Grinders
417 E 18th St, Kansas City, MO, 64108
Grinders Menu
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Address :
417 E 18th St
Kansas City, MO, 64108 - Phone (816) 472-5454
- Website https://www.grinderspizza.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 11
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Loud
Music : Live
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Fri, Sat, Sun
Coat Check : No
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
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Gary L.
Just ok
(2)Darren B.
Management is unresponsive, staff is rude and unkind. Food is decent, but not good enough to compensate for terrible customer service.
(1)Brenda G.
So glad that in our drunken stooper we stumbled upon this little jewel. The most amazing pizza ever! Definitely will be back next time we are in KC.
(4)Michael N.
What was I thinking??! So, I thought I'd give this a try based on the reviews and I made a huge mistake in the process. I ordered the philly cheesesteak, some tater tots, and six insane death wings. I read the warnings so I thought I came prepared -- a huge water and a Wendy's frosty treat accompanied me. I also don't consider myself a spice wimp so I felt more than prepared for the experience. The theory was this: - I eat a wing - In the event that I can't handle it, I should be able to take a mouthful of the high-fat ice cream-like Wendy's substance and swish it around to dissolve the hot sauce into solution - Using the water, I should be able to wash it all down into my stomach It didn't help! I used the blue cheese sauce on the tater tots to try to assist and even took a bite of the philly cheese steak. The experience was horrible and it was all my fault! After I finished fighting the death wing, I was no longer hungry and actually felt ill. Nevertheless...the tater tot is one of the worst potato-based food items possible so it's hard to judge them on this but mine were actually rather over-fried, chewy and dry. The philly cheesesteak seemed pretty good, but I'd need to try it when my tongue is in a state where it doesn't feel like it's covered in razor blades. Lastly, the wing, while insanely hot, didn't seem to have much flavor. I was expecting a vinegar-based sauce, but I didn't get that sour kick that I expect with a wing nor was the sauce salted. It just seemed like the sauce was pure heat. My recommendations: - Don't do the insane sauce with the death wings - Pass on the tater tots - The cheesesteak was huge and seemed to be pretty good so that is to be recommended It was my intention to try a little of everything and throw most of it away but I didn't intend to throw THAT much away. In the end, the garbage bag included a near whole philly cheesesteak, a bunch of dry tater tots, and five of the evil wings o' death. Somewhere, a raccoon is cursing me...
(3)Sarah R.
We were in Kansas City for 3 days and remembered seeing it on Diners Drive Ins and Dives. Turns out it was a few blocks from the hotel we stayed at. We sat at a funky table that had old airplane seats for the chairs! It was dark and funky and lots of crazy stuff on the wall. We had the wings and calzone and a cheesesteak. This place was so good we went back 2 days later after a bad food experience at another restaurant. We knew if we went back we would have fun and get awesome food. So a few beers later we had more wings (best we have ever had and the sauce is incredible) and a slice of cheeseburger pizza (perfect crust and toppings...so good) Grinders...I wish you were in Fort Worth!
(5)Lisa A.
Moving from NY, I was devastated initially when the "best" pizzerias of KC just couldn't hold their own. That was, until I had my first slice of the Bengal Tiger. It's an explosion of deliciousness, cooked to perfection. When baked, the dough has a naan-like quality, complementing the spices and tandoori chicken perfectly. My other go-to is the reuben --- she had me at jalapeño sauerkraut! The beer taps rotate often and offer a great selection of craft brews from across the globe. However, the service is Grinders' only downfall. The majority of the wait staff is not incredibly knowledgeable about the beer selection and terribly inattentive the moment after taking your order. Fortunately, the incredible booze and food keep me coming back!
(4)Jeremiah Z.
I ordered their second to hottest wing's style, i believe (Molten?)...and, full disclosure, tmi, for a while there my mini-me making factory felt like it was on fire...all indicators point back that it may just be the wing sauce is so hot it will cause male organ overheating...i am a survivor, but don't say i didn't warn you...
(4)Scott M.
Just had lunch there today. MUCH better! This is the Grinders that I used to know and love, so glad to see it back! Fast service, and a very friendly and attentive server. The food was served quickly, it was hot, and it was delicious! Hopefully my previous visit remains an isolated experience, my faith in Grinders has been restored by today's visit.
(4)Joe L.
In my opinion, Grinder's has the best wings in town. It's a great dive to get lunch during the summer. The outdoor area has lots of seating and has a nice mix of sun and shade.
(4)Nathan B.
Decent. The atmosphere is crazy awesome and it's loud. But the food was alright. I got the Philly cheese steak and it was average. I would go back, but would get something else. And price wise. I spent about 10 for sandwich and coke
(3)Tabitha M.
I have been to Grinders a few times, always in strange situations, which I think adds to the eclectic experience you're sure to have at Grinders. Firstly, the decor is off the wall, punk DIY, hodge-podged randomosity. Rock'n'roll fliers, a sombrero, to street signs, and band stickers are a few of the things that line the walls of this hole in the wall. Unfortunately, the floor plan is less than appealing and awkward to navigate, but luckily the food and staff make up for anything that could leave you less than satisfied. $5 PBR PITCHERS! That'll make a girl smile, too. The outside it a great space too. Great venue for large shows, weather permitting. The fire pit is a pleasant alleviator to chilly weather, but one little fire pit won't cut it back there. I definitely recommend seeing a show there some time. And of course, the only reason Grinder's doesn't win my 5-star seal of approval is because... (dun dun dun) the bathrooms! yeah yeah yeah, it's a bar and it's kind of a hole in the wall, but it's not that hard to mop a bathroom floor and spray some lysol. But all in all, the bathroom hasn't kept me away just yet so... haha!
(4)C F.
If you're looking for a good, casual, and unpretentious lunch spot in the Crossroads, look no further. Bonus - The staff is really nice!
(4)Briana O.
Mmmmmm good pizza. Mmmmmm. Yeah. Ahhh people everywhere! That's how I felt after my first Grinder's experience! I went down the the Crossroads district for First Fridays gallery open houses (which may have accounted for some of the crazy crowdedness). It took me about 20 minutes to get a beer (during which I enjoyed some good people watching and the huge beer list!) and an hour to get our pizza, but it was alright because we somehow managed to grab one of the few large tables for our group! We were seated in a table in the "emergency exit row" (had old airplane seats!) Once our tray tables were in their upright and locked positions, the pizza was delivered and it was addictive! Something spicy and delicious infused the whole thing and made me want to keep folding up slice after slice and devouring like a beast! It was definitely worth the wait, as everyone agreed. I was also super impressed with the beer list. I ordered the Westmalle Trappist Ale from Belgium that I hadn't seen/had since I was....in Belgium! It was delicious, as were the Breckenridge Agave Wheats we ordered for the less "beery" types. Overall, great way to spend a weekend night. Had a blast and the people were friendly and fun.
(4)Samantha A.
As Elvis Costello would say, Grinders is tragically hip. I used to like the pizza even though the place was owned by self-appointed Crossroads patriarch Stretch. He was, after all, the artist who designed the mediocre sculptures that once stood behind Grinders in what's now "Kansas City's newest concert venue." He was also the guy I saw storm into Pi Gallery on a First Friday, drunk and yelling at anyone who would listen that Pi was bringing the block down with its sub-par art. Egotistical much? I don't know if Stretch is still around, but If the other Grinderites hanging out in the parking-lot-with-porta-potties were even slightly cool, they'd realize concerts are for listening to music. They're not the place to blab at the top of your voice about your friend whose boyfriend is like such a jerk oh my god. I literally ran out of glare the one and only time I tried to see a band there. Andrew Bird is a genius, and I'd seen him live at ACL in Austin so I knew he was good. But nobody who saw him at Grinder's really heard the show because of all the wannabies waiting for Wilco. They weren't stupid because they came to see Wilco, though I imagine they were loud enough to drown the crowd out. Why do I blame Grinder's for their crowd? Because if you're going to hype yourself as a hip, urban concert venue, you need to make the music important. And it needs to be audible for the people who pay to hear it. I could've enjoyed the show almost as much from my car on the street; out there the shrill-voiced women around me would have been drowned out.
(1)Dan D.
This place is great but the service needs to get better. I just don't get why if you sit at the bar you get awful service. The wings are good and the Philly is good too. The pizza is where it is at here, good honest NY style pizza.
(4)Sarah T.
The atmosphere in this place is a little too funky for me, definitely not the place I'd bring young children. Nonetheless, the pizza was delicious and the staff was super friendly.
(4)Bradley M.
