B&B Grocery, Meat & Deli

Went here in December 2016... sorry I'm late my dog ate my homework. But good pork sando and the guys were friendly.

My first trip! Been forgetting to come here forever. So happy to have time and remember. Simple set up with meats, cheeses, desserts, sides. Also full sandwich shop with dozens of choices. They recommended the grinder so that's what l went with. Very good sandwich. It was spicier than I expected, but I love a little spice. The tiniest skimpy on the filling. Bun was soft and fresh. I added chips and a cookie for a total of $11. Fair pricing! Everyone working was pleasant. I chose to take mine to work to eat, but there is a dine in option, too. Very cool place that I will visit more often! When I remember!

**WARNING** Online prices are not in store prices!!! The sandwich you see "Dads Killer Sandwich" online is 6 dollars in store, $12.99! QT makes a better sub!!! $30 for 3 items a sub, burger, and onion rings!!! On top of that, there is no drink. You have to buy that separately!!! I was severely disappointed! Over Rated. Over Priced. Absolutely Not Worth It!!!! They are very misleading about prices, in today market, HELL NO!!!

My favorite place to grab lunch from while I'm near downtown. From the best staff to amazing food, I can't recommend B&B enough. Get a Killer Zach heated up, or the Killer sloppy Mike and it's no wonder why they've been in business for so long. They also have a meat counter and refrigerators stocked with just about any cut from the usual suspects of animals you could want! Stop by and support small businesses at its finest!

These people are super friendly and u can tell this places is vintage. The feel the look the food. They had a good variety of subs to choose from and a good variety of meats you could buy. Check these folks out!!!

Referred to this place by a friend. Walked in and was amazed by the decor on the wall. Very obvious this place has been in the family for decades based of the decor and pictures documenting the family that has grown up in the business. Went to the meat counter and was told to get “Zach’s Killer Italian”. It was fresh, it was packed with meat, it was absolutely killer! Met the current owner Johnny and he was a riot, told some good jokes, informed us of the history and even gave us a quick tour. His I believe niece was working the front counter and was very friendly and told us a bit about the history of the place also. I live about 1 1/2 hours away and was in town on work otherwise I would have absolutely bought some of the meat from them, I am certain it would be some of the best meat I could find. Next time in in town and am able to drive straight home I’ll be swinging in to get another sandwich and buy some of the meat that will be freshly cut and hopefully hear some more of Johnnys jokes. Don’t even mess around with other sandwich shops, you are reading about the best joint in the area!!

Amazingly friendly service, with KILLER sandwiches and sides!!! The brooks family ALWAYS goes above and beyond!!!

Whenever we travel, we like to eat at local places. We had read about this place on a "List of best Delis in Each State.". The people were very friendly. The food was great. We split a killer sandwich basket

I hate to admit this... I've lived in the Des Moines IA metro since 1992 and this was my first visit to B&B Grocery. Pretty shameful on my part considering the shop was first opened by the Brooks family in 1922... I'm not a big fan of downtown, but B&B isn't quite as downtown as I thought. More Southside. The store is a definitely mom and pop. There's a small lot to park in just off of Hartford Ave and there is additional street parking available. You enter by the grocery area. There's a counter and register kind of to your Left as you walk in. You walk past the counter and you will see the sandwich and meat counter further to your left. For sandwiches you walk to the furthest end of the counter where the sandwich menu is hanging and place your order. When your food is ready they call it out by the items in the order. Payment is done at the counter and register back towards the front of the store. First off the food was great! No complaints. The selection is HUGE... Something like 74 sandwiches available to order and a nice selection of sides. I took my order to go, but there is limited seating available for dine in too. I ordered an extra large breaded pork tenderloin with onions, pickles, and mustard. An order of hot cheeseballs (comes with ranch). And a dad's killer sandwich (cold). My total came to just around $30. Cash preferred. 2.5% surcharge for using a card. The tenderloin reminded me of Chuckie's and that puts it in good company. A little thicker and on a proportional bun. Similar breading. The cheeseballs were fresh out of the fryer and the ranch is fantastic; made in house I assume. The meat and the vegetables on the deli sandwich were impressively fresh. The real star here to me was service! As I walked in one of the staff had two young girls by a board with some toys and jewelry on it. He was counting down as they studied the board. The girls were laughing as they were deciding on a choice. Some sort of giveaway game for kids they do when they have time I assume... I was greeted immediately as I walked up to order. There were three or so people waiting for their food. Placing an order was easy. I'd looked at the menu online and kind of already knew what I wanted, but it was still fun to look over the colorful boards and signage. They were busy working on their tasks but there was some cordial banter back and forth. The wait was short and there are plenty of things to keep you visually occupied here too. Everything was individually wrapped and taped up in butcher's paper. As I took my items all three gentlemen behind the sandwich and meat counter thanked me for coming in. When was the last time that happened to you at a big box store...? I'm not an introvert... I struck up a conversation with another customer and the woman at the register as I was paying. The other patron and I stood outside and talked for a bit. We were about the same age I think...he might have been a skosh older...mid-50s to early 60s. He was the one who told me how long the store had been open, the family name, and that he had been brought/coming here since he was three years old. Said his mom still calls it Brooks Grocery (v. B&B)... Not that I couldn't have found all that online, but I'm not one to shy away from a friendly visit of any kind. I mentioned to him that I found the customer service here to be a really refreshing thing. He said he thought the three gentlemen helping us had been there maybe 15 years or so. A handshake and thank you and we were both on our way. Can't say enough about my visit to B&B Grocery today! Friendly service and great food! Fair pricing. Don't make my same mistake... If you haven't been yet...find the time to stop by! http://bbgrocerymeatdeli.com/

