#22 – Chicken N Pickle
1761 Burlington. North Kansas City, MO 64116
Cost: $$
Features: Pickleball. Yard Games. Beer. Food.
Atmosphere: Lively, loud.
Good for: Families, big groups, double dates.
Tip: Book your court in advance.
Um, so competitive pickleball is now a thing?? Apparently it’s the fastest growing sport in America, so courts are popping up all over the place, including in Kansas City. I had played pickleball in high school and to be honest, I hated it. I wasn’t exactly looking forward to playing at Chicken N Pickle, but I was willing to give it a shot. (Everything is better after high school, right?)
About Chicken N Pickle
Chicken N Pickle is an entertainment complex and restaurant with 8 pickleball courts and other outdoor lawn games like bocce ball, Jenga and life size Battleship. The outdoor space kind of reminds me of Char Bar.
Luckily Chicken N Pickle has four indoor courts and four outdoor courts. A group of seven of us went, and we rented a court for an hour. Our group was a mix of competitive players and just-for-fun players, and an hour was the right amount of time for us.
After our hour was up, we went into the main building to eat. Obviously chicken is their specialty, so their menu consists of various chicken plates and sandwiches. I had the spicy chicken sandwich, topped with coleslaw. The chicken was decent, but the coleslaw was pretty bland. I’d be willing to eat there again and try something different.
I did enjoy experiencing more of North Kansas City. I haven’t spent a lot of time in the area, and I was pleasantly surprised. Chicken N Pickle is really close to Cinderblock Brewery, so we stopped in and had a few beers – such a cool microbrewery!
About Pickleball
Pickleball is kind of a mix between tennis, ping pong and badminton. You can play with 2-4 people, but I’d recommend four unless you’re really into it. It’s a sport that you don’t have to be athletic to play, though it does take a while to get used to the heavier paddle and whiffle ball.
We didn’t even play by the rules – just tried to hit the ball back and forth and it was still entertaining. I would definitely recommend reserving a court ahead of time. They book fast. We went on a rainy Sunday and the courts were still full.
Personally, I don’t think the prices are worth it unless you get a big group together to split the costs. They advertise that courts are $10 per half hour, but that’s only the case 11-5 during the week. Nights and weekends are $20 per half hour, plus equipment rentals, if you need them.
Ultimately, Chicken N Pickle is expensive, but offers plenty of ways to entertain yourself beyond pickleball. If you make an afternoon out of it, it’s worth it. xx, Libbie.
