Table Hopping – May 2011
“Little, locally-owned, finds.”
3927 Broadway Street
Kansas City, MO 64111
(816) 753-8998
This was a second, prettier location for Olive Cafe, whose first location on the east side was more Mediterranean grocery store than restaurant. But owner, Haron Mansi, recently sold this space to his cousin, Yumna, and her fiancé, Mohamed Hakam. This large, sunny space still serves the same menu as Olive Cafe, but with Egyptian specials offered daily, which are delightful. For a taste of everything, order the Vegetarian Plate. For $8 you’ll get 4 falafel, 2 dolmas, creamy hummus and scratch made, dill-spiked tsatsiki, but the real reason to get this plate is their delightfully garlicky baba ganoush with chunks of smoked eggplant and soft warm pita bread. TAKE: your food to-go and land for an urban picnic. Middle Eastern cuisine travels well and they wrap everything up nicely for transport.
5224 Truman Road
Kansas City, MO 64127
(816) 241-9957
Chapala Restaurante Mexicano, run by owner/cook Martha Senda and her family, is a “don’t miss out just because of where it is located” kind of place. With a cheerful sign and orange paint job on the outside, Chapala is clean and charming on the inside. From any table you can see straight back into Martha’s kitchen, and the smell of home-cooked Mexican food fills the air. Get the Chicken Mole for around $9, with refried beans and rice. Handmade tortillas are a must. Warm and fluffy, these tortillas are made to dip it into the dark, rich poblano pepper and chocolate mole sauce. PARK: right in front of the restaurant if you are lucky enough to get a spot, if not, you can pull down a neighborhood side street and park.
7702 Shawnee Mission Parkway
Overland Park, KS 66202
(913) 432-6937
Located right on Shawnee Mission Parkway, you will see the people eating at the outdoor tables in front of the restaurant before you actually see the place itself. Owners, Will Brown and Sal Frustaci decided a hot dog place is what KC needed, and after 20 years in the restaurant business they opened this place in December 2010. They offer Nathan’s hot dogs, Scimeca’s Italian sausages, brats and even a carrot dog for vegetarians. Their specialty dogs have names like: The Doberman, a German-style dog with sauerkraut and spicy mustard. Get the Dalmation for $3.50 with grilled peppers & onions and fresh chopped jalapeño. KIDS: will love the small arcade room hidden in the back, perfect place for a kid’s birthday party.
1209 West 103rd Street
Kansas City, MO 64114
(816) 941-4055
Owner, Jerry Naster is probably best known as the former butcher who ran Jerry’s Woodswether Café in the West Bottoms for many years. After Jerry’s wife passed, he sold that restaurant to give himself time to get his affairs in order. He is now back in business, with a small breakfast/lunch place open next door to Jasper’s Restaurant in the Watts Mill Shopping Center. Making the same great quality breakfast and lunch dishes you love and remember from his old place. Lox & bagels, Frisbee-sized pancakes, eggs with corned beef hash, hash browns and a biscuit. His Reuben sandwich with french fries is incredible, as are his burgers for lunch. Everything hovers around $7 or $8 bucks. SAVE: room for one of Jerry’s $2.99 “big as your head” scratch-made Cinnamon Rolls or cookies.
6009 Johnson Drive #A
Mission, KS 66202-3332
(913) 671-8199
Having recently moved just down the block on Johnson Drive from their original location to a new one, owners/cooks/caterers David & Rachel Finn, changed their name from Chacko’s Bakery & Catering to Chacko’s Eatery to focus on the restaurant’s food, drinks and desserts. The new place features more lunch dishes, with daily specials (Order the special!) that are posted on the chalkboard outside in addition to the baked goods. Delicious hot dishes are featured daily, along with a host of sandwiches, salads and sweet treats to eat. The new space is small in size, but feels more spacious based on its open design. EAT: after hours with Chacko’s weekly Thursday night dinners from 5 pm-8 pm. Fixed menu, 3-courses for $20. Menu’s posted every Saturday at the restaurant.
Wonderful table co-ordination these are. I think we all visitors should follow this.
Posted by: video stitching software | November 24, 2011 at 11:28 PM