One Of Missouri’s Best Steak Joints Is In Kansas City
The last time I visited Chicago my buddy Bill wanted to go check out this steakhouse near my Mom's that I had heard lots of great things about. As we finished our meal Bill suggested that perhaps we need to find more of these neighborhood steak joints to try when I'm home for a visit. That got me thinking about steak, so when I saw this list of 7 Steakhouses in Missouri That Are Delicious Places To Dine I had to look at the list. When I saw Jess & Jim's Steakhouse in Kansas City, I knew it was a place I want to go check out.
First of all, the photos on Jess & Jim's website all make my mouth water. The menu is as mouthwatering as the pictures. Prime Rib, Chicken Fried Steak, Filet Mignon, KC Strip, Ribeye, Porterhouse, and even something called a Playboy Strip Steak. It's a greatest-hits list of all the great steak cuts. BTW, don't order your steak well done, they don't guarantee them, and what are you a neanderthal?
They also have frog legs, beef steak, grilled pork chops prime steakburgers, a french dip, and a pork tenderloin sandwich. All the sides and appetizers you'd expect, and even something called prime beef soup.
But enough about the menu. The restaurant has a big 'ol steer on the roof that serves as its sign. As well as an old school Budwiser tavern sign on the side of the building. If those aren't signs of a great steak joint, then I don't what is.
Jess & Jim's Steakhouse has been in operation since April 1938 when two best friends Jess Kincaid and Jim Wright opened as a small bar and grill. They moved to their current location in 1957 after a tornado. Jess & Jim, along with their cousin R.C. Van Noy, who all were instrumental in the restaurant's success have all passed on. Yet R.C.'s sons Mike and David run the joint, and they're working with the fourth generation of the family to someday take over the business.
Way back when, Jess & Jim believed good food, good service, and fair prices would make the restaurant successful even though it's far south of the city. They were right, in 1972 Calvin Trillin wrote an article in Playboy Magazine that made Jess & Jim's famous outside of Kansas City. So famous, they named a steak after it, the Playboy Strip Steak. By the way, 29 years later, Playboy named Jess & Jim's one of the 10 best steak houses in the world.
The Playboy Strip costs $65.00, a 10 oz Kansas City Strip $34.99, and an 8 oz Filet Mignon $38.99. Each meal comes with homemade garlic toast, a house salad, and one side. A 12 oz Prime Rib is $37.99. Yet there are many items on the menu that have more down-to-earth prices if you want to experience Jess & Jim's without breaking the bank.
Their Prime Steakburger is $13.99, Prime French Dip Sandwich is $16.99, Fried One Half Chicken is $18.99, a grilled or hand-breaded and fried boneless chicken breast is $15.99, and a whole catfish on the bone hand-breaded and fried is $21.99.
Yes, if Bill ever makes it to Missouri for a visit, we're going to go check this place out. The truth is I may not be able to wait. Jess & Jim's Steakhouse is located at 517 East 135th Street in Kansas City, Mo. Their website says they're open Sunday 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM, Monday - Thursday 11:00 AM -9:00 PM, and Friday and Saturday from 11:00 AM -10:00 PM.
