Q39 - Midtown — Restaurant in Kansas City

Note: I never asked for the sauce to be on the side, it just happened that way due to a higher quality of customer service that I always appreciated! Lately the quality has dwindled however.

Recently I had an incident where they gave me the poutine with everything already on it, and I luckily checked before I left the parking lot. I had asked to speak to a manager because I noticed the quality of food and service was poor and I wanted to be heard. Well, that ended up turning into a not-so-kind conversation with one of the managers in which the man told me I was “being difficult”. So I left it alone, went home a bit devastated and disappointed as I feared my favorite barbecue spot was slowly descending the ladder into mediocrity.

I called and spoke to another manager Brett about the experience I had and he was very understanding and happy to help me, and encouraged that the restaurant had its own standards that it wanted to uphold and I was able to order something from them the very next day.

So that next day, I ordered the SAME thing I usually get because I’m a fiend, and I got all the way home only to realize I HAD NO BARBECUE SAUCE. For my barbecue. At that point I started to wonder if I had haters in the kitchen because, well, how many times do you order barbecue sauce and leave with no barbecue when it’s actually the one ingredient that blends all the flavors together? I called that night to let them know and to try and find some kind of resolution. The woman voice told me that a manager would call me shortly. I never received that call.

The next day, because I couldn’t get over it and I’m a difficult person, I called yet again and spoke to a manager. Really, I just wanted to speak to someone who could help me rectify my issue because I reeeally loved poutine. But I had some dry ass sauceless poutine the night before that left a dry spot in my heart. The manager was so kind, it wasn’t Brett, but it was another person who was willing to remake my food because it wasn’t done to my satisfaction, and it was bomb, nobody forgot anything and it was done perfectly. Happy Sunny.

Here we are, today. As a creature of habit I ordered the same thing today. Poutine!!! When I tell you… They packaged me a container of fries. A container of gravy. A container of cold cheese curds. A container of herbs. A container of barbecue sauce. A container of beef. Basically someone said “Oh, that b-tch wants poutine she can make it herself!!” Literally I’ve never ordered it and received it like this. Ever. I feel culinarily attacked. That’s why I feel like something is missing and peculiar about the service here. And now that I’m calling again I was told by Brett that I couldn’t order it again.

Goodbye Poutine, nobody wants to see us together.

RIP 2024

Edit 12/12/24: After my less than satisfactory experiences I was told I would get a refund for my order. But the level of customer service had already gone to the point of making it look as though I requested everything on the side which I didn’t. I was advised to order the sauces on the side but I was literally given a take home “cook-it-yourself- poutine. Thats what this picture is and that’s NOT EVER what I’ve asked for in the past. The manager Brett, told me “they cant do anything to please me because everytime I order something is wrong” and that’s completely unfair to me as a customer and I just wonder if I was different customer would they talk to me this way. I’ve ordered the same thing for years and have never had an issue, so what’s so different about now? I don’t come there for anything else and this is how they treat me? If they’re going to try and paint me as a difficult customer because I Received the wrong order clearly something is off with management. I order here too much for this level of blatant disregard and...

I want to start off by saying that this is my favorite barbecue restaurant in Kansas City. Kansas City truly does have the best barbecue in the country and probably the world.

This review is going to be a little less conventional. I went to Q 39 and formally Oklahoma Joe’s Now KC Joe’s within two days of each other. To get a true comparison.

Both of these restaurants, while both being barbecue actually have quite different styles and different side options. I highly recommend eating at both.

They both cooked the meat to perfection. Ribs- Joes timing was perfect on how long to cook the ribs. These are great with or without their world famous sauce. Q39 left there ribs in just a little longer and while lathered in sauce still had an amazing smoked aftertaste and you could taste the meat still (not just sauce)

Burnt ends - Q39 did these a little different than most and it turned out great. The fat was perfectly rendered and mixed in with the meat. Both stores burnt ends were extremely tender. KC Joes had more of the traditional style burnt ends with the bark and fatty sections. While traditional they were still cooked to perfection and tasted far better than most BBQ places.

