My hubby and I have some serious foodie friends from LA talking about a visit. I started thinking today of where we are would eat while they are here. Food is one of my favorite topics!
What is on your MUST do list? I started thinking of mine today. I am having such a tough time narrowing it down.
This is a work in progress, but here's what I've got... (Not in order, other than #1)
3 absolute musts, no question....
1. bluestem
2. Blanc
3. Oklahoma Joes
Other contenders....
4. The Mixx
5. La Bodega
6. Michael Smiths
7. El Camino Real
8. Osteria il Centro
9. Piropos
10. Extra Virgin
Shoot, I can barely limit this, I'm thinking of so many others.....
1. Arthur Bryants - shows the tradition of Barbecue in KC. Sorry Oklahoma Joes, you are in Kansas and i just don't like the idea of taking my friends from other cities to a place in KC that has the name Oklahoma in it.
2. Westside Local - This would be an opportunity to show my friends the great neighborhood that is the Westside. I would probably take them here on a warm summer night and eat and drink in the beer garden. Their focus on local ingredients would show my friends from out of town that there ARE progressive thinkers in KC.
3 Vietnam Cafe (the one in columbus park)- I love this place. I love the food and I love the fact that a lot of the time I am the only non-Vietnamese person dining there.
4. Garozzo's - I just love columbus park. I would explain to my friends that this is one of the few places left in a once thriving Italian Neighborhood. The food style, in my opinion, is actually pretty unique to St. Louis and Kansas City. It is, in some ways, slightly different from east coast Italian food.
5. Blue Koi - This Asian Fusion restaurant would serve as a way to show my friends KC's cool west 39th area. I also love the food and the atmosphere.
So many places to name. here are some other ones...
Nieces on Troost - Kansas City is largely African American, we must celebrate this when showing off our city to outsiders. (The patrons at Arthur Bryants tend to be white).
McCoy's - Sit on the padio, people watch, eat some comfort, drink some beer, and enjoy westport square. I would probably give my friends a small history lesson on the area.
Grinders - Pretty weird food. Would be a good way to show my friends the crossroads district.
Last edited by nilsson1941 on Wed Jan 13, 2010 11:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Tough question. I like your top 3, jdub. After that it gets pretty hard!
"It is not to my good friend's heresy that I impute his honesty. On the contrary, 'tis his honesty that has brought upon him the character of heretic." -- Ben Franklin
mean wrote:
Tough question. I like your top 3, jdub. After that it gets pretty hard!
I think the top 3 are solid too, though personally I don't care for OK Joe's, it's certainly a fair choice. I would sub out LC's for BBQ. I probably would not go to a place like Extra Virgin, as I think that wouldn't hold up faced with out-of-town expectations (though I would be curious to get honest reactions).
El Camino Real is the only one that really sticks out from your 2nd set to me. You might also think about Pollo Rey, which is pretty special. You might consider Lidia's, which has solid to excellent food and a beautiful room.
Great thoughts, thank you!!!! I'm getting hungry just thinking about these spots. There are a few mentioned I haven't tried that are on my list. Such as Westside local - I've been wanting to check it out since it opened, and just haven't made it yet.
I don't quite understand the love of LCs, so many people rave about it. We tried it once and thought it was terrible. It was take out though, maybe just on an off day, we definitely need to give it another shot on the way to a Chiefs game next year!
Need to take them to the Gaf as well, it's our local hangout.
The lists in first two posts are pretty good, actually all posts I generally agree are decent, though would not take visitors to Julian. Also would add Justus Drugstore and Le Fou Frog.
Succotash (in major kickass mode right now) and You Say Tomato are two where I'd take outatowners for bfast and Happy Gillis too. Eggtc is a decent neighborhood place but not a metro destination.
Blue Koi stands out for soups (ask for the chili oil for intensity (not the paste)). Farmhouse deserves a secondary mention, if prepared for poor service. Ate at Pierponts recently and they have stepped their game up mo betta. Had a good overall experience and service was much more competent than in past. Skies is something that most don't think about yet it's a pretty doable experience once in a while.
Good call. My hubby took me to skies once, and we both really enjoyed it. I seriously considered including it. Yet I didn't for out of towners that travel a fair amount, that sort of a place is a little bit of a dime a dozen. Similar to Sien (sp.?) tower in Toronto, etc, etc.....
Jdub, what's good to eat at the Gaf or do you just stick with drinks? I wanted to like that place since moving into Waldo but the two things I tried there weren't very good. To be honest, can't even remember what I tried, it was so forgettable!
