Mouthwatering Bars in Kansas City

Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant- Kansas City - Plaza, MO

★★★★☆ 4 (799) • $$

"Mess with the wine, and highly recommend doing a tasting if it is your first experience here. They have amazing happy hours with a seasonal rotating menu. I was able to try a sangria flight and flatbread on happy hour which did not disappointThe risotto entrée I received was actually not great and the staff was kind enough to take it back for an equally mediocre plate. I have had the salads here and they are amazing, but both of the entrées I experienced my past visit lead me to believe I am not willing to pay $40 for a plate here again. Stick with the wine and appetizers and you will have an amazing experience (or maybe just an entrée that was different than the pasta or risotto!)"

Third Street Social

★★★★☆ 4.1 (658) • $$

"Neil was our amazing server. He was great! Very attentive and kind. I had a couple of draft beers and my wife had a cider and couple of cocktails. The special on Sunday is fried chicken. I had that. It was amazing!! I got it Nashville hot. Absolutely delicious!!My wife had the chicken salad with the hot sauce on the side. We adore this place. It's our new hang."

Waldo Pizza

★★★★☆ 4.1 (602) • $$

"Y'all I love Waldo Pizza. Sure, some folks could probably find some flaws here. I've had some prickly encounters with the carry out staff over the years, and it can take a long while to get a pizza delivered on a busy weekend night but good god this pizza is good. I would categorize Waldo pizza in the same sort of midwest pizza parlor style as Minskys but IMO it's the GOAT for KC. From local ingredients to the tastiest crust I think it's a slam dunk. Heck, even their homemade ranch is some of the best in biz. The icing on the cake for me with Waldo is that despite living way too far for them to deliver they will and while it takes forever that's okay given that they are still doing it and it is MUCH appreciated. If it needs a quick zap in the microwave it still hits the spot. I usually try to pick up a pizza from here whenever I'm in the area around dinner time as that's the best way to do carry out from them. I'll also add that dining in is always a win for me as well, though I rarely do so anymore."

Tom's Town Distilling

★★★★★ 4.5 (484) • $$

"Tom's Town Distilling is a solid spot for a quality cocktail. Service was great with very friendly bartenders. Whatever you decide to order here, I doubt you'll regret it!I went with this drink and it made my night:Double Oaked Old Fashioned - Tom's Town Double Oaked Bourbon, demerara sugar, dry curacao, Maraschino liqueur, Angostura bittersThanks Tom!"

Le Fou Frog

★★★★☆ 4.4 (469) • $$$

"Le Fou Frog is a unique dining experience for KC. It's a bit off the beaten path, romantic, charming, and just oozes with ambiance. I honestly can't believe it took me so long to make it here but I'm glad I did. We visited for my birthday in late December and I made a reservation well in advance, as for most good places around town the week between Christmas and New Years can be busy for family outings and restaurants fill up fast. This was the case for Le Fou Frog as it was packed when we arrived but they had our table ready. As we walked into the small space, it was like a transformation into a totally different world. The lighting was dim, with a bit of a red hue to it, and we were seated in a booth, which I really appreciated as it had curtains on the side and just felt a bit extra intimate. I ordered a French 75, ordered some mussels for the table, and took in the menu, settling on pork medallions, while my husband selected their special for the night. I will say a lot of folks talk about how they feel transported to France or Europe while they are here and I do get that vibe, having studied abroad in France many years ago. I don't think it's a 100% replica, but it does have that energy which feels special when you are so far away from a charming European bistro. The food I found to be above average though, not as good as some other five star places in town. I think it's worth it though for the overall experience - could the food be a bit better? I think so, but it's definitely delicious and well worth the visit. I think the mussels were my favorite part. I could easily see us coming next time, splitting a few appetizers, an entree, and a dessert, and some cocktails. It's a near perfect spot on a cold KC winter night and I'd encourage anyone to stop in and give them a try."

Westport Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.3 (489) • $$

"Always enjoy visiting the cafe. The service is always great and the food always hits the spot. Really good happy hour, too!"

Kansas City Taco Company

★★★★☆ 4.1 (474) • $$

"My husband and I stopped in while in KC for dinner. The place is in a nice area right by the river market. We sat at the bar and the bartender was friendly and talked with us a bit. We got a variety of tacos to eat and all were very good. It definitely seems like you can't go wrong with any of their tacos. We will have to stop back in next time we're in KC."

