There's no alternative worth doing. Just stay on I-35.

There's one in Ames called Hickory Park suppose to be an excellent bbq.

Hickory Park used to be good - haven't eaten there for years. You could also check out Cafe Northwest in Ames. Try the steaks or the Greek - great steaks, and run by first-generation Greek immigrants, so it's good.

If you feel like a break south of Des Moines, consider visitng one or more of the covered bridges in Madison County. One is only about 3 miles from I-35, and all are within 20 or so miles.

Keith

The "scenic" route would be Hwy 169 all the way from Minneapolis to Winterset and then jog and then a small jog over I-35 for the rest of the way. But it's not really all that scenic - prettier in Minnesota then it winds though a bunch of small towns in northern Iowa. The much faster route is I-35 all the way. I live in the Twin Cities, too, but am originally from Winterset in southern Iowa and head that way frequently (although not all the way to Kansas City). I took 169 once and never will again.

I'm slightly biased, since Winterset is the county seat of Madison County and my hometown - but I also recommend stopping at one of the covered bridges. If you can spare a couple of hours, I recommend going to Winterset itself to see the bridge in the city park and go up to Clark's Tower and maybe John Wayne's birthplace museum. If you only have 1/2 hour or so, there is a bridge closer to I35 as Keith said.

Not sure about restaurants, but I can ask my friends/family in Des Moines. What's your price range and what kind of food do you like?

Here's your lunch stop:
http://machineshed.com/restaurants/desmoines.asp

You can forget Cafe Northwest. It has moved and quality has gone down hill. Hickory Park can't be beat and easy access from I-35.

If you were headed to KC, why would you stop in Iowa for Cue? Doesn't make sense.

As a former resident of Ames (fourteen years) I can say that, as good as the food is at Hickory Pork, it pales in comparision to Big Daddy's.

www.bigdaddysbbq.net/about.html

We just need a place for lunch in Iowa, not bbq, that we will do in Kansas City. Would the Jordan Creek Town Center be in the vicinity of I-35.