Yum, another very tasty Italian restaurant. We ventured to the restaurant of Beth's choice down on the plaza. The location was perfect. Nice scenery and next to the amazing Glacé, so when a restaurant is located near there you know the night will always end well because you will have an awesome desert! I thought the atmosphere of the place was very nice, dressy casual and I enjoyed people watching.
We started off the night with an appetizer, which josh payed for (thanks Justin for starting the petition to make what was right happen). The appetizer was huge and a variety of options: calamari, humus, pita, bruschetta and goat cheese. I was not the biggest fan of the calamari, but I am a snob when it comes to calamari. I absolutely love goat cheese and the mixture of the goat cheese and bruschetta was awesome. I enjoyed a glass of malbec from Mendoza with my food, which was delicious. I decided to order the walnut chicken with Gorgonzola cheese sauce. I am a huge cheese head and Gorgonzola is one of my favorites, therefor when I saw this it was a no brainier! As I expected it was very tasty and did not disappoint. The sauce was creamy with a great flavor, a nice amount of walnuts to add a crunch ANd the chicken was tender. The portion was HUGE so was able to have leftovers the next day, which is always a plus!
My overall rating: 4.3
Welcome to our blog! We are a Kansas City family who devotes the first Thursday of each month to trying a new restaurant. Follow along as we travel the Kansas City area in search of delicious new ethnic fare, trendy eats and comfort food. We will share our interesting finds and good laughs along the way.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Where to Go?
It’s time once again
For the All-Stars to meet.
To have some good company,
And something tasty to eat.
Please bear my exercise
In rhythm and rhyme,
As I reveal the restaurant;
It’s my pick this time.
But picking for the GAS club
Is no easy charge.
This assignment is sacred,
The burden is large.
And just to top it all off,
To increase my stress,
Dinner club falls on a special day—
Sara’s and my anniversary, no less.
Should I pick a place
That could honor my wife?
The woman who brings joy
Everyday to my life.
Such warmth and kindness,
Such unnerving beauty—
A place worthy of her?
What a daunting duty!
Her deep, soulful eyes,
A smile powerless to resist—
A place worthy of her?
It couldn’t exist!
Her spirit so vibrant,
Her features so striking—
A place worthy of her?
Not a single one to my liking!
Her presence and grace,
How motherly tender—
A place worthy of her?
Impossible to render!
So thoughtful, selfless,
Creative, maternal—
A place worthy of her?
Not if my search were eternal!
How Luke brightens up,
Whenever she’s around—
A place worthy of her?
It couldn’t be found!
How thoughts of her
Constantly consume me—
A place worthy of her?
The prospect does doom me!
The glow that she radiates,
In which we are lucky to bask—
A place worthy of her?
It’s too much to ask!
An angel in the kitchen,
But a siren in the [inappropriate]—
A place worthy of her?
It’s impossible, I said!
Her touch so [inappropriate]
Her figure so [inappropriate]—
A place worthy of her?
The thought truly does vex me!
The curve of her [inappropriate]
And a gaze so [inappropriate]—
A place worthy of her?
A quest wholly unproductive!
Her humor and intellect,
Her infectious wit—
A place worthy of her?
Yeah, right – I quit!
A place worthy of her,
I knew I’d never find.
I needed a new approach
To decide where we’d dine.
I thought long and hard;
Scratched the old head.
Burger joint? Steakhouse?
Maybe vegan, instead?
How about seafood?
Or what about Lebanese?
Perhaps some café that
Serves wine and cheese?
Sushi is good,
But not everyone’s taste.
The deadline was looming,
I must pick with haste.
A chili dive joint,
All raw and gritty?
Or some posh bistro
Up in the city?
Then there’s Cajun and Creole.
Maybe the cuisine of Peru?
Even Pizza or Pakistani.
How about fondue?
Who would have thought?
So many choices, it hurts.
Maybe I could pick a place
That serves just desserts.
