Casa De Montez
Billed as “A Little Bit of Mexico North of the Border”, Casa De Montez was a long running Mexican restaurant on Troost. I found information that the place may have opened around 1964.
Back of postcard: Home of Authentic Mexican Food with Quality for “Selective People”.
What readers remember about the restaurant:
“Mexican food at 54th and Troost and a location on Rainbow Boulevard. One of KCMO’s earliest Mexican restaurants, along with the Red Bull, on the Plaza.”
Chutes
I haven’t been able to determine if this was a local or regional chain. I vaguely remember the look of these restaurants, which reminded me of the Atari logo of that era. Don’t recall ever eating at one of these burger joints. Do any of you recall this restaurant?
What readers remember about the restaurant:
“A fast-food joint in the late 70s (maybe early 80s) that was special for one reason only… your food came down a long slide (chute) to you. There were a few of them, I think. The one we would go to was in Grandview near the Truman farm home.”
Eddy’s Loaf ‘N Stein
One of the restaurant formats that is somewhat lacking in the Kansas City area, often cited by folks on local foodie forums, is the classic delicatessen. While a couple of delicatessen have opened in recent years, we still lack a good delicatessen scene. Perhaps delicatessens won’t make a come-back, given similar formats and changing dietary preferences.
One classic delicatessen that fed Kansas Citians over several decades was Eddy’s Loaf ‘N Stein. First opened in 1965, the local delicatessen chain eventually had 17 locations. The chain was closed by 1983. Had locations in Prairie Village, Downtown KCMO, The Plaza, Ward Parkway Mall and Metcalf South Mall.
This was your typical deli, featuring overstuffed beef, corned beef, ham sandwiches. Also offered salads, fries and a range of pies. Founded by Ned A. Eddy Jr. and his brother and father.
What readers remember about the restaurant:
“Several locations in KC. Great pastrami and corned beef sandwiches.”
“Great food and atmosphere.”
Gomer's Chicken
If you wanted chicken from a non-chain and lived in south Kansas City, Gomer’s was a popular choice for many years. I remember the opening of the restaurant since I grew up in the neighborhood. Gomer’s started as a gas station and then morphed into the chicken restaurant and liquor store. The liquor store is still in operation at 99th and Holmes and there are three other locations.
What readers remember about the restaurant:
“Really good fried chicken at a gas station at 99th and Holmes. Opened in the early 80s, I think. Completely closed now but later moved to a freestanding location just west of the gas station and was there until, I think, 2012 or so.”
Italian Gardens
It’s not surprising that a Kansas City restaurant institution that was open over eight decades was an Italian restaurant. Italian Gardens opened in downtown Kansas City, Missouri in 1925 and closed in 2003. Run by the DiCapo family.
What readers remember about the restaurant:
“I only went once as a child so memories are dim, but anytime my parents made it to KCMO, it was my mother’s favorite place to eat. I’d enjoy some background history on this icon of Kansas City.”
“Great food and great ambiance. I still dream about the Ravioli and meatballs and the red sauce is the best I have ever eaten. This restaurant should have been on your list.”
Jacks or Better
Jacks or Better was a small chain with locations in St. Louis, Kansas City, and New Orleans. Curiously remembered as allowing, perhaps encouraging, diners to leave peanut shells on the floor.
What readers remember:
“Best cheddar burgers in town; peanuts with shells on the floor”
Mrs. Peters Chicken Dinners
Mrs. Peters was a restaurant on State Ave in Kansas City, Kansas that specialized in pan fried chicken and comfort food. Records I’ve found indicate that it may have been open for twenty years, from 1977-1997. Several of my family members recall the restaurant and remember the chicken being pretty good.
On April 22, 1984, the New York Times profiled what was going on in Kansas City and highlighted Mrs. Peter’s:
“For family-style dining, there is Mrs. Peters’ Chicken Dinners (913-287-7711), where $8 a person buys cole slaw, marinated vegetable salad, hot biscuits with rhubarb sauce and honey butter, green beans, mashed potatoes, a choice of fried chicken, pork chops or country fried steak, and the choice of four desserts, including peach cobbler.”
What readers remember about the restaurant:
“They had great fried chicken that was worth the long wait”
“Dad cooked, son seated people and mom took the money. Always busy especially Sunday. Family style and delicious.”
Sol Azteca
One of my favorite Mexican restaurants in the 00s, after I had moved back to Kansas City, was Sol Azteca. The restaurant was on Southwest Boulevard, just west of Rainbow (currently Bohemio Mexican). Their food was very similar to other Mexican institutions on Southwest Boulevard, but I gravitated to it because their menu was slightly more vegetarian friendly, the atmosphere was chill, and the staff were always top notch.
