Grinders Pizza
American restaurant · Hospital Hill ·

Grinders Pizza

American restaurant · Hospital Hill ·

NY-style pizza, Philly cheesesteaks, wings & craft beers

philly cheesesteak
pizza
great beer selection
dive bar
ny style pizza
live music
craft beers
funky interior
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null
Grinders Pizza by null

Information

417 E 18th St, Kansas City, MO 64108 Get directions

$10–20

Order delivery
See Menu
Restroom
Accepts reservations
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Cozy

Information

Static Map

417 E 18th St, Kansas City, MO 64108 Get directions

+1 816 472 5454
grinderspizza.com
@grinderskc
𝕏
@grinderskc

$10–20 · Menu

Features

•Restroom
•Accepts reservations
•Popular for lunch
•Popular for dinner
•Cozy
•Trendy
•Family friendly
•Good for groups

Last updated

Jan 18, 2026

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Art‑and‑music‑driven Crossroads fixture known for New York pies with wild toppings. Featured on Diners, Drive‑Ins and Dives and highlighted by KCUR; independently owned and woven into the Crossroads scene.

https://www.kcur.org/arts-life/2025-06-14/diners-drive-ins-dives-kansas-city-guy-fieri-restaurants
Best Pizza in Kansas City (2025)
Grinders Pizza

Kelli W.

Google
We were going to the Jazz Museum and stopped for lunch. The food was delicious. My husband ordered the cheese steak (it had corned beef added), he said it was really good. My daughter thoroughly enjoyed her Ruben. I had the Caprese, no issue to change the chicken to turkey. We shared chips and tots. Service was slow, I wanted to get a side of blue cheese and the server didn’t come back until we were finished. Clean bathrooms.

Jana M.

Google
This place is amazing. Always one of my favorite KC spots! And Jolly’s, their holiday pop up bar is the best. I love their bar tenders. The key were so genuine and funny. They kept giving his friendly crap all night. We were great friends by the time we left. Their drinks are adorable. It’s a very cozy hidden gem. Make sure you visit Jolly’s behind grinders. I’ve never been to a concert there yet I have no idea how. But I’m excited to some day soon. They have spent a lot of time making their back patio a friendly atmosphere and well kept.

T R.

Google
Grinders Pizza was a spot that was recommended and I’d also seen it featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, so I had to stop in for lunch. The place has definite dive-bar vibes, which fits the atmosphere. The food was decent-pretty typical bar food. Being from Philly, I’d say the cheesesteak was just average, but the service was great and everything came out quickly. The booths could use more comfortable seating, but overall it was a solid stop.

Jeff M.

Google
Seen this place on several food shows, had to give it a try. Huge selection of beers, ales, and ciders. Very friendly staff. We opted for gluten free pizza and a house salad to split. Salad was fresh and crispy, very good. Pizza was pretty good but the obviously not scratch made crust was very thick and doughy, and wasn't even cut all the way through for us. I'm sure they can do better than this, but it was just okay this time. The atmosphere reminds me of college bars where people scribble all over the walls, etc.

J. H.

Google
Cool local venue. We went to lunch on a weekday and half the tables were seated (good sign, IMO). The food tasted great. My husband got the pastrami cheesesteak and bombed a side of fries. I got a double smashburger and Cajun-seasoned fries. Weirdly enough, they charge a buck and half just to sprinkle some Cajun seasoning on the fries. I’ve never seen an establishment charge for that. Crinkle fries are my least favorite kind of fries because they tend to be undercooked, but the seasoning took it up a notch and this batch was cooked perfectly. I also like the lettuce they used on the burger because it wasn’t a huge slab of watery iceberg like other places. Server was meh, but we got the food in a timely matter. All in all, I recommend. They have live music events (not when we were there) so if that’s your thing, check their website and socials for those details.

YouGotHouses W.

