GrandStand Burgers

We all had high hopes for this one, it looked like the perfect greasyspooner establishment. But dreams were shattered at what I am about to say. The signature burger "The Kelly" a cheese burger with a slice of Ham and bacon. I don't believe I'm about to write this but... Having a ham steak on top of your burger does not add anything it just gets in the way and makes it hard to eat.....( I know I didn't believe it either,  -holding back a tear) Bacon is all you ever need so stop it people.  The rings were OK but the fries were a joke -crinkle cut crap. The best thing going for this place was the hand dipped malt and the over the top christian quotes on the walls. God damn it I really wanted to like this place.    -    2 spoons.

Saturday addition-Courthouse Exchange

I was up at the historic Independence square for the opening of their holiday season and stopped into one of my favorite places, the Courthouse Exchange. This place is in the basement, ala Cheers, acroos from, what else?-the courthouse. It's known for it's comfort food, open faced roast beef sandwich, hearty soups, etc. But, I found they added a whole section of mac-and-cheese dishes. Macaroni and cheese top with: bar-b-que pork, or chili, or other things. I had to have the chili-mac. Mmmm-mmm!
They've also added chicken and waffles, too. Well worth the trip to the heart of Indy.
3.5 spoons

The Well

The Pitch awarded The Well in Waldo for best hamburger for 2009. I beg to differ my dear. Its a great atmosphere - dining on a beautiful sunny day on the roof with a pool table but the burgers were only average. Plus they were too sweet. I love caramelized onions but it distracted from the flavor of the burger.   The  fries were good - fresh cut and  I like the socks all the waitress wear. Points for the  chili , which tasted like it was straight out of a high school cafeteria (and we mean that in a good way).  Go there to drink and for the view skip the meal. At least Blanc Burger didnt win this year.

2.5 Spoons

SWAGGER UPDATE

 We went back to this amazing place. Loved the barrels set in the concrete wall at the entrance which set the tone for some amazing eats.The chef is creative and skilled while staying true to the greasy spooners with large tenderloin sandwiches and some of the best fresh cut fries I have had in a long time.
As stated before the dead texan is something to behold. I think the burger was too thick but still a brillant  sandwich. Plenty of beer on tap and some lonely planet rocking out in the kitchen made this place one for the history books. 5 spoons!



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