Strip Mall with a Side of Personality Disorder

Michelle was in charge of our latest outing of  the Supper Club.  She had us guessing until the last minute in choosing a new Leawood restaurant Fo Thai.   Fo Thai is located in One Nineteen Shopping Center.   This restaurant met with mixed reviews.  I don't mean some of us liked it while others didn't.  Each of us seemed to swing wildly in our reviews from "fun place" to "cheesy" because before our eyes the restaurant was transformed into a second venue.  More on that later.

First impressions when we walked in the door was how different the place looked from other establishments in Leawood.  The restaurant after all is in the strip mall.  A nice strip mall but a strip mall nonetheless.  It is almost too much as you pull the heavy doors and enter into extreme dark.  In fact, you could not really take in the decor until your eyes start to adjust.  We were taken into a lounge area to await our seating.

Kathryn savoring her Outcast

We were seated almost immediately on the second floor which overlooks the main dining room.  The main floor has a ginormous Buddha and water fall.  This is when it starts to sink in that the place feels a bit  "themey".  Almost like, Rain Forest for adults.  However, we were game for anything.  By anything, I mean cocktails.  So we started with one of their signature cocktail called Overcast.  These were delicious pear ginger vodka martini served with dry ice.  Gimmicky? Perhaps.  However, a few of us ordered a second one.

Maggie taking lighting into her own hands

We whipped out our iPhones to read the menus as the candle light wasn't cutting it in the cave like atmosphere.  We ordered the 7-Spice Crusted Crispy Calamari with sweet mango miso sauce and the Tempura Rock Shrimp with spicy “Tom Yum” aioli and their Spring Rolls.  Heavenly.  So far so good.    The entree menu offered an array of what we'd call Asian Fusion.  Although Thai appears in the name of the restaurant that isn't all they offer.

For entrees, we ordered an assortment.  The 7-Spice Crusted Salmon with bamboo rice and red curry sauce was tasty.  It was a little on the hot side for some of us but not for others.  Two of us ordered the Broiled Saikyo Miso Chilean Sea Bass with coconut sticky rice and orange miso glaze.  They were very inconsistent because one version was very tasty and other had an extremely fishy taste.  Pad Thai noodles came with fish sauce and pine nuts.  You could select your spiciness.  Prices were moderate and we did leave filled.

Throughout dinner each of us made our way back to the restrooms.  This was dangerous people.  Too dark and at least one bathroom had a step up that you soon forgot when you exited and stumbled out the door.  The bathrooms were dark and consistent with the theme of the restaurant.  A little additional lighting would be helpful because you shouldn't need a search party to find the toilet.  Thank goodness for iPhones that light the way.

Our waiter was adorable.  I won't mention which member was eyeing this charming twentysomething but it would violate the "I could be his mother" rule. . . . which only narrows it down to 5 of us.  He was friendly and attentive until the end after our table was cleared and we had to hunt him down for a final round.

Sometime around 9ish, a strange thing began to occur.  The main dining room was being cleared as patrons left.  Then before our eyes, it became a dance floor.  The restaurant we entered was transformed into a cheesy nightclub best located in the Power and Light district not Leawood.  It was actually fascinating to watch as surprised patrons avoided the dance floor while a younger crowd began to appear to fill the floor.  Perhaps this is just what the suburbs need to avoid the drive downtown.  We finished our drinks and skedaddled because the music was so loud we were shouting at each other.  Obviously, we are the target customers after 9 pm.

So, by mixed reviews, I mean each of us enjoyed part of the meal, found the decor fun yet cheesy.  Thought the conversion into a downtown nightclub bordering on schizophrenic and predicted the place might be closed before I got around to writing this review.  We hope not.  It is a fun place it just seems out of place in Leawood.  So please go experience Fo Thai and expect to enjoy your evening, eat some fun food and bring a headlamp.

NORM!!!

Holly, Janel and Susan

Season's Greetings from Supper Club Six KC.  We hope this Holy Season was everything you wished.  We commenced the Holiday Season that is otherwise known as the Season of Eating in early December.  This was our Christmas Party so we did not have a designated host.  It happened to be my birthday so that worked out well for me and one of my dearest friends was in town to help me celebrate.  This was not Susan's first time to the rodeo so to speak as she joined us in the earlier years so she knew she was in for a night of gorging on good food and wine.

We decided to have a low key evening on the Plaza to take advantage of the Lights.  We stuck with a K.C. institution --JJ's the west end of the Country Club Plaza.    Most of us have been to JJ's for wine or cocktails but only a couple of us have had dinner at JJ's.  This is surprising considering it is one of KC's most well known local restaurants.  Our evening was phenomenal starting with the service we received at the bar.  We had 7:30 reservations and met in the bar about 7:00 for cocktails.  The bartender was attentive and let us switch our tab to our table without cashing out.  I always appreciate this.    From the moment you walked in the door, you felt like a regular despite the fact we were anything but a regular.  I half expected when I walked in for everyone to yell my name like Norm on Cheers.  It really felt like everyone knew each other.