Where could we go for our
Tastebud celebration?
Maybe I could figure it out
By process of elimination.
Thai, Mexican – done that.
Jamaican – been there.
Even had German, Moroccan,
And Ethiopian fare.
Indian’s already been picked,
Ain’t that a pity?
And barbeque two times –
Well, this is Kansas City.
Vietnamese was quite good.
Asian fusion, too, of course.
Italian was liked so much,
We had it twice without remorse.
We’d been so many places;
Most sweet, some sour.
But what would I do with the
Responsibility of my power?
So many great restaurants;
Such hard acts to be followed.
I sat down with a beer
And thought as I swallowed:
“We have eaten all kinds
Of foreign flora and fauna.
What we needed was a bit
Of good ol’ Americana.
“Not only that,
But the places we’ve selected
Have emphasized solids,
While liquids were neglected.”
I knew just the place,
No longer disheartened.
It would be the Brewing Company
In the City of Martin.
We’d seen our friend’s band there,
This Saturday last.
Jervis Jort was their name,
And they totally kicked behind (this is a family blog).
We could have some good food,
And domestic ale treasures.
Plus a couple of imports,
Just for good measure.
So please let me know
Who will attend the occasion.
Then I can take care of
Calling in the reservation.
It’s at five hundred east
One hundred thirty-fifth street.
Right near the train tracks,
That's where we’ll eat!
Now, it’s bit of a drive,
But don’t make a stink.
A good selection of beer
Is what’s important, I think.
For the All-Stars to meet.
To have some good company,
And something tasty to eat.
Please bear my exercise
In rhythm and rhyme,
As I reveal the restaurant;
It’s my pick this time.
But picking for the GAS club
Is no easy charge.
This assignment is sacred,
The burden is large.
And just to top it all off,
To increase my stress,
Dinner club falls on a special day—
Sara’s and my anniversary, no less.
Should I pick a place
That could honor my wife?
The woman who brings joy
Everyday to my life.
Such warmth and kindness,
Such unnerving beauty—
A place worthy of her?
What a daunting duty!
Her deep, soulful eyes,
A smile powerless to resist—
A place worthy of her?
It couldn’t exist!
Her spirit so vibrant,
Her features so striking—
A place worthy of her?
Not a single one to my liking!
Her presence and grace,
How motherly tender—
A place worthy of her?
Impossible to render!
So thoughtful, selfless,
Creative, maternal—
A place worthy of her?
Not if my search were eternal!
How Luke brightens up,
Whenever she’s around—
A place worthy of her?
It couldn’t be found!
How thoughts of her
Constantly consume me—
A place worthy of her?
The prospect does doom me!
The glow that she radiates,
In which we are lucky to bask—
A place worthy of her?
It’s too much to ask!
An angel in the kitchen,
But a siren in the [inappropriate]—
A place worthy of her?
It’s impossible, I said!
Her touch so [inappropriate]
Her figure so [inappropriate]—
A place worthy of her?
The thought truly does vex me!
The curve of her [inappropriate]
And a gaze so [inappropriate]—
A place worthy of her?
A quest wholly unproductive!
Her humor and intellect,
Her infectious wit—
A place worthy of her?
Yeah, right – I quit!
A place worthy of her,
I knew I’d never find.
I needed a new approach
To decide where we’d dine.
I thought long and hard;
Scratched the old head.
Burger joint? Steakhouse?
Maybe vegan, instead?
How about seafood?
Or what about Lebanese?
Perhaps some café that
Serves wine and cheese?
Sushi is good,
But not everyone’s taste.
The deadline was looming,
I must pick with haste.
A chili dive joint,
All raw and gritty?
Or some posh bistro
Up in the city?
Then there’s Cajun and Creole.
Maybe the cuisine of Peru?
Even Pizza or Pakistani.
How about fondue?
Who would have thought?
So many choices, it hurts.
