This place is definitely a candidate for dive bar status, but don't let that get in the way of a good meal. You know it's going to be good when all the construction trucks are parked outside for lunch. That's a dead give away that there's some tasty grub inside. The staff was very friendly, and fast. Ordered a cheese burger, fries, and a shake. The burger was pretty good, better than average. The fries were VERY good, at least an 8 out of 10. Shake was hand made, and pretty tasty. Prices are exteremly reasonable. It's a tasty little grease pit, I'd go again.
(3)
Rhett H.
Ohmagud. This place is like the epicenter of the greasy spoon. Not only is is antiquated a few years removed from when the West Bottoms were a freight district hub, not only can you get a pancake as big as your face (bigger, perhaps?), not only is the food greasy, this place is just what you see. It is one of those road-trip places that can't compare. It's probably good you're going to road-trip to see it, because if you ate there every day, it better be because you're spending so much time farming that you don't have time to cook, other wise your heart may explode from the butter-fumes as you open the door. Some photos: web.mac.com/davydd/iWeb/…
(5)
John F.
I'm really torn. A lot of people have trashed this place in their reviews, and as much as I could easily jump on the bandwagon due to a couple of experiences, the vast majority of the time, this place has a charm to it that overcomes a lot of negative items that seem to pop up over and over in Yelp reviews. I am probably a little bit biased, though. You see, I live in the West Bottoms. My first experience with the Woodswether was years ago, when it was under previous ownership, and after I'd finished a bar shift. It struck me, then as a decent little dive-diner, and I visited it now and then. A couple of years later, I was walking the dog, and noticed a Guinness neon in the window. After dropping the pup off at home, I walked a block back to the place and went in to investigate. The idea of having a cheap bar within crawling distance from my house seemed dangerous, yet super-alluring. I could hardly resist. I talked to one of the new owners, who explained that yes, they had just taken the place over and gotten their liquor license approved for 1:30AM business. I hung around the place as the only customer, drinking cheap Jim Beam and talking shop with the lady for a couple hours. She was engaging and lovely, and I could not have been happier. Since then, the Woodswether has been our go-to spot for mega-hungover, breakfasts after the morning dog-walk. The food and service can be hit-and-miss, but ultimately this place is a truck-stop diner without the frustrating prerequisite of operating in a truck-stop. The food portions are huge, and for the price, pretty awesome. When the service is on, it's REALLY on, and like I said, it's just down the block from my house. I think that, for one who appreciates the all-American diner, it's an important stop on the map, based on the fact that they continue to do their thing with absolute sincerity, and as honest people providing the working class with honest food and drink. If you fault 'em for that because you expected something more, I guess that's your own problem.
(4)
Carla G.
I haven't been here in years, at least since they moved from Woodswether Road to the old Olympic Grill location. My husband and I were driving around in the West Bottoms this morning and I wanted to share with him a place that I use to eat lunch when I worked downtown. A group of co-workers would often lunch at the orignial Woodwether Cafe and the Olympic Grill. When I walked in to the Woodswether Cafe at it's new location, I remembered it as the Olympic Grill. Breakfast, I must admit is my favorite meal of the day, so I was excited to be able to order breakfast and I was not disappointed. My ONLY critique is that the coffee was weak. Otherwise my breakfast was yummy. I ordered the pick three special for $4.95. I had two eggs over easy, two slices of bacon, which were crisp and not greasy, and two slices of Italian bread French Toast. The French Toast was slightly sweet and had a hint of cinnamon, There was LOTS of real butter and warm maple syrup. My husband had a veggie omelette and rather than several varieties of toast, was also able to choose a biscuit. The biscuit was also served with plenty of butter, jams and jellies were on the table, and it was flaky and light. The omelette also came with home fries. I was able to taste the omelette and it was wonderful. The egg layer was very thin and cooked to perfection and there was a lot of veggie filling. The bite I had, had fresh mushrooms and green peppers. My husband said it was the best omelette he had eaten in a long while. Woodwether serves Pepsi products. I checked out the ladies room, and although the lock on the door was broken, that fact was well posted with a request to knock on the door. The restroom was clean and tidy and well decorated. I especially liked the way Blandex board was utilized to show off the chipped wood that make up the layers and circular paintings around the top trim were whimsical. Our servers were well attentive, and had worked there for a while. They were able to answer our questions about the change over from the Olympic Grill, which is closed, to the moving of the Woodswether Cafe from its original site on Woodswether road. They were friendly and chatty but not too chatty. There was a good mix of regulars and it wasn't full, but there were people during the late breakfast hours we were there. I'm going back sometime for lunch or when I have a craving for a burger. I hear their burgers are excellent. I also liked the graffiti on the wall with names of people, the date they were there and what they ate in restaurant code. It was fun to read while I ate. If you are looking for unique place to take people, that serves excellent food, this would be my suggestion.
(5)
Shon H.
This was a real good breakfast... Very diner-ish, but lots of character... Nothing fancy at ALL, but still very cool place! Note: I would ask for the hashbrown's (which are very good) to be extra crispy...
(4)
Albert C.
Big Jerry! A mound of food covered in gravy. Beneath is Texas toast, gravy, sausage, and egg. The gravy also had chunks of sausage. Really tasty and colon clogger, but enjoyable. For sure a local place. The waitresses knew just about everyone who walked in and gave my friend and I background of the West Bottoms. All I had was breakfast, so thats all I can speak about. If you're looking for breakfast, come here for the Big Jerry.
(4)
Scott M.
Just a follow-up to my previous review. While I was eating breakfast I noticed a sign that said "Kitchen open until 8pm Mon-Sat". I asked the waitress about it and she said that as of about a month ago Woodswether Cafe is now open for dinner. You can order from the regular menu or get th nightly dinner special. For instance Friday night is fried catfish and boiled spiced shrimp, Saturday night is KC strips and prime rib. I asked her when they close now and she said "Whenever everyone leaves, which can be pretty late on Friday and Saturday nights with the food plus us having the bar open now." So, good news, what was once available for just breakfast and lunch is now available all day.
(5)
Kyle R.
Follow-up from my earlier review - there's now a smoking ban in KC so you can actually breathe in the place. The interior has also been updated; it's still far from what you'd call nice but it's far better than what it used to be. But all of that is unimportant - what matters at a greasy spoon/diner like Woodswether Cafe is the food! In that regard, the place still rocks - huge burgers, pork tenderloin sandwiches, po' boys, etc. Delicious sides like onion rings, fries, mac & cheese, etc. Great homemade desserts like cookies, coconut cream pie, apple pie, etc. You can also get a homemade malt/shake with your meal - yum. It's worth the slight difficulty in making it down to the west bottoms - just don't expect to keep on your diet.
(5)
Shante H.
Interesting little greasy spoon type breakfast establishment. It even has a bar on the other side:-)
(3)
Susan B.
