Wining and Dining

PUBLISHED JUNE 27, 2023

BEST BAKERY
Is it the dazzling array of cheesecake interpretations? The suite of sweets in the pastry case? The entrees and sandwiches? Well, they all come together to make McCLAIN’S BAKERY a reader favorite and, on weekends especially, a prized table for morning diners at four locations, and soon, in North Kansas City and south Johnson County. DOLCE BAKERY, boasting “every batch from scratch” with its array of cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and more in Prairie Village, turns out the Silver. Bronze goes to HEIRLOOM BAKERY & HEARTH in Brookside, with breakfast and lunch on a menu that changes daily.

BEST BARBECUE
Remember the golden era of boxing with Ali, Frazier, Norton, and Foreman? That’s the barbecue scene in Kansas City today, where true heavyweights battle for reader affection. The latest round produced a Gold for Q39, with locations in Midtown and near Corporate Woods in Overland Park. The chicken wings and onion straws will get you going, but the real attraction is in the beef and pork—ribs, burnt ends, etc.—or salmon and salads. Silver goes to JOE’S KANSAS CITY, home of the Z-Man and Rocket Pig, serving in KCK, Olathe, and Leawood. FIORELLA’S JACK STACK BARBECUE, now with six locations and a killer crown rib entree, snags Bronze.

BEST BREWERY
The pride of Kansas City craft brewing—the one that started it all back in 1989—may have grown into a semi-national brand and Belgian ownership, but goodness, how people here embrace BOULEVARD BREWING CO. In a landslide vote, it nabs Gold here, an outcome no doubt influenced by a diverse, something-for-every-taste product line. Irish Reds, Belgian IPAs, and Imperial Stouts make for a beer-lovers paradise. MARTIN CITY BREWING CO. flexes some of the same entrepreneurial traits and draws Silver for its efforts. Waldo-based KC BIER CO. pours out Bronze with its array of dunkel, hefeweizen, lager, and pils varieties. 

BEST BURGER
There are just two locations, and they’re just blocks from each other in the central business district. Maybe that hyper-local exclusivity is what makes TOWN TOPIC a readers’ Gold selection in this category. Quick and tasty—two imperatives for a workday lunch—define this brand, as does the phrase “no frills, just great burgers.” Taking things to another experiential level as a national enterprise, Silver winner FIVE GUYS pulls you in for the burger, then makes you a fan for life with some amazing fries at 15 easily accessible locations. TAY’S BURGER SHACK in North KC with locally sourced burgers, hand-cut fries, and patio seating, plates up the Bronze.

BEST BUSINESS BREAKFAST
Only one time in the previous 26 years this award been issued has it gone to someone other than FIRST WATCH. Well, make that only once in 27, as readers again deliver a resounding vote for Gold here. With nine locations offering breakfast, brunch, or lunch, it’s easy to see how this iconic establishment has amassed a broad following. Silver yielded a tie between two other masters of morning fare, THE CLASSIC CUP on the Country Club Plaza and THE BIG BISCUIT, with 14 locations that make your next omelet a neighborhood fixture. Bronze honors go to EGGTC., serving up gourmet breakfast from South Plaza and Shawnee locations.

BEST BUSINESS LUNCH
The workhorse of business meals is lunch, where focus and food come together in the hopes of mutually beneficial outcomes. Readers say they find the happiest fusion of the two at GRAND STREET CAFÉ, the iconic eatery on the Plaza, and in Lenexa. From chops and pasta to salads, sandwiches, and desserts, it has all the ingredients for a productive discussion. Somewhat heartier fare earns Silver for THE CAPITAL GRILLE and its array of steaks and other entrees. The Bronze is shared this year with two great restaurants, ROCKHILL GRILL and TREZO MARE.