Longing for a neighborhood Deli? B&B is the place for you. Well established on the south side of Des Moines, B&B has a wide variety menu and every item is delicious. Their Killer sandwiches are a trademark that makes them a cut above. Service is impeccable. You feel like you're amongst family. The ambiance is that of the local grocery that you grew up with. Prices are very competitive and combining the experience with the product, makes B&B a cut above the competition.

We had sandwiches and the buns are so good! It was a lunch stop plus stocked the trailer with deli meat for a week at the National Junior High Rodeo finals. Felt very local so this isn't a fancy place by any means! Get the buns!

Bought $140 in filet and ribeye steaks. Filets were fine. Ribeyes were light pink in color, no marbling, and no myoglobin. Not sure if these were washed, or from an old dairy cow, but absolutely horrible. After grilling med rare temp, they looked more like a pork chop than a steak. I've never bought a steak like that before.

Was in from out of town and was looking for brisket point. Went here based on family recommendations. John the gentleman that helped was super friendly and accommodating! There were no precut brisket points, so he grabbed a whole brisket and cut the point off for me. I was in awe, that's 5 star customer service! He also had a cut of picahna that I also purchased and John instructed me how to cut it as well as scored it for me so I wouldn't forget which way to cut it when I got home. The customer service here and the quality of the meat is exceptional!!! I would definitely recommend and will definitely return!

What I'm about to share with you will make some of you uncertain about stopping in (and others of you head there as soon as tomorrow), but hear me out. B&B is the best dive deli in town. It has character in spades, an exceptional meat counter, and killer sandwiches (and not just because the signage says so)! B&B was established in 1922 and has been run by the Brooks brothers since their dad left the business. As a result it has a well-worn vibe with decor that includes B&B calendars from the early forties to a Kmart "blue light special" light. Vintage posters, sports team pennants and other artifacts adorn the eating area. An establishment that is more concerned about their products than their appearance, a grocery that time forgot. B&B has so much character that I have yet to not eat my carryout meal there. The customers vary from neighborhood locals to tourists making a detour just to stop in. I've never been in there when there wasn't a firefighter or two grabbing lunch for themselves or the crew at the stationhouse. Divey? For some, sure, but everything feels clean and safe, the meat fresh and fantastic, and the sandwiches are mouthwatering. In fact, I've just convinced myself to stop back again for lunch tomorrow. Things to know: * Parking is limited in their small lot behind the building, but there is street parking (mind the no parking zone) * There are daily lunch specials

Stopped in and bought a meat package for $160. Everything was wrapped in butcher paper only...it's 2024, can't even put plastic on it. The individual packs were labeled only with what was inside, no dates. Turns out every last bit of it was severely freezer burntwhich explains why they don't date it. I'll will not be back even for a sandwich

Everything is always amazing here. Today I tried the smoked beef brisket. Outstanding I very highly recommend this place. John & Joe are the absolute best