Victoria Station
Do you remember the restaurant where you dined inside actual train cars and the signature dish was prime rib? There were two Kansas City locations of this international chain, which had 97 restaurants during its heyday of the 1970s and 1980s. The locations were at 103rd and Wornall in south Kansas City, Missouri, and one in the River Market area.
You entered each Victoria Station restaurant via a Caboose.
What readers remember about the restaurant:
“A place that felt fancy, made to look like a series of railroad cars. There was a location at 103rd and Wornall in the 80s. In our family, it was a place to go on a special occasion. I think they were famous for prime rib. Part of a chain if I remember right.”
Waid's
The local Waid’s restaurant chain was a beloved stop for Kansas Citians looking for comfort food. The chain started in 1953 and the last location, on W 103rd Street, closed in 2013. At the chain’s height, it had 14 locations. I vaguely recall visiting the 103rd street location a couple of times as a teenager in the early 1980s. That was probably with family. What I liked about the restaurant, in addition to the good food, was that it had the vibe of fast casual chains like Applebee’s or Perkins, but with more of an indepedent, family-owned atmosphere.
I understand that the chain, in later years, became a popular meeting spot for small groups. My father used to get together there with alumni from one of the local corporate offices that he worked at.
Hungry for breakfast? Waid’s offered Waid’s French Toast, Biscuits and Gravy Combo, Grilled Ham Steak, Pigs N Blanket, Louisiana Omelet, Southwestern Omelet, and many other diner breakfast favorites.
Lunch or dinner? You could enjoy their Blackened Chicken Salad, City Market Chef’s Salad, Salmon Croquettes, Country Fried Steak, Pork Cutlet, English Pub Burger, Pork Tenderloin Sandwich, Chili Dog Deluxe and much more.
Memories from our readers
“Best food of comfort food. I remember salmon croquettes, meat loaf. Really like to get recipes to recreate at home.”
“I went there many times late ’70’s with my best friend and our dates then wives.”
“Cheese soup”
Waldo Astoria / Tiffany’s Attic
I’m a bit surprised that I haven’t heard anything from readers about Kansas City’s bygone dinner theaters. Kansas City has a strong dinner theater tradition, with the Waldo Astoria and Tiffany’s Attic being popular venues for live theater and food. They were something unique that you could take a date to or have dinner with your spouse.
Tiffany’s Attic was started earlier and was located on Main Street in the South Plaza neighborhood. One of my sisters recalls working there. The dinner theater was a large space with tiers of tables and seating.
The Waldo Astoria was opened (1973) later by the owners of Tiffany’s Attic. It was in a historic theater in Waldo, which burned down several years after the Waldo Astoria closed. I remember my parents going there often for Friday night dates.
In 1992, the owners of these two dinner theaters opened New Theatre Restaurant in Overland Park. That venue is still going strong, “averaging more than a quarter million in attendance annually, including 25,000 season ticket holders.” (from their website)
Woolworth’s
If you are younger than 45-50, Woolworth’s is probably something you’ve read about in the history books. Older folks probably remember this international chain which could be described as a forerunner of Walgreen’s and CVS. One part of a typical Woolworth’s store was the restaurant, which was oddly just another part of the store. Think Target with a diner inside. There was quite a few Woolworth’s in the Kansas City area. Downtown Lawrence, Kansas had a location on Massachussett’s, just south of 9th Street.
The response to the first installment of this series has been fun and interesting. We aren’t surprised that Kansas Citians love to talk about restaurants of yesteryear, but the ones they miss are a bit surprising. This installment of the series will have a soft theme of “family style restaurants.” Favorite places like Joe’s Barn, Stephenson’s Apple Farm Restaurant, EBT, Whisker Rivey’s and others. We’ll be visiting some odd concept restaurants, neighborhood Mexican places, and one of our childhood favorite doughnut sources.
More installments of this series are being researched and written, so please use the form at the end of this article to submit names of restaurants that you’d like to see us cover.
Baby Doe’s Matchless Mine
This small national chain had around a half dozen locations, all featuring scenic views and Old West / mining themed décor. The restaurants had a back story about a woman named “Baby Doe Tabor” who had been born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and later moved to Colorado in 1877 after getting married. The miners named her “Baby Doe.” She got divorced, married the governor and there is more story on the back of the menu, but it’s now time to place your orders.
Menu items might include Veal Marsala, Filet Mignon Oscar, Twin Lobster Tails, Mesquite Smoked Swordfish, Miner’s Chicken, Steak and Shrimp Scampi, and Honey Roast Duckling.
