Table Hopping – November 2011
“Comfort Food in any Language.”
Hot Basil Thai Cuisine
7528 W. 119th Street 66213
Overland Park, KS
913-451-3713
Owner, Lee Chai, worked with the owners of the Thai Place restaurants for years, before opening his own place. He knows the recipe for success. Easy to remember name, soothing and elegant décor, linens, and a staff that can anticipate what the guests want. You can find everything from “white girl spicy” dishes to “Thai Hot” at Hot Basil. Try the Gapow, ground pork chopped and stir-fried with Thai basil, bell pepper, served over rice with a fried egg on top for $14.95 at dinner. If an ingredient is in the name of the place, you should order something with that in it. Vegetarian menu is available on request. CLOSED: on Mondays, which is unusual out in the suburbs, but typical for independently owned restaurants.
Elsa’s Ethiopian
8016 Santa Fe Drive
Overland Park, KS 66204
913-648-5000
Eating at Elsa’s feels like you’ve gone over to your Ethiopian friend’s house and had a meal prepared by their Mom. That’s because you have! Owner, Elsa Michaels, who is from Ethiopia, is the owner and cook, but it’s a family affair here, with her husband and several children helping to cook and serve in the restaurant. The dishes at Elsa’s are simple and traditional, but completely filling. Get a taste of all of it with the Vegetarian combo for $12.99. This platter, made for sharing, is a colorful combination of vegetarian dishes served with large pieces of spongy injera bread. GO: for dinner, as depending on what you order, the food can take a little time to prepare, as all of the dishes are made to order.
Chai Shai
651 E. 59th Street
Kansas City, MO 64110
816-260-5203
The Pakistani brothers Abdul and Kashif Tufail, had planned to make and sell their famous samosas to Indian markets around KC to earn some extra cash while they were both attending UMKC over a year ago. But when they opened Chai Shai, with their mother Aasma, helping them in the kitchen, the retail demand was so great for their tasty samosas, they had to stop the wholesale business all together. Therefore, you must get an order of beef, chicken or vegetable samosas served with housemade chutney to start your meal for $4. The rest of the food they serve touches both Indian and Pakistani cultures. CALL: ahead to place your to-go order, the menu is on their website, and they will have your food waiting for you.
Marrakech Café
4116 Broadway Street
Kansas City, MO 64111
816-753-7520
Exotic Moroccan cuisine is a rare find in Kansas City. Which is one of the reasons why brothers, Noure & Amine Kamal, decided to open a restaurant serving food from their home country in Westport. Start with a delightfully simple beet salad to start then move into the cornish hen and vegetable cous-cous or go with a beef, chicken or vegetable tajines. The beef tajine is as tender as your Mom’s pot roast on Sunday, served with dried apricots and a brown braising sauce that is the vehicle for all the exotic spices you would expect. Served with a hot basket of traditional Moroccan bread to sop. ORDER: the untraditional baklava for dessert that the brothers make in-house. It’s surprisingly delicious.
Zócalo
620 W. 48th Street
Kansas City, MO 64112
816-756-5555
It took some doing, but owner, Chris Ridler, who also owns Sol Cantina in Midtown, hustled to get the doors open on Zócalo just before the holiday season. Happy to welcome a new independently owned restaurant to the Country Club Plaza. Executive Chef John Smith is in charge of the modern Mexican fusion dishes coming out of the kitchen here. He knows how to make perfectly spiced beans and smoky rice sing. The menu skips from appetizers that go beyond chips and salsa, to traditional tacos and enchiladas to grilled fish, pork and steak dishes. Something for everyone. Don’t look for the spice here, it’s mild, not wild. SIT: as long as you dare outside in the most remarkable transformation of an alley turned patio. Heat lamps and an outdoor fireplace element, along with ample high-quality tequila flights, will keep you toasty warm.
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