“Incredible” might be the right descriptor when considering the journey thus far of Q39, one of the city’s go-to barbecue restaurants. For Philip Thompson, Q39 executive chef, it’s a labor of love that bridges legacy with legendary.
“Our team is incredible, which is really a key piece for a successful restaurant,” he says.
The dream, however, was born long before Q39 became reality. The late Rob Magee received a degree from the Culinary Institute of America and inspiration became motivation, as he worked to master competition barbecue from scratch. That hard work paid off and in 2014, Rob and his wife, Kelly, opened the first Q39 scratch kitchen restaurant in the historic Midtown neighborhood. A decade later, the popular barbecue establishment has a second location in Overland Park, with a third anticipated locale in Lawrence.
“Ten years in the restaurant industry is a long time. It’s a real testimony to all the team at Q39 that we’ve had ten fantastic years. We have to continue to maintain our standards but also continue to get better,” says Thompson.
Since May is National Barbecue Month and the kickoff to barbecue season, Q39 is bringing back its “Q Champion Meat Platter” available through the end of the month. It is a nod to championship barbecue that features Q39 award-winning flavors: brisket, burnt ends, pulled pork, smoked chicken, ribs, and chipotle sausage.
“We put a lot of care and attention into everything we do. It’s really important for us to make sure that we are consistent in every single plate that we serve,” explains Thompson.
Besides offering barbecue with a twist, Thompson says Q39 is also invested in the community and has committed to its 10-10-10 campaign, teaming up with nonprofit organizations to give a minimum of $10,000 in support and provide volunteers. The, Q39 staff had input on the causes chosen, which includes youth development, aging rescue pets, LGBTQ inclusiveness, and colon cancer awareness, prevention, and treatment research, to name a few.
“We have some really great partners. Some of them are new partners for us and some of them are existing ones that we have partnered with previously,” he says. “It’s important to recognize some of our team members have been affected by some of these organizations which is why they’re so passionate about it. I think we have a wide variety of organizations that speak to a lot of issues. It is just really incredible to be a part of that.”
In November 2021, Rob Magee passed away after a five-year battle with colon cancer. His passion and dream continue to live on in the leadership of Kelly and in the work of Thompson.
Maintaining that legacy is an incredible honor says Thompson, but just as incredible is all things Q39.
“It’s a place in the story of barbecue in Kansas City. Just really cool to be a part of it. As a chef, this is without a doubt the most amazing thing that I’ve been a part of in my career,” he says.