Danny's Bar & Grill North

  Being original Dottes (Wyandotte County residents), we spend a lot of time in and around the Village West area. The large number of shops, restaurants, and entertainment opportunities keep us returning. This area seems to always be teeming with activity, but there are times we just want to grab a bite to eat without being surrounded by tourists. It's always nice to know that there are spots you can go, where the majority of the patrons will be local residents. One of these places is Danny's Bar & Grill.

  The set-up is similar to many other places like this, and there are plenty of TV's to catch up on the latest sporting events. The bar is long and well stocked for those looking for liquid libations.

  The dining area is large enough to handle plenty of customers, and the seating is comfortable, although fairly utilitarian. Servers scurry around attending to their tables, and while we have seen reviews that complained about the service, we did not experience any issues during our visit.

  We dropped by on a Monday evening, which since we were before the football game the place was only partially filled. Of course as the evening passed the crowd began to assemble. Crystal chose the Fish & Chips dinner, which included cole slaw, fries, and a dinner roll. The fish had a good breading, and was light and flaky. The cole slaw is more on the tangy side than the sweet, and the flavor keeps you coming back for more. Her overall rating for the meal was a thumbs up. She also commented that the tarter sauce was unique in the higher level of relish in the mix, and she found it rather tasty.

  I went old-school and ordered the Country Fried Steak dinner, which includes gravy, mashed potatoes, vegetable, and a dinner roll. The over-sized cube steak comes with a good breading, but it was a little on the oily side. The amount of food is immense, and left me plenty to take home leftovers for lunch the next day. The mashed potatoes had a creamy texture, and the gravy was a flavorful accompaniment. The green beans were a good choice, and are cooked with onion and a little bacon to kick up the flavor. 

 Our visit was relaxing, and rather enjoyable on a cold winter evening. It was good to step away from the hustle and bustle, and just unwind over a dinner of comfort foods. Of course the Christmas shopping was not complete, so too soon we had to wander back out into the chilly evening. Perhaps soon we will get the chance to once again slow the pace with a quiet evening at Danny's bar & Grill. To learn more about them or to see their daily specials check them out at http://dannysbarandgrill.com/.

Restaurant Review: Zaxby's Chicken

   A while back we visited a fast food restaurant in Blue Springs that focused on chicken strip dinners. We were both a little surprised at the concept, but evidently it is catching on. Recently we made our first stop at Zaxby's Chicken in the Village West are of KCK. Here we found another restaurant chain focusing on this narrow field of protein options. Since we were already there, we decided to try them out.

    The menu is fairly straightforward, but has a surprising number of combinations to choose from. We took a moment to finally decide on our meals, and then placed our order. Like most fast food places, the focus is on quick turn time. Since we were in a hurry, we weren't too worried about the gourmet experience we were missing. We were both taken back a bit by the sheer number of calories allotted to their meals. It was a hefty price to pay for speedy service.

  The dining area follows the lead of most any other fast food restaurant with a combination of table tops and booths. The service is set up so that a staff member will bring your meals to your table, which helps prevent congestion at the order counter.

  We each ordered the four strip meal, which includes cole slaw, fries, and a piece of garlic toast. The chicken was a little bland, but had a good crust. The dipping sauce did add a smoky, peppery kick to the entree, and was a welcome addition. The fries are standard fast food fare, and the toast was saturated with butter, but lacking much garlic flavor. To me the winning part of the meal was the cole slaw. Crisp vegetables with a slightly sweet base is the style I grew up with. Overall Zaxby's Chicken is exactly what you would expect for fast food, and the prices are fairly standard for the amount of food they dish out. If you would like more information you can find out a ton of stuff at https://www.zaxbys.com/.

Restaurant Review: Pizza Studio

Fast serve pizza is starting to become more common place.

   The other day we found ourselves shopping at The Legends in western KCK. After a bit, we decided that we needed something to eat, but we weren't ready to leave the shopping center. While there are a few go to places we enjoy at this location, my wife was quick to point out that she had recently tried the new pizza spot called Pizza Studio. Her description piqued my curiosity, so we decided to have it for a quick lunch. It is the first restaurant that this chain has opened in the metro with the closest one from here being in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. A quick check of their website shows the majority of their stores are located in the southwestern portion of the country, but they do have a smattering of locations in other areas.

The menu is simple to read, but full of options.

    We arrived to find only a few guests inside, since we were early enough to miss the lunch rush. The menu is pretty simple to navigate. The first thing you will need to do is to pick a crust from their five options. Then you select a sauce from seven varieties. The cheeses offer another four options, and then you get to the toppings. Here they are broken out between veggies and meats, with plenty available in both categories. For those who have decision phobia, or are just looking for a quick suggestion, they offer a few "masterpieces" with some interesting flavor combinations.

