Best Barbecue
There’s probably no more competitive Kansas City restaurant category than barbecue. On this issue that every Kansas Citian thinks s/he knows something about, the votes are in—and they’re remarkably consistent with our two previous years’ votes. Once again, for the Gold it’s Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue with its hickory meats and ribs, superbly huge onion rings on a post and enough on the menu to satisfy the pickiest meat-eater. For the third year in a row, too, long-time favorite, Gates & Sons, with nary an ad in the Yellow Pages to help you find the six locations offering the famous "Hi,mayIhelpyou" hellos and delicious sauce, wins the Silver. Edging out the other contenders for the Bronze award is nearly world-renowned Arthur Bryant’s on Brooklyn, which has a vinegar/paprika sauce like no other.

Best Brew Pub
What does it take to make a great brewpub? Well, good beer is a good start. Whether the trend of "home" brewing has already come and gone, it’s true that excellent food and a convivial environment are necessary for Ingram’s readers to vote for their favorites in this category. Their number one choice for the coveted Gold award goes to the 75th Street Brewery, owned by local investment group K.C. Hopps Ltd. It’s the fourth straight year the friendly Waldo pub has captured the title, so they must be doing it right. The Silver again goes to the River Market Brewing Company, located in the historic Gillis Opera House and serving a vast array of bar-type sandwiches and entrees. The Bronze goes to Barley’s Brewhaus and Restaurant, which has three locations in Johnson County, another K.C.Hopps venture.

Best Business Lunch
Four years straight has this restaurant won the Gold—its efficient service, fresh food and varied menu have clearly struck a chord in Kansas City businessmen and women. The Grand St. Café is a place where every palate can be pleased no matter whether you’re eating inside or more quietly, outside. The Silver in this category goes to an old-time restaurant but new-time contender—the Golden Ox down in the bottoms. Step back into Kansas City at the heyday of the stockyards and order the 8-ounce luncheon steak. The Bronze award goes to another steakhouse (and more), the Plaza III, where the lunchtime meatloaf alone will win your heart. And oh, those hash browns!

Best Caterer
People rhapsodize about their favorite caterers, and for good reason: while food may not make the party, it certainly gets talked about first the next day. Rave reviews in the Gold category go to Jack Stack Barbecue—certainly a restaurant that ships its food nationwide should be a great local caterer as well. The Silver was a delicious tie—Hereford House’s highly customized Catering Solutions who will "take your budget and make it work," bringing its own grill to serve up delicious steaks; and Dean & DeLuca, the favorite carryout of southern JoCo. Winning the Bronze award is Lon Lane’s The Catering Company, created back in 1991 to indulge Lane’s upscale customers in everything from his famous garden vegetable basket to guava and Grand Marnier® cheesecakes.

Best Dessert Presentation
Desserts now must do more than taste good; they must be eye candy, too. But in this category, sometimes the relatively simple is the best. The Cheesecake Factory takes the Gold, and we can’t help but think it’s because a huge, creamy slice of cheesecake slathered in whip cream just looks so decadent our readers had to vote for it. Stepping up a bit to the truly beautiful for the Silver is The American Restaurant’s dessert creations by Christopher Elbow—his Chocolate Passion (mousse and meringue with tropical sorbet) does make you understand ecstasy. And the Bronze medal goes to the Peppercorn Duck Club, where you can create your own delicious concoction at the heavenly chocolate bar . . . or simply choose the scrumptious bread pudding with perhaps a chocolate chip cookie to tide you over.
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Best Architectural Environment
Man does not live by food alone, and certainly the surroundings affect our impressions. For impressive structure surrounding you inside and out, Lidia’s Kansas City is the chosen Gold winner for its inviting wood-and-brick entrance, dramatic cascading balls light fixtures, cool be-wined circles on the back brick wall, and architectural touches throughout that bespeak both attention and taste. The Silver goes to Pierpont’s, whose 25-foot bar and clubby booths with old-time touches are both serene and hip. Keeping it in the same locale, the Bronze is awarded to Union Café at Union Station—an oasis in the midst of towering space where the past seems more comfortable than the present—and where bullet holes are just steps away.

Best Ethnic Restaurant
Midwestern tastes have expanded to include many regions of the world, and Kansas City diners are more than willing to go past steak and fries. The Gold for best ethnic restaurant goes to the Italian Cascone’s, with its Grill located on East Fifth, its original restaurant on North Oak Trafficway, and its newest in Overland Park. P.F. Chang’s takes away the Silver for its consistent and fresh menu, for its service and for those lettuce wraps and spare ribs for which appreciative crowds will wait waaay too long. The Bronze goes to Lidia’s, where New York Italian is delivered with flair. A frico and a salad here are a meal in themselves, and the pasta trio is always a favorite for carb lovers.

