OT-Kansas City Food help?
But also we are doing a late dinner in KC and taking her sister out for lunch tomorrow (she is interning in KC). Normally I would take the time to research, but I dropped the ball. So as we are sitting in this rest area, I wanted to quickly write and ask for suggestions. Any quick tips would be greatly appreciated.
Fiorella's Jack Stack Barbecue
101 West 22nd Street, Kansas City, MO
Quick tip: Google. Search.
I was going to say the same thing..... I'd assume that would be a much faster source of information.
Yes, but perhaps helpful MGoBloggers can tailor their answers to his specific situation (i.e. family friendly, perhaps rather demure, beer-serving). It is the off season, my hockey team is out of the playoffs, baseball games aren't exactly must-wins yet, the EPL is now over, NFL draft is done.... it's a sports dead time.
Definitely have a Boulevard Brewery beer on tap while you're here... you won't regret it.
Quick tip for those flaming the OP with GIYF: google will get you a lot of "information," but it's mostly advertisers who have figured out how to hit page one of google by gaming the system. Mgobloggers with personal experience can provide much more of what the OP is looking for: unbiased feedback and advice on finding a great place to eat.
Go down to the Plaza. There are several great restaurants down there. Also are you in KC, MO or KS? There are some very good BBQ throughout the area - KC is known for BBQ. This is one of my fav's in KC - Oklahoma Joe's. Not bad priced, can be very busy. Really good.....
http://www.oklahomajoesbbq.com/
Go Blue!
When a buddy and I went to KC for the 2009 NCAA tournament to watch the maize and blue, we were asking locals where to eat. A group of young folks took a $20 bill and wrote Oklahoma Joe's on it and shoved it in my chest. He said "Here is your cab ride to OK Joe's, so you don't get turned away by it being out of the Power & Light district."
It was the best BBQ I have ever had, and I am a BBQ snob
Moved here three years ago, and have searched for the best B.B.Q. As another poster has noted "Oklahoma Joe's" is great, and "Jack Stack" is famous though overrated if you ask me. Best bet is to hit the Plaza as noted above, or seek a deli downtown for some great sandwiches.
You want BBQ. Best places are:Oklahoma Joe's, LC's, Woodyard, Arthur Bryant, Gates (preferably the one on Cleaver Blvd). All of those are on the sketchy side except for Woodyard, but that's just the kind of town KC is when it comes to good BBQ. If it's fancy BBQ (Jack Stack is the one that comes to mind), it's not worth eating. Given that you have a small child and it's nighttime though, I would avoid LC's and Gates, as they are in the more questionable part of the city. It also depends on what kind of BBQ you want. OK Joe's has great pulled pork and ribs; LC's has the best burnt ends and fries in town; Woodyard has awesome smoked chicken; Arthur Bryant has pretty much amazing everything; Gates has great burnt ends and fries as well. If you want a BBQ overdose, I would do OK Joe's tonight and LC's tomorrow for lunch. You won't regret it.
I would like to reiterate the "Oklahoma Joe's" suggestions above. One of my good friends is from KC and that is all he talks about whenever food is mentioned.
I've lived on the Southwest side of KC (Olathe/Overland Park, KS) for 20 years. I like Oklahoma Joe's for BBQ Chicken or sandwiches, Fiorella's Jack Stack BBQ for ribs or Smokehouse BBQ for the best burnt ends you can eat. Oklahoma Joe's is closed on Sundays and their burnt ends are good but only served on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
What part of town will you be coming too? Personally, I like Texas Roadhouse for a nice steak dinner but their sides are fairly small.
I've lived on the Southwest side of KC (Olathe/Overland Park, KS) for 20 years. I like Oklahoma Joe's for BBQ Chicken or sandwiches, Fiorella's Jack Stack BBQ for ribs or Smokehouse BBQ for the best burnt ends you can eat. Oklahoma Joe's is closed on Sundays and their burnt ends are good but only served on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
What part of town will you be coming too? Personally, I like Texas Roadhouse for a nice steak dinner but their sides are fairly small.
Depends on how late night... Oklahoma Joe's is likely to be closed on a sunday night if you're talking about tonight, but would be a good place for lunch tomorrow (won't have to wait in line as long for lunch too). I don't think Jack Stack is necessarily overrated, more just over-priced, but might be open.