Actually they changed the spelling...it's now spelled..Woodsweather Cafe..(it used to be Woodswether) but there are so many reviews here...I hope folks can find them if they search the new spelling. This place has been around for many years under the old spelling. This is a great "hole in the wall" - truly worth the challenge to locate it.-..and they do carry-out...so if you work downtown, you can bring food home with you for dinner! If you aren't familiar with the West Bottoms, plan your route before you go (and don't use your GPS! Mine..directed me right into the Missouri River!) Their food is made from scratch - clear down to the salad dressings, portions are large (their burgers are 1/2 pound burgers!), and if you like reubens - try theirs....YUM...YUM... (they do some special things to it..but I won't reveal their secret..)... I haven't heard tried their pork tenderloins yet, but like their other items...I hear they are awesome too. Lots of really good comfort food in a diner type atmosphere. Very down to earth servers who know how good their food is and will steer you in the right direction. Good for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They do jazz on Wednesday nights...and serve alcohol. This place really should be on that Diners Drive-in and Dives Show...it's one of those hidden spots with great food that you will definitely enjoy if you find it! :) Also forgot to mention...this is the original that used to be located on Woodwether Road. In the last few months, another restaurant with the same name opened up north.
(5)
Erin W.
I wasn't sure what to expect driving down to this area of KC, but was pleasantly surprised. The place was pretty crowded, but we got our food fast. I ordered the bacon and biscuits and gravy. B&G was one of the better versions I've had in the city. There was so much food, I had to share. Our waitress was not very friendly (the other one was though) but I'm hoping she was just having a bad day. I was impressed for the amount of food for the price. I look forward to coming back and trying the Reuben that was wrote about several times on the wall
(4)
Melinda B.
Really good breakfast food, but by looking at the place you wouldn't expect it at all. Service was very nice, but they were understaffed so it was slow. I would definitely go back, I love breakfast food and they do it very well!
(4)
John B.
This would have been zero stars but yelp requires at least one, I have been to several eateries in the area but this by far was worse one. It started before I even got to restaurant with their website providing inaccurate operating hours. With the restaurant being barely occupied it took 15 min to get a drink order completed. The menu options were lacking ( I only had a breakfast menu didn't know that I had to ask for alt menus). Waitress seemed not to know what options were available for each item, which makes experiencing a new restaurant impossible. After getting through the ordering process it took an eternity for food to make it to table. In my experience it should not take this long to whip up some omlettes, my table of four received our meals at different times which is not an industry standard. Hash browns were incredible dark and hard and close to inedible. I am glad I tried this place with a groupon because there is no way I would pay full service for what I received.
(1)
Reed N.
OK... baking sheet sized blueberry pancakes that TASTE GOOD and burgers cooked right. A true elephant ear tenderloin. And decent rings or fries. And good shakes. Guilty pleasures all. Sign me up. The only sin is if you don't work it off later.
(4)
Eric P.
I just moved into the River Market area and though I have lived on the KS side as a "famous in my own mind" foodie I had never even heard of this place, I rode my bike by today and the signage on the way is very bad but unless your Columbus or you believe the world is flat it is pretty hard to not find it by default besides they have tacked up what seem to be printed weather proof signs on a few polls a long the way. I will try and figure out how early they open and hit em up this week and follow up with a food review...it looked like a place that they rehearsed the Blues Brothers Aretha Franklin scene in...this is a good thing well rode my bike and had bfast and it was very good bfast sandwich no meat and tomato instead, coffee was ok and took a brownie to go was also very good, funny I asked what kind of ice cream they use in the "world famous milk shake"? the waitress spoke up I think its hagendaz I said not at 2.50 is not, the owner corrected her Blue Bunny, which is not bad, next time I will try one, the dinner specials sound decent too, glad to have found em... E
(3)
jennifer j.
The place feels like a truck stop, but some people love that. The food was decent (bacon/eggs/toast), but I felt dirty when I left.
(1)
Wenday L.
I found this place on Groupon and I love brunch so my boyfriend and I came here for brunch on a Saturday. Neither have ever heard of this place before, so we were caught off-guard by the exterior. It does not look like a restaurant from the outside, but the interior looks like a very old-fashioned diner. My favorite part is how friendly the staff is here; it's overwhelming with Midwestern hospitality. While the food menu is limited and the food is not out of this world, you really get your money's worth of food here. The portions are huge! My boyfriend ordered a walnut short stack, which is short, but not by any means small. The pancakes themselves were delicious. He also had a small biscuit and gravy, and I loved the peppery gravy. I had the French toast, which was sizeable and delicious. I was also craving eggs and hash brown, so I ordered The Egg, which was one egg with hash browns and toasts. I probably should have told them to hold the toast, but I like dipping my toast in the yolk of my sunny side up egg. The hash brown was alright, since I prefer mine to be crispier. I would definitely be back the next time I feel like having an old-fashioned breakfast/brunch.
I'll make this simple. On more than one occasion I've had to ask to have a waffle or pancakes remade because the batter was spolied. "If that ever happens just let us know and we'll make new batter." So, it's a common occurrence. Spolied batter, dirty coffee mugs, cold hashbrowns, sticky floors. I used to appreciate the truck stop diner vibe. Now I'm just completely grossed out. By the way...ladies...servers...waitresses...whatever...the hardcore eye rolling is unnecessary. Your job is to refill coffee and bring things to the table. Once is excusable. Every visit is beyond acceptable. Today was the last straw. The back room has tables with the thin, plastic, red and white picnic tablecloths. Although they look like they've been wiped down a thousand times, they were filthy. The dye from the tablecloths actually rubbed off the table and stained the elbows of my shirt. *pictures included* Spolied food. Ruined clothes. I'll pass.
(1)
Jeramie M.
Was down in the area figured I would give it a shot. It's pretty dive like. The staff was friendly. I ordered ham and cheese.. It was greasy but edible not the best not the worst. Ordered fries and they were not good. See attached picture
(3)
Lynda H.
Saw this place as we were headed to a delivery. Once the delivery was done, looked on Yelp for someplace we could go for lunch...this place popped. The reviews might not do this place justice. We got in just before closing...they're open for breakfast and lunch. We were treated well and given great suggestions. The sandwiches were very large and quite tasty. The have an excellent chocolate milkshake.
(5)
P M.
I was completely underwhelmed. It was down home cooking in the most literal, uncomplimentary way: everything on the menu is pretty much the way you make it at home. I am seriously picturing one mom in her kitchen making all of the food. This may explain why it took over 35 minutes for our food to come out. My kids revolted and we almost walked out. Our waitress promptly gave us drinks but never never checked on us again for 30 minutes. The Denver omelette would've been good if it didn't have runny eggs on the inside. The hash browns didn't have a shape. The gravy was runny. But the worst offense: the thickest pancakes in the world. They were an inch thick. It sounds goods, but in reality, the taste of pancake mix is overwhelming and no amount of syrup and butter could cover it up. No matter where you are, this place is guaranteed to be out of your way and not worth the trip.
(2)
Rachel H.
We had awesome service when we were there. We went after getting a groupon. I liked the pancakes but I wasn't a huge fan of the eggs, there were a bit too greasy for my liking.
