Sorry, didn't have the same experience. Appears either they don't want to use the furnace or it was broken. The food as okay but it doesn't beat Swagat. Do they even serve beverages other than water? None was offered, nor did it appear that they had a basic fountain. Will try again when the weather warms up.
Not to debate, but I go in there about every 3 weeks. It's never been a 'ghost town.' I guess it depends when one goes. And...incidently, I tend to go mid-week to avoid Fri/Sat crowds. Just sayin.
My comment wasn't meant as a slam on Rusty Horse as much as an inquiry into the Pitch's odd selection of who they praise and who they blast. I don't care how many places copy Blanc. I think that Blanc is a great place and RH isn't stepping on their toes because they are far enough apart that they aren't competing with one another. I just find it odd that the Pitch decided to blast Blanc for trying to expand the same concept into different markets, but think it's perfectly normal for a Pizza restaurant owner to venture into a totally different restaurant concept. Also, I wasn't saying using a beer menu or chalk board was a problem, I was just stating how similar RH's concept is to Blanc. You need to re-read my post. Slowly. So you can understand it. If you think the Pitch doesn't give totally biased articles on their advertisers then you are nuts. Go look at the Best of Kansas City article. Is it just one heck of a coincidence that their advertisers win all the awards? You might reply saying this is just good business on the Pitch's part. I would agree, but I would also state that their journalistic integrity goes down the toilet with it. As far as my point about their location goes --- My issue with RH's location isn't to say that Parkville isn't a good place. I was meaning the actual location they are in. You wouldn't even know they were there if you were driving by. There is a sign that hangs up high, but you would really have to be looking for it to see it. I have been to RH several times. It's a ghost-town in there. The owner has done a fantastic job with his pizza places. I think this one is a swing and miss.
@KCFoodie, since you think you are so smart.... Maybe Kevin Heaton is the most brilliant man in Parkville? Who cares if his place is like Blanc? There is no Blanc in the Northland!! Not every person (100,000) in the Northland wants to drive to the Plaza or Leawood for a good burger. Is Blanc the only restaurant that can serve only burgers? (Blanc has other things that are not burgers) Or have a beer menu or a challkboard? You must be the most ignorant person on ther planet! Lot's of places in KC have beer menus and chalkboards, The Foundry and McCoys come to mind quickly. I see you didn't mention this fact. And do you think the Pitch went to them and said if you advertize with us we will run a story on Blanc one week and you the next?
So 7 days ago Pitch wrote an article ripping apart Blanc and it's adventures in growth and management turnover. In the meantime they were putting together this cushy piece on Rusty Horse and failed to mention in the article that this place is a complete Blanc rip-off. They don't even deny it. They even hired Brian Wilson as the GM --- if you recall he is mentioned rather prominently in last week's Blanc article. Are we missing the irony here? This is a guy that owned a successful pizzeria that has to venture into a different form of restaurant (in a terrible location). This sounds like a much worse idea than Blanc's ideas of expansion into Lee's Summit and Omaha. Rusty Horse opened up as a burgers-only restaurant (Blanc) that offered a variety of craft beers you could order off of a beer menu (Blanc) or the off-menu beers on the chalkboard (Blanc). They failed at that so now they have a new chef and boring, run of the mill entrees. This is far from a destination restaurant. Northlanders aren't even going there. The burgers are better than Sonic, but nothing worth traveling across town for. Once they stop advertising with the Pitch I can't wait for the hatchet article on Kevin Heaton's mis-management.... just like what Pitch did to Ernesto Peralta.
The change in chefs likely explains a lot. We used to frequent here, and the burgers were top notch. Last visit they were all dry and over cooked. And served in a fast food style basket rather than on a plate, no less.
Wait staff didn't care, and filling out my comments on the website led to no reply. We haven't been back since- regulars turned to nevers.
I have taken the trek, passing through 4 counties along the way, to get there. I enjoyed the meal quite a bit. It is important to mention that the burgers are cooked on a flat top rather than a grill. This separates it from most other premium burger places. Will Johnson County be flocking there anytime soon? Probably not. There are however over 100,000 people in the Northland and no one actively courting the premium burger/craft beer crowd. I think there is room in that market for one place like this, and Rusty Horse is far ahead of their competitors.
