Swagger

Sweet mana from heaven!
On the way to go to the trendy "First Friday" in the Crossroads district, we met some friends on the other side of town, at the not so trendy Swagger, between 84th and 85th on Wornall. Swagger used to be the Village Inn, a hole-in-the-wall where you got your beer from a styrofoam cooler behind the bar, and kareoke was a guy with a guitar. The cliental are the same (got greeted at the door by drunk yelling welcome!), but the place got a facelift and great kitchen.
I ordered the "Dead Texan". A grilled cheese sandwich with jalapenos inside, topped by a well cooked and seasoned burger with tomato, onion and lettuce, topped by a fried egg (you can never go wrong with a fried egg on a burger), bacon, peppercorn mayo and finally topped again by another grilled cheese sandwich. Sweet zombie Jesus it was good.
I dreamed of it all weekend. Can't wait to take my fellow Spooners there.

Johnny Ray's

Classic "dive in" only a couple of booths and a big U shape counter with black and chrome stools. There is a Miss Pac-Man machine and a jukebox which I wanted to play some Conway Twitty but after some dirty looks I knew no one would find that funny. People were there to eat fried food. And they fry it they do, from burgers to tenderloins. We came here looking for a fried pork chop sandwich but alas not to be found. But the good news was they had fried cheese nuggets- little golden balls of pleasure. Crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside (just like yo mama) Decent burgers on the smallest plate I've ever seen and nice large portions of spicy fries and onion rings. Did I mention Pineapple milkshakes?


Portia's Cafe

I drive past this place almost every day on the way home from work, but always forget it's there. Possibly the almost completely faded sign that is now nearly illegible has something to do with it.
But, after many urgings from friends we finally went. Gotta love a place that as soon as you walk in you hear "sit anywhere you want, darlins". I also love paces where the menu is on a dry-erase board and meals served on the same plates as my high school cafeteria.
I had the country fried steak, as it is my true test of a diner. For $8 I got the home breaded steak, mashed taters, mac and cheese, broccoli, a roll (the nice hard on the outside, mushy on the inside kind) and a drink. I topped it off with some black berry cobbler. It was perfect for the cold day we were out in. One of the Spooners said it was the best tenderloin he's had south of the Iowa border. (he hasn't been to Kitty's obviously).
The place was packed full of contractor types in from the cold for a hot meal. That says it all for me. Portia's doesn't need a sign
Food: 4 Spoons, right amount, great flavor (although the gravy was kinda bland, and who really likes broccoli?)
Price: 4 1/2 Spoons: $8 for all that food, are you kidding?
Kitch: 4 Spoons: Nothing but posters of Firemen and Cops plus the previously mentioned cafeteria stuff.
Bonus: 2 "darlings" and 3 "huns"
MAP

Mama's 39th St Diner

As I walked into this dive I saw my fellow greaser spooners looking very sad and disappointed. Mamas moved up the street into this large space which used to be the classic Nichols Lunch. It lost a little of its luster from its old crammed location . "This food sucks" one said "I feel scared help me" added another. I hate to see my spooners so depressed so I took one for the team and ordered the peanut-butter and jelly omelet with a tall glass of chocolate milk and rye toast of course. Well I think that sparked my spooners up a little as a hairy knuckle hand delivered my plate of gooey goodness. The hand was connected to a lacy number that made him or her looked umm.... delicious? Think Fred Flintstone in drag. With 66 different omelets and deep fried cinnamon rolls you will always find something out of the ordinary here. Now, excuse me I'm off the the lavatory....

Road Trip?

Heart Attack Grill, Chandler Ariz.
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4632991n

great link

http://thisiswhyyourefat.com/

Sexy Update, Funhouse

Went back to the Funhouse and tried the Mexican Pizza. It had a spicy sausage (but not chorizo), jalapenos, tomatoes, and what I think was a thin layer of refried beans. This delightful little pie earned 4 spoons.