Why an "Epic Response" to a Bad Yelp Review is an Epically Bad Idea

I can hold my tongue no longer.

If you hang out in the "foodie" or restaurant industry corners of the interwebs you probably have seen the latest viral story surrounding the "epic takedown" of a yelp reviewer by the restaurant that was the target of that diner's one-star review. The original Yelp review, and consequently the restaurant's now famous response, has been deleted (presumably by the reviewer) but both have been preserved by several media outlets including Eater. I have also provided screenshots below (click to enlarge):

The original one-star review (left) and the response that launched a thousand clicks (at right).

Full disclosure. I live in the Kansas City metro, and have reviewed once and happily dined more than a few times at the restaurant in question, Voltaire. To the best of my knowledge I do not know the Yelp reviewer in question, Sonal B. But Kansas City is small. It's likely there's a 2nd or 3rd degree connection.

Anyway...

Kansas Town - Great Food, Bring Your Own Crowd

UPDATE: 7/7/2014 - Kansas Town is closed.


UPDATE: 6/24/14 - Chef Kasper is no longer at Kansas Town. Look for him at Lulu's Asian Bistro opening later this summer in Westwood, KS

On why he no longer dined at Ruggeri's, a St. Louis restaurant, Yogi Berra famously explained, "Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded."

It might be said of Kansas Town, "Nobody goes there yet. It's always empty."

There are any number of reasons that a restaurant might be empty. The most insidious reason is simply - it's empty because it's empty. Dining at a restaurant is not merely about eating food prepared by others. The whole process is theater. Attentive service, quality food, attractive plating, and buzz. Diners typically crave the company of other diners. There's always a point where too many patrons means slow and inattentive service but ultimately dining out is a social occasion and being surrounded by like minded people is a big part of the fun. So it stands to reason that potential diners walking by Kansas Town might just keep walking when faced with the thin crowd.

And that's a shame because there are some very good reasons to eat here.

Sofa King Hearty - Italian Sausage Soup at Cucina della Ragazza

Looks like we're in for a wintry weekend Kansas City. Snow, sleet, cold. Yuck. You can't make the weather go away but you can make the best of it by eating well. Hearty soups are my go to favorite way to stare down old man winter and my newest discovery - Italian Sausage Soup at Cucina della Ragazza in Westport - it the perfect prescription for the bone chilling cold. Big chunks of very Italian sausage swimming in clear broth with tomato, artichoke, and spices. Nice.

Try it and let me know what you think.

Italian Sausage Soup at Cucina della Ragazza

Eight Reasons Chef Howard Hanna and The Rieger Hotel Grill & Exchange Should Be Your Next KC Dining Destination

This week Chef Howard Hanna of The Rieger Hotel Grill & Exchange was named a semifinalist for a James Beard Award - Best Chef: Midwest Category. Here in Kansas City he is joined by the very talented Ted Habiger of Room 39 (also Best Chef: Midwest) and Nick Wesemann of The American Restaurant (Outstanding Pastry Chef Category). Hearty congratulations to all three.

Chef Howard Hanna 

Seeing Howard Hanna on the James Beard semifinalist list reminded me that I've never properly and publicly appreciated his terrific Crossroads restaurant. I'm not sure why I've never written about Howard or The Rieger but this occasion seems like all the reason in the world to share my 8 reasons that this chef and his restaurant are among my very favorites.

If you've never been, let me start by telling you that there's no hotel. There was a hotel but that was nearly a century ago. However, much of the original architecture, details, and fixtures remain in this shotgun-style space lending the restaurant a great deal of it's charm.

Eight Reasons (In No Particular Order)

First Impressions - Novel

Kansas City's Newest Restaurant, Novel located 
in the charming Westside neighborhood

The little intersection at 17th & Summit in Kansas City's Westside neighborhood just keeps getting better. Last week Novel opened in a charming century-old house that overlooks 17th Street from its perch atop a small hill there. It's clear that they have been busy getting this place ready. I have personally rehabbed a 100-year-old house before and it's a lot of work. This space used to be home to Lill's on 17th so chef/owner Ryan Brazeal and team had a head start but they undertook some serious renovations all the same. The kitchen is significantly larger (no small feat) and they have added a cozy little bar tucked just off the entrance (a bit like the bar at The Westside Local just around the corner). This place oozes charm and feels like the neighborhood restaurant that it is.

