Price Guide (average entree): $ bargain - $6 or less, $$ inexpensive - $6 - $12, $$$ moderate $12 - $19, $$$$ expensive - over $19.
Quality Rating: Superb is the highest, considered the very best possible. Notes are qualifiers allowing insight into the reviewer's rating. Disclaimer
| Restaurant: | Gates BBQ | Location: | 40 Highway |
| Cuisine: | Barbeque | Price: | $$ inexpensive |
| Ambience: | * average | Notes: | Very cold inside |
| Food: | substandard | Notes: | it came cold and tough |
| Service: | * average | Notes: | |
| Favorites: | short end |
| Comments: | Everything was cold the food,and the dining area.
No light in restaurant. I had heard good things about Gates, but now I'm sticking with Smokehouse. They are better all around and are cheaper too. |
| Reviewer: | Chris |
Date: | 1/31/00 |
| Restaurant: | Gates BBQ | Location: | 103rd/State Line Road, Leawood |
| Cuisine: | Barbeque | Price: | $$ inexpensive |
| Ambience: | tacky | Notes: | condiment area dirty and sloppy |
| Food: | * average | Notes: | ribs dried out and not meaty |
| Service: | * average | Notes: | |
| Favorites: | |
| Comments: | Not in the top half of KC BBQ restaurants. Food quality has slipped greatly since my last visit of about 5 years ago. |
| Reviewer: | John |
Date: | 6/9/00 |
| Restaurant: | Gates BBQ | Location: | 12th and Brooklyn |
| Cuisine: | BBQ
| Price: | $$ inexpensive
|
| Ambience: | ** very good | Notes: | |
| Food: | *** excellent | Notes: | |
| Service: | *** excellent | Notes: | |
| Favorites: | Mixed Plate |
| Comments: | This is the best bargain on the menu. Where else can you get a pile of ham, ribs, and turkey with a stack of fries for the money. I always order the mixed plate. It is so good it will make your tongue slap the brains out of your head. If you haven't tried it, please do so. I'm a big bbq fanatic so take my word on it. |
| Reviewer: | Randy |
Date: | 7/24/00 |
| Restaurant: | Gates BBQ | Location: | 31st and Main |
| Cuisine: | Bar-B-Q | Price: | $$ inexpensive |
| Ambience: | ** very good | Notes: | |
| Food: | *** excellent | Notes: | Great Beef, Tender Turkey and Ribs, Great Pickles |
| Service: | * average | Notes: | before 11:45, no problem, after that usually a wait |
| Favorites: | Mixed Plate, Beef 1/2, Fries, Short Ends |
| Comments: | Great Bar-B-Q, Best Beef in Kansas City, Mixed Plate is the best buy for your money. Need some extra bread if you go for the Combo and 1/2. Favorite BBQ in town. |
| Reviewer: | Storm |
Date: | 9/14/00 |
| Restaurant: | Gates BBQ | Location: | 31st And Main |
| Cuisine: | BBQ | Price: | $$ inexpensive |
| Ambience: | tacky | Notes: | like a cattle call. herded through the line to order |
| Food: | substandard | Notes: | too much fat in bbq pork sandwiches. disgusting |
| Service: | * average | Notes: | confusion in the line with the cashier screaming at customer |
| Favorites: | potato salad was okay |
| Comments: | We expected more from this restaurant. The main problem was the
amount of fat in the sandwiches. After picking out the hunks of fat in the sandwiches, you had 2 or 3 small pieces at best. Potato salad and fries were average. The busboy was really friendly and, sadly, talking to him was the highlight of the night. |
| Reviewer: | Mark |
Date: | 2/3/01 |
| Restaurant: | Gates BBQ | Location: | Leawood |
| Cuisine: | BBQ | Price: | $$ inexpensive |
| Ambience: | tacky | Notes: | Loud, dirty, cheap-looking |
| Food: | *** excellent | Notes: | Great barbecue |
| Service: | poor | Notes: | Rude, obnoxious, uninterested |
| Favorites: | Barbecued beef sandwich, fries |
| Comments: | The people who take your order are in dire need of a good spanking. They yell, loudly, "Hi, can I help you," in a tone of voice which clearly implies that you are really a nuisance for being there. The food is awesome. I recommend that you order it to go and then have the strongest member of your family pick it up. Have them prepared to be hated upon entering the place, and they will be okay. Also, there is a feeling that you might get hurt the whole time you are in there. Watch your back. |
