Long before Jack Fiorella created his empire of snazzy Jack Stack restaurants, his parents Russell and Flora Fiorella were barbecue entrepreneurs on Kansas City’s south side. Their original Smokestack on 71 Highway closed in 2006, but their daughter Mary Fiorella McPheron had also opened her own modest Smokestack, serving the family recipes, in 1957. This location is now run by Mary’s children. Unlike uncle Jack’s upscale venues, the Wornall Road Smokestack is small and dowdy and a couple of the servers are tough old birds. But the iconoclastic joint is lovable for its superb pork ribs, rib tips, sliced meats, burnt ends, reasonably-priced meals and hefty sandwiches. And for still offering root beer floats as a dessert. — Charles Ferruzza
Price: $-$$
Payment Type: All Major Credit Cards, cash
Parking: Free, No Parking
Reservations: Not Accepted
Attire: casual
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