Groupon Anxiety? Here's Some Therapy...

Unless you follow the foodie press you probably missed last week's Twitterverse chatter related to former Jeopardy champ Ken Jennings' Groupon dis. His post is pictured here and is pretty self-explanatory.  Now, Ken Jennings' opinion on where he eats and why don't mean much to me but his tweet did get a lot of attention and got me thinking about Kansas City diners' attitudes about Groupon (and similar deal-of-the-day companies).

Let's start with the assumptions in Mr Jennings' tweet...

First Impressions: Voltaire

❝Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity.❞ 

~ Voltaire

Give God his due but I would also send proper respect to chefs and bartenders - especially the kind you find at Voltaire's namesake restaurant newly opened in the West Bottoms. Fans of R Bar, which closed just over a year ago, will be happy to learn that its replacement tenant appears to be living up to some important standards - namely an interesting and tasty menu as well as imaginative quality cocktails.

The Little Airstream That Could (and Did) - Port Fonda

This is the only photo of mine I could find
of the original Airstream-based Port Fonda. 

I've only been at this blogging thing for about five months but already I feel like I'm neglecting some of my very favorite places to eat and drink in Kansas City. Fitting squarely in that category is Port Fonda - a not-your-abuelo's Mexican joint that would be a good fit in any major urban center (thankfully it's in mine). Much good has been written about this Westport gem and I'm not better than The Star, The Pitch, Bonjwing Lee's Ulterior Epicure or The New York Times so you can read their reviews by following those links. I'll spend my time talking about why I love this place and why I think some misguided souls don't get it.

Like many lucky Kansas Citians I discovered Port Fonda several years ago when it was based out of an Airstream that parked in a few strategic locations around the city. My favorite spot was the parking lot at the Rieger Hotel & Exchange for the simple reason that Airstream Port Fonda didn't serve alcohol and some of the best drinks in town can be found at both The Rieger and Manifesto (same building, in the basement). Outrageously good street tacos in the parking lot followed by a drink or three at one or both of these places and it's a good evening.

Missed Connections: What's That Scent You're Wearing?

You were a trendy Plaza hotspot with a big patio. I was at the bar enjoying several of your hand crafted cocktails. Suddenly the unmistakable aroma of bleach was subtly wafting through the bar area. Moments later it wasn't so subtle.

Coco Chanel once said, "A woman should wear perfume wherever she wants to be kissed.” I say leave the bleach in the bottle until after the place is closed.

First Impressions: Peanches - Don't Judge This Book By Its Cover

[This restaurant is no longer open - KM]
Do you ever check Google or Bing Maps and use their street view feature to see what a place looks like before you venture out? I do it all the time and have convinced myself that I'm pretty good at making accurate snap judgements based on curb appeal alone. This time I was dead wrong. What you see here is Bing's Street Side View of a strip mall on 39th Street just about a block west of Southwest Trafficway. The tenant on the far right side is Peanches - a decidedly underwhelming looking restaurant with a culinary surprise hidden behind a depressing facade. I've personally driven past this place dozens of times and never even paid attention to it. That changed for the better last Saturday night.

Establishing My Metro Bona Fides at Bloomsbury Bistro

How's this for establishing my metrosexual bona fides? I found a charming bistro in an antique mall through a hair salon referral. Hey, whatever works.

The Bloomsbury Bistro is easy to miss. It's located in the back of the Mission Road Antique Mall which is located behind the very easy to find Panera Bread in Prairie Village.  Even though I'd been to the antique mall several times before I never really paid much attention to the restaurant. Knowing my appetite for good eats my friend Cyndy Johnston, owner of Sopra Salon across the street, recommended it to me.