Google
Stopped in for a couple of slices quick. Had both pepperoni & margherita. Thin crust NY style pizza with real good flavoring. Didn't have much time, but enjoyed the food as well as the neighborhood feel of the place. No concert this visit, but will surely be back to try again!

Food F.

Google
This place is a KC staple for a reason. It’s got that perfect gritty charm, but let me get to the point. The Food! the Near Death Wings are the reason I keep showing up. As someone who actually likes tasty spicy, these are perfect. They give you that lip tingle, forehead sweat, warm-stomach “I may be in trouble” moment BUT they’re so damn good you don’t even care. They hurt a little, but it’s the kind of pain that makes you smile hahaha The rest of the food? Fire. The pizza is legit. The meatball sub & the pastrami? Legit. the Trailer Park Tots… LEGIT. Grinder’s just one of those KC spots that’s always real, always good, & always makes you wanna tell folks about it. I’ve loved this place for years & I’ll keep coming back. You should to.

Keith B.

Google
I have been here before but forgot to leave a review. It is a very funky place with a wide variety of food choices. Today I had the Philly cheesesteak w fries and a slice w ham, ribeye and jalapeños. They were all top notch. A true cheesesteak on the Amaroso roll. Did not think I could eat it all but I did. Service was fast and friendly. And it was packed for a Wednesday for lunch. Good stuff, get you some.
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Ralphie S.

Yelp
I'm not sure how I've not written a review for Grinders until now?! Grinders is the real deal and the type of place that I love to take out of towners or first time visitors to show them just how cool this city is. This past week my wife and I were heading to a punk rock concert at the Madrid and couldn't think of anyplace more punk than Grinders to kick start the night. A Tank 7, some fried mushrooms and a slice of the best pizza in town loaded with ribeye and blue cheese is about as good as it can get. Great food, a vibe that can never be reproduced, staff that are as eclectic as the owner Stretch; and some great art, graffiti and music to soak in. In 100 years from now stories on the culinary history of KC, will include a chapter on Grinders.
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Katie B.

Yelp
Our server at Taps on Main recommended this spot- said it was featured on food network and a popular spot to pop into while bouncing around nearby breweries and bars. It was definitely a busy spot- we sat at the bar but would sit outside out back if the weather was a little warmer. We had a few beers and an app (funky dough). It was different than we imagined. We pictured more of cheesy dough bites similar to pretzel bites but it came out as a flat cheesy bread. It was still good and the dipping sauce was AMAZING! I think I could just drink the sauce it was that good. We took a wrap to go- we shared the west clubber. The garlic aioli gave it good flavor. Served with a side of kettle chips that were flavorful. Overall good experience- the bartender seemed a little agitated at times but we chalked it up to a busy night
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Allison G.

Yelp
Great ambiance for concerts or just chillin outside on a nice day!! I love their philly cheesesteaks (especially with extra banana peppers). I don't like their pizza that much, but the philly makes up for it.
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Kelsey M.

Yelp
This place is one of the best pizza places in Kansas City! Even though I didn't end up getting to take a picture of what I had, it was delicious. For an appetizer, we ordered the cheese bread and it was to die for and it was a very big portion. There's a variety of different things that you can try here but scanning the room everybody's food look delicious and so did my boyfriend and I's food. The staff is very friendly and helpful and if you have any questions, they're happy to answer them, and the food comes out relatively quick not to mention that the decor in this place is super cool.
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Monica R.

Yelp
Grinders is the place to go for a generously sized calzone filled with loads of your favorite toppings. It's enough to feed two. The menu and our waitress warned us that it would take about 20 minutes to cook, which we didn't mind. There are a few board games available to play, and we chose to play a quick game of Scrabble while we waited. Honestly, the wait didn't seem long at all and the calzone was worth it. A solid choice if you're looking for a good calzone.
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Tracy S.

Yelp
The Le Hog is absolutely a delicious pizza! I'd get this again for sure. The Caesar salad is good. My husbands custom pizza was good. The Stretch Philly was delicious. I'd like to try other things on the menu, but I'll always get at least one slice of the Le Hog every time I'm here. The ambiance is very fun. Great location.
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Andrew H.