Best Family Restaurant
The Gold winner once again is roadhouse Stroud’s with two locations where pan-fried chicken, catfish and pork chops bring in families who devour cinnamon rolls by the dozen . . . but we’ve never been able to get to dessert there. The Silver is delivered to Buca di Beppo, open on both 87th Street and for the last year (down under) in the Plaza. Families appreciate its plentiful big-dish servings and smiling service, no matter how obnoxious that other kid is. The Bronze prize goes to ubiquitous Applebee’s, where 20 hometown-bred "Neighborhood Grill and Bars" serve fun foods to please everyone from age three to 93.

Best Outdoor Dining
So what if the winters are too cold and the summers too hot? The rest of the time, there’s fine outside dining in Kansas City, even if the view is not of oceans or mountains. Sauntering to first place for the Gold is Classic Cup, whose sidewalk seating in the heart of the Plaza is prime for tourists watching tourists out front and for residents sitting deck-side comfortable out back. For the Silver, go a few more steps south and west to Baja 600 where the food is hot, the drinks are cold and a flowered wall cuts out the sound of traffic. Winning the Bronze is Jasper’s, just off State Line and 103rd, where Italian is on the menu (the Italian coconut cream cake will make you drool), Frank is in the air, and the cool outdoor deck overlooks green and stream. Well, a creek, but you can pretend.

Best Place to Eat with a Group
Buca di Beppo tops this category for the Gold with its big portions served family style and brightly colored interior. With locations both in Lenexa and on the Plaza, this cheery restaurant knows how to take care of both small and large groups. Silver plaudits go to Stroud’s—the restaurant handles big groups with ease and the red-checkered tablecloths are as friendly as the waitresses. And while it may be more upscale, the Plaza III takes the Bronze—probably for its aplomb in handling groups and the ability of serving correctly done steaks all at once to a variety of finicky eaters.

Best Place to Take Out-of-Town Guests
We’re not sure of the criteria in our readers’ minds here, but it’s likely they included Midwestern friendliness, a Kansas City feel and great steak with lots of other choices, too. The Gold is granted to the Plaza III once again—it’s won in this category for the last three years so it must be the right place! Next, for the Silver, is Pierpont’s whose location alone bespeaks Kansas City history, whose menu is rich and varied and whose bar is just plain fun to look at. The Bronze plaque graces the Bristol Bar & Grill this year, whose colorful dome, tasteful interior and delectable seafood menu has something for everyone.

Best Seafood
Ever since we offered this category (2000), the Bristol has caught the honors for the Gold. With its fresh flown-in fish every day, delicious specials, best clam chowder in town and famous melting biscuits, this restaurant never missed a beat when it moved from the Plaza. McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant captured the Silver for its extensively fresh menu (and great oysters) prepared any way you want. The Bronze goes to long time favorite, the Savoy Grill, where since 1903, white-jacketed waiters have been serving lobster and fish dishes (as well as steaks) in an historical setting.

Best Steakhouse
This category is a contentious one. Ingram’s readers know their steak, and this year the Hereford House wrestled the Gold away from the Plaza III, which has won this category for the last three years (at least) but comes away with the cherished Silver this year. Hereford House, established in 1957, now has four locations that boast "absolutely the best steak in Kansas City." Our readers agree. Another old name but one that makes the list for the first time in a while is the Golden Ox, which takes the Bronze. You can no longer hear the cattle mooing by it, but this restaurant with its old pictures and scarred booths still serves up a delicious steak—and more.

Best Sunday Brunch
You need to get your reservations in early for the best Sunday brunch in town, and then get ready to drive to 119th Street to get into the Bristol, our Gold prize winner. The Bristol has served brunch for over 20 years and knows exactly how to do it with a vast array of delicious dishes, a bloody Mary bar and refills on everything—if you can handle it. The Silver award migrates back to the Kansas City Marriott Downtown, where prime rib and champagne complement the numerous other dishes. The Bronze is awarded for the first time to First Watch, where hearty breakfasts are always the norm and where you’re sure to find one of eight neighborhood restaurants close to you.

Best Wine List
JJ’s once again merits the Gold with its 1,500+ wine list, over 20 by the glass on an always-evolving list—which means that next week, you may find something different. The American Restaurant steps up for the Silver trophy this year and for good reason: it has four certificated sommeliers who know well the approximately 1,300 selections on the wine list and who offer over 100 selections by the glass beyond dessert, fortified and sparkling wines. The Bronze slides to the Iliki Café north of the river, where this unpretentious storefront serves eclectic med flavors and food and the wine list is truly remarkable with a diversity that befits the food.

Hidden Jewel
These are the places that draw you back, that you can count on, but that you just never hear all that much about. Our readers voted the Gold to one that’s become quite well-known, among foodies at least—the Iliki Café. The restaurant has had to move twice to larger quarters to accommodate people who come from all over the city for the Mediterranean fare—hummus, shish kabobs, baklava and so much more. The Silver belongs to Café des Amis in downtown Parkville where friends gather for sumptuous repasts of the best the French have to offer. A new restaurant on the 39th Street strip, the Blue Koi, grabs the Bronze—it is already renowned for its Chinese pot roast noodles, crispy duck and bubble teas.

