Category Archives: Kansas City BBQ

May 4, 2007 · 6:59 am

Getting the Blues in Kansas City

Last night over at BB’s Lawnside BBQ some friends and I met to eat good bar-b-q and listen to John Paul’s Flying Circus sing the blues. I had heard from many different sources that John Paul’s Flying Circus was a fun band to listen to, and talented too.

I had a great time watching and listening to them. John Paul can really play the harmonica and the rest of the band is tight. But I was blown away when the band featured a young guitarist by the name of Katie Guillen. I found out later that she was 21 years old and going to school and that she had been playing for years and years. And boy did it show! She could play unbelievable guitar and sing with a bluesy inflection and timing that was fun to listen to. She also had “it”. Whatever that is. She enjoyed playing/singing and it showed.

Katie Guillen, you have a new fan. Can’t wait to see you around town again.

Zarda’s Bar-B-Q: Some of Kansas City’s Best Beans

It has been a while since I’ve done a Barbeque review so I’m going to take a few moments here to do one. Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I worked at Zarda’s from about 1980-1983. Started as a bus boy and when I left after my senior year in high school I was a crew supervisor. (I knew you would be impressed!)

Love that Zarda’s BBQ. That’s all there is to it. Slightly behind Smoke Stack beans, the Zarda beans are the next best. The meat is smoked just right and is always moist and juicy. The burnt ends are to die for. I cannot think of any redeeming nutritional value of eating BBQ, it is just so enjoyable!

Zarda’s has two locations: Blue Springs and Lenexa. They also offer catering. (Pay no attention to their Overland Park location mentioned on the web. It just closed down. Almost an exact duplicate of the Lenexa store with the exception that it was a lousy location. It was actually closer to my home but I still would go to Lenexa.)

On my BBQ scale of 1-10, Zarda’s is a 9.5.

Blues. Beer. BBQ.

If that saying sounds familiar you must be a fan of B.B.’s Lawnside Bar-b-q. Located off 85th Street in Kansas City, Missouri this long time eating establishment is one of my favorites for a night out with my girl. The smoked meats are magnificent with a BBQ sauce to compliment them. (My favorite is the beef brisket…but that’s true of any good BBQ.) Good beans and fries. Great atmosphere. Heaping portions. Cold Boulevard beer. Do I need to go on? They even have a good cajun selection for those of you so inclined.

Run by Lindsay Shannon (you may have heard him on 101 the Fox where he does a blues show) and his wife Jo this place is pure BBQ fun. National and local blues acts play there just about every night of the week that they are open. Two of my favorites, D.C. Bellamy and Four Fried Chickens and a Coke are coming in the next few weeks and I’ll be there for at least one of the shows, if not both.

Make sure you visit their website and book a night that you and your special ones can go out for a good time. They even have a deck you can dine on. (When the weather is right and that seems so long ago!) There are many BBQs I like to frequent. This is the most fun.