My granddaughter lives down the street from this place and has recommended their sandwiches for a while. Last week, I stopped in to finally give it a try. I had read it was crowded and hard to figure out where to order, etc, etc...may even have been on DDD. We walked in there around noon on a Saturday. There was a few people but not swamped. They have like a butcher shop/ meat market in the back with menus clearly posted. One of the counter guys asked us right away how he could help. The menu was pretty extensive with all the cold cuts they sell. Fortunately, my granddaughter recommended the Zach's Killer Sub so, we just stuck with that. Sandwiches were ready within 5-10 minutes and you pay at the front of store after grabbing chips/drinks. The sandwiches were like $12 but my wife and I split one as the are plenty big. I have to say they make a phenomenally good sammie!!! Soft fresh hoagie roll, plenty of fresh sliced deli meats, delicious toppings of sweet peppers, banana peppers, Italian oil, etc.. Excellent!! I could have polished a whole one because of how good they were. They say the place is around one hundred years old. It's kind of run down but has that great old neighborhood character that is becoming extinct. I would recommend and can't wait to get back and try other sandwiches on their menu!!!

Decent little market and has pretty good food honestly. But my experience is the guy at the deli counter, Joe I think, was rude for no reason. Why? I'm trying to spend money in here. I won't annoy him again, but too bad because we need places like this. But for me, service is important. I won't be back. It's not worth the disrespect.

First time here and folks are super friendly. We were expecting in larger portions but turned out in average size. See pictures. Add $3.5 for fries and a side of cole slaw. I would skip the fries as they weren't crispy. Overall good taste but boy, it was hot inside. The cashier said it was an old building and A/C doesn't work well. Kinda concerning as it's a meat market too.

The inside of the building is terrible. Huge water stains on the ceiling, the coolers look old and rusty, the eating area is a maze of peg boards with dubious shelving attached to them and ripped up stools to sit on. It's just an old, dirty place filled with oddball paraphernalia. The food was not great. I wouldn't go back.

A friend took me to this place. It is nothing special to look at, but you can tell that people go there for the delicious, fresh, "killer" subs. On a Tuesday at lunchtime, we were 5 people deep in line. I got the Dad's Killer Sub ($10) and side ($4). A regular recommended to get out toasted, and they were right. I would definitely recommend the Dad's Killer Sub, but would pass on the handful of fries and potato salad that was the side. A 16.9oz bottle of soda was another $2.25. The freshly made food was obviously the main current money maker on this 60ish year old grocery and deli. Most gas station convenience stores have a have a much larger grocery items selection than B&B these days.

One of the quickest and best places to get a tenderloin! Not a lot of fat and gristle on it which thank god. If you want a good cut tenderloin, come here to get one.

Been wanting to try this sandwich shop for awhile and finally did on a Saturday afternoon. When we walked in, there were people sitting and eating and it was a bit confusing as to where we needed to go to get a sandwich. It was super smoky in there so we got our food to go. We tried the Dads Killer sandwich and it was good! Good moisture and bread. The only thing I didn't think fit well on the sandwich was the yellow Kraft like cheese. The 3rd generation owner talked to us for a bit and was really nice. They have a long list of other sandwiches and a classic deli with a lot of meat options.

My first time there and the owner and his staff were very friendly and welcoming. I love their sandwiches and they have a hug selections of quality meat. Highly recommended!

I can't speak more highly of this experience. Drove to Des Moines on my food tour from Omaha just to cross off an Andrew Zimmern bizzare eats spot. I was served by the same person Zimmern was served like a decade ago. He was a 3rd generation employee of this mom lol shop. Got to see the fridge and he had me try some beef medallions for my bday! Came for the famous pork sandwich with pepper jack cheese balls. Left with that and one of their famous "killer" sandwiches. Truly unreal from experience to quality of food. Best birthday "breakfast" ever (yes, I went at 9am)

Ordered the Zach Italian sandwich toasted! Highly recommend! Friendly service! I look forward to coming back soon!

I bought a rib roast that was fantastic and was less expensive than Costco or any other store. There wasn't a scrap left. Everyone in the store was friendly and helpful. Especially the butchers. They have my business for life!

Am a bit heartbroken to leave this review.. My husband & I are huge foodies & have scaled the country both loving dive bars & mom & pops joints. We walked in this place with an open palate & open mind. The place was so incredibly gross. In any other city, it would have been shut down 30 years ago. Filth Beyond belief. The meat in the deli case looked rotten. I was scared about the Rotted ceiling tiles, nasty floors and not ever cleaned. In a super decrepit neighborhood too... Still, I gave it a chance since we drove 30+ minutes for these alleged Famous sandwiches. They aren't famous & you can go to Quizno's for a better sandwich. My husband had a Rueben & I had the roast beef. Both were small, dry and disappointing. Avoid this place @ All cost!!!! How is this place rated some of the best sandwiches in Des Moines? So extremely disturbing!

