B.B.’s Lawnside BBQ

Honestly, if you love BBQ and you’ve had a good amount of BBQ around Kansas City over a handful of years — you will agree with me that the BBQ at BB’s Lawnside BBQ is about average ro slightly above average.
This review is based on our Saturday afternoon visit.
It’s not the type of BBQ you eat and them reminisce about through-​out the end of that day or even the day after or even share the experience with others. It’s just not that exciting or tasty. You come, you deal with the god-​awful loud music, try and order thru the god-​awful loud music, eat then quickly leave as fast as you can before your headache turns into a migraine.
God bless them for having a packed house and I think that’s great. I feel bad for the hundred plus people I saw unable to talk to one another. I looked around several times and literally saw no one talking. They couldn’t! Why? The loud-​ass band. So I would STRONGLY suggest you not take small children as it’s potentially loud enough to damage a small child’s /​toddlers hearing. No, I am not kidding. it was insanely loud. Health code violation loud. Of course this is my personal opinion and not a claim of fact.
And I am pretty sure they aren’t going to be turning the volume down anytime soon. It’s one of those bands that has a bit of ego /​self-​importance and self pandering that keeps them turning the volume up louder and louder over time /​years. To the owners /​singers and band. I appreciate the effort and I thought some of the musicianship was great but you really need to let the music compliment the food and dial it down so people can talk and visit with the people they are with.
I tried to order just a pound of burnt-​ends and a few slices of bread but was told no that the kitchen only does that for carry-​out. Amazing to me they would turn my money away. Luckily for me, I do not live life by silly rules like this and ordered the burnt-​ends and sat down and ate them anyways. They were just O-​K. Some pieces were tough some were pretty good. So hit or miss on those.
If i did have to say few positive things I would say I did enjoy the sausage and the sauce had a nice flavor to it.
Not a place I would consider returning to or suggesting others eat at. There are simply better options out there.

I was back in Kansas City tonight and we stopped in here on our way home from New Orleans. You guys rock! Or should I say blues? The band «The Confessions» was playing, they sounded great! The food was to die for. When I found out this place was on Food Networks «Diners, Drive-​Ins, and Dives» I knew we had to stop in. We had the Hickory smoked meat platter with the pulled pork, beef and Turkey. This food absolutely perfect for a barbeque joint! Perfect sauce, meat and blast of flavors! We also had the Yardbird combo with ribs and chicken. The chicken was great, Nice and tender, just need a little more sauce. The ribs Definetly had plenty of sauce however my ribs were a little chewy I really had to naw on the bone for a while. However great flavor! The atmosphere was fun and exciting. Service was prompt and friendly. Definetly recommend BBs next time you’re in Kansas City!

So I tried coming here on a Saturday night come to find out they had live music that night and were charging $ 6 a person. I wasn’t about to spend $ 18 plus dinner. So I decided to take out instead. I ordered the king combo and was pleasantly satisfied. Way to much food than I can handle. The ribs were very delicious and meaty. The brisket was mediocre at best. I’ve definitely had better. But their sausage was amazing. I would defiantly recommend ordering an extra order of that sausage. I regret the fact that I ate all that meat but never touched the battered fries or beans as I was to full. Perhaps BBs would of gotten five stars if we were able to fine in. Overall still very satisfied.

Enjoyable atmosphere. Pleasant and professional staffs good food the nachos were amazing.

Everything here is trash except the burnt ends. In fact they’re so good I gave this 5 stars. They’re that good. Don’t put sauce on them because the sauce is awful. Just order burnt ends and soda (maybe fries).

Worth the drive out of town to find. Great BBQ — especially the beans and coleslaw.
The BBQ Sundae is pretty cool too.

Classic Kansas City BBQ, consistent quality, some of the best in Kansas City! Come on Sat afternoon and listen to Mama Rae! Great jazz music, the kind you would hear in New Orleans! Drinks are all good and mixed adult style! Staff are the best and most friendly the city has to offer! You CANNOT go wrong coming here! There isn’t a stranger in the house, everyone who walks in is family and treated as such.

This place is amazing is the embodiment of a KC BBQ experience. It’s about 40% group seating, great food, and it seems like it would be a blast to see live music here. It had a real, authentic country BBQ atmosphere that I appreciate and certainly brings the crowds in. I went around noon and it got a little packed, as the space can be a bit limiting.
I had a spectacular beef sandwich! Unfortunately, the sauce was average… nothing spectacular that sort of took away from the great tender meat. Also, the battered fries are so unique and HUGE. I’ve never had anything like them.
I can’t wait to go back to try other items on their meat-​heavy menu.

