Darrell’s Place | Iowa Tenderloin at its Best

Review by: Michael Stern

The Great Midwest Tenderloin

Back in 2004, Darrell’s Place took the blue ribbon in the first-ever Iowa Pork Producers Association tenderloin competition. That’s a very big deal in the southern Midwest, where tenderloins stir passion among locals as well as travelers in search of unique regional specialties. Darrell’s, which boasts that it serves well over 200 pounds of pork every week, features one handsome hunk of pounded-thin tenderloin. Far wider than its bun, it is thick enough to be plenty juicy but still all about crispness. A crunchy wave of crust with countless savory facets envelops sweet meat. Complement it with pickle chips and thick hoops of crisp white onion and you face Iowa tenderloin at its best. In a region rich with excellent tenderloins, Darrell’s is an essential destination.

Must Eat: Rhubarb Pie

Darrell’s offers a full menu of good-looking bar food, but beyond that and Iowa tenderloin at its best, you must save room for dessert. Rhubarb pie, made using stalks secured from customers’ patches, comes piled into a master-class crust. A cascade of soft-serve vanilla ice cream — its traditional garnish — perfectly balances the tantalizing sugar-tart filling. Summer is the time you want to eat it, but the proprietor gathers enough from his devoted customers that he freezes as much as he needs to offer rhubarb pie year-around.

A Strange Kind of Charm

We must tell you that Darrell’s Place is so devoid of visual charm that the void is itself charming. It looks less like a restaurant and more like a large shed where trucks and tractors get stored. In fact, the building began life as a machine shed. There is no outside landscaping or architectural personality whatever. Only a Coke sign with the restaurant name marks the building. A flat, grey tarmac surrounds it. The interior is all beer advertising memorabilia and, of course, a TV above the bar.

What To Eat

Breaded Pork Tenderloin Sandwich

DISH
Popcorn Chicken

DISH
Steak Sandwich

DISH
Cheeseburger

DISH
Jell-O

DISH
Rhubarb Pie

DISH
Sour Cream Raisin Pie

DISH

Darrell’s Place | Iowa Tenderloin at its Best Recipes

Discuss

What do you think of Darrell’s Place | Iowa Tenderloin at its Best?

2 Responses to “Darrell’s Place | Iowa Tenderloin at its Best”

Chris & Amy Ayers

April 11th, 2009

Audubon County in western Iowa is serious Breaded Pork Tenderloin country, and that may be due in part to Darrell’s Place. This small diner in Hamlin won the 2004 Iowa Pork Producers Association Award for the Best BPT sandwich, and this spotlight most likely raised the stakes for area eateries. Darrell’s loin is thick-cut, not pounded to a height of a few millimeters like other competitors. The simple breading is light enough to lock in the pork’s natural juices, and the bun almost fits the substantial slab.

Locals who already know the fame of Darrell’s BPT are more likely to order other items, like a generous steak sandwich or hand-formed cheeseburgers. The popcorn chicken is undoubtedly a misnomer, for these gigantic knuckles of white meat resemble chicken nuggets on steroids. Serviceable French fries are available, but the onion straws have a crinkle-cut appearance that may appeal to newcomers. Don’t forget to order a frosty mug of 1919 Draft Root Beer, on tap at Darrell’s and many other locations throughout the Upper Midwest. Standing near the intersection of Highways 44 and 71 in Hamlin, Darrell’s Place is another sparkling jewel in the BPT crown of Audubon County.

Reply

Jim Ellison

December 14th, 2006

Darrell’s Place is an easy place to miss even though it is located in a very small town. If it were not for the sign, it would be easy mistaking this restaurant for some other type of business and just drive by. Finding Darrell’s is well worth the effort.

In 2004, the Iowa Pork Producers Association proclaimed that Darrell’s Place had the best breaded pork tenderloin (BPT) in the state. No small accomplishment considering about half of the restaurants in the Hawkeye state serve this sandwich. For several months following the award, hundreds of people made the pilgrimage to Darrell’s to find out if this really was the best BPT. The traffic has died down a bit but people keep making the journey to try out this sandwich. It is hard to believe anyone would be disappointed.

Darrell hand cuts the pork loins himself and makes a very simple breading out of flour. The tenderloin is a bit thicker than the typical pork tenderloin sandwich and the breading is a little lighter and flakier than usually encountered. The sandwich at Darrell’s did earn the acclaim it received.

Darrell’s is off the beaten path but it is worth the drive. For travelers with a little extra time, consider doing the scenic drive on SR-44 starting around Lake Panorama.

(A little BPT background below)

The basic breaded pork tenderloin sandwich generally starts with a large cut of pork loin. The meat is tenderized until it is the desired thickness, usually 1/4-inch thick but sometimes up to 1/2-inch. The breading is customarily a simple mix of water, flour, salt, and pepper. Some places will add cornmeal or another special ingredient but the standard is to keep it simple. The sandwich is typically fried or deep-fried. The tenderloin is typically significantly bigger than the bun, which is most often a hamburger bun or sometimes a Kaiser roll. The condiments of choice are basic, usually pickles, often onions, and occasionally lettuce. In Indiana, expect mustard and/or mayonnaise while in Iowa it is usually mustard and/or ketchup. These sandwiches are very common in Iowa, Indiana, and parts of Illinois. Considering these are the among the top pork producing states, no big surprise. If you are looking for BIG, Joensy’s Restaurant in Solon purportedly has the biggest in Iowa.

Reply

Nearby Restaurants

Red Barn

Exira, IA

Larsen’s Pub

Elk Horn, IA

Redwood Steakhouse

Anita, IA

Dairy Sweet

Dunlap, IA

Article’s & Guides Tagged Dairy Sweet

Connect with us #Roadfood