| Reviewer: | Kara |
Date: | 4/25/01 |
| Restaurant: | Gates BBQ | Location: | 40 HWY |
| Cuisine: | BBQ | Price: | $$ inexpensive |
| Ambience: | tacky | Notes: | wait staff rude |
| Food: | * average | Notes: | Food served cold |
| Service: | poor | Notes: | slow |
| Favorites: | sampler plate |
| Comments: | The inside was filthy, flys were flying around, coffee cups dirty |
| Reviewer: | Lisa |
Date: | 8/26/01 |
| Restaurant: | Gates BBQ | Location: | 10th and State Ave., Kansas City, KS |
| Cuisine: | BBQ | Price: | $$ inexpensive |
| Ambience: | * average | Notes: | |
| Food: | ** very good | Notes: | |
| Service: | * average | Notes: | |
| Favorites: | |
| Comments: | Took a trip to the "World Famous" Gate's Barbeque. I found the Beef Sandwich to be tasty and of pretty good size. The sauces available to add helped to make the sandwich even better. My favorite was the Hot and Spicy. The fries that came with my meal were of the large steak fry type variety. They were ok but I personally prefer the smaller fast food place type fries. While the food was good the help was not. The gal who took my order argued with the kitchen help continually and the manager (Yes, the MANAGER!) who was seated nearby doing paperwork bitched loudly the whole time I was there about her employees (attendance, work ethics, etc.) She even got on the phone and argued with one of her employees that way also. Luckily, the food was good enough to forgive the "floor show" but the owners of this KC chain need to keep an eye on their employees/managers to be sure they are representing them properly. |
| Reviewer: | Todd |
Date: | 1/11/02 |
| Restaurant: | Gates BBQ | Location: | 47TH STREET and all the others |
| Cuisine: | Bar-B-Que | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | * average | Notes: | |
| Food: | *** excellent | Notes: | DAMN GOOD |
| Service: | * average | Notes: | |
| Favorites: | MIXED PLATE, ALL BEEF |
| Comments: | Gates is a cool restaurant, with good food and very good sauce. I love the beef sandwiches, mixed plate, and short end.....white folks may be startled by the upfront manner of the cashier taking their order. It's that loud unexpected "Hi, may I help you", as soon as they walk in the door that is frighting to most of them. |
| Reviewer: | Kenny |
Date: | 3/5/02 |
| Restaurant: | Gates BBQ | Location: | 10th and State Ave., Kansas City |
| Cuisine: | BBQ | Price: | $$ inexpensive |
| Ambience: | * average | Notes: | Tacky in a COOL: way! |
| Food: | **** superb | Notes: | Half Chicken, Slaw, Fries and Yammer Pie... Great!!! |
| Service: | ** very good | Notes: | Very good service... |
| Favorites: | Sauce is outstanding... so is the Yammer Pie |
| Comments: | From Ohio so we asked locals were the best BBQ was... all pointed us to Gates. Get in line... be ready to order when they yell, "How may I help you” and get ready for some great BBQ. Make sure to buy lots of bottles of their sauce to bring home!! Also get a Yammer pie! I have been home a week and I am already ordering there sauce! It is addicting!!! |
| Reviewer: | Marc |
Date: | 4/12/02 |
| Restaurant: | Gates BBQ | Location: | 1325 East Imanuel Cleaver Blvd, KCMO |
| Cuisine: | BBQ | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | tacky | Notes: | there is a patina of grime everywhere |
| Food: | substandard | Notes: | cold, fatty, and not KC-size portions |
| Service: | poor | Notes: | loud, rude, and inattentive |
| Favorites: | the sauce |
| Comments: | That scream of "Hi, may I help you?" has GOT to go. It unnerves patrons as soon as they enter. The food, service, and price you pay for it all are definitely a disappointment and we won't return. I feel
cheated that I didn't drop that money at Arthur Bryant's. The food was
cold and fatty and overcooked. |
| Reviewer: | Lee |
