Christmas and New Years Travel, Philly to Kansas City and Back ... I 76, I 70 ... ???

Hi all, I'm new here but LOVE everything that I have read so far!  My main reason for exploring right now is a trip that I am planning with my family for the holidays.  We will be leaving on 12/23 and making the 20 hour drive to see loved ones in Kansas for Christmas, then making our return on 1/1.  Very interested in some family friendly, local specialty or comfort food places, not too far from the interstate (5 - 7 miles or less).  I have done some searching but am very interested in current suggestions and advice.  Your help is greatly appreciated!  Thanks! 

If you are interested in suggestions for the KC area, please let us know. There are some great places for BBQ, chicken, steak, Indian, Korean, Thai, Italian, etc.

Just E of St. Louis get off I 70 at Exit 30 to your right in Highland, IL. Go back to your left on Steiner Road one half mile and take your second right on Gary St. Go to Blue Springs Cafe for fine casual country dining for lunch or dinner open on Sunday. If Blue Springs Cafe is too busy go W on Steiner Road to Highway 143 in Highland, IL and take a right. Go to the second street and have a fine country lunch at Farmer's Restaurant and Bakery.
Blue Springs Cafe @ 3505 George St., Highland, IL 618 - 654 -5788.
http://www.foothipies.com/
Farmer's Restaurant and Bakery @ 15 Central Boulevard, Highland, IL 618 - 651 - 0007.
http://www.dinefarmers.com/
On I 270 in N St. Louis, MO get off at Exit 29 and go S on W Florissant Ave. to Sweetie Pie's for the best soul food in SL, MO.
Sweetie Pie's @ 9841 West Florissant Avenue, St Louis, MO 314 - 521 - 9915.
Get off I 70 at Exit 217 in O'Fallon, MO to your right and go back S on S Main Street to Veteran's Memorial Parkway. Turn left and go to Ethyl's Smokehouse for good BBQ, seafood and steaks.
Ethyl's Smokehouse and Saloon @ 8505 Veterans Memorial Parkway, O Fallon, MO 636 - 978 - 7755.
http://www.ethylssmokehouse.com/
If you want to stop at a nice place with a fine dining room get off I 70 at Exit 128 A and go S on N Stadium Drive. Take a right on Interestate 70 Drive SW to Holiday Inn Express and have dinner at the 4 * restaurant Churchill's in the hotel. Get off I 70 in Columbia, MO at Exit 124 and go S on N Stadium Blvd. to W Worley Street. Go to G & D Steakhouse for outstanding casual family dining.
Churchill's @ Holiday Inn Express @ 2200 I 70 Drive SW, Columbia, MO 573 - 445 - 8531.
http://www.holidaycolumbia.com/
G and D Steakhouse @ 2001 West Worley Street, Columbia, MO 573 - 445 - 3504.
http://www.gndsteakhouse.com/
Get of I 70 at Exit 58 in Concordia, MO and go S on S Main Street to N 2nd Street to Biffle's BBQ for outstanding BBQ.
Biffle's Smokehouse BBQ @ 103 Northwest 2nd Street, Concordia, MO 660 - 463 - 7232.
http://www.bifflesbbq.com/
Get off I 70 at Exit 4B in Kansas City, MO to 18th Street. Go W on 18th Street for one mile to Brooklyn Avenue and take a right to Arthur Bryant's BBQ for the best in MO.
Arthur Bryant's BBQ @ 1727 Brooklyn Avenue, Kansas City, MO 816 - 231 - 1123.
http://www.arthurbryantsbbq.com/

Hi Sfreader,
Would definitely be interested in any recommendations for Kansas City as far down as Chanute :)  Thanks!!
leftseatdriver
 

Littleman, your suggestions are soooo appreciated!  Thank you!

These are both reviewed on this site, but worth mentioning again:
 
Stroud's (of course!) -- Oak Ridge Manor (north) and Fairway, KS (south).  I went to the one in Fairway just  last April and it was delicious. Legendary pan-fried chicken and cinnamon rolls.
 
Niecie's -- near Country Club Plaza -- family-run soulfood place in a converted fast-food restaurant.  Very good fried chicken and extremely friendly service.

Ditto on Stroud's!  I was just out there last month and had to stop at Stroud's.  It is excellent for fried chicken.

Chanute?  Great.
 
I can only post a little right now, but let me start with some neat places near Chanute:
 
The Prairie Nut Hut in Altoona is a small bar and grill with some of the best hamburgers you will ever have, great fresh cut home fries, and mountain oysters.  http://www.kansastravel.org/prairienuthut.htm
 
Big Ed's Steak House  in Thayer has good steaks and shrimp.
 
King's Sandwich Shop  in Iola is a 53 year old family run diner.
 
Madison Avenue Steaks and Chops  in Iola is another good steakhouse in a neat old building. I would go to it before Big Ed's, but it is only open on the weekend.

Thank you so much for these suggestions, please keep them coming.
Anyone been to the Stroud's in Wichita?  Is it as good as the others?  That is the one that's on our itinerary right now, for my birthday during our stay.
Sfreader, thanks for all of those!  I have been to Big Ed's on several occasions :) and am excited about some of those other recs.  Anywhere else you can point me to would be awesome!
Thanks again!
 

I think the Wichita Strouds is every bit as good. The dishes I had were identical, except for the cinnamon rolls, which were even better than in KC. The old barn has a nice atmosphere as well.

I will preface my recommendations with the reminder that since you are traveling during the busy holiday season, it would be a good idea to check ahead to see if the place you may choose off the freeway, is indeed open at the time you plan to drop in. Lots of places , open for the whole year, seem to shut-down for more than just Christmas and New Years.
That said-
Here are a couple.
1. Richard's Family Farm Restaurant in Casey, IL. Just a mile or less off I-70, just west of the Indiana State Line. Very good solid lunch and dinners.
http://www.richardsfarm.com/maps.htm
  
 
2. As you go thru Indianapolis...King's Ribs On Pendleton Pike just west of the interchange with the 465 on the east side of town. It is only one exit north of I-70, easy to find and get back on the freeway. It is just a drive-thru BBQ rib stand, but is as good as any Indy BBQ for sure.
Several Locations, but the one on the east side is the easiest for the East-West traveler to find!
http://www.roadfood.com/Restaurant/Map/1732/king-ribs-barbq

Thanks for these suggestions, mayor al.  I will definitely check ahead of time to be sure places are open, since we'll be on the road during the day on Christmas Eve and again on New Years Day.  That's actually part of the reason why I'm planning so many weeks in advance -- well, that, and the fact that this kind of road trip, with the possibility of some great food along the way, has me very happy   Thanks again!

On your way down to Chanute from KC, consider stopping in Paola at Beethoven's 9th. The German restaurant is only open Thursday through Saturday, but definitely worth a visit if it fits your schedule. http://www.kansastravel.org/beethovens9th.htm

The BBQ Shack in Paola is also good, but there are so many good BBQ spots along your route that I hesitate to recommend it. On your route through the KC metro, I would suggest LC's, Brobeck's, Smokin Babes or Oklahoma Joe's.

There are so many other options in Kansas City. Is there a specific type of food you might like to try?

  Keith