JJ's has old world charm. Spanish terra cotta tiling, stained glass, arched doorways and dimmed lighting.  Very cozy.  Almost like you stepped into a wine cellar.   We were seated on time and shared a bottle of sparkling wine and a red.  The wine list is one of the most extensive in the city.  We chose a Ben Marco Malbec which was perfect.    The table devoured the Paco Shrimp.  It was large gulf shrimp stuffed with horseradish, wrapped in bacon and deep-fried and served with a Dijon mustard and white wine sauce, garnished with roasted red bell pepper puree. The Goat Cheese and Artisan Cheese plate starter was fabulous.  Just the right amount of appetizers for each of us to have more than just a sampling.

Michelle, Maggie and Kim

For entrees we ordered  Medallion Au Poivre.  This was comprised of grilled filet medallions with a mushroom and black peppercorn cream sauce and served with roasted garlic mashed potatoes.  A few of us ordered the petite filet and our waiter suggested we order it with the sauce from the Medallion entree.  Great suggestion.   The soup of the night was a pumpkin puree which was essentially creamy deliciousness.

Petite Filet with Peppercorn sauce

Our wonderful experience at JJ's wasn't just about the food.  Our waiter was very attentive and patient.  We ended up sitting at our table for hours.  We wanted to move to the bar after we settled our bill with the waiter who was leaving but the bar was full so we stayed in the dining room as the rest of the room cleared. Our second waiter came back with left over desserts when we had declined desserts earlier.   How could we refuse?  So we split a Jude's Rum Cake and a cheesecake.  Quite tasty, totally unnecessary but greatly appreciated.  Eventually, our original waiter popped back in the restaurant and joined us at our table for a few minutes and brought over a birthday shot of whiskey.  Did I mention we felt like regulars?

We highly recommend JJ's whether it is your first visit or returning to JJ's after a some time away.   You should definitely add it to your restaurant rotations.   Great spot for special celebrations.  Don't let the never ending construction scare you.  There is plenty of parking in the lots on the West End only a block or so away.

This concludes another year of fantastic food and wine but more importantly time with great friends.  Here's to even better times in 2012!

Dirty Martinis, Ornaments and Hoarders 'tis the Season

It is that time of year again when Supper Club Six takes to the streets in a limo filled with cheer (liquid cheer) and tours the city in search of lights and hoarders.   Before I get to the annual trip to the Christmas Hoarder Extravaganza let me share our dinner experience.  

For our third holiday outing, Maggie once again planned a fun filled evening.   We chose our restaurant by consensus opting for Osteria il Centro a local favorite in Kansas City.   Il Centro is located at 51st and Main.   This was not the first visit for anyone in the group but most of us had not been to Il Centro in a long time.   We expected a wait when we arrived as the place does not take reservations and it was a Friday night.  We waited nearly an hour before we were seated. The front entry is lined in benches and chairs.  That never bodes well if you are expecting immediate seating.   The restaurant is a very warm, cozy and unpretentious  neighborhood Italian establishment.  The tightly arranged tables contribute to the comfortable ambience dominated by a huge wooden bar in the back of the restaurant where those waiting for a table congregate while enjoying their extensive wine list. 

We started the meal with a round of Dirty Martinis.   We are nothing if not predictable.  They did not disappoint but our server did.  It was a busy night but it is always busy at Il Centro on weekends.  Our waitress didn't seem very interested in serving our table so we had to call her over a few times.  She did however bring an extra martini to the table.  Maggie and I enjoyed taking advantage of her mistake and splitting the drink.  Three appetizers made their way to our table--bruschetta, shrimp carciofi and focaccia bread with olive tapenade and red pepper/gorgonzola spread.  These had mixed reviews.  The bruschetta was my favorite.   Grilled bread topped with tomato, capers and fresh basil and Parmesan.  The triangle cut focaccia bread served with the spreads had to replenished because we all enjoyed this appetizer.  The shrimp carciofi was another story.  I can't do shellfish so I didn't go down this road but I heard it was paved with frozen shrimp which had been overcooked.     It had potential but the the subpar shrimp couldn't be overcome by the flavor.   It needed fresh shrimp.   In general, the appetizers were nothing special and a tad boring.  However, we were still enjoying the atmosphere of the packed restaurant.  We had better luck with our entrees. 

