Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Stop #1 BB's Lawnside BarB-Q

1205 East 85th Street

Kansas City, MO 64105



Upon walking into BB’s our group was optimistic. Unfortunately, the optimism faded when the food hit the table. Showcasing live Blues music nightly, BB’s is a fun place right off the bat. With cafeteria-style tables and checkered tablecloths, authenticity was to be expected. Almost everyone in our group commented that the atmosphere was great which was backed up by its average score of 4.9--the lone bright spot of the meal.


BB’s has an extensive menu with creative options and a host of Louisiana-style fare. Our table ordered up a pretty good variety of food to give BB’s a fair shot. Ribs were on special and they were one of the better items we had around the table. I had the pulled pork and found it very dry.


To make matters worse, BB’s barbeque sauce is not good, so the dry pork was made worse with bad sauce. To be fair, I prefer a spicier barbeque sauce and this was an

extremely sweet sauce (likened to apples and cinnamon at our table).




One of the more creative menu items turned out to be one of the biggest disappointments: the Barbeque Sundae. Layers of pulled pork, baked beans, coleslaw and sauce served in a mason jar sounds like a barbeque lover’s dream. When it showed up at the table, it was a bit of a disappointment. Tom ordered it up and said “the entrees were just OK, sides were good, atmosphere was great.” One additional comment that cannot be overlooked is the fact that the fries, a barbeque staple, left more than a bit to be desired. We would recommend opting for alternative side items.


BB’s by the numbers:

Meat

Flavor 3.1

Consistency 2.9

Quality 2.9


Sauce

Flavor 2.6

Consistency 2.8


Sides

Distinctiveness 3.8

Variety 3.3

Flavor 2.9


Restaurant

Service 3.4

Atmosphere 4.9

Value 3.1


Overall Experience 3.2


This averages out to a score of 3.2 for BB’s.


Needless to say, our group was underwhelmed by BB’s fare. Some chatter from around the table:


“Great Kansas City blues/jazz atmosphere; unfortunately, the food didn’t stack up.”

---Nick

“Potato salad-nice; fries=not so nice.”

---Joe

“Won’t be coming back, or recommending this place ...”

---Jeff


If you’re looking for a classic Barbeque experience and food that’s mediocre at best, BB’s is the place to go. I think it’s safe to say the first stop for the KC Barbeque Challenge will not be our winner ...

Friday, January 7, 2011

New City, New Challenge

Well folks, I'm back. No, I'm not back in Chicago, but back for more food. After tackling Chicago's pizza front, I think it's only appropriate for me to try and find the best barbeque in Kansas City. You'll hear it from almost any Kansas City native: "We've got the best barbeque." I'm not here to argue whether or not Kansas City barbeque is better than Memphis, Texas or North Carolina barbeque. Although I am willing to bet that after I live here for awhile, I will be sure that it is!

This year, I'm running with a new crew--a good mix of KC natives and transplants--to help decide where to go for the best barbeque in KC. We will visit one BBQ joint each month in 2011 rating them on their meats, sauces and sides. We will rank them and announce where (according to our group) you can find the best barbeque in the area. We will review each one along the way, so any visitor can be sure to find what they like; even if it doesn't match our opinions.

Check back regularly to find out where we've been and where we're going next!


First Stop: BB's Lawnside BBQ