Burgers & Stuff, Kansas City

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The overall food is good, but not great. They have a limited menu since this is the lobby restaurant of the hotel and does not feature as special attraction. Burgers, fish, wraps, and salads are on the menu. Prices seem reasonable, I suppose for something between New York venue and Chicago. Burger is $10-12 as example; a bit much for KC. Beers are $4.50 for a pint.

Favorite Dish: Sliders were tasty, and get some fries with them (two of them), which are three bites each.

The Crossroads Town Topics are Kansas City institutions, serving up cheap and easy food to generations of patrons. It's the platonic ideal of a diner, without any faux glamour or trendiness. That said, you never know who will be sitting on the barstool next to you! Two locations: 2021 Broadway, and 1900 Baltimore.

It'll be interesting to see if the redevelopment of the neighborhood will permanently change the Town Topics. I hope not!

Favorite Dish: Cheeseburger, fries and a shake

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Winstead’s is a throw back to the tradition fifties diner. The place is decked with booths and jukeboxes. The wait staff is fast and friendly and serves the best burger in town. Make the burger a single, double or triple patty. Order a side of fries, onions rings or if you can't decide do a 50/50 mix. Wash it down with a soda or top it off with an ice cream treat. If you have a few friends order a skyscraper soda for a treat!

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This is not the best burger in KC, which is reserved for the burger at the Westport Flea Market....but definitely worth noting. There are several locations of this KC staple, but we go to the one just to the east of the Plaza once in a while. Operating since 1940, Winstead's is one of those places that used to have the servers take your order and deliver your food to the car while on rollerskates.
The meat is ground daily, and the thin patties of meat are flavorful and crispy on the edges. The bread is toasted just right, and if ordered with 'everything' on it, bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato, mayo, ketchup, grilled onions, pickle, it is delicious. Dont forget an order of onion rings and a milkshake to go with that.

There is a good reason that there are lots of plaques and certificates adorning the walls of this eatery in the Westport area - the Westport Flea Market has long been a favorite hamburger joint for Kansas Citians, and has the awards to prove it.

The ambience: toss a neighborhood tavern and a flea market into a blender and mix it up for awhile. Turn the lights down low and add a lot of noise. Voila! You have the Westport Flea Market Bar and Grill, but with outstanding food and a loyal clientele. You will walk away stuffed and satisfied.

It took me a couple of minutes to figure out the procedure here, so I'll let you know ahead of time: 1. Go the cash register at the end of the bar to order your food and pay up. 2. Pick out a table and park yourself (there is no smoke-free zone). 3. A waitress will come get your drink order (including soft drinks). 4. A booming voice from heaven will announce that your order is ready. 5. Go to the dispensing window, get your burger, and add your dressings. 6. Be certain you have lots of napkins. 7. At least you don't have to bus your own table.

Favorite Dish: The Westport Flea Market Burger. Wow! It's a 5-napkin burger, it's so juicy. Tastes great and it is a full ten ounces. (Even their "mini" is five and a half ounces.

The only reason I give this place four blocks instead of five is they don't have a smoke-free section. To be fair to them, I must confess there were very few people smoking when I went for lunch, so the air was pretty clear.

Look carefully at this picture. How many adults do you see in this place not accompanied by a child (children)? Not many. This delightful, colorful cafe appeals to the younger set and is a popular destination for families on outings to Crown Center or anywhere in downtown or midtown KC.

It's located on level two of the Crown Center Shops, and is owned by Hallmark, who also owns the Crayola Company.

Favorite Dish: Nothing special for me - this feature a kid's menus with all the favorites, burgers, hot dogs, grilled cheese sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, spaghetti, that kind of stuff.

It's amazing how many places to eat we pass up because it doesn't look...well...like a good place. But this little establishment has been around since 1937..or that may be 1939..whatever..still around quite awhile. The menu is the same every day..hamburgers, hotdogs, fries, pie..PIE Ummm good pie! The prices are reasonable and it's close to Union Station.
Good place to meet if you are hungry after everything is closed down in the rest of the city.

Favorite Dish: Double cheeseburger, although the breakfast is supposed to be very good and inexpensive.

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These are various places to review for a more American type meals, but good food.