Stopped in at 1:00 pm for lunch, not busy. Took 10 minutes before server came by. Ordered the little Walter with pulled pork. The pork was on the wet side and soft. No burned bits or any bark. It gave me the impression that it was cooked s couple of days ago. Honestly disappointed, very average bbq. The recorded music stopped playing for 10 minutes during my lunch. I know that they are a KC institution for blues but the food has slipped as well as the service.

Just visited B.B.‘s today for take out I ordered the Big Walters’s Mix Meat Sandwich, there is a significant difference in BBQ prepared by some nationalities, I pretty much know who prepared what. Some have an abundance of smoke flavor with a little twang and you remember where you got it from, some just put smoke flavor on the meat and in the beans and call it BBQ.
The portions were worth the money, beans could have cooked a little longer thicker, but they where tasty, little more seasoning on the batter fries and onion rings could have cooked a bit longer to get crispy. The BBQ sauce taste more like ketchup with some smoke and seasoning, not a fan.
Now from what I see on the reviews here, I should have ordered the burnt ends. I will try them in a couple of weeks and post my review.
But all in all they were friendly and courteous and I could return.

A blues song for a wonderful restaurant:
Well it’s Kansas City or bust
Just to get some barbeque
Don’t go anywhere else
Cuz Lawnside is for you
You’ll upset me baby
Yes you’ll upset me baby
And I’m telling you people
The sundae is something you really ought to eat
Well it’s beans and slaw
And of course that barbeque
Man it knocks me out
The way it’s served in a mason jar
It upset me baby
Yes it upset me baby
Like being hit by a falling tree
Barbeque what you do to me
Well I’ve tried to describe it
It’s hard to start
I’d better stop now
Because I’ve got a weak heart
There’s live music, baby
You can’t stop dancing, baby
Barbeque what you do to me

This place is definitely a good time.
Open sitting, good menu, fun atmosphere.
Beverages and beers good selections.
Wine is limited. .lol
This is a barbecue place. .had the smoked chicken wings, red beans and rice, barbecue Sunday, and pulled pork sandwich with batter dipped frech fries.
Everything was good.
Music was of good quality, not sure I’d we heard the house band, a few customers sung during open mic periods.
It was crowded, yet the kitchen was quick.
Had a good time.

The «Skillet Fries!!!» I used one of my hot sauce cups as a dipper, and I devoured them with no problem or hesitation. «A.»
“The Big One.” Well, it was a nice-​sized sandwich – true to its name. The turkey tasted boiled, however; while eating it, I was reminded of Arby’s – bland and lifeless. I am a HUGE fan of seasoning so I felt disappointed. The hot sauce I had added and the additional hot sauce as a dipper made the sandwich a lot more lively and flavorful. «D+», «C+» with hot sauce x2.
I enjoyed the down-​home feel. The greeter was exceptionally nice as well. One of the waitresses (I forgot her name) could teach a course on waiting tables and customer service. She was very warm, helpful, and engaging. She let me try things, paid attention to my reactions, made suggestions on where I can get more bangles and bracelets, and remembered my likes and acted accordingly. I noticed that there was a conversation going on about a hiring choice – this particular waitress avoided the conversation and instead stayed focus on me. Major cool points!!! I will go back just to interact with her and taste the chicken sandwich. She was absolutely the best part of my experience. Customer service = «A+.»
Overall, «B-​,» like 80.8.

If someone asked me to describe my optimal BBQ experience I would describe this place. Unassuming building off the road, memorabilia everywhere, friendly service, live music, and great BBQ!
There are a few booths, a whole lot of communal tables, and 2 or 3 high tops at the bar. We were lucky enough to snag one of the later which is probably one of the best seats in the house to watch/​listen to the band.
Food: We ordered the B.B.‘s Lawnside BBQ King Combo which came with sausage, 4 ribs, and choice of 2 other meats. We went with pulled pork and brisket. Sides were battered fries and pit beans. The ribs were the best part of the plate, they fell off the bone and were so tender. The brisket was cut super thin. The sausage was a close second favorite. It had that snap bite through the casing and delicious flavor with a bit of heat. The pulled pork was smokey, juicy, and slightly sweet.
Ambiance: ⁵⁄₅
Food: ⁴⁄₅
Service: ⁵⁄₅
«Not Renovated and under Old Management» basically «If it ain’t broke don’t fix it»!

