"The plates at Char Bar live up to KC's reputation for world-class BBQ. Just about everyone you ask will have a different favorite, so it's hard to recommend just one dish. The pulled-pork is tender & flavorful, the chicken wings have just the right amount of smokiness, & the brisket is smoked for 21 hours until it's just right. Despite being marked with a skull & crossbones on the menu, their meat-free options are just as creative & delicious. The "Roots & Fruits" salad is a favorite, with a mix of roasted beats, parsnips, goat cheese, brussels sprouts, pistachios & oranges. During warmer months, the restaurant sprawls out onto their massive beer garden, where you can sip a Boulevard as you toss beanbags or smack around a ping pong or croquet ball." - Cat Coquillette
"If you want to recreate the feeling of a summer BBQ (complete with yard games), Char Bar is a great place to kick off the night with a group. Start with their cornbread jalapeño muffins with pepper jam, chive butter, and hot honey. Then, sample the best of the menu with The Whomp! Platter, which has a spread of meats—brisket, sausage, ham, ribs, burnt ends—and comes with two sides (go for the homemade potato salad and beans). This spot is co-owned by the team behind Meat Mitch, but Char Bar is our preferred spot because it has one of the best patios for corn hole and it’s near great bars nearby like Harry’s or Westport Cafe." - ryan bernsten
"It would be easy to survey Char Bar’s industrial-chic dining room and expansive, outdoor beer garden (complete with a fire pit and bocce courts), and write it off as style over substance. That would be a mistake. Sure, Char Bar is crowd-pleasing, with table-service, brunch cocktails, and vegetarian entrees. But the restaurant is also quietly serving some of the best burnt ends in the city, which perfectly balance seasoned bark and yielding bite. Although Char Bar has two locations, the original Westport restaurant is more centrally located." - Liz Cook
"If you want to recreate the feeling of a summer BBQ (complete with yard games), Char Bar is a great place to kick off the night with a group. Start with their cornbread jalapeño muffins with pepper jam, chive butter, and hot honey. Then, sample the best of the menu with The Whomp! Platter, which has a spread of meats—brisket, sausage, ham, ribs, burnt ends—and comes with two sides (go for the homemade potato salad and beans). This spot is co-owned by the team behind , but Char Bar is our preferred spot because it has one of the best patios for corn hole and it’s near great bars nearby like or Westport Cafe." - Ryan Bernsten
"Westport is one of the best neighborhoods for bar-hopping in Kansas City, and Char Bar is a great place to kick off the night if you’re with a group. Start with their cornbread and jalapeño muffins with pepper jam and hot honey, and then fight over The Whomp! Platter, which gives a comprehensive sampling of meats—brisket, sausage, ham, ribs, burnt ends—and comes with two sides (go for the homemade potato salad and beans). This spot is co-owned by the team behind Meat Mitch, but Char Bar is our preferred spot because they have corn hole and are close to a bunch of great bars. Stop by Julep for a cocktail or Harry’s for a craft beer on the patio." - Ryan Bernsten