What readers remember about the restaurant:
“Great views of the city and a great date night place.”
Betty Crocker Tree House Restaurant & Bakery
If you remember the Rainforest Café chain that was at malls during the 90s and 00s (like at Oak Park Mall), you’ll understand the vibe of this restaurant, which was open on Metcalf Avenue in Overland Park in the early 1970s. The restaurant featured animatronic talking parrots in cages, something that really impressed us kids. The restaurant wasn’t as over the top as Rainforest Café, but it had lots of greenery and the fake talking parrots.
The restaurant was open briefly in a free-standing building near 107th and Metcalf, basically right in front of where Hooters is currently located. We badgered the parents about dining here again and they said it had closed. As kids we couldn’t figure out why such a cool place didn’t stay open.
The Tree House Restaurant was part of a test chain opened by the General Mills corporation. The restaurants closed in 1974, but GM went on to open the Red Lobster chain. The food could be described as like a Chile’s fast casual restaurant. The restaurants also had bakeries next door, which featured Betty Crocker-inspired baked goods.
Chopstix / Chien Dynasty
Can’t remember the first Asian restaurant I was taken to as a kid growing up in the 1970s. It could have been Princess Garden or Chopstix. Chopstix was a south Kansas City institution for decades, located in the front of the building that housed the Ward Parkway Lanes. Years later, Chopstix became a hang out spot for me and friends, as a friend tended bar there and because a Chopstix family member was a high school classmate.
Yes, the restaurant was in the same building as a bowling alley. There was even a door (or opening) from the restaurant to the alley, thus giving the restaurant an interesting vibe. The menu was very typical of an American Chinese restaurant with affordable prices. I recall the food being good. I don’t recall if I tried any vegetarian menu items that would later become staples in my diet.
The Chien family later opened another restaurant called Chien Dynasty in Overland Park on west 87th Street, next to the Central branch of the Johnson County Public Library. I think it outlasted Chopstix. Chien Dynasty had entrees such as Almond Duck, Neptune’s Blessing (crabmeat, scallops, shrimp), Three In A Nest (“chicken, shrimp and scallops sauteed with vegs., served in a potato ‘birds’ nest”), Yu-hsiang Scallops, Sha-cha Beef, and Hot Pepper Chicken.
EBT
EBT restaurant was the destination for fancy dining in south Kansas City for many years. Was located on the south side of I-435 and State Line Road. Boasted an extensive wine selection and a full cocktail lounge.
The restaurant’s menu probably changed often over the decades, but a 1981 menu for a “business lunch” included items like the Hot Crabmeat Royale, Egg Sardu, Veal Saute with Capers, Chicken Crepes, Luncheon Steak Maitre D’Hotel, and the EBT sandwich (sourdough bread, sliced ham and turkey, broccoli spears, with cheese and bacon).
A typical menu in the restaurant’s later year might include high end surf-and-turf entrees like Sweet Blackened Ahi Tuna, Sesame Beef Tips, Grilled North Atlantic Salmon Buerre Blanc, and Kansas City Strip with Béarnaise Sauce. You could also enjoy a three-course dinner.
What readers remember about the restaurant:
“Named for the department store Emery Bird Thayer. Rousseau-like painting in the bar. Very elegant restaurant in the UMB bank office building. Excellent fancy entrees. Wine tastings. Loved it!”
The Golden Ox (original)
There is a category of restaurants which could be described as “Dining Near the Stadium Before the Game.” Unfortunately, the current Truman Sports Complex is in a restaurant desert, so there aren’t many places that fit this category unless we talk about downtown Kansas City, Missouri or out at the Legends in Kansas City, Kansas. But years ago, when we used to go to NBA Kings games at Kemper Arena, a favorite dining place for fans was the Gold Ox. A new version of that restaurant exists in the same location, but let’s remember the original.
The original Golden Ox was in the West Bottoms, located in the Livestock Exchange Building, between downtown Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas. This was the historic stockyards district, so it makes sense that one of Kansas City’s premier steak restaurants would be in this neighborhood. The Golden Ox originally opened in 1949 and catered to workers who were bringing livestock to the stockyards. The restaurant closed in 2014.
The menu featured high end, aged, and hand cut steaks. If we’re talking about the famous Kansas City Strip steak, the Golden Ox was one of the must visit restaurants in Kansas City.
I visited the Golden Ox a few times in the 1970s with my father, who liked to go there before we saw the Kansas City Kings NBA team play at Kemper. I was not a fan of steak or meat as a young person, so I probably ordered my entrée cooked the wrong way. But it was kind of cool to find parking and dine at a fancy restaurant before walking to the game.
