Are you planning to partake in KC Restaurant Week? We’ve been taking advantage of this annual tradition since it first began fourteen years ago, and as midtown Kansas City locals, we visit many of the participating restaurants during the other weeks of the year.
In this guide, we’re sharing the best offerings of Kansas City Restaurant Week 2024 so that you can make the most of it. This year, it will run from January 12th – 21st.
While the list of participating restaurants for Kansas City Restaurant Week is lengthy, for many Kansas City locals, this annual event offers the opportunity to dine at the more high end restaurants at a lower price point than any other week of the year.
So, if that’s your aim, this guide is for you. We’ll cover which restaurants are worth making a reservation at during this year’s KC Restaurant Week (KCRW).
What is Kansas City Restaurant Week?
We remember when Kansas City Restaurant Week first debuted in 2010, and it’s expanded quite a bit since then.
This annual event is a 10-day dining opportunity where participating restaurants offer exclusive menus at affordable price points.
Typically, the weeks after the holiday season is a slower time for restaurants, so restaurant week occurring from January 12th – 21st is especially helpful for our local restaurants.
Additionally, the event benefits a local nonprofit with the participating restaurants donating 10% of sales from each meal. This year’s Community Partner is Kanbe’s Market.
Kanbe’s Market works with local farmers, regional grocery stores, and national produce wholesalers to sort and distribute food that would have otherwise ended up going unused. This provides access to fresh, affordable and healthy foods in neighborhoods where it is lacking.
How Much Does Kansas City Restaurant Week Cost?
KC Restaurant Week offers multi-course lunches and dinners at fixed price points. This year, the multi-course menus priced at $20, $40 and $55.
The dinner menus we’re recommending are mostly at the $55 price point.
Critiques of Kansas City Restaurant Week
To be honest, we’ve heard many fellow locals share that Kansas City Restaurant Week is not as good as it used to be. The event has expanded to many restaurants that are not locally owned, as well as those who typically offer menus at an affordable price point every other week of the year.
We’ve heard some say that the quality of food during restaurant week is not as great as if you were to dine with their regular menu. We personally have had great experiences, especially at the upscale restaurants, like those in this guide.
The appeal of the event at the beginning was that it mostly involved the higher end restaurants, and that’s how we recommend you approach it.
We are bummed to see some of our past favorites are not participating this year, like Corvino, Antler Room, and Le Fou Frog. However, there are new restaurants that we’re excited about, like midtown’s Noka.
Best of Kansas City Restaurant Week 2024 (KCRW)
Of the 200+ restaurants participating, these are local favorites in the downtown and midtown areas. Note that these more sought-after restaurants book up quickly, so you’ll want to make the reservation ahead of time.
We will add the menus as they are announced. For a complete list of participating restaurants, visit the official Kansas City Restaurant Week (KCRW) website.
1. LULA Southern Cookhouse
Neighborhood: Crossroads Arts District
Cuisine: Southern
The vision for Lula was to create a culinary space that reflects true Southern cooking, distinct from the Midwestern interpretation of Southern food. The menu features authentic Southern staples alongside comfort food classics.
The ambiance is rustic and inviting with its exposed brick interior, wood-rafter ceilings, and decorative mason jars.
2. Lazia
Neighborhood: Crossroads Arts District
Cuisine: Italian
Lazia is an upscale trattoria with a sophisticated, modern approach to classic Italian flavors. Upon arrival, you’ll be treated to a taste of their house-made amaro. The ambiance is warm and inviting.
Their menu features a wide range of elevated Italian dishes, including shareable main courses of meat and seafood entrees, handmade pastas, and wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas.
3. Noka
Neighborhood: Midtown
Cuisine: Japanese
Noka, a Japanese farmhouse-style restaurant, means “farmer” in Japanese. The concept is fine dining specializing in Asian fusion cuisine. Noka’s inventive dishes and focus on quality, despite its high price point, have made it a sought after destination.
Its interior design, inspired by the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, embraces the beauty of imperfection, creating an understated and contemporary ambiance.
The restaurant’s design includes views of food being cooked over binchotan charcoal grills and a west wall adorned with antique Japanese pottery on shelves made from wood from the owner’s 150-year-old family barn.