B&B is the best! Some helpful photos of the menu here as well. We got the Triple Cheese Burger, Double Polish Sausage sandwich, Jalapeño Poppers.

I came all the way from Orange County to Get several Pounds of their Great Bacon to bring back home for our Christmas morning Brunch The Entire Family thinks this this is the Best Ever Bacon John is a Great Guy so ask him to help you

Got another Italian sub there. Always good! I also got some nice pork belly and good advise on making burnt ends. Always friendly helpful staff. Check them out and bring your appetite.

Swung by on my way to the airport. Almost missed it because I didn't expect a full market, but glad that didn't happen. Def a local fave as the employees and customers chat like old friends, but I didn't feel slighted as an out of towner in the least.

Another case of shameless false advertising. There is no Bed & Breakfast at B & B, in fact there are no rooms for rent whatsoever. I'm appalled that they are using the name B & B and not actually offering a B & B in any way, shape or form. One star out of five. But their sandwiches are f***ing amazing. What to get: Pork Tenderloin Sandwich What else: I have tenderloins too, if you're interested This is one of the most awesome tenderloin sandwiches I've ever had. It's an Iowa specialty, and indeed a Midwest specialty - and this is probably the best incarnation of it I've had so far. The wait time can be on the longer side, but it's well worth it. And I have all kinds of other wonderful things in this Italian deli. The sandwiches are beloved by locals, and I can't wait to come back and try more. B & B: One of the true gems of Iowa. Make sure you eat here! When 2 letters are combined, sandwiching an "and" symbol, you can get drunk (G & T), get fat (M & M), get taxes done (H & R), or even get laid - violently (S & M). But only at one letter-and-and-symbol-combo can you get a Pork Tenderloin sandwich this good: B & B.

Local, Great Sammie and great people!!! This place doesn't miss a beat. The sandwiches will hit the spot not too far from downtown (car drive) but well worth it. You can split the sandwich but I'll tell you will want the other half for yourself. Get out and come try this place.

Craving a sandwich. Was ok the bread was hard AF! Won't be craving anything from Hete.

Yum. Steak sandwich was terrific, I guess! Hubby wouldn't let me have a single bite! My dads killer was tasty as well. I might get extra meat on it next time or else less dressing. I shared it! We called ahead and picked them up. The ambiance is great--old school market and deli! Friendly staff. You'll love it!

They make a fan-freaking-tastic sandwich, but for the love of all that's holy, please clean the place. Yes, the Zach's Killer Sandwich is good enough that I'm willing to gamble with my life! The place is downright filthy, it causes me great anxiety to go in the place and order my sandwich. An establishment that serves food should be cleaned frequently, but these guys? No, they haven't cleaned since 1969. I'm twitching TF out just thinking about it. Super friendly guys behind the counter. Appropriately dismissive people at the registers. It's the best sandwich you'll ever have; God knows if it's sanitary where they make it, but we all got to die someday.

My husband picked up a meat pack on Friday. All meat frozen. Thawed some steaks under refrigeration and they were gray! Tasted awful! Again thawed 3 lbs of ground beef for tacos and the minute it started cooking the most rancid smell came from it. Absolutely disgusting and a waste of $160.00!! How hurtful during times of food being so expensive as it is to get a rotten meat package.

Amazing subs!! Kindest staff! They treated us like family when we walked in. Definitely recommend.

We love the Brooks brother. There is no friendlier place in town. Their slab bacon reminds me of my childhood. So good!

I've always enjoyed the sandwiches here! This mom and pop store is a great addition on the south side of Des Moines and you should stop by! They slice the meat and cheeses to top and stuff your sandwich as you order. The staff is super friendly and love interacting with their customers!

Pretty run down grocery store. Def dive. Shelves stocked with some basic items. You definitely can tell that place has been there for awhile. We ordered fried foods on the spot. It is basically stuff you get from grocery store, but they fry for you. I ordered chicken bites, fries, jalapeno poppers. Reasonably priced. I heard they are known for their sandwiches. I will try that next time. There is seating area to eat up front. IMO not the cleanest, but it's a dive

Really great sandwiches and friendly service. The place has been there for decades and you can see it on every surface. It was sad to see that cleaning wasn't higher on their list, but what do I know. Just overlook it if you go there.

Great tenderloins, fast service. Get the xl tenderloin. I need to try more of their food but stuck on the loins.

This place was one of the few places we missed when we moved to California. Now that we are back I am a happy boy. You cannot go wrong with their Killers and while your here go ahead and buy your meat for dinner. Best grinder in town hands down.

