KCMax wrote:
I'd guess there are more than enough people in KCK/Midtown/Downtown/Plaza/Brookside to patronize 39th street that not much of the 39th street clientele hails from Olathe or Blue Springs.
I'm slowly getting comfortable with admitting that I now live in Olathe. Prior to that I lived in Red Bridge, Marlborough, and before that UMKC, and grew up in KCK. So, I've lived in and out of the City, and consider the whole metro area my town.
But on this question of 39th street clientele. You may be right, but I gotta tell you I find it really hard to find a decent place to eat in Olathe. It's all chains, and some of these are just plain mediocre or worse. Here goes a commentary:
On Saturday morning I planned to have coffee with a friend at the Expresso Bar on Olathe Square: closed on a Saturday morning (how stupid is that), so we resorted to a Starbucks near 119th and Starbucks. Once a month this friend and I get together for coffee. Normally, we head downtown, Coffee Girls, River Market Cascones, Jerry's Woodswether, Harvey House, etc. The next place will be that wine bar on Walnut at about 16th street.
A few weeks ago I tried Gimme Sum at 119th and Blackbob. Never again. Normally I prefer Genghis Khan on 39th street and haven't been to the ones farther our in JOCO. There is a fine Thai place (The Thai Place) at 119th and Quivera. I like it better than Arun on 8th street, and I could go to Thai Place in Westport, but the 119th street location is better than their other location.
There is no better pizza in the City than Da Bronx, it's even better than the Crown Center shop.
I believe you when you say that many JOCO types won't drive north of 103rd street. But the best restaurants are definitely in the City or on the Plaza. Best steaks I've had are at Ruth Chris and Mortons. I ate at steak place at 92nd and Metcalf (can't remember the name) and besides being no better than the average Hereford House (which ain't that good in my opinion), it and the Bristol are average in my opinion I plan to try Ted's Montanan, but I don't think it will be exceptional. There's another popular place on 135th called the Bonefish something-packed with people but doesn't quite compare with McCormick and Schmick.
Now some of these places are chains found both within KC and the burbs, but I'll make the effort to have a night on the town anytime over eating at some highly rated restaurant in the burbs. The reason I've eaten at so many is because those are the places my siblings always want to go, and so I'm along for the ride so to speak. It's a good thing because I get a chance to compare. And downtown is consistently a clear winner. IF THERE IS EVER a great restaurant I discover in burbs, I'll definitely mention it and give it widespread praise, but so far it's been lemons for Johnson County.