Hereford House steak restaurant, in the Crossroads Arts District

Long before semi-industrial Midtown section of Kansas City morphed into the hip Crossroads Arts District, the Hereford House (2 E. 20th St., 816-842-1080) - which opened its doors in 1957 - began delightining old-school carnivores with its hefty prime rib and beef dinners. As the neighborhood became somewhat popular for its gay nightlife, the Hereford developed more and more of a gay fan base, and now as its surrounded by hip eateries like Michael Smith and 1924 Main, this ironically cool steak house enjoys a loyal following among all types - from hipsters to politicos to lesbians to no-nonsense meat-loving he-men.