KC BBQ

The Travelin Man


Oh good....now I;ve gone and offended someone else. 

Nice goin' bonehead.  Welcome to the club.

Seriously, B&F, The Travelin Man is really A-OK, he just gets a little frustrated at times and allows his natural exuberance for Roadfood and common sense to get the better of him.  I say this as someone who has broken bread with the man, followed his posts, and generally respects his opinion based on his years of experience and the miles traveled to get same.  Frankly, it sounds like the two of you are cut from the same cloth.  Given the opportunity for a meet up, once you both finally agreed where to eat, you might even enjoy each other's company.

danimal, you too are A-OK.  I say that as someone who has served you pizza, met your sons, and enjoyed talking with you.  I think TTM's reaction was a bit (just a bit) over the top, but, at the same time, I shared his frustration with your decision based on all the information that was being sent your way by knowledgable, experienced Roadfooders.  I recognise that you're gonna go where you're gonna go.  You're going to base your decision on numerous factors and influences, not all of which will include the input at Roadfood.

I'm also going to back up TTM's comments and say that Arthur Bryant's product is hit or miss at best.  True, I'm a Chicago guy just like you, and probably know more about Hot Dogs, Pizza, and Italian Beef than I do about good 'Que.  On the other hand, my darling wife, Mrs. Roadhouse, is a KC native causing me to return there over the past 30 years on a fairly regular basis during which times I have sampled most, although certainly not all, the Barbecue that Kansas City has to offer.

Also, as The Travelin Man has mentioned, and I think you also know, I've made my living in one facet of the Barbecue biz for the last 20 years give or take.  As such, I have made friends and connections in the KC Barbecue world that have given me greater insight into that world.  One thing I have learned in all those years is that no one is absolutely right.  If three people say they have the best Barbecue in town, none of them can be right because each of them will have at least two other people who will disagree with him.

I guess my point is, there's a lot of folks, here at Roadfood and at other places where opinions are expressed, who think that AB's is curerently at a low point.  It doesn't mean they won't come back.  It just means that right now it ain't what it used to be.  Most of the time.  You might be very happy with your experience there.  I sincerely hope you are.  I also hope you'll post your thoughts once you've taken the plunge.  We're all interested in hearing what AB's is serving these days.

Have a great trip!

Buddy

All,

I had the opportunity to visit KC last month, and haven't yet had time to post a trip report; but I ate BBQ at Arthur Bryant's, Fiorella Jack Stack, Plaza location, Zarda's in Blue Springs, and also snuck in a chicken dinner at Strouds, the original location.

If I had but one meal, I would have to return to Bryant's.  It's unlike anything else.  I found it quite good, the beef was juicy and tender, the sauce as usual very unique, and the fries hot and well cooked.  Some say they've gone downhill...all a matter of opinion.  It was as good as I remember, and I try to go there every couple of years. 

More info to follow on Jack Stack and Zarda's, if I ever get around to the trip report.

Granted, it was about 10 years ago the last time I ate at Bryant's but I did think the staff was rude, the meat was dry, and the sauce was just, uh, strange.  Family is from NC and I was raised in OK, now live in Texas, so I guess I tend to like vinegar based sauce more than sweet, but their sauce seemed chalky and tasteless to the three of us who went the last time.

I have eaten at Gates three times over the past several years and liked their food.

TTM, that photo that you posted of your meal at Arthur Bryant's just depresses the hell out of me. The beef in the picture looks nothing like what I've had at Bryant's in my two visits years ago. The stuff you had looks so dry and "lifeless" ( for lack of a better term. ) Poor Arthur must be spinning in his grave! I've been debating lately about where to have my one barbecue meal in KC next February, and I was leaning towards Bryant's in order to judge the quality situation for myself. But after seeing that photo.... forget it! Most likely I'll be having 'que at LC's on that trip.