Aww, pumpkin you are missing out. Within the last maybe 6 months, they have totally redone their menu and added some more healthy options so can get good sides/salads. I love their BLT wrap, Irish Beef Stew and the Gaf Burger. The beef stew totally rocks, especially on the really cold crappy days we have been having. Their burger isn't quite as good as the burgers at Swagger, but for me a really really really close second to the best burger in town. They have the "gut bomb" which is something like a burger + a fried egg + onion rings that a few people we've gone there with rave about. I like that the owner, Ray has invested in the hood and he's always chatty when we go in. Plus we can walk there and stagger home.
Did you get your mug renewed at 75th street? We got primo spots right in the front of the bar, so our IA and NE mugs are proudly displayed where everyone can see them. Their new menu is a huge improvement too, have you tried the 9 hour roast (or whatever it is called). Unbelievable! I am so happy that daydream is back too. Last year I convinced them to sell that to me in my mug and growler, but no dice yet this round....
Since I don't have any foodie friends, this is just if I am taking some guys to KC. So these are all within reasonable proximity of where I would take them to visit.
Top Choice: Bluestem's Lounge on Happy Hour. Cheap food for a great quality and a nice atmosphere. Good way of ending a tour.
Something Fast 1 (Middle East): Habashi House at the River Market.
Something Fast 2 (Asian): Kim Lone Vietnamese Market on 5th and Cherry. There is a diner adjacent to the grocery store.
Something Fast 3 (Traditional): Town Topic. Granted, this is the only burger joint I have been to in KC.
Lunchtime 1: Aixois.
Lunchtime 2: Andre's.
Regional: Arthur Bryants.
bluestem (a very good brunch option, too!)
american
le fou frog
room 39
la bodega
honorable mentions: westside local and 1924 main
don't miss out on drinks at manifesto! please note there are no BBQ joints on my list. if you must force them into this cliche, my favorite is jack stack in the crossroads (it's clean, there are non-beef/pork options, and they have a wine list). also, there's no reason to extend beyond the RCP area, but if you must venture out then please make a reservation at justus!
blanc is fine for a lunch, but it's not going to really impress anyone.
I haven't been in KC enough over the last few years to have a top 5 but I really like
The Classic Cup on the plaza. I love the setting.
The restaurant in the Nelson (can't remember the name)
Jack Stack in the Freighthouse district
Yia Yia's in OP is good and under-rated
Blanc Burgers & Bottles for a gourmet burger but Wesport Flea Market has the overall best burger
Haven't found an Italian restaurant that I want to write home about yet, not many on people's lists.
#1 for me, that I can actually go to on a regular basis, is Garrozzo's at 5th and Harrison. The suburban locations suck.
#2 is Bryant's, once again the original location only.
#3 is a personal pick of LC's Hamburgers in the northland. It gets a nostalgic boost because I grew up eating it in my childhood.
#4 is a tie between Plaza III and Benton's. Both house the best steaks I've ever had at a restaurant, but to have them both on the list would be a bit redundant.
#5 I'll reserve for Bluestem, which I know is an amazing place but I've never been to myself.
Honerable mention
1921 Main (also never been there, but highly recommended)
Westport Flea Market
*insert your personal fav of the local BBQ scene, you can't go wrong with about half a dozen places*
Pierponts
Margarita's
The best thing about all 10 above places? 100% local (that I know of).
Justus Drugstore if you're up for the drive (30 min max) - a relatively affordable experience you won't soon forget.
R Bar, primarily for the cocktails and atmosphere on a weekend evening. The food is great, and creative, too. Excellent live music when I was there (Grand Marquis).
Arthur Bryants on Brooklyn, or just Jack Stack (Freighthouse) if you want more of a "sit down" experience.
I feel like one find decent Italian food anywhere, but if you must have it I'd second the Garozzo's Columbus Park suggestion - Chicken Spedieni, obviously.
Pierponts for drinks before dinner in perhaps the most beautiful bar room in the city. The food is quite good too, but is mostly just "upscale Hereford House" type stuff.
Cafe Sebastienne at the Kemper for brunch (!!) - very reasonably priced for the atmosphere, surrounded as you are by a sea of colorful paintings, near (or in) the skylit courtyard. Food is very, very good for the price and "museum cafe" concept.
And don't forget about the Farmhouse - not exactly a flashy or impressive place to take visitors, but cheap, great local food (a budget Justus, sort of), and a warm and inviting atmosphere. The chef is more than willing to chat about the how/when/where of the rustic local foods you're enjoying as well. You can never go wrong with the Farmhouse, which is what makes it one of my personal favorite restaurants in the city.
Last edited by rxlexi on Thu Jan 14, 2010 7:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Food is one of my favorite topics! 
