Downtown once had great barbecue

Of course, Famous Dave’s Legendary Pit Bar-B-Que failed in the core of the city (1/16, Business, “This legend doesn’t live on”). But let’s not forget who Cordish and the city forced out of downtown to build the Power & Light District: Lil’ Jakes. “Eat it and Beat it” was a favorite of most Kansas City barbecue aficionados.

Thankfully, Danny Edwards took his excellent Q to the Boulevard. Still the best burnt ends in the city!

Richard Martin
Leawood

Comments

[solomon]

LCs, when he used to cook outside and be there himself late into the night, was fantastic. Its changed now but still has to be on any top 5 list.

[Marctnts]

Casady,

The reality is that without some sort of strings attached to the TIF funds, and as long as Cordish can keep attracting them, Cordish will continue to chase the national chains. They're what's called "credit tenants", and the financial backing behind them is large enough that Cordish can leverage their leases. You'd probably be shocked to know how many empty properties are still being paid for every month by "credit tenants" who found it cheaper to close up shop and keep paying the lease than to keep operating out of the property.

On a more pleasant topic, I'm usually torn when someone asks me what's the overall best place in town for barbecue. With so many options and so many great places that do something right, it's hard to declare an overall winner (though I usually default to Bryant's for the easy answer). So, here's my list for the best places (and what, IMHO, they do best):

Bryant's: It Bryant's, enough said.

Oklahoma Joes: Best BBQ sandwich in town. Try the "Z-Man" (beef, provolone, and an onion ring on top). Ambiance bonus: it's in a gas station.

Rosedale: Their beans are great, with delicious chunks of brisket.

Jack Stack (behind Union Station): Great place if you want a little more formal (read sanitary) experience. Their smoked wings, no sauce needed, are some of the best in town.

LC's: If you want to eat at a true "joint", LC's is for you. Don't let the screen door hit you on the way in.

Jake Edwards: The BBQ is a pass, nothing spectacular, but everyone has to try the sweet potato french fries at least once.

[Casady]

Once again I find myself in total agreement with you Marc. My beef with the P&L is it completely ignores the roots of this city or its heritage. It might as well be in Orlando, Charlotte or any other generic city that may instantly come to mind. The city seems to bend over backwards to Cordish and it's arsenal of corporate chains. Meanwhile, the city goes after interationally known local institutions like the Mutual Musicians Foundation and nearly closes them down. These are the sorty of places that need to brought into the P&L, not a freaking TGIF for Christ's sake.

[Stifled Freedom]

We used to have great steak places in KC too. Now, the best steak at the best price is Texas Roadhouse in Olathe....a franchise.

The P&L district will have tumble weeds blowing down the street in 5 years. The only thing that will remain is "Totally Nude" joint....and I hear the city is forcing them out too.

[solomon]

Marctnts,

Let the people not aware or afraid to go that far east stay ignorant of this local prize. The lines are long enough as it is.

I have had probably 100 conversations in line with out of towners who were told "go there if you visit KC". I usually take business visitors there. (I have a client from London who thinks its "heaven") I even got the finance deal on a commercial property in Omaha by talking to someone in line at Bryants for 30 minutes waiting for my turn to order beef and fries to go.

[Marctnts]

We still have great barbecue downtown, unless you narrowly limit your idea of downtown to the area within the interstate loop. Bryant's on Brooklyn is considered by many to be one of the greatest restaurants in the country. One of my favorite cartoons of all time was drawn not long after Mr. Bryant died, and shows him standing at the pearly gates with God asking 'Did you bring any sauce with you?"

It sucks that we lost a few "authentic" joints during the P&L project, but that's going to happen. The real shame is that the City didn't include a "local ownership" clause in the TIF contract with Cordish to encourage a certain percentage of the local outfits to be able to afford to relocate to the finished project.

[Gary]

I agree completely. It took the combined wisdom of our city leaders to get BBQ out of downtown KC