We've stayed in North KC at the Harrah's, Downtown at the Marriot and in best westerns and holiday inns around KC. It's all very close and even when we were in North KC we could be down town in 20 Minutes.
When in KC, you've got to have breakfast at Town Topic. Go for a haystack sandwich with a side of gravy
Agree with Toby, Arther Bryant's was the worst bbq joint we visited.
Stroud's is great for fried chicken but is a little way out of town.
Q38 is really good, and the ribs at Gates are supposed to be great too.
Grinders was it's average at best