Branelle and I decided to have lunch at a place we found on-line in Kansas City called Fritz's Railroad Restaurant. The main attraction to us, and I assume most diners, is the rather unique food delivery system they have. It's basically a miniature train that runs over your table and drops your food as it passes by!
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| The decor is really fun. They have model trains that run inside the "windows" all around the restaurant. |
There are three of these places in the area, but we ate at the one located at the Crown Center on the Missouri side (the other two are in Kansas). The menu is simple - basically everything that your run-of-the-mill hamburger joint has to offer. The food was pretty good, but the star of the meal is the overhead "train" that brings your order in a box that is dropped on a tray as it passes by which then hydraulically lowers to your table. The train route takes it over EVERYONE'S table, so you kind of find yourself - along with everyone else in the house - looking up expectantly every time the train emerges from the kitchen. It's fun!
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| You place your order by picking up an old phone located in your booth. |
Fritz's inventor skills lead him to the development of the food delivery system that he designed and tested in the basement of his home. The patented system was primarily intended to help with the shortage of labor which was a constant headache while trying to operated multiple restaurants efficiently. Once the system, nicknamed the "Skat Kat," was installed at the 18th street location in the early 1970's, however, people began calling it a train. At first Fritz played down the railroad aspect of Skat Kat, but he eventually decided to go with this popular theme. Train memorabilia and engineer's hats for the kids enhanced this concept.
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| Watching the little train and hoping it will drop its delivery at our table. |
It's a fun dining experience. If you're ever in the KC area, check it out - you won't be disappointed.