BEST BUSINESS DINNER
A different dynamic altogether, the perfect business dinner combines great food, unique ambiance, stellar service, and an element of relaxation that serves as a reward for business achievement. A consistent Gold winner here is The CAPITAL GRILLE, which does it again by offering everything from appetizers to desserts and drinks, with a palette of protein possibilities in between. Silver goes to EDDIE V’S PRIME SEAFOOD on the Plaza, bringing the ocean’s bounty to the heartland. Sharing the Bronze: CORVINO SUPPER CLUB & TASTING ROOM and J. GILBERT’S WOOD-FIRED STEAKS & SEAFOOD in Overland Park. 

BEST CATERER
Kansas City’s chops as a culinary center are just as evident with its catering scene, and the best among those enterprises by a slim margin, readers declare, is BRANCATO’S CATERING. Balanced, seasonal, and exceptional: Andrew Brancato and his team strive to bring them all to the buffet, mastering the challenge of fine food delivered at scale for weddings, business events, and other celebrations. LON LANE’S INSPIRED OCCASIONS, a perennial favorite in this category, garners Silver. Divvying up the Bronze are FIORELLA’S JACK STACK BARBECUE and GRANDMA’S CATERING. 

BEST COFFEE HOUSE
Some outfit from Seattle transformed the coffee-drinking experience long ago, but you won’t find them in this roster: Ingram’s readers say the morning coffee ritual is a decidedly local affair. It starts at Gold with MESSENGER COFFEE CO., which dazzles with all the baked goodies that go with artisan brews Downtown, on the Plaza, or at the new KCI. Another Downtown fixture, MILDRED’S, grabs a steaming cup of Silver for its diversity of blends. Messenger’s corporate cousin down Southwest Boulevard, THE ROASTERIE, snags a share of Bronze along with Lenexa’s BLACK DOG COFFEEHOUSE. 

BEST DELI
Four generations deep, with nearly a century into its sausage-making excellence, SCIEMECA’S DELI has evolved from a deli to include regional grocery distribution and now nationwide delivery for online orders. But the ingredients that make for Gold distinction here—house-made salads and soups, fresh breads, and a wide range of meats and cheeses—all come together to enhance the deli experience in North Kansas City. MILWAUKEE DELICATESSEN CO. walks off with the Silver honors, and D’BRONX snares the Bronze.

BEST FAMILY RESTAURANT
The number of companies that are undefeated Gold winners continues to shrink this year—but STROUD’S isn’t among them; it just racked up its 15th top honor since the introduction of this category. Why? Something about that family-style delivery of fried chicken, plenty of sides—even a cinnamon roll. Almost like Grandma’s still working in your kitchen. THE BIG BISCUIT scores Silver here, with a vote total obviously tilted by families who dine together early (it’s breakfast, brunch, and lunch only). Combining calories with the physical exertion to burn them off is Bronze-winning CHICKEN N PICKLE.

BEST GROCERY STORE
The vote totals prove it: Kansas City has plenty of HY-VEE fans. With roughly 20 metro-area locations, this employee-owned company has purchasing power that comes from 285 stores across an eight-state area, and most locations are full-service stores with delis, floral, specialty bakery, and butcher counters. Silver goes to a brand—PRICE CHOPPER—but in this region, that can stand for four companies flying the PC flag, including our two Bronze winners—Cosentino’s Food Services’ COSENTINO’S MARKET, and Balls Foods HEN HOUSE stores. 

BEST HAPPY HOUR
You do the business lunch and dinner with clients and prospects; happy hour is all about getting together with the crew from the office or family and friends. There to put the happy in that hour—or more—is our Gold winner, HOULIHAN’S. Once an after-work anchor on the Plaza, it has moved out to Leawood, Overland Park, and Lee’s Summit, but the camaraderie, cocktails, carafes, and brews—specially priced, along with reduced-cost appetizers—still help mark the end of a week or workday. GRAM & DUN ties with TAVERN IN THE VILLAGE for Silver, with CAFÉ TRIO dishing Bronze.

BEST PIZZA
New York and Chicago talk a big game, but neither of them has MINSKY’S. And the legendary pizza enterprise, with 18 locations reaching all the way to Lawrence, is the hands-down Gold winner—again. The secret? Taking the commonplace and elevating it to gourmet with 18 pie styles on the menu, along with salads, sandwiches, burgers, and more. While nobody has come close to dethroning the champ, WALDO PIZZA has established a strong following, as well, and boxes up the Silver. A new kid on the voting block—BUFFALO STATE PIZZA—snares the Bronze. 

