Bob’s Drive-Inn

Review by: Michael Stern

Myles Kass, proprietor of Bob’s Drive-Inn, a Le Mars, Iowa, restaurant started by his father in 1949, likes to tell about a group of Arizonans who came through town several years ago to visit The Blue Bunny Ice Cream Factory and asked him for hamburgers. He was irate. “Can you imagine? I tried to convince them that if you come to this part of Iowa, you don’t want a hamburger; you want loosemeats. I honestly believe there isn’t anyone in town who hand-patties a burger any more.”

In case you are from Arizona or any one of the other 48 states where loosemeats is unheard of, know this: a loosemeats is a sandwich of ground beef that is cooked loose – unpattied – and served sauceless. Compared to a hamburger it has a higgledy-piggledy character, but there is nothing scattered about its satisfying taste. It is customarily dressed with pickle, mustard, and a slice of cheese; and like grits, it is a food spoken of with singular/plural ambivalence. Usually one sandwich is a loosemeats; a batch in the kitchen or a bowlful without the bun are loosemeats.

You will not find loosemeats on the menu that hangs above Bob’s order window. That is because it is listed as a “tavern,” one of its several aliases in northwest Iowa. At many restaurants that serve it, loosemeats is called something else: tavern, Big T, Charlie Boy, or Tastee.

Bob’s loosemeats are definitive. Browned, strained of fat, then pressure-cooked with sauce and spice, then drained again, this meat is moist, full-flavored and deeply satisfying. Each sandwich is made on a good-quality roll that Myles Kass secures from Le Mars’ own Vander Meer Bakery.

If you don’t want loosemeats, or if like us, need to sample every good hot dog that exists, you must get a couple of franks at this fine place. The hot dogs are ravishing natural-casing beauties with a real snap to their skin. They are made by Wimmer’s, a vintage-1934 sausage maker in West Point, Nebraska, and they are some of America’s greatest. And, of course, they are available with a loosemeats topping, a configuration known as a Bob Dog.

Root beer is house-made; and fruit shakes are made from real summer fruit.

What To Eat

Loosemeats

DISH
Milk Shake

DISH
Bob Dog

DISH
Tavern sandwich

DISH

Bob’s Drive-Inn Recipes

Discuss

What do you think of Bob’s Drive-Inn?

3 Responses to “Bob’s Drive-Inn”

Randall Coon Sr

March 9th, 2023

I absolutely love Bobs and every time we visit family in Le Mars and Akron, we are going to get at least one visit in! We love them so much we even brought some home with us, (we split a box with my cousin in Akron). I actually grilled/smoked them on my Pit Boss and they were amazing!! I haven’t had anything at Bobs that I wouldn’t have again, and again!

Reply

    Branden

    March 28th, 2023

    Thanks for sharing what you love about Bob’s Drive-In and definitely love that you get some to go!

    Reply

Amy van Arkel

February 26th, 2008

My mother was born and raised in Le Mars, Iowa and I spent the first 18 summers of my life in Le Mars. It was the highlight of my vacation to go to Bob’s Drive-Inn. Yes, I had a wonderful time visiting with family and friends but it was even better when we would go to Bob’s. I live 1668.13 miles away from Bob’s and I’ve never been able to find a hotdog or tavern, loosemeat, etc. that even comes close. I wish that they would ship their food. Yes, I know it’s not realistic but I love this place so much that it would be worth it.

It’s not the biggest place in Le Mars. It looks as though it has expanded since I was there last but it’s not about the ambiance or the environment. With Bob’s it’s about the food!

Reply

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