A new incarnation of The Golden Ox was opened in 2016 by Jill Myers and Wes Gartner, co-owners of Voltaire, which is across the street. The new restaurant recaptures the atmosphere of the original with a menu that reflects the original Golden Ox but updates it with a fresh take.
Joe’s Barn
If you ask most Kansas Citians over the age of 40, which restaurant they miss, many of them will mention Joe’s Barn. It was a classic roadside, family style restaurant, where families would make pilgrimages to on weekends. The large red barn-like building was located just north of downtown Stanley on old Metcalf. I vaguely recall eating there once or twice as a kid, but I drove past it, and took the school bus past it, thousands of times over the years I attended Blue Valley schools in the late 70s and early 80s.
I know that a few, or maybe a lot more, of my high school classmates worked at Joe’s Barn during their teen years. It was one of the biggest employers in the Blue Valley School District.
Joe’s Barn had a weekly all-day buffet on Sundays. The big attraction was their “family style” or “country style” dinners. These typically featured broiled steaks, chicken, broiled ham steak, and fried shrimp.
Patrikio's Mexican Restaurant
Pretty sure that Patrikio’s (also Patricio’s) was the first Mexican restaurant that I experienced as a kid. I may have only dined there one or a few times, but the restaurant was the closest to my childhood neighborhood. I still remember how their tacos were delivered to you covered in a bucket of shredded lettuce. Not sure why they used all that lettuce, but maybe shredded lettuce was dirt cheap on the 1970s and 80s?
First opened in the early 1970s, Patrikio’s with its nondescript building was a south Kansas City Mexican restaurant at 99th and Holmes. The founders were Ruth Coleen Bond and Lawrence “Pat” Moran. Later owned by Osamah Aburas, the restaurant closed in 2011.
The curious thing about the restaurant was that while it was opened for decades, nobody I knew ever talked about eating there.
What readers remember about the restaurant:
“Yummy tacos. Loaded with shredded lettuce. So good.”
Ruby’s Soul Food
Ruby’s Soul Food was a Kansas City institution at 15th and Brooklyn from 1955 to 2004. While I never ate there, my father always raved about the food. Back in the 1970s, he worked nearby and evidently would go there for lunch. Ruby’s had the standard soul food options: fried chicken, chitterlings, mashed potatoes, greens and cobbler. Ruby W. McIntyre was the owner.
In the 1990s, I picked up an appreciation for soul food, albeit the vegetarian variety. There were several vegetarian soul food restaurants in Washington, DC (like Soul Veg and Everlasting Life Cafe), which I tried to patronize whenever possible. I’ve argued for some time the Kansas City really needs a vegetarian soul food restaurant.
What readers remember about the restaurant:
“A fried chicken sandwich it was difficult to eat all the fried chicken huge portions. Peach cobbler was to die for.”
Stephenson's Apple Farm Restaurant
We got lots of suggestions of restaurants of the past in response to part one of this series and the most popular suggestion has been Stephenson’s Apple Farm Restaurant. Stephenson’s orchard and restaurant were mainstays on old U.S. 40 in Independence for more than a century. The orchard first opened in 1879 and the restaurant in 1946. The restaurant closed on 2007 and is evidently greatly missed by many fans.
Venture
If you were shopping at a discount department store in Kansas City in the 1970s or 1980s, you probably made a few trips to Venture with its bold black-and-white diagonal stripe branding. Founded in 1968 by Target founder John F. Geisse, the chain eventually grew to 70 locations around the U.S. before closing in 1998. Locations usually had a little dining area inside the store called Cafe Venture. What I remember about Venture as a kid, and what many of my peers remember, was the doughnut counter. I recall the doughnuts being amazing, the variety being overwhelming, and the smells wafting throughout the stores (probably an annoyance to employees).
Whisker Rivey's
Was located at the Red Bridge Shopping Center in south Kansas City. Started by the family that ran the Waid’s restaurant chain. The restaurant was popular for years and featured an American fast casual menu. A friend, who was a cook there, recalls preparing a dish that featured an entire cooked trout on a platter. They would prop up the fish head so the eye was looking at the diner.
The staff must have been a tight group, as they recently tried to organize a re-union a few years ago on Facebook.
What readers remember about the restaurant:
“I remember their delicious banana bread, and the very retro dark wood and stained glass feel of the whole place. It was at the corner of Red Bridge and Holmes in south Kansas City. I was a kid when we went, but it was great. Still can’t believe there was a time where hearing, ‘Smoking or non?’ when you walked into a restaurant wasn’t weird.”
