That is where we had a meeting, and almost a fatal one, with KC legend Walt Bodine. JE almost hit him with the car because he was sitting in his wheelchair in a blind spot in the middle of the parking lot.
Luckily, that will not be the story of this review.
The Beacon had only been open a week before we visited. This place is where Jack Gage used to be off 51st and Main (RIP Jack Gage!). The decor has changed to a darker interior, dark hard woods, exposed brick, and old photos from around Kansas City and the area the restaurant is in now. The dining room was clean and comfortable. There is a main dining room to the left when you enter and places to eat at the bar to the right. The waitstaff was attractive in crisp white shirts and tight black pants.
For an early Saturday lunch, this place was hopping. They probably get the overflow from Eggtc up the street. The line of really old people who passed by our table could only mean they were there for Walt Bodine's retirement lunch. I thought that John Knox Village must have been empty that day. Former Mayor Wheeler was there too.
The menu has something for everyone.
JE ordered the veal meatball sandwich with gooey mozzarella and housemaid marina sauce. He chose the sweet potato fries with his sandwich. He thought the soft bread and delicious meatballs were perfect.
I tried the fried chicken po-boy sandwich with normal fries, although a close second would have been the steak sandwich and french dip looked good too.
The sandwiches and fries were both delicious. The dishes the other patrons ordered around us looked really good too.
Having a bit of a sweet tooth, I also ordered a deconstructed strawberry cheesecake. I wasn't exactly sure what it would look like.
It was delivered in a martini glass and it wasn't that good. I would have preferred if the cheesecake would have been a little colder than room temperature. I also would have liked there to be real strawberries and not strawberry sundae syrup on it. I would not order it for dessert again and that's saying something for me.
Drew was our server and he was very attentive. He brought the check before the dessert arrived, figuring we wanted to leave before the place was overrun with children. There were way too many children there for our tastes. Children can ruin a good meal. Children were given toys and crayons. The adults should have been given earplugs.
Parents, do not let your kids run around a restaurant unattended. When I can feel your kids jumping up and down on the floor screaming, it's not my fault if I hope they fall through the floor. And just because you snap your fingers at your children does not mean they will listen to you anymore than they were before. If you don't want to be around screaming kids, eat at the bar for a more peaceful experience.
One other overheard observation...while our server didn't do this, I heard another server talking to the customers about the former restaurant and owners and how they ran their business. This should never be discussed while you're working and definitely not to the customers. If the customers ask, you should have something canned to say that will politely get you out of the conversation. You never know who may hear what you say.
This place is a wonderful and welcome addition the the neighborhood which beckons you to come back, children notwithstanding. It could be a bit pricey for lunch as we spent close to $15-$20 each with tip, if not more.
Check out The Beacon and see what you think. And watch for Walt Bodine in the parking lot.
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