Table Hopping – January 2012
“Top picks to hit Restaurant Week – January 20-29”
What is Restaurant Week?
Kansas City’s Restaurant Week will be January 20th-29th, 2012. During this week, you can choose from hundreds of local restaurants, eat for a steal, and feel good knowing a percentage of the sale goes to Harvester’s, our local food bank. Every participating restaurant you choose dine at that week, helps to feed another hungry family or child in KC. Each restaurant will offer a special fixed lunch menu, 2-courses for $15, and a dinner menu, 3-courses for $30. This does not include tax or tip. To view the participating restaurants, and see their lunch and dinner menus go to www.kansascityrestaurantweek.com. You can support a favorite restaurant during this week, or try a place you have always been curious about. Go on. Explore!
Gram & Dun
600 Ward Parkway
Kansas City MO 64112
(816) 389-2900
The newest jewel is the crowning jewel in the Bread & Butter Concepts crown. This is the company that also owns BRGR and Urban Table. Gram & Dun is Kansas City’s newest gastrobpub, which opened to great crowds and fanfare in the old Baja 600 location on the Country Club Plaza right before Thanksgiving. Owners, Alan Gaylin and Glynn & Jean Roberts, poured some serious money into the overhaul of this space and the gorgeous outdoor patio, thus bringing KC another great locally owned restaurant to our beloved Plaza. Executive Chef Bradley Gilmore has created a rustic, comforting menu full traditional Southern dishes with a twist. MAKE: reservations before you go via Open Table, or you will find yourself waiting.
Café Sebastienne
(At the Kemper Museum)
4420 Warwick Boulevard
Kansas City, MO 64111
www.kemperart.org/cafe/index.asp
Executive Chef Jennifer Maloney, and her Sous Chef, Janet Ross, are the “tour de art” force of culinary excellence, behind the cuisine at Café Sebastienne located inside of the Kemper Museum. Instead of serving stuffy “museum food,” these two are committed to sourcing and using local ingredients in season. The quality & freshness of their dishes is evident in every bite. The quality of art on the walls, matches the quality of art on your plate. Café Sebastienne also serves the best brunch in town on Sundays, and their lunch & dinner menus are a solid collection of soups, salads, sandwiches and entrees. DINE: in their colorful, art-filled dining room for more intimate conversation, or sit out in the sun-filled atrium for a more raucous dining experience.
Mestizo by Aarón Sánchez
5270 W 116th Place
Leawood, KS 66211
(913) 752-9025
The first question everyone asks when they walk into Mestizo: “Is Chef in the house?” Unfortunately for us, celebrity Chef Aarón Sánchez will only have time to visit his new restaurant in Leawood occasionally; with the filming of his new show “Heat Seekers” on Food Network. His restaurant is a sexy affair with a decidedly spicy décor. The menu is focused on a more authentic style of Mexican cuisine. He borrows dishes from all over Mexico to make up his menu, and makes his own tortillas in house. His tequila list is second to none, with very impressive selections. UP: on the rooftop is bar that will rock when the weather heats up. Until then, there are heaters and some protected seating. Bundle up and brave it.
La Bodega – Downtown
703 Southwest Blvd.
Kansas City, MO 64108
(816) 472-8272
OR
La Bodega – Leawood
4311 West 119th Street
Leawood, KS 66209
(913) 428-8272
Owner, James Taylor, has two bodegas that are now under his charge. His original location downtown on Southwest Boulevard is decidedly more bohemian in its feel, but the second location in the One Nineteen Shopping Center is a sleek little stunner in its own right. Lucky for you, they both are participating in Restaurant Week. This Spanish style tapas bar continues to be the perfect choice for large groups of friends or family, because when you share plates, you can order more dishes to try. Excite your palate by ordering a wide variety of cold and hot small plates and a fine bottle of Spanish wine or a pitcher of sangria to share. ALONE: No worries, simply sit at the bar at either location and put yourself the hands of the capable and friendly bar staff.
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