Date: | 7/3/02 |
| Restaurant: | Gates | Location: | Leawood |
| Cuisine: | BBQ | Price: | ^^ inexpensive |
| Ambience: | * average | Notes: | |
| Food: | ** very good | Notes: | |
| Service: | *** excellent | Notes: | |
| Favorites: | |
| Comments: | If you want spicy bbq, this is it. You are going to one of kc's finest. You will come out smelling like a rib, but son of a buck if you won't love it. That being said, if you are from out of town, it does take some getting used to. |
| Reviewer: | Shaun |
Date: | 12/29/02 |
| Restaurant: | Gates | Location: | Leawood |
| Cuisine: | Bar b que | Price: | $$ inexpensive |
| Ambience: | tacky | Notes: | Not Clean |
| Food: | * average | Notes: | no meat on ribs fries were cold |
| Service: | poor | Notes: | They act like they are doing you a favor by taking your order |
| Favorites: | Mixed plate |
| Comments: | I don't know who does the hiring but their employees need better training on customer service. The girls up front are unorganized have a hard time working the antiquated credit card machine they make you print your name on a piece of paper just for using a credit card. I had to have the cook show me 3 slabs before I found one with a little meat on it. The dining room had not been cleaned up and the manager got upset because one of the cashiers asked him a legitimate question. One good thing is they put the fries back in the mixed plate. Prices are extremely high for the service and portions. |
| Reviewer: | Gene |
Date: | 1/6/03 |
| Restaurant: | Gates BBQ | Location: | Kansas City, KS |
| Cuisine: | BBQ | Price: | $$ inexpensive |
| Ambience: | *** excellent | Notes: | |
| Food: | **** superb | Notes: | BBQ the way it was meant to be served. |
| Service: | *** excellent | Notes: | |
| Favorites: | Beef on bun w/fries. Mixed Plate. |
| Comments: | Fantastic BBQ. Tired of every BBQ place tasting the same (like KC Masterpiece)? Head on over here for spicy delicious sauce that has made this place to eat the best in KC. As far as people complaining about when they hollar, "Hi, may I help you" -- it is meant to be loud and
obnoxious, its their trademark and its all part of the fun. You best know
what you want and for gosh sake "TAKE A TRAY PLEASE"! |
| Reviewer: | Andrew |
Date: | 2/23/03 |
| Restaurant: | Gate and Son's | Location: | 47TH Street |
| Cuisine: | BAR B Que | Price: | $$ inexpensive |
| Ambience: | * average | Notes: | cool |
| Food: | **** superb | Notes: | damn good food |
| Service: | * average | Notes: | foods good ,service okay. |
| Favorites: | mixed plate/beef on a bum and ribs. |
| Comments: | Yummy finger licken Bar B Que that all Folks.
You Will Come Back Again And Again. Love That Bar-B-Que. |
| Reviewer: | Raymond |
Date: | 3/23/03 |
| Restaurant: | Gates | Location: | any |
| Cuisine: | BBQ | Price: | |
| Ambience: | ** very good | Notes: | |
| Food: | substandard | Notes: | |
| Service: | poor | Notes: | Never have liked being yelled at |
| Favorites: | pepsi |
| Comments: | |
| Reviewer: | Dennis |
Date: | 5/12/03 |
| Restaurant: | Gates Bar-B-Q | Location: | 12th and Brooklyn |
| Cuisine: | BBQ | Price: | |
| Ambience: | tacky | Notes: | |
| Food: | ** very good | Notes: | |
| Service: | poor | Notes: | |
| Favorites: | |
| Comments: | We have been traveling to and from K.C. for about 13 years, we love Gates BBQ and will continue to eat there but we have recently noticed a decline in service, food amounts and appearance. Please bring back the Gates we used to know! |
| Reviewer: | Matt |
Date: | 5/20/03 |
| Restaurant: | Gates | Location: | Anyone |
| Cuisine: | BBQ | Price: | $$ inexpensive |
| Ambience: | **** superb | Notes: | Food was/ is marvelous |
| Food: | **** superb | Notes: | Betta than Grand-moms |
| Service: | * average | Notes: | Seems rude talking to customers, but it speeds the line thru |
| Favorites: | Pick something |
| Comments: | Some people taste buds jacked up. I grew up
