Gates & Sons Bar-B-Q

Let me first say that Gates & Sons was my first job as a teen, 34 yrs ago. I was trained by Mrs. Gates! Anywho, Gates has the best flavor in meat & sauces. The meat on the chicken wings just falls off the bone, mmph, mmph, mmph! I've been a patron of Gates for over 30 yrs. and like most restaurants they fall off a little. The meat can be fatty at times but us KC natives know how to order! We just tell 'em ""make it lean as possible, please"" and it's never a problem. Ciao...gotta go get some of them wings! :) Pros: The sauce is the bomb-diggity & the chicken wings are great! Cons: They're not perfect and on a bad day meat can be fatty. more

ON A RECENT SATURDAY NIGHT , I ORDERED FROM THE INDEPENDENCE MO, LOCATION. UPON ARRIVING AT HOME WITH FAMILY MY DAUGHTER WAS EATING BEEF MADE IN TO A SANDWICH FROM A MIX PLATE. SHE STARTED GAGING AND UP CAME A STUD EARRING THAT WAS IN THE BEEF. WE WERE TOTALLY SHOCKED. UPON CALLING THE STORE THE MANAGER OFFERED VIRTUALLY NO HELP, AND SAID WE COULD BRING BACK THE FOOD. NO APOLOGY/NO CONCERN. I EXPLAINED WE LIVED A WAYS FROM THE LOCATION AND IT WAS ALREADY AFTER 10:00PM. I FROZE THE FOOD AND THE FOLLOWING MONDAY CALLED THE HEALTH INSPETOR, MADE A COMPLAINT. THE PERSON AT THE HEALTH INSPECTOR TALKED AS IF HE WAS ON THE GATES PAYROLL. WITHIN A FEW HOURS I RECIEVED A CALL FROM THE RESTAURANT AND WAS TOLD TO BRING THE FOOD IN. THE NEXT DAY I BROUGHT THE FOOD IN AND THEY REFUNDED ME MY MONEY, AND I TOLD THEM I WANTED TO TALK TO SOMEONE FROM COPORATE. A WEEK AND A HALF WENT BY WITH NO CALL. I CALLED MYSELF AND SPOKE TO ONE OF THE OWNERS. I WAS TREATED AS IF I HAD PUT THE STUD IN THE FOOD MYSELF. NO REAL APOLOGY AND NO REAL ATTEMPT TO CARE ABOUT THE SITUATION. I TOLD THEM THAT IF THIS WAS ANY OTHER COMPANY SUCH AS APPLEBEE'S, I WOULD HAVE HEARD FROM SOMEONE. I WAS INFORMED THAT THEY ARE NOT APPLEBEES. THE TOTAL LACK OF CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ATTITUDE FROM THIS COMPANY WAS UNBELIEVABLE. THEY JUST WANT TO MAKE A BUCK AND LIVE ON THE LEGACY OF THE COMPANY! more

I had a slab of Ribs and my wife had a Beef sandwich. both were more than we could finish in one setting. ribs didn't need any sauce to make them better. I like it best of all the BBQ i've tried in KC Area. this Location was on 40 Hwy in Independence. Staff had an Attitude but Dinning room Service was Excellent.! would go again and take friends. Highly recomend it. Tried several things at a party is what made me go there. Pros: Great Ribs and Sandwiches, good dining Room Service Cons: Poor counter service, lack of attention to order had to repeat and monitor what we ordered. Dark Dining room more

I brought a friend from New York back to Kansas City for the weekend and we ordered $80 worth of Burnt Ends, Ribs, and sides. When we opened the food at the Chief's game we were horrified to find a box of burnt fat instead of the lean burnt ends I was used to, as well as the fattiest ribs I've ever seen in my life. I was determined to get my friend Kansas City Barbeque before sending him back to New York, and now I'm completely embarrassed for wasting our money. We would have been better off with hotdogs at the stadium! Pros: Great location for football games Cons: Horrible food, embarrassing representation of Kansas City BBQ more

You are looking at over $10.00 for a sandwich fries and drink. Need to up grade thier meat. Pros: great sauces, nice place, good parking Cons: meat is fatty, cost more

I have traveled all over the world with the military and when I was pregnant (that was 33 years ago) I lived in KC... My brother-in-law introduced me to Gates and I have craved it ever since. the sauce is superb...the fries are great...and the meats are a religous experience!!! Not pretentious...IT IS WHAT IT IS...if I could eat it every day I would! It is by far the best BBQ I have ever tasted! Pros: Great food,, Meaty, Wonderful service Cons: Waiting when busy more

Gates by far is the BEST BBQ. In a town known for our BBQ they are certainly the best. The meat cuts are typically lean and generous. I highly recomend the turkey sandwich or Gates famous Short End Ribs! The sauce is the BEST in town, but is considered a bit spicy. If you do not like the kick, they offer a sweet and mild version. The charm of the restaurant is very unique. From the ""Hi May I Help You"" yell when you walk in the door, to the staff clearing your table, the restaurant is GREAT! Pros: BBQ, Good Parking more

Friends who knew I came to KC in search of great 'cue told me I must go to Gates. I must admit I was sorely disappointed. I ordered ""short end,"" which they didn't have at the time, changed to ""long end,"" and was disappointed that the ribs were not meaty or smoky and they were smothered in sauce, and not great sauce at that. Pros: speed of service, selection of beers, close parking Cons: quality of food more

What can I say about Gates. I have lived in 10 major cities across the United States and have tried all of their BBQ restraurants. By far Gates has the most flavor than all of them. The meats are smoked just right and not oversauced unless you ask for extra sauce. Their slogan ""Hi, may I help you ?"" could be toned down a bit and not yelled at you as soon as you walk through the door, but you soon forget when you take a bite of their juicy ribs or Beef and and a half. Pros: taste, price more

This is good bbq. Sure after reading some of the other revues about bad and rude service, it's simply not true. If you're not prepared for the ""hi, how can I help you being shouted over the counter"" sure it could maybe be misinterpreted for rude, but its always served up with a smile. The ribs are meaty and so GOOD. The sauces are the kicker, sweet, spicy, or mix them together. Simply put, KC's best Pros: quick and easy, great prices more

Having heard about the famous Gates mystique for many years, it was one of the first places I stopped when I went to KC. I found it to be more of a BBQ McDonald's with a lot of shouting. The food was good but left me wondering where the magic was. Thinking it was the one I was at (by the Sports complex) I tried a couple of others. I must say they are consistent. However, I'm not complaining because I have to say I cleaned my plate every time. more

Gates Bar-b-q at 3205 Main St. in Kansas City is concient to hospital hill and tourist centers down town K. C. I have been there several times with groups from a local employer. After the second visit, I started voting for some other choice to eat at. Gates is noisy, the help is very rude, and the facility is passibly clean. Pros: Location, Parking Cons: Rude help., Noisy. more

I was born and rise in Kansas City,Mo and now live in Califorina. I have try all kinds of Bar-b-q and nothing compares to Gates & Sons. They are the Best around. Pros: good service, great food, very reasonable Cons: long lines more

I have lived in KC all my life, and have eaten at all the major BBQ places in KC, and Gates is still the best, bar none! more

As a visitor to Kansas City, I was encouraged to partake of the Gates Bar-B-Q. I was most impressed with the very speedy service and the EXCELLENT food. The atmosphere was relaxed so I had a very enjoyable time. more