Wichita’s best-kept barbecue secret is an outdoor eatery about to open for the season
People who lived in Wichita in the 1980s might remember a place called Georgio’s Restaurant.
It was at 2213 E. 21st St., and it was known for its menu of soul food dishes like chicken fried steak, fried chicken, and short ribs, which owner George Moore would dish up after the clubs closed on weekend nights.
Georgio’s also was well known because Moore, a close friend of football star Barry Sanders, was in possession of Sanders’ Heisman Trophy, which he displayed under glass in the restaurant.
“We used to carry it home every night because we didn’t want anything to happen to it,” remembers George’s son, Steve Moore.
The restaurant closed in 1991, and George died in 2014, but his love of cooking lives on through his son.
For the past four years, Steve has run a little barbecue/ soul food stand under the canopy of an old gas station at 13th and Hydraulic, which his brother-in-law owns. It’s called Georgio’s II BBQ — a tribute to Steve’s late father — and it will open again for the season on Thursday.
The business, which each year stays open Thursdays through Sundays from mid April until early December, has developed a loyal legion of followers, and through the warmer-weather months, people from the neighborhood and beyond gather for Steve’s ribs, brisket, chicken, pulled pork, hot legs, bologna and turkey legs.
He also has different side dishes each day, including things like collard green, corn bread, candied yams, corn on the cob, baked beans, and potato salad. On “Soul Food Sunday,” he gets away from the barbecue menu and serves up some of the dishes his dad was famous for, including short ribs, baked chicken and dressing, and smothered pork chops.
People rave about the food on his Facebook page.
Moore cooks everything on “two big ‘ol mobile smokers,” he said, and he also has a portable sink.
“It’s just like an outside kitchen,” he said.
Steve also sets up picnic tables, and his customers often hang around to eat their meals and socialize.
Steve said he’s been encouraged by how much the business has grown each year, and he always sees new customers — who likely were drawn by the heavenly smells drifting out onto 13th Street.
He’s eager to fire up the smokers for another season.
“Every year, it’s gaining more and more people,” he said. “This year, I’m really expecting a great crowd to come out.”
Georgio’s II BBQ is open from 12:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, from 2 to 10 p.m. on Saturdays, and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays.
For opening day, it’ll be open from noon to 10 p.m.
This story was originally published April 10, 2019 at 5:02 AM.
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