When it comes to finding the best new restaurants in the Kansas City metropolitan area, it's hard to beat Restaurant Row. Located at the corner of Troost and 63rd, this area is home to some of the most popular eateries in the city. Heather White and Amante Domingo spent eighteen months planning and preparing for their restaurant, Tailleur, which opened in mid-August. It has quickly become a favorite among locals who are looking for a taste of Europe without having to leave town.
Tailleur is often referred to as a French bistro, and its menu features classic dishes such as steak with fries, mussels, and tartar steak. The owners describe it as more continental, with the menu changing depending on the season. For example, their lamb ribs are rubbed with garlic and thyme before being roasted over medium heat and finished with a demi-glace that brings out the robust flavor of the protein. The pork leg is cooked slowly in red wine and is so tender that it can be pulled apart with just a look.
Mussels are marinated in a simple white wine, butter, garlic, and herbs sauce that is a perfect example of Tailleur's honest and tried-and-true cuisine. Natalie Torres Gallagher Gunnels is another local chef who has made her mark on Kansas City's restaurant scene. Before the pandemic, she ran a backyard pizza restaurant called Cult of Pi from her home near Clay & Fire. Now she is opening a vintage wine bar called 78 in the commercial space below The Vue apartments. It will offer an impressive selection of wines that can be enjoyed in an elegant lounge-like atmosphere. Prime Sushi, which was named a “must-see” sushi restaurant by Feast Magazine, will open its third branch in Prairie Village Shops next to Scratch Gourmet & Express Catering.
Meanwhile, Longres will focus on hearty main courses with locally sourced beef, pork, chicken, duck, and game meat when it opens this summer. The Italian restaurant quietly opened its doors last year in Corinth Square shopping center in Prairie Village. When Bo Lings announced that he would be leaving his City Market location, it became clear that this coveted spot on the Kansas City streetcar line wouldn't remain empty for long. A collective has announced plans to open two restaurants side by side this year in the Crossroads Arts District. Sagebrush will open its doors in Kansas City, Kansas this summer and share an outdoor patio and greenhouse with Foxtrot and Garden House. Jim's Alley Bar will open its doors right next to King G's in Kansas City's Art Alley this summer.
After searching for the right opportunity and space to reopen his own home, Schulte found it right in his own backyard in Brookside. Jacob Kruger opened his hamburger stand at Dodson's Bar & Commons more than a year ago and now has a permanent home for his popular ghost kitchen. The Near East also has some unexpected restaurants that have opened up during the pandemic.