Cafe Berlin

★★★★☆ 3.9 (516) • $$

"No frills breakfast, brunch, lunch spot. Got brunch here prior to going back home to St. Louis. No issues, no complaints. Really good food, good service. Excellent amount of vegetarian/ vegan options. We got there just in time to be seated immediately on a Sunday around 10:30am. Highly recommend!"

Blue Koi - Leawood

★★★★☆ 4.2 (434) • $$

"My husband and I have been loyal visitors of Blue Koi for years, and it's consistently our favorite spot, especially for their Chinese pot roast. We've enjoyed it both with noodles and in noodle soup, and it's always flavorful and comforting. We've also tried their stir fry chicken dishes, chili wontons, and various dumplings--all equally delicious. The calm, welcoming ambiance and excellent service make every visit enjoyable. We discovered this gem through the Triple D show, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves Chinese food, especially for the pork shoulder pot roast."

Mason Jar

★★★★☆ 4.2 (420) • $$

"Second time eating here, both times have been so happy with our visits. I need to add this restaurant to our rotation on a more regular basis. Legit burger options! Love that they offer to sub a plant based option for my vegetarian kid. The fish and chips were tasty. Which is hard to find here in the Midwest. Staff is attentive and pleasant. Restaurant is clean and well kept."

The Roost

★★★★☆ 4.2 (369) • $$

"Went here for our first breakfast in Lawrence and it did not disappoint. Portion sizes were very generous. Very much enjoyed the chorizo and egg entree. The honey brown latte was also yummy."

Sake Lounge

★★★★☆ 4.3 (346) • $$

"Hadn't been in years. Only had to wait 5 minutes to be seated. Waitress was extremely friendly & attentive. Had tempura shrimp & sake to start. I had two Yum Yum roll, which had no rice. Loved it. Hubby had yellowtail, crispy red snapper rolls. He loved his too. Nice to see how the plates were decorated. Glad to see this place has not changed."

The Brass Onion

★★★★☆ 4.1 (375) • $$

"Lovely spot for a first date Reservations required on a Friday night for sure. When a place is packed you know it's good. Vibe was open concept, lovely bar and outdoor space with fire pit. Valet parking available. Food was delicious. I had the salmon salad and a mocktail. My date had salmon as well."

801 Chophouse

★★★★☆ 4.1 (375) • $$$$

"This was our first visit to 801 so I wasn't sure what to expect. As other said, this is a smaller chain with prime steaks. They have a large selection of steaks and there's a rolling cart they bring around showcasing the raw meat. We opted to share the prime rib, garlic mashed potatoes, French onion soup and of course, chocolate cake.The steak was perfectly cooked and tender. The mashed potatoes were whipped with garlic and very creamy. The French onion soup was amazing. I'd come back for it alone. And, of course the chocolate cake was fab.It's a pricer place but great for special occasions. They have a few $2k bottles of wine and one that's 4K. The service started off a bit slow but picked up nicely."

The Wheel Barrel

★★★★★ 4.5 (305) • $$

"In addition to popping up in my research of Topeka, The Wheel Barrel was also recommended by a local shop owner. We walked in and chose a seat at the far end of the first dining area. A table with a booth on the side against the wall, and chairs on the other side. We started with an appetizer of the House seasoned kettle chips and craft beer queso. It was goooood. The chips were SO good, we actually took the ones we didn't finish with us to go. Next, we ordered our sammiches. My wife chose the Award Winning Monte Cristo, and I went with The Kansan. My wife loved her sammich. But mine... well, mine left me momentarily speechless. The cheese pull was insane! Every single ingredient combined for an incredible flavor explosion in my mouth. Without a doubt one of the best sammiches I've ever had. Our waitress was very friendly and the service was fast. We were visiting from California, but would absolutely return to The Wheel Barrel the next time we visited Topeka."

Prime Sushi Bar

★★★★☆ 4 (384) • $$

"Sushi was solid overall. It was also my friend's birthday so our server was able to give her a complimentary birthday dessert."

Summit Grill

★★★★☆ 4.1 (352) • $$

"After a few times visiting the bar, I finally dined here with co-workers. My Grilled cheese with brisket was exquisite. Grilled perfectly on buttery bread with lots of cheese and savory meat in-between. My colleagues chicken fried chicken, burger and reuben all looked great and were given 2 thumbs up from all. A top notch classy joint for the northland, service has always been great."

