Burgers, loaded fries, wings: ‘Urban lunch counter’ opens in Kansas City’s Crossroads

The Crossroads’ new “urban lunch counter” was so slammed at its soft opening Thursday, it only had time to shut down for an hour for its grand opening shortly after 4 p.m.

A line stretched from the kiosk through the sunshine-filled park between two towering buildings. By 2 p.m. it had already run out of wings.

“It was really, really good. It was slammed but I’m grateful for it,” said Steven Blakley, partner with Jayaun Smith in Sauced at 1881 B Main St.

Menu items include smash burgers with sauteed onions, wings, loaded fries and salads.

There’s the K.C. Loaded (double patties piled with pulled brisket, house-made barbecue sauce, sauteed onions and pickles for $13). It has blackened chicken sandwich ($8.50) and a Cajun buttermilk chicken sandwich ($9.50), along with Cajun buttermilk chicken bites ($8).

The owners also plan specials, perhaps a surf and turf.

Sauced is open from 10:30 a.m. to about 2:30 p.m. — or when they run out of food — Monday through Saturday. In colder months they will ramp up online ordering.

Blakley is from Memphis but graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2016. He now lives in Kansas City and is a loan officer.

Smith said he wasn’t a fan of pizza and frozen foods growing up, but urged his mother and grandmother to buy different fresh products so he could try them out. He was a fan of the competitive Iron Chef series on the Food Network. He worked for Ruby Jean’s Kitchen & Juicery before becoming a private chef.

“I cook for some Chiefs players, for dinner dates for newlyweds, little gatherings, small venues,” Smith said.

Blakley and Smith also are partners in UHungry? It has a cooking app which sends a recipe based on what its customers have on hand. It also does F.R.Y. (fries really yummy) pop-ups serving loaded fries.

Michael Corvino’s Ravenous had planned to open in the urban park by his Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room.

But he recently moved the fast-casual concept to the Parlor food hall.

This story was originally published October 2, 2020 at 11:58 AM.