@MrGuyGuyGuy & @bbqboy: my dearest is arriving in KC tonight (landing at 7:30pm), after having missed his connecting flight in D.C. 
Any bbq places you can recommend that are not too far from the Raphael hotel? He’s happy to uber, since it’s gonna be colder than a witch’s teat 
Ideally open late enough that he can get some food. I see Jack Stack is nearby, but closes at 9pm, which might be pushing it…
Thank you for any input. He’s already got a work dinner tomorrow & is leaving Friday, so tonight’s the night, so to speak 
PS: any opinions on Stock Hill or 801 Chophouse?
ETA: never mind the chophouse. Prices are insane.
I’d say Jackstack is the best option for bbq. The center cut rib bbq is the best thing they do. I’d see how things go with the flight. If it looks like you can’t get there by 8:30 I’d recommend Char Bar which is nearby in Westport and open until 11. It’s a laid back open space with bar games, an outdoor area patio etc. bbq was good when I went there previously but it was 6-7 years ago.
Thank you so much! 
Landing at 7:30 IF all goes well 
might make it impossible for him to make it there in time — OTOH, no checked bag & a driver to pick him up. Maybe he should just go straight to the restaurant from the airport?
I’ll pass on your suggestion for Char Bar once he lands in D.C. and we can communicate again
One more option is Gates on Main, 2 miles away from the hotel. Burnt ends are good. Closes at 10.
ThankYouYouYou, too 
If that’s the case, he can probably make it by 8:30. I recommend you meet him at the freight house location which is about 5-10 min closer to the airport and historically has better food and atmosphere than the plaza. This will be a short 5-7 min ride for you from the Plaza.
I decided to sit this one out, so he’s all by himself. And he wants to drop off his bags at the hotel first, so… I passed along the ‘late(r) night’ options. Thanks again for all your help!
You are just a few blocks from here.
Also:
Thank you, passed it along to tha man who is still in Dulles
He ended up ordering delivery from Char Bar. Temp could’ve been better, no doubt, but he really enjoyed the burnt ends and the 3 sauces they came with. Loved the beans.
Thanks again so much! He was starving after a long day, and this really hit the spot
Looks great! Temp is a peril once delivery is concerned. Well made beans are a beautiful thing!
Yes, unfortunately! Glad the quality of the meal made up for that.
Had leftovers for breakfast, which presumably were even colder
Next morning cold bbq is right up there with next morning cold pizza.
That’s a hard no to both from me. I woulda gotten room service instead.
Your mention of André’s and the mention of Gates BBQ really took me down memory lane. I was born and spent my early years in KC suburbs in the late 70s, early 80s and went to primary school in KC.
Andre’s was the go to for my first generation Indian immigrant parents for special occasion sweet treats. My dad absolutely adored the Napoleon pastry. My mom worked in KC and used to go to Gates BBQ with her colleagues sometimes. I also fondly remember the House of Toy, a Chinese restaurant at the Country Club Plaza - I used to sit on a booster seat boosted further by a Yellow Pages telephone book in a leatherette booth and felt so fancy nibbling on the spare ribs!
End of may, we’ll be in Kansas City for four or five days. My wife will be occupied appraising Destination Imagination teams, which leaves me free to pursue my own time-honored method of civic engagement: wandering around and eating.
Many years ago, right after college, a friend handed me a copy of American Fried. Reading Trillin’s love letter to Kansas City’s restaurants helped tip the scales toward a job offer that included a six-week(!) training program there. I spent those weeks diligently eating my way through Trillin’s favorite haunts. An ex-pro football player also took us to what he called “the places Black people eat,” which, in the end, were, as even Trillin might have conceded, even better than Trillin’s picks.
I haven’t been back in, good Lord, forty-five years. It seems only fitting to return in the spirit of public service and work my way through the city’s restaurants once again.
Best,