BRGR Kitchen + Bar

★★★★☆ 3.6 (424) • $$

"Great burgers, prompt service, great patio when the weather is nice. Tried the pickle fries this time and they were so good! They are cut like fries instead of chips. They have an amazing Monday night special- $30 for 4 burgers and fries."

Summit Grill

★★★★☆ 3.8 (367) • $$

"I had one of the lunch specials. Soup and salad. You can choose what type of soup (whatever they have that day) and choose a wedge or house salad. I love French onion soup and wedge salad. They were both very very good! More than enough for me. I also had a glass of Pinot noir. Very enjoyable ambience. Great service."

R.J.'s Bob-Be-Que Shack

★★★★☆ 3.7 (366) • $$

"My husband and I returned to the Bob-Be-Que Shack for an anniversary dinner, and we had a great meal!Sherry was once again our waitress, and once again went over and above. When I asked about vinegar for my spinach greens, she went to the pantry and found some apple cider vinegar for me. How sweet! She guided us through the menu (we were there early in the evening, and lunch was being served, along with dinner options, until 5 pm) and came back to check on us frequently. She was friendly and welcoming and made sure we enjoyed our meals.The food was DELICIOUS! I had the pulled pork Po' Boy sandwich, perfectly put together with coleslaw on the hoagie bun, and a side order of spinach greens, equally tasty. My husband had the burnt ends lunch special, which was yummy; he only wished the portion of meat was a little larger. He'll know next time to order the dinner portion.R. J.'s is cozy and hospitable, and we had a lovely time. Thank you for making our anniversary special!"

801 Chophouse Leawood

★★★★☆ 4.2 (249) • $$$$

"Had a nice dinner! Wanted to give this steakhouse a try. Our group of four had the bone in KC strip, Filet Mignon with crab, and the Chilean Seabass. We got the oysters Rockefeller as an appetizer and for sides the lobster Mac and Cheese and brussel sprouts. The food was all delicious. Filet mignon was cookedto perfection and very tender. The bone in was ordered "medium" and was over cooked, closer to well done. We hand the Soufflé for dessert and it was good too. This is an elegant restaurant and service was friendly and attentive. However at the end of the day the food was OVER PRICED and we liked J Gilbert's better. They have a better menu, with more Variety, for a better price. They also have wood fired steaks that taste better. J Gilbert's is the better steakhouse."

Minsky's Pizza

★★★★☆ 3.6 (306) • $$

"Despite the fact that I have high sensitivities to dairy, Minsky's doesn't make me sacrifice quality or taste!! With highly personable skilled staff guiding me through the menu, I was able to settle for the perfect Dairy-Free pizza!! Since all meals are freshly prepared on order, the wait was eased by the more than welcoming atmosphere which offered open seating both in and outdoor."

Argentina Bites

★★★★☆ 4.2 (220) • $$

"This restaurant is in The Ambassador Hotel in downtown Kansas City, MO. This is not your average "hotel restaurant" rather is a seriously elevated hotel dining experience!I came here several times during my 4 night stay, to enjoy wine at the bar, to enjoy a couple of amazing breakfasts, to enjoy dinner one evening, and to enjoy dessert on a different evening. The service by everyone I encountered was spot-on and very friendly. The venue is dimly lit and beautifully decorated, sort of art deco'ish. Their menus are great, lots of appetizing and eye-catching dishes on them! For breakfast, their American Reserve Breakfast is a knockout! The 6 grain toast is incredible!! They perfectly toast it on the flat top and then offer it up with some butter, which just really makes it taste even better! But those breakfast potatoes are insanely good! Probably the best breakfast potatoes I've had!! Soft, very flavorful, and slightly zesty and I love how they incorporate the diced onions and peppers in it, along with the seasoning. Eggs were always cooked just right!For dinner one evening I opted for soup and salad... both were made with very fresh ingredients and their house made smoked tomato vinaigrette was excellent. Their tomato bisque was very tasty! Save room for dessert, they make a great Crème Brûlée!They do offer a very nice wine and cocktail list as well. Definitely check ahead or make reservations. While I was there, they were completely packed over the weekend, but not so busy on the weeknights - Better safe than sorry. Highly recommend stopping in!!"

