ribs. I would skip the pulled pork sandwich not because it was bad but because you'd be missing out on the ribs! Fries are great too, nice and crispy - not too thinly cut which I like.
(4)Ottis B.
BBQ Sauces are fantastic! But for $20+ I expect to be completely full & satisfied. Good food, good selection, staff is very nice, but I would recommend a lunch or smaller dinner option for less price.
(3)Xopher D.
Growing up in I.C. in the 80's, there was no BBQ joint that I could remember. Arby's roast beef with package sauce was the closest thing we could find -- but then, at that tender age, I didn't know what I was missing... And now we have Jimmy Jack's! And there was much rejoicing. My brothers have long sung its praises, and last week I found out why: this place is very very good. And why not? It's located in Iowa, the home of pork. Yes, you can try from a selection of tangy & spicy sauces, but just the dry-rub alone make for fine eatin'. A not-too-sweet, not-too-spicy blend of smoky savoriness that makes the mouth sing. There's someting reminiscent of Chinese 5-spice powder about it, but that might just be my ancestors calling out. Tender, not quite falling off the bone, and is that a perfectly pink smoke ring I spy? The chicken and turkey is also well done. Poultry is not negelcted in favor of the princely porcine. Half a chicken comes crisped-skinned on the outside, moist and yummy on the inside. Again, well-rubbed in that sweet & smoky fashion. Ah, it's meals like these that crush the ethical vegetarian within... A portabello 'shroom sandwich, fluffy honeyed cornbread, crack-seasoned fries (they're that addictive) are available to the herbivore. The baked beans are spicy-sweet, but I'm pretty sure a little bit of animal was tossed in for flavor. A former Long John Silver's, it's been blessedly reincarnated. Nothing fancy -- just friendly, clean and efficient. You walk up to the counter, you order your grub, and 5 minutes later, DIG IN!
(4)Doug W.
Great prices and really good ribs. They almost needed no sauce, but I couldn't resist trying out the six (or seven?) different sauces they have on tap. Half-slab portion is bigger than expected, and the pulled pork sandwich was good but couldn't hold a candle to the namesake ribs. Will be back, definitely.
(5)Larry H.
I went back to give Jimmy Jacks another try last week. I was pleasantly surprised by the sauces again! They have a great spicy sauce (not one of the 4 usual ones) that is like an 8/10 hot. That's plenty for most BBQ spots. The ribs are still not 100% but they are 85-90% good. They've got friendly service and most importantly, they've got great pricing! To get a slab of ribs for less than $20 is pretty amazing. I am thankful for JJ, cuz without them, I'd have to drive far for my rib fixings...
(4)Ana N.
Today was my first time here and it was a great experience.As soon as I walked in the door I got greeted and asked if it was my first time here...which I responded yes. After that they were so helpful and courteous and informed me about their sauces and vinegar. Half a slab of ribs is what I ordered and MAN! THEY WERE AWSOME!with their beans an fries. I'm definetly going back but this time for a pulled pork sandwich.
(5)J. J.
I don't know, maybe I've been spoiled (I've done the whole barbecue circuit: K.C., StL, Memphis, Carolinas, TX), but I've had much better barbecue than Jimmy Jack's. I've been there a handful of times, usually for lunch, and know it wasn't due to one anomalous visit, but the meat is fairly dry for true BBQ and pretty bland. I've never driven by and seen smoke rolling out of the place, like you see at most BBQ places, so I'm not sure how they're cooking it. The baked goods (buns & cornbread) have always seemed stale. The sauces came out of a pump in the dining room (cold sauce) and none of them seem to have much character. Worst of all, the place isn't cheap ($10 for a tiny sandwich and a small side of fries). Like I said, maybe I'm just being bourgeois, but it makes me kinda sad to see people say this is the best BBQ they've had. It is, though, one of the only BBQ places in I.C., making it a requirement to go if you live there.
(3)Katie S.
This place really impressed me. Easy menu. Good prices. FRIENDLY staff. Clean. Awesome condiment bar. Good music. Serve beer. Overall I thought it was great.
(5)Josh Z.
They are the best. Ribs cooked right. Wonderful chicken, sausage, turkey, brisket, and pulled pork. Only wish the menu was bigger. Best fries in the world. Cole slaw could be better. Service could be better, but no waitstaff, so can't complain too much.
(5)George X.
