Lit and Ready to Eat

Last Friday was my turn to host our Supper Club.  I decided to stick close to home and chose the new gastropub Gram & Dun on the Plaza. Gram & Dun is part of the trio of restaurants owned by the Bread & Butter Concepts.  BRGR and Urban Table are the other two restaurants.  Supper Club Six visited BRGR last year.  Interesting to note the name Gram & Dun is derived from the owners wives' maiden names.  They must love their mother-in-laws.  After meeting at my place for wine, we headed to the Plaza for our 8 pm reservations.  When we arrived, they were not quite ready to seat us.  No biggie.  We headed to the bar.  The host assured us she could find us despite not handing us any contraption to buzz us to attention.  The place was hopping.

The bar area was packed with fellow patrons waiting to be seated.  We nudged (elbowed) our way to the bar and ordered a round of drinks.  Maggie and I stuck with our standard Dirty Martinis.  They did not disappoint.  Joan--who was in town and making her second guest appearance at Supper Club--ordered a D Cup.   This was by far the most popular choice copied by other members throughout the evening. It was a combination of Kettle One Citron Vodka, St. Germain, lemon and lime juice and simple syrup.  The space in general was very nice.  Although self-described as a Gastropub, it isn't very "pub like".  The decor is almost like a mountain sky lodge.  Exposed wood and leather lend to an upscale feel.  Definitely a different vibe than Baja 600.  Cozy elegant.

Wild Boar and Bison Meatballs

We proceeded to chat away and away and away.  The bar started to clear out and we were ordering a second round.  Something was wrong with this picture.  Around 8:40, I went to see if they forgot us and was assured we would be seated soon.  8:40 became 9 and then finally our host found us.  To be fair, we added a party when we arrived but an hour wait when you had reservations seemed excessive.   We weren't expecting to have two rounds of drinks before we were seated.  When our host finally seated us in a table, we were lit and ready to eat.

Now on to the menu.  Unique is the only way to describe it.  The cocktail, wine and beer list are very extensive.  Our server was delightful and knew her way around the menu.  She answered all our questions and made recommendations.  We ordered an insane amount of appetizers.  Lightly battered peppers--Kathryn ate all of these.  Wild Boar and Bison meatballs, Joan and I inhaled these.  The meatballs were delicious and the sauce very subtle.  We actually did share the first order with the table and then Joan ordered a second round.  We slapped the hands of anyone that tried to have a bite.  We also ordered the potato chips with the unique ketchup trio--a vanilla bean, avocado and blood orange habanero.  Very tasty.   The French Onion Dumplings were excellent combination of Gruyère, sweet onion broth & brioche crouton.

Chicken and Waffles

Kim ordered the short rib grilled cheese.  Although she expected a more interesting variety of cheese (and more of it), she thought it was tasty.  Michelle ordered the mushroom ravioli and I believe licked her plate clean.  She also enjoyed the D Cup Martini but may have instead ordered a Double D.  Holly had the scallops which were served with blackened cauliflower and covered in a Bourbon cherry butter sauce. She said the cauliflower may have been undercooked but I believe most of the vegetables were served more on the crispy side.  I enjoyed the double pork chops.  Very moist.  Perfect temperature and served with brussel sprouts which I've come to love in the last 5 years or so.  I have to admit I did not do my meal justice because I was over served appetizers.  Maggie took home my leftovers.  Joan enjoyed the fried goat cheese and avocado salad.  Kathryn ordered the shrimp and grits with an jalapeno avocado sauce.  Very different dish.  A bit salty so the verdict was so so.  Maggie ordered the dish I wish I had but didn't.  The chicken and waffles.  Cute little round waffles with lightly battered chicken--without the bone.  There was a concern by some the chicken would still be on the bone.  The combination of waffles, chicken and syrup was divine.  I'm so ordering that the next time I go.

Despite being completely stuffed, we ordered a Gram & Dun Bar for the table.  It was a delectable chocolate mousse, peanut nougat, ganache,  and salted caramel bar topped with peanut butter ice cream.  Their version of the snickers bar.

We really enjoyed our experience at Gram & Dun despite the long wait.  Our server more than made up for it in her extensive knowledge of the menu and her genuine engagement with us.  It is nice to see an establishment with a fresh concept on the Plaza.  This location is prime real-estate and I always thought this was the best patio on the Plaza.  We definitely recommend that you try Gram & Dun.

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!

Schnitzel with a Side of Gulasch

It was my turn to host this rotation of Supper Club Six.  I wanted to choose a type of restaurant that we had not yet reviewed so I went to my roots.   My German roots.  Besides an occasional Brat, none of us indulge in German food so it was a new experience for all of us.  When you think of German or Austrian food, you probably don't envision a fine dining experience but rather you think of Sauerkraut, Weiner Schnitzel, Bratwurst and Strudel.  Well, I'm not going to kid you but you will find some of those on the menu at Grünauer but there are some other surprises.  I may have grown up with some German meals but Austrian is new to me.

