Jimmy Jack's Rib Shack BBQ

We were passing through town and I wanted to try some ribs at the rib shack. I find at Barbecue places either the rib itself is the star of the show or the sauce. This location is definitely the sauces are the star of the show. The ribs are good I have a good flavor put the sauces burned out the whole new level of taste. I tried the ribs with each sauce and they all brought out a unique delicious flavor. The Fry's the mac and cheese for outstanding. Italian sausage was good I had not had one of those smoked before. The brisket was a little dry could have just been the timing.

I think this place counts as an Iowa City landmark by now. The meats are excellent. Sometimes you might get a slightly dry rib, it happens to the best; then you sauce it. The house sauces are also very good, from their original to the habanero and even their rotating limited edition (leaning towards KC style). The honey corn bread is sweet, the slaw standard, beans beanie, and excellent fries. Canned beer or fountain soda pop, our fruit juice boxes. Limited inside seating usually means a cozy dining experience, but it never seems to be a problem to find a spot. Service is typically good and efficient. You'll find everyone in town comes here.

Update: It now offers one of the best crispy chicken sandwiches ever. Yes, good got better.

Staff is fun and attentive. Food was excellent. Half smoked chicken with double fries as my side, so I can enjoy the great sauces they offer. Mom got the five piece smoked wings with excellent cornbread and beans for her sides. Very delicious.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I find their sauce and meat to be consistently worth the stop. I feel like I always know what I will get when I stop. I prefer this restaurant to Pop's barbeque because Jimmy Jack's is the most consistent and the taste is very good. Pop's is good, but I have found it to be inconsistent with what is put on your plate or sandwich. I stopped going to Pop's and Jimmy Jacks is always my go to place.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Got takeout for lunch. The food held up in travel and the food was well package (see pics). My food ratings. Wings- big and meaty. atracks rated 7.8/10. Not quite enough sauce to rank it higher. Brisket-atracks rated 8.4/10. Good flavor and not too fatty. Cooked really well. Italian Sausage-atracks rated 9.8/10. Maybe the best sausage I have ever had. Great flavor, plump but not massive. Would get everytime if I go back. Pulled Pork-atracks rated 8.3/10. Flavor was on par with any other bbq place. Tough to mess up pulled pork. Sides Mac and Cheese-atracks rated 7.3/10. Big shells which I like but nothing special. Would avoid. Cornbread-atracks rated 8.6/10. Good flavor, it was moist in the middle but they should provide some butter or honey with it. Baked Beans-atracks rated 7.7/10. Too sweet and a little bland. Fries-atracks rated 9.1/10. Really good crisp to potato ratio. Smaller in size but not shoestring. Meat in order of rating: Italian Sausage, Brisket, Pulled Pork, Wings Sides in order if rating: Fries, Cornbread, Baked Beans, Mac and Cheese

A little pricey. But great foos

Ho hum at best. Ribs had allot of fat, Mac not cheese was super bland, and the slaw tasted like it was right out of the can. Was pretty spendy for what it was. No return visit for this dude, but the server was very friendly.

Good food great bbq sauce

I had half of chicken with corn bread and mac and cheese. It was good and hot.

I love BBQ, but Jimmy Jack's doesn't do it for me. I'd choose Pop's BBQ over Jimmy Jack's any day because their meat stands on its own without the need to use sauces. Plus, the last time I visited Jimmy Jack's, they didn't offer rib tips on their menu, which is a staple of a good BBQ joint.

They always have great food!

Jimmy Jack's is one of our favorite spots - we eat here pretty often! Great BBQ with alternating monthly specials. I'm a big fan of the crispy chicken sandwich and my husband loves the fatty beef brisket. They make really good BBQ sauces too! We have a few bottles at home in the fridge. All the sides are yummy!! The corn bread is great and their mac and cheese my fave!! 10/10 recommend! Anything you get will be delicious! :)

Food was great!! Was wanting more of a restaurant style meal. You order and seat yourself. They will bring food out to you. The apple BBQ sauce was out of this world!!! Would go back

This is the third time I have been here since moving to the area last year. The food is always great! Today I got the “Fatty Brisket Sandwich. It was delicious. I love the layout of the restaurant. The self serve BBQ Sauce Bar is a great idea. The selection/taste of sauces are great.

I had the brisket sandwich, and it was okay as far as flavor. It was not very warm, and a little dry. I regretted not ordering the Fatty brisket to combat the dryness. I wanted to try the wings, but $20 for 10 wings seems pretty steep to me. They had better be fantastic at that price and I would still balk most days. What I would really like are burnt ends, and a place that offers brisket I would expect burnt ends to be an option, but it is not on the menu. Shame.