Dinning With The Doorman

Everyone wants to eat great food, but trying new places can sometimes be a gamble. Hopefully sites like KCFoodGuys.com and ThePerfectBiteKC.com can help you navigate thru the unremarkable to the local food gem’s. In order to really know the hot spots around downtown you need to be more than a foodie. For an intimate knowledge of the streets you need a “Doorman”. The traditional Doorman isn’t common in Kansas City , but they are out there. Doormen, Valets and Concierges make restaurant recommendations for a living and usually have a tip in hand when they steer visitors to a great meal. A recent conversation with a doorman at a downtown convention hotel was a reminder that locals aren’t the only patrons that support downtown restaurants. Out of town guests play an important role at shaping our food scene and locals can learn a lot from where tourists dine.

Steak: The Majestic
This old world steak house is a dependable recommendation for those looking for a good steak and memorable atmosphere. The Majestic is located in the Quality Hill neighborhood at 931 Broadway. The Majestic features live Jazz music seven days a week, private cigar and whiskey lounge and an intoxicating old world speakeasy vibe.

BBQ: JackStack
No surprise with this Doorman pick. Nobody is as dependable and reliable and appealing to visitors as JackStack. It isn’t gourmet, but it’s the best banquet BBQ anywhere and also home of the undisputed best BBQ beans in the world. JackStack has 4 metro locations but travelers flock to the Country Club Plaza and Crossroads restaurants. JackStacks’ blessing and curse is their appeal to tourists and corporate diners. It’s a lot of responsibility to showcases Kansas City BBQ and JackStack delivers.

Italian: Garozzo’s
Kansas City is certainly not famous for Italian food and traveled visitors might have the worst Italian meal of their life at any of the wanna-be ristorantes. An Italian food  recommendation from the Concierge directs you to Garozzo’s for good Italian and white table-cloth charm. American favorite Italian classic dishes should please all including chicken spedini, pastas with gravy, lasagna, chicken parm, wedge salad, cannolis and veal.

Dine like a tourist and check out these Kansas City staples.
 

Fred Phillips

Fred is a enthusiastic and opinionated food writer that dreams in barbeque, craves street tacos and boasts about organics. Fred is an adventurous eater who balances the local classics but loves to try out the new spots and trends. Fred loves the Downtown/Crossroads/Westport lunch scene and is currently campaigning for true BBQ in the BBQ Dead Zone(aka: Liberty MO).