Thursday: Jackstack's BBQ

Food: Started with their spicy (but not BBQ-sauced) chicken wings and "burnt ends." Burnt ends seem to be something like crispy steak tips. Main course of Kansas City Strip. Unfortunately, three of the four of us who ate steaks were unwell on Friday morning, me worst of all. Of course, that may have had something to do with the wine, Drambuie, and cognac as well.

Wine: I brought along Vina Montes Alpha Cabernet Santa Cruz Apalta Vineyard '00 and Concha y Toro Don Melchor Cab. I expected the former to be better than the latter, and had intended on pouring the Don Melchor first. I unfortunately grabbed the wrong bottle. I was right. The Montes was much better, at about the same price point. TNs to follow.

Friday: Milano's Italian

Food: We had like 35 people, so they had arranged a set menu. Uncharacteristically, I opted for the lasagna and was pleasantly surprised. It was nicely spicy with very tasty Italian sausage. Food was decent for end-of-the-mall Italian joint.

Wine: Cascine Luisin, "Maggiur" Barbera d'Alba (Piedmont), '99 and Avignonesi, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, 1999 (Tuscany). The latter was suprisingly better than the former, so much so that we ordered another bottle. TNs to follow.

Saturday: Jackstack's BBQ

Food: Despite getting sick from there Thursday night, I was peer-pressured into going back. I had a BBQ special instead of steak, which included pork ribs, burnt ends, BBQ sausage and a beef rib that was the size of a house. Five of the seven of us ordered the special, and none of us finished it, despite best efforts. BBQ is the way to go at Jackstack's.

Wine: A single glass of a forgettable Franus Zinfandel.

Sunday: The Hereford House

Food: Cheese and fruit plate appetizer. Nice almond-covered Vermont goat cheese. Kansas City Strip steak. Much better than Jackstack's. Approaching top-end steak house quality.

Wine: The deal of the weekend. I found that Sundays are "wine special" days at Hereford House. Any bottle below $50 is half off; any bottle above is 25% off. That mitigates a moderately pricey wine list. There was a Clerc Milon '98 on the menu that I really wanted to taste, but they no longer had any. They did suprise me with Duhart-Milon '00 (not on the list) as a replacement at $50. We ordered two. My non-wino friends were most impressed, especially with the 2nd bottle, which got plenty of air time. I was also impressed that they brought us clean glasses for the 2nd bottle, even though it was the same wine. Again, TNs to follow.

I missed Hereford House the last time I was in town. Next time I'll make a point ot try it, hopefully on a Sunday night. Thanks for the note.

Just flew to KC for lunch. Ended up at Plaza III. Wonderful restaurant, have been there quite a few times and have never been disappointed.

The only problem is it was for lunch, so no vino. Working you know.

Herford House is good, but my money goes to Plaza III when I am in KC.

Starkers Reserve is another place to go in KC. Wine Spectator Grand Award Winner at least 6 out of the last 8 years. Very tasty and while some of the wine is pricey they have many good values....

the food is great as well. Lamb, filet, sea bass, coquil St. Jacque (sp) etc.

Just had my rehearsal dinner there a couple of weeks ago. Had 3 or 4 bottles of '86 Monte Bello, some '83 insignia, and some '75 BV just for the hell of it. it was a fun time.

My new brother-in-law and I ended up in the hall with the sommolier cracking bottles.


it is in the Plaza right above Restoration Hardware. Across 47th from George Brett's new sports bar.

Went toStarkers' over thankgiving trip to KC.

had the 2000 K-B Cohn Vineyard Pinot. It was outstanding.

big list... with things like a 72 La Tache for $495 and 4-5 vintages of Kistler Cab, etc. food was very good.

Went toKona Grill , also on the plaza with some non-wino friends and had a Greg norman shiraz/merlot. the server, who am i kidding... the waitress distributed the entrie bottle between out 4 glasses and was going to abscond with the bottle without even setting in on the table. Not that i wanted the bottle, but at least leave it with us in case we want to remember what not to get agian.

went toPlaza III for a glass of wine a few nights before. They bill themselves as a steak house and wine cellar. the Ravenswoon Cab that they served by the glass was horrible. I don't know how long it had been opened. i hate it when people don't take care of their by the glass selections.