I live in Las Vegas and we always stop in to visit, dine and take food back with us. Food is always delicious and John always takes care of us. We love to support a family owned and operated business

Gettin my groove on at B&B. Dads Killer woohoo. Love all the meat, cheeze an love they put in it. Got lemon wedge too. Thanx B&B

Sketchy service and wacky staff. I came for the butcher dept and they are extremely knowledgeable and honest. 10 out of 10 would come here again and when I leave after this business trip I will have them ship to me.

I love this place! I don't know how they can make a sandwich that I crave with everyday ingredients. Not to mention the owners are amazing people! I love supporting this local place! Plus, I love the fresh butchered items. You simply must try the Italian Steak Rolls and cook them exactly how John recommends!

This is a family run business that has fresh food and amazing "killer sandwiches " I like mine cold but you can get them hot. The meat is cut to order

Family owned deli and meat market , won't find friendlier service in town, South side staple.

The best customer service evet! First time in Des Moines in at 45 yrs. my dad about a famous tenderloin sandwich. So I had to get one since dad past away last year. Sandwich is fresh and hot! Yummy

Simply put , outstanding!! Service great, prices competitive, and quality of food second to none. Cannot wait to return!

B&B is a des moines staple. They have an amazing meat counter that you can order almost anything you want. They have amazing meat packages that you can call and order or just show up and see what they have on hand. Today we decided to order our usual. I got the xtra large piggy porkloin. And my wife got the 2/3 double cheese burger basket. The porkloin was amazing and juicy as usual. They have a super thick tenderloin. They are just one of my top 5 here in Des Moines for tenderloins. I got a side of mac salad which is always a filling treat. My wife loved her double cheese burger and fries. The burger was juicy and perfectly cooked. The fries were crispy and hot. They have a nice slaw. Not to sweet and not to sour. This is a good go to when on the south side visiting family. All in all as always a great trip we will be back soon I'm sure.

Local flavor RULES! Today was only my second visit, and everyone here made my family feel like.. well.. family. I'm not exaggerating. The food and the friendly folks here are Top shelf! I've had the barbecue beef sandwich, and "delicious" barely covers it as a descriptor. One must experience it themselves.

I was looking for a nice sandwich to take with me on my trip back to Chicago. We had read some great reviews about B&B on Yelp and knew it had been featured in Outrageous Foods. We had to see what the hype was about. Upon walking into the deli/store, the smell overwhelmed me, and not in a good way. The place smells musty and moldy. It did not get me salivating for the sandwich I was going to order. They really need to air the place out. It does not smell fresh in there. Hoping the deli area would be better, we noticed that the refrigerators were leaking water. Definitely the reason why the place smelled moldy. Lots of condensation going on......They might want to look into that. I was hoping that despite the smells my sandwich was going to be great. So many reviews cant be wrong right?? WRONG. I ordered the Dad's Killer sandwich. First, it felt like forever for them to make it. There were two people ahead of me and I waited for about 15 minutes for this sandwich. Was it worth the wait? No. The ingredients for the sandwich are supposed to include: roast beef, turkey breast, smoked ham, corned beef, pepper cheese, Swiss cheese, American cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, Kosher pickles, mustard, Miracle Whip, Tuscan Italian dressing on an Italian hoagie roll. I was given only a small thin slice of each meat. I dont even think I got all four of those meats listed above. I also think I was missing two of the three cheeses listed. My sandwich was not very heavy. And after I ate half of it, my stomach started making noises and 10 minutes later things got ugly. It was definitely a killer, but not in a good way. Definitely wont be coming back to B&B.

I heard from a couple of people that this place had good sandwiches, but I never believed a simple place like that could produce tasty sandwiches. I finally decided to check it out after reading so much about it and finding out it was featured on Andrew Zimmerman's show. Walking in makes you wonder if you are in the right place, it's like a convenience store with a meat counter in the back. Walk towards the meat counter and be greeted with the menu of sandwiches and other food items they offer. I got thee Dad's Killer because it was the most popular. They asked if I wanted it hot, I decided to go with hot to see how it would be. The sandwich was not as big as I thought it was going to be, but it was good! There was a ton of flavor in every bite, the meats, sauces, and veggies combined very well. The price is pretty good, not much more than a sandwich shop. There is no place to sit and eat here, eat it in your car like I did or take it home. I cannot wait to come back and try all the other awesome sandwiches! Edit: I was informed there is a small seating area inside!!!