Contact: Iowa Cattlemen's Association, 515-296-2266, Contact Us.
On the square in Pleasantville, Iowa, family, community, and Iowa’s best burger intersect at Halftime Bar & Grill. The Iowa Beef Industry Council and Iowa Cattlemen’s Association are proud to name Halftime Bar & Grill—and its owners, the DeHeer family—the home of Iowa’s Best Burger for 2025.
COMMUNITY AND FAMILY
In rural Iowa, community and family are often synonymous. That can be said for the DeHeers, owners of Halftime Bar & Grill (107 N Jefferson St, Pleasantville, IA). As we sat down to talk with them about their restaurant, their experience in the contest, and what winning Iowa’s Best Burger means, themes of family and community rang through their responses.
As long-time residents of Pleasantville, Kevin and Kathy DeHeer, along with their children, Amanda and Tyler DeHeer, have owned and operated Halftime Bar & Grill for just over two years.
Kathy was the one to steer the family down the path of restaurant ownership and going into business as a family. She has worked for Frosty's, the restaurant, which is where Halftime Bar & Grill is now. The owners were looking to retire and approached Kathy to see if she was interested in buying them out.
“I had always wanted to run a café,” said Kathy. “I talked with Amanda, who also worked part-time for Frosty’s, to see if she wanted to be a part of it too. We both kind of had this restaurant dream, so we thought, why not?”
Pleasantville is known for its school sports, and the community had expressed the need for a local sports bar. As the DeHeers made the restaurant their own, they went with it. TVs are spread throughout the restaurant and tuned to major sporting events, and the décor definitely gives a fun sports bar vibe.
Some might wonder if a sports “bar” is for kids. Halftime Bar & Grill is family-friendly, and kids are always welcome. In fact, Kathy said that they have been known to turn a TV or two to cartoons when kids are in. There are coloring books and crayons available, plus a menu just for the kids. And yes, there is a burger option for them too!
At this family-owned business, the staff feel like family, too. The DeHeers invited all three of their cooks to join us for the interview and brought in the serving staff for pictures. Andy Moen, one of the cooks, said that the restaurant can be hectic, but everyone in the family throws their backs into the restaurant’s success. They are quick to help and treat the team well, like family.
Amanda commented that taking over the restaurant has been life-changing and that it is a lot harder than they thought it would be, but she said it is rewarding.
“I remember thinking one of the most rewarding times was when we first opened and I was in the kitchen working,” Kathy echoed. “There was a game going on and a bunch of people in here. Everybody was laughing and having a good time, and I could hear it in the kitchen. That moment—hearing laughter fill the restaurant—was when I knew we had created something special.”
When people come to Halftime Bar & Grill, the DeHeers want it to be memorable. They want guests to think of their delicious food (burgers, of course!), and a place to laugh and have fun, with a comfortable atmosphere.
ABOUT THE BEEF
Halftime Bar & Grill has nine unique burger offerings on their menu featuring delectable combinations of toppings for every palate. From their classic Bacon Cheeseburger to their Sriracha Bourbon Burger and the Over-The-Top Beer Cheese Burger to the Barnyard Argument Burger, the DeHeers have amped up the tasting experience, providing patrons with a variety of options to choose from.
After several years of the trendy smash burger claiming the Iowa Best Burger crown, Halftime Bar & Grill returns us to an original grilled patty. Sourced from a local meat locker, their all-beef patties are 8 ounces of fresh, never frozen beef. You can decide if you want one or two patties (a whole pound of beef) for each burger selection. That is a lot of beef!
When we asked the DeHeer family and some of their cooking staff to pick their favorite burger to highlight, the responses were all over their menu, highlighting that there is something for everyone.
However, a fan favorite and one that the Iowa Best Burger judges mentioned was the Humpback Burger, which features an 8-ounce all-beef patty topped with ham, pepper jack cheese, bacon, and sautéed onions drizzled with Halftime’s smoky house sauce. Burgers are served with your choice of fries or a premium side for an upcharge.
This contest has already made a difference in sales. Before Halftime Bar & Grill was announced as one of the Top 10, they were selling approximately 170 burgers in a week. Following the announcement, burger sales increased to 392 burgers at their peak. That is a 131% increase in just a few weeks.
Amanda also shared that they’ve seen increases among all sales within the restaurant, not just the burgers. Halftime Bar & Grill offers a complete food and beverage menu featuring a variety of items beyond their solid selection of burgers.
The purpose of Iowa’s Best Burger contest, simply put, is to promote beef and the producers who raise it. The DeHeers had several examples of guests who came in, not knowing that Halftime Bar & Grill existed, but had heard radio advertisements about the contest and stopped in for a burger.
THE ROAD TO ONE
Each year, there can be only one winner of Iowa’s Best Burger contest. Kathy and Amanda watched the contest unfold last year and dabbled with getting Halftime Bar & Grill into the contest, but fell short of the Top 10. This year, Amanda said that they focused more on the promotion and concerted effort to see what they could do.
“We got on and printed materials provided for the contest,” said Amanda. “And we told our staff if someone is eating a burger and enjoying it, ask them to vote. We used the QR codes provided and even showed some of our older guests how to use the code to vote.”
Another area of focus for the DeHeers, not only during the contest but all of the time, is quality and consistency. Tyler said that they care about the quality of their food because if they serve bad food, people won’t come back. He expressed that repeat business in a smaller community is crucial. If they are busy, it isn’t just about getting the food out, they are honed in on quality, he said.
We encourage patrons who visit Halftime Bar & Grill to have patience, as winners of this contest see an increased influx of patrons following the contest announcement. Also, remember that a traditional burger patty, such as those served at Halftime Bar & Grill, takes a little longer than the trendy smash burger -- but it will be well worth the wait.
“People kept telling us that we should enter the contest and that our burgers are the best thing ever,” said Kathy. “When the contest started, we had regulars say that we were going to be number one. Making the Top 10 was our goal, and winning was just icing on the cake.”
Both Amanda and Kathy said there were happy tears when they found out that they had made the Top 10, and then even more when they found out they’d won.
Tyler pointed out that in a small town, people can only come in so many times a week to eat. The family agreed and appreciates the outpouring of local support and will always be grateful to the community regulars. But winning this contest and the exposure it generates to a larger audience will help their restaurant thrive.
“Getting the word out is what we need,” said Amanda. “This contest has helped us make Pleasantville and Halftime Bar & Grill a destination; a place on the map.”
Thanks to the community, quality beef, and one unforgettable burger, Halftime Bar & Grill isn’t just serving food—it’s earned a permanent place on Iowa’s culinary map.
Halftime Bar & Grill’s kitchen is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. You can learn more about Halftime Bar & Grill and get updates on specials by following them on Facebook.
CONGRATULATIONS, HALFTIME BAR & GRILL!