On a recent trip to Kansas City & Lawrence, my friend took me to Grinders. Absolutely fantastic pizza! I wish they had pizza like this in Chicago: very thin super crispy crust, not too much sauce, and a plethora of delicious & fresh toppings. Incredible beer selection on tap, including my current favorite Unibroue Chambly. Great atmosphere inside, outdoor seating as well. They have concerts here as well on a stage out back. Looks like it would be a killer place to see a show. The staff were all very courteous and extremely friendly. If you ever end up in Kansas CIty, be sure to check it out!!!
(5)Stephen W.
Absolutely love the place but hands down the most foul smelling men's room EVER!
(5)Matthew W.
People who have worked in restaurants know what I mean when I say that it is pretty unusual to go back to a former place of employment to eat. Mostly because you get to see first hand the conditions that exist in the back of house. I worked here for about six months, and after not getting the raise I was promised, I quit. I quit in the worst way too. I no call no showed on First Friday. I am a proud member of the local Bridge Burners Union. I don't care. That was a crappy job. That being said, I still go there from time to time. For a while, some of the staff that I screwed over was still there, and I would get some serious stink eye from them. Again I don't care, and it's an open kitchen so I could see if there was anything extra going into my food. Not only is the food pretty good, I know that all the rules and regulations concerning food handling and storage were followed very carefully when I was there. I was surprised at the care that the owners took in this aspect of the business, because this place is so artsy fartsy, it would be easy to lose sight of the important behind the scenes stuff. I've never worked somewhere that took that much care as to the cleanliness of seemingly unimportant surfaces in the kitchen. I don't know if this is so much a testament to the quality of this establishment, or if it simply speaks to the type of scummy places I've been a part of in the past. I can attest that the crab rangoon, pizza dough, meat balls, croutons, wing sauce, and a lot of other stuff was made in house when I worked there, in small batches to ensure freshness. Food was labled, and rotated as new stock was added, and deliveries were made daily. The name of the place is Grinders, but forget their grinder, not that good. The name is a double entandre referring both to the sandwich and one of the owners, Stretch's art. He makes these big metal sculptures. He is his biggest fan. Someone needs to be though right? Anyway, check out the philly cheese steak. Awesome. Dripping with juices that are bad for you in the best way, served with provolone, or cheese whiz, they take no time to prepare, and are delicious. You can get them with turkey, but if you're eating here, your chief concern is not your health. You don't see a lot of star athletes eating at Waffle House, the same can be said for Grinders. But who cares, they are both really good. So save the healthy diet for tomorrow and get the roast beef. The place has a great beer selection, but they charge you for it. They got rid of PBR on tap though. What the hell? They replaced it with Natty Lite. BOO. They have concerts or whatever in back, but try to come here at off hours, give yourself an opportunity to enjoy the scenery. The owners are a little too aware of how cool this place is, and as a result can come off as a little full of themselves. To be fair though, they've done a lot of great things for the area, and if they're a little too proud of themselves, then you can't really hold that against them, it's a neat place, and has been a welcome addition to the city.
(4)Andria N.
Good Pizza, Great Beer selection on tap, and amazing outdoor music venue during the summer! I can't complain when you can get Racer 5 on tap and watch a live performance of Wilco outside! Oh, and they do not deliver..... their menu is deceiving.
(4)Joe W.
Servers are down-to-earth. Pizza is good and quick. Cool place to chill if you don't mind a few wobbly tables, and dirty bathrooms.
(5)Kris S.
So sad that the awesome food at Grinder's and the unique menu items that would normally make a restaurant 5 stars take a backseat to the poor service. I have been to Grinder's on numerous occasions and although the service is slow, the food has always been top notch. Recent experiences with servers and even one of the managers (who is a GIANT BITCH) have forced me to write Grinder's off. Write them off to the point that I can't even stand to go to concerts at their awesome venue. I am sure that the owner of Grinder's (Stretch) is happy with the clientele and the business that he has earned from his great menu, but I can't believe that the guy hasn't figured out that the rude, short-tempered, often out-of-line people he has on his serving / management team are keeping lots of customers from coming back in the door. Case in point, not too long ago, I went to Grinder's for a work lunch, with 4 other people from the office. We sat on the picnic tables in back and our server was visibly stretched too thin, she was waiting on way too many people. We all ordered drinks and food quickly because we were afraid if we didn't, we would never get the chance to order again. About an hour and fifteen minutes later, almost all of our food was delivered though they forgot one person's lunch. When we told the server, she acted like that was not her problem but she did say she would go check on it. The item forgotten was one of their specialty Philly sandwiches; when it was finally delivered to our table, it was sub-par to say the least (not edible more accurately would sum it up). When we asked to speak to the manager, a witch of a woman came to the table and basically said it was a busy lunch time and basically what did we expect. What i wanted to say was, "Well, bitch, I expect that everyone that waits an hour and fifteen minutes for food would get hot fucking food that tastes like something we would want to consume", of course, being the nice people we are, we did not argue or act rude, we just said we weren't going to pay for that one item and we likely weren't ever coming back. If you want good food and you don't care if you get treated like shit, then head to Grinder's. If you want good food coupled with a good experience, look elsewhere.
(2)david B.
Awesome subs, pizza, calzones.
(5)Trevor T.
Saw this place on an episode of DDD. The evening started off with an order of Big Ass Tots covered in chili and cheese. Then we moved on to pizza. I ordered "Le Hog" as show on DDD. The menu calls this a "serious flesh feast" and is a pie topped with creamy white sauce, bacon bits, Canadian bacon, ham and meatballs. It was awesome.
(4)Todd T.
We had a slice of the Bengal pizza and a Philly cheesesteak. It was pretty tasty. The pizza was original and I have never tasted anything like it. You need to step out and try it. The Philly Cheesesteak was nothing to write home about if you have had them anywhere out East. Place was funky and we sat in airplane seats. Great place for outside-the-box dining.
(4)Carrie C.
You know, I can't think of a reason as to why I haven't written a review for Grinders yet considering I've been here countless times for various occasions. But, here is yet another 5-star review for a 5-star pizza spot here in Kansas City. You seriously can't go wrong with either side - Grinders or Grinders West - especially with all of the cool and funky art on display at either place and the fact that both menus are offered on both sides. The pizza is absolutely awesome here. Point blank. They have one called the Goldberg (I think anyway..) with smoked salmon, cream cheese, and capers with white sauce that is absolutely out of this world. I always get shrimp instead of capers, only because I'm not a caper fan, but seriously - one of the best pies they have here. The Bengal Tiger is also another favorite of mine and a definite must for any of you adventurous patrons out there. Tandoori chicken, spicy green sauce (spice-y, not pepper spicy) crab meat and hearts of palm? YES PLEASE. Their "Big Ass Tots" here are phenomenal too. Especially with chili and cheese! The chili has a hint of sweetness and has great seasoning and slathered with melted cheese. How can it get any better? I haven't had the self control to resist the pizza here, so unfortunately, my experience with their cheesesteaks falls short. I'll try and remember to order one on my next visit! From the West side, I've tried both the tuna and turkey club sandwiches, and both were phenomenal! I always ask to add some avocado (because you can never go wrong with avocado. EVER.) and I'm good to go. The potato and sweet potato chips that come with them are also pretty awesome too! The service is almost always pretty good, unless they're super busy or have an event in the back going on, understandably. All in all, no matter which side you go to and order from, you're bound to get some great food!
(5)Alexander F.
Great venue in the back! food is pretty good, service may take a minute but for a dive bar, it has a great atmosphere!
(4)Amanda C.
Grinders... where else would you want to grab lunch? Grinders knows whats goin on! The décor is like you are hanging out in a friends house who has free reign over the basement. Its funky, fun, eclectic, nostalgic, and just bizarre (a penis drawn on the wall next to my mothers head!). Every time I go in, I find something new to look at, read, or be intrigued by. As made famous by KC and also Diners, Drive-In's, and Dives almost everything seems to be delicious... and when I say everything, that includes the chili cheese tater tot bombed pizza... OOOOoooh a diet lovers dream...Not! We couldn't take it any longer, we HAD to try what nobody else has... and that's just what we did... we had a heart attack on a pan.... I mean tater tot bombed sausage and pepperoni pizza. The tater tots were of course delicious with the cheese and chili. I did not eat the tater tot on my pizza, I just picked them off, so it was an added bonus however the chili and cheese that was left on my pizza made for an even better pizza. The pizza it self was delicious. It was cooked to perfection. Had the right amount of cheese and sauce ratio. I will be going back and sharing this with another brave soul that would like to eat all of their calories for the day in 2 slices of pizza
(4)Kathryn F.
