Search for the Best Loose Meat Sandwich in Siouxland: Fall of 2012

Three more places that serve loose meat sandwiches have been discovered in late October and early November. After taste testing 2 sandwiches from each establishment here are the results:

HyVee Kitchen
HyVee is a grocery food store on Hamilton Blvd in Sioux City. HyVee has a kitchen that sells prepared food as meals to customers. Every so often they serve tavern or loose meat sandwiches.

Results of HyVee's tavern sandwich taste test:
Bun - Rating: 4 points. The bun was a bit dry.

Meat - Rating:  3 points. The meat had very good moisture. But was too salty. there was a hint of other spices in the meat but it was very subtle due to the salt content. The salt content needs to be reduced or the amount of the other spices increased.

Condiments/Toppings - Rating: 5 points. The proportion of ketchup, mustard and pickles were perfect

Total score: 12 points out of 15 possible.

The Garden Cafe
The Garden Cafe is what Gus's Family Restaurant used to be. Gus's closed and The Garden Cafe opened. It is in the same building where the tavern or loose meat sandwich was first created. The original restaurant was called Ye Old Tavern and the sandwich was named Ye Old Tavern Tavern. The proprietor of the Garden Cafe claims the original recipe used by the person who invented the original tavern sandwich is being used to make their tavern sandwiches. There is currently no proof to back this claim up. Proof of the original authentic recipe from the creator of the original tavern sandwich would have to be something that is authored and signed by that person. But the Garden Cafe's tavern sandwich did make it into a magazine called Food Network Magazine as the best in all of Iowa.

Results of The Garden Cafe's tavern sandwich taste test:
Bun - Rating: 5 points. The bun is perfect size for the amount of meat and is toasted.

Meat - Rating:  4 points. The meat had a perfect blend of spices and great flavor. But it was a little too dry.

Condiments/Toppings - Rating: 5 points. The proportion of ketchup, mustard and pickles were perfect. An interesting option that was not used was mayo. on the side.

Total score: 14 points out of 15 possible.

Bob Roe's Point After
Bob Roe's Point After, or The Point After as it is most often called was founded in 1982 and opened at its current location in 1991. During the lunch hour she service tavern sandwiches.

Results of Bob Roe's Point After tavern sandwich taste test:
Bun - Rating: 5 points. The bun is perfect size for the amount of meat.

Meat - Rating:  5 points. The meat had a perfect blend of spices and great flavor. It also has chopped onion mixed in.

Condiments/Toppings - Rating: 5 points. The proportion of ketchup, mustard and pickles were perfect.

Total score: Perfect score of 15 points!

Note: for these 3 tavern sandwich taste tests the ketchup and mustard was added by the tester.

To Date rankings of all loose meat or tavern sandwiches tested:

Tied for 1st Place - Coney Island and Bod Roe's Point After with a perfect score of 15 points.
Tied for 2nd Place - Billy Boy, Miles Inn and the Garden Cafe with 14 points.
Tied for 3rd Place - Tastee Inn and Out and Ali's Good Time Grill with 13 points.
4th Place: HyVee Kitchen on Hamilton Blvd with 12 points.
5th Place -  Culver's with 9 points.
6th Place - Dairy Queen with 8 points.

Previous articles:
Search for the Best Loose Meat in Sioux City
Search for the Best Loose Meat in Sioux City: Update
History of the Loose Meat or Tavern Sandwich
Search for the Best Loose Meat in Sioux City: Update Continued
Search for the Best Loose Meat in Siouxland: 10/6/2012

Search for the Best Loose Meat in Siouxland: 10/6/2012

The search for the best loose meat sandwich continues. Recently the blog author found a place to try one at an unexpected location.

In Sioux City, Iowa during the weekend of October 6th and 7th, 2012 the 9th Annual Riverssance or Renaissance Fair took place. At the festival were food vendors. One of these vendors was Ali's Good time Grill. Loose meat sandwiches were among the menu items.

The blog author tried one. Here are the results:

Ali's Good Time Grill is a privately owned and operated food vendor who sells food from their menu at events like fairs and festivals.

Bun - Rating: 4 points. Very good thickness for the proportion of meet and condiments but it was a little dry and was not toasted.

Meat - Rating:  4 points. The meat had very good moisture, indicating it was properly steamed and not too much of the fat was drained. It had a hint of pepper and other spices blended in very well. It did not soak into the bun as to make it mushy.

Condiments/Toppings - Rating: 5 points. The proportion of ketchup, mustard, onions and relish were perfect. The relish was a very nice change compared to pickles. The onions were nice and crisp.

Total score: 13 points out of 15 possible.

 The ranking is from first to last:


1st Place - Coney Island with 15 points.
Tied for 2nd Place - Billy Boy and Miles Inn with 14 points.
Tied for 3rd Place - Tastee Inn and Out and Ali's Good time Grill with 13 points.
4th Place -  Culver's with 9 points.
5th Place - Dairy Queen with 8 points.

Here are the previous articles on the search for the best loose meat sandwich:
Search for the Best Loose Meat in Sioux City
Search for the Best Loose Meat in Sioux City: Update
History of the Loose Meat or Tavern Sandwich
Search for the Best Loose Meat in Sioux City: Update Continued