Argentina Bites

★★★★☆ 4.2 (220) • $$

"This restaurant is in The Ambassador Hotel in downtown Kansas City, MO. This is not your average "hotel restaurant" rather is a seriously elevated hotel dining experience!I came here several times during my 4 night stay, to enjoy wine at the bar, to enjoy a couple of amazing breakfasts, to enjoy dinner one evening, and to enjoy dessert on a different evening. The service by everyone I encountered was spot-on and very friendly. The venue is dimly lit and beautifully decorated, sort of art deco'ish. Their menus are great, lots of appetizing and eye-catching dishes on them! For breakfast, their American Reserve Breakfast is a knockout! The 6 grain toast is incredible!! They perfectly toast it on the flat top and then offer it up with some butter, which just really makes it taste even better! But those breakfast potatoes are insanely good! Probably the best breakfast potatoes I've had!! Soft, very flavorful, and slightly zesty and I love how they incorporate the diced onions and peppers in it, along with the seasoning. Eggs were always cooked just right!For dinner one evening I opted for soup and salad... both were made with very fresh ingredients and their house made smoked tomato vinaigrette was excellent. Their tomato bisque was very tasty! Save room for dessert, they make a great Crème Brûlée!They do offer a very nice wine and cocktail list as well. Definitely check ahead or make reservations. While I was there, they were completely packed over the weekend, but not so busy on the weeknights - Better safe than sorry. Highly recommend stopping in!!"

F325 Bbq

★★★★★ 4.5 (178) • $$

"I found the closest establishment that I was near craving some KC bar b que. Traveling from St. Louis I was craving some good bar b que. My origins are Texas and will always be a brisket fan. Saw that F325 had brisket burnt ends on menu and knew that's what I had to had. The first bite i was godsmacked. What a surprise coming from one bite. Once I jazzed it up a bit with their spicy sauce boy this plate did not take long to get demolished. Nice decor and presentation will have myself coming back again when I'm in the area. Here is a pic of my empty plate because it was too damn good to stop and take a pic lol. Come visit."

Stroud's

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (362) • $$

"Strouds never disappoints! We had a wonderful meal here. I used to eat at Strouds all the time in Wichita, but my wife had never been before. She was a huge fan of their chicken, green beans, and most definitely the cinnamon rolls. She also enjoyed the chicken noodle soup. Great deal. She had the one piece chicken dinner with a breast and could barely finish it.I had the two piece chicken dinner with a breast and a thigh, and ordered it spicy, which was amazing! We both enjoyed the potatoes and especially the gravy. They bring a nice portion of each to the table.Our server was Nancy and she was incredible! I would highly recommend that you ask for her when you visit this location because she will take excellent care of you. She had several tables including one with 10 people and we've never felt under served. She was very attentive and took great care of us.The restaurant is pretty cool inside as it is a little bit dated. It feels rustic and quaint, although it is very large. It was spotless. They take great care of this place, they obviously care about their people and the food quality is top shelf. Will be back many times I'm sure."

Houlihan's

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (252) • $$

"Amid the swirling snowflakes of the ice storm, we sought refuge in this cozy restaurant for lunch, and to our delight, we were greeted with warm hospitality. The highlight of our visit was the creamy spinach dip, which was rich and flavorful, leaving us eager for more. Our entrees were equally satisfying; the lettuce wraps were fresh and crisp, bursting with delightful flavors, while the cheeseburger was juicy and perfectly cooked. Additionally, the prime rib melt was a savory delight, with tender slices of beef nestled in melted cheese, creating a mouthwatering combination. Overall, we had a wonderful dining experience that brightened our stormy day."

Stuey McBrew's Tavern and Tables

★★★★☆ 4.1 (168) • $$

"Stuey's after a work event.We def needed. Sat @ the bar while our hubs sat elsewhere. Our bartender was constantly checking in on us. There was another patron there (who seems to be a regular). He was def fun and gave us the energy we needed! Mixed crowd, good for people watching."

Chingu

★★★★★ 4.5 (130)

"I've now been lucky enough to visit Chingu for happy hour, and for lunch and can solidly say that this place is five star material. For happy hour you'll be treated to some really inventive and delicious cocktails, and paired with savory korean bites, there really isn't anything to complain about - except for maybe not coming here sooner.Chingu recently started offering lunch and while it's a more limited menu, I was really delighted by the noodle stir fry I had. It was a cold day and this dish was piping hot, and chock full of great flavor. It was also a healthy enough size that I was able to take about half of it home and get a second lunch out of it. I still haven't been able to try the fried chicken here which looks insane, so dinner here will be my next endeavor. This place should be on everyone's radar in KC. It's cozy, has great food, and I've had nice service each time as well."

