Big Al’s Bbq Burgers, Brews Tenderloins Too

We stopped by Big Al's the other day for the first time. we were from out of town and on a three-day mini vacation with friends. We googled places to eat. Big Al's popped up and we saw the reviews were good so we thought we would give it a try. The servers were very friendly, and very attentive. There were five of us in our group the food was above par quality and very good. All of us enjoyed our meals. We met big Al in person. Very nice and friendly guy. We live an hourand 20 minutes away and decided we will have to come visit once in awhile the food was that good. Would definitely recommend the place, and encourage everyone to support their local Mom and Pop stores.

Good bbq for a small town. Ordering by the pound was delicious! Had that with the original sauce and the mashed potatoes. It was mouth watering! Highly recommend! Was disappointed in the Big AL burger especially for 20 bucks... it tasted like Bland bologna with pulled pork that had been sitting out for a week at a frat house but the guys still eat it cause there's no mold on it yet.

The service at Big Al's is always friendly, and the BBQ is absolutely delicious! We ordered a BBQ combo sampler for my wife's birthday dinner, and everything was perfect—the ribs, pulled pork, sausage, brisket, smoked ham, turkey, and chicken were all fantastic. We also brought home baked beans, mac and cheese, and jalapeño corn to go with it. Everyone loved it!

I visited the restaurant tonight and was quite disappointed with the food quality, which was lacking at best. The prices are excessively high for what you receive—possibly the worst BBQ in the Des Moines area. I had a great experience at the South side location three years ago, and even met Big Al there, but I'm not sure if he sold the business or simply isn't paying attention to the Adel location. It seems this restaurant might need more oversight. I ordered the two-meat combo; the burnt ends were dry, the ribs were dreadful, and the cornbread was so dry that even two packets of butter couldn’t salvage it. I won’t be returning anytime soon, unfortunately.

Al is incredibly charming! He introduced himself immediately! The waitress was fantastic, and the food looks amazing—and it tastes even better! The brisket and pork are so tender they practically melt in your mouth! Absolute food heaven!