Yelp
Fun place to eat with an eclectic, vaguely punk aesthetic. They have lost of comfort-adjacent American food that straddles the line between "traditional" and "new". The tap selection is above average. It was a great spot for lunch.
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Abe V.

Yelp
Solid dive bar. Music out on the back. Bartenders were super friendly. NY style slice was solid for not in NY. Heard the cheesesteak is fantastic but didn't have the time for it.
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Baylee R.

Yelp
Tried their pizza for the first time this week! While it may be the best pizza I have had in KC, it was $40 for 1 large pizza. Very overpriced but can't deny it was delicious! Workers are very nice and a cool vibe inside
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Jen S.

Yelp
If you love a cheesesteak sandwich you might want to check this out, the place features great pizzas and Philly cheesesteaks. They have a fun music venue out back and you can catch some good concerts here. I have had both the pizza and the sandwich's and you can go wrong with either one. They also have a wide variety of craft beer and cocktails.
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Ian E.

Yelp
Grinders is a great lunch spot specifically if it's the weekend and you're looking for food and a beer. They have a great beer menu with good craft beers on the list. But I must emphasize the food's awesome. The pizza is good. It always seems like the most popular item though is the Philly. I will say the Philly is what I usually order just because it's hard for me to stray away from that. If the weather permits, I suggest grabbing a table outside.
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Christina F.

Yelp
Went on a Sunday for lunch. Fun, quirky, eclectic vibe with lots to look at. We weren't the only customers, but place wasn't overly busy yet. Waitress dropped off the menus but feel like once we ordered and she knew we weren't drinking anything but water we never saw her other than to drop our food off and to drop our check off. Water glasses were never refilled. My husband got a meatball sub which lacked much in the way of sauce. I got a stretch Philly, which was a combination of pastrami and steak without much taste. Being born and raised in Philly, this was disappointing. Husband upgraded side of chips to tots and 2 sandwiches with water was 40.00 with tax/tip.

Bryan V.

Yelp
A hidden gem. Great food and great service. Recommend pastrami sandwich. The bartender/server was very cool (hot guy, dark hair dark eyes). He was friendly and made conversation. It wasn't "what do you want to eat? Now get out" like a lot of restaurant workers are like today. One of my best friends and I went to chill and catch up. We were not rushed out.
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Haywood M.

Yelp
The pastrami was great and the beer was cold, appetizers were hot and fresh! Our server was attentive and came back to see what else we needed and checked on us a lot. And we sat outside and it was ice outside and not hot! The overall vibe was cool. And the music was as cool!!!!
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Taylor T.

Yelp
It boasts to be New York style pizza, and that it is, it is thin, chewy, a bit chary, and all over delicious. But, in all honesty, the service can be spotty. I used to hail Grinders to be a tried and true KC dive institution. It has been on triple D (if you know the Guy and Stretch lore, then you know), but it's lost some of its spark. Some days, the service is just the right amount of flippant, and other days, I have been flat out ignored and ventured elsewhere. But, I have to admit the pizza is where it's at! We've had other New York style transplants come try to invade upon the territory Grinders has had for years (probably decades) however, this place holds up to its own local KC lore with the quality of their food and the ever rotating dairy specials. The last special slice of the day I had (actually from lunch on the day I'm writing this) was such a gamechanger. I've never liked hamburger or cheeseburger pizza but, good old Grinders changed my mind. The ingredients were all so proportionally chopped up and the minimal mustard was key! Sometimes, the pickle chips used on "traditional" cheeseburger pizza overwhelms the entire experience for me, not here. They used a finely chopped pickle relish mixture that made the eating experience so much better. I could never grow to hate Grinders no matter how they treat me, there's too many memories wrapped up here for me...and for once that's a good thing!
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Cindy D.