We love going to Grinders! The atmosphere is great, and the food is great! We always get pizza, and wings! They have a large, unique selection of beers that my husband enjoys. This is also a great outdoor venue to watch concerts!!
(4)Matt D.
After living in KC a couple of years, Grinders is still my favorite place to hang out. Love the atmosphere, love the food and drinks, and love the fact they are locally owned. Grinders is fantastic on many levels: from going for lunch to having drinks after work to gorging myself on pizza, phillys, and wings. The service is always top-notch. I would recommend this place to anyone!!
(5)Tricia H.
I LOVE this place both sides too, The atmosphere is really cool! The staff is so friendly and whitty I just love it, the food is good I try to test something different everytime I go and have not been dissappointed! The last time I went I tried the philly cheese steak and it was DELISH!!!
(5)Rose L.
I can't believe I've never been here. We finally stopped in to check out the tap selection. Initially, I was a little unhappy with the crowd because it was so young. However, I learned that an Edward Sharp show had just gotten out and after about twenty minutes, the youngsters headed out. Oh, they were no Power and Light crowd, so they weren't horrible;I just felt old! Afterward, a nice crowd of 30+ folks was left. The atmosphere was chatty and casual without being loud. Bartenders were ON POINT about the beers! When I have questions, I want answers, and these young ladies knew about the beer selection! We enjoyed everything we tried, thanks to staff suggestions. The beer board was a little confusing, and some of the more appealing selections were tapped out. What's so hard about erasing a chalk board? Oh well, I am still pretty darn happy to have found another Saturday night great beer option! We will be back soon!
(4)Andrew R.
Just what I expected to find after watching it on Triple D. I was on a business trip and happened to just cruise in there for an early dinner on a Monday night and this place was really COOL! It appears some of the fellow yelpers have had service issues but I must have lucked out. I was solo so I sat up at the bar and I must have had 5 people constantly checking on me or at least talking to me due to being solo. The best of all was that it was Hungarian Stew Night (As seen on TV) and this little old 80 year old man (name is escaping me) not only made my dish right in front of me, he kept checking on me to make sure I liked it and then ended up giving me his life story starting from when he immigrated to the US in 1950. Next time I will try a pizza or a Philly but I couldn't resist getting some homemade stew from this authentic European. It was enough food to fill me up for an entire day had I ate this for breakfast. I am a big fan of real hoppy beers, mostly IPA's when I am looking to have just 1 or 2. Grinders had a great selection of craft beers on draft from all over the country. The pricing seems to be great here and the food portions are big. They make the food on the other side of the bar so I got to watch and talk to the cooks while I ate. Next time I am going with the Philly Cheese steak. The owner came flying in and out that is friends with Guy Fieri and I was a little disappointed I didn't get to talk to him but the Hungarian Chef said that they have replayed that episode 87 times and that the place has been killing it ever since. Side Note- Only 4 starts because although very eclectic interior, not necessarily my crowd. There were definitely some strange cats in their on Monday.
(4)Matt C.
Grinders is amazing. The food here is simple, and great. They always have a good special, and sunday morning mimosas are awesome. The wait staff even made more for us when the special was over!
(5)Nick G.
So after not being as impressed as I was hoping to be on my first visit, my second visit was a complete 180 and I was blown away. Maybe I just got the wrong pizza last time,or maybe my taste buds were out of whack, whatever the case, two nights ago I had the best pizza I have ever had in kc. I had the Philly pizza and loved it. I also had an order of death wings and they were great. I am already planning my next visit!
(5)Pam G.
I heard about this place on Food Network... the show with the short, chubby, blond spiky haired dude... where he goes to dives. My gf was in KC for work and I went up to visit, (the same week I saw the show on TV... so it was meant that we go there!) and we stopped by. It didn't take us long to find it, but it seemed sorta an iffy, but cool part of town, I guess. Let's just saw, we looked both ways before walking away from the car. But that is cool. I ain't scured! We waited a few minutes for two spaces to open up at the bar. Kinda busy, I think it was a Friday night. Very cool atmosphere. Not trendy cool, but cool, cool. LOL. You know, like tattoo cool. We had a great thin crust pizza and fried mushrooms. mmmm. They had the most interesting pizzas. I remember some sort of Indian curry pizza that the pizza maker dude told us was the best seller. And some reallllly good drinks. Great bartender! I would def go back here every time we go to KC. And you know, it's always fun to meet trashed outta their mind frat boys. haa. Very good entertainment. And some weird homeless dude that kept hitting on women. All harmless!
(4)Rush G.
Went to a concert outback at the Crossroads, enjoyed myself and enjoyed myself even more when I went inside to Grinders! In the spring/summer/early fall, definitely check out a concert at the Crossroads, go to the Grinders, and stop by a few art galleries! I know their Pizza is pretty popular, and their tater-tot Pizza was on the Food Network (which I didn't get, sadly) but the slice of Cheese I got was okay. Really, really salty and thin...but almost too thin. But I also didn't like Dark Knight at all so I could be wrong...! The bar was TONS of fun, the night I was there it was a real eclectic crowd, everyone was having a great time, everyone with smiles, no ass-holes, and I was just having the time of my life. In the Crossroads Arts District so there's some really cool art galleries. Check it oooout!
(4)Hampton S.
If you want a stuffy atmosphere and snooty servers, don't go to Grinders. This Kansas City original is quickly becoming a local legend for their awesome, cheap food and chilled-out good times. Sure, Grinders' is known for thin-crust, New York Style pizza. You also shouldn't miss their Philly Cheesesteak -- topped with Chez Whiz, the way nature intended. You can almost hear the arteries harden. Your best bet, though, is Grinders' famous hot wings. They come in three flavors; Hot, Very Hot and Insane. DO NOT, repeat, DO NOT order Insane wings unless your taste-buds have been surgically removed. Seriously. One drop of that super-hot sauce will make a grown man sweat for an hour. Not to worry, though. When your mouth is a raging inferno, you can cool it down with Grinders' awesome selection of beers; from your favorite, big brewery domestics to a globe-trotting selection of imports. The hard liquor selection is good -- but short of awesome. Grinders just isn't a mixed drink, chi-chi- cocktails kind of place. When dinner is done, entertainment isn't too far away. Walk around back, where national rock acts play the Crossroads concert stage. The 2008 schedule includes Cracker, The Mighty, Mighty Bosstones and Matisyahu. Tickets, like everything else, won't cost too much. But maybe the best thing about Grinders is the people; both staff and patrons. The place is filled with local artists, all tattooed and pierced, mellow in the extreme, and rich folks from KC's southern suburbs decked out in conservative finery. The only thing missing is more seats. It gets crowded on weekends, so don't be miffed if you have to wait a while to sit down. Don't worry. It's worth it.
(4)Jen H.
Prior to my last trip to Grinders I wasn't a big fan. On recent trips our food was meh, came out at varying times (up to 20 minute delay between my entree and my friend's) and we had to ask the server to come and take our drink order after waiting 30 minutes before being greeted. My last experience sealed the deal. I will never go back. The waitress was rude, disrespectful and out-of-line. If the food was even remotely decent it might be worth it, but I will no longer pay for terrible/disrespectful service and all for a plate of grease. Terrible, terrible restaurant.
(1)Tra H.
All I can say is that this place is pretty awesome! The service we got there was like top notch (we were at the bar). Only dissapointment was the Death Wings... I was expecting something hotter but its hot but not hot hot lol. But they were good! We got the pizza as well and we ate that all up! The atmosphere in this place gives you that vibe that everyone knows ya. We also met the owner there too. Which was another plus. Overall I liked this place since everyone was down to earth and they treat you like a local.
(4)Greg S.
I found Grinders because I got some free tickets to a Sister Hazel concert at the crossroads. The pizza is pretty fantastic, but it's the beer selection and the people that really got me. I stopped by after a visit to P&L the other night, and loved the contrast. It was laid back, the staff was friendly and let me stay and finish my beer while they were cleaning up, and they even offered me some beer samples without me asking. While I'm all for going out clubbing, or watching half-naked girls ride the bull at PBR, this is the type of place I love hanging out at with friends. Plus, I saw a bartender tell a guy he couldn't smoke inside. When he pretended to hide it, she didn't back down, but told him to get his ass outside. I loved it :)
(4)Amanda P.