We ordered an assortment from the menu.  I had the Spiedini di Pollo which consisted of chicken breasts rolled in Italian breadcrumbs and dripping with amogia sauce served with saffron risotto and vegetables.  The chicken was just the right temperature and the sauce had the perfect amount of garlic--which means it was loaded with garlic.   Maggie and Kim were happy with the chicken marsala which was served spinach and rosemary garlic mashed potatoes.   The mashed potatoes served with Kathryn's Veal Piccata were cold.  We weren't sure why hers were cold when those served with the Chicken Marsala were just right.  The waitress feigned sympathy but Kathryn still found herself eating cold potatoes.  Holly and Michelle both enjoyed the Chicken Walnut Pasta which included penne pasta drenched in a thick gorgonzola cream sauce with sliced chicken and topped with crushed walnuts.  Both thought the dish should have been paired with a side of vegetables.  I should have shared mine as I never made it to that side of my plate.   

Oh, I almost forgot the salads, wait that is because our waitress forgot to mention salads.  We were done ordering our meals and the waitress was leaving our table when one of us mentioned salads.  We thought it was strange she hadn't suggested them to us.  We ordered both the house and the caesar salads.  Very fresh and great precursor to our meal that we would have missed out on enjoying.  We also split a bottle of red wine from one of their specials.  Il Centro's prices are very reasonable so there was no credit card shock when we were evening up at the end.  

This review may sound like we were disappointed but weren't .  Taken as a whole, we really enjoyed our meal.   We had a few cocktails and an ornament exchange.  We were seated at a corner table by the window.  Other than seeing a couple city buses nearly take out Maggie's husband's car, we enjoyed the view.    The consensus was that were weren't wowed by any part of the meal but Il Centro is consistently good.  We do think they need to bring it up a notch and refresh the menu.  Perhaps, the service as well.   However, they shouldn't change it drastically.   It's like an old friend.  Comfortable, cozy and familiar.  We definitely all would return.    It is the unpretentious attitude that brings you back for more. 

Speaking of pretentiousness . . . waiting for us on the curb was our sweet ride--one of those ridiculously obnoxious Ford Explorer looking limousines.  We piled in with our Christmas cookies and flutes--champagne flutes of course.  Then we sat back and enjoyed our guided (well not so guided) tour of the lights in Kansas City.  Our normal driver parted ways with the limo company and our new driver wasn't as enamored with our festive mood and had no clue where to take us.  The whole ride seemed to pass in a blur . . . probably the champagne that someone was forcing me to drink.  Our annual tour would not be the same if we didn't stop at Hoarderville.   We crawled out of the limo and joined the other gawkers on the front lawn.  Wow, vintage creepy Christmas doesn't get old.  Unless you are their neighbor.  

It's been a great year of restaurants.   We are looking forward to next year.   Happy New Year from Supper Club Six! 

Potpie. Need we say more?

Michelle was our host for our October addition of SupperClubSix.  We were down one member as Kim had other plans.  So Michelle stole Kim's original plan in a classic revenge move and chose PotPie at 904 Westport Road.  Kim chose PotPie for her first hosting but we were thwarted by a tornado.  Michelle decided to commandeer Kim's choice and we are so glad she did.  Sorry, Kim you missed out on an excellent dinner but I bet any one of us would return with you.

I was the last of us to arrive and when I walked into the restaurant, I felt like I walked into someone's home.  Not because of the decor itself but the atmosphere it created.  Complete coziness.  We met on a chilly Thursday night and when you walked inside PotPie you were wrapped in warmth and homemade smells wafting from the open kitchen.

The restaurant itself is a rather small space which contributes to the cozy feel.  The walls are exposed brick and a bar fills half of the room.  The tables are rather close together.  We were seated in a raised area in the front window at a 4 topper with an extra chair squeezed on one end next to a 2 topper.  I was on the edge nearest to the table of two and found it distracting.  I'm not a fan of tables crammed together and that feeling of strangers sitting at your table.  Your conversations can definitely be overheard so don't mention where you hid the bodies or the family silverware.  We also noticed that only one table was large enough for a party larger than 4 so if you have a large group call ahead for reservations.

The menu is on a chalkboard on the back wall and the restaurant is dimly lit so you may need your glasses to read the sign.  I was surprised there were only two types of potpies--the beef & mushroom and the chicken.  Although, there were a surprising number of other choices and sides, we all opted to have a potpie as our complete meal. Between the five of us, we ordered both versions.   A little research on the restaurant uncovered the fact that the owners did not originally have potpies on the menu despite  the moniker.  They just thought the name was cozy and liked the feeling it conjured in their minds.  However, patrons arrived expecting potpies and the owners relented to their demands to add them to the menu.  The results are superb.

These are definitely not your frozen Swanson potpies that you pop in the oven on Friday evenings while you deep condition your hair and watch back to back movies on Lifetime while guzzling a bottle of wine.  No these potpies are delectable and very rich. The pot pies arrived steaming with flaky puff pastry crusts toppling over the edge of the ceramic pie bowls.  Be careful, or you may burn the roof of your mouth or worse your tongue so you can't taste the absolute delicious warm comfort in you mouth.  Both versions were stuffed with piping hot meat and veggies in a subtle hearty sauce.