Yelp
I haven't been to grinder's in YEARS. I used to live in the Crossroads and it was a great hangover cure with friends for brunch. Today we came in for lunch and sat outside in the back. I had a yummy iced tea, my husband just had water. He had a Philly with tots and I had a Cali BLT and a side salad. Good service by the girl and food came out quick. Super easy and reminded me why I loved coming there before.
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Jeffrey M.

Yelp
Before I get into the good things, I have to address the elephant in the room. I've heard SO MANY PEOPLE mention how great the Philly Cheesesteak is at Grinder's, but I have to admit that I wasn't super impressed. It wasn't bad, but I think Chartroose Caboose is much better. But as this is a review of Grinder's, let's get to the good bits; pizza. If you want a greasy, New York style pizza...Grinder's is a great place to visit. As my second favorite for New York style around Kansas City, I find myself grabbing a slice here more often than I probably should if I ever expect to shed a few pounds. My recommendation is the standard Pepperoni which is pricier than your basic national chain pizzas, but that's because you get a MUCH better pizza in terms of taste and quality. You can see more of our experience on our YouTube travel channel: https://youtu.be/chDuT3d6i5A
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Paul R.

Yelp
Was visiting my cousin and after a day at the WWI museum we had worked up quite the appetite. After a bit of a drive around town and passing on tow other places we were glad to end up at grinders for some great sandwiches. I was looking for a great Philly cheesesteak sandwich and had found it here. The decor is pretty divy which is great. Awesome music and great bar here. Had a great local beer to go with my sandwich. Would definitely go back to try the pizza next time.
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Mere C.

Yelp
Huge menu with a lot of choices. We had the white pizza and it was amazing. Service was excellent. It's not fancy, but food/service make up for it.
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Matthew F.

Yelp
The venue is so much fun for music. Not too big, but just large enough for mid-range artists.
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Mandy L.

Yelp
One of KC's must see places. Great food, fun environment, gigantic drink selection (NA included), gluten free pizza crust, and even a concert venue in the back!
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Abbey S.

Yelp
a solid floppy slice. could've used some hot sauce on the table to spice it up, but you can't ask for much more out of a late night pizza.
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Yena K.

Yelp
Every time i'm here whether it's been for food, concert or drinks, its been a really good experience (minus when its super crowded on weekends) but it gets busy for a reason for sure. The service is sometimes a bit slow but for the most part its fast enough to keep me coming back. Also its close to my work & an easy bar bite. The vibe is a nicer divey bar thats a staple in crossroads arts district.
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Jim H.

Yelp
The tater tots were great! However, the much hyped philly cheesesteak did not wow me.. considerably more bun than meat, and the meat and sandwich was dry.
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Soudary K.

Yelp
I've heard of this place from different people. Thought we go in to look. Casual atmosphere nothing fancy. It's a whole in the wall kind of place for burgers, pizzas and other bar food. Server greeted us right away and was attentive. Good place if you like beer.
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Tina Marie A.

Yelp
We popped in this iconic restaurant that has been featured on Diners Drive-In's and Dives with Guy Fieri! My fiancé ordered the pretzel as an appetizer and a double smash burger with tator tots. I ordered the brisket sandwich which comes with cheese and onion tanglers and is stacked with brisket. The service was excellent even with a packed house. The establishment is definitely one of a kind! Grinders downtown Kansas City, Missouri is a MUST anytime yours in KC!
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Dean D.

Yelp
Not the type of meal I would walk away from regretting swiping my card but I did have to eat a bag of chips in the car after. A little pricy for the flavor and size of portions. Vibes and service were the best part for me.
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Jolene M.

Yelp
Located in the Crossroads dishing up New York style pizza, Philly cheesesteaks and the famous Death Wings. Featured on Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives for its great food and cool ambience. I will always rave about the Philly Cheesesteak - tender chopped meat, the wiz and loaded all the way with mushrooms and peppers. Don't forget the big ass tots or fries and try them Cajun style. There's something for everyone at Grinders! Plus they have outdoor music events all year long. Kicking off with 311 on April 20.
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Colleen L.

