Golden Ox gets smoky, but doesn’t burn down

Pat Paton, the publicist for the Golden Ox restaurant, is eager to get publicity for the venerable steakhouse this month — as Fat City reported last week, the oldest steak joint in Kansas City just turned 60 years old — but the big story on many TV newscasts tonight (including this blurb from KCTV-Channel 5) wasn’t exactly what he had in mind.

A fire in the grill tonight wafted up through the restaurant’s ventilation system (a somewhat similar incident took place last February at the original Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue in Martin City). Firefighters quickly put out the blaze, and it caused relatively little damage except for the pungent aroma of smoke in the dining room. “There was no damage to the kitchen or the dining room,” said Paton. “We think we’ll be back open by Wednesday. We’ll definitely be open for Mother’s Day brunch.”

Look for a review of the Golden Ox in this week’s Pitch.