As a new year dawns for Kansas City’s dining and drinking scene, it’s time to put together our annual list of places that we anticipate will open sometime this year. As with all things relying on construction and materials, the timelines are best guesstimates made by the restaurant owner or chef and are not an exact science. This list is only meant to give you a tantalizing taste of the exciting things to come this year.
The good news is that new places are continuing to open all over the metro, and it seems they will almost all either be small, affordable, single-owner spots, proudly serving colorful but casual cuisine (think hamburgers, pizza, tacos), or they will be massive multi-million-dollar entertainment complexes with several food and drink options at one location. It feels like the perfect post-pandemic story line to write for the next chapter of our food scene, when we either want to be in smaller spaces with fewer people, or with all the people, all at once.
We are also going to be introduced to the concept of a “listening lounge,” which has its origins in Japan. Kissas or kissaten are intimate listening rooms found in Tokyo, where listening to new music on an excellent sound system is often given more thought (and budget) than the atmosphere or even the menu. Here is where you can hear a deep cut from an album you may have never heard before with incredible sound quality and clarity. Today, they are referred to as “HiFi bars” in the U.S. and offered with some food and drink. Although they have been operating in larger markets for years, we now have two of them planning to open this year in Kansas City.
As I type this, we are still waiting for news from Jonathan Justus and Camille Eklof on the new reincarnation for Justus Drugstore. Sagebrush, the cocktail bar from the fine folks that own The Campground is also still on the drawing board. The new Green Dirt Farm cheese shop and restaurant space with a rooftop deck in downtown Kansas City has just announced a February grand-opening date. We will also see the opening of the food and drink options at Pennway Point, where the KC Wheel is already in operation. These were all places listed last year that ran into unexpected construction delays of one kind or another. Fingers crossed we see them all open by the end of winter or early spring months.
With a national spotlight shining on Kansas City, our dining scene continues to rise and expand to meet the needs of both locals and tourists alike. This year only continues to prove Kansas City has always been a dynamic, well-rounded, and evolving dining destination.
Winter 2024
Fern Bar, 2045 Broadway Boulevard, Kansas City, MO
By the time you read this, local bartender-turned-bar-owner Bryan Arri will have just opened Fern Bar, his agave-based craft cocktail lounge in the former Broadway Bank building owned by Denver developer Ken Wolf. Arri worked at top cocktail spots Manifesto, The Monarch Bar, and Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room before originally launching Fern Bar as a pop-up, hosting cocktail events while refining both his drink recipes and message about the importance of supporting small artisanal producers making handcrafted rum, tequila, and mezcal. Working with KEM Studios on the design, the bar features elegant, rounded corners painted in pastel pink and terra-cotta hues with gold accents and mature cacti, agave, and sugarcane plants decorating the space. A pick-up window in the back of the bar is where a team from Tacos Valentina will be selling their delicious tacos to go with your cocktail of choice. Whether you like to sip your tequila or mezcal straight or prefer yours shaken up in a delicious cocktail, come to Fern Bar and escape from the winter cold.
The Wise Guy Tavern, 1924 Main Street, Kansas City, MO
The co-owners behind the Rockhill Restaurant Group, which includes two Rockhill Grille locations, also own the license for the Miracle Bar holiday-themed pop-up in Kansas City. Bret Springs and Zach Marten announced at the end of 2023 that they have signed a lease to take over the location of The Rieger Hotel Grill & Exchange, which closed in 2020 during the pandemic, to open The Wise Guy Tavern. The 3,317-square-foot space has been completely gutted and rebuilt, featuring one long bar down the south wall of the space. It opened first in December 2023 as the Miracle Bar with the walls of the restaurant painted red and green as part of the holiday decorations. They plan to reopen in mid-to-late January as The Wise Guy Tavern. The goal is for the space to feel like an old neighborhood tavern that has been there for years. The partners felt the location’s signature 1915 floor tile and brick walls were the perfect backdrop for an old-school tavern. The menu and drink options are still being worked out, but with that name, I might hazard a guess that Italian food of some kind may play into the menu.