Yelp
Grinders is a must when I'm craving a Philly but everything is good so you can't go wrong. They have a really good craft beer list. I can always find something on tap or even in a can that isn't readily available elsewhere. They also have cocktails so if you're into that, I'm sure they're good. I tried the fried mushrooms and they didn't disappoint. They were crispy and golden. They came with ranch and definitely hit the spot. The Philly was good as expected. I go pretty simple with just mushrooms and provolone but you can really trash it up with onions and peppers and cheese whiz if you want. They do have 3 other varieties so depending on your tastes, they definitely have something for you. The bread is so soft and pillowy. The ribeye is flavorful and juicy. And they're alway accurate with your order. I've never had an issue with getting the wrong thing. I like to pair my sandwiches with an order if half ass tots. There's nothing half ass about them. The tots are always great and the portions are huge. My dogs are always happy because they get the leftovers.
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Sandy S.

Yelp
Grinders is a place that I haven't been in years and went last week while I was in Kansas City. We had a great lunch with delicious food and drinks. We had the Funky Dough as an appetizer which was incredibly yummy and we shared a Margherita Pizza. The rest of our group enjoyed their food, too! Can't wait to go back next time I am town!
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Charlene J.

Yelp
Great Moscow mules and cheesesteaks. Sometimes it's crowded but the food and service is still good.

Benjamin M.

Yelp
I have been going there since the opening Great Everything EXCEPT for the help Don't get me wrong----the cooks seem to make it happen---no one else Tuesday of this week I sat at a table that had a credit card receipt on the table I guess the "server" was asleep at the wheel She walked by me 9 times probably thinking I was the last customer I walked out Today I went back for some great pizza---again I sat again at the second booth on the left Again there was a receipt clocked out at 3:37 I sat from 3:50 until 4:30 No service Both waitresses walked by me multiple times Nothing I was the invisible man......again It seemed they were working in terminal coolness with 4 men at the bar I could not believe this They both walked by me NO ONE ask me anything So I finally walked to the bar and told him everything He said "don't leave please" I did So twice in one week I know Stretch from years back Great guy I am assuming he does not want this juvenile behaviour as he is a great business person and good friend Fact is today I sat down and the ticket from the prior guest had been lying on the table I guess they thought that was me so they did Nothing--- Hey Stretch--- Should I come back? Dr. Benjamin Meade. (Ben)
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Rudy M.

Yelp
This was on a personal list of mine. After an afternoon of discovering Kansas City on my own. I chose to come here for their "Chili Bomb Pizza". I know that I said that I wanted just ONE slice because I knew that if I enjoyed it enough, I might have an interest in trying their cheese steak sandwich. They brought me out an entire pie of chili bomb pizza. Knowing my strategy was now entirely out of the window, I sat there and ate seven out of eight slices of this small pizza and still enjoyed it. I basically kept it simple with it being Pepperoni and cheese since the chili bomb consisted of chili with beans, tater tots, and a sprinkle of green onions. It was really good and a new look on pizza for me because we don't have anything like that here in L.A. There were a lot of beers to try but I was saving up for that later in the evening. I recommend new people check it out, and make sure you don't get caught with too much food heading to your table.
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Natalie S.

Yelp
This is a review for the event venue portion of Grinders KC. First of all, I love this area of KC. There are so many amazing restaurants and bars nearby to go to before or after a show! We went to the Trombone Shorty concert and Ziggy Marley. The concert did not disappoint, and I love the venue. We went through security in about ten minutes or less. Once we got in we were amazed about how people people were there! There are multiple tents for drinks, and there is practically no wait for drinks. Drinks were regular prices for Grinders, affordable. My well drink was $8.All of the staff were super friendly as well. There could be more indoor restroom options, but that is Ok because I went inside Grinders and ordered a slice of pizza ($5)that the server brought to me immediately. I ate said pizza in line for the bathroom and still finished with time to spare before the long wait was over for a bathroom. We will definitely be back, and we hope to once a year at least. Thanks, Grinder's!
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Carrie G.