(2)
Kieu N.
A Groupon deal brought me in the doors but probably won't bring me back. On a Saturday morning after a 5k, I came in with a group of three to enjoy some breakfast. We were not welcomed by anyone in particular and saw no signs to wait, so we figured we should seat ourselves. Overall the service was average. Anyway, I was extremely hungry and ready for carbs: country fried steak and eggs! I was hoping a diner like this would get it done right but not so much. The steak was bland and overcooked. I've had much better down South so perhaps my expectations were too high. The Denver omelette my friend ordered fared a little better. Though the food did not stand out, there were a couple of redeeming qualities thanks to the old diner feel and the soulful music.
(2)
Nick D.
This was my first time coming to this restaurant and to be honest I was a little apprehensive because of it's location but I had a Groupon voucher that was going to expire soon and the reviews were decent so I took a shot at it and I'm glad I did. I ordered the big boy breakfast which is Italian bread, eggs, hashbrowns, cheese 2 nice size sausage patties covered in gravy. It was piping hot free off the grill, it had good flavor and the portion was huge, definitely a working man's breakfast so bring your appetite. Are server was friendly and helpful with answering some of our questions. The staff was cleaning and sweeping the floors when I arrived so that was nice. I believe I met the cook or one of the cook's along with the owner or manager, both were friendly and talkative for the brief time that we spoke. Again I was a little apprehensive about coming here but I will definitely be coming back again.
Wow! A couple minutes from my house. Easy to get too. A nice place. Clean and homey. Nice servers. Great food for breakfast. I had eggs over medium, hashbrowns, 1/3 order of biscuits and gravy and smoked sausage with coffee and a Dr. Pepper. Filling and inexpensive. Good diner food.
(4)
Andy H.
I have been to this place twice, and I will never return. The first trip, I saw that none of the cooks wear gloves when they make the food. I was not impressed with my food, but figured it was a fluke and would try it again. I tried it again today, and again, no gloves on the cook's hands. To make matters worse, the cook was coughing into his hands the whole time. The cook then proceeded to make my sandwich, without washing his hands. I am truly surprised that this place hasn't been shut down my the health department. I wanted to like this place, but I will never give this place my money again.
(1)
Nikki H.
Diner breakfasts are my favorite and Woodsweather doesn't disappoint. This place has tons of character and a slammin' breakfast. The staff is awesome and just makes you feel so comfortable. What is equally as awesome is their pancakes (huge, hubcap sized goodness!) and their hashbrowns/eggs. I'd love to come back and try their lunch menu. They also have free wi-fi, but I didn't test it out. If you're going down for First Fridays in the Bottoms, skip those food trucks and get yourself some breakfast realness at Woodsweather!
(4)
Matthew M.
Delicious homestyle cooking. Reasonably priced. Truck stop style, small town cafe. I will definitely go back.
(4)
Scott T.
When the most prominent item at the bar is the Jägermeister on tap and others boast, correctly I might add, of its truck-stop style breakfast, you know exactly where you've landed: a place where hangovers are born and tended to. You aren't going to end up here by mistake. There's little to clue you in on the drive by that it's a watering hole other than the dimly lit beer sign in the window, and nothing to suggest food is served. Arriving at 8:00 a.m. I apparently missed the morning rush as I was the only diner in the joint. #2 special with corned beef hash, two eggs, toast, hash browns. I'll give them this, it was actually cooked to order, wasn't sitting around. everything appeared to be created in-house, none of the brown Hormel stuff with perfectly cubed little bits of potato. None of the frozen packaged hash browns. A tad dry, but they're trying. The eggs were cooked perfectly, and what's this--*three* types of hot sauce to choose from. Louisiana please. That and the precious Rocky Mountain National Park mug with "Mary" stenciled onto it for coffee, quite the experience, although the Ronnoco Coffee was predictably what you'd expect. As one Yelper stated, a truck stop style joint minus the trucks. I'm sticking with that. Located in the bottoms, it appears it would fit right in with a hard working, blue collar, two-fisted drinking crowd that it serves, but that's a paradigm. There are plenty of white collar businesses in the area taking advantage of the lower rents. It's about what you'd expect from the surroundings. Love the fact that there are still joints like this and I appreciate them even though they aren't my style.
(3)
Tres B.
Killer diner in a the old West Bottoms section of KC. Nearby are trucking companies co mingling with antique stores in old old brick building. Think 1920's movie set! This 1970's era eatery slings delicious big burgers real fries and saucy friendly service. I find this to be borderline exceptional. The portions are generous. The Decor is bland but very clean. I recommend: excellent mom and popper.
(4)
Patty M.
Great little breakfast spot near West Bottoms. Food was plentiful and good. I had the Breakfast sandwich and it was great. The pancakes looked good and I was told they were. Great Corned Beef Hash. Good coffee and great service. Will definitely be back.
(5)
Pamela C.
My husband and I placed our order and waited 30 minutes for cold food. I ordered the Denver omelette and ended up with only ham and cheese. The server didn't check back with us so I had to let her know my order was wrong when it came time to pay. Sorry to say that I'm not likely to return.
(1)
Dev V.
I have been getting continually harassed by a person on this site that is the husband of the ower, after posting my original review. This guy slandered the Pitch, Jerry Naster, and other employees. Who does that? Based on that, I'll never set foot in here again. Who wants to frequent a place that has their employees threatening people for giving an honest review?
(1)
Brenda M.
There definately is some charm to this restaurant but the food and uncleanness made it to where I wouldn't return. The location is great, the west bottoms has really become an area for vintage shopping and this restaurant sits at the bottom of a bridge. The side of the restaurant has a cool mural so I thought it be a cool place inside. The inside is pretty old fashioned. Old rickety tables, chairs, etc, that doesn't bother me because it can add character, plus it's a diner. What turned me off immediately is how dirty the place was. There were large dust bunnies and visible dirt all over the floors near the edges of the tables. This was for breakfast so there shouldn't be this kind of grime, even if it's a diner. The other strange thing is that our order took forever to come out. We ordered french toast w/sausage, and eggs and toast. I'm not sure why it took so long but half of my sausage was visibly burnt, and the rest of the food was on par with something you make at home. I left there thinking for mediocre food and dirty atmosphere it was not a good value and would not return.
(3)
William G.
I ate breakfast here due to a Groupon I found ($11 for $20). It's worth a trip, better food than what you'd get at say iHOP, but not quite as good as Happy Gillis near the River Market or the Corner Restaurant in Westport. It's in the West Bottoms and easy enough to get to, but you do have to look for it as it's building is non-descriptive. My wife had the French Toast (three full pieces cut in half) which was good but not great, my daughter the Eggy Weggs, again good but not great, and I the The Big Boss which was very good. Coffee was good and water was automatically brought. I would have rated this as 3-star but gave it a 4 just because of how good the service was and nice the waiters were, plus how inviting they made it. I'm 49 and being called "honey" by my waitress whose a bit my senior just seems right. Plus the "character" of the place. I mean it's unique; basically a dive. Imagine a bar in a very old West Bottoms building, 1968 Schlitz beer advertisement on the ceiling, and hand writing on the wall around the inside of the entrance, with tables and eclectic booths in the center. I live in the JOCO suburbs so I love things that "aren't " uniform and beige (and real).
