Pizza Man

There is no better day than Opening Day in Kansas City. Hope springs eternal, summer is just around the corner, and baseball - Kansas City Royals baseball - is ready to captivate me for the next 6 months.


And what better way to spend Opening Day than out at Kauffman Stadium, cheering on the Royals? Well, according to my professor in the Rockhurst University MBA program, the day is best spent in our Operations Management course. Thanks for nothing!

So I had to skip Opening Day at The K. Bummer. I considered just heading out there for the tailgate and then heading back in time for class, but my buddy Kevin had a better idea: Italian Beef Sandwiches and hot dogs for lunch. The goal was to eat through my misery, and we thought we had just the right place in mind ... Pizza Man in Lenexa.


*Full disclosure...Through a Google search, I learned that other local KC food bloggers have reviewed this restaurant, and I believe it has appeared on Check Please, Kansas City! (a show on which I once appeared as a guest reviewer). It reminded me to tell readers of this blog (all 5 of you) that I do my best not to plageurize, steal opinions from or choose my next restaurant based on other blogs and articles I've read or programs/segments I've seen on TV. I am a big fan of restaurant blogs like KC Lunch Spots, as well as Joyce Smith's City Scape column in the Kansas City Star, and of course Check Please, KC. They give me great ideas on where to go next...just as I hope my blog does too. Now back to regularly scheduled food-blogging.

Pizza Man, ah yes. Kevin and I had both heard nothing but great things about their Italian beef sandwiches. And, having sampled the finest Chicago has to offer - Johnny's, Pordillo's, Lou Malnati's, etc. - I feel confident I can establish an educated opinion on the level of beef sandwich Pizza Man provides.

Pizza Man is located in a small strip mall along Pflumn at about 102nd Street...just a few yards north from the more well known (by me, at least) Stonewall Inn Pizza, which I've never tried but would like to soon.

Pizza Man is a small joint, where you walk in and order at the counter. Kevin arrived before me and was offered a small slice of pizza (free of charge) while he waited for me. I thought that was a very nice touch. For that, I love the place. Their pizza is St. Louis style and it appeared they offered a personal-sized lunch option that many people took advantage of. Next time I go back I'll get the pizza (how is that for foreshadowing my opinion of the sandwich I was craving.)

No pizza for us on this day, of course, We had Italian Beef on our minds (when don't I?). However, we were pleasantly surprised to see they had all-beef Chicago dogs on the menu. Also, they had a few other hot dog/sausage options, all of which looked awesome.

We, of course, each obliged the menu and ordered the standard Chicago dog with all the fixins' as a starter course. The dogs arrived about 5 minutes before our sandwiches arrived. My dog was good, no doubt. But not the best I've had (see my New York City Dawg Pound post from a few months ago)...The pickle and pepper were good and it was nice and spicy. The dog itself just didn't blow me away. However, it was no slouch. I enjoyed it, of course.

Three bites. That's all it took.

Regardless, anything before the beef sandwich would be inconsequential (so I thought). For the beef sandwich was coming. And I was ready.

I ordered mine with cheese and peppers. I know that's not traditional, but I like cheese and I was still sulking from missing Opening Day (since I was missing out on ordering extra cheese with nachos...tears.) In a moment of panic (the line was getting long behind us) I forgot to ask for mine "Dipped" in brothy au jus sauce. I wasn't too worried, as the same sauce comes on the side. Trust me, each of my bites was dutifully dipped. Just to be contrarian, Kevin ordered his "dipped" and without cheese. Bastard. Anyway, here's what mine looked like.

Hey, good lookin'!

Looks pretty good, right? The bread was nice and soft and the beef was tender. Each bite was welcoming. You can tell they use good meat. The only problem was, and Kevin and I both agreed on this, the sandwich lacked full flavor. It didn't melt in my mouth and it's seasoning didn't catch my tastebuds. Who knows if it was just the lack of seasoning. I'm not sure. Lots of people really like the place, and I'm definitely open to going back and proving myself wrong. I hope I am.

However, sometimes when restaurants offer an item that that is famous in another city and seldom found in Kansas City, they assume that the authenticity of flavor will just be assumed and accepted as real....see any place that serves Philly Cheesesteaks (except for Grinder's.)

I don't think that was the case at Pizza Man. I may just have to go back and find out for sure...maybe I'll do that the week of the World Series....before heading out to The K.

No matter what my taste buds said, my stomach told me to eat every last bite.
I listened to my stomach. It is, after all, a large part of me.

- BTF