Boss Hog’s BBQ Co Tavern- Underwood, Iowa

You won’t need a GPS to find  Boss Hog’s BBQ Co Tavern in Underwood, Iowa. Here are all the directions you’ll need.

Drive down the main street in town (It’s 3rd St.)

Look to your left.

If the cement street becomes a gravel road…you’ve missed it. Turn around!

Recently we found ourselves in Omaha and Council Bluffs to attend our oldest grandson’s baseball tournament, and since the College World Series was also in Omaha that weekend, hotel rooms anywhere in the area were hard to find. So Peepaw and I spent several nights in a motel off of  I-80 near Underwood, Iowa. (How was that motel you ask? Lets just say the best part of that motel stay was CHECKING OUT two days later!)

After a full day of baseball (two games-two wins!) we drove into Underwood, Iowa to see where we might go for dinner that night…and we found Boss Hog’s BBQ Co. Tavern. (The tavern appeared to be the only game in town.) I snapped a picture of the eatery as we drove by…and I noticed a woman talking on her phone as she peered out through the front door of the restaurant. (I quickly waved at her because I didn’t want her to think two people in a strange car were casing the joint!)

After that “drive-by” Peepaw and I decided it would be worth checking the place out for dinner, so after a quick shower we headed back into town.

Parking was definitely not an issue…and there were no parking meters to feed. (I love Small Town America!)

It was just our car…and a lone pick-up truck parked out front. It was still early on a Saturday evening (about 5:00pm) so we weren’t surprised to be the first “Early Birds” arriving for dinner.

We weren’t sure what to expect when we opened the restaurant door…but that’s half the fun of a Meemaw and Peepaw Road Trip…

Inside we found a modern, sparkling clean, well equipped and beautiful restaurant and bar. (Hooray for tiny Underwood, Iowa…and thumbs up for two hungry and thirsty travelers!)

We were quickly greeted with a smile and a wave from bartender Foz.

A very friendly gal named Kara was quick with a smile as well. (Turns out Kara and her husband Clint own the place.) I thought for sure I snapped a photo of Kara…but I must have had a “senior moment”…and I guess I forgot to snap that photo. (Sorry Kara!)

Foz poured us some ice cold beers, and we had a great chat with both of them. I told them how I was afraid I scared a lady who was talking on her phone by the door earlier when we did our “drive by”…and Kara began to laugh hysterically. When she could finally catch her breath she informed me that the lady in the doorway had been talking to HER on the phone! (Word travels fast in small Iowa towns!)

After seeing how clean and appealing Boss Hog’s BBQ restaurant was, we were anxious to try something from their smoker, and many of you already know I am a chicken wing fanatic. So when I saw smoked, then dry rubbed wings served with a side of honey for dipping…my mind was made up. And Peepaw made a trip to the small-town salad bar while we waited for the wings. (The bowl of salad greens was mostly iceberg lettuce…but all of the ingredients appeared to be fresh…and Peepaw was happy with his choices.)

While Peepaw ate his salad, I asked if I could see the BBQ smoker, so bartender Foz directed me to the back door of the building. When I stepped outside, I was surprised to find a huge, outdoor patio.

It was nothing fancy…but I’m sure people have a great time out there. (Foz later told us they sometimes have live music and Clint and Kara host special dinners there too.)

And the smoker at Boss Hog’s BBQ? It’s actually on wheels!

Turns out it was built by owner Clint and his dad…and they’ve traveled around to do BBQ cook-offs and special events with it.

I headed back inside and then it was time for the main event…my wings!

They were absolutely, positively DELICIOUS. FANTASTIC. SMOKEY. Words fail me.

How good were they? They were SO good, I asked to meet the cook…and I asked for ANOTHER ORDER! So Chef Tyler delivered that second basket of smoked heaven to me himself…

Tyler told me those wings are smoked for 4-5 hours. Then they’re tossed in their own special dry rub blend. They’re then flash fried and served with honey. (I asked for the honey on the side instead of tossed with the wings. I think it’s the best way.)

While we were making short work of that pile of wings, another customer who was seated at the bar ordered Boss Hog’s special Saturday night Prime Rib dinner. I was shocked at the portion size, and that diner gave me permission to snap a photo of his dinner plate. That HUGE cut of meat looked like it had been hacked off of a dinosaur!

It wasn’t long before Clint, the owner of Boss Hog’s BBQ Co Tavern showed up…

And for any food snobs who think small town Midwest restaurateurs have limited tastes and talents, we spent the next half hour discussing Thai food and the crawfish boil he recently served out back on the patio. It was my kind of discussion…and I learned a thing or two…or three. Owner Clint knows his stuff!

So after a wonderful meal, and a visit with our new best friends in Underwood it was time to leave…and that sleepy little 3rd Street looked even friendlier than before…

under that full moon and twinkling stars…

It was even more proof that a priceless day spent with family can sometimes turn into a perfect evening spent with new friends in a tiny Iowa town…

We don’t call it the Heartland for nothing.