My wife and I have a pet expression for ladies of a certain age (the age is somewhat variable but let's say north of 60) - "So stinkin' cute". And that would be the first thing you notice at The Bloomsbury Bistro - the place is practically overflowing with charming, well dressed ladies that are well, just "so stinkin' cute". It also appears to be a popular Mother/Daughter or even Mother/Daughter/Granddaughter spot. I haven't quite reached the point where that fact would attract me to a restaurant but it doesn't necessarily scare me off either. Especially if the food is good. (Sidebar where the exception proves the rule: On my most recent visit there were no fewer than three tables with gentlemen dining alone).

Indulge: Spargelkarte (White Asparagus Menu) at Affäre

It's probably been 25 years now, the first time I traveled to Munich, Germany. At the time, as a young man traveling on business, I'm sure it was good Bavarian beer that I was looking forward to. Looking back however, it was the German asparagus that I remember most. It was late April, maybe early May and I didn't know it at the time but I was stepping into a magical culinary window of time in Germany known as Spargel Season. Walk through the center of town in any German city this time of year and large chalkboards in front of every restaurant herald the arrival of spargel in a long list of dinner specials built around the celebrity vegetable. "Was ist spargel? (What is spargel?)" I asked in a poorly accented German that only an American can manage. The friendly restauranteur whose English was worse than my German gestured enthusiastically with his hands for me to follow him into his establishment. Once inside he proudly pointed to a simple dish containing several fat, white (admittedly phallic) spears the likes of which I did not recognize. "Spargel!" he said triumphantly. I shrugged my shoulders, still confused, and asked to be seated. I ate spargel for three days straight.

Whatever Debbie Gold Is Up To, I Promise To Pay More Attention This Time

This was supposed to be a blog post about the amazing dinner Shelly and I experienced at The American Restaurant when we celebrated our anniversary several weeks ago. It was going to go something like this:

1. I get married 17 years ago and move to Kansas City.
2. Soon afterward, blushing bride and I eat at Kansas City gem The American Restaurant and have a wonderful meal overlooking Crown Center during a December snowfall. Magical.
3. For various (and indefensible) reasons we wait until last month (17 years!) to return to The American and marvel at what we'd been missing. 
4. Accolades for Executive Chef Debbie Gold. 
5. Yadda, yadda, yadda.
6. Food Porn Photos.

Things can change fast. Just this week Ms. Gold pulled a fast one and announced her upcoming departure from The American. Where she's going next is super double secret spy stuff and known only to those who know. Suffice it to say however, this time I will pay more attention and not ignore this local talent.

I'll save the yadda, yadda, yadda for Debbie's new digs and whatever The American does post-DG. 

But you still want photos. And here they are:

On Board at Louie's Wine Dive

I'm not going to lie. When I first heard that this place was going to be called Louie's Wine Dive I was less than enthusiastic. Wine Dive just sounded a little to hipster for me - and I'm more than tired of the hipster business ethic that seems to be based on inattentive service by brooding, bearded twenty-somethings. My misgivings faded when I read some of the pre-opening press and learned that many of their menu items included meats from Local Pig. I immediately put them on my list.

They've obviously found an audience. When Shelly and I visited soon after their opening in October 2012 there was a medium crowd - busy, but far from full.  We returned in December and it was decidedly more popular. Immediate seating but not much. Then, in an attempt to take some friends on a cold January Saturday night, we faced a 90-minute wait for a table at 7:30 PM. Good for Louie's. Bad for us. We moved on.

This past Saturday we were back - this time arriving on the early side of evening in order to watch a 6:00 PM March Madness basketball game at the bar. As luck would have it we found two seats at the bar directly in front of one of their two TVs. Interesting observation: This place fills and slows in waves. Standing room only one moment, thirty minutes later there are bar tables available.

So, what's all the fuss about? From my perspective Louie's Wine Dive is doing more than a few things right:

This Shouldn't Be So Good - Chicken Burger at Beer Kitchen

As a general rule I don't order much chicken when I'm eating out. At the top of my taboo list is any kind of chicken burger, chicken sandwich, you get the idea... boooring. So it was, several Saturdays ago that Shelly and I sat down at the bar at Beer Kitchen and prepared to order brunch. A chatty young woman next to us said without invitation, "Get the Creole Chicken Burger.  It's awesome!" Um, thanks Chatty Girl? We're fine. "Seriously. It's the only thing I ever order here." She motioned to a plate with a half eaten, intriguing-loooking sandwich on it. Oh, what the hell...

