In addition to steak and bbq places (altho those welcome too).
What kind of trip/experience are they interested in? Classic fine dining? Good wine menu? Innovative cuisine? Old KC institutions? KCās wonderful cocktail bars? Brunch?
Here are a few of my favorite places in KC for general fine dining:
- Corvino Supper Club - Expensive for KC, but very solid across the board. Everything on the menu is great, and it is a pretty eclectic mix of things. You can get your steak if you want, but the fried chicken is some of the best in KC; the fried branzino is amazing with the unique herb mix; the handmade pastas are great (agnolotti is amazing). The wine list is decent, and the cocktails are great.
- Antler Room - They tend to keep the menu fresh and updated and always have a very fun menu. Their pastas are amazing (not really a pasta restaurant, but they are great at it), but they really keep you on your toes with unique flavor combinations and things you donāt find on typical KC menus. Used to be almost all natty wine, but looks like they have better options now. They always have aimed to keep affordable wines on the menu.
- Farina - Iām just realizing Iāve mentioned pasta twice already, but Farina is a pretty terrific restaurant with a hybrid of traditional Italian and Italian-inspired new American cuisine. The corn/morel agnolotti is terrific, and the cheese filled caramelle with marsala mushroom sauce is amazing. They have a whole āSecondiā menu with your traditional ribeye and a pork roast from Michael Smithās previous restaurant (heās a KC-famous celeb chef), but my wife and I often make a meal out of getting a bunch of the pastas.
- Tailleur - Iām not sure if the owners gave up after confusion over the name, or if they always intended, but this is pronounced āTailor.ā Dinner would be great, but IMO, itās a great option for lunch and should be able to walk in no problem. Currently a lot of street car construction outside, but a nice back courtyard and beautiful French bistro interior. It isnāt going to blow you away with innovation, but the dishes are solid, and itās a fun place with a cocktail bar they run across the street.
- Cafe Provence - Into the 'burbs a bit, but this is run by a French family and has great mostly classic French cuisine. There is a French market they also run next door that has a newer cafe component, and you can get some more bistro-style things there, in addition to crepes for breakfast.
- Novel - I initially left this out as I havenāt been in a while, but this is a great restaurant. The chef generally just tweaks the menu items for the season, which is why I havenāt been in a while (same dishes principally for a while), but all are great, and top notch service and execution. Should have great cocktails, also.
For BBQ, it also depends on what their favorite BBQ elements are. If they like pulled pork, you may choose one placeā¦ brisket anotherā¦ ribs, yet anotherā¦ etc. In general, crowd pleasing (and terrific options) places will be Q39 (probably the first place I would take someone with no frame of reference for KC BBQ), Joeās KC (ideally the old gas station location, but you will have to wait in line), and Jack Stack. I find Jack Stack is the place for side dishes (best baked beans mayber ever?) and good to great meats (burnt ends are generally great), but consistency can vary. It is white table cloth dining, which is not the case for most KC BBQ joints.
On to the āgrittierā places, Arthur Bryantās is one of the most famous, but the sauce isnāt for everyone. IMO, you only go for the brisket sandwich (burnt ends arenāt great there, and Iāve not been a huge fan of the ribs, but some people love both). Keep an open mind for the old school sauce which is unlike anything youāve ever had and will haunt your taste buds if you become a disciple.
Gateās is a KC institution and the sauce is also addictive (contrary to popular belief, there are a wide variety of sauce styles in KC and many are nothing like KC Masterpiece). Gateās has really inconsistent meat, and you can get really lean or really fatty meat depending on things. You can try asking for ālean asā but it may or may not get the results you want. Ordering used to be one of the great experiences in KC (they shout at you and get testy if you arenāt ready), but things have tamed down over the years. Not my favorite place for ribs or burnt ends, but the turkey and brisket sandwiches can be exactly what you want.
LCās has what many consider the best burnt ends in KC, but I havenāt been for years and need to retest.
For steak, our traditional steakhouse scene was decimated as the suburbs sucked the life out of our downtown, but there are still some great options. The Golden Ox is an old KC institution that completely torpedoed into a joke (they did a Walmart commercial before shutting down claiming to buy all steaks from Walmart), but has now re-opened with new ownership. It essentially has nothing to do with the old restaurant other than it is a steakhouse. There is a cool little brewery next door with the old classic interior, and the other half of the old restaurant has been redone in a classic way also. Should be a nice experience, but wonāt win any awards.
J. Gilberts gets a lot of votes, but Iāve never been. There are other chains known for steak if that floats your boat (801 Chophouse, etc.).
Many of the fine dining restaurants I listed above should also have a great steak (Corvino - also has jazz combo or live music, Farina, Novel, Cafe Provence).
Iāve heard mixed things about the quality, but you can get a steak and hear a jazz combo at the Majestic, and old institution above which Harry Truman and the mobbed-up mayor of KC were known to smoke cigars and plan things.
I remember them tellingāHow may I help you?ā while I was still quite a ways back and I wasnāt ready!
Thanks for all of your help. I will forward your recs.
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I remember the first time I went to Arthur Bryantās and had their sauce, which was, shall we say, āunexpectedā. I didnāt like it that afternoon, but it grew on me quickly. I was flying out the next day in the early afternoon, and determined I had to go back for an early lunch and to buy several bottles of the sauce to take home.
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Loved Corvino the one time I went.
Same for Plate.
JJās wine list isnāt what it was pre-fire, but still pretty stellar, as is Pierpontās.
I miss the American.
Joeās is worth standing in line (get the ribs).
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As a born and raised Kansas Citian I feel obligated to engage here, but not sure what to say. First, as Bobby asked, it all depends on what your friends want/expect. Many years ago Steve Bono (former 49ers QB traded to Chiefs) commented that the worst restaurant in SF is better than the best in KC. While that comment basically ended his career in KC, there was an element of truth to it.
That said, Bobbyās suggestions are all on point, although Iād vote for Cafe Provence if they want fancy French food. It is a suburban strip mall, but food is consistently excellent.
Regarding steaks, no good steak houses in KC. 801 Chop House probably best of the breed, but not going to send your friends back raving about KC steaks. Weāve been shipping our best to the coasts for decades.
Regarding BBQ, your friends expectations are particularly important. If they want a real dive, LCs today is what Arthur Bryant was in its heyday. Greasy floors, incompetent service, no AC in the summer, etc. But itsā the best all around BBQ, including ribs, beef and burnt ends. And it feels like a real bbq. If your friends are a little timid, Jack Stack will be to their taste. Food across the board (including salmon) is delicious. And as Bobby said, beans are the best in the world, bar none. Iād add Meat Mitch in the 'burbs for one item: true burnt ends. Not the saucy kind, but real point, fatty, crisp but tender burnt ends. But happy to argue KCQ with anyone.
Maureen, share your thoughts and weāll provide more. As Iāve always said, KC is a great place to live but I wouldnāt want to visit there. Let us know how we can help.
Mike
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Thanks, Mike - I am asking on behalf of a friend so not sure how to answer your questions. But I get it about steaks - I am from a former stockyard town and I never had a great steak there (St Joe, actually). But your comments are very helpful.