A Delicious Guide to Cheese Boards in Kansas City
I am Steph, also known as KC Cheeses. I am all about cheese, so I constantly get asked "what restaurants have the best cheese boards in Kansas City?"
Let me tell you– especially with having tried so many– it's an extremely tough question! In the end, I myself needed an answer to this burning question, so I sat down and worked on a list of my favorites for you all! From the West Bottoms all the way down to Olathe, research was done, notes were taken, and cheese, charcuterie and accompaniments were eaten. (PS: if, like me, you’re new to charcuterie, Kasim Hardaway’s Charcuterie 101 is the perfect guide to all things meat)
Now, I introduce to you a guide to cheese boards in Kansas City. Enjoy!
Boulevard Beer Hall | 2534 Madison Ave
The Boulevard Beer Hall is a newer establishment, but Boulevard Brewing Co. has been in Kansas City since it began in 1989. The Beer Hall is home to a gift shop, over 30 taps, seasonal and limited offerings, test beers, and of course, SNACKS! The upstairs area with the bars and kitchen has nice, long tables with benches so that you and your friends can come together and chat, goof around and have a great time. What's even cooler is the camper-like photo booth! It can fit more people than you think.
At the Beer Hall, don't forget about food. The kitchen is constantly working on and testing new food ideas - they are insanely creative and hardworking. Though their menu is small, it is mighty. Pretzel dogs, pretzel bites, desserts and charcuterie all taste like heaven. Their cheese board varies from time to time, but usually features Ozark Mountain blue cheese, aged Cottonwood River cheddar and Frisian Farms smoked gouda served with pickled strawberries, clementine-thyme marmalade and fig jam. The Beer Hall is a wonderful place to enjoy an outing with coworkers, taste test and explore a flight of something new, or grab a bite and a beer before a night out. You really can't go wrong.
Tannin Wine Bar & Kitchen | 1526 Walnut Street
Tannin Wine Bar & Kitchen, found in the Crossroads, is heaven for wine and cheese lovers. Tannin offers three cheese flights– Spanish, Goat and Domestic– and allows you to add charcuterie if you so please. The Spanish cheese flight includes Manchego, Puigepedros, and smoked Idiazabal.
Cranberries and grapes add a colorful, flavorful touch to the firm and flaky cheeses of the Spanish flight. If you're looking to dress up, sip on a fine wine or even attend a show at the Kauffman afterward, Tannin is IT.
Ca Va | 4149 Pennsylvania
Bubbles, bottles and boards! Ca Va, pronounced "sah-vah", is a small champagne bar located in Westport. With "French flair and a Midwestern heart" Ca Va offers dinner and Sunday brunch. Sip on champagne, wine and cocktails in the classy, dark atmosphere all the way until 1AM.
Much of Ca Va's food and drinks come from local Kansas and Missouri farms and makers. The Cheese Plate comes with bold, salty, crunchy crackers, a dab of honey and soft, pickled apples. You will find soft goat, sheep and cow cheeses from Dutch Girl Creamery and Green Dirt Farms. So delicate, yet flavorful. At $18 it may seem intimidating, but it is well worth it. Though the selections may change from time to time, I trust Ca Va to offer us an inspired cheese plate. Currently, the plate features Cottonwood Cheddar, 'Sneek' 1000 day aged Gouda and Bossa.
1889 Pizza Napoletana | 2827 W 47th Avenue
Ciao! Welcome to 1889 Pizza Napoletana! 1889 takes pizza back to its roots by using wood-fired ovens and simple ingredients. The inside of 1889 glistens with chandeliers and marble and copper details. The patio is spacious and romantic, perfect for a sunny weekday lunch or a lovely night out with a glass of wine.
Located under Shared Plates on the menu, you can find some wonderful appetizers, including the Charcuterie Board. The board is inexpensive and impressive. It stands out on this list as the most affordable board– best value and quantity. The board includes: Spicy capicola, soppressata, salami piccante, gorgonzola, goat cheese, fiore sardo (sheep's), fig marmalada, olives, and dijon mustard.
The Westside Local | 1663 Summit Street
The Westside Local is famous around Kansas City for their incredibly popular "blunch" and their indulgent macaroni and cheese and grilled cheese sandwich.
But if you haven’t tried anything off of the "Localities" section on their menu, you’re in for a treat. Showcasing, you guessed it, local goodies from around Kansas and Missouri. You can build your own custom cheese board if you so choose, with brie, cheddar, and seasonal cheeses present on the Localities menu.
If you would rather not build your own cheese board, the Chef's Antipasti Board has a seasonal selection of meats, cheeses and accoutrements, including pickles, blackberries, nuts, mustard, jam, peppers and hard boiled eggs with a hint of orange. The eggs were a unique and pleasant surprise! The board is served with Farm-to-Market crackers. The Cottonwood Cheddar and Green Dirt Farm Cheeses hold their own next to this buffet of options. This board is a hefty size and fabulous for sharing, but I am not going to tell you what to do!
Blvd Tavern | 320 Southwest Blvd
Blvd Tavern is one of my favorite places in KC. There, I said it. When you're dining at Blvd Tavern, you feel comfortable and elegant at the same time. Sit at the bar or a rustic table and enjoy cocktails, small bites and entrees with your close friends or a new romance. Seduce your date with an order of the fried cheese curds or go straight for the Butcher Board with artisanal meats and cheeses, grilled bread and accoutrements.
The Butcher Board flaunts manchego, blue and port salut cheeses– the perfect variety of soft, subtle, tangy and creamy. Sip on a dirty martini while you enjoy the meats, olives and pickles of the board. Going out afterwards? Grab a Blvd Tavern Roasterie blend brewed coffee or go for an Irish Coffee if you're feeling the excitement. Blvd Tavern's location is perfect for a Friday or Saturday walk around town.