Watch staff make your pie in front of your eyes.

   After you have made your decision, the staff gets to work building your creation. You move down a counter watching the assembly process, and can interject with any last minute additions or subtractions that you deem appropriate. Once your pie is assembled it goes into the oven, which will cook it in about 3 to 5 minutes. While that is happening you get to make any other menu selections that you desire. There are a handful of pre-selected salad combinations available or you can just opt to build your own from their assortment of available options. On our visit we did not sample the salad choices, since the pizzas were larger than I had expected.

Chicken Alfredo is a favorite of many customers including my wife.

    Once you have settled the bill, you get your drinks and find your seating. The dining area is well lit, with comfortable seats. There are table top and booth options, with the latter working well for us. The restaurant is large enough to handle a good number of customers, and I would imagine that being located on the outer portion of the mall allows for more to-go orders. In just a few short minutes our pies were pulled from the oven. A sprinkling of Italian herbs, and a brushing of garlic olive oil on the crust completes the pizza. Once cut and plated they are ready to be sampled.

The Beast has plenty of meat choices and is very filling.

   This chain restaurant stands upon the premise of using the highest quality ingredients, in chef-driven recipes, to deliver an exceptional product. These are lofty goals, which can easily be lost in the hustle and bustle of building a chain. The true test of these standards are the flavors of the food that they serve. I was hesitant to expect anything more than a standard run-of-the-mill pizza joint offering, and I was pleasantly surprised. The crust I chose, which was the rosemary herb variety, imparted a slight herbal tone to the meal. The cheese, which is grated fresh daily, has a warm and buttery texture. The meats were bold and plentiful in every bite. We both enjoyed our choices, although my wife decided that next time she will opt for spinach to be added to her Chicken Alfredo pie. Pleasantly satisfied, as well as stuffed, we headed back to our retail therapy with the knowledge that we have located a great option for a quick, and quality lunch. If you want to learn more about Pizza Studio check them out at http://www.pizzastudio.com/.

Restaurant Review: Suzie Q's Homestyle Cafe

Easily missed, but well worth the visit.

  Sometimes you cannot judge a book by it's cover. In the case of restaurants this has been proven time and again. There have been many shows that feature small diners that people would drive past without a second thought. What they don't realize is that inside some of those locations you can find meals with lots of flavor. Such is the case with Suzie Q's Homestyle Cafe in Kansas City, Kansas.

Part of the breakfast menu.

  This hole-in-the-wall diner is a mainstay for many of the workers along the K-32 corridor in southern Wyandotte County. The weekday starts at 6:00 for the customers looking for breakfast. My day job is located just a few blocks from the restaurant, and it is not uncommon to see people enjoying some of the menu items that they have carried out in Styrofoam containers.

1/2 order of biscuits & gravy makes for a filling start to the day.

  Savory or sweet offerings pepper the breakfast menu, and are made fresh daily. The biscuits and sausage gravy is a popular item, and pairs well with their crispy hash browns. The serving portions are generous, so it is easy to get filled up for not a lot of money. They also offer a good selection of omelets, as well as breakfast sandwiches for those on the go.

Handheld selections.

  The lunch and dinner menus are just as extensive, and they have specials on most weekdays. Their hours run until 8:00 pm on Monday through Thursdays, and once they open on Friday morning they stay open until Sunday afternoon at 1:30 pm. You read that correctly. This place remains open for almost the entire weekend, and it almost always seems to have customers. The large assortment of industrial businesses in the area help keep the doors open.

Giant tenderloin sandwich.

  So many restaurants like Suzie Q's offer exceptional value, because they are quite generous with their portions. Take the Giant Tenderloin for example. It's only $8.75 for a meal that also includes fries, Tator tots, or Suzie Q's (the house version of curly fries). You could easily have the makings of two meals from the oversize portions that they serve.

Cheeseburger and fries.

  Another popular lunch time choice is the cheeseburger, which also comes with your choice of potato based side. Each time I walk into the cafeteria at work I seem to find someone enjoying a menu item that I didn't know they served. Tacos, lasagna, and beef stew are some of the ones I have seen recently. They also offer fried and grilled chicken dinners, as well fish & chips, and fried catfish. Most of their dinners cost less than $10.00, and include salad, a vegetable, and a choice of potato or bread. So if you are looking for a home cooked meal, without all of the fancy stuff, then drop by Suzie Q's Homestyle Cafe for a meal that won't break the bank.