Yelp
100% always stop here when going through KC. Authentic Phillies, even fly in their buns!
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Dorothy G.

Yelp
The drink options were great and they had good pizza selections as well! The cheese pizza was amazing. The waiters were nice. The place had cool decorations which made the ambience nice.

JJ L.

Yelp
I had it delivered so the food was a little cool... but it was still great! Bacon Cheddar Burger was excellent! Loved the cheese sticks... but the best thing was the homemade sauces! The 1000 island was Dynamite! As were the other sauces.
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Mary N.

Yelp
Super non exciting pizza. Can you say about as good as a frozen no not even. See picture of three topping pizza.
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Bruce M.

Yelp
All 3 ordered famous Philly sammies made with Prime Rib. Very filling portion of fresh ingredients on an amazingly perfectly done hoagie. Order mayo on side to enhance deliciousness. Homemade chips were lightly salted, crispy not oily, and large portion. Superb beer/cocktail offerings well worth a visit alone. Funky interior is arty, old and worn but food is worth the ambiance.
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Brian P.

Yelp
Great spot for food, drnks,atmosphere. Local joint serving up good food. Plenty brewery options close by.
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Corey K.

Yelp
Pizza and service was amazing. Drink was always refilled and the pizza was hot and very good. Had the pizza with the white sauce and meat on top.
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Mary S.

Yelp
Stopped in on a Tuesday evening after trying a few of the local breweries. Definitely a dive, as showcased on DDD, I was expecting tasty grub but food was average.

Tammy D.

Yelp
Good service. Decent food. But......I ordered a margarita and got tequila and water with a lime and ice........I then asked for the drink to be removed from ticket or to have the drink remade and I got a glass of margarita mix to add to the tequila and water.........THERE IS NOT ANY WATER IN A REAL MARGARITA other than ice. Not impressed with the bar skills.
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Kerri B.

Yelp
Pizza slices are huge, thin, and cheap. You can get two massive slices for under $8. The Philly cheesesteak is good, especially with the provolone AND cheese whiz. There are specials on certain nights
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Jason G.

Yelp
I have been to a ton of shows here, and I don't think I've ever had a bad experience. From punk to Americana to rock - all the crowds are super cool here. Sure, there is a line to get in usually, but that is because everyone is getting wanded by security. And, the security detail is friendly. Once inside it's easy to claim a bit of real estate for the evening, mostly standing room only except for the VIP tent. Their sound system is great, stand by the mixing board and you will get a good experience.
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Eli T.

Yelp
Cool bar and with thin and crispy new York style pizza. My buddy and I stopped in here while waiting for Happy hour at a bar next door. Good selection of beers, interesting menu, and good pizza!
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Stephanie K.

Yelp
First time at Grinders. Stopped for a snack in between brewery hopping. We had their Funky Dough. It was very good. Delicious dough and dipping sauce. Think cheese bread but a whole pizza size.
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Laura B.

Yelp
Cheesesteak sandwich was phenomenal! Atmosphere was fun and it was a great time! Drinks were great and service was spectacular, even on a Friday night!
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Mark M.

Yelp
I've been here a few times for pizza. It's not always rude but it is definitely not at all friendly. If you think this is friendly you must be from KC. It's a dirty shit hole. The waitress tonight was so rude, before I even ordered I got up and walked out. I'm a customer, if I ask for a simple beverage served in most places around the globe and you don't have it fine but to say mineral water, like Perrier or any brand is fancy. You're out of your mind..... It's water. They sell it everywhere, including 7-Eleven and gas stations. It's not fancy. to say it once was rude, to say it twice makes you a rude douche. You're in the service industry and you make money on tips. Be nice to people. I realize that Kansas City has a major obesity problem. And you're part of that problem. Not everyone drinks, alcohol, and soda. Do like the pizza. But put grinders in any other city and it wouldn't last a year....