Five Stars for Westside Local

If I was going to start a restaurant, first and foremost, the food would have to be excellent. I would set my restaurant in a hip, funky urban area, like the Westside of Kansas City. I would include some outdoor seating—how about a beer garden! Of course service would have to be great, and the food should be sourced from local farms and rotate seasonally. I wouldn’t be snooty and would of course welcome children. Let’s add something else… a kicker… why not a garden behind the restaurant? There we go, that’s the restaurant I would open.

That’s exactly what I got at Westside Local last week. It’s my new favorite restaurant in Kansas City. In fact I just ate there again today for a work luncheon.

Prices are reasonable—you can get a $11 sandwich or $20 entrée. There are lots of fun appetizers of local cheese and meats, and a terrific beer menu.

We sat outside in the beer garden. It was no frills, but just perfect: there were grape vines growing from the pergola and mason jars filled with wildflowers and basil on each picnic table.

Since we were all about local, I enjoyed a glass of Boulevard’s Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale. It was tasty. For dinner, I had the summer quinoia with pesto, squash, toasted peppered pecans and chevre. It was very good.

I tried Justin’s lavender carrots which were divine. Luke had a hummus plate, and wanted

me to mention that he especially enjoyed the grapes. That and flirting with the little girl in the high chair at the next table over.

I thought the service was great and the setting ideal. There is nothing that could have made me enjoy this meal more than I did, which is why I am giving it a score of a perfect 5 stars.

Now… who wants to go back, like, tomorrow?