Restaurant Review: San Antonio

  When we first discovered San Antonio we were searching for fresh tortillas. There are many places in WyCo to get them, but they all seem to have their own distinct flavor, and we were trying to find the one we liked best. After trying theirs we were hooked. Our love affair with their tortillas has continued for years, but only recently has it spread to include their prepared food offerings.

  Sitting in the heart of Armourdale, at 830 Kansas Avenue, Carniceria y Tortilleria San Antonio seems to be busy at all times. To us this is a good sign, as I am sure it is to the owners. It serves as a meat market, grocery store, and restaurant all wrapped up in one location, so at any given time you have a wide range of customers. 

  I was introduced to their tacos at a local event, that San Antonio was catering. Guests were offered a choice of pork or beef filling, and I chose to sample each one. Topped with fresh diced onion, cilantro, and a little hot sauce, these tacos were amazing. I have discovered that many of the people in my office will periodically visit San Antonio for a quick take-out lunch. Their reviews of the tamales, pork sandwich, and beef burrito are just as promising. It looks like we will need to do a lot more research on this place. Maybe we'll will bump into you there.

Restaurant Review: Chiusano's Brick Oven Pizzeria

  Being locals, we have been visiting the Village West area, since before it was developed. We looked forward to the addition of each new business, as it brought with it the choices and options our county was certainly needing. When the Legends opened it was filled with interesting shops and restaurants. Over time some of these have changed hands and reopened under new management. Sitting near the main entrance is the brick building which once held Ted's Montana Grill. We certainly enjoyed their menu, but evidently it was not meant to be, and has since been transformed into Chiusano's Brick Oven Pizzeria.

  On the inside little was changed by the new ownership, so the reminiscences of Ted's are still there. A fresh coat of paint, and some new artwork, but most everything else is the same. The place still has the subtle lighting, which works well to produce a romantic aura for guests.

  The menu offers up the standard pizza options you would expect, but they also have some interesting toppings. For those looking for someone else to build the right combination, they offer some stock pizzas. Quite a few of these varieties come with an unusual grouping, but the flavors just seem to work out together. Chiusano's also offers up salads, appetizers, and a few pasta options for those looking for something not in pie form. On our recent visit we were looking for a quick bite to tide us over before a T-Bones baseball game.  Our server was polite and punctual, and our meal was served about 15 minutes after we ordered. I feel that was a pretty quick turn time for a made from scratch pie.

  Since it was just the two of us, we decided to split a personal size Combination pizza. Chiusano's serves a thin crust version of pizza, and is generous with toppings, without being too heavy handed. The addition of Kalamata olives made the pie a little saltier than normal, but the flavor was still good. The only thing we were unhappy about was the crust seemed to become a little flimsy, and we would have liked a more cracker-crisp texture. This was not our first, nor our last visit to this pizzeria. Unfortunately, with so many good dinner options in Wyandotte County we only get to visit each a few times a year. Well that's a lot better than those days when we didn't have many options. For more information about Chiusano's visit them at http://www.chiusanospizza.com/.

Restaurant Review: El Torito Taqueria

  Kansas City, Kansas has the distinct honor of being the host to many of the finest taquerias in the metro. They number in the dozens with many of them being located near the downtown area. Quite a few are actually a combination of grocery store and taqueria rolled into one. Among this group, El Torito stands out for their large selection of tacos, which rivals any other eaterie in Kansas City.

  On any given day expect to find customers crowding the meat counter, all attempting to gain the attention of the butcher. Being a grocery store expect to find many freshly baked bread and treat items. There is also the usual selection of canned, bottled, and prepackaged staples required to whip up a home made meal. During my last visit, I was solely there for the tacos.

   The taqueria is connected to the store, but it also has it's own entrance. Unlike many other restaurants of this style, El Torito does not have counter service, and instead engages servers to deliver the food. As is common in many establishments, you will start with chips and salsa. The salsa is unlike that you find in many restaurants, as this is made with charred tomatillos. As I stated before, El Torito offers a wide variety of tacos, with skirt steak and cured ham being two of my favorite. I also noticed they offer fish, as well as shrimp varieties, which makes them one of only a handful that I know of in our city.

  There eat-in menu does not stop at tacos, and includes many favorites people expect at a Mexican food restaurant. Burritos, fajitas, gorditas, and quesadillas add to the expansive offerings on their menu. The next time you are in the mood for some authentic Mexican food be sure to head to El Torito Taqueria at 1409 Central Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas. Visit http://www.eltoritosupermart.com/ for more information and to preview their menu.