The wine list had a decent selection and most of the prices were reasonable.  It was served in a small tumbler as opposed to a wine glass.  That also gave it a homey feel.  We were served a basket of bread with butter while we waited a bit for our pies.  They were well worth the wait.  They were large enough for two people to share but of course we didn't and won't when we return either.   We need to go back in the dead of winter when we are needing some warmth.  Maggie had a definite case of the warm fuzzies as she kept saying how warm and cozy the place felt.  All she needed was a pillow and a blanket and I swear she would have curled up on the floor.

We all highly recommend heading to PotPie if you have not already been to this local spot.    This is one I need to remember when I have family or friends in town.

Excuse me? There is a man in my bathroom.

SupperClubSix a.k.a. MacNCheeseSix is on a roll.  Or rather a hamburger bun.  Back to back burger joints and both awesome additions to your restaurant rotations.

It was Kim's turn as host and she chose a new Prairie Village spot.  BRGR Kitchen + Bar in Corinth Square at Mission and 83rd street.  It was hopping.  When you walk up you are greeted with a great outdoor patio with a fire place and garage-type doors opening to the bar area inside. ​The main dining room is comprised of shiny concrete floors, wood tables, warm brick walls and metal accents.  We ran into a group of friends partaking in some drinks on the patio.   It was a bit chilly outside last night so I'm sure we found more room then we would have found if the sun was shining.   It actually feels more like a casual wine bar than a burger restaurant.

The place is a lively neighborhood hang out.  Both happy hour and family friendly. All ages are represented from local retirees enjoying a night out to babies snoozing in strollers.  Oh, and you can find a couple four legged friends curled up on the patio, too. We started at the bar (of course). Beer galore.  Cheap to expensive.  By cheap I mean Old Style, PBR.  Classic beer.  The majority of us settled on Blue Moon.  The Dirty Martini's were quite Dirty.

Despite hearing that the wait for a table could be upwards to 90 minutes, we were seated after about 25 minutes.  We ordered our signature appetizer:  Mac n Cheese.  The menu includes a build your own so we opted for adding some garlic and bacon to our version.  Tasty but not a contender for our top Mac n Cheese in KC.  We will continue on our quest. We are M&C snobs.  Despite this, we did practically lick the bowl clean.

The menu is enormous. Almost overwhelming but it encourages repeat visits to try all the different types of burgers and other comfort entrees.  The prices are very moderate.   You can hold on to some of your cash while you enjoy some American classics.  In fact, the restaurant seems to take classic American fare and reinvents it in a funky humorous way.

We all ordered burgers:  Jucy Lucy, The Pittsburger, Mangia, BRGR classic and Philly.  We also ordered the trio of fries which included truffle fries, sweet potato fries and onion straws.  The truffle fries were seasoned with cilantro which is a weird accent that worked.  Burgers were solid. Cooked to order and several options. The Pittsburger was absolutely decadent topped with slaw and fries. Too much to finish.  The condiments are home made and the ketchup was very unique. We had a minor ketchup landslide when Michelle poured some on her plate. It is definitely not thick like Heinz.  The ketchup is no doubt controversial.  People definitely have their opinions about this popular condiment.   The water was a chilled bottle of tap water for the table  served with tiny glasses. Quaint but I guzzle water and we had to constantly ask for more water.

Surprise of the evening?  Walkng into the bathroom and finding a man at the sink.  Oh, wait.  It is a communal unisex bathroom à la Ally McBeal. You share sinks but the individual stalls have gender assignments.  Not sure how we feel about this.  Why should men see how we reapply our faces when we escape to the lou?

We weren't necessarily wowed by the food. It was more that we were impressed with the whole package:  great location, wonderful addition to PV, the space is fun and cozy, and the food hits the spot.  I think we will all be back and I envision some happy hours lounging on the patio.   We highly recommend you check out BRGR.

Mac n Cheese Six

The March edition of SupperClubSix prompted a new moniker for the group or at least a nickname.  Holly had us all guessing about her selection.  Typically, one or two of us guess the location when given enough hints.  (I frankly never get it.)  She peppered us with hints:  casual, Crossroads district, new establishment and finally the name included the term some gay men use to refer to each other.  Still nothing.  However, we had some creative guesses.   Have you guessed it?


Hamburger Mary's!  Eat, drink and be . . . MARY!  Holly definitely stumped us.  Hamburger Mary's is a chain hamburger joint that is decidedly gay and flamboyant including the toxic purple colored building on Southwest Boulevard.  Although, the chain is definitely geared towards a GLBT crowd, it's straight friendly as well with an assorted mix of patrons.  The decor is tongue and cheek over the top funky filled with every gay cliche from Cher on the video TV monitors to flamboyantly dressed wait staff.  Fun and playful. 

