New KC restaurant will smoke meats for burnt end breakfast bowls, cheesesteaks & more

Joe and Maggie Zahner had a “pipe dream” — a restaurant that wasn’t a barbecue but that would focus on smoked meats, in a setting as welcoming as guests coming into their home.

That pipe dream started turning into plans and then a space on 39th Street’s restaurant row. Despite the pandemic, the timing seemed right with vaccinations rolling out and city COVID-19 restrictions easing.

“Things are going to explode, and we want to be at the forefront,” said Joe Zahner.

Their new OurHouseKC will offer American fare featuring smoked meats for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Menu items will include baked German pancakes with berries and powdered sugar, burnt ends breakfast skillets (with potatoes, sauteed onions, avocado, provolone cheese and two fried eggs), KC cheesesteaks, smoked chicken salad sandwiches, smoked chicken pot pies, smokehouse quinoa bowls and salads.

Breakfast items are under Brady’s Breakfast Plates (named for 3-year-old son Brady) and Scarlett’s Skillets (for 6-year-old daughter Scarlett).

The Zahners lost their fathers in 2020. So they are paying homage to Maggie’s father with the Roger Cobb salad, and Joe’s father with Bob’s burnt end French dip.

Joe Zahner has worked in the area restaurant industry for two decades and Maggie for almost as long.

They are using recipes they grew up on (such as Theresa’s applesauce, a favorite dish from Joe’s mother), and ones they have created after years of restaurant experience.

Customers will be able to build their own pasta dishes with a choice of noodles (including zucchini noodles), sauces, sauteed vegetables and protein. And the restaurant will have live acoustic music on the rooftop deck.

“It’s an idea that we sort of came up with quite a while ago and nurtured, “said Joe Zahner. “One of our taglines is ‘good beats, great eats, smoked meats.’”

OurHouseKC also will have specialty cocktails, beer and wine. Desserts, under Tulies Treats (for their 10-year-old daughter Tulie) will include a warm cookie sundae, milkshakes and blackberry cobbler.

A children’s menu, Colin’s Kids Creations (for their 8-year-old son Colin) has the traditional items such as grilled cheese sandwiches and chicken fingers, but also chicken Alfredo, pulled pork sandwiches, and spaghetti and meatballs.

Part of the restaurant will be a coffee bar serving the couple’s house-made pastries and cookies.

The Zahners plan a May opening at 1815 W. 39th St., in the former Black Sheep + Market spot.

This story was originally published March 26, 2021 at 2:44 PM.