KC Restaurant Week: A Guide to the Feast

Kansas City Restaurant Week is upon us. There are burgers to be devoured, steaks to be savored, cocktails to be sipped, wine to be poured, chips to be dipped, cheesecakes to be fought over… you get the idea. With a record 200 restaurants in the metro participating, it can be a challenge figuring out where to get your reservations. Lucky for us, resident Explore editor Anna Petrow just so happens to be the official KC Restaurant Week photographer. Here she is with the inside scoop…

I could go on for days about all of the beautiful food being lovingly prepared for a great cause in KC this coming week, but I know you’re hungry, so I’ll get right to it. A few highlights & favorites for this year’s KCRW:

All photos by Anna Petrow.

1. Novel

It’s no secret that Ryan Brazeal and Jessica Armstrong are two of my favorite chefs in the city: this husband and wife duo brings innovative dishes and desserts to the most beautiful space in the Crossroads. Cross your fingers for a table underneath Peregrine Honig’s tile mural for a great photo opp, and don’t forget to order a cocktail or two. The beautiful colors and flavors coming out of Novel’s bar program always amaze me!

2. Lazia

New on the scene to the Crossroads is Chef Remy Ayesh’s Lazia, inside of the stunning Crossroads Hotel. The dining room alone is worth the trip– black and white tile floors, shimmering candlelight, handcrafted tables from Matt Castilleja– all set the modern Italian ambiance. Be prepared to be blown away by Remy’s handmade pastas. Rumor has it they’re changing up the menu every night, so you might just see me here more than once this week.

3. Corvino

THE burger. I would say that’s all there really is to say… but every dish here will blow you away. Take advantage of Restaurant Week’s awesome menu deal to try your hand at Corvino’s supper club and some of the most adventurous and elegantly executed plates in the city. The live jazz onstage will make your night all the more special.

4. Rye

There may be nothing I love more than crispy fried chicken and sweet, silky pie. Thank god for Rye, and even more so for the fact that you can catch them at two locations: the swanky Plaza spot and the homey Leawood flagship are both cozy spots to chow down all night. Don’t forget, experts say that champagne is the best pairing with fried chicken.

5. Cafe Sebastienne

Eating inside of Cafe Sebastienne might be one of the coolest experiences in Kansas City– you’re totally surrounded by art if you’re in the dining room, or completely ensconced in stunning natural light if you’re in the atrium. As you might expect, the dishes themselves are plated with care and creativity– so bring your phone and be ready to ‘gram.

6. 1889 Pizza

The chandeliers and bright blue velvet setees at 1889 Pizza are beautiful, but nowhere near as beautiful as the bubbly crust on their authentic Neapolitan pizza. It’s the perfect place to grab a quick bite or stay for awhile with drinks and friends– they even keep wine on tap!

7. Silo Modern Farmhouse

This brand new restaurant has a major bonus: walk into the clubhouse, take in the sweeping floor to ceiling window views and you’ll see what I’m talking about. Rolling hills and trees, plus a lake view, make this one of the most scenic spots in the metro. A beautiful spot for lunch or dinner, the farm-style classics and fresh flavors coming out of this kitchen are an exciting addition to the Lenexa scene.

8. brewery Emperial

Chef Ted Habiger can do no wrong, but his brewery Emperial is every kind of right. The earthy and smoky flavors on this menu are thanks to the wood-fired hearth back in the kitchen– sit at the bar to watch the action happen. And if you take one thing away from this list, please let it be this: order a Biscuit beer!

9. Black Dirt

Chef Jonathan Justus is a mainstay on the KC food scene, and with fans like Bizzare Foods’ Andrew Zimmern, it’s no wonder why. His respect for local ingredients (hence the namesake, Black Dirt) shines through in each dish, and will remind you why the Midwest was the birthplace of the farm to table movement.