Kansas City, Missouri

This is my first posting, so please bear with me.
My two favorites in KC are the Hereford House near downtown, where you can get some great steaks, and Stephensons Apple Orchard out on hiway 40, where you can get great bar-b-q and all kinds of apple stuff made from their own home-grown apples in the orchard out back.

>Next week I have training in Kansas City, Missouri. Can anyone
>recommend some good restaurants?

Having grown up in Kansas City, I'm very opinionated on my favorite KC restaurants.

First, if you're not vegetarian, you absolutely MUST have some Kansas City barbeque, billed as some of the best in the country.  If you are a vegetarian, you may have a little trouble eating in KC--definitely a meat-eating town.  My favorite places for BBQ:

1) Haywards, on the Kansas side of State Line
2) Gates & Sons, numerous locations, home of the order-takers that
*YELL* "May I help you" as soon as you come through the door
3) Arthur Bryant's, a little hole in the wall with great BBQ, not sure of the exact location, Jimmy Carter ate there when he visited KC as President

Mexican:
1) Manny's, on Southwest Boulevard
2) Margarita's, Southwest Boulevard
3) Ponak's, Southwest Boulevard (just across street from Margarita's)
4) Sancho's, approx. 75th Street & Wornall Road, my family's personal favorite, a small family-run place where four people can stuff themselves for less than $25, no liquor served, I recommend the chili con queso and the Burrito Sancho (although a Burrito Sanchito--a small version of the Sancho--will fill most people up)

Chinese:
1) Princess Gardens, 80something Street & Wornall Road, great crab rangoon
2) Bo Ling's, two locations, I recommend the Empress Chicken if you like spicy stuff

Then, depending on whether you're looking for upscale, not upscale, or
Kansas City classics:

Kansas City classics:
1) Winstead's Steakburgers, several locations, serves hamburgers and great chocolate malts, inexpensive
2) Jess & Jim's, steakhouse in Martin City
3) Ruby's Soul Food cafe, not sure of location, the only employee is Ruby herself, and she cooks up great meals full of cholesterol--fried chicken, country fried steak, etc.

Upscale:
1) Peppercorn Duck Club, in the Hyatt Regency downtown, they have a chocolate bar that's out of this world
2) Cafe Allegro, not sure of location
3) La Mediterranee, French food on the Plaza

The Plaza is a shopping area about 50th and Main that has lots of restaurants on the moderate to pricey side, including:

1) The Bristol, seafood is their specialty, known for their biscuits
2) Plaza III, known for its steaks and great steak soup
3) Fedora's, various pasta, chicken, beef, fish entrees, good onion rings
4) Parkway 600, sandwiches, salads, pasta, chicken, etc., also has good onion rings
5) Caffe Mario, serves both standard Italian favorites done well and some enjoyable twists on traditional Italian fare
6) Hibachi, serves good hibachi style Japanese food cooked at your table, good for a large group (7-8 people)

Others I like:
1) Boulevard Cafe, on Southwest Boulevard, tapas-style restaurant with a Middle Eastern flair, their paella (only served on certain nights) and shwarma are particularly good, also a great collection of absolutely sinful desserts
2) Kiki's Bon Ton Maison, 39th Street(?), Cajun food, if you bring in a hot sauce they don't have I think they pay for your meal, live music many evenings

Chui wrote:

>Next week I have training in Kansas City, Missouri. Can anyone recommend
>some good restaurants?
Two strong recommendations:  Arthur Bryant's at 17th and Brooklyn.  BBQ, home fries, beer.  This is get-down food at its best.  The other is Strouds (south KC just off The Paseo .. ask for directions).  Pan fried chicken, veggies, rolls.  Be prepared for a wait.

Other's include Gates BBQ (various locations).  The minute you hit the door, "May I 'hep' you?" will rain upon your ears.  Typical fare,  but outstanding ribs.  Bo Lings (91st and Metcalf, Overland Park and .. Plaza?) is excellent Chinese.  Rosedale's BBQ (don't know address .. ask) is good too, very good.

Jess and Jim's Steakhouse in Martin City (south side of KC) and SmokeStack (one location just a stone's throw from Jess and Jim's) are also good.  You like BBQ and home cooking, K.C's the place.