Reputation is big but taste is everything in a food relationship. A positive rep can make a restaurant popular but bad street credit indicates you are on your way out of Kansas City’s favor. Resources like Yelp and UrbanSpoon leave you nowhere to hide so you better do something great and nothing awful and soon. I would like to make some suggestions on who’s hot and who’s not for your food dollar in the first half of 2015.
OverRated
Joe’s Kansas City BBQ: I don’t even know you anymore
You changed your name and are opening new locations in the burbs and you only seem to care about expansion. I don’t blame you, but what about me? Are you the same Oklahoma Joe’s that I once loved?
Grinders: It’s not you..It’s me
I swore allegiance to you for many years and I told all my friends about us but now we need to take a break. And by the way, I need to tell you something I should have told you years ago. When your grill man makes your yummy Philly cheese steak sandwiches and bangs the flat top grill it’s so loud my ears hurt. There..I said it. You taught me so much, but it’s over.
Manny’s: Somebody has to say it…
This boulevard mecca has officially fallen from grace for me and now you just make me cry. You were once the best, my favorite Mexican. What happened? Now it’s all wrong every time we hook up.
UnderRated
Westport: Your Back!
New dinning options have created optimism and relevance for you. CharBar and LocalPig have pushed you over the top. Let me boost your ego by telling you that you can now compete with all the other food regions in town. Now everybody wants you, just like me.
Gates BBQ: You always adore your first love
Have you visited the old legend lately? It’s really good and it built this city with the most unique sauce ever. I can count on you and you deliver every time and I always know exactly what to expect.
KCK: I like it rough
Your kinda different and I was told to stay away from you but you offer an increasingly approachable authentic Mexican meal on the cheap. I have told all my friends to try you out and find their favorite AUTHENTIC tacorita. There’s just so many options.
Love Letters
Q39: You’re my soul mate
You deserve all my love but the word is out and it won’t be long before I will have to wait in long lines just to see you. I’m not sure where this is headed but for now I’m all yours.
Local Pig: Where have you been all my life
Gourmet simplicity executed perfectly again and again at both locations. I’ve never heard of half the stuff on your menu but it’s all excellent. Thanks for teaching me new things.
West Side Local: You had me at hello
The ideal trendy lunch joint in an even more trendy neighborhood. This food is fresh and well executed with great servers. You have what I like in all the right places.
Rieger Hotel Grill and Exchange: Your so dreamy
The crown jewel of the CrossRoads District. You dress to impress and encourage me to try new things. You always keep me guessing and you make me feel special.
XOXO
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).
I am shocked! You must have hit the nail on the head and stated what so many people were thinking. After reading this entry I expected the website to be inundated with “are you crazy” comments. Although, I still feel Grinder’s is a great place to go, just wear earplugs and enjoy the atmosphere and tastes.