The Best of KC Food... Look it over and start bitching
 

Let me guess before i look...Q39?

It looks like they intentionally tried to spread the love to as many places as they could. Every BBQ category invokes a different restaurant.

Got to try that salted oatmeal cream pie at Heirloom right before I moved. So good. Hope that place does well.

I can't wait to try their winner for Best Burrito the next I'm in town

Reader's picks almost always suck. Lowest common denominator wins.


First Watch won best breakfast, too, in the reader's picks.

Not on Reader's Choice. Joe's won almost every meaningful BBQ category.


Q39 did win best new restaurant on reader's choice, though.

I'm surprised all the locations in LA survive. Ya know, with all that authentic Mexican food with queso fresco.

No mention of KC/OK Joes???? F-A-I-L!

They won for the Z-man as Best BBQ decision.

Same Treatment for St. Louis

http://www.riverfronttimes.com/stlou...9230&year=2015

Needs a few more categories.

Yes, i was surprised. I am not as big on Q39 as some others around here...but the readers are right...the "burnt end burger" is excellent.

Tourists. It's just like Times Square with Applebee's and TGIF's.

Just to add, there's nothing wrong with Chipotle, other than it's not really Mexican food, more "Americanized' Mexican food.

But with so many outstanding choices essentially everywhere, it's surprising there are so many locations, although they've been put in perfect locations to serve their clientele.

The Critics winners in BBQ categories:

Just saw this review for Italian. Seems nice.

http://www.grandforksherald.com/acce...s-warm-welcome

I was at a party this past Sunday and a well known comedian was there. We started talking about me being from KC and he, of course, raved about the BBQ.

He mentioned that St. Louis has some really good local restaurants as well but can't stand the provel cheese that's so prevalent in the food there. He said it's awful.

I've never had it, so I can't comment, but is it that bad?

Best BBQ Picnic? Really? I've been to Woodyard so I'm sure they're talking about the excursion and not the cut.

It's a blend of provolone, swiss and cheddar. I think it's a pizza topping, but I'm not sure.

I can vouch for the wings selection. BLVD Tavern has the best damned wings I've ever tasted. Twice fried, and dipped in a korean sauce that tastes like some combo of soy sauce, sriracha, fish sauce, and who knows what else. They come with four and they are huge. It's an appetizer, but two of them would be a very large meal. One of the best things I've ever eaten.

LOL at the reader's choices. EVERY BBQ category is Joe's KC, best breakfast was at First Watch, and best burrito was Chipotle. Must've been overrun with mail-in votes from Johnson County.

It's an acquired taste. Closest I can describe, imagine if Velveeta was mozzarella. Or maybe a mozzarella brie.

It's interesting, as it will brown on top, but is very creamy right underneath.

Those less enamored of it compare it to snot.

I would take issue with it being prevalent everywhere, mostly Imos, and a few other 'St. Louis style' pizza places. Some [notably The Pasta HOuse] grate it over salads, but then, in chilled form, it's nearly indistinguishable from mozzarella

On Imos, the sauce and provel meld into a tomato cheese ooze.

http://slice.seriouseats.com/images/...ImosWhole2.jpg

Well shit, oops. That thing was cumbersome.

I'm pretty sure nobody in Johnson County reads that liberal rag, much less waste time to vote.

Nothing wrong thinking Joe's KC has the best overall BBQ.

Breakfast is a ubiquitous category. Eggs, potatoes and a fatty meat are all that are needed. Hell, Denny's serves up a good breakfast. Easiest meal to make on any menu.

I go to El Pollo Rey in KCK for the best Mexican food. They don't serve burritos, tacos or queso fresco... just damned fine old-school Mexican food.

Magazines and newspapers do the best of about everything category so they can sell advertising space to all the different restaurants.

I love me some Joe's KC, but there are a lot of other places with good 'Q. Seems kind of close-minded to pencil in one place for every category. That's my only point.

Tastes like snot IMHO. The only people I've known who like it were raised in STL.

