Photo:Courtesy of Golden Ox; JC Olivera/Getty
Courtesy of Golden Ox; JC Olivera/Getty
Golden Oxknows how to provide a meal of champions.
While this historic Missouri joint may be the oldest steakhouse in Kanas City, it was recently put on the map in a new light ever sinceTravis Kelcecelebratedhis 34th birthday at the hot spoton Oct. 7 this year.
“It’s cool that [Travis] comes to have dinner here because he’s such a Kansas City icon and so are we,” he says of the establishment founded in 1949. “So when he’s here, it’s like all of Kansas City right here in the building. It’s really exciting.”
Golden Ox kitchen behind the scenes.Todd Zimmerman
Todd Zimmerman
Shannon has worked at the Ox since 2019, though he tells PEOPLE that he’s been a steakhouse server in Kansas City for 25 years. Therefore, he’s “had the pleasure of waiting on many athletes and people from all over the country.”
While he’s gotten to know many familiar faces over the years, Shannon says Kelce was “just a gentleman” to the restaurant staff and the fans who were waiting outside the building during his special celebration.
“He just wanted a night out with his buddies where he could have a little birthday dinner in quiet,” Shannon explains. “But, of course, he made time to stop and talk to people outside — super nice.”
For someonewho opts to wait on linesinstead of skipping to the front, Kelce is known around town for his humble character — despite being one of the biggest football stars in the NFL. However, Shannon insisted on giving him a “bit of special treatment.”
Golden Ox “Chef’s Table”.Courtesy of Golden Ox
Courtesy of Golden Ox
“When you have a good establishment and you have good people, you want to treat them the same,” he says. In doing so, Shannon sat Kelce and his friends at the exclusive “Chef’s Table” located just off the kitchen in a private cove.
The “Chef’s Table” gives parties an intimate dining experience, hidden from the rest of the restaurant. “I seat there for any kind of high-profile guests we have,” says Shannon. “We tend to do a lot of political figures. A lot of senators, governors … the mayor eats here often.”
The big table is just a few feet away from the secret entrance to the restaurant, perfect for the staff who “didn’t know if Taylor Swift was going to show up” with him. “That was another thing to consider,” says Shannon of the pop star,who’s been romantically tiedto the football playersince sparking dating rumorsin September.
Golden Ox ribeye with a side of garlic-parsley fries.Courtesy of Golden Ox
Russel Rea, “the first guy hired” at the Ox since it reopened under new ownership after its renovation in June 2018, waited on Kelce the night of his big bash. “He’s one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet in the world,” Rea tells PEOPLE of the athlete, whom he’s waited on before.
“Travis ate the same thing he eats all the time,” he says. “He eats a porterhouse, medium-rare,” a menu item Rea says is “up there” with the Golden Ox bestsellers.
In addition to the “giant T-bone,” he says Kelce “got a filet side” — in addition to the lobster mac and cheese and broccolini. “They eat a lot,” adds Shannon, who says “those athletes can power away some steak.”
The birthday extravaganza wouldn’t be complete without champagne, of which Shannon “treated them to a toast” and “bought them a nice bottle” before dinner. “They each had two sips and left the bottle for the rest of the staff,” he says.
“It was just a real quiet, mellow dinner for them,” says Shannon. “The whole rest of the restaurant went on and didn’t know that we had them right here.”
source: people.com