(However, for six straight teetering on the cusp of "extremely  pre middle age/ post hipster age" the music was a bit loud because we couldn't hear each other speak.)

We first scoured the menu for our signature appetizer--Mac n Cheese.  To our delight we found, Deep Fat Fried Mac n Cheese.  It sounded like such a good idea when we ordered it.  Unfortunately, it didn't live up to our expectations.  The fried batter was essentially the only flavor you taste which is fine when you are frying cauliflower but we wanted to taste some Mac n Cheese.    Now that we are such Mac n Cheese connoisseurs with discriminating taste,  we've dubbed ourselves Mac n Cheese Six.  

The burgers were juicy bits of heaven.  Several different types to order with names like Big Johnson, Rock Star (gouda cheese, roasted garlic, caramelized onions), Proud Mary, Queen Mary and a Peppermint Patty Melt.  Succulent.  Don't come here for the vegetarian fare.  However, it was Lent and our lone (practicing) Catholic did enjoy a black bean burger.  

Have I mentioned "The Dirty Mary"?  Oh, yeah.  I had one.  Maggie had two.  Sorry, had to "out" you, Mags!   The Dirty Mary is "Skyy Vodka and olive juice, shaken like a bad girl".  The rest of the table ordered a Carrie Bradshaw ("Aka:  Sex and the Tini" which includes Clementine vodka, peach schnapps, raspberry liqueur, pineapple and cranberry) and a Bucklers.  How was that Bucklers, Kim?

We had high hopes for dessert.  Fried Twinkies and Snickers but it soon became evidently clear we would have several medical emergencies if we consumed any more food.  One of us may have unbuttoned her jeans at the table.  The rest of us made it to the car.  Seriously, we went from starving to engorged in 15 minutes. 

Our service was okay, the atmosphere is fun and there is an upper deck that we all hope to enjoy this summer.   We will return with stretchy pants.  

Our bill arrived in a gold lame 6 inch heel.  We happily paid our bill and waddled out to our cars leaving the Marys to whoop it up late into the evening while we all made it home in time for 10 o'clock news.

Mother Nature Isn't Welcome

For the second time in our short history, our plans were waylaid by Mother Nature.  I love Winter as much as the next Nebraska native but this winter has pretty much made me wax nostalgic about those long hot muggy torturous days in the dead of August when you sweat in places you shouldn't mention in a PG blog just walking from your office to your car.  Icy rain/snow/sludge mixture convinced us not to head north for our late January convention of The SupperClubSix KC so as the host I had to choose Plan B.  I   played it safe with Carmen's Cafe located only a few blocks from my house in Brookside.  We met at my house for pre dinner wine and commiserated about the lousy weather.  One member shared some jaw dropping happy news causing us to refill our glasses while we pummeled her with questions:  how?  where?  when?  really?  seriously?  (More on this development on a later blog but we may become Supper Club Six Plus One.)


By the time we left for Carmen's, Mother Nature let loose with a flurry of white flakes making the walk from our cars less than ideal.  Luckily, we were seated immediately.  Carmen's bar area is usually quite cramped.  We were seated at the first table in the dining room and it was dark.  By dark I mean, we couldn't read our menus.  I don't remember it being this dark and I've dined at Carmen's (or catered Carmen's for bookclub in an attempt to pass it off as my own) numerous times.  Luckily, I always travel with a book light in my purse.  People may mock me (okay they do mock me and did mock me at dinner) but it has saved me on numerous occasions.  There weren't enough candles to go around the table and I feared lighting the tablecloth on fire so we shared my book light.   We also had a pen light our waitress gave us after we pointed out that we still weren't ready to order because we couldn't read.

We have yet to order six different entrees.  We cluster order.   A couple of us had the Chicken Spidini Jacqueline--chunks of chicken breast marinated, breaded, charbroiled and served over angle hair pasta with crushed tomatoes, olive oil, garlic and fresh basil.  One member ordered the Tortellini Andres -- donut shaped pasta, stuffed with prosciutto ham and chicken served in Alfredo sauce with mushrooms and peas.  A few opted for Judy's Rigatoni which is pasta served in a Vodka tomato cream sauce with mushrooms, peas and prosciutto ham.   All in all the food was delicious.  I've always experienced consistently excellent food at Carmen's.  Our service left a bit to be desired.  There didn't seem to be much concern about the lighting and she was pushing the wine.  For once, we were resisting.

Reverse Happy Hour? We Are All In.

Intimate Dining for 6 Please

First, I'm dreadfully behind on blogging so this post will be devoid of all the details I would have remembered and Room 39 changes its menu on a weekly basis. However, trust me when I say, we all loved our dining experience and left quite happy.

