Each year during the second week of January, many local restaurants across Kansas City come together to offer a prix-fixe lunch and dinner menu that not only satisfies your taste buds and wallet, but shares a portion of proceeds to a number of local non-profit organizations.
Kansas City Restaurant Week offers the best of both worlds to diners at discounted prices, with only one question left to ask: where to go?
We’ve compiled five of our favorite must-see stops this January. Don’t forget to make your reservations early, as spots fill up fast!
1. Homesteader Café
Founded by a husband and wife duo, this downtown Kansas City restaurant is not to be missed. The scent of ginger cakes gently baking in the oven will invite you in, and the locally-sourced dishes will keep you coming back. Be sure not to miss the shrimp and polenta entree, featuring crispy bacon, spicy peppers, and sweet onions over a heap of gooey polenta. To wrap up your meal, treat yourself to the infamous cinnamon pecan bread pudding. This sticky, sweet confection dotted with nuttiness is the ultimate way to wrap up your Homesteader experience.
2. Char Bar
No Kansas City experience is complete without having a larger than life portion of fall-off-the-bone barbeque. Char Bar covers all the bases with brunch, lunch, and dinner menus during Restaurant Week. Can’t decide which menu to choose? Make a reservation to try out all three! Step up your brunch experience with a warm cinnamon loaf smothered in salted pecans and rum caramel known fondly as the Icky Sticky, or grab a classic stack of soft cornmeal pancakes topped with salty pork belly and bourbon maple syrup. Looking for something a little lighter? The lunch and dinner menus both offer a Veggie Paneer “Burger” that sandwiches a crispy falafel patty, smokey paneer cheese, tart zucchini relish, and tangy beer mustard between a pretzel bun.
3. Boru Ramen
At Boru Ramen, you will quickly find yourself tapping your toes to a combination of vintage and modern tunes while slurping down warm, tender noodles. Besides the engaging music, your taste buds will be taken on a rich culinary journey. A curated menu of bold soups, soft, steamy bao buns, and bright, citrusy tuna poke offers a slew of options. During restaurant week, dive into a bowl of Spicy Miso ramen that features a broth that practically screams umami. This bowl of melt-in-your-mouth noodles is topped with crunchy bean sprouts and a signature six-minute egg with a gooey yolk center.
4. Garozzo’s
This family-owned Italian concept can be found in both Downtown and in Overland Park, making it a convenient stop for everyone. Known for the generous portions of pasta and savory spiedini, Garozzo’s is a favorite for special occasions and everyday dining alike. While here for Restaurant Week, give the Chicken Vencenzo a try. This delicately breaded chicken filet is placed over a bed of al dente olive oil pasta, and finished with a generous serving of spicy cognac cream reduction. Che bello!
5. La Bodega
Unique to Kansas City, La Bodega immerses you in Spanish culture for a fraction of the cost. Known for its take on classic Spanish tapas, their menu boasts something for everyone. We recommend sampling the Paella Valenciana or a few of the tapas. Our favorite? Queso de Cabra Al Horno. This creamy baked goat cheese dish is covered in a tangy tomato sauce that pairs well with many of La Bodega’s wines. Don’t forget to wrap up your experience with the silky orange-vanilla perfection found in the Creme de Catalana dessert.
We hope you enjoy this special opportunity to eat your way through Kansas City. Enjoy the culinary adventure!
Hungry for something else? Discover other delicious eats in your area, ready to be ordered.
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Images by Various | Editing by Kristen Reames
