Stroud’s Restaurant & Bar: The Perfect Source for Holiday Meals and Catering!

It’s not easy to reach status as an iconic Kansas City restaurant, and only a handful have attained a spot on this competitive and envied list. Stroud’s Restaurant & Bar is a mainstay as a Kansas City icon and after tasting some of their most popular menu items, you’ll get absolutely no argument from me. Pan-fried chicken from this legendary restaurant has fueled locals for decades and can be freshly prepared for holiday parties, catered events or private dinners. With crisp breading, a hint of seasoning and juicy meat inside, these breasts, thighs, legs and wings are perfectly prepared every time. 

If you’re dining in Overland Park’s Stroud’s location at 135th and Switzer, you’ll immediately discover it’s a comfortable atmosphere, almost as if you’re dining at a friend’s home but with welcoming friendly staff at your beck and call.

But what was unexpected was the variety of catering opportunities available at Stroud’s. I discovered that Stroud’s not only does catering business for individuals, nonprofits, various organization and corporations, but they’re already booking up for the holidays. 

I also learned about Stroud’s Express in Mission, Kansas, a brand-new concept that offers curbside pick-up, carryout and delivery only. That’s right, no dining rooms or table-side service! You have to take those finger lickin’ favorites home, on a picnic, to a party, tailgate, office lunch or any other great eating-out experience you can think of! Order online in advance to guarantee the best availability options, because they sell out daily. 

Even an icon makes enhancements, and I was thrilled to learn that just before COVID hit, Stroud’s introduced its spicy hot seasoning option. Any Stroud’s staple can be tossed in a spicy hot seasoning, incorporating more flavor and bringing something new to the fried chicken, fried chicken bites and any of the entrees.

“Our customers have been really excited about trying our new spicy hot seasoning recipe,” said Bethany Neal, vice president of sales and marketing for Stroud’s. “It’s a unique flavor that starts a little warm, not overwhelmingly hot, and then finishes with a hint of sweet. There are a lot of hot chicken recipes out there, but ours is distinct.”

In 1998, Stroud’s received the first James Beard Foundation award in Kansas City for its pan-fried chicken, touted as an “American classic.” Yes, Kansas City’s first restaurant to receive a James Beard award was Stroud’s. Maybe you could say Stroud’s helped put KC on the national culinary map!

Since Guy and Helen Stroud first opened the restaurant in 1933 as a barbecue joint at the original spot on the county line at 85th and Troost, Stroud’s has been a staple in the KC metro. Throughout the years, the company has expanded the menu, opened new locations and earned countless accolades in national and local media outlets. Along with its famous pan-fried chicken, Stroud’s offers a variety of items, including mashed potatoes and gravy, homemade chicken noodle soup, “world-famous” cinnamon rolls, made fresh daily, of course, chicken-fried steak and pan-fried breaded pork chops. ■

Visit Stroud’s Overland Park at 8301 West 135th Street and Stroud’s Express Mission, 5405 Johnson Drive, 913-563-5795. Call 913-499-0135 for more information, or go to stroudsrestaurant.com/overland-park; for catering, stroudscatering.com; for Stroud’s Express, stroudsexpress.com/mission.

Stroud’s Catering for the Holidays
For holiday events and beyond, Stroud’s can serve up their famous dishes at your home, office, event site or in their restaurant.
• Traditional Catering: I love the idea of serving event guests a delicious, hot, down-home meal complete with all of the homemade sides without breaking the bank.
• Pan-Fry On-Site: How cool is this? Stroud’s cooks arrive on site with their cast iron skillets to pan-fry directly to the guests’ plates! This becomes more of an experience rather than simply a catered event.
• Private Room: The restaurant offers two private rooms for special events. And, all menu favorites can be customized specifically for an event and to meet budget parameters.
• Thanksgiving Dinners: For those who aren’t planning a big office party but who may want a break this Thanksgiving, Stroud’s has Thanksgiving Dinner carryout boxes for $89.99. These typically sell out and they recommend customers order ahead. The boxes serve five and include oven-baked ham, roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, turkey gravy, Stroud’s stuffing, green beans, corn, cranberry fruit salad and the “world-famous” cinnamon rolls. 

Visit stroudsrestaurant.com/specials to reserve your meal or plan your event.

Written by: Megan Neher

Journalist-turned-PR-professional Megan Neher has never forgotten her true first love: writing. Today, Megan owns her own PR firm, Megan Neher Public Relations; she’s a wife, mom, marketer, student and spends a lot of time cleaning up after her four pets and two teenagers. Her dream is to live on a tropical beach somewhere where she can stroll barefoot to a nearby grass hut for a fish taco and margarita.