First Ward House, home of Pinzino’s Smokehouse
2101 Saint Joseph Ave.
749-4035
Built in 1878, the First Ward House claims to be the oldest saloon west of the Mississippi, a former brothel, and a hangout for the infamous Bonnie and Clyde. And now you can add home of Pinzino’s Smokehouse, since Chad Pinzino took over ownership a few months ago. Charlie Pinzino, of the long-standing, but now gone, Pinzino’s Meat Market in St. Joseph, is his grandfather.
“I started working for him in the fourth grade making hamburger patties,” Chad says.
Chad worked himself up the meat locker ladder, he says, learning the secrets to smoking meat and eventually getting into the catering business. Last October, he stared working for the previous owner of the First Ward House and then apparently made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.
So the menu is similar to what it was before, but Chad added some new things. You can still get their specialty three-meat combo sandwich called “The Outlaw,” as well as their popular pulled pork sandwich. But he’s added baby back ribs, a couple of smoked turkey selections and Pinzino’s polish sausage. Tenderloin fans should note that they’re still here, but now you can also get them grilled. Or try their stuffed burgers with blue cheese and bacon or jalapeno and pepper jack.
Chad has “redecorated” with lots of conversation pieces hanging on the walls, or, in the case of a John Wayne cutout, standing in the corner. But don’t worry, it’s still a laid-back bar style, with old hardwood floors, a pool table and a few TV screens.
They have officially opened the deck out back, where you relax and smell the barbecue while sipping one of the five beers they have on tap. And since First Ward is a saloon after all, they also offer a wide variety of mixed drinks and wine.
In the evenings, the entertainment style is diverse, so you’ll just have to check ahead for what you like. Chad says every Wednesday night at 9 p.m. acoustic duo Mike Steggall and Larry Thompson play “outlaw country” music, where crowds can call out what songs they want. Friday night is karaoke. And Saturday night they bring in bands playing everything from country to rock to hip-hop.
“It’s really a mixed crowd,” Chad says. “Anything from younger to older.”
At dinner time you’re likely to see a lot of families, and at lunch time, business suits. And all the time you might see someone in uniform, since if you are suited up (military, police, fire department, ambulance) you’ll get a 10 percent discount.
The First Ward House opens at 11 a.m. Monday through Friday and at noon on Saturday. The kitchen closes at 9 p.m. during the week and at 8 p.m. on Saturday. Carry-out also is available.
Lifestyles reporter Sylvia Anderson can be reached at sylviaanderson@npgco.com.