Found this place by accident. Don't get to that part of town very often, but was there for business and was hungry, so I stopped in. I'm glad I did. Atmosphere: Nice. Fitting for what it is. Service was extremely friendly. Very clean. Food: Fantastic. Has the beef brisket. Very good. I loved the Carolina Mustard sauce the best. My only quibble was that it would have better if the sauces were heated instead of cold. The french fries were out of this world. I'd go back just for those. Prices: A tad high. I paid $3 extra for "double meat" and got what I felt should have been a standard serving. But then, it seems that ALL bbq places are over-priced compared to other types of restaurants, so maybe my expectations need updating. Either that, or people are suckers for good bbq and will pay anything. Not sure I'd make the drive from Cedar Rapids just for this place, but I will be back when I am in the area.
(4)Kelly K.
Bbq rocks. They smoke all their own meat and make all the sauces too. Honey corn bread is yummy and staff is super nice.
(5)William T.
I am a Kansas City Native and despaired over getting passable BBQ here in Iowa (hey I have standards) but when Jimmy Jacks opened I was pleasantly surprised. The array of sauces and the perfectly smoked meat give you all you can handle experience-wise.
(4)Chris S.
Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. I go to this place anytime I want delicious BBQ. The service is fast, the prices are reasonable and the food is delicious. I prefer the brisket sandwiches but the ribs are a close second. Really just a personal preference at that point. I'm not going to lie, the building used to be an obvious long john silvers which is a little weird. But trust me, delicious!
(5)Mia C.
For the choices you have in Iowa City for barbeque, this is the place to be. The meat is delicious, and juicy. They serve most things dry so you can choose the sauce you want, there are also pickles, pepperoncinis, and onions for you to use at your own discretion. :) You get two sides with the sandwiches, I got the fries and the cole slaw, my mom and boyfriend got fries and the baked beans. The fries are the best! I think they may be battered but they are crunchy and delicious, the cole slaw was ok. I don't even like baked beans but these were great and when I go again thats probably the 2nd side I would get. The ambiance is laid back is cool, and overall this is a great place for your barbeque fixing.
(4)Joe R.
Great bbq, love the pulled pork sandwich with a side of beans and coleslaw
(4)Ed F.
Decent 'que. You gotta love a rib place that has shack in it's name. The menu is along the lines of Barbeque This, but better in my opinion. They have a similar condiment bar and stock it with peperoncinis - bonus! The quality and variety of the sides alone put's Jimmy's ahead of the competition. I had the pulled pork sandwich, it had a good flavor but it's hard to judge good BBQ just on that. I want to try the ribs in my return trip.
(3)J M.
Ate here while visiting family over the holidays. I wish this had been here when I was a student! Fantastic. Very good pulled pork and brisket, nice selection of sauces to choose from and...hand's down...the best french fries. Ever. Staff was super friendly and apologetic when I had to wait for my fries (offered extra fries, but when I declined they gave me a cookie). Good beer selection as well. I will definitely go back the next time I'm in IC. I only gave it four stars because I have been spoiled with good barbecue at 17th Street in Murphysboro, IL.
(4)Sarge R.
Let's cut right to the chase; you have to try this place. OUTSTANDING ribs and chicken, that's what we had. Sides of coleslaw and beans, also, OUTSTANDING. Employees, OUTSTANDING! We almost didn't go in, as we weren't sure it was open (we got there at 5:00 PM, on a Sunday). We then saw someone going in, and realized they also do a busy take-out service. We went in and the dining room looked simply cool! It is decorated with all old tools, flashlight, lanterns and a bunch of other neat stuff. Wooden benches and chairs give the right feel for eating ribs and chicken! Ordering was simple (small menu, review before you go, makes it easier. You order when you walk in), and service was quick. People started arriving after we got there, and they do a good business. The cream soda and Iowa beer also were very tasty. Give this place a try, you will not be disappointed. I even went and checked the restroom for cleanliness before giving them the highest rating. If a bathroom is nasty, I don't care how good the food is, they lose a star and a half. No disappointments here. I even bought a shirt (ask, they didn't have them on display). Loved it!
(5)Lauren W.
This is the best BBQ place in the Iowa City/Corridor area. Even my folks, who live in KC and have extremely high standards, want to drive the 45 min it takes to get down there from Solon. Everything on the menu is fantastic, and the sides are also exceptional. I'm a big fan of the pulled pork and ribs but my family also loves the chicken. I think their 4 Alarm sauce is the best.
(5)Jn K.
found this place while in iowa working near iowa city. but wow... this has to be one of the best bbq place i have ever been too. if you are ever near iowa city. check this place out. the best rib place i have ever been to.. and they only exciting thing i did while i was in iowa.
(5)Jim B.
I always look forward to a trip to Iowa City especially when it includes a stop at Jimmy Jack's. I love BBQ and this is one of the best places in Iowa. My wife and I often split one of the dinner platters so that we can both have some chicken and some ribs, both are top notch; portion size is just right for the both of us...you won't go hungry. There are number of excellent sauces to chose from to compliment your meat (we like the mustard bbq sauce.) The corn bread soaked in honey is to die for too. I'm sure there is better bbq to be found outside Iowa, but for what's available around here, this is about the best.