Just what a bar should be! Good food and booze. Grinders is definitely not the best place to go to make friends, that's why you should take some with you when you go! Seating for groups is alright, but you have to arrive early, or watch the seats and wait for people to leave. In the summer it's really great to sit outside at night. Plenty-o-room in the form of benches and cheap plastic chairs. It's like drinking at your Uncle's trailer! The wait staff definitely does their best, but it's obvious they get annoyed with the drunk and obnoxious patrons. Wouldn't you? The food is pretty great - especially after several Boulevard Wheat's. My Recommendation: Pepperoni Calzone (unholy amounts of cheese) End Result: Grinders = Good times
(4)Mandy L.
Love the food! Love the staff! Love the decor! Love the concerts! Love the movies! Love the beer tastings! Love the vibe! Some of my menu favorites are: The Le Hog pizza, the Hillbilly burger, and the Goat Cheese Salad. I also like to create my own stuff like a Pizza burger by adding pizza sauce, pepperoni and fresh mozzarella to a Large Marge.
(5)Kim-Anh P.
Was visiting KC and found this on Yelp. The Real Crabby Ragoon was a nice appetizer to share. For 5 of us, we split two big pizzas: the Bengal Tiger (great unique but subtle Indian flavors) and the BBQ Chicken. I love how thin their crust is. If I was alone...I think I could scarf down a whole large pizza myself because they're so darn good! For dessert, we had to get the custard. Apparently they get it from a special shop. I got the mint chocolate chip and it was amazing! A nice sweet treat to end the meal. The decor was quirky and fun to look at. Very nice servers. Would highly recommend! It's not your ordinary pizza joint.
(4)Yuri S.
Food is good & atmosphere average... We went during the work week for lunch. I had the Big A.. Burger with everything on it, and my friend had the regular cheese burger. I also had an order of tater tots. The burger had that smoky smell that added to it's flavor, but they really didn't add anything special to it (I'm always looking for that something unique in the taste when I eat out). The portions are generous... I could not finish the side of tots. The decor is Urban Eclectic but not over done, and so not obnoxious. The waitresses are interesting with a lot of tattoos on some. Some did the job, others were more personable... Just like any place else I suppose. The cooks are also that 20's something with tattoos and grunge type of look. It's not a bad place over-all. The only thing that I noticed was the loud chopping of the meat on the fry top for their Philly sandwiches. That made it a little challenging to carry on a conversation. I would go back at some point.
(3)Travis C.
My wife and I stopped here on a recent trip to KC because we heard this place had a great Philly Cheesesteak. The constant banging of metal utensils against the flat top by the cooks was almost enough to make us get up and leave...but the wife who is diabetic was bordering on hypoglycemia and needed to eat so we stayed put. I would describe said sound as the most annoying, harsh, and high pitched ping you've ever heard in your life...but I digress. I had a beer our server recommended and it was indeed fantastic. The Philly on the other hand, had absolutely zero flavor. None, zilch, nada. We both found ourselves adding mass quantities of salt to the sandwich in order to make it seem like we were not in fact eating wet cardboard. Hugely disappointing. The order of fries we got to split was incredibly small as well. There are many places to eat in KC....we will skip this one next time.
(2)Karen W.
Grinders is a local KC place that is very casual and laid-back. The patio has lots of room with huge picnic tables that can hold large groups. I was there last night (tuesday) and every table was filled. It was a very fun, young (20's and 30's crowd). I know they have a huge beer selection, and also a full bar. We had good service. They serve a variety of appetizers, sandwiches, salads and specialty pizza. Last night I had a slice of "Le Hog" that was featured on the Food Network, I think. It was very good. One slice was big enough for dinner for me. A benefit of Grinders is that it's a good location- close to Crown Center, Crossroads, P&L, Martini Corner; and there is a parking lot right across the street.
(3)Rhonda S.
I've heard of Grinders, and driven by it thousands of times. I think you'd have to live under a rock, if you've not hear of the fabulous Grinders. Pizza with very satisfying ingredients uncommonly placed together on a crust that is thin, but not like a cracker. And delicately placed on each triangle, with cheese that is thick, but not too thick, and radiantly beautiful Yes, I called pizza beautiful. The aroma of the cheese, meets with the interesting toppings. Absolutely delectable. I don't drink that much beer, but the selection is amazing, and if I weren't always a designated driver, I'd try their beer tasting. It is on the menu, as Taste Beering. But there's more: Hamburgers, phillies, hot wings (called Death Wings), salads, calzones. Sides: Trailor Park Tator Tots, Real Crabby Ragoons, and my favorite: Big Ass Fries. The menu is fairly priced, with daily specials. Enough of a menu that I'll keep coming back. This is a destination place in Kansas City, since it now has "Seen on TV" status. For the decor: welcome to the shack; down south, in the swamp. OMG, it's the coolest place in Kansas City. Hang your uppity attitude at the door. Not allowed in this place. It has torn posters, and unclean walls, made to look unclean for a purpose. There are metal sculptures both outside, and in. The lighting is red, blue and clear Christmas lights. The ladies room has a fender of a car as the vanity. Apparently the men's bathroom does as well. Once you're there, you don't want to leave. There is so much to see, and artifacts, both ancient and eclectic. Parking across the street, or on the street. It was late last night, but there is a sculpture park in the back where they give concerts. I've seen it during the day. With them offering pizza by the slice, I'll stop and have a bite to eat.
(5)Justin E.
"Jane Says" playing on the jukebox. I struggle to have a conversation with my two female companions because it's so loud on a Friday night. I ordered the roast beef and was not disappointed. Good beer selection and very friendly staff. Out of the blue a maniac approached our table and started kicking at me. My two companions looks scared and staff postured themselves to remove this attacker. Before I could get a fix on him, he's laid into me giving me a big hug. He was a close friend I hadn't seen in years acting the fool. That's the kinda place Grinders is. A place where old friends run into each other.
(4)Jennifer S.
Happy hour before the Guild/Zaarly event. Grinders is and always will be a Kansas City staple. Amazing staff, awesome decor, music venue, and AMAZING food!!!!!!! I would describe anything on that menu as being wonderful, you cant go wrong! Ask for Angio who is the best bartender in town! LOVE you Grinders!
(5)Michael K.
Ok so last night I was at the Flying Saucer--my home away from home--and my friend and I were going to go have oysters at City Tavern before they close. Unfortunately, City Tavern closed at 9 pm last night. No wonder they are going out of business. Ok, that aside, my friend and I were still hungry, considering we went without oysters. So, we went to an old standbye--Grinders. First things first--there are two Grinders right next to each other. Don't be fooled and go into Grinders West. Oh, the food and everything is fine there, it just doesn't have the same... feel. Texture. Ambiance. Grime. Dirt. Charm. Basically what I am saying is, Grinders the original is a bit of a dive. More than a bit of a dive. It's a full on dive, and that's one of the reasons I like it. The food: I haven't had a ton of things on the menu--but I heartily recommend the philly. Oh, add cheese whiz. No, not kidding. ("Did you get my cheese whiz, boy?" Props to you if you know the movie that line is from.) Yes, cheeze whiz. The bread is terrific, the meat and veggies are terrific. It's a tasty treat, even if you're in the mood for oysters. I also like the funky dough. It's pizza dough and cheese baked and served with marinara. It makes for a great appetizer, except for it fills me up. But I get it anyway. Generally I order way, way too much food there--but hey, I like the tater tots too (along with alliteration). The chicken wings aren't bad either, though they are no Peanut. The beer selection (I am a beerknurd, er beer nerd) is pretty good too. I like that they have a variety of beers of all styles, so they can satisfy whatever mood I am in. No complaints there. The only drawback that I have is the service can be a bit sketchy at times. Sometimes it's hard to get the attention of someone--but when you finally do they are a sassy lot that work there, and I like that. Anyway, that's about it. Grinders the original is to the east, Grinders West is to the west (funny how that works). The grungy one is the original, the one that looks like it should be on South Beach is the one on the West, in case you're directionally challenged. Grinders also sits in front of a music venue (The Crossroads), so if that's what you're looking for, you can find it there. If there is no concert and the weather is nice, sit outside in the back on the patio. It's a great place to sit and have a beer.
(4)Brian N.
Tried it before a show at the Sprint Center after seeing it featured on DDD. Had the grinder sandwich and a nice beer. Solid food and drink...service was a bit slower than what we're used to, but not horrible. Ready to go back and try a pie.
(4)Nazgul W.
2-for-1 pizza was good, flat floppy thin type, a little sweet. This looked like a cool place to chill out and have some good beers, but alas they were closing up shop on a Sunday night and we could only grab a quick slice or two (of the last remaining pizza). The place had a DIY, graffiti-punk style, which I liked. I would certainly try to hit it up again if I were in the downtown area. The staff seemed cool, and they were accommodating of late-night Radiohead-goers despite the place shutting it down for the night in short order.
(3)jennifer j.
