A new ghost kitchen, delivery-only: smash burgers, Nashville hot chicken, fries, tots

The Summit Restaurant Group is rolling out a ghost kitchen concept in some of its area restaurants.

Smash-N-Nash is a delivery-only operation offering hand-made smash burgers (Angus ground chuck, grilled onions, pickles and Mash sauce made of mayo, mustard, ketchup and relish), all on a potato roll from Martin’s Famous Potato Rolls and Bread.

It also has Nashville chicken sandwiches (crispy chicken breast, hot pepper oil, Nash sauce, mayo, ketchup, mustard and jalapenos) and pickles on a Martin’s potato roll, chicken tenders (hand-breaded chicken tenderloins plain fried or Nashville hot), steak fries, tater tots and freshly-baked jumbo chocolate chip cookies.

Burgers are $7.50 for a single, $9.50 for a double. Tenders are $5, while the Nashville chicken sandwich is $7.50.

Amber Craig, director of operations for Summit, said the ghost kitchen is a good way to test new menus and concepts. If the concept is successful, it could get its own brick-and-mortar spot.

According to Nation’s Restaurant News, an industry publication, the ghost kitchen business model can now refer to any operation that only prepares orders for off-premises dining. They don’t cost a lot to launch, and have just a few employees.

Smash-N-Nash is now operating out of Third Street Social in Lee’s Summit, as well as the Summit Grill locations in Gladstone, Lee’s Summit and Waldo.

Customers order online and the items are delivered in the Kansas City metro through DoorDash. Delivery hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Summit Restaurant Group also is opening a Third Street Social in the south Plaza area in April.

They also own Pearl Tavern in Lee’s Summit and Boru Asian Eatery in Waldo.