Bamboo Hut

I knew I'd love this place when we pulled up and were greeted by the sight of the whole kitchen staff out front having a smoke. The Bamboo Hut was a quality establishment back in the day. Polynesian decor everywhere. That was yesterday. Now it's a bit run down, but that's the way the Spooners like it! The Hut is known for it's Fried Chicken (that's what the zombie at the bar said) and it was good.


Jacques Vanderdreschd

KITSCH FACTOR- 3 --rather neutral. No movie posters...huh?

FOOD TASTE - 4--fries were a bit TOO crispy this time, but the Reuben was very tasty & crisp. Points for dressing on the side--FOR DIPPIN'

PRICE - 4

Francois Fraumage -

KITSCH FACTOR- 3.5 Needs more Bamboo.

FOOD TASTE - 4.5 Mashed taters were manifique!.

PRICE - 5 $12 for 2 brews and CFS! Snap!

Comments- free crackers and waitress who calls you "hon". Made me finish my backwash too!


Yeti Havenone

KITSCH FACTOR- 3 - one point awarded for the "aroma" that greeted us at the door.

FOOD TASTE - 2 - A dry burger and fries that were a bit too crisp filled me with regret and lamentation.

PRICE - 4 - the service alone was worth the price

Comments - Patsy on the ol'music box makes for a fine eatery


Pancho sez:

KITSCH FACTOR- 4... more just plain weird than kitschy

FOOD TASTE - 3 for taste

PRICE - 5 for food value

Comments- Sorry I messed up the group shot in front. D'oh!

Jacque Peppercorn -


KITSCH FACTOR- 3 hints of the past could still be seen.

FOOD TASTE - 2 my own fault ordering against the advice of group.

PRICE - 5 can't complain

Comments- free crackers


MAP

LC's Burgers Etc.

We battled thru a blinding snow storm last winter to try LC's on a recommendation from a Northman here at work. It was freezin' outside, but the burgers warmed us up with their burgery goodness. The 'Big Deal'' a quarter pound hamburger topped with cheese and grilled onions, served with fries, and chocolate shake (despite the cold) made me forget my troubles.
A fellow Spooner dared order the Blue Goo shake. It tasted like Play-Dough smells.
Food: 3 1/2 Spoons (Other Spooners might grade higher)
Price: 4 Spoons
Kitch: 3 1/2 Spoons: Great little seating area despite the small space
Bonus: About a gillion shake combos.

MAP

Funhouse Pizza

In a town that really does not have good pizza - (that's right I said it ) It was a pleasure to go to this vintage pizza haven. I felt like it was 1986 the minute I walked in. This is the way pizza is supposed to be made. With dark lighting, jukebox playing Journey, pitchers of beer, video games, paintings of scary clowns on the walls , huh what? You don't need a robot hippo on the stage when you got Gummy Joe making yer pizzas. The pizza is chewy yet crispy and as the name says its just fun.

Food: 4 Spoons. Tons of toppings. But we are still unsure what Mexican meat really is?
Price: 5 Spoons $25 bucks for 5 people to eat and drink
Kitch: 5. Could be the new standard
Bonus: Peeing in the ice

the Big Biscuit

I would step over my own mother in the street to get a pile of biscuits and gravy from the Big Biscuit. Sorry, Mom.
Fluffy biscuits with nice sausage gravy. Everything is big at the Big Biscuit. If they can't fill you up, you have problems. This doesn't technically fit the qualifications as a greasy spoon. The Biscuit is bright and clean, and all the silverware matches.
I also love the MIssouri Scramble. Basically everything you want for breakfast scrambled together.
Food: 4 Spoons. Great American breakfasts and lunches.
Price: 4 Spoons A lot for your money
Kitch: 2 1/2. Got some cheesy old movie posters but that's it.
Bonus: Chili on whatever you want.


MAP

Dixon's Chili

OK all you haters, let's just get this over with now. Dixon's Chili is an acquired taste. It's not like everybody else's chili. It comes 3 ways. Dry (just ground beef and beans), Juicy (meat, beans and bean juice), and Greasy (just like it sounds). You spice it how you want with the condiments on the table plus cheese and onions on request. Harry Truman liked it, why can't you? Just get over it.
Now, on with the rest. The chili spread is the shizz-net. Two tamales covered in chili plus sour cream and cheese. Mmmmmm.
But the real reason we go? All-You-Can-Eat tacos. Cheap in price, but not stingy on ingredients.
I once saw Fatfuckingwayne eat 27. I have been informed the current record is 36, set by an Independence Police officer. My usual is 9.
Food: 3 Spoons. It's plenty good.
Price: 5 Spoons. Kids eat free on Wednesdays.
Kitch: 5 Spoons. Old school diner, and you have to walk thru the kitchen to use the restroom.
Bonus: Home made pies.

MAP

Greasy Spooners last meal

What and from where would be your last meal?