Maybe I could pick a place
That serves just desserts.
Where could we go for our
Tastebud celebration?
Maybe I could figure it out
By process of elimination.
Thai, Mexican – done that.
Jamaican – been there.
Even had German, Moroccan,
And Ethiopian fare.
Indian’s already been picked,
Ain’t that a pity?
And barbeque two times –
Well, this is Kansas City.
Vietnamese was quite good.
Asian fusion, too, of course.
Italian was liked so much,
We had it twice without remorse.
We’d been so many places;
Most sweet, some sour.
But what would I do with the
Responsibility of my power?
So many great restaurants;
Such hard acts to be followed.
I sat down with a beer
And thought as I swallowed:
“We have eaten all kinds
Of foreign flora and fauna.
What we needed was a bit
Of good ol’ Americana.
“Not only that,
But the places we’ve selected
Have emphasized solids,
While liquids were neglected.”
I knew just the place,
No longer disheartened.
It would be the Brewing Company
In the City of Martin.
We’d seen our friend’s band there,
This Saturday last.
Jervis Jort was their name,
And they totally kicked behind (this is a family blog).
We could have some good food,
And domestic ale treasures.
Plus a couple of imports,
Just for good measure.
So please let me know
Who will attend the occasion.
Then I can take care of
Calling in the reservation.
It’s at five hundred east
One hundred thirty-fifth street.
Right near the train tracks,
That's where we’ll eat!
Now, it’s bit of a drive,
But don’t make a stink.
A good selection of beer
Is what’s important, I think.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Location Location Location
This month we visited an Italian restaurant just off the Plaza. The restaurant was small and cozy, not many folks had stopped for dinner yet. We began are meal with Josh providing the appetizer, since he had not followed the rules to the letter, in August, he made up for it in September. The appetizer a whirling dervish of taste sensations, was a large plate including pesto, calamari, hummus, bruschetta, pitas and bread. It was a wonderful start to dinner. I ordered a delightful Moscato to drink with dinner...mmm, mmmm, mmm. It was delicious. I ordered the Walnut Chicken with a Gorgonzola sauce. The sauce was creamy with just the right amount of garlic. The serving size was so large, I was able to make 3 meals out of my dinner. The bread that was served with the meal was also very good. I would highly recommend this restaurant and definitely would go back again. Now to the title....location, location, location. We were only 2 blocks from Glace, which of course increases my rating for any restaurant that close, and were able to finish the night with a triple dip bowl. My rating is 4.25
This month we visited an Italian restaurant just off the Plaza. The restaurant was small and cozy, not many folks had stopped for dinner yet. We began are meal with Josh providing the appetizer, since he had not followed the rules to the letter, in August, he made up for it in September. The appetizer a whirling dervish of taste sensations, was a large plate including pesto, calamari, hummus, bruschetta, pitas and bread. It was a wonderful start to dinner. I ordered a delightful Moscato to drink with dinner...mmm, mmmm, mmm. It was delicious. I ordered the Walnut Chicken with a Gorgonzola sauce. The sauce was creamy with just the right amount of garlic. The serving size was so large, I was able to make 3 meals out of my dinner. The bread that was served with the meal was also very good. I would highly recommend this restaurant and definitely would go back again. Now to the title....location, location, location. We were only 2 blocks from Glace, which of course increases my rating for any restaurant that close, and were able to finish the night with a triple dip bowl. My rating is 4.25
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Il-Centro: Another great excuse to drink wine & eat ice cream
This little Italian restaurant captured my attention with the interesting architecture of the building and doesn't disappoint on the inside. It feels more formal than the typical pasta joint, but cozy and comfortable nonetheless. Although they have an extensive wine list, they post a small list of featured wines which helps one from feeling overwhelmed with choices. I ended up with a lovely Moscato, sweet, sparkling, delicious!
