South East Kansas

Well it's been a while and now I think I'll give you a quick (for me anyway) overview of places to eat here in the south east corner of Kansas. One thing though, you have to be willing to drive a bit to get here. We are a bit off the beaten track. At the least about 5 miles from I-44. One other regional thing. In this area you'll notice a lot of steak houses, and fried chicken places. Guess what this is ranch farm country and it's what people eat. Without further ado:

Pittsburg/Frontenac: The place talked about the most around here seems to be a place called Jims Steakhouse. So far I have been there three times, and each time I left unsatisfied. Service was decent, presentation was okay, but all in all it was sub par. Still not a bad strip, but can you beleive a top drawer steak house that serves margerine???? Another place I do enjoy going is part of a small chain in the area, and it's Del Rio Mexican Cantina. Good food, generous portions and while the wait staff is mostly college kids, the service is top shelf. You will hear about a couple of fried chicken places here that actually seem to be pretty famous. There is Chicken Annies and Chicken Marys. Both places grew out of depression era women making lunches and dinners for hungry miners in the area. Chicken Marys is still owned by the same family, and the food shows. Good all around stick to your ribs food, reasonably priced and comforting. After Chicken Marys I had hopes for Chicken Annies. Well sorry about that. I have eaten the chicken many times, and it's usually dry, and bland. The sides are the same. In the breading there is no spice, and not even much salt. Avoid it unless you just want to say you ate there.

Baxter Springs: Well there are only a couple of place to really discuss here. First is Cafe on the Route (66 of course). The food is very reminiscent of a lot of small bed and breakfast place (which this is). Nice selection of good top shelf foods. Prices can be (for the area) a bit steep, bit it's worth a look. Then there is Vans Steak House. This is a throw back to when Rt 66 really was the main artery of the nation. The menu hasn't changed since 1955 either. Decent food, albeit truly diner style road food. One of the best chicken fried steaks I have ever had. Hamburgers are good, and they do spice the beef to give it a just so taste. Both thumbs up!

Chetopa: Well this is REALLY small town America. Less than 1800 people in town, but it's a nice stop for the traveller looking to get on the back roads. A few neat junk shops (check out the Wizzard of Odds for a giggle), and one good chicken house! Debs opened a couple of years ago, and the first time I tried it I was underwhelemed. But I never rate a place based on one trip. I went back again and have been going twice a month since. On Thursday there is Italian night and every other week is Mexican night. Both are decent but nothing to write home about. Debs does one thing right, FRIED CHICKEN! It has a subtle spicing, juicy, but NOT greasy and all around the way fried chicken should be. It's really worth a trip if you want real road food. Just up the road a piece is the local school hangout, The Hornet's Nest (local football team the Hornets, natch). Again nothing wonderful, but it is a slice of old time food. They are still using a softserve machine from 1956. The cone dispenser is from the same time frame too!

Oswego: My home now, and the food scene is a tad thin on the ground. If you like subs, the sheriff's wife, Donna, has a great place (as if I would say anything bad about the sheriff's wife). It's called Sassy D's Sub Shop. Good quality meats, and a nice deli assortment. The one thing that makes it stand out though is not the food, it's Donna herself. Sassy describes her a bit, but not strongly enough. She has a sweet sarcastic nature that makes what ever you eat worth the trip and time to meet her. It makes it worth a check out.

Parsons: Parsons has a few places worth noting, but sadly my favorite place, The Menagerie has since shut it's doors. Still if you have a hankering for bar b que there are two decent polaces in town. The Hickory Hole and Shredders. Both do decent "q", both are outstanding for the fact the portions are HUGE, and the prices low. They both approach que the standard KC method, and the results are certainly worth a trip. Kitchen Pass is dead in the heart of town and the food is run of the mill chain style (Applebees, Chili's, you know CHAINS!). Still the service is good and the prices not too bad.

Thayer: Well this out of the way hamlet sports 2 GREAT (not just good )steak houses. They are within sight of each other and even though it's 45 minute drive I am know to drive over a couple of times a month. First is the Fireside Inn. Now this place is where you want to go for more flavorful wood fired steaks. Prices are good and the service and food make the trip worth the effort. But for my money there is the best of the two and that's Big Ed's. Now understand that his name is not a joke, like calling me (at 360 pounds) tiny. Nope Big Ed came by his size by the quality of his cooking. Good steaks, good service and all around a great place for a meal. You will be happy you took the trip.

Independance: I really shouldn't be adding them to the list since I don't eat here often enough to make a valid judgement. But if you have the time around Halloween this year check out the Neewollah festival. There is so much carnival food it boggles the mind. But there are a few vendors who only do this one event a year. The roasted corn is the BEST I've ever had. That's worth the trip by itself. Also if you are driving through stop and check out the zoo and park. There is an old fashioned merry go round that still charges a nickle a ride! Yep, a nickle a ride! Talk about stepping back fifty years. I keep waiting for the conductor to say Willoughby!

That wraps up this segment of my regional guide. Next time, it'll be for a trip from Joplin to St. Louis on I-44 (something I do regularly). I hope I can give you a few new places to try!