MAC - I want to say that both Macs were amazing! They both went far above the norm and out classed even your fancy Italian Macaroni’s. They both had several different cheeses breadcrumbs and their own special sauces. I would not put one over the other. While being 70% the same they still came out with 2 different results. Q39 had more of a creamy consistency, which also came out in the taste. I also believe that there’s is probably baked before it is smoked. KC Joes Mac had your more conventional cheesy and salty taste.

Sides - I tried a variety of sides at both places. Here are the high points or the must haves. Q39 - The Potato Salad. I am not usually one who enjoys potato salad very much. However theirs was surprisingly refreshing it took me straight back to thinking about old family recipes. It did not have your usual mayo taste. it contained essences of thyme and was smooth. The baked beans - these were done very well and had a slightly more elegant flavor to them. They were not as sweet as usual and had more of a peppery taste to them. Maybe even cayenne. Whatever it was the taste was amazing. KC Joes - The Gumbo. While this is a KC restaurant this tasted like it was straight out of the French quarter in New Orleans. Just the right blend of meat, beans, okra, spices, textures, and flavor Red beans and rice - I have always been a sucker for red beans and rice. They raised the bar. It was perfectly blended with just a touch of spice.

Summary - These two restaurants truly have no competition out there other than your competition BBQ guys that come out for the American Royal World Series of BBQ. In the end I would give the following ratings out of 5: Q39- 4.71 KC Joes - 4.58

The difference for me was 2 things. The first I think Q39 spent a little bit more on there meat. The second being the rib. I don’t know how they did it but Q39s rib was shear perfection. I’ve never had such amazing layers of flavor.

One more shout out for Q39. They have the best waitress I have ever had. Megan. She was perfectly friendly, had amazing suggestions, and was on top of our drinks and ensuring our satisfaction....

This review is so long over due. It’s been a month and I still can’t get this place off my mind! My husband and I are from Hawaii. He has training in in Ft Leonard Wood and I flew up to visit him and get him settled since it’ll be his home for 6 months. He takes me out on the weekends and said we’re going to Kansas City! I did my research and found this place. However, I found this and Joe’s! We’re fans of this kind of food. Hawaii is not a place you can find a spot like this and I said let’s hit both! Joe’s was great! But this!!!!! Best MEAT I’VE EVER PUT IN MY MOUTH!!!!! We came on a Sunday. Very busy! Chiefs were playing. Yes…. This review is over due. But what I’ve been through. You’ll understand. I was bed ridden! But I really can’t stop thinking about this place and I’m craving it! Anyway, I checked in. The hostess were great! I told her I’m from Hawaii, please walk me through this. Do I check in with you or online. So sweet. She checked me in. 10 minutes less I feel. We got a table! It was packed though! Maybe I was only 2 people. Seated us and our server was the biggest sweetheart! Dharma! I had to get her name. She was the sweetest. Told her please help me out because I want everything on the menu. But help me break it down to where I can. Told her I’m visiting and I tell me what can I do. Ohh she narrowed it down and told us what normally sells out and we got everything she recommended. Everything we COULD eat. Burnt ends. Ribs. Brisket. Pulled pork. Fries. OMFG THE MAC AND CHEESE! It was amazing!!!!! Everything was so good! I wish I could eat more and other things! A manager came by. He asked if everything was going well. Of course I ended up going on and on about the staff, the food and the service and how great it is to stop here as our last stop before we went back to Ft Leonard wood. He stayed and chatted with us and looked at our plate and said you really have to try our coleslaw too! He brought it out for us and I swear he was just amazing! It was great slaw! But he stayed and talked to us for a bit more and told us how it started and what they do. All I could think about is how much he loves his job and he carries it with so much pride! Like he owns the joint. I started to be a little suspicious if he was the owner. But he mentioned he works there for years! Adam! Handsome guy too! Very passionate about what the do there. I love the ambiance and looked around at the staff. Everyone loves it there. They love their job and their customers and the customers love it there with the respect of turning over so quickly too! The whole place vibes great energy and it shows. Pair it with the food and you’ll have the best experience all the time! My husband graduates in June and I’m coming in May because I need another weekend at Q39! I’m craving!!!!! Great experience! You guys should check it out! You won’t be disappointed. It’s competition style bbq! It doesn’t get any better! This place is fricken LEGIT!!!!!! Thank you Q39 for the amazing experience! You are...