Kansas City BBQ Burns

Top Gun Was Filmed There

A kitchen fire spread throughout Kansas City Barbeque and gutted the iconic downtown restaurant. There were no injuries. Most of the memorabilia from the Top Gun movie—shot here in 1986—were destroyed. Saved is that famous piano where Tom Cruise’s “Maverick,” Edward Anthony’s “Goose” and Meg Ryan (in the cute gal role that rocketed her to fame) enjoyed Goose’s rendition of “Great Balls of Fire.” Mildly ironic, I guess.

Kansas City Barbeque regularly finished second to Phil’s BBQ in San Diego Magazine’s annual Best Restaurants readers poll. It had fans, but some diners were turned off by the ribs and other menu selections. I stopped going to this beer-and-wine-only joint some years ago.

But if this is the end for the place, I’d like to eulogize fond memories. The bartenders were salt of the earth. Always good for a laugh. Then there was the décor. The walls and ceiling were covered to completion with items left behind by patrons. The main item of clothing decorating the interior was bras. In all shapes, sizes, cups and colors.

Kansas City Barbeque was not what you’d call a classy place. It was a dive. A throwback. But if the last Wonderbra has been pinned to its wall, I’ll mourn the passing.

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