In the Lowest Ferns, 1105 Hickory Street, Kansas City, MO
Austin Goldberg, Dante Walton, and Jason “J” Eubanks are the brains behind the two-year-old conceptual design, branding, and production company, Nomada, and they are ready to open a first for the West Bottoms—a new HiFi lounge called In the Lowest Ferns. The low-slung, rectangular-shaped loading dock is now high on vibes thanks to the state-of-the-art sound and lighting system that the partners have installed, which will spin their own playlists in addition to hosting a rotating list of local and international sound producers, DJ’s, and musical acts, ready to envelop the crowds in sound while they enjoy a drink or two. The large space has been transformed with upcycled furniture, retro hanging lamps, and groovy bamboo chains that divide the main floor from the seating areas. Tropical plants hang from the skylit ceiling and are tucked throughout the space anchored by the substantial concrete bar where there will be a selection of cocktails. No food is planned, although the occasional food truck may post up outside the venue, along with special ticketed food pop-ups hosted inside the space.
Bar Medici, 1800 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO
David Manica and Christian Moscoso are opening Bar Medici on the ground floor of the Reverb apartment complex in the Crossroads, launching the first food-focused bar from the duo. Inspired by the opulence of 15th-century Florence, Italy, Manica spared no expense outfitting the space in subtle shades of silver, gold, and bronze. The bar and restaurant will celebrate many Italian culinary traditions, including coffee service standing at the bar, aperitivo (the Italian tradition of having a drink and bites after work but before dinner), and by serving Italian gelato for dessert. The lunch, dinner, and late-night menus, created by their new culinary director Mitchell Fetterling, will feature light Mediterranean-inspired fare along with plenty of smaller plates made for sharing.
Sushi Kodawari, 2100 Central Street, Kansas City, MO
With only eight seats and two seatings a night, lawyer-turned-sushi chef Karson Thompson is hoping to wow his guests with his own relentless pursuit of perfection, which is what the word “kodawari” means in Japanese. Sushi Kodawari will open on the first floor of The Creamery building in the Crossroads delivering a multi-course (ten to 15 courses) fine-dining, two-hour, omakase experience. Serving as the head sushi chef, Thompson will prepare a set menu that just 16 guests a night will have the option to enjoy with a glass of wine or sake or as a “double omakase” experience where the drinks will be paired with each course. Guests can expect that a 15-course menu at Sushi Kodawari might consist of ten raw fish courses—each course a single piece of nigiri or sashimi, including some dry-aged fish—all served with preparation history or story behind each bite. There might be a chawanmushi (a steamed savory egg custard) or handmade slices of tamago, a kind of Japanese omelet, in addition to other small plates to complete the meal. Open for dinner five nights a week, Thompson plans to open reservations a month in advance, expecting them to sell out in a matter of hours.
Spring 2024
Thaiger Night Market & Mr. D’s Donuts, 1727 West Pennway Street, Kansas City, MO
The little black building on Pennway Street on Kansas City’s Westside was supposed to be a hair salon, until owner Justin Tanner approached Johnny Chen and his wife, Boggie Otgonbayar, owners of Mr. D’s Donut Shop, about opening a donut shop there. Known for their honey-dip glazed donuts and pineapple fritters, the two plan to take the morning shift here, offering their entire donut selection along with coffee, while Adison Sichampanakhone, owner of Thaiger and Ice Cream Bae, will take the afternoon and night shift, opening Thaiger Night Market serving Thai and Lao cuisine for lunch and dinner. Expect a vibey but casual feel where you can find Pad Thai, Chicken Grapow, and spicy Lao Pho loaded with short ribs, along with a selection of cocktails and wine.
Orange by Devoured, 325 East 31st Street, Kansas City, MO
Jhy Coulter and her partner, Brit Estes, will open their first brick-and-mortar restaurant, Orange by Devoured, in the Made in KC flagship building on 31st Street in Midtown that also houses The Black Pantry and Ludo’s Shuffleboard Bar. After a successful stint as a mobile pizza pop-up, the new concept will serve wine, beer, and tapas-style small plates, including gambas al ajillo, pesto arancini, and Portuguese marinated carrots, in addition to a variety of cloud-crust pizza pies they are known for slinging.