on it, and I'm gonna finish with it. I'm in the military and were ever I'm
stationed I always have someone send me bottles for my Q's, and everybody
says D***, this is it right here. Besides support your home grown
business!!!! |
| Reviewer: | Donald |
Date: | 5/29/03 |
| Restaurant: | Gates | Location: | 12th & Brooklyn |
| Cuisine: | Barbeque | Price: | $ bargain |
| Ambience: | *** excellent | Notes: | |
| Food: | *** excellent | Notes: | |
| Service: | *** excellent | Notes: | |
| Favorites: | Turkey on Bun w/Fries |
| Comments: | If you want something quick fast and tasty go to Gates on 12th & Brooklyn. You are in and out of the place quick. |
| Reviewer: | Cynthia |
Date: | 7/29/03 |
| Restaurant: | Gates | Location: | any |
| Cuisine: | barbeque | Price: | $$ inexpensive |
| Ambience: | * average | Notes: | your not going for the ambience |
| Food: | *** excellent | Notes: | best bar b que around. |
| Service: | * average | Notes: | classic, you come here to get yelled at! |
| Favorites: | beef sandwich, great beans |
| Comments: | This is classic barbque. Your not coming here for the ambience or service like you would find at Smokestack. The food is pure barbque heaven. Have a Boulevard, beef sandwich and beans and enjoy |
| Reviewer: | Rick |
Date: | 11/22/03 |
| Restaurant: | Gates | Location: | 31st & Main |
| Cuisine: | Barbecue | Price: | $$ inexpensive |
| Ambience: | tacky | Notes: | Cafeteria style |
| Food: | substandard | Notes: | |
| Service: | * average | Notes: | |
| Favorites: | None |
| Comments: | Touted as a great Kansas City institution we were very disappointed. We didn't like the cafeteria style ordering or seating. The half slab of ribs were the worst I ever ate...full of little bones and gristle, very little meat. My wife's burnt ends sandwich was full of fatty pieces. We will not go back! |
| Reviewer: | Gary |
Date: | 11/30/03 |
| Restaurant: | Gates BBQ | Location: | Leawood |
| Cuisine: | | Price: | $$ inexpensive |
| Ambience: | * average | Notes: | A memorably strange experience |
| Food: | *** excellent | Notes: | |
| Service: | ** very good | Notes: | |
| Favorites: | beef on bun, turkey on bun. |
| Comments: | This is a truly unique Kansas City experience. Yes, you are intially put off by the attitude of the counter help, but it is quickly forgotten the moment you take your first bite of their delicious barbecue. Spicy, sweet and smoky all at once, this is everything I want from a bbq restaurant. It may not be the best in the world, or even this city, but i never leave unsatisfied.
Also- about that counter help ... if you happen to go there on a busy night observe how easily they keep every order straight. They may not have the best manners but they are damn good at their jobs. |
| Reviewer: | Zolie |
Date: | 12/28/03 |
| Restaurant: | Gates | Location: | Downtown Kc |
| Cuisine: | BBQ | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | tacky | Notes: | |
| Food: | * average | Notes: | |
| Service: | poor | Notes: | Hi ,May I help you 50 times? |
| Favorites: | _ |
| Comments: | I know that service is only half the experience but how many times do you have to be subjected to "Hi,May I Help You". Isn't this sort of ghetto. |
| Reviewer: | Spencer |
Date: | 2/17/04 |
| Restaurant: | Gates | Location: | 12th Brooklyn |
| Cuisine: | Ribs | Price: | $$$$ expensive |
| Ambience: | tacky | Notes: | Cashiers and Cooks need more training |
| Food: | substandard | Notes: | I was cheated out of a small plater tray |
| Service: | poor | Notes: | poor customer service |
| Favorites: | |
| Comments: | I was traveling to Chicago, and I ordered a small party tray platter to go. When I arrived at my desination at 2:00am to suprise my twin sister with her own platter of Gates. Unfornately, it left a bad taste in my mouth to learn that my order was short changed. I had only a 1/4 pound of roast beef, 1/4 pound of ham and a shortend order of Ribs. Calling Gates (800) number was a joke. I spent $31.16 and food they provided was not worth the amount money I spent for this platter. Gates is cheating its travelers out of food at this location. Be on the alert! |
