New Year. What's On the Menu This Year?
January 4, 2022
Openers
As the second full year of the pandemic ends, it feels like there is more around the corner, but I see lots of positive signs based on what I’ve been reading. In terms of Kansas City’s local restaurant and food scene, it looks like we will see lots of disruptions, temporary closings, shortages and more over the next 2-3 months. I think that we’ll see a big improvement in things once the winter winds down. I’m looking forward to dining in more restaurants in 2022 and exploring the amazing local food scene. Expect lots of new restaurant reviews on my website, regular newsletters, new resource guides, and a podcast coming soon.
I have a long list of local restaurants I want to try out, but I’d also like to randomly try other places. I’d like to do a big overview of local bakeries and my own take on the “Kansas City Taco Trail.” I’d lie to try any of the new farm-to-table concepts, sushi burritos, ethnic bakeries, and restaurants on the “other side of town.” Maybe this spring and summer I’ll get over to Lawrence or Columbia.
Look for new guides on my website in 2022, including guides to local barbecue, dining on 39th Street, and farmer’s markets and subscription farm-to-table programs. Kansas City has some amazing restaurant neighborhoods. I’d like to explore the better-known ones and highlight the many you haven’t heard of. While Kansas City is known for its barbecue, what about other local dishes and ethnic cuisines? How about cinnamon rolls? The growing Vietnamese restaurant scene? How about new concepts and special venues? I’d like to write about and cover as much as possible.
Have fun dining in 2022! Enjoy Restaurant Week!
~ Chuck Munson
Quick Review - Papu’s Cafe
A Middle Eastern restaurant in a gas station? Well, Kansas City has Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que, which is in a gas station, so why not a place selling delicious gyros, falafel, shawarma, hummus and baba ganoush sandwiches? Papu’s Café is located in a gas station on 75th Street, just west of Wornall in the Waldo neighborhood of Kansas City, Missouri. They have all of the basic Middle Eastern sandwiches, sides, salads and platters. Affordable, delicious and available for dine in or take out.
While I haven’t dined here since the pandemic, I try to make a stop at Papu’s on a regular basis. I like their vegetarian options like the falafel sandwich. I remember that they were always busy at lunch, with a good line of local office workers picking up sandwiches to take back to the office.
604 WEST 75TH STREET
KANSAS CITY, MO 64114
Phone: (816) 503-8370
1348 S NOLAND RD,
INDEPENDENCE, MO 64055
PHONE: (816) 503-8370
Bygone Kansas City Restaurants - Eddy’s Loaf ‘N Stein
One of the restaurant formats that is sadly lacking in the Kansas City area, which is often cited by many on local foodie forums, is the classic delicatessen. While a couple of delicatessen have opened in recent years, we still lack a good delicatessen scene. Perhaps delicatessens won’t make a come-back, given similar formats and changing dietary preferences.
A classic delicatessen that fed Kansas Citians over several decades was Eddy’s Loaf ‘N Stein. First opened in 1965, this local delicatessen chain eventually had 17 locations. The chain was closed by 1983. Had locations in Prairie Village, Downtown KCMO, The Plaza, Ward Parkway Mall and Metcalf South Mall.
This was your typical deli, featuring overstuffed beef, corned beef, pastrami, ham, and turkey sandwiches. Also offered salads, fries and a range of pies. Founded by Ned A. Eddy Jr. and his brother and father.
What readers remember about the restaurant:
“Several locations in KC. Great pastrami and corned beef sandwiches.”
“Great food and atmosphere.”
https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/print-edition/2014/09/05/rob-roberts-13th-and-baltimore-an-intersection-in.html
A good background on the family’s many Kansas City restaurants: Rob Roberts: 13th and Baltimore — an intersection in time
Previous installments in this series: Kansas City-area restaurants you’ll never eat at again, part 2 | Kansas City-area restaurants you’ll never eat at again, part 1
Coming soon! Bygone Lawrence, Kansas restaurants
Photo of the Week
Best Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants in Kansas City: A Tasty Guide
Have you seen our comprehensive guide to vegetarian and vegan dining in the Kansas City area? Our guide debuted in January 2020 and it is being updated regularly. We list restaurants which primarily have vegetarian/vegan options. We also include a listing of food trucks and restaurants that have more than a few veg options on the menu.
Chuck Eats KC Podcast Coming in January 2022
This blog and newsletter will be joined by a podcast in January 2022! That’s right, expect restaurant reviews, food talk and interviews in the podcast. There are lots of amazing people around Kansas City doing fun things with food, so let’s talk to them!
Openings, Closings, Good Byes and Coming Soon
· Our favorite coffee shop, Downbeat Coffee + Tea, close their physical location at the end of December. Downbeat was located upstairs in the turquoise house at 39th Street and Roanoke. I loved their Cubanos, vibe, art shows, movie nights, and hospitality. The owner has announced that in 2022, they will be focusing on online orders, local deliveries, and subscription deliveries (https://downbeatkc.square.site/). You can arrange for weekly or bi-weekly deliveries of coffee beans and bottles of cold brew concentrate.
- Plowboys Barbeque has closed their Overland Park location, citing problems caused by the pandemic
- Rob Magee, the owner and pitmaster of Q39 on 39th Street, passed away in early December
- The Peacock has opened in the former Ragazza space at W 43rd and Main in Kansas City, Missouri (thepeacockkc.com)
- The Peanut has opened a new restaurant in the big space at 129th and State Line (peanutmidwest.com)
- A new QuikTrip store is opening soon at 133rd and State Line Road
- The founder of V’s Italian Restaurant, Vita “Momma V” Totta, has passed away
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