Grinders

smc143

Missouri

3.78/5  rDev -8.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4 | $$

I work down in the Crossroads neighborhood, so I go to Grinder's more often than my waistline would like. Like today, for example. A co-worker mentioned Philly Cheesesteaks, and I couldn't say no. A Cheesesteak and Welsh Bitter Ale later, and I am ready for a nap! So good....

Since Stretch is also a metal sculptor, the decor is a mix of diner and metal works. The staff gets overwhelmed at lunchtime, when everyone streams in, but the wonderful food is worth it. We sat at the "bar" and watched the pizzas & calzones getting put together, and the attention to detail is awesome. PIzza is a faster lunch option than cheesesteak, if you are in a hurry, but if you're sipping a beer, why rush?

01-12-2007 20:57:21 | More by smc143

Realale

Missouri

3.95/5  rDev -4.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5 | $$

Different space - nice mix of bar seating, booths, tables and a big cargo door open at back which leads to some tables outside. With both doors open on this nice Spring day, a good cross breeze kept the air inside fresh and lovely. Seemed to be populated by a lot of regulars, but they weren't a chatty sort. On both visits, I was left to actually work ::shudder:: while I ate and drank.

Solid selection. Expected good selection of Boulevard, some Schlafly, a good dose of Arcadia including a couple of the big beers, and a smattering of interesting bottles. I helped myself to multiple pints of Bully! Porter (which we rarely see on draft in St. Louis) and a Houbulon Chouffe. All were in fine condition.

I was disappointed though that there were no quality lagers on the list, and very few hoppy beers at all, and puzzled by the complete lack of Bell's, New Belgium, and Odell's. One other nit is that the beer list was hopelessly out of date (and had McEwan's Scotch Ale listed under "Ireland"!) - generally not too big a deal, but the taps were split into two clusters at opposite ends of the bar, and the tiny beer fridge was difficult to get a peek into without pushing my way through people sitting at the bar.

Food was okay, with the house salad being well above average, and the pizza a bit below. Cheesesteak was a definite step up on the pizza.

Service has been truly excellent. I sat at the bar, and the tenders and cooks kept my beer filled without my asking, but not hovering, and kept me well stocked with condiments and water refills.

03-14-2007 00:35:24 | More by Realale

hwwty4

Missouri

3.98/5  rDev -3.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$$$

I've had the opportunity to stop here a couple of times now, so I feel like its time to formally write a review of it. The first thing to know is, its not the easiest place to find. Its not very well marked, and kind of on a side street. The first thing you notice when you walk in is the very artsy feel. The owner is an artist on the side and he created a really cool, funky place. The service has always been all right. They will bring you a beer if they notice that your out, but the wait staff really isn't that attentive, but it kind of fits the place. The food here is excellent. Whether having a pizza or a Philly (with Cheez Whiz), the food is outstanding. I've never had a bad or average meal here.

But onto the beer. Their selection is great. They have just about everything that you could want in a beer bar from Missouri. If it's available, then it's going to be there. Hell they even have a Geuze on the menu. The problem is that Geuze it 14 dollars. Everything is pricey here. They have beers that cost $8.50 for a 10oz pour that will cost $4.50 at another local beer bar. I know they probably have high rent, but that extra 4 bucks will buy another pint elsewhere. I find that this is a really cool place to bring friends too but not to go on a regular basis to throw back a couple of pints (unless your drinking the $1 draws or $3 pitchers of Natty Light).

05-08-2008 14:36:38 | More by hwwty4

TrippnFiasco

Kansas

3.98/5  rDev -3.9%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

This place is a complete dive, and it is awesome for that reason. The building is pretty run down and not only are there posters, pictures, and signs randomly placed all over the walls, they are nailed to the floor as well (making for some uneven terrain). 'Booth' tables have old airline seats and other rundown chairs, which adds to the style of the place. The servers weren't insanely friendly, but they do their jobs and don't ignore you. The pizza is great, as are the sandwhiches (meatball and philly). They definitely have a good beer selection, but the large majority (35+) are in bottles, only about 10 are on tap. This place constantly has concerts coming through during the summer that play right out back in the big lot. Definitely worth checking out if you are in the area.

06-23-2010 05:12:41 | More by TrippnFiasco

homebrewhawk

Kansas

4/5  rDev -3.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$

We stopped in after visiting the World War I Museum. Funky, arty atmosphere.

They had a great selection of taps. I saw Boulevard, Arcadia, Delerium Tremens, and some Unibroue. They had an extensive bottle list including German and Belgian brews. The menu said they held beer tastings on Thursdays.

I had a cheesesteak and a Blanche de Chambly in authentic glassware. I was driving so I only had one beer. My son had the New York style pizza, and it looked pretty good. I would definitely come back if I was in the neighborhood.

This would be a good place to visit if you were in the downtown area. Union Station, Crown Center, Municipal Auditorium or the soon to open Sprint Center.