(4)
Paul B.
NO!! $25.00 for breakfast for two people. Only one of us had coffee. We were the only table in the place at 9:00am. Food took forever, once dropped off never saw "Flo" again. No drink refills - nothing. There are a lot of "dives" in KC but dive doesn't have to equate to dirty. Food sucked - hash browns were 1/8 " thick and covered the plate. Had to be peeled off to eat. Biscuits and Gravy - bigger doesn't mean better. If they taste like paste you won't even come close to eating them. Won't be going back. Pepsi products
(2)
Jason Y.
When I was younger, Woodsweather would have received 4 or 5 stars. I used to gorge myself on their burgers & fries every other weekend. I could care less about all the things that now turn me off to Woodsweather Cafe. On a recent visit, it was like walking back in time. Unless you know what you're looking for, I can guarantee 90% of Kansas Citians have no clue where the Woodsweather Cafe is. Hard to explain where it is located. Best clue I can give is locate the Haunted Houses and attempt to snake your way over the curvy bridges and rail road tracks and maybe you'll luck into finding the joint. Old doesn't begin to describe the building. Hate to say it, but a somewhat depressing looking building and neighborhood for many. I actually enjoy getting back over in these parts on occasion. Truly opens your eye's to the everyday working man and the struggles they go through every day. Don't be shocked to find the homeless, grease monkeys, truck drivers, construction workers, industrial sales reps, and I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the occasional prostitute that frequents the Woodsweather cafe;) Walking in the front door you are still taken aback with the smell of cigarettes lingering in the air. Without a doubt, your clothing will reek of cigarette smell for the rest of the day. The place is cold, dark, and dingy. Yes, just like it was years ago. Old school diner and counter top set-up inside. Waitresses are straight up mean! Very edgy and not for conversation. These women have been hardened by years of rough living, unruly customers, and the street savvy attitude necessary to survive in an establishment like Woodsweather. Be prepared to order and don't fuss with being picky. Menu's are old , sticky, and dingy. My go to items are the breakfast or the burgers. Burgers are large and pretty juicy. The buns almost taste homemade and airy. Fries are nothing to write home about but get the job done. Just straight forward burger and fries. Quite tasty to be honest. Breakfast is breakfast. Kinda hard to mess up breakfast items. maybe it's the smoke lingering in the air, but I sometimes get a cigarette flavor in my food. Maybe it's just my mental state trying to eat with that smell distracting me. Who knows..... Not a fan of their coffee. Maybe I've been spoiled by the new age single- origin fancy coffees we have gotten accustomed to. Their coffee would work if need be. Just not a big fan like many of the patrons. I don't know.........not a place that I would highly recommend nowadays. Too many other good choices in KC. I guess if you were stranded down in the bottoms for some reason and needed a bite to eat, then knock yourself out.
(2)
Brent K.
first off let me just say, this place is a dump. seriously bonafide dump, and that's ok. the food is great, they serve liquor and pancakes and that's about as good as it gets in my book. my wife and i had a sunday brunch down here last weekend and were very pleasantly surprised at the quality of food, the dumpiness of the decor and the 4 dollar bloody marys. needless to say we will be back and probably often.
(4)
Leo D.
I've been to this establishment a few times in the past but today was the last. Mark this one off your list ladies and gentlemen. At 11:30 on a Saturday am they were out of pancake mix. They've always been well known for their oversized pancakes among many other things. I wouldn't even tell people that I use pancake mix, let alone run out of it. Before the server could come back to the table to get our order since I had to change my mind we heard her tell another table they were out of *all* breakfast food. All???? Now you're well know for your pancakes, you're out of them. You're well known for having breakfast all day. You're out of ALL of it... Why are you still open? We actuall left and went to Cascone's grill in the river market. Beautiful fluffy pancakes!!! If you want pancakes and you're in the area, go to Cascone's... They aren't out of mix...
(1)
Brian J.
If I could rate a zero star I would...went in for Sunday morning breakfast and after sitting for 45 minutes we were told our single order shared bfast would be another 10 minutes. It was obvious their kitchen was in meltdown. I won't be visiting them for bfast again! Enjoyed the Mixing Bowl Noshery instead.
(1)
Bob P.
Great spot in the West Bottoms. Good value, friendly staff. Super spot for weekend breakfast. The Big Boss is awesome.
(5)
Stephen H.
Best diner in Kansas City, period. Several current caveats: 1. It's in the West Bottoms, so it's not the easiest to get to in the first place. 2. There is currently construction on the easiest way to get there, so you'll have to be patient as you drive around. 3. There are no "healthy options" on this menu :-) I met a friend here as I was trying to knock out all of the places in my "Eat.Shop Kansas City" book. Was not disappointed. Am a hot dog lover and ordered a chili dog and milkshake and watched my friend order and devour his special of the day, which was meatloaf. Lots of character, obvious high number of regulars, and great service. I was just trying not to be too obvious about checking out this pretty girl at the bar, who I think was my waitress' daughter. :-) Go, but only if you dig hole-in-the-wall finds.
(5)
Amanda S.
I was given advice by my beloved grandpa-in-law, judge your tip by how often your coffee is refilled. If this were the case, I wouldn't have left a dime. But, I did leave a tip but thought twice about it. I know I have a pale complexion but I didn't realize I was invisible. It wasn't just me that experienced the poor service. The two guys on either side of me, at the bar, were getting a bit testy as well. If our food wasn't on the way out, we would have left. The lack of service was ridiculous. I ordered the #2 with 2 eggs over easy, corned beef hash, hash browns and toast. The corned beef hash was tastier than expected, the eggs and hash browns were good enough. I finally ventured out here for a good breakfast. But because of the service, I will venture on.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast Parking : Street, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Divey Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Nathan G.
This place is definitely a candidate for dive bar status, but don't let that get in the way of a good meal. You know it's going to be good when all the construction trucks are parked outside for lunch. That's a dead give away that there's some tasty grub inside. The staff was very friendly, and fast. Ordered a cheese burger, fries, and a shake. The burger was pretty good, better than average. The fries were VERY good, at least an 8 out of 10. Shake was hand made, and pretty tasty. Prices are exteremly reasonable. It's a tasty little grease pit, I'd go again.
(3)Rhett H.
Ohmagud. This place is like the epicenter of the greasy spoon. Not only is is antiquated a few years removed from when the West Bottoms were a freight district hub, not only can you get a pancake as big as your face (bigger, perhaps?), not only is the food greasy, this place is just what you see. It is one of those road-trip places that can't compare. It's probably good you're going to road-trip to see it, because if you ate there every day, it better be because you're spending so much time farming that you don't have time to cook, other wise your heart may explode from the butter-fumes as you open the door. Some photos: web.mac.com/davydd/iWeb/…
(5)John F.
