KANSAS CITY, Mo. — This past weekend, I ventured to two popular bars in Kansas City, Mo. — The Flying Saucer and 810 Zone. The Flying Saucer is located at 13th and Walnut in the Power & Light District. 810 Zone is in the heart of the Country Club Plaza at 47th & Broadway. I decided to put the bar/restaurants to the ultimate test. Which one delivers an all-around better experience?
Both of these establishments are more than mere bars. They also offer quality food and fun environments. 810 Zone is a sports mecca. The restaurant is filled with dozens of TVs, playing sporting events from all over the country. There are multiple bars inside the restaurant and even a game room. The Flying Saucer is much smaller. It’s better suited for hanging out with friends, playing a little trivia and people-watching. The Flying Saucer focuses on beers from around the world. Just about any beer you could possibly want, you’ll likely find at the Flying Saucer. Its food menu is much less expansive but focused. Whereas, 810 Zone has a fairly typical drink menu, but a wealth of food options. So, if you’re strictly looking to get your drink on head downtown to The Flying Saucer. But, going out is more than just a good drink. So, let’s talk food!
From pizzas to burgers to salads to pasta, 810 Zone has it all. I was torn between one of their pizzas and the Six Cheese Macaroni & Cheese. Gourmet mac & cheese is all the rage right now. So, I felt compelled to go in that direction. Plus, I’m sucker for carbs. My belly is a testament to that! The mac & cheese is a small bowl of perfection! When the waitress arrived with the food, I thought the portion was a little chintzy. But, it was more than enough!! The noodles are topped with a creamy cheese and bacon bits and garlic bread crumbs. For an extra charge, you can add chicken — grilled or fried. I went with the grilled chicken. I already felt guilty for all the carbs so I didn’t want to add fried chicken on top of it. Trust me, you’re going to want to the chicken. The meat was cooked perfectly and added real substance to the dish.
At The Flying Saucer, the choices aren’t nearly as numerous. But, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The menu leans toward typical bar food with a little emphasis on sausage. I skipped the sausage and went with The Turkey Meltdown. This sandwich has smoked turkey, avocado, lettuce, tomato & Swiss cheese. It’s topped with jalapeno-pesto mayo on a La Baccia bun. I left off the avocado, which does nothing for me. This is a large sandwich. I’m a big eater and I struggled to eat it all. But, the flavors were so good, I couldn’t help myself. The sandwich is served with string fries. I thought those fries were better than most other fries I’ve ever had. As an appetizer, I had hummus with pita triangles. Their hummus is addictive. I would definitely get that again!
As you can tell, I enjoyed my meals at both restaurants. 810 Zone is the place to go if you want to watch the Chiefs or Royals on TV. It also offers quality food at (mostly) affordable prices. The Flying Saucer is more relaxed with an amazing drink menu. While I enjoy both restaurants, 810 Zone wins this battle!