HEALTHIEST MENU
Plaza-based TRUE FOOD KITCHEN walks off with the Gold here for mastery of seasonal selections along with year-round staples that include steak, chicken, pasta, pizza, salads, and more, including tuna tartare, which you can’t get just anywhere. THE MIXX, on the Plaza and in Overland Park, will start you off with a robust roster of soups and salads, backing those up with sandwiches, wraps, and quinoa bowls, all good for Silver. ENJOY PURE FOOD + DRINK racks up the Bronze for a menu that includes vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free offerings, including family-style dining.

BEST OUTDOOR DINING
Sure, winters here seem eternal, but when springs summer, and fall call for outdoor dining, Ingram’s readers say the patio at TREZO MARE is the place to be. Lunch, dinner, or just drinks to savor a summer’s eve set the Gold standard at this Briarcliff Village respite in the Northland. Silver goes south to the Plaza, where GRAM & DUN masters the craft of pairing food and libation—including that hard-to-find cherry cider. Bagging the Bronze is RYE, the passion of James Beard-winning chef Colby Garrelts and his wife, Megan. 

BEST PLACE TO TAKE OUT-OF-TOWN GUESTS
For all the fabulous steak venues in a town built on beef, we remain at our core barbecue lovers, and we like to show that off to visitors. Proof? This entire category is swept by pitmasters. Start off with FIORELLA’S JACK STACK BARBECUE, which takes ’cue to a classier level, but still dishes out some of the city’s best hickory-infused beef, pork, chicken, and salmon, along with killer sides. JOE’S KANSAS CITY emerges with Silver in its eternal battle for top honors with Jack Stack and Q39. The latter shares this year’s Bronze with another iconic brand, GATES BBQ, the granddaddy of the group whose roots run to deep in KC dating back to 1946. 

MOST ROMANTIC 
For some reason, Kansas City diners equate French cuisine with romance, and it shows up again this year with Gold going to the award-winning fare at CAFÉ PROVENCE in Prairie Village. After all, it’s not like you can find a first-rate souffle on every corner. Breaking up the Francophile sweep here is TREZO MARE, mixing seafood with muscular dishes like steak, chops, and rib hash. Bronze goes to LE FOU FROG, the River Market niche that evokes thoughts of not just the European Republic and New York streetside dining.

BEST SEAFOOD 
For an impressive 15th straight year, the Gold here goes to BRISTOL SEAFOOD + STEAK + SOCIAL, served up in the Power & Light District and Leawood (and two locations in St. Louis, if you’re cross-state). Steak is on the menu, but if we’re honest, it’s part of the supporting cast: Seafood is the star here, from oysters and shrimp to swordfish, and lobster stylings. Silver winner JAX FISH HOUSE & OYSTER BAR has a robust list of items like halibut, Norwegian salmon and lobster at its Plaza location, but if you scroll the bottom of the menu, you’ll find steak and burger options. Bronze is split between McCORMICK & SCHMICK’S and EDDIE V’S PRIME SEAFOOD.

BEST STEAK
Gold? For steak? We present to you the one, the only, THE CAPITAL GRILLE. Only once in the last decade has the top honor been pried from the hands of these beef barons. Sure, they have other options on the menu, but trust us: Go for the grill’s best offerings: ribeye, strip, and filet. Combined with top-tier service, the experience truly satisfies. Wagyu beef? Yep, it’s on the menu at 801 CHOPHOUSE, and that alone helps explain the Silver recognition—but there’s much more behind it. The locally owned HEREFORD HOUSE, a longtime medalist here, is back with a Bronze.