The Savoy at 21c

★★★★☆ 4 (163) • $$$

"We had a great night here at the Savoy! First, we had some wonderful drinks at the bar during happy hour. I enjoyed three oysters from Prince Edward Island, which were delicious.We then moved over to our table which we had reserved on OpenTable and our server, Mae, took great care of us. My wife had the steak frittes, which was skirt steak and absolutely outstanding fries! I had the ribeye, which was a little overcooked and a little too charred on the outside for my liking. They also put some weird sauce on it, which I did not ask for. But it was very good. I would've preferred it without the sauce. But I was not going to send a $74 steak back. We're pretty sure the house steak sauce that came with the steak frittes had crack in it. We were both blown away!! Never have we had a steak sauce that good!!!We both especially liked the Caesar salad, which actually had anchovies. Delicious!We had to run to the theater and enjoyed part of a show at MTH. Then we came back to the Savoy and were blessed to be taken care of by Mackenzie. She may be the best server we have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. I ordered a bottle of wine and my wife had some delicious cider from Austin Texas. It was a wonderful experience and we love this restaurant. We hope to return. We had a less than pleasant experience with the hotel, but I will review them separately."

Sunset Grill

★★★★☆ 3.7 (172) • $$

"Local restaurant with a bar. Not a chain! Has a beach vibe with a great menu and weekly specials.Good food with good service close to home. What more can you ask for?"

Pier 88 Boiling Seafood & Bar

★★★★☆ 3.7 (157) • $$

"Last night my friends spoiled me at an eatery in Independence I didn't know existed there. Certainly not "new" to any of them of course lol.. since they've proudly been there Several times due to how Good it is! I couldn't agree more! The customer service was excellent! Destiny was our waitress last night and she was nothing BUT amazing to us and made sure we were comfortable, well aware of our meal options, and taken care of! ^_^ My first experience there is one I'll cherish forever! The quality of food was just ridiculous In every Great way possible. I'm also glad I opted mild spice instead of going Spicy like I usually do with this style cuisine, but I'm definitely gonna go Much spicier next time since I know it's gonna be incredible. The restaurant itself was really neat and rich with history! I appreciate how they went about allowing customers to leave some sort of signature or hand-drawn record behind wherever they sat or gathered there. Writing, drawings, and artwork was everywhere in there! That definitely added entertainment to our experience. I already know I'm going back in the future, and when I do I'm gonna had my signature and perhaps a little doodle or two! I'm bummed none of us thought to do so while there last night lol.. Thank you again Brandon for that meal! You rock !!The booths are very spacious and comfortable too! Something I also wanted to add. But even then, there is never enough room! Even for all 5 of us in that colossal booth there wasn't enough room! The food portions were huge! ^_^"

Barrigas Mexican Grill and Cantina

★★★★★ 4.6 (97) • $$

"Really good food and Margarita's what variety! Great people! Not much to look at from outside, but it is the food that counts! Go getcha some! Salsa is amazing!"

Ten Penny Restaurant & Bar

★★★★☆ 4 (128) • $$

"Glad I stopped in here for dinner on a Tuesday. Place was pretty packed around 6pm. The staff was very friendly and attentive, but Alicia (behind the bar) was super helpful with suggestions. Very reasonably priced food and drinks. Wish I found this place sooner. They turned the sound on for the game as well. Big plus. Food tasted excellent as well."

Papa Keno's Pizzeria

★★★★☆ 3.6 (154) • $

"An absolute Lawrence staple. We used Papa Keno's for our October 2024 wedding and it was a hit with all of our guests. They raved about it during and after the wedding! I would note that it's best to go in-person and request to speak with a manager so you can get a good point of contact if you need to do any additional communication because the "contact us" form on the website did not ever lead to a response. When we went in person we were informed that often those inquires end up in an unmonitored email. The EZ cater system was easy to navigate to place the order and make modifications. The only complaint I have with it is that it allowed us to originally place our order as delivery and we were later informed that we were outside of the delivery range despite EZ cater saying the address could be delivered to. Luckily, we were told that right after submitting the order so we had plenty of time to come up with a plan to get the pizza to our venue. I'll continue to happily support Papa Keno's and eat there as often as I can!"