Marco....

Polo... Oh I Crack myself up. Well lets chat a minute about this little Italian Resturaunt/Market/Cafe. I came in not knowing what to expect and for the first time I wasnt the first one here. As we waited for my slow mother and Brother to finally arrive we went to the other side of the restuauant which is owned by the same people but I guess the classier more expensive side and also where you have to go to buy alcohol. Well I ordered a beer and Grandpa paid for it (Prob because I am his favorite) and I cannot remember the name of the beer but it was an italian beer and tasted like a very good amber. As per usual Justin had to buy the App of Shame which going forward will be known as the Justin of Shame. So Justin bought Toasted ravilois and meatballs (thats a good meatball) as his Justin of Shame and I must admit I liked both a lot, I thought that the Toasted Ravs were some of the best I had ever eaten. As for my dinner I must admit I enjoyed it pretty well, I got the oyster linguine, it had an oyster sauce on it which i think i would have liked it more with an alfredo sauce it was still quite good. I also had the tuscan bean soup which was far better than the soup everyone else got. I finished off with a tastey canoli (sp) and I must admit I always buy these when i get a dessert at an Italian resturaunt, yet I am not really a fan, I mean they are ok, but nothing special. Overall I thought it was good food at a good price. Nothing really stood out as a wow factor but it was still very satisfying. I give it 3.6 out of 5.

Standard Italian Fare/Marco Polo

To get an above average score on the Mrs. Ref 5 star dining review, I have to be surprised (in a good way) someplace along the line.  It can be the taste of the food, the neighborhood, the art, the ambiance....You get the picture.  Marco Polo didn't surprise me, so the rating is just average.  But don't let that dissuade you from trying this very casual Italian restaurant.  It's another "find" that Mr. Ref and I are sure to visit again.  If I lived in the neighborhood, I'm sure we would place it in our regular rotation of weekday dinner fare! 
There is really no ambiance to speak of at Marco Polo unless you count the adjoining bar which can be reached through a pass-through into Jaspers--it's worth a visit just to see the cardboard cut-out of the chef, Jasper Mirable.  Chef Mirable graced the bar with a cameo appearance right next to the cut-out when I stepped over to check the wine list.  Just like a sighting of a Hollywood Star, Chef Mirable is quite a celebrity in KC foodie circles!  Well, at least in the GAS CLUB circle.
It's all self serve here--step up to the cash register, browse the menu above the deli case, recite your order and wait for your number to be called. While you are waiting, grab your silverware and fill your water glass.  I ordered the special which was delightful cheese ravioli boiled to a perfect al dente and drenched in a slightly sweet, super delicious meat sauce.  Accompanied by a bowl of soup (too greasy for my taste) and lettuce salad (nice Italian dressing over crisp iceberg lettuce), it was quite a bargain at $8.00.  I learned my lesson with all that food, but I wasn't content until I tried dessert.  Still--I'm not likely to order the special again unless I stop by after running a marathon. The menu at Marco Polo's begs a return visit in the not-too-distant future.  I can't wait to further check it out--pizza, salads, hearty sandwiches and pasta!   Rating 3 out of 5.

A Little Taste of Italy, Marco Polo's

Mr. Ref here and this month was my pick and I picked Marco Polo's which is Italian.  I wanted a more authentic Italian restaurant.  Marco Polo's is run by Jasper's which is a long standing Italian restaurant in the Kansas City area and has a great reputation.

I had the normal item I get the first time I visit a new Italian restaurant, spaghetti with meatballs or meat sauce.  The sauce was a little sweet, but not too sweet and the meatballs were very good.  Pasta is pasta, so the spaghetti was also good.  My meal also came with bread and the bread was also very good.  Mrs. Ref ordered the Tiramisu and it was also very good, some of the best I have ever had.  The menu is vast and offers pizza, subs, panino, soups, salads and a variety of traditional Italian dishes, like spaghetti lasagna, ravioli, etc.  The decor was just as I thought it would be, Marco Polo's is an Italian market as well as a small casual restaurant.  It reminded me of a time when I was in Newark, New Jersey and dined at several little mom & papa Italian joints, that had excellent food, very good portions and very reasonable priced.  Marco Polo's was just that and did not disappoint me.  I really enjoyed my spaghetti with meatballs and would highly recommend Marco Polo's.  I gave Marco Polo's a 3.75 out of 5 stars.

BRGR

We made our way to BRGR on a beautiful night. When we first arrived to the restaurant  we had a wait. Outside there was a beautiful fire place with a very cozy area to sit. When we walked in I enjoyed the atmosphere, which had the feel of a bar and diner. To get started Justin owed the appetizer of shame (again!) so we ordered sweet potato fries, pub pretzel, onion rings and chips. The sweet potato fries were amazing! Crunchy, yet soft on the inside as well, my favorite! The pub pretzel.... GREAT! I think it was one of my favorite pretzels ever, for dimmer I ordered a wedge salad and the red white and blue burger with a turkey burger rather than a regular burger,  on the burger there was cheese, onion straws, BBQ sauce and bacon. The salad was awesome! The dressing was so fresh and it was the perfect size. I really enjoyed my burger, I thought it had a lot of flavor and was very juicy, but not greasy. I enjoyed a cider, one I had not ever had with my meal. For desert josh and I split a marshmallow peanut butter milkshake,  I was a little skeptical because I HATE marshmallow, however it was like a party in your mouth! It was so delicious, creamy and so 
flavorful! I employed BRGR, I felt the service was poor, but I enjoyed the atmosphere and food.  I 
would give BRGR a 4.1 out of 5