I'm really torn. A lot of people have trashed this place in their reviews, and as much as I could easily jump on the bandwagon due to a couple of experiences, the vast majority of the time, this place has a charm to it that overcomes a lot of negative items that seem to pop up over and over in Yelp reviews. I am probably a little bit biased, though. You see, I live in the West Bottoms. My first experience with the Woodswether was years ago, when it was under previous ownership, and after I'd finished a bar shift. It struck me, then as a decent little dive-diner, and I visited it now and then. A couple of years later, I was walking the dog, and noticed a Guinness neon in the window. After dropping the pup off at home, I walked a block back to the place and went in to investigate. The idea of having a cheap bar within crawling distance from my house seemed dangerous, yet super-alluring. I could hardly resist. I talked to one of the new owners, who explained that yes, they had just taken the place over and gotten their liquor license approved for 1:30AM business. I hung around the place as the only customer, drinking cheap Jim Beam and talking shop with the lady for a couple hours. She was engaging and lovely, and I could not have been happier. Since then, the Woodswether has been our go-to spot for mega-hungover, breakfasts after the morning dog-walk. The food and service can be hit-and-miss, but ultimately this place is a truck-stop diner without the frustrating prerequisite of operating in a truck-stop. The food portions are huge, and for the price, pretty awesome. When the service is on, it's REALLY on, and like I said, it's just down the block from my house. I think that, for one who appreciates the all-American diner, it's an important stop on the map, based on the fact that they continue to do their thing with absolute sincerity, and as honest people providing the working class with honest food and drink. If you fault 'em for that because you expected something more, I guess that's your own problem.
(4)Carla G.
I haven't been here in years, at least since they moved from Woodswether Road to the old Olympic Grill location. My husband and I were driving around in the West Bottoms this morning and I wanted to share with him a place that I use to eat lunch when I worked downtown. A group of co-workers would often lunch at the orignial Woodwether Cafe and the Olympic Grill. When I walked in to the Woodswether Cafe at it's new location, I remembered it as the Olympic Grill. Breakfast, I must admit is my favorite meal of the day, so I was excited to be able to order breakfast and I was not disappointed. My ONLY critique is that the coffee was weak. Otherwise my breakfast was yummy. I ordered the pick three special for $4.95. I had two eggs over easy, two slices of bacon, which were crisp and not greasy, and two slices of Italian bread French Toast. The French Toast was slightly sweet and had a hint of cinnamon, There was LOTS of real butter and warm maple syrup. My husband had a veggie omelette and rather than several varieties of toast, was also able to choose a biscuit. The biscuit was also served with plenty of butter, jams and jellies were on the table, and it was flaky and light. The omelette also came with home fries. I was able to taste the omelette and it was wonderful. The egg layer was very thin and cooked to perfection and there was a lot of veggie filling. The bite I had, had fresh mushrooms and green peppers. My husband said it was the best omelette he had eaten in a long while. Woodwether serves Pepsi products. I checked out the ladies room, and although the lock on the door was broken, that fact was well posted with a request to knock on the door. The restroom was clean and tidy and well decorated. I especially liked the way Blandex board was utilized to show off the chipped wood that make up the layers and circular paintings around the top trim were whimsical. Our servers were well attentive, and had worked there for a while. They were able to answer our questions about the change over from the Olympic Grill, which is closed, to the moving of the Woodswether Cafe from its original site on Woodswether road. They were friendly and chatty but not too chatty. There was a good mix of regulars and it wasn't full, but there were people during the late breakfast hours we were there. I'm going back sometime for lunch or when I have a craving for a burger. I hear their burgers are excellent. I also liked the graffiti on the wall with names of people, the date they were there and what they ate in restaurant code. It was fun to read while I ate. If you are looking for unique place to take people, that serves excellent food, this would be my suggestion.
(5)Shon H.
This was a real good breakfast... Very diner-ish, but lots of character... Nothing fancy at ALL, but still very cool place! Note: I would ask for the hashbrown's (which are very good) to be extra crispy...
(4)Albert C.
Big Jerry! A mound of food covered in gravy. Beneath is Texas toast, gravy, sausage, and egg. The gravy also had chunks of sausage. Really tasty and colon clogger, but enjoyable. For sure a local place. The waitresses knew just about everyone who walked in and gave my friend and I background of the West Bottoms. All I had was breakfast, so thats all I can speak about. If you're looking for breakfast, come here for the Big Jerry.
(4)Scott M.
Just a follow-up to my previous review. While I was eating breakfast I noticed a sign that said "Kitchen open until 8pm Mon-Sat". I asked the waitress about it and she said that as of about a month ago Woodswether Cafe is now open for dinner. You can order from the regular menu or get th nightly dinner special. For instance Friday night is fried catfish and boiled spiced shrimp, Saturday night is KC strips and prime rib. I asked her when they close now and she said "Whenever everyone leaves, which can be pretty late on Friday and Saturday nights with the food plus us having the bar open now." So, good news, what was once available for just breakfast and lunch is now available all day.
(5)Kyle R.
Follow-up from my earlier review - there's now a smoking ban in KC so you can actually breathe in the place. The interior has also been updated; it's still far from what you'd call nice but it's far better than what it used to be. But all of that is unimportant - what matters at a greasy spoon/diner like Woodswether Cafe is the food! In that regard, the place still rocks - huge burgers, pork tenderloin sandwiches, po' boys, etc. Delicious sides like onion rings, fries, mac & cheese, etc. Great homemade desserts like cookies, coconut cream pie, apple pie, etc. You can also get a homemade malt/shake with your meal - yum. It's worth the slight difficulty in making it down to the west bottoms - just don't expect to keep on your diet.
(5)Shante H.
Interesting little greasy spoon type breakfast establishment. It even has a bar on the other side:-)
(3)Susan B.
Actually they changed the spelling...it's now spelled..Woodsweather Cafe..(it used to be Woodswether) but there are so many reviews here...I hope folks can find them if they search the new spelling. This place has been around for many years under the old spelling. This is a great "hole in the wall" - truly worth the challenge to locate it.-..and they do carry-out...so if you work downtown, you can bring food home with you for dinner! If you aren't familiar with the West Bottoms, plan your route before you go (and don't use your GPS! Mine..directed me right into the Missouri River!) Their food is made from scratch - clear down to the salad dressings, portions are large (their burgers are 1/2 pound burgers!), and if you like reubens - try theirs....YUM...YUM... (they do some special things to it..but I won't reveal their secret..)... I haven't heard tried their pork tenderloins yet, but like their other items...I hear they are awesome too. Lots of really good comfort food in a diner type atmosphere. Very down to earth servers who know how good their food is and will steer you in the right direction. Good for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They do jazz on Wednesday nights...and serve alcohol. This place really should be on that Diners Drive-in and Dives Show...it's one of those hidden spots with great food that you will definitely enjoy if you find it! :) Also forgot to mention...this is the original that used to be located on Woodwether Road. In the last few months, another restaurant with the same name opened up north.