I understand. Most people don't have time to drive all over the KC metro for this Q or that Q . Find a good spot and you're good. I'm sure there's some dude in Belton that cooks up some good beans and brisket. We aren't driving there.

I'd disagree, but only after spending several years with a woman who LOVES good breakfast. Denny's/First Watch don't touch the lemon ricotta pancakes at Westport Café, the breakfast sandwich at Happy Gillis, the cornmeal pancakes at YJ's Snack Bar, the grits at Genesee Royale, or the salmon BLT at Californo's (brunch but still fantastic). Corner Restaurant, You Say Tomato, and Succotash all blow away First Watch and Le Peep when it comes to overall menus.

Thanks, that seems to be the consensus.

It doesn't look bad but the description of the taste isn't too pleasing, IMO.

You're preaching to the choir. I live two miles from eggtc. They know how to do breakfast anyway you want. They have some really creative cooks. Does it blow all other breakfast places out of the water? Sort of... maybe. It's just breakfast fare with some twists.

I wasn't raised in StL, but I think it's decent enough. It's distinctive enough to differentiate it from the other chains, and it can cause occasional light cravings.

I think your estimation of it depends on whether or not you're a texture-phobe. Like I said, naysayers compare it to snot. I think brie is a more apt comparison. The flavor melds well with the tomato sauce. But where I like it best is on a romaine salad with italian dressing.

Mama's on The Hill makes an excellent one.

http://www.mamasonthehill.com/sites/...ouse-salad.jpg

Or like I said above, Pasta House

http://content1.tastebook.com/conten...1425287388.jpg

Best thing, here's what $5 can get you at lunch at Imo's [well $5 in Edwardsville, for a 1 topping personal pie and salad. More in the city, and with additional toppings.].

https://c.yipitcdn.com/thumbor/vypAT...1374085667.jpg

Yeah I saw that on Joe's and also Joe's won best fries. I cant say I agree with that.

The most hilarious was best sub from the readers survey. Planet Sub that is just a cut above Subway. Hell I can go to La Sala's Deli on 910 E 5th St just east of River Market and get one of the best Subs in the city. The chili dog is unreal there along with other good stuff.

Chase Daniel is that you?

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lz...wo1_r2_500.gif

Planet Sub is heaven.

Please don't tell me it was Dane Cook, and if it was, you should be ashamed calling him a comedian! :D

Provel is a white processed cheese particularly popular in St. Louis cuisine, that is a combination of cheddar, Swiss, and provolone cheeses, and tastes nothing like any of them

I also heard that along with the provel cheese, their pizzas have a tomato sauce that is very sweet with a very thin cracker like crust. Supposedly very odd and not what you would expect a pizza to taste like.

Let's just say that he was writer on the 90's Chris Rock program and leave it at that. :D

El pollo Rey rep.


Chicken, avocado, tortillas, rice...That's it. My pops still lives a couple blocks away, by the original location

YOu talk with just him or his brother too?

No LCs. List sucks.

Provel isn't "prevalent" in STL food outside of pizza. And even then, there are only a handful of (shitty) places that use it.

It seems like everyone I've ever known to visit St. Louis mentions the provel cheese. Is it because those restaurants are well known?

I've only been to St. Louis twice in my life and the first time was when I was four years. The second time I visited, I don't think I saw anything other than the inside of strip clubs, so I'm completely clueless when it comes to St. Louis cuisine.

IMOs is everywhere, and it's the basis for 'St. Louis style' pizza.

I seriously can't think of a widely known provel entree outside pizza and salads.

Otherwise, St. Louis isn't so much about a distinctive 'only here' cuisine. Probably the biggest thing is formal Italian, but it's just well done traditional dishes.

They've recently made inroads with Farm to Table stuff, but it's really recent, last 3-4 years at most.

St. Louis is more about doing traditional stuff very well than innovating.

For instance, there is a place down in Kimmswick that makes a broccoli cheese casserole that is a transcendent experience. You would put casserole and transcendent in the same sentence, . . . unless you'd been there.

This.