Room 39 is located on 39th Street. Kathryn was our host for the evening and she chose this hip yet cozy restaurant for our June outing. The space has an unassuming store front. Inside you are greeted with a very quaint European cafe setting that could easily come across as pretentious but maintains its warm inviting charm.

As luck would have it, we were seated at a round table. No one was isolated at the corner of the table struggling to hear the conversation and when we get together you don't want to miss anything. Round tables are the way to go. The food was delicious and imaginative served with an artistic flair. However, it was the service that impressed us the most. Our waiter was extremely knowledgeable about what he was serving both as it related to the menu and the wine list. This became even more impressive when we realized the frequency in which the menu changes. He seemed very interested in the food and it translated into genuine interaction with us that was helpful and in no way intrusive.

We recommend adding this one to your rotation. Oh, and we started the evening with wine and cheese at Kathryn's house. We came to the conclusion that we tend to over do it and it becomes the predinner dinner. Thus, we are now only serving cocktails.

Just Roll Me Out on a Stretcher Please

Kim was our host for the latest gathering. It was a Friday evening in April and we gathered at her house for our predinner drinks. If you recall, the last time Kim hosted we had to divert our plans to sit out a tornado warning. Fortunately, the weather cooperated this go around so we were able to catch up and hang with Kim's ginourmous cats before heading to the restaurant.

Kim chose a Kansas City comfort food institution: Stroud's. Their newest location is off of Shawnee Mission Parkway and just minutes from Kim's house.

We were anticipating a long wait which is typical of the original Stroud's locations where you can expect an hour long wait. Immediate seating was available but we opted for a cocktail in the bar before being seated. The Royals were playing that night and the staff thought this explained why it was a slow evening. I hope so.

As expected the service was great and food was exceptional. The meals are served family-style. We ordered up a bowl of real mashed potatoes, thick cream gravy, green beans, cottage fried potatoes, chicken fried steak and of course, pan fried chicken. Oh, and dinner was topped off with warm from the oven cinnamon rolls. We were crammed around a corner booth. When our meal was served, there was barely room for our drinks on the table. However, given our priorities we found the space.

The fried chicken and chicken fried steak are crusty not bready. The mashed potatoes are pure buttery dense potatoes. We did notice the spuds could use a dose of salt but with the shaker handy everyone could salt to their own satisfaction. The bacon infused green beans are soft and mushy so if you like your beans al dente they aren't for you. You cannot go wrong with Stroud's but you must leave your calorie counter in the car. This isn't for the "no carb" crowd nor would we recommend following dinner with a night of dancing. You must go directly to the nearest couch.

Frankly, the too delectable to stop inhaling food was so heavy and coma inducing that we all agreed that it simply cannot be on your weekly (or monthly) rotation. Save it for special occasions and out of town guests or start training for a marathon. We left stuffed and miserable but in a good way.

Comfort Food with a little Zest

Last night SupperClubSix had full attendance for our seventh restaurant selection.  Holly was the host of the evening, treating us to a spread of cheese and wine at her home before we made our 7:00 p.m. reservations.  The last time we were all together was the infamous Limo and Lights night, so we had some catching up to do and a few of us had a doozy of a week.  Some more "doozier" than others.  Wine and good friends tend to ease the angst of the work week so we were sure to have generous helpings of both. 

Holly chose well once again.  She is 2 for 2.  I think I'm .5 for 2.  If that.  Zest is a new Leawood restaurant in Mission Farms (Mission Road and 106th) that serves comfort food with a bit of zest.  The menu is full of family favorites but all with a bit of a twist and upscale presentation. It is like Mom made the meal after she took a few classes in how to jazz up your favorites.  The owners are Mike Shreiber and Jo DiGiovanni--the original owner of the recently closed Joe D's in Brookside. 

Maggie was waiting for us at the bar and the place was bustling.  This is heartwarming to see given the sad state of our current economy and when each week brings the news of another local restaurant closing its doors.  At least two of the last six restaurants we have reviewed are no longer in business with rumors swirling that at least one other is struggling to stay open.  By the crowd in Zest last night, finding customers is not an issue for them right now.  The decor is trendy yet comfortable with both booths and tables.  We all liked the striped dining room chairs.  Maggie attested to the fact that the bar stools were quite cozy and there are even small nooks on each side of the front entrance for a private lounge--or as private as sheer curtains can provide. 

We were seated immediately in the dining room and ordered a round of martinis from the cocktail list.  Our waitress was gracious and agreed to snap several pictures of us.   For appetizers, we split an order of creole fried calamari and truffle gouda mac and cheese from the Pasta portion of the menu.  We all wanted to try the mac and cheese but not order it for our main course.  Perfect compromise.  We would recommend both choices and we devoured them. This isn't the first time we have split mac and cheese for an appetizer.  A couple of us preferred the mac and cheese served at the Delaware Cafe which sadly just closed.

