Joe's KC BBQ — Restaurant in Olathe

$50 for two burnt end plates and 2 sodas. Burnt ends - as it says, in the name are supposed to be at least somewhat burnt and crispy. Longer cooking process render the fat from the meat. Leaving behind delicious, crispy edges, and chewy textured meat full of flavor. However, these “ Burnt ends” were cubes of fat globules that were bland and not even close to crispy. Whether or not you sauce your meat prior to pulling it off the grill is a matter of taste and opinion. But if you choose not to do that, (resulting in tasty, sweet and spicy caramelized sauce that’s baked into the surfaces of the burnt ends), Then you better damn, sure use enough dry rub prior to putting them on the grill to make sure that there is flavor left on the meat before you put it on a plate. This was not the case in this instance with our visit to this restaurant. Not only were they not burnt, and not caramelized; they were also bland.

Might also add that this restaurant asks For a tip paying. This always leaves me a little uncomfortable, especially on a first time visit when I didn’t know what to expect. You wait in line to place your own order at the front, wait in line to pay for your order, after which you are given your own cups, so you can get your own drinks, and then you The window to get your own food And bring it to a table that you find yourself. I can’t fathom the point of why they are asking for tips - nor who they would give the tips too??? We got our own drink refills, Our own sauces, our own place settings…. There was no service at all whatsoever.

Lastly, I’ll say that the restaurant is concrete floored, with no ceiling, tiles and hard surface seating, so there is nothing to dampen the music which is playing too loudly, when combined with restaurant ambient noise, diners shouting over each other, and the music, the clang of silverware and children yelling. It doesn’t make for a comfortable environment in which to have a nice conversation with your...

Kansas City continues to disappoint… Immediate impression when you try to park is “what moron runs this place?” based on the fact their parking lot is 50% dedicated to the Covid relic of curbside pickup.

Stood in a long line wondering why since BBQ requires all the cooking attention of a buffet. But that question was answered when I searched for a table. The restaurant is full of 6 person tables…most of which are more than half empty. Whatever brainiac is making parking lot decisions is also in the table business.

Let’s get to the menu…I immediately noticed the provision stating “adults ordering a children’s meal will be charged an extra $3”. Aside from the question of how many children are ordering for themselves, why the adult fee? This points to either kids meals that are too big or a bad value for adult meals.

Orders a $10 sliced brisket sandwich which didn’t come with a side. Now I see why customers order kids meals. I don’t know why they call it sliced since it’s deli shaved and has no real texture difference than chopped beef. It’s a way to hide poorly cooked and tough meat. And if you’re a true bbq place, don’t take liberties by saucing other peoples meat. D Brisket requires much more skill than pork and is why they slice the pork properly. But not the brisket.

The potato salad was…terrible. Here’s the recipe: for each cup of potato add 2 cups of mayo. F

The fries (from said kids meals) were frozen and were way too seasoned. D

Experience: F Terrible value. Poorly managed. Mediocre AT BEST

This is fast food bbq. And people who think McDonald’s makes great burgers will think this is good bbq, but my dog also doesn’t care too much about good food vs fast food.

Will not return, unless it’s to change some things. If you want decent bbq in Kansas City go to...

Copied from my Yelp review.

This review ain't gonna be popular and I couldn't have imagined writing it a year or two ago but.........I think I've spent my last money at Joe's KC.

Went there for an anniversary dinner before the movie tonight and was mostly disappointed in my meal. I ordered the two meat meal with brisket and sausage and wife ordered just the brisket dinner.

The only flavor I could taste in the cole slaw was the purple cabbage. The dressing was there but didn't contribute anything to the flavor profile. (I know....I know.......nobody goes to a BBQ restaurant for coleslaw. I'm only including it here because it was part of my meal that I took issue with.)

The brisket had almost no color beyond a kinda washed out greyish/beige-ish tan hue with just a hint of pink smoke ring at the very edge.

The sausage was the same condition with no evidence it had ever been in the smoker/pit at any time in its existence.

The biggest complaint, though, was the temperature of both of our meals. While they weren't cold, they were just barely above what I would call tepid. When you can pick up your meal with your fingers (which I did) and feel minimal to almost no heat, that's a problem.

While the sauce was good, that's not enough to come back for.

I don't know whether they've gotten complacent or are resting on their prior achievements or what but this isn't the Joe's KC I remember from prior visits, either here at Olathe or at the...