Restaurant Guide

Whether you're going to a dance, having a celebration, or just putting together a party, the first thing you must consider is where you plan to eat. If you think about this the night before, the only thing you can do is run around the city and check prices. Or, you can let us do the footwork and choose from what we found out. However, not everyone has the same taste, so you should treat this like a guide, not like a rulebook.

We started with the Hereford House (Leawood, 913-327-0800). Upon entering, you at first think you went through a time warp into the 1850's and dropped into a Wild West saloon. Saddles line the walls and hats rest on a rack. The atmosphere is friendly and skillful, cheerful hosts greet you. The menu consists of steaks, chicken, seafood, and much more. Everything that we tried was delicious, but the one dish that stands out is the BBQ rib appetizer. It was tangy and had just the right mix of barbecue sauce. There are also many desserts to choose from.

Next, we went to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse (700 W, 47th Street, 816-531-4800). This was the most elegant restaurant we had a chance to visit. Not only does the General Manager visit with each and every patron, but the food is spectacular as well. The way the food is prepared is unusual too. Steaks are cooked in a wood-burning stove at a temperature of 1800ºC and are served on 500ºC plates. The Cowboy Rib eye steak was the most flavorful we ever tasted. The Filet Mignon was amazing as well. If you're looking for a great appetizer, crab legs are a must. Live lobsters are fished out of a tank minutes before they are served on your plate. It may be possible to get fresher seafood in Kansas City, but I don't know how.

If scenery is what you're looking for, then Skies (2345 McGee, 816-435-4199) is where you want to be. Located on the top floor of the Hyatt Regency hotel at Crown Center, all of the tables revolve at a rate of one revolution per hour. While eating, you will have a beautiful bird's eye view of the city as you and your party enjoy fabulous food. The service is such that you feel like you are in the best Parisian restaurant.

If you're shopping at the Country Club Plaza around noon and are looking for a place to have lunch, Fedora Café & Bar (210 W, 47th Street, 816-561-6565) is a nice stop. Providing authentic Italian service, lunch in Club 210, attached to Fedora, includes several novel items. One of these is a sandwich prepared in a waffle iron, and another is a slightly spicy pasta salad. We had an excellent lunch, and at under $10 per person it was not too expensive. For dinner, Club 210 prides itself on having a live band Friday, Saturday, and several weekdays. Unfortunatelly, we did not have a chance to experience this, but from what we heard it is really an exciting experience.

We hope that you will remember any of the described places with pleasure and you realize that it takes hard-working managers to successfully run a restaurant. Without good management, even the best trained personnel can do very little to make your experience one to remember.

Hereford House

Ruth's Chris Steakhouse

Skies, sunset

Skies

Fedora Café & Bar