(5)Erin W.
I wasn't sure what to expect driving down to this area of KC, but was pleasantly surprised. The place was pretty crowded, but we got our food fast. I ordered the bacon and biscuits and gravy. B&G was one of the better versions I've had in the city. There was so much food, I had to share. Our waitress was not very friendly (the other one was though) but I'm hoping she was just having a bad day. I was impressed for the amount of food for the price. I look forward to coming back and trying the Reuben that was wrote about several times on the wall
(4)Melinda B.
Really good breakfast food, but by looking at the place you wouldn't expect it at all. Service was very nice, but they were understaffed so it was slow. I would definitely go back, I love breakfast food and they do it very well!
(4)John B.
This would have been zero stars but yelp requires at least one, I have been to several eateries in the area but this by far was worse one. It started before I even got to restaurant with their website providing inaccurate operating hours. With the restaurant being barely occupied it took 15 min to get a drink order completed. The menu options were lacking ( I only had a breakfast menu didn't know that I had to ask for alt menus). Waitress seemed not to know what options were available for each item, which makes experiencing a new restaurant impossible. After getting through the ordering process it took an eternity for food to make it to table. In my experience it should not take this long to whip up some omlettes, my table of four received our meals at different times which is not an industry standard. Hash browns were incredible dark and hard and close to inedible. I am glad I tried this place with a groupon because there is no way I would pay full service for what I received.
(1)Reed N.
OK... baking sheet sized blueberry pancakes that TASTE GOOD and burgers cooked right. A true elephant ear tenderloin. And decent rings or fries. And good shakes. Guilty pleasures all. Sign me up. The only sin is if you don't work it off later.
(4)Eric P.
I just moved into the River Market area and though I have lived on the KS side as a "famous in my own mind" foodie I had never even heard of this place, I rode my bike by today and the signage on the way is very bad but unless your Columbus or you believe the world is flat it is pretty hard to not find it by default besides they have tacked up what seem to be printed weather proof signs on a few polls a long the way. I will try and figure out how early they open and hit em up this week and follow up with a food review...it looked like a place that they rehearsed the Blues Brothers Aretha Franklin scene in...this is a good thing well rode my bike and had bfast and it was very good bfast sandwich no meat and tomato instead, coffee was ok and took a brownie to go was also very good, funny I asked what kind of ice cream they use in the "world famous milk shake"? the waitress spoke up I think its hagendaz I said not at 2.50 is not, the owner corrected her Blue Bunny, which is not bad, next time I will try one, the dinner specials sound decent too, glad to have found em... E
(3)jennifer j.
The place feels like a truck stop, but some people love that. The food was decent (bacon/eggs/toast), but I felt dirty when I left.
(1)Wenday L.
I found this place on Groupon and I love brunch so my boyfriend and I came here for brunch on a Saturday. Neither have ever heard of this place before, so we were caught off-guard by the exterior. It does not look like a restaurant from the outside, but the interior looks like a very old-fashioned diner. My favorite part is how friendly the staff is here; it's overwhelming with Midwestern hospitality. While the food menu is limited and the food is not out of this world, you really get your money's worth of food here. The portions are huge! My boyfriend ordered a walnut short stack, which is short, but not by any means small. The pancakes themselves were delicious. He also had a small biscuit and gravy, and I loved the peppery gravy. I had the French toast, which was sizeable and delicious. I was also craving eggs and hash brown, so I ordered The Egg, which was one egg with hash browns and toasts. I probably should have told them to hold the toast, but I like dipping my toast in the yolk of my sunny side up egg. The hash brown was alright, since I prefer mine to be crispier. I would definitely be back the next time I feel like having an old-fashioned breakfast/brunch.
(4)Ralphie S.
This was the 1st visit to this incarnation of the Woodsweather Café, and will probably be my last. I had been to the original and the northland version several times. I'm not sure what I disliked the most. Was it the waitress that should have a restraining order placed on her to keep her 100 feet from a customer service job. Maybe it was the bland food that took way too long to arrive at a near empty diner. Maybe it was the disgusting kitchen that I peered into on the way to the equally disgusting men's room. The exterior screams "I want to be a hip, divey, out of the way kind of place" but presents itself as a Eisenhower era truckstop that stopped caring about everything after Watergate. I'm glad the West bottoms is re-bounding and I nominate this place to be razed first.
(1)Katie W.
I'll make this simple. On more than one occasion I've had to ask to have a waffle or pancakes remade because the batter was spolied. "If that ever happens just let us know and we'll make new batter." So, it's a common occurrence. Spolied batter, dirty coffee mugs, cold hashbrowns, sticky floors. I used to appreciate the truck stop diner vibe. Now I'm just completely grossed out. By the way...ladies...servers...waitresses...whatever...the hardcore eye rolling is unnecessary. Your job is to refill coffee and bring things to the table. Once is excusable. Every visit is beyond acceptable. Today was the last straw. The back room has tables with the thin, plastic, red and white picnic tablecloths. Although they look like they've been wiped down a thousand times, they were filthy. The dye from the tablecloths actually rubbed off the table and stained the elbows of my shirt. *pictures included* Spolied food. Ruined clothes. I'll pass.
(1)Jeramie M.
Was down in the area figured I would give it a shot. It's pretty dive like. The staff was friendly. I ordered ham and cheese.. It was greasy but edible not the best not the worst. Ordered fries and they were not good. See attached picture
(3)Lynda H.
Saw this place as we were headed to a delivery. Once the delivery was done, looked on Yelp for someplace we could go for lunch...this place popped. The reviews might not do this place justice. We got in just before closing...they're open for breakfast and lunch. We were treated well and given great suggestions. The sandwiches were very large and quite tasty. The have an excellent chocolate milkshake.
(5)P M.
I was completely underwhelmed. It was down home cooking in the most literal, uncomplimentary way: everything on the menu is pretty much the way you make it at home. I am seriously picturing one mom in her kitchen making all of the food. This may explain why it took over 35 minutes for our food to come out. My kids revolted and we almost walked out. Our waitress promptly gave us drinks but never never checked on us again for 30 minutes. The Denver omelette would've been good if it didn't have runny eggs on the inside. The hash browns didn't have a shape. The gravy was runny. But the worst offense: the thickest pancakes in the world. They were an inch thick. It sounds goods, but in reality, the taste of pancake mix is overwhelming and no amount of syrup and butter could cover it up. No matter where you are, this place is guaranteed to be out of your way and not worth the trip.
(2)Rachel H.
We had awesome service when we were there. We went after getting a groupon. I liked the pancakes but I wasn't a huge fan of the eggs, there were a bit too greasy for my liking.
(2)Kieu N.
