We're going to KC next month and will be staying in the Downtown Crown Center area. Any recommended restaurants in the area? We like Mexican, BBQ, Chinese, and other type of foods.

Thank you in advance!

There are a number of BBQ joints around town (and out of town) that are worthwhile. I would personally stay away from the "named" places like KC Masterpiece and ask around for the lesser named joints. Some that come to mind are Fiorella's Jack Stack, Smokehouse, Zarda, etc.

Those BBQ places that are lesser-known to visitors like me are the good places where locals go. I can vouch for Gates (near Crown Center on Main Street), Arthur Bryant's and Fiorella's Jack Stack. All three are very good but different from each other.

Fiorella's has a nice place in the Freight House building near 22nd St. and Baltimore Ave. It's next to Lidia's (an Italian restaurant) and is more of a family-type of restaurant than most BBQ places.

Other K.C. suggestions:

Hannah Bistro -- a good but casual place, locally owned, lots of good French bistro cooking plus other stuff. It's on W. 39th St. near State Line, not far from CC.

Zin -- around 19th and Main St., kind of an eclectic cooking place. A little more upscale but casual enough.

Grand Street Cafe -- near the Plaza, not far from CC. Good eclectic menu.

Broadway Cafe + Roastery -- superb local coffee house, near Pennsylvania and 40th St., just north of the Plaza. It's right next to a Starbucks and much, much better. They have light breakfast stuff, but definitely go for the great espresso, lattes and regular coffee.

Well, we tried a few of the favorites in KC. First we went to Arthur Bryants, which was OK....They give you ALOT of food but I didn't care for the sauce. We ate around 11:30am and were FULL for the rest of the day. I like Gates BBQ best...the meat was season well, but the mild sauce was on the hot side. We also went to this place called First Watch for breakfast.....EXCELLENT!! They're only open for breakfast, brunch and lunch.

www.firstwatch.com (http://www.firstwatch.com)

First Watch is rabidly popular in the Kansas City area. My mom loves the place, but you have to go EARLY to avoid a significant wait for a table.

As for BBQ: Arthur continues to thrive on its name, but really doesn't deliver a great product anymore. Fiorella's has stepped up as the best BBQ experience in town, IMHO. I still like Gates for a quick lunch sandwich (I like their spicy sauce), and even KC Masterpiece (corporate as it is) does lunch pretty well. But when I want to sit down and get acquainted with a full slab and 4-5 beers, Fiorella's is tops for my money.

To escape the BBQ/steak genre, go to Lidia's near Union Station or Frondizi's on Main Street. Both of those are good Italian joints.