This was my first time here and I’d have to say that I enjoyed it. The music and atmosphere are great! Lots of close seating at long tables, so it’s certainly possible you will make new friends. A couple of people in our group had the smoked catfish (a lenten special) and thought it was good but really smoky. I tried the gumbo and thought it had a nice kick to it, which I always like. Hubby shared the ribs with my brother in law and they seemed to really enjoy their choice. Overall, our group decided the food that night was a 3 but the music and atmosphere bumps it up to 4. Hubby has been there before for lunch and had always thought it was a 4 or 5 when he’s been there so we will definitely return for the music again soon and try some different dishes!

So good. Oh my god. Get the rice balls. So good. I got the smoked cat fish. Loved it. my wife got the beef tip burnt dinner. Truth be told. It was even burnt and tasted amazing. The bbq sauces at really sweet but also delicious.

So good! The burnt ends were amazing, as was the meatloaf but the star of show was the bread pudding. Great beer selection and live music most nights. There was a small cover but they let you add it to your tab! Great murals on the walls of famous blues musicians and fun bar feel that’s also family friendly if you’re driving through with a 1^st grader. The best part of BBs for me was the staff. Amazing, kind people with helpful suggestions. I’d recommend it to anyone.

B.B.‘s Lawnside BBQ is like my favorite pair of old sweat pants. They aren’t very attractive, I don’t have a chance to wear them very often, but they are probably the most comfortable item of clothing I own. When I lived in Kansas City several years ago I visited B.B.‘s on a regular basis. Now that my home is hundreds of miles away I can’t visit as often as I’d like, but I always look forward to their great food and relaxing atmosphere.
B.B.‘s hasn’t changed over the years, and for the most part, that’s a good thing. The interior is a little dark and a somewhat dated, but it has a fun honky-​tonk atmosphere which sets it apart from its newer and fancier counterparts in the area. It’s not the first place you think of when people mention KC BBQ, but the food is classic Kansas City — tender ribs, juicy burnt ends, and delicious bbq beans. The skillet fries are something you won’t find in most other restaurants — square cut potatoes fried with a crispy exterior. I always wish they offered plain old French fries when I order, but after I eat the skillet fries I remember how good they are.
Two things that make B.B.‘s particularly unique are the outstanding blues music you can catch here 6 nights a week plus Saturday afternoons, and their Louisiana Favorites — gumbo, red beans and rice, and jambalaya. BBQ, blues, and Cajun food in a fun casual honky-​tonk atmosphere — sounds like a perfect evening, doesn’t it?

Very nice servers. They will take care of you. Service is quick for early dinner, less than 5 min.
Their burnt end dinner is really good. The fat brisket chunks are super soft and tender. Full beefy flavor. The only ding is I don’t have any crispy pieces at all. 4*
The fries is large cut, fresh and crispy outside, slight powder inside. Golden arches can’t touch this. 5*
The pit bean is great. It is basically bath and cooked on their mild bbq sauce. If you love their sweetness and fruity bbq sauce, this beans will please u. 4*

I went to BB’s for dinner on Saturday with my sweetie. It’s not a fancy place, kind of a roadhouse vibe. Long rows of communal tables, and I have no idea how they fit bands in the narrow space left along one wall but apparently they manage.
We both had the smoked catfish — it seems to be lightly smoked and then thrown in the fryolator. It was delicious. It was not breaded but the brief frying, however they do it, crisped up the exterior a little. Moist and tender, well seasoned, slightly smoky: a whole fish sans skin and head. All fish tastes better cooked on the bone (to me) and catfish bones are pretty easy to remove or avoid. Except the finny bits on the edges which are delectable and you have to gnaw around bones a little to enjoy that part.
The coleslaw side was also good, not drenched in mayo, very crispy, tangy and refreshing. I didn’t care much about the potato wedge fries, though potato in all its forms is pretty good, but they are battered and my personal preference is a plain potato delivery. They were hot and crispy though, made with fluffy idaho-​type potatoes. I’ll be back for the catfish and slaw. The portions were huge, I had half a fish left over for lunch on Monday :)
We sat inside, because the patio was full, but really that was ok since the view from the patio (from opposite directions) is a car lot and an overgrown vacant lot. It’s a laid back place, good service, and seems like it would be a fun spot to eat and hear some tunes on a Saturday afternoon. On a rather derelict stretch of 85^th St just east of Troost.