Stroud's South Reopening on Hold

As I posted on the earlier thread, Stroud's new location has fallen through due to the inability to come to an agreement with the owner of the adjoining property that he needed for parking. The Kansas City Star has been speculating recently that Strouds may be considering the now closed original Smokestack Barbeque location on Prospect. However, Stroud's owner has been quoted saying that he is not at all intersted in that location.

What is Stroud's
Around here it was a linen chain that went out of business.

http://splendidtable.publicradio.org/whereweeat/stern_strouds.html
http://www.stroudsrestaurant.com/

Heaven's to Betsy Mr. stevencarry, "What is Stroud's"?!? Stroud's is (was), IMHO (and the opinion of many others) the quintessential Roadfood restaurant!

It had everything, great fried chicken, real mashed potatoes, overcooked green beans overloaded with big chunks of tasty smoked ham, pudding thick gravy, and a basket of cinnamon rolls you'd kill for. They were located in a brilliant ramshackle old roadhouse, with dizzying personality and character inside. Wonderful service from waitresses who, on average, worked there forever.

Further accolades and the history of their sad, but temporary (we hope) demise can be found on numerous threads on this site. Use the "search" function at the top of the screen, type in "Stroud's" and you will learn everything you need to know about this magical place.

Buddy

Don't forget Stroud's Oak RIdge Manor, North of the River. It is going gangbusters, with very long waits on the weekend. It's as good as the south location, and cleaner!

Plus, you gotta love a place that advertises that they choke their own chickens!

There is also a Strouds in Wichita. Every bit as good as the one KC north.

Keith

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/indexn?blogid=26

I have lived in Kansas for 19 years, been all over the State, and have NEVER seen "spurs and baseball-styled caps" worn in a restaurant. Nor have I seen "friendly guys in the john" who sing "tinkle tinkle little star" while locals get "giddy" about fried chicken. Methinks that Toto has been in San Francisco waaaaay too long.

My take on the Chicken House atmosphere was: "It is the kind of place where diners converse across the dining room, many of the men wear hats, the napkins are in dispensers on the tables, and the French fries are called Freedom Fries."

I've been to many Kansas restaurants where I was the only man not wearing a feed or baseball hat.

http://www.kansastravel.org/kansasrestaurants.htm

Keith

Keith-
Baseball caps sure, but worn with spurs by giddy locals who sing while waiting to pee?

quote:

Originally posted by Niagara

I have lived in Kansas for 19 years, been all over the State, and have NEVER seen "spurs and baseball-styled caps" worn in a restaurant. Nor have I seen "friendly guys in the john" who sing "tinkle tinkle little star" while locals get "giddy" about fried chicken. Methinks that Toto has been in San Francisco waaaaay too long.

??? If I went to the water closet and someone started singing Twinkle Twinkle, spurs or not, I'd be high tailing it out the door.

quote:

Originally posted by bill voss

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/indexn?blogid=26

I read that blog as well and couldn't believe the bathroom banter. I assumed the guest spotted the visitor from San Francisco and was having a little fun at his expense. Even if he is from Kansas originally, MB probably doesn't "blend."

As a Native Jayhawker myself, my guess is the guy Michael encounted at the Urinal was probably from New York originally.

No, Bill, I'm from (upstate) New York originally, and we don't sing in the john. Maybe he was from Missouri.

Well, he had to be a Texan then.
Maybe by way of Missouri.

That writer is into what people wear and how they intereact with him. From his visit to the Chicken Shack:

"As in San Francisco, the diners' attire was diverse. Many were in Sunday's finest: coat and tie for men, dresses for women. Others were just off the farm with well-worn pants and frayed-around-the-collar work shirts.

Yet everyone was friendly -- another precept of Kansas. I sat by the back of the restaurant near the restroom, and as men and women came out the door, our eyes met and they nodded and said hello, making me feel as if I truly belonged."

Keith

Truly belonged loitering in the restroom again?
Maybe he should go to Branson and review the plush potties there.

I've been to Stroud's a few times when I lived in KC. It was most definately a holdout from a bygone era (fittingly, it was built in 1840). Like walking into "Oh Brother Whereart thou?".

When we arrived, there was a few places to park alongside the road. And that filled up fast. Luckily we made it there before the onslaught of people coming home from the KC Royals loss at Kaufman. When we arrived and walked inside, the ceiling was low, there were a few rooms that looked put together by a child carelessly putting together a few Legos houses. the floors were uneven, and everything seemed a little cockeyed, including the waitress. And our waitress, who was about 79 years old, took our order, I noticed the slow, languid pace of the entire place. It seemed as if I was in a DVD stuck on 1/2 speed. The conversations were slow. People were walking slow, eating slow. I became very aware of tmy surroundings. the fabric window coverings, the self-aware t-shirts the staff wore ("we choke our own chickens"). Above my table, on the wallpapered wall, were a bunch of old, framed newspaper clippings and photos (like one would see in Bennigans, only all of these clippings actually were clipped and had meaning and context to Strouds). One article was about the lady that played piano at Strounds for over 50 years, who I believe breather her last breath at the piano right wehre my table currently was (probably). She's been replaced with younger, more spry player, who, at 87, still can kick it old school.

But the food, the chicken, in particular, was the most memorable part of that day. It was a throwback, when it was all about the chicke, and less about the herbs and spices. It's subtle and unpretentious. All the portions were gigantic. Most guys were unbottoning thier overalls after a few minutes. Mouth-watering rolls.

The thing about Stroud's is, with any restaraunt, it sometimes gets over hyped. If you are lucky, and just happen upon this place, it's very cool. Don't go for the hype. Infact, stay away if you've heard it's great. Because it probably won't meet your expectations. Kitschiness and aww shucks mentality aside, it's what America used to be, like going to Williamsburg. And people like me, who aren't KC natives, can appreciate Stroud's for what it is, a living history museum for your tastebuds.

For anyone unfamiliar, I just wanted to point out that the Strouds location which chazmatz describes is still open.

Keith

I assume then that chazmatz is describing the north "Manor House" location. Or has some magical reprieve occurred for the south location? Or was the whole thing a Berghoff-like scam in order to toss out the old employees and generate a brief spurt in business (Not that Stroud's needed to jump start their booming trade).

Buddy

P.S. In case you couldn't figger it out, I'm just kiddin' on the "Berghoff" question.

Yes, he was describing the north location.

For example, the original location wasn't as old, and didn't have multiple rooms. It was much more "roasfood" like:-)

Keith

The "multiple rooms" thing is what threw me. I've been to Stroud's many many many times over the last 25 years. Other than the multiple rooms, the description of the uneven floors, the low ceilings, the piano player, the old photos, and the "cockeyed" nature of things could also easily fit the south location. Of course, I don't think I've ever seen an "old" waitress at the south location.

But I wasn't sure, so I thought I'd ask.

Buddy

P.S. And I guess there was nothing languid or 1/2 speed about the original spot either. More like 78rpm most of the time.

B.

Buddy,

There really is a big difference in the two locations. Stroud's Oak Ridge Manor is a much nicer facility. It has nice grounds, pond, gazebo.

The oldest part of the building dates from 1829.

Keith

Yes, they are very different. Having been to both, I recognize those differences and concur. However, as I was confused by certain elements of chazmatz's description, as mentioned two posts north of here, I was merely trying to confirm that he/she was indeed talking about the Oak Ridge Manor location. Which you have confirmed.

Thank you.

Buddy