Grinders   

417 E 18th St
Kansas City, MO 64108
816-472-5454

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Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And if you behold enormous, industrial sculpture and cheap, generously portioned bar food to be a thing of beauty, then Grinders on 18th is your lunchtime Louvre. The curator of this downtown eatery, Stretch, is a personality nearly as large as the rusty metal constructions anchoring his adjacent gallery. The singularly named artist has emerged as the area's most prominent sculptor and a self-appointed advocate for the fledgling Crossroad's Art District. But Grinders just might be his greatest work yet. The pizzas, with ''standard issue'' or ''fancy pants'' toppings, can be as abstract or classical as you wish. The Philly cheesesteak comes with either provolone or an authentic but unnatural oozing of cheese wiz and is perfectly accompanied by an order of the retro tater-tots that Grinders contends are ''just like in the trailer park.'' And though Stretch is not likely the one tossing your ''absolutely insane,'' non-refundable ''Death Wings,'' his full length diner-style counter affords a front row seat to the sculpting of downtown's most artistic greasy spoon.