French Bistro$$westportTue-Sat 16:00-23:30, Sun 10:00-23:30
Westport Cafe in Kansas City is the casual Paris-style bistro on Westport Road, with weekend brunch from 10:30-16:00 and a French menu rotating.
Signature: Chicken hash brunch, Brioche French toast, Steak frites
Order: Chicken hash or brioche French toast at brunch, with the complimentary brunch cocktail.
Tip: Weekend brunch books up; weekday dinner is the quieter seat. Half price wine night runs midweek.
Gastropub$$westport
Beer Kitchen in Westport is Kansas City's original gastropub, with a 100% American beer burger stuffed with burnt ends and lathered in house-made BBQ sauce.
Signature: Beer burger with burnt ends, Boozy mac, Brussels sprouts
Order: The beer burger stuffed with burnt ends, plus a flight from the rotating draft list.
Tip: Weekend brunch 9:00-14:00. Kitchen runs to 22:00 weeknights, 23:00 weekends.
Diner$plaza
Winstead's on the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City opened in 1940 as the Streamline Moderne drive-in that defined the city's steakburger. Priced at $.
Signature: Steakburger, Frosty malt, Onion rings
Order: Double steakburger with cheese, a side of onion rings and a Frosty malt.
Tip: Curb service still runs in the parking lot. The Plaza counter is open lunch through late dinner daily.
Diner$crossroads
Town Topic on Broadway in Kansas City's Crossroads has run a tiny stainless-steel diner since 1937, selling smashed burgers and hand-dipped malts.
Signature: Smashed burger, Chili, Hand-dipped malts
Order: Double cheeseburger with chili on the side, plus a vanilla malt.
Tip: Hours changed in May 2026 over safety concerns; the Broadway counter now closes at 20:00 rather than 24 hours. Cash works best.
American Breakfast$$longfellow
Succotash near the Kansas City Longfellow neighbourhood serves a long-running breakfast and brunch menu with local and organic ingredients, vegan.
Signature: Buttermilk pancakes, Stuffed French toast, Breakfast hash
Order: Stuffed French toast and a side of breakfast hash with eggs.
Tip: Mon 8:00-14:00, closed Tue and Wed, Thu to Sun 8:00-15:00. Walk-in only, expect a wait on weekends.
Italian$$columbus-park
Garozzo's in Columbus Park has run the historically Italian North End of Kansas City since 1989. Mike Garozzo invented chicken spiedini in this room.
Signature: Chicken spiedini, Veal parmigiana, Linguine carbonara
Order: Chicken spiedini, the city's defining red-sauce dish, with a side of pasta.
Tip: Reservations recommended on weekends. Family-style dining on Sunday afternoons.