Char Bar Smoked Meats and Amusements is a bbq restaurant in Westport, Kansas City.
Char Bar in Westport, Kansas City pairs Mitch Benjamin's award-winning smoke programme with the city's largest dog-friendly patio plus games and a fire pit.
Signature dishes: Burnt ends, Hot chicken and waffles, Charred cauliflower
Must order: Burnt ends platter and the charred cauliflower, on the patio with a Boulevard draft.
Tip: Brunch on weekends from 10:00 to 14:00. Kitchen runs until 22:00 most nights; the beer garden stays open later.
Address: 4050 Pennsylvania Ave, Kansas City, MO 64111
Harp Barbecue in Overland Park runs central-Texas-style brisket at a Kansas City pace. Pitmaster Tyler Harp went brick-and-mortar after a hyped pop-up run.
Signature: Brisket, Burnt ends, Pulled pork
Order: Brisket sliced fat and lean, plus the burnt ends if they have not sold out.
Tip: Tue to Sat 11:00 to 20:30; meat runs out earlier on Saturdays. Walk-in only; arrive before noon to be safe.
The Antler Room in Kansas City's Longfellow is Nick and Leslie Goellner's husband-and-wife room. Persian, Mediterranean and East Asian flavours sit side by side.
Signature: Persian-influenced grilled meats, Hand-rolled pastas, Mediterranean small plates
Order: Whatever pasta is on, plus a glass from Leslie's growers-only list.
Tip: Chef Nick Goellner has been a James Beard Best Chef Midwest semifinalist three times. Reservations open online and fill weeks out.
Le Fou Frog in Kansas City's River Market is Mano and Barbara Rafael's French bistro on the corner of 5th and Oak, with Provencal classics since 1996.
Signature: Steak au poivre, Sole meunière, Crème brûlée
Order: Steak au poivre with frites and a Pinot Noir from the list.
Tip: Open Tue to Sun for dinner; reservations recommended. Bring cash for the tip cup. Mano makes the rounds nightly.
Novel in Kansas City's East Crossroads is Ryan Brazeal and Jessica Armstrong's tasting-menu room, opened on the Westside in 2013 and relocated to McGee in 2018.
Signature: Tasting menu, House-made charcuterie, Seasonal pastas
Order: The chef's tasting menu, with the wine pairing built around small-importer bottles.
Tip: Reservations via Tock open 30 days out; the bar serves a shorter menu without booking. Pastry is Jessica's domain.
Lidia Bastianich's Kansas City room sits in a former railroad house just north of Union Station, opened in 1998 with the famous pasta trio service.
Signature: Pasta tasting trio, Handmade ravioli, Tiramisu
Order: The pasta tasting trio, three handmade pastas served family-style with unlimited refills.
Tip: Reservations on OpenTable open weeks out. Sunday Suppers and a holiday menu calendar are the moves.
Colby and Megan Garrelts opened Rye Plaza in 2017 as the Country Club Plaza outpost of their Midwestern cooking; fried chicken and biscuits headline.
Signature: Fried chicken, Cast-iron skillet biscuits, Butterscotch pie
Order: Fried chicken plate with mashed potatoes and biscuits; finish with the butterscotch pie.
Tip: The Plaza room takes Tock reservations and runs a busy weekend brunch. Sister room in Leawood is the original.