Late night on Sunday is going to be tough here in KC... so many places are closed or close early. Agree with the plaza (Countryclub Plaza) or the Power and Light district as possible places that will have several choices open late (including a Jack Stacks on the plaza).
I would add that the KC metro area is pretty big, so it will also depend on where you will be and how late...
I've lived in KC for 5 years, but this is will be my first football season on the board. Looking forward to finding other KC Michigan fans to watch games with in the fall!
There is a alumni group here in KC and occasionally watch games locally together. I"M always looking for UM fans locally to hang with.
Jack Stack's is pretty good.
But you know what floored me? The brisket at the Airport Hilton. Unbelievably good. Seriously. The chef there is some kind of BBQ guru and he has awards to back up his claims. And from one MGoBlog-er to another ... the brisket was fantastic.
The ambience is another matter ... typical airport Hilton.
There's a D'Bronx Pizza right near there... the food is not unique to KC, but if you're looking for a non-national chain that has really good new york style pizza, that's your place!
EDIT: Just checked, and they closed at 8pm. Like I said above, KC is like a fricking ghost town on Sunday nights... and it only gets worse on the Kansas side. You might be best off asking at your hotel.
As for lunch, what kind of food do you guys like?
And catch Three Jacks and a Jill in the lounge
10-year KC veteran here. Oklahoma Joe's is one the best places in KC, but it is also closed on Sunday as others have pointed out. In the past couple of years it has become extremely crowded at all hours of the day, so be prepared to wait even at lunch. If you go tomorrow, just be aware that the original location at 43rd and Mission is in a gas station. Get the Z-Man, which is a beef brisket sandwich with provolone and onion rings on top with a side of fries. You won't be disappointed
If you are looking for a late night place on the Plaza, Toomfooleries and Grandfalloon are sports bars with decent food. If you want to go a little more upscale, Gram & Dun is a new gastro pub next to the falloon which has great cocktails. Houston's is always a safe bet as well.
Depending on where your sister works in the City, here are other places for you guys to try:
Vietnamese : Vietnam Cafe - 5th and Campbell in River Market
Chinese: Bo Lings (River Market) or Blue Koi (39th and State Line)
Sandwiches: Planet Sub (Downtown and Plaza)
Pizza: Waldo Pizza (75th and Wornall) or Minskys (River Market)
Bars with good food: McCoys, Foundry, Beer Kitchen (Westport)
I'll second Vietnamese - there are a number of good places in-between downtown and the river. Avoid Chinese food, though - I never found any places worth eating at in KC.
but both time I was there I went for ribs to a big old brick building in a seedy-looking part of town, located somewhere near old Municipal Stadium (where the Kancis City A's and then the Royals used to play baseball). An old college friend of mine who used to live out in south metro Kansas City (first in Grandview MO, then Lenexa KS) was the one who introduced me to absolutely the best ribs I've ever had.
The restaurant was considered an "institution" in KC, as the rich and famous, celebrities, politicians (even presidents), and athletes all ate there---the walls were lined with autographed pictures dating back to the 40's(?) of many, many famous people who had eaten there. The place wasn't at all fancy---actually, it looked pretty worn out and run down, both inside and out---but those ribs, man, good enough to kill for! The only other feature I remember about the place was the open brick BBQ ovens built right into the walls, you could watch them insert and remove racks of ribs from them as you ate.
If I make the road trip to the Nebraska game this fall as I'm hoping to, that place will have to be included in the trip, probably either on the way there or back, even if it adds miles to the trip! Problem is, I don't know the name of the place, so if someone out there knows of it, please post it here.
Gates and Jack Stack (this is more fancy) are good. Mater Piece use to be good years ago but has become commercialized!
Flying Saucer Drought Emporium, just outside of the Power&Light district is great for lunch on Monday! Good food and a large and fine selection of beers on tap or bottled.
Years ago a UM alum use to have football Saturday's at the Fox and Hound in Overland Park/Lennexa. I think the owner was a Michigan fan. I live an hour west of KC and would not mind meeting up with other Michigan fans, for Michigan games! Though, I don't get every Saturday off work!