(5)Chad Z.
Here's my brief BBQ experience: a week in downtown in Nashville eating BBQ everyday, some Memphis, some KC-style places in Des Moines, and the local stuff. This is the best you will find within 100 miles. The menu is authentic BBQ with all the great staples and the atmosphere is authentic with the unique building and old tools on the wall. It makes BBQ This! in Cedar Rapids seem like a Subway.
(5)Dug D.
Well in my previous review I promised to try the ribs when I was back in town for a football game. I did so this past Saturday. I was not disappointed. The ribs were excellent. I tried 3 sauces. Four alarm, Cowboy and Carolina mustard. Of the 3 I would say Cowboy was my least favorite but I still finished all 3 if that tells you anything. I just went in a circle. 1 rib plain, 1carolina, 1 cowboy, 1 four alarm, rinse and repeat. Coleslaw and beans were good but my cornbread was very disappointing so no 5th star. I will be back for the OSU game in November and I'm told by a few folks who live in town that i need to try the smoked turkey sandwich. Guess its a half-slab and a turkey sandwich come Nov. 19th
(4)Sarah L.
Jimmy Jack's is just ok for me. Not the best BBQ in town. I think it's a little dry.
(2)Kristen P.
Overpriced... Good food, but you can get much better for the price almost anywhere else.
(3)tembi b.
Great ribs! The fries are delicious and I like the slaw. Beans are a tad sweet but that seems to be the way up here in the Midwest. I like the mixed meat sandwich a lot. Kids love the cornbread, and I think it's fine. They give you a huge slab of it. The selection of sauces is great. We often get the meal with the chicken, which I really like with the Carolina mustard sauce. I've made myself really hungry and there is no way I can get to JJRS before my class starts. Dagnabit.
(4)Kelly M.
Jimmy Jacks has amazing BBQ. The food is always great and the service is quick. They have a nice selection of sauces. I highly recommend the supreme sandwich. You also have to get the cornbread and fries!! They also provide great catering and have been to several events where JJ supplied the food.
(5)Jennifer K.
LOVE this place, and I'm not even that big of a pork fan (so much for moving to Iowa). The baked beans and corn bread are awesome! The turkey sandwich was really juicy and moist, and the pork combo was yummy too. They have a variety of sauces and mustard. Definitely one of the best fast food joints I've been too.
(5)Rebecca K.
LOVE this place! When we moved away from Iowa City, we knew this would be the restaurant we would miss the most. Awesome pulled pork, great variety of sauces and THE BEST fries in the world. You will not be disappointed!
(5)Cassie B.
Love the Carolina sauce and cornbread
(4)Rob S.
Ribs are a bit fattier than they have been in the past. This time around decided to mix Cowboy BBQ sauce with their seperate hot sauce they have and slather the ribs with the mixture and it was a great mix of sweet and hot with a balance of tangy bbq sauce and spicy but sweet hot sauce. Jimmy Jack's is still the best place for ribs around the area within 120 square miles.
(4)Hyung S.
Yum, smoky goodness. This is a great casual barbecue joint. The hot sauce is to die for, and it might actually kill you.
(5)Adam I.
Excellent BBQ, A little pricey for Que and they are missing a combo plate so you can try a variety. Though that said this is one of the best BBQ places/ rib joints in town and the ribs are first rate!!! Service is excellent. though if you hit peak lunch hours you might have to wait in line to order. The wait is worth it and you will be rewarded with great food.
(4)From I.
Simply the best. Great sauce options for every taste. Best fries in town. The smoked chicken and ribs are to die for! You will love it!!
(5)Nick K.
Small BBQ joint in southeast Iowa City. Walk in, place an order, receive a number, and wait. While you wait a short time you can fill up cups of sauce. Carolina: a sweet mustard and vinegar based sauce, would go great with a pulled pork or smoked chicken. 4-alarm: you like it hot? This is for you. Very thin with hot pepper seeds present Don't let it mask the great flavor of the ribs. Cowboy: it's somewhere between sweet baby rays and cookies...just too sweet and very thick. Original: hands down the best, straight forward BBQ sauce. Balanced sweet savory and enough spice for anybody's palate. JJ's also sports a house-made hot sauce, located on a shelf above the BBQ sauce dispensers(almost missed it). It's a great hot sauce, with a great after burn that will linger. We placed our order to go, two full rack dinners, includes two sides and a good chunk of cornbread per dinner. This was enough food for four hungry adults, with a few bones for breakfast for those who got to them first. Beer selection included some good choices, Millstream and some other craft beers, as well as your regular domestics, all bottles no draft. Ribs were Memphis style served cut into individual bones. Ribs fell off of bone clean with a bite, but not without force. The ribs were exactly how I picture a perfectly done rack. Tender but not over done. Smoke flavor was mild but present. We chose the French fries and beans both were good. I was a fan of making Togo cups of pickles. Overall this was a good BBQ experience and would like to try some other items. There are now three rib destinations in Iowa, in my opinion. Smokey D's, Flying Mango, and Jimmy jacks. (in no particular order)
(4)S J.