If I had to name best pizza in KC, it would be a tie between D'Bronx and this place. This place gives you great extra's like people watching, live music out back and the unique decor by Stretch (part owner.) Don't get silly and try to order a non-pizza item...it is all about the pizza here.
(3)Ali C.
The food is great and the concerts here are awesome. I love the atmosphere and the staff is fantastic.
(4)Bart H.
One and done!!!!! Dirty, loud, and too crowded for the staff to accommodate; Actually the pizza was fairly good (nothing exceptional), and the suggested beers were a pleasant surprise. The problem with this place (more than anything else) is the complete "eat shit and die" demeanor of most of the staff, particularly "managers" that apparently could care less that you are there, and not one of the regulars. MANY better options for a meal and a brew in Crossroads. .
(1)Steve W.
Where to begin...I've never been one to write a bad review, but, it was not a pleasant experience eating here on a Sunday evening with friends. I was visiting KC with friends and we had heard great things about this place, but, the staff were very annoyed we walked in an hour before closing , we were told the only thing we could order were pizzas due to a grill problem, any suggestions we asked seemed to annoy the waiters. The pizzas were okay, not amazing, they were not busy which made me feel more like we should not have walked in an hour before closing. Maybe I'm too old to eat at a place like grinders, it just did not seem like a welcoming place. My friends and I have never felt so unwelcome at a bar.
(1)Nicole R.
I am only giving this place two stars because the food was good. My experience was otherwise terrible. My friend and I were in Kansas City to visit another friend who had moved there. She highly recommended Grinders speaking to how they have great food and a cool atmosphere. A group of about 6 of us went for lunch on a Saturday afternoon and the place was mildly busy. We went to the back patio to seat ourselves and chose a nice picnic bench in sun because it was gorgeous out. However, our experience was ruined once we met our server. Her name was Cali (I am almost certain) and she could not have made it any clearer that she didn't give a crap about us. She was short and rude! She was barely present for our entire experience, however, when she was around she would walk away before completing orders at our table and also forget to bring items. Aside from her carelessness, she was incredibly disrespectful. She clearly did not want to be our server and we did not do a single thing to her. If we asked her questions she responded as minimally as possible and treated us like garbage. There really isn't any adequate way to explain how she treated us because it was that horrible. We spent most of our time trying to figure out what her problem was and what we had done to straight up piss her off. The best part (and I say this with the utmost sarcasm) is that she had another table seated slightly behind us that she was extremely pleasant with. She would laugh and smile with them but would not give my friends and I the time of day! While sitting and trying to figure out what was wrong with the server, we noticed that the food took a little bit of an unreasonable amount of time to come out. Once we finally started to receive our food, it came out one dish at a time in 3 to 4 (or so) minute increments. We were helped by another server though, I believe his name was Matt or Mati. He was so nice! He asked if we needed anything, brought out our food, refilled our drinks. I wish he was our server from the get go! Finally, as we neared the end of our meal, I asked to speak with the manager. I explained to her what had happened and how disappointed we were with our female server and the timing of our food. She apologized and said she would "kick her ass" for giving service like that but then did nothing to make amends with our table. I don't expect to get free things and I did not really want anything more from that place but it would have been nice to see a manager do a little more to make up for truly terrible service. Needless to say, we were all extremely disappointed and when I return to visit Kansas City this place will not be on the list of places I will dine at.
(2)Josh M.
A- There isn't much to be said that hasn't been said already. So, I'll keep it short and simple. Awesome dive bar decor. Best place to catch a show in K.C., especially on a fall autumnal evening (I'm looking at you Wilco). Awesome, delicious food. They have great french fries and their pizza, in my opinion, is the best in town for NY Style. Lots of beer on top and in bottles and very reasonably priced. Great specials. Sunday is the best with two-for-one slices of pizza and $3 mamosas. Service is a little slow, which keeps this place from a A rating. But that is the only complaint I could possibly muster against such an iconic KC institution.
(5)Stuart S.
Awesome food. Great venue. Too bad it is terribly understaffed which results in an unhappy staff that provides poor service. It should never take an hour to buy a beer. So if your planning on seeing a show at the crossroads put a bottle in your boot and enjoy the show from somewhere besides the beer line
(3)Amy E.
I like Grinders better than it deserves. I can't help myself, though I am not sure why. Of all the meals sweetie and I have eaten there, only one was particularly good, while the others were mediocre, if not downright bad. And yet if we find ourselves downtown during the evening, we sometimes end up at Grinders for a beer, and occasionally for a nibble. The people-watching is excellent. That serves as the main attraction. City denizens of every variety can be found pulled up to the bar on stools or lounging in the cracked booths. The place itself is interesting, managing to appear like a somewhat authentic city grunge haunt that has been accumulating atmosphere since the '70's, though in fact it is only a few years old. The space and patrons combine together to create an unmistakable energy. If only the food were as appealing. The first time sweetie and I visited, we ordered the Trailer Park Tots (how could we resist?) and the Bengal Tiger pizza. The tots were inedible, so beyond overcooked that the insides had vaporized, leaving only a hardened shell. The Bengal Tiger wasn't much better. The menu claimed that it came topped with a rich green sauce, tandoori chicken, crab meat, as well as hearts of palm and cilantro. Sounded fantastic, but it wasn't. The green sauce was so scant as to be undetectable. There were only three, yes three, shreds of chicken on the entire pie, absolutely no crab or hearts of palm, and only a few leaves of cilantro. Apart from being incredibly disappointing, it didn't taste bad. It didn't taste like anything. On our next visit we tried a meatball pizza. It was passable, but nothing more. The few halved meatballs, dotted over the top, were of the frozen grocery store variety. Given this experience and the previous, we decided never to order pizza at Grinders again. We visited several weeks later, desiring a beer after having visited the Nelson-Atkins. After consuming a couple, we got the munchies and ordered a Calzone, with mushrooms and sausage. It was wonderful. Everything about it worked, from the lovely crust to the melted cheese blending with a good red sauce. Unlike the pizzas with their barren vistas, the Calzone's sausage and mushrooms were both plentiful and tasty. On yet another occasion we tried the Fried Mushrooms, and split the dinner special, a chicken-fried steak with green beans and mashed potatoes. The fried coating on the mushrooms was so thick and hard that considerable force was needed to bite through, thereby crushing the 'shroom within. The green beans and taters were exceptionally good, tasting as if they had been prepared by a Southern grandmother. The "steak," however, was not a steak at all, but some sort of processed gray paste that had been flattened to a patty, breaded, and fried. Truly repulsive. I don't know what management was thinking. We return to Grinders now and again for a beer and the atmosphere. And sometimes we order a little something to eat. But we have absolutely no idea why people rave about the food as if it were exceptional, or even very good.
(2)Surprise C.
Grinders not only has great food, they have a good selection of beers. The atmosphere is energetic to say the least so people watching is pretty fun. Keep an eye out on music performances throughout the warmer months as this is a popular venue. Decorations are pretty A.D.D. so be prepared to be visually stimulated. Hand tossed pizzas and a fun waitstaff make for a great night out.
(5)Brett B.
I first saw Grinders on an episode of The food Network's 'Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives', so I put it down as a place to check out the next time I was in Kansas City to visit my Mom. It did not disappoint. From the moment that you walk in you know that you are in for a unique dinning experience. From the wild & eclectic assortment of art to the amazing menu, there is enough here to keep everyone interested. I knew this place was legit when they offered the Philly Cheese Steak with Cheez-Wiz. Which is how you get it in Philly. None of this provolone crap. The steak was great, the peppers & onions done to perfection. On my most recent visit I had the Crabby Rangoon with the chili paste. It was among the best I've ever had. Then I went with the Woodyard Hillbilly burger. Served with a couple slices of cheddar, bacon, grilled onions and bbq sauce this was a great burger. The thing about Grinders is that the menu is so crazy you want to keep coming back to try it all. If you are looking for lunch then get there before the rush, think noon, or just after, think 1:00pm. All in all this is a KC original that you need to pay attention to.
(5)Viv G.
A gem in the middle of downtown KC-we just happened to find this place on Yelp and decided to try it based solely on their reviews. I wasn't quite sure about my decision when pulled up & the front of the place-sort of a dirty deli shop atmosphere--but boy am I glad we sat down for lunch! Very relaxed place-come as you are. I had their excellent BLT (they spice up & caramelize their own bacon) along with their home made potato chips. Had their salted caramel cheesecake frozen yogurt for dessert. Definitely did not disappoint! I am looking forward to going back when the opportunity arises.
(5)Sarah D.