And now I'm hooked. I've eaten this spicy little number for both brunch and lunch and am already looking forward to one as a late-night beer chaser. Ground chicken? It shouldn't be this good. But it is. Thanks Chatty Girl. Seriously.

Creole Chicken - Cajun-blackened chicken burger, chipotle white cheddar,
avocado, tomato & chipotle aioli on potato roll

Go Ahead, Sleep In - Late Breakfast at Beer Kitchen

OK, I personally don't sleep in. Ever. I'm a 5:00 - 5:30 AM guy on typical mornings. 6:00 AM on weekends. But I recognize that many more normal folks like to call bed their home for a few extra hours on Saturday and Sunday.  Brunch was designed for them. I'm happy to tag along - even if it will be my second meal of the day.

So it was this weekend that we set out on Saturday morning (closer to Noon than actually morning) to have a very late breakfast at Beer Kitchen in Westport. Located right on the corner of Westport Road and Pennsylvania Avenue and home to what must be approaching 100 different beers, Beer Kitchen might seem an unlikely spot for brunch. My experiences here to date were limited to downing a couple of beers after eating elsewhere and on one particularly nice summer day making it a middle stop on an impromptu Westport pub crawl with my wife. It turns out this place knows how to cook.

First Weekends in the West Bottoms? Lunch at Genessee Royale Bistro

Strangers to the West Bottoms can be forgiven for wondering whether this part of Kansas City is in its ascent or descent. A hulking, mostly idle Kemper Arena and block after block of seemingly empty warehouses and former stockyard buildings suggest the area is well past its prime. The closing of R Bar last year was a tough blow to those of us that liked to eat there and were rooting for the neighborhood.

There is life here however. Fortunately for you and me the West Bottoms has become an outpost for a small but growing number of pioneering artists, entrepreneurs and restauranteurs. My favorite among them is the Genessee Royale Bistro.

Café Sebastienne - Restaurant Week

Just a quick look at what Café Sebastienne was offering for Restaurant Week lunch.

Two Courses for $15. Can't go wrong.

Soup
Tomato Bisque 

Roasted Butternut Squash Carbonara 
Smoked Crimini Mushrooms, Peas, 
Sun-dried Tomatoes, Pecorino 

Salad with Apples, Roquefort, 
Candied Pecans, Buttermilk Dressing 

Braised Beef Ragu Creamy Polenta, 
Fried Shallots, Red Wine Rosemary 
Sauce

The Second Best Reason to Eat (Soon) at Room 39

If you're at all like me you have a  list of area restaurants you keep meaning to visit but every time you go out they slip your mind and you wind up elsewhere. For me Room 39 fits squarely in that category. There's certainly no good reason to not eat here. There are many, many reasons to do so. So what motivated Shelly and I to brave the wind, the cold, and the (mis)forecast snow last night for a quiet meal at Room 39 in Midtown? A coupon. Now I'm not what anyone would consider a coupon guy, but when a $60 for $30 Google Offer from Room 39 landed in my inbox it became a string around my finger, the reminder to eat well. 

You can still get yours if you act soon. You'll need to buy it from Google by end of day Tuesday January 15th and use it before March 28th. Follow this link...

(Still) Crushing on Cafe Provence

I have a crush on Cafe Provence. I wanted to get that out of the way lest my readers start developing their own theories about my relationship with this Prairie Village gem.

It started several years ago when my wife and I wandered into this relatively obscure little French restaurant for lunch. Shelly and I have always been fans of eating out but we never (honestly, never) made any single restaurant a habit. So we certainly weren't looking for anything like that when we ventured out for lunch that day. A lot has happened between then and now, not the least of which is the fact that we eat at Cafe Provence almost once a week.  Usually for lunch but also for an occasional dinner.

So, generally I have a lot of great things to say about this place.  But know this... I don't love it because I eat there every week.  I eat there every week because it is an exceptional restaurant.