| Reviewer: | _ |
Date: | 4/12/04 |
| Restaurant: | Gates | Location: | Went to three in three days |
| Cuisine: | Slabs | Price: | $$ inexpensive |
| Ambience: | *** excellent | Notes: | |
| Food: | **** superb | Notes: | Best BBQ around |
| Service: | *** excellent | Notes: | |
| Favorites: | Slabs!!!!! |
| Comments: | Gates is by far the best BBQ in KC. I tried Gates, Auther Bryants and Jack Stacks. Each place has great BBQ but GATES takes the crown.(I had three Gates slabs in three days) I'm from CA and the only BBQ that compares is BBQ at RAIDER Games! Go RAIDERS!! & Go Chefs!! |
| Reviewer: | Jay |
Date: | 4/24/04 |
| Restaurant: | Gates | Location: | 40 Highway |
| Cuisine: | Barbeque | Price: | $$ inexpensive |
| Ambience: | *** excellent | Notes: | |
| Food: | **** superb | Notes: | Good fries, good ham on bun |
| Service: | **** superb | Notes: | Nice Staff |
| Favorites: | Ham on bun with fries |
| Comments: | The staff was very polite. Great food at reasonable prices. |
| Reviewer: | Lesa |
Date: | 4/27/04 |
| Restaurant: | Gates | Location: | Downtown KC |
| Cuisine: | BBQ | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | tacky | Notes: | |
| Food: | * average | Notes: | Very good beef, good ribs, but BBQ in general stinks |
| Service: | poor | Notes: | The circus at the front counter was confusing, even abrasive |
| Favorites: | I loved the beef, the ribs were good, and the sweet sauce was also good. |
| Comments: | We vistied from out of town and although it was good food, there were some things that we didn't care for. The service by the cashier was terrible. If I want to hear yelling, I'll go to a town meeting or political debate. It was unorganized and loud at the counter, enough so that I wouldn't go back. The food, while it was good, was a little cold. We had the mixed plate which I enjoyed mostly, but ham should not be included anywhere near BBQ (just my opinion). Ham is overused and can be had at any reception/holiday/party from coast to coast. Simply put, ham sucks(remember, just my opinion).
The beef was tender and tasted great however, but it could have been a bit warmer. The waitress in the lobby more than made up for the impersonal cashier, but we still wouldn't go back. |
| Reviewer: | Rick |
Date: | 6/21/04 |
| Restaurant: | Gates | Location: | Right off State Line Road |
| Cuisine: | BBQ | Price: | $$ inexpensive |
| Ambience: | tacky | Notes: | Get over it! The can I help You is part of the act. |
| Food: | *** excellent | Notes: | I have neve been disappointed. |
| Service: | ** very good | Notes: | Rude, but efficient! |
| Favorites: | Ribs, fries, mixed plate |
| Comments: | Lots of folks in these reviews are getting down on Gates because of their service. The "can I help you" is what they HAVE to say, and I have never had any problems with their service...get over it folks! Food is good, fries are hot and crispy, ribs are meaty...I have eaten at gates dozens of times and always love it. |
| Reviewer: | Robert |
Date: | 6/26/04 |
| Restaurant: | gates bbq | Location: | leawood |
| Cuisine: | bbq | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | * average | Notes: | it was friday and the room was a buzz. |
| Food: | ** very good | Notes: | _ |
| Service: | poor | Notes: | ineffective order process |
| Favorites: | bbq sauage |
| Comments: | There has to be a better way to take customers orders without yelling and asking you your order 5-10 times. Then telling the guy behind them filling the order the same order numerous times. How about giving the cashier hand written orders to be repeated to clarify it ONCE or TWICE or key you order in before entering the resturant or a DRIVE THUR!. HI,, MAY I HELP YOU IS A TRADITION, put is in a tune that's nice and play it on the pa system! consider it.