Four of us ordered the meatloaf which consisted of a combination of ground sirloin, veal and pork served with wild mushroom gravy and goat cheese mashed potatoes.  Excellent--but some of us thought it should have been served a tad warmeer.  I still managed to plow through half of mine and ask for a doggie bag and I'm not a doggie bag type of gal.  (By the way, it tasted great cold when I sampled a bite this morning.)  Kathryn ordered the porter-braised pork shank which she enjoyed.  The meat appeared to just slide off the bone.   Maggie ordered the Cordon Bleu Chicken pasta which I believe was a special but really should be on the regular menu.  Our service for the most part was fine and friendly but there were a couple of requests that had to be asked twice. 

Kathryn selected a bottle of Pinot Noir Au Bon Climate '07 which Maggie and I were more than happy to share with her.  The wine list is extensive not to mention the wine rack that separates the dining area from the bar.

The table split an order of bread pudding with vanilla Bourbon sauce for dessert.  It was like a cinnamon roll smothered in sauce.  Outstanding but we were all miserably full after we finished it.  Maggie ordered the "Babysitter Chocolates" which the menu suggests to bring take home because good babysitters are hard to find.  She bought them for her husband Todd.  

Zest definitely received a resounding thumbs up from the group and many of us plan to return. It was not lost on us that comfort food might be exactly what the folks of Kansas City are looking for right now. 

What's Old is New Again

The Supper Club Six made it through a full rotation of restaurants  and it was time for me to make my second selection.   If you recall, I hosted the inaugural Supper Club Six.  Fear, anxiety and dread fell upon me as I scoured the Internet looking for possibilities.   I wanted to avoid another Vinino's disaster.  Do I go new?  Do I go old?  Finally, I settled on the Delaware Cafe.   Although this River Market restaurant has been around for years, this Spring it began serving dinner under the hands of a new young chef. 

The space is very urban with the exposed brick and high ceilings.  We were seated in the side dining room but I would have preferred to sit in the main room with the bar as that really had a more lively atmosphere.   We were down one as Kim was in Wisconsin for the weekend.  True to our M.O. we ordered up some drinks first and the martini's were a hit.  The wine flowed as well.  Our waiter had the unfortunate problem of constantly running into the screen door collapsed against the wall behind our table.   He seemed genuinely shocked ever time he ran into it.  He was attentive and friendly even supplying Kathryn with a smoke on the patio when she correctly took him for a smoker.  

The table shared a Mac N Cheese appetizer.  We may have ordered a second one I can't recall but it was a divine combination of  fusilli, fontina, white truffle, and bread crumbs.  As you can see from the picture, Kathryn made sure she got her fair share by licking the bowl.  A couple of us ordered the cider brined chicken breast and a couple had the scallops.   Although the group had mixed opinions (don't we always?), in general we found it a fine meal.   No rave reviews but no real complaints.  I would go back but would definitely sit in the bar area.   

The evening was fun.  The conversation . . . well, risque--right Maggie?  Although we did not get our meal for free this time (the only redeeming part of my first selection),  we had a pleasant meal and it is nice to have another option for dinner in the River Market.   --JMF

 

Shoo gnat shoo . . .shoes?

For our sixth meeting of the Supper Club Six, our host Michelle chose a place with a unique concept.  You can try on shoes while you are waiting for your table.  A new open air center with shops, a spa and restaurants opened in Leawood at 119th and Roe called simply One Nineteen.  Soho 119 is a clothing store designed to resemble an art gallery with high end (pricey) designer duds.  The space uses screens hung from the ceilings to divide the open floor plan.  In the back of the store, there is a gourmet restaurant separated from the store by a glass paned wall. 

 

After meeting at Michelle's for wine and cheese, we headed to One Nineteen for our 8:00 p.m. reservations.  Upon entering the store, the women's clothing is on the left and the men's area is to the right.  We made our way to the back of the gallery/store--stopping to check out the displays on the way--and were immediately seated.   A few other diners were seated in the rather small space.  The service was excellent and our waiter was very attentive.  In fact, there appeared to be more servers than customers.    Staying true to our priorities, we began by ordering cocktails from the martini menu.  Our drinks were quickly served and received a thumbs up all around the table.  The vodka dirty martini hit the spot.  For our appetizer, we ordered a platter of antipasto.  Let me remind everyone, this was our second round of appetizers of the evening having consumed about 10 pounds of cheese at Michelle's--but we still devoured the platter without complaint.  

