Grinders Pizza

Grinders is located in the heart of Kansas City's Crossroads Arts District, a gathering place for the Midwest hipster crowd. There's a good chance you'll see all kinds of tattoos and piercings when you walk in the door. Decor the restaurant matches the eclectic style of the clientele. If you think Ozzy Osbourne meets Disney World, you're almost there. The laid-back hangout is best known for two things: pizza and wings. But not just any pizza and wings, of course. Grinders does New York-style pizza to perfection with substantial hand-tossed crust and savory toppings on a foundation of stringy melted cheese. The 12-inch starts at $8.75 and the 18-inch starts at $15, but you'll want to add at least one of their "fancy pants" toppings, which includes smoked salmon, tandoori chicken and capers. As for the wings, tread carefully. Death Wings,"as they're known, come in four flavors ranging from Wimpy to Death Sauce. We tried the Wimpy wings, and those were hot enough for us. The staff warned us that Death Sauce is only for really crazy people. Good to know. Speaking of the staff, the service here was great, despite it being a busy night when we visited. And while some of the decor here can feel a bit unsettling, we would come back for the food anytime.