My boyfriend and I just visited Grinders for a second time tonight, and we were expecting our experience to be even better than the last, however, we were sadly disappointed. Although the food was terrific, the service lacked any enthusiasm, passion or even conversation for that matter. We had two waiters serving us, but neither of them ever said a word save for taking our order. They didn't come to check up on us through your the whole meal, but one of the waiters that wasn't even ours asked us how we were doing instead. They walked by several times without saying a word, often looking totally apathetic and completely disinterested in their job. When they brought our food to us, they just slid it on the table, again, not saying anything and didn't respond or even acknowledge us when we thanked them each time. When I go to a restaurant, I expect to be taken care of and feel welcome. With this service, I felt like we weren't even a customer to them, just a nuisance. I can understand it may have been a long day, but when you're in the service industry, you should not let that affect your performance. I know that waiters depend on tips, so I always try to tip well, but I think that if I am going to pay you to service me, you should do it and do it well.
(3)Nik L.
came in late on a Tuesday right at close. They served us and let us stick around to pound a few Lagunitas beers that were special on tap that night. The wings, pizza and sandwiches here are quintessential bar food! Great staff and cool vibe. Love living in this neighborhood.
(5)Johnny T.
Do not come here if you are super hungry, in a hurry or in the mood to slap someone. You'll stay hungry, you'll be late and you'll go to jail for assault. BUT. If you 'could eat' (as in, 'I could eat...'), have nowhere to be at a certain time and have taken some chill pills, you'll be all set. I came to Grinders, hungry, in a hurry and my default food is 'slap' so... yeah. This wasn't looking like it would end well. But, 4 stars, so you know it's all good. Okay, back to the journey. I stepped up to the counter and the guys behind it were more interested in talking amongst themselves than helping me. I don't look like the typical Grinders patron (as in, no one working or eating looked remotely like me). I felt out of place and being rendered invisible certainly didn't help that. Thankfully, the lone woman of the joint did what the guys had an inability to do: she smiled, waited on me, answered my questions, and took my order. Point of order: I hope she runs the joint. If she doesn't, she needs to. So, the cool lady with the interesting ink helped me out and then she was off to do more super hero things. Unfortunately for me, the Legion of Doom entered back in and I was back to wait wait waiting for my three slices. I noticed that some slices were boxed up and set atop the oven. I noticed other people came and went (with food). I noticed that I had broken a beer bottle and was ready to attack... and then I noticed that she came back. She took one look at the situation and figured everything out. "How long have these slices been ready? Oh, man, these are yours. Do you want new ones? I'm sorry for this." I declined. I was already late. I couldn't spend anymore time in Satan's waiting room. She said something to the LoD, they scattered, she gave me my slices, apologized again, and I left. So all that and 4 stars? The Bengal Pizza: green sauce, CRAB MEAT, tandoori chicken, and cilantro. Incredible. The BBQ Chicken was as good as I suspected (I mean, BBQ + Kansas City = yes). But, I kept coming back to that Bengal. And as amazing as the pizza was... I doubt I'd ever come back. Paying money for a service should not be that much work. It just shouldn't. I'm glad to have had the experience and props for talent but once is enough.
(4)Longorious L.
I'd been here once before and really enjoyed my burger but apparently you can't come here and order anything but pizza. Whatever, I came here last night and ordered pizza. I would have enjoyed that pizza if they didn't dump an entire bottle of cracked black pepper on the pan along w/ the corn meal. It would have tasted good otherwise. I swear I was doing the air sucking thing after every bite and I actually choked at one point because I swallowed a pepper that settled at the back of my throat which initiated a coughing fit. Maybe I was already irritable but does the cook think he's Ringo or something? Every five minutes he was drumming on the grill w/ his metal spatulas some sort of "rhythm" which totally just pierced my ears as well as my boyfriends. It was unnecessary. Normally I would sit outside but they, of course, were having a private party out on the patio. So my point is I wasn't wrong for ordering the burger the first time I came here because my burger was awesome. My pizza was not. I think we should change what this place is known for. Next time I go, I will hopefully be able to escape the wannabe drummer, sit outside and order something else. Then I will come back and give this place a higher rating.
(3)Abbey A.
Am I just ordering wrong? Why hasn't this place spoken to me? Everyone else I know seems to love it, so I'll probably keep trying. 3 stars if, for nothing else, their awesome back yard area.
(3)Tj P.
Hip dive bar. We went to concert, drank a lot of beer. Had the pizza, and it was good. The concept is a money maker, as it should be, I applaud the owner. Service was kind sketchy, rude girl bartender then a nice boy. One flaw, a gross clogged toilet. Prices a little steep for what you get. However I hear the owner is friends with some blond loser spiky haired guy. So maybe prices are justified. Still a yes. A good time was had.
(3)Reed N.
Nice ultra thin crust Bengal Tiger pizza. Not too many pizzas contain real crab meat and hearts of palm. Then there are the Philly sandies. With Cheese Wiz... just like Geno's in Philly. Way to go!
(4)Beau S.
This place is one of my favorite places in KC! Great food, great drinks, awesome music venue, hot chicks, cool people, man I love it! Some of the best thin crust pizza in the city and $5 PBR pitchers ALL THE TIME! I'm still trying new things on their vast menu and haven't been let down yet. I just can't wait to see a show here!
(5)Matt K.
Ordered pizza, with the tater tots. good but weird. also our appetizer the hot wings was brought out after the pizza.
(3)Jen R.
Had the Le Hog and the guac and chips for an appy. Guac was pretty dang good and I live fresh tortilla chips. The pizza was good, but nothing that would encourage me to drive here again. Way too noisy. Couldn't hold a conversation between the decibal level of the music and the overly loud chopping on the grill. Also a lot of annoying gnats. It is a very good hand-tossed crust.
(3)Jessica E.
Grinders is definitely a Kansas City gem--albeit, a very greasy gem. On our most recent visit, we stopped by during a Friday around lunch time. Holy moly was it busy. We ended up eating next door to the "main" area, which was also busy but we were able to snag a table. If you peruse my reviews, you probably will see a trend in how I tend to order cheeseburgers every where I go. This visit was not an exception. I do not regret one moment of it. I went with the Woodyard Hillbilly but got mayo instead of bbq sauce. I have never eaten such a juicy, succulent [insert other yummy-describing word here] burger in my life...and I have had quite a few options to choose from. I think what really took this burger to the next level was the bacon. They probably just soaked it in extra fat (gross, I know) but it seriously tasted like they brushed honey and let it simmer. Everything on my plate was delicious and did not last very long. K had the philly cheese steak and it was HUGE and also delicious (I know because I may or may not have stolen a quick taste). The service was also great! Our waiter was attentive but not overbearing and he let us hang out without making us feel like we were taking up time/space. It seems to be what keeps people coming (aside from the delish grub) are the daily/weekend specials that they do. They have pitchers of PBR every day all day/every day and what glorified hipster wouldn't be into that?
(5)Chris S.
Yo I'm originally from Philly and this is the best midwest version of a cheese steak you're going to find. The decor is driver by trucker vs art work metal guy vs the shit left over from a Barney's Beanery re-do but it works somehow. You will have a person with tattoos serving your meal so watch out suburbs folk. This is not a super fast service kind of place so go to chill out. Good beer selection and top notch pizza. I'm an east coast pizza snob and I eat the pizza here if that tells you anything. Good shows out back at Crossroads KC every summer so keep an eye out. Great downtown place.
(4)William T.
When we went in on one side there was a deli and the other was a bar, We choose to sit in the bar because that's where they make the food. We had a very nice waitress that was on key with everything. You could tell she enjoyed doing her job as well. We had the Crab Rangoon for a appetizer, pretty weird coming from a pizza place but they ROCKED. Very good indeed. We ordered the La HOG next, just a 12" pizza enough for 2 people. Aflredo sauce with bacon meatballs, Canadian bacon....YUM. Awesome place to go and eat. Will be back later when we visit KC.
(5)Fred P.
Grinders is a great spot. Stretch is almost kinda famous, the food is excellent and the rustic ambiance is very hommie. Their gourmet pizzas like Goldberg are a real special treat and very unique. Super bonus that you can order them by the slice so you can try a couple different kinds. The Philly-Cheese is excellent and is the city's best demonstration of the perfect pairing of meat and cheese. Wings are great. Tried the death sauce once, long story short, big mistake cause this isn't your normal hot wings challenge. But it is a fun, yet sadistic, food challenge for those of you, or that have a friend, that is up for a humiliating but exhilarating food experience. Overall, well done Grinders. The perfectly quirky spot with great food to take someone to for an adventurous lunch and a great example of what the Crossroad's District has to offer locals. Sour notes for having the worst ice tea known to mankind.