Red Kitchen: Cien por Ciento Mexicana, 7926 Santa Fe Drive, Overland Park, KS
Alejandra de la Fuente is considered a success story at the Lenexa Public Market. She started her culinary journey by hosting “Tamale Tuesday” pop-ups inside the market in 2017, quickly moving to a small stall where her breakfast burritos became the stuff of legend, and then finally into the flagship restaurant spot in the market as her business continued to grow. Now she is ready to move into her own brick-and-mortar location in downtown Overland Park in the space where The Table formerly operated their catering kitchen. The restaurant will be rebranded to Red Kitchen: Cien por Ciento Mexicana and will focus on catering, breakfast, and lunch service, where she will continue to serve quality Mexican cuisine along with the “Best Burritos in Kansas” as named by Food & Wine magazine.
Osteria Bianchi, 9261 Northeast 83rd Terrace, Kansas City, MO
One of the best things about living in Kansas City is its Midwestern affordability, which tends to bring great chefs who left to go to bigger restaurants in larger cities back home when it’s time to open their own restaurants. That’s true for the newest culinary couple in town, Josh and Kelly Bianchi, who have moved back to Kansas City after both enjoying successful culinary careers in Las Vegas for the last 17 years. He worked for Verti at the Palms Casino Resort and Drai’s at The Cromwell, and she worked her way up through Wynn Las Vegas to become the executive chef for catering and special events. Now back in Kelly’s hometown, the couple has leased the space of the former Trago Bar & Tapas restaurant in Liberty, where they plan to open Osteria Bianchi, a casual dining neighborhood Italian restaurant with some modern American influences. Guests can expect to see dishes like wood-fired pizza, cacio e pepe made with traditional handmade tonnarelli pasta, and an entrée highlighting local pork prepared three ways—braised pork belly, roasted pork loin, and crispy carnitas served with spaetzle and red wine-braised cabbage.
City Barrel Pizza & Patio, 120 East Gregory Boulevard, Kansas City, MO
The team behind City Barrel Brewery is taking their downtown beer and bringing it to the burbs, ready to pair their pints with pizza at City Barrel Pizza + Patio opening in the former Bier Station location in Waldo. The space is getting a makeover, with a new paint job, a larger outdoor patio, and a much larger kitchen. Co-owner Joe Giammanco wants this new spot to be a fun, community spot for the neighborhood. The executive chef, Benjamin Woods, plans to serve New York-style round, floppy pies with sourdough crust in three sizes and thicker crust, Grandma-style square pizzas, along with New York-style submarine sandwiches, chicken wings with wild sauces, rad garlic knots, fried mozzarella sticks, and signature salads. The space will open with 15 beers on tap, mostly from City Barrel and a few other local favorites, in addition to cocktails, mocktails, and wines by the glass or bottle.
Summer 2024
Triune, 1656 Washington Street, Kansas City, MO
Ken Wolf’s Washington Plaza building, formerly the Screenland building at 17th and Washington Street, sits neatly between the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and the Westside neighborhood, which makes it the perfect spot to open a restaurant. With an attractive outdoor terrace that will offer outdoor seating, Wolf has planned to make the first floor spaces that rim the terrace into separate food businesses that include a restaurant, a bar, and a food market. Enter local restaurant operator Steve Blakely, who owns Sauced, the burger stand in the courtyard of the Corrigan Station building. He and Wolf started talking about the type of restaurant he saw for the space back in 2021, and eventually the plan came together for Triune, which means three things in one. For Blakley those three things are hospitality, ambience, and food, and delivering on that will be his team of hospitality professionals—Whitney Coleman as the maitre’d, Rodolfo Rodriguez as executive chef, and Evelyn Brock as the bar manager. The concept will be a blend of fine food served in a casual dining setting, with a menu of a creative mix of small plates made for sharing, along with a handful of classic entrées and a full bar serving wine, beer, and cocktails.