BEST SPORTS BAR/GRILL
Interestingly enough, readers see no intersection between the happy hour favorites and sports bars. They shouldn’t. In addition to having The Big Game on multiple screens, you’ll find much of the same blow-off-the-workweek-steam vibe, and the on-air competition only adds to it. Here, Gold goes to JOHNNY’S TAVERN and its 13 metro-area locations. Wing lovers and sports fans find agreement on the Silver-level appeal of THE PEANUT, with five locations from the Northland to Leawood. Making it a clean sweep for locally owned operations, TANNER’S BAR & GRILL serves up suds and scores at eight area locations.

BEST SUNDAY BRUNCH
There’s a personal element to brunch that isn’t exactly part of the business lunch/dinner experience; it’s more about family, friends, recharging, and prepping for a new work week. For our readers, BRISTOL SEAFOOD + STEAK + SOCIAL offers a Gold-level solution. A diverse menu to suit every taste beckons, but seafood at this level is not to be missed. Fierce voting produced a pair of ties: YAYA’S EURO BISTRO and NICK & JAKE’S for the Silver, with BRASS ONION and RED DOOR GRILL sharing the Bronze.

BEST NEW RESTAURANT
You don’t need a flight to Europe to experience the Mediterranean in fare and feel at ENZO BISTRO & WINE BAR in the River Market. A sister restaurant to the Plaza area’s Ragazza Food & Wine, this newest effort from siblings Laura and Grant Norris has made a splash with readers who favor dishes like the ocean’s bounty found in its cioppino, choices of lasagna and eggplant parmigiana, or right-at-home-in-KC seared ribeye steaks. Bonus: A Happy Hour that runs from 3-6 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays.  

BEST SERVICE
Sizzle isn’t limited to the steaks at THE CAPITAL GRILLE; the staff is fired up to ensure that your lunch or dinner experience goes well beyond what you eat. And for a record 14th time, the Grille is Golden here. Why? Top-tier service allows patrons to focus on what matters—their clients, guests, friends, or family. It enhances your meal at every level. And unlike health or friends, which you might not fully appreciate until they’re gone—you’ll know this when you get it. 

BEST ASIAN RESTAURANT 
The thing to keep in mind about Asian food is, Asia is a darn big place. There are lots of ways to engage. Tops on our list for Gold this year are perennial favorite BO LING’S, easily accessible with six area locations and menus bursting with authentic Chinese fare. Chinese and Mongolian flavors come through at FORTUNE WOK in Overland Park, which splits Silver with LULU’S THAI NOODLE SHOP with locations in the Crossroads, Westwood and Overland Park. BLUE KOI in Leawood, with its upscale Chinese comfort food, nabs the Bronze. 

BEST FRENCH RESTAURANT
Perhaps the most highly competitive niche in ethnic foods, this category marks yet another year-over-year exchange of places. In 2023, readers favored LE FOU FROG in the River Market for the Gold, besting CAFÉ PROVENCE of Prairie Village, which takes the Silver. Both represent the best of what the Provence region of France has to offer, such as the tuna tartare or duck confit at the Frog, or perhaps selections like onion soup or escargot at Café Provence. The latter, by the way, is owned by the same family that brought you our Bronze-winning FRENCH MARKET just around the corner.   

BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT
Michael Garozzo and his team at GAROZZO’S RISTORANTE tighten their hold on the Gold for an eighth straight year. Serving Downtown and in Overland Park, they offer a robust menu that features fish, pork, chicken, and beef—as lunch, dinner, and family-style offerings—wrapped up in a family-feel setting that resonates with readers. Silver goes to CASCONE’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT with a full range of house specialties. The Bronze is divvied up between JASPER’S in south KC and FARINA in the Crossroads District. 

BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT
How robust is the Mexican food market in this region? Consider this: Gold-winning K-MACHO’S, in Overland Park had to fight off nearly 50 competing eateries in this category—half again as many as Best Barbecue. Unlimited chips and salsa, luscious margaritas, and a huge range of Mexican platters surely had something to do with that finish. Silver goes to the ever-popular JALAPENO’S (slogan: “Mo Hotta, Mo Betta”) in Brookside, while MANNY’S in the Crossroads secures the Bronze.

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