This is not the best BBQ I've ever had but it is definately the best you can get in this region of Iowa. The ribs are pretty decent and the pulled pork is divine. You get a choice of sauces and they are all great. They have some of the best cornbread I've ever had. It's fluffy and chock full of butter. Mmmmm. The decor is awesome as the walls are covered with antique tools. The staff has always been extremely pleasant. One of my few regular spots that I will go to again and again. I usually try and take all newcomers to the area to this place.
(4)Megan Z.
I have only been here once, but I thought it was very good. I had the portobello sammich with fries. mmmmm. My family lives in the area and they like this place too. My husband had the chicken and it was tender and moist. The interior was pretty basic--not a fancy place by any means-- but it was clean and the staff was friendly.
(4)Suzi G.
Other than the BBQ I heart Sprechtor Root Beer!!! Thanks Jimmy Jack's for all of the wonderful baked beans and pulled pork too. The sauce selection is great and the pickle slices are always amazing. The catering is wonderful, and nicely packaged. The music and atmosphere is fabulous and cozy. Such a nice stop on the way home from Von Maur! This winter they added a new take on chili to the menu. Yet another wonderful Iowa City establishment!
(5)Anthony S.
One of my favorite places to eat! Not much for BBQ around the area but they do a good job. Fairly well priced, plenty of napkins, always had a friendly staff.
(5)Jennifer T.
I'm from the South and this is about as close to real BBQ as you can get around here. It's good and the cornbread is amazing.
(4)Mike O.
Fantastic BBQ! Huge portions. The Supreme is my favorite. Every side dish is delicious
(5)Joe J.
Awesome food and awesome service. Best BBQ in town. For a small time the bread was kinda crappy, but I think they fixed it. 10 thumbs up for the taste and quality!
(4)Tc C.
Good size portions, tasty sauces, and a clean environment. Eating space can be a little cramped, especially in the winter months when the outdoor space is closed, but they serve your food quickly so you can get in and out.
(4)Heidi S.
Walk up and order. Ribs are great, served until they run out. Chicken is also good, for those who do not like ribs. Their BBQ sauce is spicy, which doesn't do anything for me inparticular, but I love the ribs without the sauce. I LOVE the cornbread on the side. They bring the food out to you and bus the tables. You eat on picnic tables or outside. Overall, you get a lot of good food for pretty cheap prices. I think it is $11 for a half rack of ribs with 2 sides and a drink at dinner.
(4)Donna B.
Don't heistate. You WILL NOT be disappointed!
(4)Jay H.
Fantastic BBQ. I've visited Jimmy Jack's several times over the past 6 months, trying a different menu item each time. I have never left dissatisfied or disappointed. The pulled pork sandwich is great, the BBQ chicken is moist and flavorful, and the ribs are to die for. I dig all their sauces, but the Carolina Mustard is my favorite - I do wish it were just a bit thicker in texture, however. Iowa City locals rave about JJ's cornbread, but I claim their fries are the side order of choice. They are large, crispy, golden brown, and they taste fantastic with or without dipping sauce. Long story short: eat here when in Iowa City.
(5)Sandra A.
Definitely the best BBQ I've found in IC. Really edited menu, which is a good sign: ribs, chicken, pulled pork, as either dinners or sandwiches. The sides are tasty, as is the extensive sideboard with sauce and condiments. The place is pretty cute inside, somewhat in spite of its location.
(4)Michael C.
Located at 1940 Lower Muscatine Road in Iowa City (right across from Sycamore Mall). Jimmy Jack's Rib Shack serves up tasty ribs even without adding one of their BBQ sauces. You can enjoy them "plain", smothered or somewhere in-between. They also serve pulled meat sandwiches that are very tasty too. This allows our whole family to be able to enjoy good BBQ. Check them out on the web too.
(4)John J.
Good BBQ reasonably priced.
(4)Todd M.
The brisket is my favorite. The BBQ sauces are the best around. Lately though, the quality has been in decline. The last few times I've been in, the brisket has been almost 1/3 grizzle and the fries have been cold. I really loved the food here, but it is going downhill fast. I hope this improves because it was one of my favorite places in town. I find myself eating here less and less.
(4)