Rock Island Bridge, 1799-1719 American Royal Drive, Kansas City, MO
The Rock Island Bridge project is well underway, featuring dramatic cantilevered spaces that hover 40 feet above the Kansas River. It promises to be the first of many exciting developments the city will see taking place in the West Bottoms over the next five years. Located across the street from the Hy-Vee Arena, the visionary development project was founded by Michael Zeller, CEO of Flying Truss, who is leading the project. It will be the first development of its kind in the nation, creating an entire entertainment district on a bridge that physically connects Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas City, Kansas. With 35,000-square-feet of space, the plans include both indoor and outdoor spaces with live music, dining overlooking the river, coffee shops, bars, an event space and a farmers market. No word yet on what local restaurants might be opening on the Rock Island Bridge. There will also be a pedestrian path connecting the Kansas levee trails system and the Greenline Trail, with ZipKC offering zip lining across the river. In addition, visitors will be able to rent kayaks, canoes, and bikes.
Kon Tiki Room, 1922 Baltimore Avenue, Kansas City, MO
Two known players in Kansas City’s local beverage scene, Chad Troutwine, co-owner of Torn Label Brewing Co. and Public House, and Chris Seferyn, owner of a former Martini Corner staple, The Velvet Dog, are coming together to open a new tiki bar and street taco concept called Kon Tiki Room. It will be located in the former Beco Flower Shop building next to the popular watering hole Up Down KC. With a Mainvest fundraising campaign underway, the Kon Tiki Room is currently under construction. The space will have Polynesian-inspired décor and serve as a welcoming late-night (open until 1:30 a.m.) spot, serving handcrafted tiki cocktails and gourmet street tacos until close. Mixing tropical drinks with Mexican tacos in a modern take on a tiki bar will fill a notable late-night gap in the Crossroads.
Hank’s Garage & Grill, 5801 Nieman Road, Shawnee, KS
There’s another new restaurant and bar pulling into downtown Shawnee. Eric Flanagan has kicked off a new Mainvest campaign to raise funds for his newest concept, Hank’s Garage and Grill, opening just north of Jay Sander’s Drastic Measures bar on Nieman Road. Flanagan is coming off two successful campaigns that partially funded both King G Bar and Deli and Jim’s Alley Bar in downtown Kansas City. Hank’s Garage & Grill will open inside a six-bay auto repair shop that will be transformed into a real neighborhood hang, serving affordable food and drinks in an approachable, communal environment. Look for a large outdoor patio dotted with picnic tables flanked by two outdoor bars crafted from shipping containers and a third main bar located within the garage. Inside there will be high-top tables and multiple TV screens to watch sports. Guests can expect a small list of classic cocktails and an extensive beer program created by managing partner Gus Cobb, who is also the general manager of King G and Jim’s Alley Bar, and Flanagan, who is a certified cicerone. With fresh draft beer on tap and budget-friendly yard beers on ice, Hank’s will feature a simple bar menu focusing on cheeseburgers made from quality ingredients.
XO, 709 West 17th Street, Kansas City, MO
When Noah Manos purchased the small, rundown garage located on the corner of 17th Street and Jefferson on the Westside, he was looking to get his hands dirty with a project of his own. As a principal in Paper Airplane, a design-build company in Denver, Colorado, he was used to working with clients to make their dreams a reality, and now he wanted to do that for himself. Friends who live in Kansas City encouraged him to start shopping around for a place here to open a 30-seat, HiFi listening bar, XO, which Manos is opening in collaboration with his business partners, Mitch Foster and Will Minter, owners of ESP, a popular vinyl listening bar in Denver that curates the music to match the energy of a space as it evolves day to day. With both indoor seating and an outdoor patio that will open later this summer, XO is made for true audiophiles—guests who come ready to settle in for a drink and some food as a wave of sound ebbs and flows throughout the space around them. In addition to the music selections, ESP will also manage the bar program at XO. Local James Beard Award nominee for outstanding chef, Johnny Leach, is consulting on the food menu, which should be nothing short of amazing. XO’s goal is to tempt and tease all your senses at once.