Tag Archives: Reid Jolly
Jolly: The Easter Bunny Left Me a Really Bad Egg at Seventy Seven South
My Easter Sunday brunch nightmare started on Good Friday around 9 pm…
I’d planned earlier to join about 15 friends at the new Swagger in Martin City. I knew a couple of the people that were opening this new hot spot, but then they told me they might not have a brunch available on Easter. Dang.
So I told my friends we needed a new Easter plan.
Unfortunately, by that time it was way too late to make a reservation at Nick and Jake’s, the Bristol, or anywhere halfway impressive. But hey, I wanted to try a new brunch anyway.
So I made a reservation for four at Seventy Seven South for 11:00 am.
This is where.on the the day Christ rose from the grave, my day took a turn for the worst.
Jolly: The Best Part of Lakeside Tavern is the ‘Lake’ Not the ‘Food’
Mission Farms in Leawood is something of a recluse – kinda like a mini-Park Place hidden off Mission Road among six-figure condos…
And among some of the coolest, most diverse restaurant concepts in the burbs, Lakeside Tavern at 10551 Mission Road is the latest addition to the Farms hidden next to a man made pond. Although it’s not really a lake, it is a tavern and has one of the more impressive patios in town. Tons of space and a couple of fire pits set a casual party atmosphere which fits in nicely with the view.
Let’s just say it beats the hell out of sitting on the patio at the Blue Moose on 135th and staring at your car.
Jolly: In the Pink at Prairie Village’s BRGR Burger Boutique
Burgers and beers have been a staple in KC since the dawn of time…
Or something like that. And in recent years as burger-meisters have become emboldened the competition has errupted into citywide, full scale Burger Wars. One serious contender in this ongoing struggle is BRGR.
Area diners have been chowing down at fast, casual restaurants like Smash Burger or Five Guys, dining at Nick and Jake’s for a great burger, or merely buying the ground chuck and making their own.
Enter BRGR at Corinth Square in Prairie Village.
This new badass boasts 41 different beers…in CANS. That’s right cans, as well as many on tap.
Jolly: It’s Not Delivery…it’s Spin; Michael Smith Concept Rocks
Face it, none of the really excellent food in Kansas City is delivered…
So if you want great pizza you’ll need to put down the phone, get off your ass, grab some friends and head to Spin Neapolitan Pizza. Tucked away in the ominous corporate shadow of Overland Park’s Cheesecake Factory lies the small in size but huge in flavor pizza cafe.
Spin’s the partial creation of James Beard Award-Winning Chef Michael Smith. Yes, that Michael Smith of American Restaurant and 40 Sardines fame.
Little known fact: Smith is a minority owner is the fast casual concept here in Kansas City.
Jolly: Carlo’s Copa Room, a Hidden Italian Gem in Lenexa
Carlo’s Copa Room is hidden away near the corner of 87th and Lackman in Lenexa…
That’s right, Lenexa.
This tiny Italian gem is easy to miss because it’s jammed between the Hen House Market and a nail salon. And it’s not like Lenexa, Kansas is well known for nice restaurants, let alone anything approaching fine dining. Mostly what you’ll find are pizza buffets, fast food eateries, and maybe an Applebee’s.
Lenexa does have great schools, nice parks and is a good place to live and raise rugrats, but it’s a wasteland for palate pleasing restaurants. Until, that is, in 2004 when Carlo’s family moved to this little family-based city and opened a restaurant that is UNBELIEVABLE.
Entree News: Esquina Reopens, Will No. 5 be a Winner for Locker Room & Eat at Fuzzy’s
Chef Robert Krause‘s restaurant Esquina in downtown Lawrence closed a couple weeks back…
Supposedly for a makeover and conversion from Esquina’s "Latin American" cuisine to Mediterranean or as some staffers indicated, Italian.
Loosely translated: No more more chips and salsa, a new menu and a "new interior."
Esquina reopened a few days ago, somewhat surprisingly sans a name change.
It’s still called Esquina, which technically works with its description of the new menu:
"Come experience the flavors of the Mediterranean with a Spanish flair! Esquina features a sophisticated menu
in an intimate, unique setting now with full table service and an expanded wine list."
The Italian menu talk is another matter.
Jolly: Sushi Nightclub Atmosphere = Leawood’s RA
I thought that the nightclub paired with food scene in Kansas City had all but died out…
At least in Johnson County – but apparently I was wrong. On the Wednesday I went with friends to RA Sushi it was more packed than a Frontier flight leaving KCI.
Ra is located on 11638 Ash St. in Leawood on the edge of Park Place next to Town Center Plaza. When I arrived at 6pm I was reminded what a nightmare parking is in this area. If you chose to park in one of the large garages in Park Place then get ready for a bit of a walk. Bad weather will make this more unpleasant. But if you can, try to get a spot remotely close to RA or any of the eateries there and good luck. There are just a few parking spots available and for some reason they’re all 30 minutes only.
What a brilliant idea someone had when designing this area.
Jolly: Hooters To Go, It’s Where Not to Eat!
God I love Hooters….
You know, the restaurant. And not just because of the T and A or the table service which is sometimes sub-par owing to the revolving door of semi-hot waitresses the chain is infamous for.
On a side note, I firmly believe that this restaurant chain is where many ex-strippers go after they stop being HOT, but retain some minimal customer service skills. I wouldn’t bring this up but, if you consider getting take out food there, you’ll see what I mean.
The ridiculous shorts, the scent of patchouli, the lack of actual hooters.
Jolly: On the To-Go Plan at Red Lobster in Overland Park at 95th and Metcalf
I’ve always considered Red Lobster as the Aldi or Walmart of seafood restaurants…
Poor man’s sea food. They don’t serve the expensive, palate-pleasing fish such as monk, shark, or Chilian Sea Bass like the Bristol or Capital Grille. Instead they give you standard options like salmon, tilapia, and grouper. However they do come through bigtime in quality, portion size and value. And they care, which is hard to find these days for the hard-earned dollar.
I never call in a to-go order at Red Lobster because…
1. I like to decide when I get there because the menu is so vast.
2. And I like to see the bartenders make a thousand frozen drinks while waiting on people who don’t tip and have their tabs transfered to a table. Then I thank GOD I bartend where I do.
Jolly: The Eternal Quesion; Tip on To-Go Food?
People have been getting take out food for hundreds of years, or something like that…
Whether they stabbed it, shot it, found it or called in to their favorite restaurant. Today we pick it up and drive it home, instead of hauling it home on our shoulders to the cave that we used to dine in. Thank you evolution.
Unfortunately evolution hasn’t helped with the gratuity issue.
The absolute rule is, don’t mess with anybody that handles your food or drinks.
Jolly: Take Out Pasta Wars, Carmen’s Cafe versus Garozzo’s
Carmen’s Cafe is new to Leawood on the very cool restaurant strip near Town Center Plaza…
They have a great location that’s close to shopping, movies and other restaurants that offer similar upscale cuisine. But Carmen’s does it better, way better than the shadow that may follow them from its Brookside location.
That said, they’re under an even bigger shadow, that of Garozzo’s.
Garozzo’s has four locations in KC, one in Olathe (but who the heck wants to eat there?), another in Overland Park on College and the original on 526 Harrison downtown. The fourth’s in Lee’s Summit.
Who knew if you became a successful restaurateur here you’d open locations in the two most white trash cities in the area?
