I'm a Kansas boy raised on BBQ. And Kansas City boasts some of the BEST BBQ joints in the world! A bit of a problem though, I'm also diabetic. Eating right is always a challenge and that makes enjoying those sauces and sides even more challenging. I've compiled a list of 85 restaurants and food trucks in and around Kansas City that bill themselves as Kansas City BBQ. I am going to visit them all on this blog and do my best to stick to a diabetic-friendly diet (but I might cheat a little).
This is my quest!
Yes, I know, this one is not in Kansas City. It's not even on my list, but here we go!
Sometimes, road trips are necessary. This particular one took me to Columbia, Missouri. Naturally, I typed BBQ into Google and came up with plenty of exciting options. I drove a little out of the way and found an unassuming facade sharing the same foundation with a gas station. If Joe's made it work, why not here too?
The secret was extra parking in back!
Once inside, we found the menu to have....well, everything.
The atmosphere was part down-home BBQ and part college sports. They even had a Wall of Fame for a hot dog eating challenge. Five dogs in five minutes. Sounds simple enough, but that's not why I was there.
Did I mention my brother was with me on this adventure? We were able to sample a little bit more of the menu than I would have by myself. So we went with two appetizers: fried okra and Portabella mushroom fries. The okra was your standard fare, but paired with Alabama White Sauce. If you haven't had it, think of a basic vinegar BBQ sauce with horseradish and about a cup of mayonnaise. As our server said, "It's life changing." The Portabella fries were nice thick slices of the deep-fried mushroom top. No mouth burning here like your typical fried mushrooms. They had a half or full option and good thing we went with the half order.
A special section of the menu is dedicated to mac & cheese sandwiches. Yes, they thought it was a good idea to put mac & cheese on garlic toast. They were right! This particular serving came with burnt ends, but they offer 8 crazy options.
For me, I went with the Sampler. which basically meant I had a taste of everything. And yes, I went with the house cut fries. My blood sugar numbers were good, so I splurged a little. That meant I got to try both the Alabama white sauce and the house made spicy BBQ sauce. Both good. My only complaint here was the plate (or pizza pan, rather) being too small. My food kept falling onto the table. All of the meats were good, but middle-of-the-road. Nothing really exploded with flavor, but all were tender and juicy. The real winners were the ribs. Lots of meat on the bone, nice and smokey. I liked the flavor of the sausage, but the casing did not have that snap. Parts of it were too chewy to eat. I'll admit I don't know enough about sausage to know if that was because of how it was cooked or how it was packed.
In summary, a good experience with friendly staff. I would go back to try the brisket mac & cheese or the smoked BLT.
Check them out online or jump in the car for that road trip!
The restaurant says: We are a family owned and operated BBQ restaurant located in Columbia, Mo. With a fun and friendly atmosphere, we provide a dining experience that is without peer. Our family always had a vision of a restaurant we wanted to open, and we dreamt that someday we would make it a reality. We even used to brainstorm it and taste test recipes at our family gatherings. Today, our dreams are unfolding and coming to life every day at Como Smoke and Fire! We are proud of what we have created, and all of our extended family is here at the restaurant. Como Smoke and Fire is our second home and we hope it’ll become yours as well. We look forward to seeing you here.
About the Foodie: After spending almost 15 years in Florida, Mark has returned home to Kansas. He has achieved some success as a Kindle Best Seller and having one of his short stories selected as a winner in the Florida Writer's Association Short Story Collection. Growing up in Kansas, Mark graduated from Sumner Academy of Arts and Sciences and received his Bachelor's in Film from the University of Kansas. Mark has written numerous novels, screenplays, short stories and digital series. Inspirational stories with positive messages are his goal with everything he writes. Find Mark's books with keyword "MillerWords" on Amazon or other online book retailers and connect on Facebook.
This is not a paid review. I am an independent customer expressing a non-biased opinion.
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