I know nothing about beer, but from my past decades of bourbon drinking I can say that their selection is pretty impressive with good prices. Overall I think you gave the place a very fair review, Charles. We eat there pretty regularly, and while I’m not sure it will ever be a “destination” dining spot it absolutely has the potential to finally provide the neighborhood with a dependable longterm alternative to that giant vacuum from which not even light can escape- Nick & Jake’s. The latest menu is a big improvement over the first one, the fries are infinitely better than when they first opened, and if they can come up with more inventive signature dishes instead of the standard steak-salmon-meatloaf, then they’ll be off and running IMHO. Their daily specials can be great, and they are very consistent about keeping their Facebook updated, which is good news for those of us who are culinary impulse shoppers, and their website isn’t a rickety nightmare like many restaurants. We had one really bad experience with their carryout communication chain, but it was obvious management was on top of it and it didn’t happen again. The service has ranged from distant to chatty, but has always been efficient. I really wish them the best of luck, we love having them in the neighborhood.
I agree with Jeff. AWESOME beer selection and they'll let you sample any draft. They've got a larger selection of bottles than most places I've been to. The food is coming around slowly. The burgers are really good, but I'm not a big fan of the pretzel bun. It's lightyears ahead of where Agave was. We need more places like this in the Northland. All Star Pizza & Pub and Rusty Horse are my go-to's when I've got friends in town that like to hang out and drink good beer.
No mention at all of their excellent selection of craft beers that rotates faster than the merry-go-round at the local carnival? And no mention that Brian encourages his patrons to taste them all, vs. the stingy approach to craft beer tasting found at the other venues in Kansas City? These points deserve note, IMHO.
I think this review sums it up nicely, but might give the wrong impression in some ways. It is a "see and be seen" type place, but for the over 30 crowd. Unlike other recent additions to the culinary scene, this restaurant does not cater specifically to the 25 and under hipster crowd. Chef Smith is a new found restaurant talent who has excelled after being freed of the confines of a corporate restaurant. Execution is sometimes an issue during off peak times, but this can be said of most restaurants. It should also be mentioned that the menu is one of the most affordable in town for a restaurant of this caliber. This is my new go to spot in the Crossroads.
I just want to see the William Burroughs portrait.
The Jacobson is like the inverse of the phenomenon where all of the good midtown/downtown restauranteurs opening places out in Leawood (Rye, Rm 39, etc). The Jacobson is like a south JoCo restaurant in the Crossroads--which is not a good thing.
The owner of Peanches sounds like a mess.
And if the "pete peterman" that is commenting on this article is said owner, and not just some troll pretending to be him, then he has some pretty serious emotional issues.
I imagine there are a lot of cooks/chefs in town who aren't the most pleasant people, so I doubt "pete" is alone in that respect. However, it seems the other cooks/chefs in town who aren't pleasant have the good sense not to open their mouths and broadcast just how terrible they really are. That is what truly sets "pete peterman" apart from the rest.
Methinks Peanches and their crotchety oaf of an owner won't be for long.
Hm, my experience has been different. So far, I've been there three times, tried a variety of items and cocktails, and liked most of the things I ate. It's gourmet comfort food but not too gimmicky. The Syrup and Honey cocktail is amazing and not overly sweet, the Yard Bird is ridiculously tender, and I'm a huge sucker for the Brown Sugar cake. Both servers I've had were very helpful and attentive, even when it was a busy Friday night. I hope this place sticks around..
It's time for Charles Ferruza to go. It has become painfully obvious that he is not connected to the culinary heartbeat of this city. Are you too frightened, Charles, to tell the people how poor a new restaurant is? There are so many better options in The Crossroads. Kansas City now, officially, deserves better. After three seperate trips to The Jacobson it is obviously 0 star service and 1 star food.
Looks delectable will certainly try this place out!
Yes, yes. I've eaten fettucine Alfredo -- in Rome, among many other places -- and realize that the traditional dish is made with butter and cheese. But an Alfredo "sauce" (an American corruption, as you say) is a completely different culinary innovation made with cream and cheese. And that's what the menu says was allegedly added to the dish here.
Alfredo does not traditionally have any cream. It is an American corruption to do so. Are you going to start complaining next that your Caesar Salad came without a chicken breast?
Re: “The Jacobson looks to become a Crossroads fixture”
Thoroughly enjoyed our lunch experience on the patio this fall. Crispy, handmade cracker bread, tables spaced so you feel pleasantly private, cheerful waitstaff who pays just enough attention (read doesn't repeatedly hit your table with "everything tastin' great!?"), excellent spreads and sauces ... we're glad to add you to our "Friday lunch list" in the Crossroads!