Lamb chops with polenta and a pistachio encrusted chicken were among the specials.  There was a consensus on the chicken which both Maggie and Michelle enjoyed.   Opinions were mixed with regard to the lamb chop and lobster avocado panini.  Two of us really liked the lamb chop and panini we ordered while two others were not as impressed with their entrees--finding the lamb too fatty and the panini bread to hard.   All in all, the food was fine but the prices seemed steep for the portions.  The smaller portions are fine, even encouraged, but the price should also reflect the amount of food on the plate.

Our group did agree that the concept and location are unique (odd actually).  Two things I do not expect to find when I dine are gnats and shoes.  Shoes I can handle but when gnats crash your dinner party the table becomes a bit crowded.  Our waiter apologized several times for the gnats swarming around our food.  I'm not sure what caused the gnats--though we had fun coming up with possible theories.  It gave dinner kind of a picnic feeling and not in a good way.  

We wandered around the store when we were leaving to the chagrin of the wait staff I'm sure.  We were the last people to leave the store and they quickly locked the door behind us.  No one can argue that the clothing and shoes were not beautiful.  If you are in the market for a $625 pair of shoes or a $400 shirt, this store is for you. However, it felt more like a place to go admire clothing for its aesthetic value rather than to purchase anything in the store.  We left wondering whether the target customers even exist in Johnson County--especially given the state of our economy at the moment.  --Janel

Supper Club Six Plus One--Blue Grotto

Maggie was our host in June and graciously chose a restaurant closer to the majority of us -- right near my house!  The Blue Grotto in Brookside opened in May.  It boasts the longest Bar--I've now bellied up to that bar two or three times.  My friend Susan, in town from Lincoln, joined us bringing our Supper Club to seven for the evening. 

We met early for drinks at the bar and Maggie grabbed the tab--I should have ordered more!!  

First, let me describe the location.  The space used to be a sock store.   I probably walked past the store front a hundred times without noticing it but now there is a trendy storefront that catches your eye.  When you walk in,  you step into a very urban and hip bar that you would expect to find in the Power and Light District but not in Brookside.  It definitely fills a need.  On the wall behind the bar are extremely original and tall wine racks.  The bar leads into a dining area in the back with the brick pizza oven in the center of the restaurant and stairs leading to more seating in a loft area.  We sat upstairs. 

The one downside is that it was extremely hot upstairs.  We were getting all the heat off of the oven.  Baby don't like being in a corner but Baby don't like being hot even worse--so I was a tad uncomfortable.   I've gone back and I avoid sitting above the oven.  I'm not sure if they have corrected this issue yet.  

The antipasto platter was superb.   In order to get a sampling of many things on the menu, we ordered three or four pizzas, a couple salads and appetizers.  A couple of the Six thought the pizza was okay but were not wowed by any means.   The pizza is simple and fairly priced.   I tend to have a lower expectations given I'm not a huge pizza fan but I've gone back a couple times and definitely will continue to go.  I enjoy meeting there for drinks and it is a great alternative to other places in Brookside.   Janel

 

Dorothy, We are still in Kansas and its May

Best laid plans of mice and men often go awry . . . and so do dinner plans.  Kim was our host in May and I don't even remember her original restaurant pick but it was located in Westport--we will get back there some other time.  Instead, our plans were swept away when tornado season officially descended upon Kansas City.  We all met at Kim's house for cocktails and appetizers.  Amid all our catching up, we heard over our chatter that certain wail that is all too familiar in the Midwest in Spring--sirens.  We dashed to the windows to take in the greenish pall that had settled over the street.  

So like any safety conscious Midwesterners, we freshened our drinks, turned on the local news coverage, and Kim assigned us all a candle to snuff should we have to make a mad dash for the basement.  Unfortunately, the storm was scheduled to descend upon Kim's neighborhood about the time we would be in our cars headed to the restaurant so she canceled our reservations. We survived the storm and headed to Cactus Grill a block away and had an awesome meal despite it being our last minute choice. 

Great magueritas, fast service (we were pretty much the only people in the restaurant) and Mexican food--what more can you ask for during a tornado.  Janel

Grilled Cheese Heaven--Sometime in March

The Spitfire Grill was the third convention of our Supper Club Six.  Another stellar choice.   Kathryn was the host this evening and went with comfort food in a bistro setting.  The menu is very simple and most of us ordered the specialty--grilled cheese sandwiches.  

The Ultimate Grilled Cheese sandwich was grilled on sourdough bread and several cheeses including a cream cheese and a tomato.  There were several twists on the standard grilled cheese sandwich--including choices of chicken, asparagus or prime rib.  Heavenly--and a very moderate price.  One member (who shall remain nameless) was rhapsodizing over how delicious her prime rib grilled cheese sandwich was and mid bite remembered it was Lent . . . and it was Friday . . . and she's Catholic.   Fortunately or unfortunately, she only had a few bites left.  

The Soup of the Day was creamy squash delight that we all devoured.  Janel