03-22-2007 01:04:06 | More by homebrewhawk

bahua

Missouri

4.05/5  rDev -2.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 2.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5 | $$$

Grinders is, by far, my favorite bar in Kansas City. Anton and Stretch are always eager to please, and will listen to any requests for new beers. I have seen no place in the KC area that has assembled quite as great a tap selection as there is at Grinders.

The selection is a rotating set of beers that are intentionally difficult to find. Grinders was the first bar in KC to offer selections on tap from Quebec's excellent Unibroue brewery, including the delectable Maudite. After seeing the success they enjoyed by offering these beers, several other bars in the city took the hint, and started carrying them too.

The selection of taps that can be found elsewhere is every Boulevard beer, PBR, Guinness, Boddington's. Beyond that, the remaining 12 handles dispense beers that are either completely unique to Grinders, or were when they first appeared there.

The sculpture garden in the back is fun to walk around in the more pleasant months, and the view of the Crown Center skyline from the picnic tables is also unique.

They make the best Philly cheesesteak in KC, with bread shipped in daily from Philadelphia, and their New York-style pizza is not to be missed. But if you get some pizza, bring a friend, and split a whole pie, because otherwise you'll be getting a slice that's just been sitting under a heat lamp.

I say this to all my friends when we go to Grinders:

"Every time I come here, it makes me hate every other bar even more."

Grinders just does it right.

07-23-2006 01:33:29 | More by bahua

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.05/5  rDev -2.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

I loved the divey/artsy vibe of this place seemed like a great hang out/nosh sort of place. We were there for lunch & the place was kid friendly enough as well. Loved all the art & general attitude of the place

All beer beers served were tasty & fresh

Service was friendly & pretty attentive

Pretty good selection of draft, had a Hebrew Jubilator, Bear Republic Racer Red & a Schaffly Coffee stout. They also had a fairly modest bottle selection

The menu was varied & warrants another trip. We had the wings & the crab Rangoon, I liked them both.

I thought prices were pretty reasonable for food & beer

04-03-2010 03:39:28 | More by russpowell

bditty187

Nebraska

4.08/5  rDev -1.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 5 | $$

I visited Grinder’s on a chilly Saturday afternoon around 2pm. The long, narrow restaurant was a mix of indie rock, garage, art deco, and hipster cool. Honestly, that is not a mixture I’m “familiar” with but I was going to roll with it. The bar/counter is stationed to the right upon entering with booths on the opposite wall and back room, there really isn’t much seating. High ceilings, smallish, dirty bathrooms. The overall vibe lacked warmth but it had charm and it was relaxing.

I was kind of surprised how busy it was but it cleared out by the time we left. We seated ourselves and after five minutes or so our waitress arrived. She took our drink and food order. I got a goat cheese and smoked salmon pizza and it freaking rocked! Tara’s pizza, she said, was very good too. The basket of fries were bland. It took a long while before our beers arrived. I got a Delirium Tremens (on-tap) and later a Rogue Morimoto Imperial Pilsner (on-tap). Both beers were awesome too. Tara got an Arcadia IPA, it was fair. Our waitress started off poorly but she became more attentive. She was helpful and nice.

It seems like they rotate beers a lot. The beer menu was very respectable but I was expecting a little more. To me this is a restaurant with good beer and not a beer bar. That is okay. Prices were a bit higher then I’d pay in Omaha.

It was apparent early in my visit that I’d have to return because clearly the charm of this place could not be captured in one trip. I truly enjoyed the food (and beer). Still, though, I yearn for a true beer bar in KC. This is close. It really is.

Recommended.

12-05-2006 16:31:28 | More by bditty187

bfields4

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev -1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $$

Really fun atmosphere, but wouldn't come here if your looking for a nice quite pint. Always busy every time I've came here. The decor is very cool artsy rustic look. The bar tenders and cooks are usually running around in a frenzy, so no time to ask questions, but have always been very friendly none the less. The selection of beers here is on par with most of KC's best. They always have more than enough to quench even the most picky BA's thirst. In my opinion this is also some of the best pizza in Kansas City. By the slice is great, and if you've got the appetite or the man power to get a specialty pizza they're phenomenal.

(Best place in KC to come for a concert too with the Crossroad's in the back!)

07-21-2009 16:25:10 | More by bfields4

Billolick

New York

4.28/5  rDev +3.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $$

Loved this place. Casual, down and dirty road house athmosphere, eclectic and funky stuff/junk all over the place,large out door/concert space in the rear with wooden benches, in short this is not a chain, not a formula place, its real and alot of fun. Plenty of quality beer choices, see their web site for the details

http://grinderspizza.com/index.php?/grinders/beerlist/

food, was down to earth, spiced up and tasty, the jalopeno fueled philly cheese steak was off the hook.

My kind of place, down to earth, gritty, funky, fun, all with great beer and food...If in KC, be sure to visit-you will be happy you did

08-07-2009 13:14:30 | More by Billolick