Kansas City Barbeque Restaurants, From Sweet to Sassy

Kansas City Barbeque, at least in my opinion the best of KC BBQ, begins with B. B.’s Lawnside BBQ. This is my absolute all time favorite! Their signature line is “Where Bar-Be-Que Meets the Blues!” Owners Lindsay and Jo Shannon bring it. They bring the best barbecue, the best music and the best atmosphere together in one little joint on 85th Street in south KC.

What's not to love about this place?

Okay, I know that most people think you’re supposed to judge barbecue by the meat itself. Well, okay, the meat is delicious at B. B.‘s. It’s slow smoked in a pit that dates back to the 1950’s. There are people that are much more knowledgeable that would explain about texture and smoke rings (try the Kansas City Barbeque Society), but for me, I can’t get enough of the sauce. It’s a thin sauce with, what I think, is an apple vinegar base. It’s not too sweet, too tangy or too spicy (although they do have the red- i.e. ‘spicy’ bottles on the table), but it‘s distinct--one of a kind. Every drop of it just leaves me wanting more. It doesn’t matter if I’m eating it on their tender, heaven-on-a-plate ribs, my favorite Pulled Porker sandwich (skip the top of the bun, so you can eat more meat!), or a smoked chunk of Italian sausage, made locally by Mc Gonigle’s (a great place for those that think great Kansas City Barbeque begins at home), I just want MORE!.

I think maybe their battered fries were made just for me to sop up more sauce. They take baking potatoes, slice them into huge wedges, and fry them up in a thin batter. They’re always crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Perfect for dunking.

Jo and Lindsay Shannon, owners of B.B.'s Lawnside BBQ

Jo’s influence can be tasted in the Louisiana recipes throughout the menu. Crawfish tails or gumbo anyone? They’re on the menu, plus a whole lot more favorites from the south.

The one thing that I can’t go home without is my little Styrofoam bowl. I simply must take home one of these little magical pots every time I eat at B. B.’s. I don’t even look inside the sack until I get home--I need time for my stomach to make room for the love about to be bestowed upon it. Bread pudding. Warm and gooey with plump raisins and a beautiful, sweet bourbon sauce. Ahhh.

The music is another element that makes this place uniquely Kansas City. Lindsay is the best friend a blues musician or lover could ever have. He keeps the art form alive in Kansas City.

Check out their website for more info on hours and a calendar of events: BB's Lawnside BBQ

Images of Jo and Lindsay, and of complete food array, are used courtesy of Lindsay Shannon.