Two areas where StL restaurants are being very aggressive right now are transplants as well.

Melding Memphis and KC BBQ, and Nashville Hot Chicken.

Not sure if you have any experience but I went through Memphis and was directed to Central BBQ it was heralded by many as *the* place to go everyone talking up their pork. Was a neat place but the meal was just "ok" I was sort of surprised. I actually have to pass through there again soon not sure if there is another place I should hit up or give Central another try.

Only actual Memphis Q I've had was Corky's by mail order once.

I'm referring to the stylistic merger. All of StL's Q titans are local creations.

No one's coming here from elsewhere to 'bring' Q to StL.

I just saw that for the first time but in Raleigh NC a few weeks ago. Now I see one where I live, but never noticed it before. So it has to be a chain.

For sure.

Well now I know where to get the best Deviled Eggs.

I feel like every year and half or so here on chiefsplanet El Pollo Rey gets mentioned, and it's always the three of us raving about it.

Have not tried it but I will make a point to do so. I generally worship at the alter of El Camino Real.

Me too. First time I went to El Camino Real and saw the lady making tortillas by hand I cried.

I'm not sure if KC has the same "moguls" that St. Louis does as far as restaurants. Between David Bailey, Ben Poremba, the OG hospitality group, Kevin Nashan and Gerard Craft, there are some quality concepts there. But yeah, every time we go there, my foodie friend is always like, "So... BBQ is now a big thing in St. Louis." or "Chicken is now a big thing in St. Louis" or "Southern is now a big thing."

I've been really impressed with the St. Louis food/drink scene over the last 5 years or so. It seems to be experiencing quite a Renaissance.

Have you ever been to Blue Owl [the Kimmswick place I referred to]?

Would be interested in your take, given your previous stated tastes.

Their quiches and egg salad are religious experiences as well. Open-face roast beef, and fried chicken salad too.
Wish I had a bigger sweet tooth, to better judge their baked goods.

I've never been, but it looks pretty interesting. I'll have to run it by our crew next time we're up there (probably New Year's).

I had Interstate BBQ the one time I was there and thought the ribs were very good.

No, you can't

Yes I can

Can

La Sala's closed in 2013 and is now a bar called "The North End"

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WO23WBji_Z0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

No shit damn I loved that place. That and Liberty Bend Fish Market till it closed were some my favorite work lunch spots. I don't get back enough now with all the travel. Hate to hear about La Sala.

This Liberty Fish Market? If so, they must have re-opened.

Thats the same location off old 210 hwy

I need to check it out that was same good fried catfish. I just wonder if its new ownership.

Yeah, KC doesn't have anyone who is like Gerard Craft in terms of the combination of skill & concept ambition. Colby & Megan Garrelts, Howard Hanna, and Celina Tio have the skill, and they each have multiple concepts, but not on Craft's scale of ambition. There's no hotshit restaurateur in KC pushing a good chef to head up a combination of high-end and more casual concepts like other major cities have.

the one who may apparently have an issue being a creeper with ladies who aren't into his advances and may just want to stop having ladies who don't want to hold his penis, hold his penis?

I need a good catfish place. People raved about Lutfi's but the catfish seemed a bit chewy. The ghetto place I used to go near 87th and Blue Ridge Blvd closed.

Lutfis is just okay to me. I agree with the chew factor. Don't really think it's all that.

This place was fish market 1st but took take out orders so no seating. But damn had a fine fried catfish sandwich or if you had a big gut catfish dinner. Also a damn fine smoked ham sandwich. It was in an old beat down building next to a storage facility and trailer park :D.

Try Peachtree over by LC's BBQ. They serve some damn good catfish. They only serve it on Wed, Fri, and Sat though, so hit it on the right day. Great place to eat all around.

http://www.peachtreerestaurants.com/

My dad loves BBQ and would love to eat BBQ there if the good Lord is willing!

There is a place in Sedalia mo that is pretty ****ing good and they have an old lady making tortillas all the time.

El tapatio. Sedalia mo. Best tacos de carnitas I might have ever had