(4)Terry M.
I went during a trip to KC and had no idea what to expect. It is super eclectic and kind of divey and one of a kind. I thought it was fabulous, my friend not so much. One thing that could be toned down was the fact that one of the cooks kept banging the metal spatulas on the cook top and it was really loud at times. My friend got a headache because of it almost immediately. I didn't get anything special just the reuben and tots but it was good. For beer drinkers, they had a big list of specialty beers and the staff was very friendly. I would definitely go again if I'm ever in KC.
(4)Mick B.
Wipe your schedule if you plan on eating here. Zesty pizza and tasty cheesesteaks make up for the casual, I'll-get-to-you-whenever-I-get-to-you service. Deodorant optional.
(3)Kelly F.
Fun atmosphere! I was in town on business and stopped in on a friend's recommendation. The fried goat cheese salad was excellent! It went along great with a slice of pizza and a Boulevard Wheat beer! Definitely coming back next time I'm in town.
(4)Kelli I.
Rudest and meanest service I have ever received. The website said that they were open until 12:00. When we arrived at 10:40, they were obviously cleaning up. I wish that they had simply said they were closed. Instead, we were served with a surly attitude by several different employees. The pizza was pretty good- that was the only item they would allow us to order since they had already put stuff away. The food could have been fabulous and it would not have been worth enduring the type of treatment we received. My repeated attempts to be friendly were met with cold indifference and my attempts at a polite "thank you" ignored. The message was clear- We were not welcome. Wish they had just told us that when we walked in- we would have happily gone elsewhere.
(2)Matthew S.
As part of the 30 day vegetarian challenge, I'm writing my first review on a place I visit regularly. My review would echo much of what others have said, both the good and the bad. The good? The beer selection is top-notch and changes regularly. I sometimes take this for granted and go with old standbys, but there is always something unique to try. Often Grinders will be one of the only ones in the metro with a certain beer available. The decor is clearly inspired by the eclectic sculptor-owner Stretch. Walls are covered with random posters, paintings, cut-outs and assorted knick-knacks. Until recently, when the aging floor was replaced with new hardwood, holes in the original floor were patched with road signs. It is a visual experience that signals that you ain't in just any pizza joint. Mix in the tatooed staff, never-expected music selection and the periodic deafening roar of cooks chopping cheesesteak meat on the grill and you've got something decidedly different going on. The location is still a little bit tricky. There is no reason to feel unsafe in this area, but Grinders is still a bit of an island in the mercurial "east Crossroads" area. When it first opened, I hoped it would be the hub for the emergence of a less-pretentious, hipster friendly Crossroads, but not much in this area has changed. On First Friday, it has the feel of the earliest days of First Friday, but on most days it remains quiet. The food? That's the best part. Everything I've had is excellent. Since I'm focused this month on vegetarian options, I will speak mostly to the pizza, which I usually get with mushrooms and some other gourmet veggie toppings. I consider it among the best pizza in KC, with a thin, almost-cracker crust, lightly applied but zesty sauce, creamy cheese and sprinkled toppings. On Sunday, slices can be had 2-for-1, which has to be the best deal in the neighborhood. Because of this, though, the quality can be a little inconsistent. Because the slices are thin, proportions are important. The wrong amount of cheese or sauce, or a minute too long in the oven and your slice is sub-optimal. To ensure the proper pizza experience, order an entire pie. And the bad? It really is just the inconsistent service. It has gotten much better in the last year, when they noticeably made it an area of focus, but there are still times when waits can be long and attitudes can be indifferent. Sometimes it is part of the charm but not when you want to put pizza in your belly in short order. All in all, though, I am excited to have Grinders downtown. It is uniquely Kansas City, delicious, hip and and experience not to be missed.
(4)Logan Locke B.
The food is always impressive! Delicious and fresh!! Sandwiches and salads are absolute go-to menu items! The service used to be continuously HORRIBLE (but the food/ atmosphere was just fantastic... so I went sparingly), however the service has really improved lately-- I would go so far as to say-- AWESOME SERVICE the last two times I dined @ Grinders! Regarding the speed--- come here with a relaxed attitude. It will not be fast, but it will be worth it! MAJOR BONUS: One of the newest restaurants to be added to the KCOrginal list!
(5)Angela K.
I've heard about Grinders for years since moving back to KC from the east coast. But frankly, I had given up finding an authentic cheesesteak in these parts years ago and brushed off friends urging me to try Grinders. So I finally decided to go try it out the other day since I live downtown. We got there at lunchtime and sat in a dirty booth. Having been a bartender in a bar very similar to this one in college, I'm not put out at having to wipe a table off myself or finding that my feet stick to the floor. The decor and ambiance here are definitely of the dive/college bar variety. Our server was the bartender, and while not friendly she got the job done very efficiently. My drink stayed full and she kept checking on us to see if we needed anything. I was VERY pleasantly surprised that their menu stated they used fresh Amoroso rolls for their cheesesteaks! It's pretty easy to make a cheesesteak at home with thinly sliced top round and cheese, but the rolls make the sandwich and you can't find them anywhere around here. I prefer my cheesesteak with provolone, not Cheez Wiz, and some pizza sauce. So I ordered it and waited with breathless anticipation until it came out. Could this be it? Could this be what I've been searching for since leaving Philly? It was actually pretty good. A fair amount of cheese (I ordered extra), but it wasn't melted enough. The roll was just what I remember, soft and delicious. I could actually close my eyes for a few seconds and think I was back in PA. A couple of things weren't right, though. It came out smothered in pizza sauce. I like a good sauce on my cheesesteak, but this was drowning in it (see picture). And it was a little too spicy, overwhelming the tasty goodness of the steak and cheese. But maybe if there had been less of it I wouldn't have noticed that so much. I think sauce might be a Kansas City thing. People here tend to expect their food to swim in it. A dab of sauce under the meat on a cheesesteak, done right, is wonderful. But the biggest thing missing was the grease! When I eat a cheesesteak, I want grease! The roll should be dripping with it...it should be dripping down my arm. There was no grease to be found in my sandwich! Or maybe it was swallowed up by all the sauce. Overall, it IS probably the best cheesesteak in Kansas City. And next time I go, I might try it again and ask for less sauce...or maybe no sauce and see how it goes. I've heard the pizza here is very good, too, so I will definitely be trying that as well. Of course I'll be back. It may not be a perfect cheesesteak, but it's the best I've had "out west".
(3)Carrie L.
We ate lunch here after asking 2 guys waking down the street where a good place to eat was. I had a half salad which was the goat cheese and a half pastrami. When we first came in we were looking around not sure what to do and a girl said we could have a seat anywhere. Her tone wasn't the most friendly immediately my guard went up. We were helped by 3 other people which was neat because she wasn't the most pleasant. The food was very good and we were told they smoke their own meat out back. We plan to take our 4 kids back on Spring Break.
(4)Matthew H.
I was visiting KC on a business trip and remember seeing this place on the travel channel. I have been to many restaurants in the past that were featured on the travel channel and every place had lived up to my expectations. I am disappointed to say Grinders turned out to be a bad egg in my opinion. I would first like to say that the atmosphere overall was pretty good. It was a typical bar crowd of younger, loud people which was great. But, it was only semi- occupied though and I was there on a Friday night at 10. You would think that we would have had great service since there weren't too many people there but NOPE! I sat there what seemed like forever before I even got my drink ordered. The same goes for when he arrived back so we could take our food order. Then he got my drink order wrong. I mean maybe I should have different expectations for restaurants and bars, but with the service provided to me alone would not want me to go back to Grinders again. When I travel I always like to order what the bar/restaurant is known for and when I asked the waiter, he replied with the Ruben and cheese steak. I was kind of puzzled by this response because the name of the bar is "Grinders Pizza". I asked him a couple more questions about the menu and he was not very helpful. I ended up sticking to my guns though and got a cheesesteak(because according to the waiter, this was one of their "best" items) . In my opinion, it was sub-par at best. There was nothing special about it and overall just wasn't that flavorful. One of the other people I went with ordered the pizza and it was absolutely delicious. So I just don't know why I was steered in the wrong direction. Overall, I would say that this could be a place to skip if you ever have to come to KC.
(2)Billie H.