We met at my place for some wine before heading to the Freight House District.  Grünauer is located next to Lydia's where the City Tavern was located.  The original Grünauer's is in Old Vienna  but it has been replicated by a family in Kansas City.  The space is very warm with brick walls and dark wood with very high ceilings.  The space remains very similar to how it looked as the Tavern City.

We began the meal with the smoked trout appetizer served with sliced apple, cucumber salad, and apple horseradish. The trout was flaky , moist and very smoky.  Almost as good as my Dad's smoked trout.   The apple horseradish was very tangy and a unique flavor.  My only complaint is there wasn't enough for five of us to have more than a taste.  (We were down a member that night).  We also had a plate of litauer cheese and pate served with rye bread.  Both were delicious and we ordered our first bottle of red--a nice Pinot Noir.  It was a Friday night and the place was hopping which is always nice to see in Kansas City restaurants.

Service was fine except for the amount of time between bringing out appetizers and taking our entree order.  We surmised they must have a very quick turnaround given the smaller menu.  For entree's, we ordered Cordon Blue, Wiener Schnitzel, Hungarian Beef Gulasch and an unfortunate special of the evening.  By unfortunate I mean, it was definitely not what one member expected.  The rest of us were mooning over our platters and practically licking our plates dry (don't worry, we only do that at home).  However, Kim opted for the Sauer Braten and the sauce on the sauerkraut was a clovey cinnamon flavor and the meat was doused with some kind of sauce that Kim said tasted like "#$%".  This coming from someone who likes everything.  So by unfortunate, I mean we all devoured our food and she was left with a plate of bland mashed potatoes and beef that was drowned in a sauce she couldn't escape.  It just wasn't what this German gal was expecting.      

Now back to the entree's we loved!  I opted for the Wiener Schnitzel.  Besides just loving to say Wiener Schnitzel, I do love it.  My plate arrived with two humungous  breaded pork cutlets that did not taste fried at all (I know they were but they tasted "light").  They were definitely not greasy.   Several of us selected for a side dish the trio salad which is small servings of a tomato salad, a cucumber salad and a potato salad.  Very fresh and a nice compliment to the Schnitzel.  Maggie opted for the Cordon Bleu which was a pork cutlet stuffed with smoke ham and emmenthaler and  gruyere cheese.  It was excellent.  Michelle and Holly both ordered the Hungarian Beer Gulasch.  I think it could have served all of Hungary.  (How is that German and Austrian?  I'll check my European History source Wikipedia at a later date.)    Tender chunks of beef drowned in paprika sauce.  (I do think drowning things in sauce is a German thing--and if you like the sauce all the better.  Not so much if you don't.)

There is a Biergarden that was obviously closed for the winter but I suspect some of us will return to check it out and watch the trains go by while we sip our cold German brews.   Although we stuck with red wine with dinner the beer list included many German Bieren such as Weizen, Pils, Hofbrau and Warsteiner.   We capped the evening off by moving to their full bar called the Wunderbar.

We encourage you to try out Grunauer and a great place to take out of town folks.  The service in both the restaurant and the bar was friendly.  Come hungry because the serving sizes are very generous.  We skipped dessert so I plan to save room next time.  It is a nice change of pace from the typical Americano/European fused generic restaurant.  Anytime you can enjoy some authentic ethnic food, I think you should jump right in because it's nice to have the variety.   Go for the great food and stick around for the atmosphere.  Even Kim who was disappointed with her selection, thought the space and the atmosphere would bring her back.  She just may stick with the Schnitzel.

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.

Where Are the Chips and Salsa?

The latest gathering of the SupperClubSix convened at Pardo's Grand Buffett on Southwest Boulevard.  Kathryn was the host and she chose a restaurant to challenge our American perception of what Mexican cuisine really is all about.

Pardo's is located in an old store front and serves authentic Mexican cuisine.  The building has a bright yellow facade.  Most of the restaurant is filled with a large buffet.  There are only a dozen or so tabletops.   The buffet is the main attraction but you can order off the menu.

The buffet consists of spicy pork or chicken, sauteed beef with jalapeno peppers, camerones, chile rellenos, beans , corn or flour tortillas and a salad fix-in's -- all for only eight bucks.  You can't beat the price.   Everything is made from scratch.  Not the reheated fare you typically get in Mexican restaurant chains.

Our reviews were mixed.  Some members enjoyed the authentic fair and wanted more while others wanted salsa and chips ala an American Mexican restaurant.  I was one of the members who went back for seconds. A few of us lacked the constitution for real Mexican food.  These members shall remain nameless but it was about half the members. I will spare you the details.

The staff was very friendly and leave you with the impression that they have a lot of regulars so they enjoy when they see new faces.  I think this place would get alot of after hours business as the people head home from down town.  If you are craving dishes slathered in cheese with a wait staff covered in flair, this isn't your place.  However, if you want a taste of genuine Mexican cuisine at a dirt cheap price, it is worth a trip.

Warning!  No alcohol is served.  Don't worry, Restaurant Club was fully prepared and made sure to schedule pre dinner drinks at another establishment.  Dinner only took 30 minutes so we returned to close out the evening with another round.

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.