A great start to go along with the lovely combo appetizer platter Josh supplied our table with. Goat cheese and warm pita was the best! The menu had several delicious looking pizzas, but it is hard to pass up seafood ravioli. I haven't realy met a ravioli I didn't like, and this one was no exception. I liked it just fine; but it wasn't special and I was hoping for special. I got sucked in by the atmosphere and the appetizers but was disappointed in the bland pillows that didn't hint of fresh (or otherwise) seafood, just ricotta. I had to ask for fresh parmesan cheese and was sad to see glass shakers of dried parmesan sitting on our table. Il Centro didn't seem like a "Pizza Hut" joint, so the shakers seemed out of place.
All was not lost, however! Crispy eggplant parmesan ordered by Sara had such a generous serving Sarah shared with the table allowing me several heavenly bites. Ravioli forgotten, I enjoyed my appetizer, Moscato and eggplant and wouldn't mind returning to try one of the pizzas.
Final score 3.5 of 5. It doesn't hurt that Glace' is just down the street!
A great start to go along with the lovely combo appetizer platter Josh supplied our table with. Goat cheese and warm pita was the best! The menu had several delicious looking pizzas, but it is hard to pass up seafood ravioli. I haven't realy met a ravioli I didn't like, and this one was no exception. I liked it just fine; but it wasn't special and I was hoping for special. I got sucked in by the atmosphere and the appetizers but was disappointed in the bland pillows that didn't hint of fresh (or otherwise) seafood, just ricotta. I had to ask for fresh parmesan cheese and was sad to see glass shakers of dried parmesan sitting on our table. Il Centro didn't seem like a "Pizza Hut" joint, so the shakers seemed out of place.
All was not lost, however! Crispy eggplant parmesan ordered by Sara had such a generous serving Sarah shared with the table allowing me several heavenly bites. Ravioli forgotten, I enjoyed my appetizer, Moscato and eggplant and wouldn't mind returning to try one of the pizzas.
Final score 3.5 of 5. It doesn't hurt that Glace' is just down the street!
Il Centro - A little slice of Italy
Mr. Ref here and this time we dined at a real Italian restaurant and it was great. When I go eat Italian, I always order spaghetti because it is my favorite meal and this was no different. I had Veal Meatballs and it was delicious. I have never had veal meatballs before, I usually get meat sauce or regular Italian meatballs, however the veal meatballs were very good and I was glad I ordered it. I also tried some of the other dishes that were ordered and I will say the eggplant parmesan that Sara had was the best eggplant parmesan I have ever had and the chicken Walnut pasta that Erin had was also very good. I did try Mrs. Ref's seafood ravioli and did not think it was one of the better dishes that was ordered. I felt the decor was very nice and I thought the waitress did a very good job taking care of us. I would definetly recommend Il Centro to anyone that wants a nice Italian dinner. My only compliant is it is a little pricey compared to other Italian restaurants, but the food is very good. I gave it a 4.25 out of a possible 5.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Il Centro: no red-checkered tablecloths here
It's exactly what it's presented to be: a casual nice dining place. It's pricier than most dinner club restaurants (entrees in the $15-$20 range), but well worth it if you're looking for a special night out. It's small with dark wood and bright art. The waitstaff wears long black aprons and ties, so you know it's legit.
Josh started us out with a delicious appetizer sampler platter, with goat cheese, pesto, bruschetta and lots of bread. We all had wine--I had a malbec which was delicious.
The menu noted their eggplant parmigiana as a customer favorite, so I thought I'd test out just what these customers liked so much. (Usually when I order anything eggplant at a restaurant, it's delicious.) It stood up to the status. The eggplant was lightly breaded, topped with lots of cheese, and served with fettuccini with tomato sauce. There was enough for a large supper and leftovers for lunch. Il Centro is not the type of family-style Italian joint you'd see in a Martin Scorsese movie. I recommend it for a quiet, special dinner for a couple or group of four. My rating: 4/5 stars.
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