No, it’s not your mother’s Pump Room, the one that hosted celebrities for decades in the old Ambassador East Hotel. Though black and white photos from those halcyon days grace many of its walls, the new Pump Room is a total redo. Ian Schrager (of Studio 54 fame) recently bought the hotel and renamed it […]
Read the rest of this entry »Nica’s 320
Nica’s 320 recently took over the old Shiraz space on Southwest Boulevard. The original Nica’s Cafe was out south before its owners negotiated for a bigger space in the Crossroads. Loaded with the same charm and a courtyard as Shiraz, Nica’s 320 looks like it’s been around forever. The menu is quite unique. Diners devise […]
Read the rest of this entry »The Spotted Pig–New York City
The Spotted Pig is somewhat of an institution in New York City’s West Village, which I’ve concluded is my favorite area in Manhattan. Small, winding streets, some cobblestoned, are lined with quaint retail storefronts and attractive Boston-like townhomes. The Pig has been on the scene since 2003, certainly not as long as many beloved New […]
Read the rest of this entry »El Porton Cafe
El Porton cafe is tucked back from Roe, in the Indian Creek Parkway Center just north of I-435. It’s in the same shopping center as Brobeck’s BBQ, which has also been on my go-try list. But I was in the mood for a cuban sandwich, so I stuck with my plan to head over to […]
Read the rest of this entry »Indios Carbonsitos
I’ve definitely joined the food truck craze, and have been trying to sample as many of the vendors as I can. Just like not all restaurants are the same, neither can food trucks be lumped together. I prefer those that are a cut above the rest, with either upscale (as is the case at Port […]
Read the rest of this entry »Harvey’s at Union Station
It’s no secret that Union Station is very close to my heart. That’s why I was delighted to hear that the space in the middle of the Grand Hall, originally the train station’s ticket booth, and more recently Union Cafe, had reopened as Harvey’s at Union Station. The station needs a restaurant like this to […]
Read the rest of this entry »Yia Yia’s Euro Bistro
I’m always on a hunt for the latest and greatest new restaurant, so I often forget about older spots that are still playing to large crowds. Yia’s Yia’s is a case in point. It is the last of the full service PB&J restaurants still standing, after Grand Street Cafe, Coyote Grill, Paulo and Bill’s and […]
Read the rest of this entry »Tavern in the Village
After two pleasant visits to Tavern in the Village, the new hot spot in Prairie Village, it’s likely that owner Kelly Manning has a winning formula. He’s worked in PB& J restaurants and at Houston’s and Morton’s, so he certainly has a solid pedigree. The Tavern is a comfortable spot, with well-spaced tables, spacious booths […]
Read the rest of this entry »Hickok’s Bar and Grill
No surprise that Forbes Cross and Michael Peterson* are a winning combination. If you mention their names in the same sentence, people assume that whatever they are working on will be successful. So it is with their latest venture, Hickok’s Bar and Grill. It has taken over the space previously occupied by Dos Hombres in […]
Read the rest of this entry »Genessee Royale Bistro
Todd Schulte has wasted little time making his newly opened Genessee Royale Bistro in the West Bottoms a destination spot. Schulte started as the Happy Soupeater, delivering hearty and tasty soups around the metro before opening Happy Gillis Cafe in Columbus Park. Like Happy Gillis, Genessee Royale Bistro is open for breakfast and lunch only, […]
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