Winstead's

101 Brush Creek Boulevard, Kansas City, MO - (816) 753-2244

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Posted By Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle on November 17, 2008 10:20 PM

We've encountered a style of hamburger cookery in the Midwest that we rarely see in the East. Many of these places use fresh, coarsely-ground beef and smoosh it down hard on the cooktop, resulting in a thin, irregularly-formed patty with crisp edges and the chaw of real beef which hasn't been pulverized to a pulpy paste. The Kansas City chain Winstead's makes such a burger.

The burgers are not large; we recommend ordering them in at least the double configuration (with grilled onions, please) for proper burger balance. The standard works garnish also includes mustard, ketchup, and pickles. On the side, french fries and fun-greasy onion rings are available. To drink, get that wonderfully refreshing Midwest treat, a limeade (which is carbonated, unlike lemonade).

This is a sit-down place, steps from Country Club Plaza, with waitress service, but priced like your local McDonald's. It feels less like a fast-food chain, though, than a soda fountain (the ice cream sodas and shakes are very popular) crossed with a luncheonette/diner. The chain has changed hands and is now part of a local restaurant conglomerate. Such a situation makes us wary but, unlike old legendary in-name-only relics like, say, Lindy's and Nedick's in New York City, for instance, with Winstead's there actually still seems to be a "there" there.

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Posted By Jane Doe on February 17, 2008 12:20 AM

Although the food is good, the service can be a bit trying early in the morning. Their drive-up window menu states that they are open at 630am everyday when in reality they do NOT open on the weekends until 700am. I have lost count of the mornings that I have arrived at the drive up window at 700am only to wait and wait and wait for no one to answer. The most recent incident occurred at the North Kansas City Winstead's. I drove up to the window after waiting for 10 minutes only to have the clerk tell me where the drive up speaker was. I told her that I came up to the window after having waited at the speaker. After taking my order she checked her speaker box and turned it on. She did not apologize for my wait or her mistake.

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