Harp Barbecue — Restaurant in Raytown

Harp’s bas been on my family’s BBQ bucket list for a while. Sadly, my family’s first visit was so disappointing that we will not return. Please read this review in fully transparent, comprehensive and honest experience at Harps BBQ.

The Service: We went on a Saturday at Lunchtime and when we arrived I saw the owner (Tyler Harp) and said hello. I had waited three years to eat at Harps, so I was looking forward to this. However, the fuzzy feelings quickly ended as when we went up to order there were no greetings or smiles from the staff/cashier, just dirty stares. My family and I were so excited to try the BBQ that I brushed this off. We tried some small talk to break the tension but the Cashier (Amanda) did not engage at all and just kept staring at us.

When ordering, I asked for Half Lean and Half Moist brisket, which is a standard request at every BBQ restaurant I have ever been to. The staff, including the owner (Tyler), began to mumble under their breath to one another and they all continued to stare at me as if I had just robbed them. What the heck!

I politely asked three times if there was an issue, and they all continued to silently stare at me with dirty looks. Finally, after several moments of awkward silence, one of the cooks spoke up and said they do not do half and half brisket. Such a strange and unprofessional way for an owner to handle this situation / act towards a paying customer.

We paid and sat down. The eating area was very scarce for a Saturday at prime Lunchtime as only two other families were eating there. We were served our food by the cashier, Amanda, and again we were met with no reciprocated smiles or greetings. She just plopped our trays down at the table, again, with a dirty look.

At this time I could no longer brush this terrible experience off. I asked Amanda if she was okay or if there was an issue that was possibly making the staff act this way, she said no. I informed her that the entire staff was being extremely rude and disrespectful and that it was very upsetting. No one came by to apologize for how we were treated, no one came by to make it right.

By this time, our meal was ruined. The entire staff was so disrespectful, unprofessional and rude that it was blatantly obvious that we were unwanted at this establishment. My family and I waited over three years to eat at Harps and I was beyond disappointed and shocked that Tyler not only allowed his staff to act this way, but also participated in this horrible experience.

During our meal, Tyler, who mind you was just at the front mumbling under his breath staring at me only moments ago, came by and sarcastically asked “how is the food?” I did not stoop to his level and ignored him. Tyler kept trying to stare me down throughout the meal as he walked by as he was visibly upset that I would not entertain his antics. What kind of owner does that to their customers? Disrespects them and then proceeds to Harass them?

The food: The food was not worth the trip / amount paid. We ordered platter meals but you pay a $2 up charge for two beef items bringing it to $27+tax for a two meat two side platter with pickles but no bread. The sides were all very bland and the brisket and burnt ends were both very salty and very fatty pieces that arrived at our table cold.

It is abundantly clear why there were so few people here. Their service was terrible and the food matched.

Don’t believe me? Just look at how the owner (Tyler) replies to constructive feedback within Google reviews. He arrogantly links a “KC’s top 30” restaurants list to anyone who has something constructive to say. Don’t let this list fool you, Harps has failed to maintain their customer base as even their cook said they have yet to sell out at their new location after turning their back on Raytown, MO.

They will butter up to influencers who make videos but if you are a regular paying customer be prepared to be...

Updat update. 3/13/24 it's been a year. Ok so I was double dog dare to try for a third time. So here I am.

I didn't get the platter, I didn't get a bunch of sides, I got one sandwich one side and a drink.

I ordered for dine-in. Burn-ends sandwich, potato salad, and a child size drink. $21.69.

The sandwich was fine. I don't mind their burn-ends. But as everyone knows their side suck something terrible. So I tried getting something different.

The potato salad. I thought it was very creamy and it was pretty darn good. They said they have changed a lot of things and that's why I'm there again. They also change their pickles, well, they actually got pickles. Before it was cucumbers that was pickled for like a week? Also they was purple and that was weird to me. That seems like a new trend with barbecue places but we're not getting into that.

The owner was there today for lunch. He seemed like a good guy, he answered all of our questions he seemed like he was dealing with stuff and that's okay he wasn't rude. My buddy thinks the girl that's always there (owners wife?) she never smiled. But she didn't bother me because she didn't take my order. I enjoyed my lunch and that's all I could say. I don't know if it's the place I want to go back to to spend $22 but, is someone really wants to go I guess I'll go.

