Ventana Gourmet Grill

Nestled on a serene street in a quaint town, this exceptional restaurant pleasantly surprises us with its warm ambiance and delectable cuisine. Our visits always have started with a friendly smile and the option to be seated anywhere we liked. It was a quiet Saturday evening, perfect after we stumbled upon this hidden gem for dinner.Despite the limited dining options in Excelsior Springs, this establishment always proves to be all we could ask for.The salads were crisp and fresh, the spinach artichoke dip was served hot and satisfyingly indulgent, and the steaks exceeded our expectations. Our daughter enjoyed her pasta and garlic bread so much that she asked to come back.

We tried Ventana when we were in town staying at the Elms Hotel, and this dinner was the best part of our trip :) The food was great and the environment was very nice. I had the bourbon glazed salmon with sweet potatoes and zucchini, and it was amazing! I have grown up eating salmon and this was cooked perfectly and the glaze was perfect. My husband had the New Orleans pasta and a cheesecake dessert, both were good. The pasta had a little bit too much garlic in our opinion (and we love garlic). We both had ordered Moscow mules, our normal drink of choice. They were spicy which I found a little unusual, so much so that my husband drank mine and I switched to a Sauvignon Blanc for dinner. We loved the little candy bar towards the back, at first it seemed a little out of place but we really liked it, it was a cute little thing to buy some chocolates before we left for a late night treat later.

Our waitress was a sweetie and super fun, which we loved. Had a reservation for 6 and we were seated right away. Drinks were good, the shrimp was great and so was the fettuccine! All around super fun experience! It wasn't overly fancy, just a nice casual place to eat and super close to The Elms Hotel and Spa, where we were staying.

We loved this little gem. Came back twice while staying in town. Great casual vibe and the food really was a treat. Steaks were cooked perfectly. Second night we enjoyed two of the pasta dishes. Great friendly service. Will be back for sure.

We came here for dinner last night while staying at the Elms hotel. The restaurant itself is cute, with dark lighting and tables with mismatched chairs tucked away in different corners. The service overall was a little slow, though our server was very nice. We waited about 10 minutes before she came over to take our first drink order. The food itself was great. We ordered the spinach artichoke dip with a side of pita bread, the shrimp scampi, and the jalapeño burger. Because it was Wednesday, the pasta came with a Caesar salad (which was huge for a side salad). Everything came out hot and was well-seasoned. The shrimp scampi was more of a Cajun pasta, which I really enjoyed. I wanted to have room for dessert, but unfortunately I couldn't eat another bite. All of the beers were $5.50 and most glasses of wine were $9-$12. I would recommend checking this place out if you're in the area!

Pro: no wait for Saturday afternoon. The Cajun grilled shrimp sandwich stoled the show. It was delicious. I had the open face roast beef sandwich. The roast beef was good. However, I did not like the mashed potatoes-flavorless, and the gravy was gelatinous with no flavor. The bread pudding okay. the service was really good. Our waitress was very friendly and talkative. they also have a really nice lunch menu special menu $11-17 until 3pm. My partner was bummed that no onion rings or french fries on the menu instead they serve chips.The potato salad was good.Cons:Ambience I did not like the tables/chairs, very dark space and the fans made the place way too cold for the winter; I wore my jacket the entire meal The women's bathroom needs some attention. No seat covers and it looks like they started a paint job and didn't finish it. Really drafty and cold.

We sat outside on the front patio. It's a little small, but the service outside was still prompt and considerate.I thought the Burrata-Chetta would be a slam dunk appetizer since everyone at the table loves cheese and bread, but we didn't finish all of it. It was good, but I wish we had ordered the spinach artichoke dip instead. The Burrata cheese ball's texture wasn't for me, as it was a little too rubbery. However, it is beautifully plated. The shrimp scampi's white wine garlic butter sauce is yummy. The cajun seasoning gives it an extra bite, but it's not super spicy. My sister ordered the Cajun Shrimp BLT. She's prone to picking at her food, but she ate almost the entire thing as soon as it was sat in front of her. Our friend just ate the shrimp cocktail as her meal and she was satisfied enough!

Wendy and Valerie along with the rest of the staff were awesome. We were treated like family. The bruschetta, artichoke dip, and shrimp were great. The pasta steak and prime rib were cooked to perfection. The people in the restaurant from young to old were amazing ambiance was great. The drink selection was great all in all I give it a 9.9 out of 10. Great job Wendy totally made my birthday a blast! Chris from KC

Very cute little place with great food close to the Elms. I had the open roast beef sandwich and my wife had the Waldorf chicken salad sandwich; both were great! Highly recommend.

Servers amazing! Food excellent and very tasty. Atmosphere is lovely and historic. If you are in Excelsior Springs make this one of your stops to enjoy the wines and homemade cheesecakes the best around, anywhere!!