The Office in Lenox Iowa

The Office is a small bar and restaurant on the main street of Lenox in Southwestern Iowa. The sign says "Try our Famous Tenderloins", and the IPPA named them a finalist for last years Tenderloin award.

Location: 122 N. Main St in Lenox, Taylor County in Southwestern Iowa.

Directions: you take Highway 34 from Creston and turn south on the County Road with the big Lenox sign.

Online at: facebook page is HERE.

The Tenderloin: The first thing you notice is that this thing is huge. Its at least ten ounces before breading and frying. The butterfly cut and pounding had turned this into two big thick portions of pork loin with a thin area in the middle. The thick parts were juicy and the thin areas dry. The breading had a lot of seasoning salt that left a taste in my mouth. The trimming job left some hunks of fat on the edge. The overuse of the salt and the hunks of fat held this from being rated higher, its still a very good tenderloin. Served on a toasted flour dusted bun with your choice of fixings. Overall 8.5 out of ten.

Price: $6.45 for a sandwich this big its like they are giving it away.

On the menu: the names have office themes like The Secretary and include burgers and steak dinners.

Service: Its table service with one person serving all the tables when I was in.

Ambiance: The layout is odd with two storefronts and you have to walk into the dining area then into the bar to get service.

Final Thoughts: I hadn't eaten a super jumbo tenderloin as big as this in a while. The nearby Elm's Club in Creston is the local legend with the IPPA Tenderloin Award and recognition from the Iowa Beef Council for their burger. The Office in Lenox compares very well.

Sneakers Eatery & Pub in Fort Dodge, Iowa

I've been driving around Fort Dodge and surroundings for a long time now. I went to local legend Community Tap & Pizza and found an okay tenderloin, but I've kept looking. Now it seems like plenty of places have come and go over the years in the downtown area and the commercial strip. I hadn't heard of Sneakers Pub until a few months ago, and it looks like the building used to be a different restaurant. I still don't understand the appeal of naming a bar after a pair of shoes, or having shoes in the sign.

Location: 1317 Central Ave in Fort Dodge, North Central Iowa.

Directions: Central Ave is just East of downtown Ft Dodge and can be reached by taking the Business 20 turn off and turning north on 12th St or 15th St.

Online at: website is HERE.

The Tenderloin: This was a large cut of pork loin, at least eight ounces. The breading formed big crunchy flakes on all parts of the meat. The pork loin was dry on the edges and soft and juicy in one part, but the fat hadn't been trimmed well. Served on a giant toasted bun. Overall 7.4 out of ten.

Price: $9.25 with a side

Also on the menu: The menu is huge with burgers, wings, a "world famous rueben", fish, tacos and everything you've seen at sports bars before.

Service: There was one server working the bar and dining areas who was a little overworked when I was in.

Ambiance: This is a sports bar with a huge bar area and televisions and sports stuff tacked onto the walls.

Final thoughts: Sneakers was a nice sports bar with an alright breaded tenderloin. I haven't found a real good one in the city of Ft Dodge yet. Just a short drive from Ft Dodge I have found good tenderloins in Clare or in Paton or Ogden.