|
| Reviewer: | nicole |
Date: | 7/4/04 |
| Restaurant: | Gates | Location: | 1325 East Imanuel Cleaver Blvd |
| Cuisine: | BBQ | Price: | $$ inexpensive |
| Ambience: | ** very good | Notes: | The restaurant was clean and well-maintained. |
| Food: | ** very good | Notes: | The beef brisket was the best I have ever had. |
| Service: | * average | Notes: | The yelling of orders was a bit much. |
| Favorites: | Ordered the combo platter. Brisket and baked beans were very good. |
| Comments: | The meat was taken right from the smoker and put on our plates. Flavor was excellent. Not a fan of the original sauce, but the sweeter sauce was very good. Thought Gates was much better than Arthur Bryant's. |
| Reviewer: | Nicolle |
Date: | 7/6/04 |
| Restaurant: | Gates Bar B Q | Location: | all except KC KS-never been there |
| Cuisine: | BarB Q | Price: | $$ inexpensive |
| Ambience: | * average | Notes: | _ |
| Food: | * average | Notes: | Things are not as good as years before. |
| Service: | *** excellent | Notes: | might be loud but they are fast! |
| Favorites: | Mixed plate-All beef |
| Comments: | I grew up on 57th & Forest, had Gates just about once a week for my first 18 years of life. Everyone there was happy to help us, & yes it was as loud then as it is now.
Their food is still very good, the quality has dropped. I agree with the others when they say the meat has too much fat! I will also say the beans taste good, but too much liquid & not enough beans. The Daughters are running things now & advertising has made them huge. But someone need to tell them quality for the price should go hand in hand.
47th & Paseo still is better than the others. I usually try to avoid Leawood. |
| Reviewer: | Julian |
Date: | 8/24/04 |
| Restaurant: | Gates | Location: | 47 paseo |
| Cuisine: | bbq | Price: | $$ inexpensive |
| Ambience: | *** excellent | Notes: | _ |
| Food: | **** superb | Notes: | vary tasty |
| Service: | *** excellent | Notes: | _ |
| Favorites: | beef on bun |
| Comments: | I have read lot's of people wine about the service. People just don't understand it's not about the service or the dinning area it's about the bbq get over it people. |
| Reviewer: | steve |
Date: | 9/19/04 |
| Restaurant: | Gates | Location: | Kansas City |
| Cuisine: | BBQ | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | *** excellent | Notes: | _ |
| Food: | **** superb | Notes: | _ |
| Service: | ** very good | Notes: | _ |
| Favorites: | rack of ribs |
| Comments: | They have the best bbq |
| Reviewer: | Eric |
Date: | 11/8/04 |
| Restaurant: | Gates | Location: | Independance 40 Hwy |
| Cuisine: | BBQ | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | * average | Notes: | _ |
| Food: | substandard | Notes: | _ |
| Service: | poor | Notes: | _ |
| Favorites: | Ribs |
| Comments: | I requested np pickles in my order because im alergic, they had them in the bottom any way. Noy noticing them there, i enjoyed my dinner an found my self in the Emergency room with a swollen air way. Thanx for the extra medical bills! |
| Reviewer: | Vincent |
Date: | 1/28/05 |
| Restaurant: | Gates BBQ | Location: | kcmo |
| Cuisine: | bar b que | Price: | $$ inexpensive |
| Ambience: | ** very good | Notes: | relaxed,layed back |
| Food: | **** superb | Notes: | nobody does bbq better |
| Service: | *** excellent | Notes: | they may yell at you. |
| Favorites: | beef and a half, short ends, ribs |
| Comments: | we recently moved away from kc. one of the things i sorley miss is gates bbq. what a wonderful and warm kansas city tratation. i look forward to my return to kc where im sure one of my first stops will be gates and hear HI MAY I HELP YOU. |
| Reviewer: | Dennis |
Date: | 2/5/05 |
| Restaurant: | Gates BBq | Location: | State Line Road |
| Cuisine: | Barbeque | Price: | $$ inexpensive |
| Ambience: | *** excellent | Notes: | _ |
| Food: | * average | Notes: | _ |
| Service: | poor | Notes: | _ |
| Favorites: | mixed plate |
| Comments: | Heard it was the best and I sure hope not. Food was ok,but not the best I've had. Ribs and Brisket were dry. Sauce is so so, dont see what everyone gets worked up about. Had fun even if they did yell at you for your order. Got my food sat down and never had anyone come by and see is I needed anything. Could have used another cold beer. |
| Reviewer: | Bill |
Date: | 6/14/05 |
|