Need some Help for my Yearly Trip to KC

I generally write every year on this forum right before going to KC to judge BBQ at the American Royal World Series of BBQ. This will be my sixth or seventh year in a row and I've come to really like K.C! I've also come to learn that there are several on this site that take questions seriously and provide a wealth of knowledge! So, I humbly come before you again with a few questions.

First, I'm coming in Thurs afternoon from Los Angeles. Should anyone want/need anything that I can bring from an L.A. Brewery (within reason) please let me know. I'm happy to do some in person trading although my time is limited. I have an extensive Bruery cellar in particular with lots of Bruery bottles available - new and old. I have some Almanac bottles available and some Avery bottles available (including many of the Barrel Aged series). I have access to all that is now for sale. No, Pliny the Elder is not available right now down here and Blind Pig is no longer distributed in Los Angeles. Also, sorry to say that we've not gotten any Kern River or Alpine in several months. However, there are a lot of other Southern California things available - just let me know what you might want or what you may have to trade.

The main reason I write is to inquire about restaurants.
Please! No BBQ suggestions! I know them all and always sample from the best. Yes, I'll not only judge at the Royal but probably stop for "tastes" at likely no less than 5 or 6 places. So, no BBQ suggestions needed.

Also, no steak houses please.

Otherwise, please...my wife and I are "foodies" and I'd love to get your suggestions. (We have Friday night reservations in Smithville at Justus Drugstore, a place we now visit every trip). We've also been to Blue Stem and may try it again if no other "better" suggestions.

I'd love your recommendations. I've heard of but have never gone to: Rye, Voltaire, Michael Smiths, EBT, Bluebird Bistro, Sake, 801 Fish and Novel as far as possible places for this trip. Comments? Suggestions? Must do? Must not do? Any funky places? Unknown gems? Best place for lunch and/or breakfast?

Like last time, I'll send a good bottle of California beer to the suggestion(s) I use! How's that?

 

Thank you all for the great recommendations! I'll be in KC Thurs afternoon thru Sunday and will report back and "notify you" as to who gets bottles!

 

GREAT trip to Kansas City. This is our sixth or seventh year in a row judging for the American Royal BBQ World Series of BBQ and we finally went in two days early to see a bit more of KC. We really like your city. Of course, the worst part is that for the past two years the Royal conflicts with GABF and I've had to miss GABF.

In any event, we were not able to try most of the recommendations but there are a couple of people who "win" a bottle of beer for lack of a better word. ElJosharino and ig88b "win" either a bottle of Almanac sour or a local Los Angeles/Southern California IPA - their choice! Please, if both of you would beermail me with your name and address I'm sending you a bottle for your recommendation of The Local Pig (with the attached "Pigwich").

ElJosharino made the first recommendation for this place but I may not have gone without the emphasis by ig88b. Thus, you both win. I eat at all kinds of places from the best three star places to the local dive. This is a must do place in Kansas City - period. Loved the sandwiches; loved the butcher shop; loved the people. I will re-visit this place as long as it's open and every time I get to KC. It's one of my new "must do" places. Sandwiches are amazing at Pigwhich "the attached food truck/train car sort of thing." The butcher shop is wonderful providing sausages to over 30 local restaurants, I'm told, as well as other meats. The charcuterie was perfect with beer and, at least for me, the Head Cheese was the absolute best I've ever had. (Note: my only negative comment on a place that I loved is to avoid, at all costs as far as I'm concerned, the bacon pate. I had to actually spit it out; suffice it to say that I had high hopes that were really missed placed on that one). Otherwise, 100 point place!

You may also be interested that as of a few weeks ago The Local Pig owns (or is at least a partner in and is running) Bridgers Bottle shop.

We went to Michael Smith which is a place to also avoid as far as I'm concerned. This is a three time James Beard Award winner who is doing things from perhaps the sixties! Not a menu that I'd expect. However, classic older style food can still be good and well prepared. Unfortunately, the food was very ill prepared - every dish. Suffice it to say this is a place to which I'll never return. (And this despite Michael Smith being a very nice man and probably a man with talent. I just think he must really re-evaluate his menu and check what's coming out of the kitchen! I.e., an ordered medium rare steak that was so over done it was like shoe leather! And in Kansas City!)

Our standard favorite place, Jonathan Justus' Justice Drugstore in Smithville met all expectations for our fourth or fifth visit. It remains one of my favorite places in the country.