Kansas City’s best barbecue? Best brunch? Here are places that made national lists

Kansas City is once again on some national “best” lists.

Of course there’s kudos for world-famous barbecue, but new lists have it as a top Midwest travel destination and a great place to move to with a “thriving arts and cultural scene that rivals the Coasts.”

Here’s a look at what they are saying about our city:

▪ Thrillist, a lifestyle website, has “The 41 American Barbecue Joints You Need to Try Right Now.”

“From your typical barbecue capitals like Texas, the Carolinas, Memphis, Kansas City, and St. Louis to some unexpected joints in Phoenix, Richmond, Brooklyn, and Portland, the following 41 spots have been vetted by a team of writers, testers, and pitmasters.”

Two area barbecues are among the 41.

Harp Barbecue in Raytown: “KC is messy and proud of it. Enter local man Tyler Harp, a Texophile who’s bringing Lone Star State technique to a dusty dirt lot in the blue-collar suburb known for being the setting of the sitcom Mama’s Family.”

Thrillist recommends weekend specials such as the Cajun shrimp poutine, Texas-sliced brisket, and whole pork butt.

Jones Bar-B-Q in Kansas City, Kansas: “In general, you should be skeptical of any pit that made its bones off TV fame. But this low-key pit operated by sisters Deborah “Shorty” and Mary “Little” Jones is getting a much-deserved reappraisal in the wake of an appearance on Queer Eye. … They don’t trim the meat into pristine competition cuts, but rather use thick smoke and tangy sauce to summon something primal from the blackened burnt ends, which are miracle morsels of fat, smoke, salt, and sweet.”

It also mentions their barbecue vending machine.

▪ OpenTable, an online restaurant reservation service, put Leawood’s Bristol Seafood Grill on its annual list of the “100 Best Brunch Restaurants in America for 2021.”

▪ 24/7 Wall St., a financial news website, has the “Best Bar Food in Every State.”

But it bypassed the metro for The Rusty Nail in Wichita and its ‘”Kristi Approved Fried Pickles,” and The Post Sports Bar & Grill in St. Louis for its toasted ravioli.

▪ Kansas City is among the best weekend getaways in the Midwest, according to U.S. News & World Report travel.

“The surprisingly trendy city within driving distance of a number of Midwestern destinations. Jazz and barbecue set the city apart. … Remember to set aside time for perusing some of the city’s top museums, too, including The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and The Arabia Steamboat Museum.”

Earlier this year, Thrillist showed Kansas City some love in its list of “Underappreciated American Cities You Should Totally Move To.”

“A thriving arts and cultural scene that rivals the Coasts. … KCMO has become the unlikely stomping ground of hip urbanites opting for a three-bedroom house at a fraction of what they’d pay for a crawlspace in Brooklyn.”

It lists world-famous barbecue restaurants, an impressive list of arts, theater and music festivals, and the American Jazz Museum. “And for a city straddling two red states, it has fostered an LGBTQ-friendly climate that stands among the most progressive in the country.”