In search of Kansas City BBQ, lighter Valentine’s dinners and old-time restaurants
Robinson’s is ready for KC transplants
Hey, Bud! Is there any Kansas City-style barbecue around here?
—Chiefs fan
Robinson’s Bar-B-Que, 1028 E. Berry St. near Interstate 35W, features the barbecue style that co-founder J.W. Robinson learned working at Gates Bar-B-Q in KC. The sauce is thicker and sweeter than most, and the rub is different. Try a whole hickory-smoked chicken, the hot-and-spicy pork or spicy ribs.
Dining light on Valentine’s night
Hey, Bud! I don’t want steak for Valentine’s Day. What else is out there?
—New to Texas
Years ago, Star-Telegram readers voted Steak & Ale “most romantic.” But we’re not quite so beefy now — there’s a salmon special at Clay Pigeon or Ellerbe Fine Foods, lobster ravioli at Piattello or grilled trout at Provender Hall. Toro Toro has a halibut special, and Reata has a take-home spinach-chicken roulade dinner. See the midweek Eats Beat for more ideas or star-telegram.com/eatsbeat. (Order takeout by Feb. 12.)
Oldest buildings: Original, Jambo’s, Bailey’s
Hey, Bud! You said Carshon’s Deli is the oldest restaurant. What about the Jambo’s in Arlington that used to be Arlington Steak House?
—Cliff, Arlington
Jambo’s, 1724 W. Division St., is billed as the county’s second oldest restaurant building and is throwing the building a 90th birthday party with cake Monday. But Bailey’s Bar-B-Que, 826 Taylor St., might be the second oldest — it also opened in 1931. (The oldest restaurant in the same location is The Original Mexican Eats Cafe, 1930.)
This story was originally published January 27, 2021 at 5:45 AM.