Restaurant Review: Amigo's Grill & Cantina

   In the past I have refrained from writing reviews about places we decided that we just didn't enjoy. Sometimes the reason was the food, sometimes it was just a bad experience. After thinking about this I have determined that it would be best to still tell of out experiences, so that you can decide if you want to try them for yourselves. I understand that what doesn't hit the spot for one may be someone else's favorite. From the constant crowd at their Kansas City, Kansas location, I assume Amigo's is one of these for us.

  We had tried them when they were still located at 18th Street & Steele Road, before moving to their current location at 47th Street & Shawnee Drive. I have also visited their new home, and have to say it is a much nicer place, with the room they need to serve their ever growing customer base. On our previous visit we found the service pleasant and quick. The chips and salsa, a staple at most Mexican restaurants in the city, were crisp and fresh with flavorful sauce.

  We both decided to order the tacos, which is the menu item we use to determine how we like the food. the shells were good, and the filling was plentiful. The issue we had was the flavor of the meat. It had a definite sweetness that we were turned off by, and that was the one visit. On my subsequent visit I was just meeting someone for drinks, so I only had some chips and salsa. I did enjoy one of their house margaritas, which I feel were a good value. Too often restaurants will water down their house drinks in an effort to increase their profits.

  I suppose we should give Amigo's another try, and maybe pick something else off of their menu. With so many Mexican food restaurants in the city, we have just never felt compelled to stop by since the original dinner. I know that my mom loves the place, and is probably one of their biggest fans. When I told her we didn't enjoy our visit she just couldn't believe me, and peppered me with questions regarding my decision. If we do visit again I would hope to find a more authentic Mexican dish. Ay suggestions would be helpful and appreciated. Feel free to list your favorite menu items in the comment section. Thanks. http://amigoskc.com/

Restaurant Review: Arthur Bryant's Barbecue

  As I have stated before, Kansas Citians have strong opinions about BBQ. While we have our top locations, we don't mind trying new ones. We also have assembled a few go to places when we are in specific areas of the metro. So with Spring almost over we are sitting squarely in baseball season. While the Royals play in Missouri, we find more entertainment at the T-Bones games. I have spoken about this in a previous post, so I'll get to the food review.

  The Legends location is not the original Arthur Bryant's site, but they still offer up the same quality, and quantity of food. While a lot of people choose to bring their tailgating supplies to the ballgame, we enjoy stopping in Bryant's for a meal before the game. They offer a good variety of meat options, and sides, plus they have variety of sauces. This will allow those who like sweet to eat at the same restaurant as someone who likes a little heat with their food. 

  Our go to meal is to order a combo ham & beef sandwich with fries. This is plenty of food for two, and we will split the sandwich up by meat type. I will always happily take the beef, as it is pull apart tender. The fries can be a little greasy, but not any more than Five Guys or some of the other burger joints. They also have decent ribs and short ends, as well as burnt ends. 

   An added bonus for us is that hey will smoke meats for customers. Every Fall we get a turkey for Thanksgiving. I used to smoke it myself, which is an enormous task, but now I just drop it off 2 or 3 days prior to the meal day. When I pick it up it is ready to reheat and serve. As you can see, it has plenty of good smoke color, and the taste is so good. 

  The next time you are looking for a casual meal, where you get a good value for your money, try Arthur Bryant's. It really is legendary.

Happy Hour Review: Yard House

  Sitting at the west end of the Legends Shopping Center you will find Yard House Restaurant. Well known for their beers and bites, and the KCK location also offers comfortable patio seating for good weather days. They offer two distinct Happy Hours, with the traditional running Monday through Friday from 3:00 to 6:00. They also offer a late night session which runs from 9:00 to close on all but Friday and Saturdays. On those two nights it begins an hour later at 10:00, but still runs until close.

  Their drink menu can actually be a little overwhelming, so they have the beer selection separated out. They offer up the standard categories of wines, martinis, and cocktails, but also carry a couple sake options. When it comes to beer and ale based drinks, they have a whopping 10 categories, which include something for about any taste. Take a gander at their website and you will see the impressive selection. Since they have such a large variety of offerings, their Happy Hour pricing is based on a dollars off the regular price, rather than a set price point per category. 

  Of course the main reason we partake in Happy Hour events is the chance to try out a restaurant at a reduced price. Their food offerings come in at the $5.00 to $8.00 range, which allows two to eat an assortment of items for around $30.00 or less. That amount will get you plenty of food, and possibly some leftovers for later. The Yard House has built their reputation on offering good food in a friendly, upscale setting, and this model has worked well for them. The food is well flavored and fresh, and the service is usually well above average. Stop in and try out their Happy Hour before doing a little shopping. Or if you prefer a late night option, then park nearby and stop in after you finish your shopping. Either way you are sure to find friendly staff and great food and drinks awaiting you.