Eat This Now: The 9th Street Sammy at Incline On 9th

The 9th Street Sammy // Photo by Cory Swieczkowski

Have you ever fallen in love? I mean, truly fallen in love—that all-consuming feeling where every moment apart is eternity. I’ve felt it, right on the patio of Incline on 9th. My heart was stolen by a sandwich.

To call the 9th Street Sammy a sandwich is reductive.

Love knows no price, so get ready to shell out $20 for this beauty. A one-way ticket to beef boulevard: tender sliced tri-tip beef that nearly melts in your mouth. A toasted baguette that travels all the way down to the plate. Laid upon crisped, homemade chips, they should be honored to carry such a dignified guest.

The 9th Street Sammy at Incline on 9th is a contemporary take on the traditional tri-tip. Spicy citrus sauce coats the savory steak, topped with arugula and shallots, all held together with help from melty gruyere and white cheddar. Quality Hertzog Meat Company cuts make the price of admission worthwhile.

A sandwich this good comes at a cost. It was never meant to last. One moment, I imagine our life: growing old, surrounded by friends who can’t understand our love. Next, I stare at an empty plate. Love is fickle.

The Haymaker cocktail // Photo by Cory Swieczkowski

Now for my cocktail, left untouched at first, while I fixated on the steak sandwich. The Hayburner costs $13.50. Whiskey, chartreuse, honey, and jalapeno round out the flavor. Enjoyable. But the stinging memory of a love lost was still burned in my brain. The drink didn’t affect my blues, but it tried its best.

If you crave standout meat, this urban-chic eatery delivers. Life is too short not to get your heart broken by a sandwich.

Incline on 9th is located at 1414 W 9th St, Kansas City, MO 64101.