Went toPierponts andThe American Restaurant .

Pierpont's is very wine friendly, especially on Sunday nights. Every Sunday wines priced below $50 are half price. Wines costing $50 or more are reduced by $25. The list is very nice with many smaller producers represented. Prices are fair. Corkage is $15. And Sundays also present the opportunity to try theSmall Plate Tasting Menu . There are 5 categories of food selections. If you choose one course from each, the price is $38. If you choose 4 courses, the price is $28. Don't be fooled by the term "Small Plate". The courses were all full-sized, and I was stuffed beyond comfort by the time by steak arrived, and ended up taking my entire dessert back to the hotel fridge for the next day's breakfast. The food ranged from good to very good, but never hit "excellent". However, given the quality and volume of the food, coupled with the nice wine list and wine-friendly atmosphere, I would recommend this without hesitation.

The next night I went to The American. Slightly dated decor, but a nice view overlooking Hallmark Plaza. Very continental menu, with nothing that screamed out Kansas City. (In other words, this is not the place to indulge yourself in the 20 oz Strip Steak.) Very large and reasonably priced wine list. Ordered a Sea Smoke Botella for $68, which was a little high, but turned out to be a bargain given the quality of the wine. We also selected a 1992 Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet for $150. It was decanted with full ceremony, coming out vertically on a cart in a wine basket and decanted over a flame. Riedel stems across the board. Food was pricey, but very good to excellent. Professional service. If you are looking for a unique Kansas City experience, this isn't the place. But if you are looking for a terrific upscale meal of creative American/French cuisine, this is definitely recommended.

Returned for another business trip. This time I triedBluestem and Starker's Reserve. Bluestem is certainly the finest restaurant in town. Perhaps the antithesis of what one might think of as a KC restaurant. Not a ribeye or strip steak in sight! We did the 7 course tasting menu with choices for $75. Nice wine list that focuses on lesser known wines (to most people), but will be familiar to most of you. By staying away from the "big names", they are able to keep prices down. The only negative about the list is its rather weak Cabernet offerings, but the menu isn't rally Cab heavy in entrees, so that is not a problem. Food was uniformly excellent, creative and artistically plated. Chef/owner was a former chef at TRU in Chicago, and the influence of that training is evident everywhere. My dining companion, who is a foodie from Chicago declared Bluestem to be better than TRU. This should be your first choice in KC unless you are compelled to find a 20 ounce steak. Even still, the tasting menu had a good-sized portion of Waygu Flat Iron steak if you can't live without red meat.

Starker's reserve was also very good. Small but diverse menu, and a 15 pound wine list that should have something for everyone. We had a lengthy talk with the chef after dinner. Nice guy (who, by the way, agrees that Bluestem is the best restaurant in town). Certainly worth a trip for a wino. Only issue here was that the stems were pretty average for a place that takes its list so seriously. Same glasses for both Pinot and Cabernet.

definitely going to head to Bluestem next time i am in town... thanks for the write up. i think i read about it in Gourmet or something...

If I go to Kansas, its all bbq for me. I can get a great steak in any major city, KC style BBQ only comes from one place...

We have been eating BBQ during business lunches, catered in from some of the big name places. I have been thoroughly unimpressed. Not bad, mind you, but your comment about being able to get a steak anywhere applies equally to BBQ Brisket or Babyback ribs. While every region cliams to be the best, in the end, there are far more similarities than differences. And your reasoning behind steaks being available everywhere is exactly why I don't go to steak houses. If I want a great steak, I will do it at home and not spend $40 (before adding the a la carte sides.)

Thanks for the recommendations, guys.  I'm headed to KC to visit a friend tomorrow and will plan on hitting up one of these.

Went to Bluestem while in KC.