Zepi's Pizza
Before the growth of corporate pizza chains and the rise of the Chuck E. Cheese pizza casinos for kids, there were independent family-style pizza joints all over the place. Many Kansas Citians are probably familiar with roadside favorites like Fun House Pizza, large capacity restaurants which can accommodate multiple children’s birthday parties.
In the mid-twentieth century, Zepi’s Pizza on Wornall Road was a popular destination for great pizza and for children’s birthday parties. Their mascot was a clown, so what says mid-twentieth century kid party like a clown mascot?
Sold a shrimp pizza on Friday nights.
Zepi’s closed in 1978, after 43 years of slinging pizza pies for Kansas Citians.
What do you remember about the restaurant?
“The establishment had a merry-go-round.”
“Good pizza and a train for kids.”
Photos: Austin Hooper
Zuider Zee
South Kansas Citians will remember that Sam Wilsons replaced Zuider Zee (profiled in part one of this series), on 103rd Street, between State Line Road and Wornall. I recall that the restaurant pretty much used the original building and added a windmill. While the Zuider Zee was a small national chain, the windmill thing was perfect for the location, which was right next to the historic Watt’s Mill.
The restaurant featured a seafood menu with many menu items that were flown in fresh daily.
What readers remember about the restaurant:
“Replaced Sam Wilsons and had great seafood.”
Suggest a Restaurant
Want us to cover a Kansas City are restaurant of yesteryear in future updates? Include as many details about the restaurant that you recall via the form below.
Bygone Restaurant Series
Kansas City
- Part 1: Annie’s Santa Fe, Jasper’s (original location), KC Masterpiece, Mama Tio’s, Sam Wilsons, Schaal’s Pizza.
- Part 2: Baby Doe’s Matchless Mine, Betty Crocker Tree House Restaurant & Bakery, Chopstix / Chien Dynasty, EBT, The Golden Ox (original), Joe’s Barn, Patrikio’s Mexican Restaurant, Ruby’s Soul Food
- Part 3: Casa De Montez, Chutes, Eddy’s Loaf ‘N Stein, Gomer’s Chicken, Italian Gardens, Victoria Station, Waid’s
Lawrence
- Coming in June 2024
Madison, Wisconsin
- Coming in June 2024
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Great articles, thanks for bringing back memories. How about cafeterias like golds.
Mrs Peter’s had limited hours & Days. Their honey butter, strawberry rhubarb preserves & biscuits were all made in house. They closed for 1 months each year to clean the place. The chicken was deep fried. It went through a couple of owners after the matriarch, never achieving the same levels of quality..
I don’t really know why you called Eddy’s Loaf & Stein a delicatessen. I don’t remember it being a delicatessen.
Was THERE a mExican resTaurant in Kansas city kansas or Missouri that had a big gold colored metal medallion on the frint doors. Family owned, ” Casa something or other”
Casa de tacos
Oh eDdy’s, How I way too often still Think about you over the last 50 years. memories. When my mom would take me shopping at Prairie Village shoppinG Center, we would always eat at EddY’s. We didn’t eat out that often way back then, and that only made it that much more special. Oh my gosh, that sandwich! That sandwich that was made from a mixture of all of their meats. I believe it might’ve been made from all of the scrap pieces from when they would slice the other meats. If I remember correctly The Meats were mixed in with a barbecue sauce. That sandwich was superb! Very, very special memories of eating there with my mom!
Eddy’s loaf ‘N stein Will be talked about on the radio tomorrow, march 24th….
I receive email nEwsletters from Best Regards Bakery & Cafe located In Overland Park Kansas. The owner, ROBERT DUENSING, also does a radio broadcast Talking about Kansas City restaurants each Saturday, and in the email announcement for this week’s broadcast, he wrote:
“Big Surprise & Secret
Q: Do you remember Eddy’s Loaf ‘N Stein?
Q: Have you ever heard of Marilyn Maye?
Q: What do they have in common?
My guest Saturday will be Jim Eddy to share some memorable stories of the many endeavors of the Eddy family.
Trust me on this, you don’t want to miss this.
Saturday, 10 am, KMBZ, 98.1 FM “
Italian Gardens always Reminded me of the Godfather restaurant. Always thought I’d witness a mob Hit.
I worked the cash register on Monday nights so the full time employee had a night off. Great memories of local politicians celebrities family sitting at the big table in front. Early 70’s. Dicapos were a classy and close family.
My first and only time at Italian Gardens was the day i graduated high school in 1998. The food was delicious. I am glad I got a chance to experience them before they went out of business. Growing up in KCK, I was able to eat at Mrs. Peters a few times with my family and I was always satisfied. Everything there was good.