A Groupon deal brought me in the doors but probably won't bring me back. On a Saturday morning after a 5k, I came in with a group of three to enjoy some breakfast. We were not welcomed by anyone in particular and saw no signs to wait, so we figured we should seat ourselves. Overall the service was average. Anyway, I was extremely hungry and ready for carbs: country fried steak and eggs! I was hoping a diner like this would get it done right but not so much. The steak was bland and overcooked. I've had much better down South so perhaps my expectations were too high. The Denver omelette my friend ordered fared a little better. Though the food did not stand out, there were a couple of redeeming qualities thanks to the old diner feel and the soulful music.
(2)Nick D.
This was my first time coming to this restaurant and to be honest I was a little apprehensive because of it's location but I had a Groupon voucher that was going to expire soon and the reviews were decent so I took a shot at it and I'm glad I did. I ordered the big boy breakfast which is Italian bread, eggs, hashbrowns, cheese 2 nice size sausage patties covered in gravy. It was piping hot free off the grill, it had good flavor and the portion was huge, definitely a working man's breakfast so bring your appetite. Are server was friendly and helpful with answering some of our questions. The staff was cleaning and sweeping the floors when I arrived so that was nice. I believe I met the cook or one of the cook's along with the owner or manager, both were friendly and talkative for the brief time that we spoke. Again I was a little apprehensive about coming here but I will definitely be coming back again.
(4)Deana W.
I certainly don't want to be the Yelper to "Trash" some place, but please be aware: Pros: 1) Murals outside are very quirky cool 2) Down home comfort food options 3) Friendly waitstaff 4) Reasonable prices for entrées 5) Generous portions 6) Thick, juicy hamburger meat Cons: 1) Cold, dense, non toasted hamburger bun. Too much bun to meat ratio. 2) Accompaniments to entrée were lacking; scrap tomato slice, old lime slices 3) $2.50 for dried out limp fries/ $2.00 for extra gravy for chicken fried steak 4) Jalapeno poppers frozen, from a box 5) Canned green beans (the crime was being told that they were not "plain, they really dress them up" Well, No! 6) Mashed potatoes that are more sliced or chunked than mashed. The entire meal missed, missed so many opportunities to make a meal memorable with simple little touches that say...Home made...unfortunately I only saw canned. I showed the waitress that I had a Groupon when we first arrived and was told that they would take it off at the front. When we payed we found out that it was for Woodsweather II. Apparently they share cooks, but not Groupons. Would have preferred being told this information when I showed the Groupon before I ordered. My mistake. Do keep in mind that they serve breakfast too. The pictures of the pancakes make me hope that breakfast is their forte.
(2)Thomas A.
Wow! A couple minutes from my house. Easy to get too. A nice place. Clean and homey. Nice servers. Great food for breakfast. I had eggs over medium, hashbrowns, 1/3 order of biscuits and gravy and smoked sausage with coffee and a Dr. Pepper. Filling and inexpensive. Good diner food.
(4)Andy H.
I have been to this place twice, and I will never return. The first trip, I saw that none of the cooks wear gloves when they make the food. I was not impressed with my food, but figured it was a fluke and would try it again. I tried it again today, and again, no gloves on the cook's hands. To make matters worse, the cook was coughing into his hands the whole time. The cook then proceeded to make my sandwich, without washing his hands. I am truly surprised that this place hasn't been shut down my the health department. I wanted to like this place, but I will never give this place my money again.
(1)Nikki H.
Diner breakfasts are my favorite and Woodsweather doesn't disappoint. This place has tons of character and a slammin' breakfast. The staff is awesome and just makes you feel so comfortable. What is equally as awesome is their pancakes (huge, hubcap sized goodness!) and their hashbrowns/eggs. I'd love to come back and try their lunch menu. They also have free wi-fi, but I didn't test it out. If you're going down for First Fridays in the Bottoms, skip those food trucks and get yourself some breakfast realness at Woodsweather!
(4)Matthew M.
Delicious homestyle cooking. Reasonably priced. Truck stop style, small town cafe. I will definitely go back.
(4)Scott T.
When the most prominent item at the bar is the Jägermeister on tap and others boast, correctly I might add, of its truck-stop style breakfast, you know exactly where you've landed: a place where hangovers are born and tended to. You aren't going to end up here by mistake. There's little to clue you in on the drive by that it's a watering hole other than the dimly lit beer sign in the window, and nothing to suggest food is served. Arriving at 8:00 a.m. I apparently missed the morning rush as I was the only diner in the joint. #2 special with corned beef hash, two eggs, toast, hash browns. I'll give them this, it was actually cooked to order, wasn't sitting around. everything appeared to be created in-house, none of the brown Hormel stuff with perfectly cubed little bits of potato. None of the frozen packaged hash browns. A tad dry, but they're trying. The eggs were cooked perfectly, and what's this--*three* types of hot sauce to choose from. Louisiana please. That and the precious Rocky Mountain National Park mug with "Mary" stenciled onto it for coffee, quite the experience, although the Ronnoco Coffee was predictably what you'd expect. As one Yelper stated, a truck stop style joint minus the trucks. I'm sticking with that. Located in the bottoms, it appears it would fit right in with a hard working, blue collar, two-fisted drinking crowd that it serves, but that's a paradigm. There are plenty of white collar businesses in the area taking advantage of the lower rents. It's about what you'd expect from the surroundings. Love the fact that there are still joints like this and I appreciate them even though they aren't my style.
(3)Tres B.
Killer diner in a the old West Bottoms section of KC. Nearby are trucking companies co mingling with antique stores in old old brick building. Think 1920's movie set! This 1970's era eatery slings delicious big burgers real fries and saucy friendly service. I find this to be borderline exceptional. The portions are generous. The Decor is bland but very clean. I recommend: excellent mom and popper.
(4)Patty M.
Great little breakfast spot near West Bottoms. Food was plentiful and good. I had the Breakfast sandwich and it was great. The pancakes looked good and I was told they were. Great Corned Beef Hash. Good coffee and great service. Will definitely be back.
(5)Pamela C.
My husband and I placed our order and waited 30 minutes for cold food. I ordered the Denver omelette and ended up with only ham and cheese. The server didn't check back with us so I had to let her know my order was wrong when it came time to pay. Sorry to say that I'm not likely to return.
(1)Dev V.
I have been getting continually harassed by a person on this site that is the husband of the ower, after posting my original review. This guy slandered the Pitch, Jerry Naster, and other employees. Who does that? Based on that, I'll never set foot in here again. Who wants to frequent a place that has their employees threatening people for giving an honest review?
(1)Brenda M.
There definately is some charm to this restaurant but the food and uncleanness made it to where I wouldn't return. The location is great, the west bottoms has really become an area for vintage shopping and this restaurant sits at the bottom of a bridge. The side of the restaurant has a cool mural so I thought it be a cool place inside. The inside is pretty old fashioned. Old rickety tables, chairs, etc, that doesn't bother me because it can add character, plus it's a diner. What turned me off immediately is how dirty the place was. There were large dust bunnies and visible dirt all over the floors near the edges of the tables. This was for breakfast so there shouldn't be this kind of grime, even if it's a diner. The other strange thing is that our order took forever to come out. We ordered french toast w/sausage, and eggs and toast. I'm not sure why it took so long but half of my sausage was visibly burnt, and the rest of the food was on par with something you make at home. I left there thinking for mediocre food and dirty atmosphere it was not a good value and would not return.