In conclusion.. I'm assuming the owner has heard the people mention their sides, or add sides, or just hearing people finally? I'm not too sure, but he's very stern about how many things have changed and how things are still going to change, I don't know if that's going to help the customers or his business. I feel like with so many changes it might hurt the business. But hope not for his sakes. I also would like to mention that I don't know if anyone else has ever mentioned it, but he doesn't Cook his meats there. He cook preps all his meats on the days that the business is closed. Just put in consideration, the meats are not fresh, all the meats were cooked previously days in. (My assumption) So when they say they run out of meats, That's just my guess of why.

I could be wrong. 🤷

Update - 1/21/23 (2 months later)

Ordered to go. 1/2 pound burnt ends. 1/2 slab pork ribs. Side of sweet potatos. Price $40.66 no bread?

Start off. Was again, not warm.

They wasn't busy. Food came out fast! Sweet potatos was actually good? Had a nice sweet glaze. After 10 minutes of putting the meats in the oven to heat up the food.

Start with Burt ends. Actually decent. Wasn't dried out. Wouldn't say flavorish or greasy or fatty. Was actually decent!

Ribs.. so fatty. Grease filled dropping off the meat. Definitely NOT fall off the bone ribs. I don't understand how they won anything with these ribs. I ended up throwing the ribs away. Too much fat and grease for me.

We will not be good back. Good luck everyone else!

Signed. Mr Pickles

11/2022 Cash register lady was ok. Tables looked like pizza hut tables from the 80s. They also had patio tables as well in side.

The food: Cold. Dry. No flavor. I asked for extra pickles. They was pickled cucumbers 🤮 The cheesey corn was uncooked can corn with cheese soup poured over it. 🤮 Only had ONE BBQ sauce. Tasted like vinegar-watered down BBQ sauce.

As for prices . The $2 a can of Pepsi and $2 bottled water was amazing! The food was roughly $13 for a sandwich. The sides was $4. I'll attach the receipt to show how unworthy the prices, food overall.

I probably will never go back. They don't even have Mac and cheese.. or real basic thick sliced pickles. At a BBQ restaurant!!🤦 It's reminds me of a food truck that bought a spot and tried to make something bigger out of it.

I'm not sure who these other people hyping this place up.. must of been friends of the owners getting free cold and unseasoned food. 🤷

But if you hate seasoning and sauces or cheap places to eat. This...

GO TO HARP BARBECUE!!!

We've eaten at over 60 BBQ spots in KC. I've been waiting for the chance to try Harp, and my anticipation was justified! This is easily one of the best BBQ experiences I've had - if you're going off how meat is prepared.

This is not a restaurant, so you don't get that experience. You must order and pay in advance online, and it sells out, so it's best to get your order in before Wednesday. You pick up your food at a time designated by Harp on Saturday. Crane Brewing is next door, and they are pleased to allow you to eat your meal there. Otherwise, you're getting your food to-go. Also, the chef doesn't make any bones about it - he's not really into excelling at the sides. He is making arguably KC's best BBQ meat.

The smoke and the bark on this meat is perfection. I had a lot of leftovers and after a week of munching, I finally washed out the empty tins and you could still smell the smoke on the pans! These are hands-down the best ribs in KC. Online you have an option of "pulled pork" and "pork." I chose pork, but I got the same pulled pork my friend ordered. I was slightly disappointed, as I was expecting a thicker-sliced portion similar to what's submitted at the American Royal World Series of BBQ. The pork was tasty, tender, and moist; but it was the least smoke-flavored meat I tried. The brisket is cooked to perfection, and served thick-sliced. It is more fatty than what you may be expecting or used to with KC BBQ, as the chef doesn't cook it down like others do. It's worth the calories. I've had the pastrami before, in a ruben (see previous post, below); but I still ordered it so I could taste it plain. [PS I love that they do not serve their meat sauced.]

The BBQ sauce is very unique. It is not as sweet as a lot of BBQ places in KC. I'd like to see the chef make a spicy version, I think it could be quite excellent. It is a little vinegary respective to standard KC sauces, and there's a je ne sais quois about it that prompted me to go back to Harp to ask the chef about it.

I loved the pickles - clearly house made. They also offer cheesy corn, baked beans, twice-baked potato salad, etc. The baked beans were interesting...they were kind of like a cajun / red beans type flavor and texture.

2020 Review: I had the pastrami ruben sandwich that Harp is offering via a collab with the Antler Room during the pandemic. I had it a few weeks ago, via curbside. The process was very easily and they wore a mask to bring my food to the car and took my credit card over the phone so I didn't have to have an exchange at my car for this. This was the most excellent...