Always Knowingly Undercooked

Where fast food meets Latin dance

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Bachata (ta-ta-ta)

Smell of the greasepaint! Roar of the crowd! In our case, the "greasepaint" is chicken grease, and the crowd are a largely disinterested bunch, more concerned with their dangerously pink lunch than your incompetent gyrating. However, what better place to ply your trade as a budding bachata-ist (rhetorical)? As the adage goes, "dance like nobody's watching"—this is made easier at Lizzy's, as there's very often no-one watching. In fact, almost all eye contact made by our diners is likely to be fleeting and accidental*, as they scan the room morosely pondering their various life decisions, perhaps looking for the merest morsel of properly cooked meat.

Our expert bachata instructors provide tuition in three primary bachata styles: Dominican, Moderna and Sensual. Classes typically last for two hours, and are catered to specific levels of experience—from first-time bachatistas to big-time bachata buffs, there's something for everyone at Lizzy's. Our approach to teaching bachata is very simple: focused sessions, regular scheduling, excellence in instruction, questionable facilities, and most importantly of all a fun and friendly atmosphere!

No partner is required. Rolling solo? No problem! For the sad-cases tragic enough to rock up alone, we'll pair you up with an equally desperate specimen, dragged reluctantly from our restaurant. You would think their lack of interest would make them difficult companions, but we find they're often too busy being (violently) sick for this to really enter into the equation.

* save for a few perennial gawpers.

Fernando Babbalooch

Fernando Babbalooch

Lead Bachata Instructor, Lizzy's

"I've been teaching bachata for more than sixteen years, from Santo Domingo cervecería's to some of the most exclusive studios in New York City, Los Angeles and beyond. Seriously, how did I end up here? Come along to Lizzy's and and fulfill your bachata-based dreams, build confidence, improve your cardiovascular fitness and make friends for life!"

The Lizzy's story

Lizzy's was founded in Kansas City, Mo. when we noticed a glaring gap in the market for a bachata studio/fast food establishment.

In 1999, we were thrilled to be featured in a motion picture, entitled "Save the Last Wasp", a film about a struggling, small-town bachata/fast food establishment, being driven out of business by a nationwide bachata/fast food franchise. In a desperate bid to generate more custom, the business recruits a crack team of four wasps, three of which die immediately from the undercooked fast food (turns out to be Not Safe For Wasps), and the remaining wasp must endure a turbulent battle with food poisoning.

Hollywood being what it is, the film plays fast and loose with the truth: in reality bachata/fast food is an emerging market, a good ten years off from seeing this kind of large-scale commercialisation. Several years later, a different film studio launched an ill-fated, straight-to-DVD sequel "Save the Last Wasp 2: For Better or Wasp". Unfortunately, with a runtime just under three hours, the follow-up somewhat overestimated the movie-going masses' interest in watching one wasp's harrowing struggle (and eventual untimely death) from toxoplasmosis.

So, how do we achieve superiority amongst our fellow fast food establishments? Well, we want to be open with our user base (glasnost), and so the simple fact is that we serve our food Always Knowingly Undercooked™. Culinary science tells us that 95% cooked is good enough, and indistinguishable to the average diner from the fully-cooked article. To give us a further competitive edge, and out of a thinly-disguised contempt for our customers, we usually stop cooking at around the 93-94% mark*.

* though sometimes much lower.

Find us

At Lizzy's, repeat custom is surprisingly high (somehow only 28% lower than average for the fast food industry, which frankly we are baffled by). If anything, this is a scathing indictment of the sector, and a reflection of an appalling decline in standards more generally. You can find Lizzy's at 4330 Grandview Heights, Kansas City, Missouri.

Our location

Frequently asked questions

Customer testimonials

Nicola
Japan
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Well, what can I say... It was an experience? If I had to some it up in one word, then the word would be "wasps". Why were there so many wasps?!?! The buzzing was a bit distracting as I tried desperately to chew.
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