Driving from Colorado to our new home in Georgia, my family and I traveled through some of the most famous barbecue areas in the U.S. – Kansas City, St Louis, and Tennessee. Here’s where we ate.
Gates Bar-B-Q – 10441 E Hwy 40, Independence, Missouri (Kansas City area)
We ordered a mixed plate of sliced ham and brisket, a short slab of ribs, and a sliced ham sandwich along with drinks – too much food for the four of us! All entrees came with a massive amount of fries and pickles, too. The ribs were too salty, but all the ham dishes were good. However, the big winner was the tasty and tender brisket. More please!
Food: 4 out of 5 stars
Service: 4 out of 5 stars
Ambiance: 2 out of 5 stars
Cleanliness: 4 out of 5 stars
Meal price: $56
Bandana’s Bar-B-Q – 1222 Dorsett Rd., Maryland Heights, Missouri (St. Louis area)
Bandana’s is a chain that offers Southern-style barbecue seasoned with a dry rub, cooked without sauce, then hand-cut to order. We ordered the BAR-B-Q Variety Platter for Two knowing it would be plenty for us – 1/4 pound of pork, 1/4 pound of beef, half a chicken, and a half slab of ribs. I also ordered Brunswick stew, which was tasty but not authentic. Overall our meal was good, but nothing stood out.
Food: 3 out of 5 stars
Service: 5 out of 5 stars
Ambiance: 4 out of 5 stars
Cleanliness: 5 out of 5 stars
Meal Price: $61 including tip
Jack’s Bar-B-Que – 416 Broadway, Nashville, Tennessee
Located right on Nashville’s music row, the line at Jack’s often goes out the door, so be prepared to wait. Wanting to try a little bit of everything, we ordered a couple of combo plates and a pork shoulder sandwich to share among the four of us, along with drinks. I was disappointed by the brisket, which was overcooked. However, the smoked Boston turkey and chicken were juicy and perfectly cooked. The Texas sausage, the St. Louis style ribs and Tennessee pork shoulder and all our sides were terrific, too. However, it was their tangy Carolina sauce that I fell in love with – one of six sauces they offer.
Food: 5 out of 5 stars
Service: 3 out of 5 stars
Ambiance: 4 out of 5 stars
Cleanliness: 4 out of 5 stars
Meal Price: $46
The Smokehouse Restaurant – 850 West Main Street, Monteagle, Tennessee
We discovered the Smokehouse Restaurant just off Highway 24 on our way to Chattanooga. Once more we ordered a variety of meats to share, which were just OK since they lacked a smoky taste. Still, the Smokehouse served up the best ribs of the trip. Our meal also came with sides from the buffet and a trip to the salad bar.
Food: 2 out of 5 stars
Service: 5 out of 5 stars
Ambiance: 4 out of 5 stars
Cleanliness: 5 out of 5 stars
Meal Price: $59 including tip
