JoyceKC’s notebook: Grünauer sausage touted, south KC McDonald’s and OP Longbranch shut down

Grünauer restaurant, at 101 W. 22nd St. in the Crossroads, is on Thrillist's new list of “The 21 Best Sausage Spots in America.”

Thrillist said it has a “deep love and admiration for the humble sausage. Few meats walk the tightrope between traditionalism and creativity quite like it.”

The digital media company compiled a list of the 21 best sausage purveyors based only on sausage-smiths that cook and serve on their premises.

Thrillist, an online lifestyle site, said this about Grünauer, at 101 W. 22nd St.: “You can score a solid sausage at almost any BBQ joint in Kansas or Missouri, but it's rare to find a KC masterpiece that perfectly channels the taste of Vienna. Nobody does Austria better than Grünauer, which is fitting since the family behind the massive hall of beer and brats has been operating a similar restaurant in Vienna since 1957. Andouille, currywurst, veal kalbsbratwurst, cheddar filled käsekrainer, and a brat loaded with Tommyknocker pale ale round out the sausages on the menu. We suggest you wash them down with a Helles from local German-minded ale-slingers KC Bier Co.”

▪ McDonald’s has closed its location at 8304 Hickman Mills Drive.

Neil Getzlow, spokesman for McDonald’s Heartland Region, said in a statement: “We have been honored to serve our loyal customers and be a part of this community. We appreciate the patronage of our customers and look forward to welcoming them to McDonald’s nearby locations.”

▪ Longbranch Saloon closed Saturday at 9095 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park.

It has been under several different owners since founders Walt Coffey and baseball player and manager Lou Piniella sold out in 1995.

“New developers want to bring in national tenants and make it almost like a Prairiefire,” said Randy Lamb, a partner in Longbranch with Mike Day. “They will probably divide up our building. But we want to thank everyone for a 35 year tradition. It’s been a great run, but we have to run. It was good time to bow out gracefully.”

The partners plan to sell the Longbranch furnishings and memorabilia at auction. More information will be available later this week.

This story was originally published October 5, 2015 at 9:04 AM with the headline "JoyceKC’s notebook: Grünauer sausage touted, south KC McDonald’s and OP Longbranch shut down."