Most Romantic Restaurant
When you need romance in the very air you breathe, the food you eat, even the tables and chairs themselves, Ingram’s readers vote for The American Restaurant for the Gold. Recently spruced, the elegance of the sweeping stairway is only the start to a night filled with soft piano music, a gorgeous night vista, fine wine and food . . . and possibilities. The Silver is awarded to EBT south just off State Line Road where booths provide privacy, discreet service allows you to talk and piano music plays Wednesdays through Saturdays. The final award, the Bronze, goes to the Plaza’s Raphael Restaurant, where dim lighting and sparkling glassware in a secluded setting can make the two of you feel all alone, together.

Best Johnson County Restaurant
Among its other awards, the Bristol walks away with the Gold for best in the southern ‘burbs. Its mesquite wood-fired fish is like no other—plus there are so many other mouth-watering selections. Second, winning the Silver, is the nearby Yia Yia’s, which consistently pleases "prairie yuppies" looking for all-American fare served with flair. Earning the Bronze in this spanking new category are two restaurants: the brand new 40 Sardines in Leawood, opened by the former husband-and-wife chefs at the American (but of course, you knew that), where the casual digs and food are enticing and fun; and Nick & Jake’s at 135th and Metcalf. The latter’s food and atmosphere is as fun as their Web site. You can’t lose by trying both!

Best Eastern Jackson County Restaurant
There are many good choices in the vast area known as "Eastern Jack," but securing the Gold for the inauguration of this category is the Marina Grog and Galley for its delicious seafood and excellent other choices (see last month’s review). It’s on a lake, it’s scenic, it’s multichoice, it’s delish. The Silver goes to Stephenson’s "Old Apple Farm" Restaurant, whose baked chicken in cream and butter and hot apple dumplings with whipped cream create lifetime memories. The Bronze award goes to Ophelia’s in Independence, where casual and upscale meet harmoniously in a slightly funky but very comfy environment right on the Square.

Best Northland Restaurant
Amidst the treetops in Parkville, Piropos takes the Gold. Its Argentinean menu full of tasty meats, seafood and unusual spices combine for different flavors in a gorgeous setting. It also has the best empanadas anywhere. Winning the Silver is Cascone’s, old-time Italian located on North Oak since 1957 and in Overland Park the last 12 years. Try the trademark lasagna—the restaurant has served it well over 2 million times to happy tummy patters. The Bronze is held by Café des Amis, also in downtown Parkville, for its always-yummy French bistro fare including duck and delectable mussels.

Best Lake Area Restaurant
When you travel among the crowds to the Lake of the Ozarks, reward yourself with the best meals possible—you have over 150 restaurants to choose among. Our readers selected the Blue Heron for the Gold. For 19 years, this gracious expanded home has perched on a hill, offering the best lake view, famous batter-fried lobster tail, Dover sole from Holland, hand-breaded onion rings and remarkable profiteroles. The more casual Li’l Rizzo’s in Osage Beach achieved the Silver for its Italian cuisine that includes pizza, pasta and salads—dine in or carry it out.

Best New Restaurant
With more hype than anyone would have thought possible, the Gold award winner this year deserves its accolades. That’s 40 Sardines, the bold venture by couple Debbie Gold and Michael Smith, who’ve left the safe environs of The American to go south to a former "restaurant death spot"—one which, judging by the crowds still there every night, is well on the way to true success. The Silver stays south, going to Nick & Jake’s whose combo bar and grill offer a huge variety of more than bar food (and whose clever Web site makes you want to get in the car). The Bronze heads to the Plaza for the new Melting Pot, which elevates ‘60s fondue to a new art in comfortable subterranean surroundings.

Best Service
Once again in this category, The American Restaurant takes kudos as the Gold winner, due to a philosophy that says service is not an accident. Fifty weeks a year, all staff undergoes extensive formal training that begins with the premise that "yesterday’s mistake is tomorrow’s training." The knowledge gained translates into pride and lower turnover. The Silver winner is Grand St. Café, where staff is knowledgeable, lively and on the run. The Bronze belongs to the Plaza III, where long-time servers make every effort possible to please their discerning patrons.

Best Overall Restaurant
Drum roll, please. Kansas City votes for Grand St. Café, one of six PB&J restaurants, for the coveted Gold award. Serving an inventive menu, even until midnight on the weekends, this always lively, always "in" restaurant pleases everyone with imaginative entrees—including a veggie plate if you’re determined to be healthy. The Silver prize goes to the Plaza III, where the fish is as good as the steak, the ambience is pleasant and you can actually hear your companions speak. The restaurant’s dignified bar serves up a soothing Irish Coffee. The Bronze is awarded to the Bristol for a great bar where you can eat anything you want and for a wide-ranging menu with fresh fish flown in from all over the world and creatively prepared.

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