(3)William G.
I ate breakfast here due to a Groupon I found ($11 for $20). It's worth a trip, better food than what you'd get at say iHOP, but not quite as good as Happy Gillis near the River Market or the Corner Restaurant in Westport. It's in the West Bottoms and easy enough to get to, but you do have to look for it as it's building is non-descriptive. My wife had the French Toast (three full pieces cut in half) which was good but not great, my daughter the Eggy Weggs, again good but not great, and I the The Big Boss which was very good. Coffee was good and water was automatically brought. I would have rated this as 3-star but gave it a 4 just because of how good the service was and nice the waiters were, plus how inviting they made it. I'm 49 and being called "honey" by my waitress whose a bit my senior just seems right. Plus the "character" of the place. I mean it's unique; basically a dive. Imagine a bar in a very old West Bottoms building, 1968 Schlitz beer advertisement on the ceiling, and hand writing on the wall around the inside of the entrance, with tables and eclectic booths in the center. I live in the JOCO suburbs so I love things that "aren't " uniform and beige (and real).
(4)Paul B.
NO!! $25.00 for breakfast for two people. Only one of us had coffee. We were the only table in the place at 9:00am. Food took forever, once dropped off never saw "Flo" again. No drink refills - nothing. There are a lot of "dives" in KC but dive doesn't have to equate to dirty. Food sucked - hash browns were 1/8 " thick and covered the plate. Had to be peeled off to eat. Biscuits and Gravy - bigger doesn't mean better. If they taste like paste you won't even come close to eating them. Won't be going back. Pepsi products
(2)Jason Y.
When I was younger, Woodsweather would have received 4 or 5 stars. I used to gorge myself on their burgers & fries every other weekend. I could care less about all the things that now turn me off to Woodsweather Cafe. On a recent visit, it was like walking back in time. Unless you know what you're looking for, I can guarantee 90% of Kansas Citians have no clue where the Woodsweather Cafe is. Hard to explain where it is located. Best clue I can give is locate the Haunted Houses and attempt to snake your way over the curvy bridges and rail road tracks and maybe you'll luck into finding the joint. Old doesn't begin to describe the building. Hate to say it, but a somewhat depressing looking building and neighborhood for many. I actually enjoy getting back over in these parts on occasion. Truly opens your eye's to the everyday working man and the struggles they go through every day. Don't be shocked to find the homeless, grease monkeys, truck drivers, construction workers, industrial sales reps, and I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the occasional prostitute that frequents the Woodsweather cafe;) Walking in the front door you are still taken aback with the smell of cigarettes lingering in the air. Without a doubt, your clothing will reek of cigarette smell for the rest of the day. The place is cold, dark, and dingy. Yes, just like it was years ago. Old school diner and counter top set-up inside. Waitresses are straight up mean! Very edgy and not for conversation. These women have been hardened by years of rough living, unruly customers, and the street savvy attitude necessary to survive in an establishment like Woodsweather. Be prepared to order and don't fuss with being picky. Menu's are old , sticky, and dingy. My go to items are the breakfast or the burgers. Burgers are large and pretty juicy. The buns almost taste homemade and airy. Fries are nothing to write home about but get the job done. Just straight forward burger and fries. Quite tasty to be honest. Breakfast is breakfast. Kinda hard to mess up breakfast items. maybe it's the smoke lingering in the air, but I sometimes get a cigarette flavor in my food. Maybe it's just my mental state trying to eat with that smell distracting me. Who knows..... Not a fan of their coffee. Maybe I've been spoiled by the new age single- origin fancy coffees we have gotten accustomed to. Their coffee would work if need be. Just not a big fan like many of the patrons. I don't know.........not a place that I would highly recommend nowadays. Too many other good choices in KC. I guess if you were stranded down in the bottoms for some reason and needed a bite to eat, then knock yourself out.
(2)Brent K.
first off let me just say, this place is a dump. seriously bonafide dump, and that's ok. the food is great, they serve liquor and pancakes and that's about as good as it gets in my book. my wife and i had a sunday brunch down here last weekend and were very pleasantly surprised at the quality of food, the dumpiness of the decor and the 4 dollar bloody marys. needless to say we will be back and probably often.
(4)Leo D.
I've been to this establishment a few times in the past but today was the last. Mark this one off your list ladies and gentlemen. At 11:30 on a Saturday am they were out of pancake mix. They've always been well known for their oversized pancakes among many other things. I wouldn't even tell people that I use pancake mix, let alone run out of it. Before the server could come back to the table to get our order since I had to change my mind we heard her tell another table they were out of *all* breakfast food. All???? Now you're well know for your pancakes, you're out of them. You're well known for having breakfast all day. You're out of ALL of it... Why are you still open? We actuall left and went to Cascone's grill in the river market. Beautiful fluffy pancakes!!! If you want pancakes and you're in the area, go to Cascone's... They aren't out of mix...
(1)Brian J.
If I could rate a zero star I would...went in for Sunday morning breakfast and after sitting for 45 minutes we were told our single order shared bfast would be another 10 minutes. It was obvious their kitchen was in meltdown. I won't be visiting them for bfast again! Enjoyed the Mixing Bowl Noshery instead.
(1)Bob P.
Great spot in the West Bottoms. Good value, friendly staff. Super spot for weekend breakfast. The Big Boss is awesome.
(5)Stephen H.
Best diner in Kansas City, period. Several current caveats: 1. It's in the West Bottoms, so it's not the easiest to get to in the first place. 2. There is currently construction on the easiest way to get there, so you'll have to be patient as you drive around. 3. There are no "healthy options" on this menu :-) I met a friend here as I was trying to knock out all of the places in my "Eat.Shop Kansas City" book. Was not disappointed. Am a hot dog lover and ordered a chili dog and milkshake and watched my friend order and devour his special of the day, which was meatloaf. Lots of character, obvious high number of regulars, and great service. I was just trying not to be too obvious about checking out this pretty girl at the bar, who I think was my waitress' daughter. :-) Go, but only if you dig hole-in-the-wall finds.
(5)Amanda S.
I was given advice by my beloved grandpa-in-law, judge your tip by how often your coffee is refilled. If this were the case, I wouldn't have left a dime. But, I did leave a tip but thought twice about it. I know I have a pale complexion but I didn't realize I was invisible. It wasn't just me that experienced the poor service. The two guys on either side of me, at the bar, were getting a bit testy as well. If our food wasn't on the way out, we would have left. The lack of service was ridiculous. I ordered the #2 with 2 eggs over easy, corned beef hash, hash browns and toast. The corned beef hash was tastier than expected, the eggs and hash browns were good enough. I finally ventured out here for a good breakfast. But because of the service, I will venture on.
(2)