Yelp For Help: Reviews of KC’s lowest-rated restaurants

Search Yelp for “restaurants in KC” and 20+ pages pop up — offering the highest rated dining from KCK to KCMO. But then there’s the places at the bottom of the list. What could they have possibly done to receive a one star rating? Just because the food was delivered half an hour late or the fries were crinkle cut, not waffle, doesn’t mean the place should be blacklisted. Read below to see if the lowest members on the totem pole lived down to their (low) expectations or if they should be given a second chance.

Mama Tio’s

The two star average rating bestowed upon Mama Tio’s Mexican food is far too generous — the only word I can use to describe this place is grungy.

From the sticky, crumb-ridden tables to the half-scavenged buffet in the corner, it’s a surprise anyone would want to eat here. Whoever designed the joint was either aiming to match the color palette of my refried beans or failing to match a typical bar and grill setting. And the haphazardly thrown Christmas lights around a sombrero doesn’t exactly scream Mexican food. The neon Corona Beer signs on the walls didn’t really complement the llama piñatas either. 

It was prime time for dinner rush at 6 p.m. and the restaurant was empty. Not a good sign. Add in the the dim-lighting and lackluster decor and I definitely wasn’t excited to order. Yelp user Staci R. declared their “cheese dip looked so disgusting and tasted like crap.” Obviously, I had to see if Staci R. was telling the truth. She absolutely was. 

Resembling a melted yellow crayon, the queso was jiggly and tasted like lukewarm nacho sauce you’d get at a baseball game in third grade rather than homemade queso. The consistency was similar to solid butter — not the creamy queso I was promised. Peppers (I hope) were lodged in the middle of the mixture and added no flavor, just texture. Yuck. 

The queso was a one-dip-and-done experience and the complementary salsa tasted like the plastic dish it was served in. The only edible item was the beef taco, and even that was coated in too much cheese-from-a-Kraft-plastic-bag for my liking. 

Mama Tio’s took $7.37 dollars — and some taste buds — that I’ll never get back. You shouldn’t have to worry about the possibility of food poisoning or munching on tacos that look like they were made by five year olds at summer camp, so maybe make your Taco Tuesday plans elsewhere. 

Tanner’s Bar & Grill 

Tanner’s Bar and Grill, located on Rainbow Blvd., actually brought my appetite back. The wide open space, stone columns and flat screens everywhere were reminiscent of a modern-day castle that serves crispy fries. 

The chicken graphic with Kylie Jenner-esque lips on the menu practically forces you to try their “world famous chicken lips.” PSA: they’re not actual chicken lips — it’s just a different way of saying chicken tenders. Five (small) tenders and two dipping sauces for $8.49 seemed excessive considering you can get chicken tenders, mashed potatoes and mac n’ cheese from Hen House for $6. 

Despite the price hangup, the tendies had a crispy exterior and juicy inside, perfect for pulling apart and dipping in the creamy buffalo sauce. Fries as a side were an unexpected bonus — even though Yelp user Charley B. said their fries looked “tough” and like “they’ve been covered in batter.” The random, fried chunks of batter on the outside only increased the crunch and emphasized the soft inside, so they weren’t an issue (sorry Charley B).

I wasn’t worried about a rat running over my feet or the food making me sick — the wooden tables smelled like Lysol and the silverware was clean. Reviewed as “okay” and just a “lot of sour cream and shredded cheese,” the nachos were the only thing that embodied their unfavorable review. Plus they were cold, which isn’t appetizing when there’s meat involved. 

Overall the clean atmosphere and spicy chicken “lips” exceeded the precautionary Yelp reviews — don’t believe everything you read online.