Bill & Ann's MUGS UP

This particular review is going to be tainted by a severe case of sentimentality. Many a muggy summer night, i sat in the back of my Mom's Le Mans having a cool mug of MUGS UP root beer. As I grew older, I introduced my wife (one of reasons I married her, because she shares my love of a whiz burger) then my kids to this place. I found out that at one time MUGS UP was chain, and now the one in Independence is the only one left.
When the Greasy Spooners formed, I knew this would be one of our first stops. MUGS UP is a classic drive up, with waitresses that come out to get your order and those metal trays that latch onto your window. There are two kinds of burgers, the Zip and the Whiz. The Zip burger, means no cheese, and the Whiz with cheese. When I was kid, it was called a Whiz because they used Cheese Whiz. Now it's just cheese. Both are not really a patty, or really loose meat. I heard people liken them to Made-Rite burgers.
If you go, you HAVE to get a root beer. Big, frosty mugs of goodness until recently brewed in the basement.
For me, 5 Spoons across the board, baby.
MAP

Greasy Last Meal

Mixed plate and a side of beans from Gates BBQ. -"Bumrush" Buckley

Teresa's Drive In

Located just west of I-70 on Truman road, Teresa's was a great find. I pass it almost daily on the way home from work, and finally took a fellow Spooner for lunch. Teresa herself greeted us, and informed me their Italian Steak and Italian Sausage were made fresh daily. I had to try. Not only was the sandwich Gi-normous, but tasty.
Food: 4 Spoons. Great Steak sammich and crispy fries. The Large shake was too much even for me to consume.
Service: 5 Spoons, with a smile.
Kitch: 3 1/2. Classic drive - in
Bonus: There's a bus stop right out front, which is always good for people watching.


MAP

Kitty's Cafe

Thanks to Making of a foodie for this one. You would never noticed this amazing place as you drive drunk into the Martini District at lunchtime but make the stop. As you open the door wind chimes hit you in the head telling you that a tasty golden treasure awaits.I don't know why they call it Kitt'y's (don't really want to)

Food: 5 spoons - Best pork tenderloin in town! You must get it with sauce. Fries & tots are a gamble may be over greasy (is there such a thing?) They also serve breakfast. Cans of pop.

Service: 4 spoons- Sweaty Chinese guy focused on the food not worried about giving change
or taking orders. I don't think they even had a cash register.

Kitch: 4 spoons Only 2 stools in this wood paneled closet. Gotta take it to go. Dont be scared.

AWARD: Best pork tenderloin sandwich in town

- MAP - call for large orders. (816) 753-9711 even the address is cool - 810 1/2 E 31st St

Hi-BOY

I think I heard angels sing the first time
BaronVonJ
took us all out to Hi-Boy.The the clouds parted, the sun came out and everything in life seemed to become a little better. With the trend of hi-end burger joints popping up around town nothing beats the real thing.


Food: 5 spoons - As Sally fields would say - God Damn it! Great burgers and rings. Pretty good ruben . Fun shakes too. I couldn't decide which shake to get- the peanut butter or the hot fudge. So the very wise food angel instructed me to mix together- Hot fudge peanut butter shake- oww my belly hurts.

Service: 4 spoons - A lot of Fat chicks yelling at me. Thanks for the coupon Jaye.

Kitch: 4 - Classic burger joint drive-in design. We ate outside on a stainless steel counter.

Bonus: My fingers still smell good. Tons of childhood flashbacks to be had!

- MAP -

AWARDS : Best cheeseburger in town.

Little Richards

Food: 5 spoons - My Reuben & rings was one of the best I've eaten. My pie was so thick I needed a knife to get through very yummy and a ton of pie choices like - Mexican fruit
Hot beef was good.Open faced roast beef sandwich with drink and a huge slice of Blackberry cobbler for $11

Service: 4 spoons - Classic salty waitress plus 2 "Hun's"

Kitch: 4 - Guns and photos of grandchildren on the wall. We sat by the water heater the first time we were there.

Bonus: Any place that has an old guy who is obviously there every day sitting at the counter is a good place in my book.May at one time have been a convent store

- MAP -

Jim's Family

Ever want to eat in the wold of Dr Suesss? Well Jim's is the place.

Food: 5 spoons - Good onion rings and home made beef noodles need to go back for breakfast.Pretty good CFS. Not the best I've had, but close. Apple pie was delish.

Service: 4 spoons- Dirty smoky and that's just the waitress.

Kitch: 4 spoons Words can not describe the extraordinary world of Jim . History of Sugar creek on the wall - perfect.

Bonus: I was so happy and excited to see Jim then it quickly turned into horror

Not just salt of the earth, but looks like they came from earth, i.e trolls, goblins, gnomes, etc...

-MAP-

the Hawg Shed

This was probably the longest haul we ever made for lunch. From downtown KC to Buckner, MO was about 25 minutes. A long way too drive? Bah! When I heard from several reliable sources the Hawg Shed had a Cheeseburger to rival Hi-Boy, no amount of driving was going to keep me from disproving this obvious myth.
On arrival, I knew it was our kind of place. Literally not much more than a shed, the place offers a drive up.You place your order, drive around front, and someone will bring it out to you. We opted to sit on the porch (the only seating) dispite the fact it was about 30 degrees out. A friendly lady appeared at the window and gave the daily special, which was BBQ. I ordered the double cheeseburger.
Now, being a lifelong resident of Independence, I am a die hard Hi-Boy burger fan. It was going to take a lot to beat out my favorite. The Hawg Shed did not disappoint. I was great. Hand made daily, these burgers were the thinner patties that I like. Lots of cheese and nice crispy pickles. They use a sauce similar to Hi-Boy. The curly fries were good too.
My fellow Spooners will have to comment on the BBQ, but burger was on par, didn't beat it out, but on par with Hi-Boy.
I salute you.
Rating:

Food: 4 spoons
Service: 4 spoons
Kitch: 4 spoons
Bonus: The little pig statue out front and a little person brought me my food!
Location:

Welcome

Who are the Greasy Spooners? Let's just say once or twice a month we escape our labyrinth of cubicles and set out in search for a special kind of lunch. Lunch at a kind of place where maybe not all the plates match, but the foods always good. A kind of place that is owned by someone named Mom and Pop, and maybe the waitress has a cigarette hanging out of her mouth when she asked for your order. The kind of place that's disappearing, swallowed by a wave of chained owned suburban slop!
We've been doing it for awhile now, so we'll be posting our current as well as past adventures, so stayed tuned,