The best pizza in town! Whether you are getting a simple slice of pepperoni or a specialty pizza, you will not be disappointed. I highly recommend the Bengal Tiger and the Goldberg "Phats." A pizza with half one and half the other is my perfect way to go. I can only comment on the pizza as I have yet to try any of the other options on the menu. The crust is foldable thin, but has a little crunch to it, perfect unless you prefer a pizza that is all dough. The atmosphere is great, fantastic music, eclectic decor and a great staff that works hard moving people in and out. They have a great beer selection outside the typical standard big names. My only complaint would be that they need more seating. It isn't uncommon to have to wait for someone to leave as the place is generally very busy (a testament to the great food!) If you like great music, check them out through the summer as they have shows out behind the restaurant.
(5)Vince D.
If you are in Kansas City looking for a Philly Cheese Steak experience this is the place for you. They import the amoroso rolls from PA. If only the sandwich was a little more greasy Stretch might have hit a home run. If you are looking for NYC slice you have come to the right place. I had the whole hog slice, Canadian bacon, bacon, and meatball on a thin crust. Nothing but yumminess. Staff super friendly. Atmosphere laid back and happy.
(4)Angie C.
Grinders is probably the best little hole in the wall dive restaurants/bars in the KC crossroads area. The food isn't the greatest quality in the world, but if you know how to order, then you will be highly satisfied. The beer selection and the ambiance is really what Mr. C and I go for. Everyone there is decent in nature and I usually know somebody from my circle of acquaintances so it is almost always guaranteed to be a fun time for me. Grinders specializes in a variety of fare, but I think they do a great job with New York style pizza. I am generally disappointed when I hear about NY style pizza and it is a far cry from the definition of the style. Grinders does it right. Wide, thin, foldable and not super saucy. It is difficult to eat without a fork, but definitely doable if you are willing to attempt it! This is the only pizza in Kansas City that lives up to New York style pizza. Being that I love tomato sauce, I always ask for a little more for a truly messy concoction. When Mr. C and I go we tend to always get the same thing. We are both vegetarians and we get a half-ass order of mushrooms and a slice of pizza. Mr. C enjoys the fact that they offer capers so he gets that with olives and an additional topping. It changes each time. I tend to always get a slice with mushrooms and onions. Next time I go, I need to get the Mergherita style, I love whole garlic cloves on pizza to mash into it. Mmm... getting hungry as I write. One of Grinder's other specialties is their death wings of which were featured on Drive-Ins, Diners and Dives show on the Travel Channel. Death wings are basically chicken wings smothered in some kind of ghost pepper sauce. I only know of one person who has been able to eat them in their entirety. My friend Jon cried, but he was a trooper and just bit the bullet and ate them as fast as he could! He received special attention and a free beer for the feat! I'll finish this review later. Gotta head to a meeting. But my general review. Food: Gotta know to order it if you want it right. Service: Hit or miss Would I go back? Yep.
(3)Amanda S.
Before moving back here from CA, we saw the Diners, Drive In and Dives episode featuring Grinders. Yes, curiosity of Grinders and the new Crossroads area was our main reason for visiting. But now, my craving of the Junk Yard Dog keeps me coming back, again and again. It's not the greatest good for you food and it's not supposed to be. But for me, top a hot dog with kraut and cheese then add a side of tots, I'm sold. Good lord, there isn't much better than deep fried tots! The dog with the kraut and cheese has a nice combo of savory, yum and gooey. I try to sit at the bar. But, this only really works well during winter because you're in front of the ovens. It's pleasant when it's freezing outside but not so good when it is an oven outside. I haven't had bad service, slow sometimes, but not bad. We have been to a couple of beer tastings as well. They are organized and tickets are well priced. The beer has been paired nicely with the food too. Speaking of their beer....they have a good selection and rotate often. I haven't been in awhile. Perhaps another visit is overdue.
(4)Courtney C.
I love this place. No pretension! It's a dive bar w/ great food, particularly pizza of local notoriety - SCORE! My experience with Grinders before typically served as a meeting place. Whether it was for a slice and a beer on First Friday or getting a text letting me know some of the group had assembled and I should get my happy self down there and join in on the fun. This was my relationship w/ Grinders we were acquaintances brought together by mutual friends. Until I found myself in the neighborhood one evening w/ some time to kill. This is when I decided to move our relationship to the next level. I decided it was time to become friends rather than acquaintances and, BOY am I glad I did. I had just gotten off of work and was going to a Yelp event, soon to be surrounded by some of my favorite people, I found it only appropriate that I put away "Work Courtney" and slip on the ever confortable skin of "Social Courtney" and this was just the place to do it. I sidled up the bar, took off my coat and was quickly met by Mandy, my cutie pootootie bartender. After I nice big glass of aqua and generous pour of Jameson's neat I was beginning to settle in quite comfortably. One of the first things I noticed while sitting at the bar were the People. Everyone was friendly. When I say people I mean all of the people, patrons, staff, cooks, bartenders. The staff was helpful and attentive w/o hovering and the patrons quick to say hello. Dare I call the vibe - convivial? Yes, I think I dare. I understand that to some this may not sound like a huge feat in and of itself but one of the things about KC is we [Kansas Citians] have a tendency to exist in our own little bubbles, oblivious to those around us, especially if those around us are not "key" members of our immediate group. But sitting there surrounded by smiles I was infected with cheer and ease which helped me to transition into the right headspace for the, much anticipated, nights Event. For me, Grinders feels more like a neighborhood bar than a restaurant. But hey, if you want more of a restaurant feel you can always go one door down to Grinders West and there you are. Easy peasey lemon squeezy.
(4)Stephanie W.
I am a fan of Grinders, and it is a go to place for out of town client lunches. It is quirky and the food is funky twists on bar food. The pizza is always a good choice, but the grinders are awesome as well. The latest surprise was the hummus. Really delicious and fun. The decor is artsy dive, and feels like an old pair of Levis, comfortable and reliable. The venue out back is cool, but it gets crazy busy on concert nights.
(4)Jes S.
One of the best places to spend an afternoon or evening in the Crossroads neighborhood of downtown Kansas City. The beer selection is amazing, always offering the best seasonal and local beers on tap. The food is nothing fancy or healthy at that but delicious. You must try the wings and pizza but the entire menu is worth a try. The staff is extremely friendly and you will see many of the same faces each time you visit. This is also one of my favorite music venues in KC and is a great place to catch a live show in the summer.
(5)Derek S.
grinders was the biggest surprise of our trip to KC. its location is suspect right outside of downtown and the power and light and supposedly in an up and coming art district and the crowd certainly represented this, but stil with a unique mixture of all personality types. this is of course another triple d recommendation and i thank guy for this. the restaurant was completely packed, but we luckily found a table. we had an excellent server with fast and very friendly service. it took awhile for them to take our order, but our food came out pretty quickly. now to the food. i started off with a south philly which was very good, nothing that i would say blows any other philly i had out of the water. next i moved on to some pizza. i had a slice of the le hog (or their all meat) and it was crazy delicious. the meats were tender, plentiful and the overall taste was like nothing i've ever had on a pizza before. it had a very gourmet feel to it, but it was so delicious i could have easily eaten or tried 2 to 3 more slices. finally the meatball grinder. the meatballs definitnely had that wonderful homemade taste you love to have. the grinder is completely smothered in cheese and red sauce. this was by far and away the greatest red sauce i've ever eaten on a sandiwch in my entire life. it was jam packed with flavor and spice. just the right amount of kick that makes you want more and more. with more time, i would have loved to come back a second time and try out some more of the menu items. dont be intimidated by the crowd because otherwise you will really be missing out on a real KC / food experience.
(5)Brenna P.
I actually stopped in this bar to have a beer, as they have several selections available. We sat outside and enjoyed the wonderful weather and atmosphere. Eventually, we decided we were hungry and looked over Grinder's amazing menu. As a vegetarian, there are normally just a few choices available for me. Grinders is certainly an exception to this rule! After drooling over all the tasty sounding dishes, we opted for "The Hippie," a pizza which has red sauce, green peppers, black olives, spinach, tomatoes, artichoke hearts, and almonds. At first we were leery of the almonds, so we got half almonds. After taking the first bite of the almond side, I was hooked! The pizza was simply amazing. The sauce had the right combination of tomato and spices to make a tasty, fresh, and perfectly spiced pizza. We ate the entire thing. The only downfall Grinders has, was that the service is a bit slow. Granted, we were there on Friday night, but it took a long time to get drinks and pizza. That being said, it's definitely worth the wait!
(4)Brian V.
I heard about Grinders West, in Kansas City, from The Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," and although it's a cool and casual place to hang out and drink an array of great beers, when it comes to the food, it passes creative ville but falls short of reaching flavor town. If you want to read a more detailed review with pictures, check out omnivorousvegetarian.com…
(2)Michael L.
Better cheesesteak then the ones I have had in Philly.
(5)