I never ate at Rich Davis bbq joint but when it open people raved about it. I do now before he sold to Kraft Foods his Masterpiece sauce was pretty darn good. Especially if you were coming from Hunts or Otts BBQ sauce that stores actually carried then. It was a wondrous for its time as my Mom used to make her own sauce because store bout was so bad. First time I brought home Masterpiece and let mom try it out I dont remember her making her sauce again. My Dad, Mom, Bro and Sis thought it tasted like Mom's. I think Kraft destroyed that Q sauce.

I've heard the same thing. They apparently bottle a version that's based off that original recipe: https://www.kcmasterpiece.com/produc...arbecue-sauce/

I think that Arthur Bryants location is bad. I haven't been to the original location in years and years.. maybe it's still good.

I used to go to the one in the casino before it closed. They said a rich guy from back east somewhere-bought the whole package.

I have seen the health inspection reports on the original location. No thanks. :shake:

Better off doing your own bbq and buying the sauce instead of risking it at that place.

BBQ should be a little dirty.

If anyone is considering trying it, look closely at the label and see where it's made. My nephew's girlfriend bought him some when she found it in South Carolina and the label and the label said "Oakland, CA".

The current owners are Gary Berbiglia and Bill Rauschelbach. I think the Bryant family retained the rights to the sauce.

I've never tried it, so I'm not endorsing it, but I'm not sure I follow your point. I didn't say it was now KC-made, just that they (allegedly) went back to the original recipe. Where's it's bottled is irrelevant.

If it's bottled in Oakland Ca, I want nothing to do with it.

They have had pages of critical violations.

Food not kept at temperature (chicken) can make you very sick. Cig butts and smoking by food. And major roach and rodent problems.

It is beyond a little dirty. Filthy and disgusting.

I think there was a thread on here with the reports. :shake:

Yeesh. That's maybe a little too dirty.

KC Native and dark in the same paragraph?

Better check that racism, pal.

I used to live in Oakland and there was a bbq place called Doug's that had Bryants newspaper clippings and photos all over the walls, and they made some damn fine food. I bought their sauce a few times as well and brought it to KC. It was well received. Oakland has a few gems in it.

I miss Bobby Bell's. That was righteous.

I've been to all these places in the article except Q39. Haven't been there yet.

A couple things:

I stop at Arthur Bryant's on the way home from work at least once a month. Their original sauce is by far the most unusual in the city. You either love it or hate it. They make a more traditional sweet sauce -like a Memphis style sauce- that's great on turkey. But their original sauce on brisket or ribs is one of a kind. I think their ribs are wonderful.

No mention of Gates, but that's OK. Other spots they missed were LC's, Rosedale, Big T's, Snead's, all good places.

Smokin' Guns in NKC is very good. I like their burnt ends. Gates burnt ends are inedible...way too greasy.

Joe's is so unusual because of the gas station. Danny Edwards place on the Boulevard (next door to Ponak's Mexican Kitchen) is good too, but they aren't open at night. So you can only get lunch there.

Oh, and on KC Masterpiece sauce. The same company that makes Clorox makes it now. Full of HFCS, it's shit. Don't buy it. Here in KC you can get the original recipe black label, made with cane sugar and molasses, and it's pretty good. But avoid the nationally marketed stuff. It's crap.

Overall, I thought this was a very interesting article. Thanks for posting it.