KCRW: $55, 3-Course Dinner
Course 1: Choose between szechuan chicken wings, yakitori, wedge salad, or tofu tempura
Course 2: Choose between filipino salmon with crispy quinoa, dry aged duck breast with szechuan honey carrots, chicken with oyster sticky rice, or filet of beef with grilled chinese broccoli
Course 3: Choose between togarashi spiced brownie and citrus brulee
4. Novel
Neighborhood: Crossroads Arts District
Cuisine: New American
The ambiance of Novel is a blend of contemporary artistry and cozy hospitality. You’re welcomed into a dining room adorned with a fifty-foot-long tile mosaic and an open kitchen, creating an engaging dining atmosphere.
Their approach to cuisine is innovative yet approachable, with a menu that showcases a creative blend of flavors and techniques. They source locally and offer dishes that highlight seasonal produce.
KCRW: $55, 4-Course Dinner
Course 1: Artisan bread with salted butter and smoked hummus
Course 2: Choose between beef sirloin tartare, honeynut squash soup, brussels sprout salad, lobster ravioli
Course 3: Choose between scallops, salmon, pork chop, and steak frites – each come with sides
Course 4: Choose between pistachio pie and pineapple carrot cake
5. Stock Hill
Neighborhood: South Plaza
Cuisine: Steakhouse
At Stock Hill, the essence of a traditional steakhouse is reimagined for the modern age. Renowned for its innovative interpretations of steakhouse favorites, every dish is the result of exceptional craftsmanship.
The culinary team meticulously sources the finest cuts from Midwestern ranches, ensuring each bite is a unique encounter with the region’s rich flavors.
Recognized as one of the 31 Best Steakhouses in America by Thrillist and a recipient of a Four-Diamond rating by the AAA, Stock Hill is more than just a steakhouse – it’s a gastronomic gem.
6. The Majestic
Neighborhood: Downtown
Cuisine: Steakhouse
The Majestic Restaurant, offering old-world charm in downtown Kansas City, carries the rich history and tradition of the city within its walls. This vintage steakhouse, set in the historic Fitzpatrick Saloon Building dating back to 1909, offers an amalgamation of old-world charm and modern luxury.
Famous for its dry-aged steaks, which are a testament to Kansas City’s reputation as the cattle capital of the United States, The Majestic never fails to impress its guests with its fine dining experience.
As evening descends, the restaurant transforms into a vibrant jazz club, echoing the tunes that made the city famous. This modern speakeasy stands as a homage to the Prohibition era, when the original saloon was converted into a hidden bar.
KCRW: $55, 3-Course Dinner
Course 1: Choose between house salad and seasonal soup
Course 2: Choose between six ounce prime filet, four ounce twin filets, and shrimp etouffee – each some with sides
Course 3: Choose between carrot cake, pecan blondie, and a chocolate dish
7. The Town Company
Neighborhood: Crossroads Arts District
Cuisine: New American
The Town Company is more than just a restaurant; it’s an experience that celebrates the fusion of traditional and modern culinary arts. Spearheaded by Johnny Leach, a highly respected, James Beard recognized chef known for his creative approach.
Leach presents a menu that’s as dynamic as it is delicious, with offerings that change with the seasons to highlight the freshest local ingredients.
The unique blend of familiar flavors and innovative twists, meticulous technique, and heartfelt hospitality make The Town Company an unforgettable destination in Kansas City’s culinary scene.
KCRW: $55, 3-Course Dinner
Course 1: Choose between salmon crudo, citrus and endive salad, and brussels sprouts with bacon
Course 2: Choose between squash dumpling, halibut, and pork shank
Course 3: Choose between sorbet and tres leches
8. Gram & Dun
Neighborhood: Country Club Plaza
Cuisine: Gastropub
This Kansas City local favorite stands out with its inventive approach to American gastropub cuisine. Gram & Dun’s menu is a playground for food enthusiasts, blending classic American fare with global influences. The menu evolves with the seasons, ensuring fresh and vibrant flavors year-round sourced from local farms.
The restaurant’s ambiance combines urban sophistication with a touch of whimsy. Its spacious patio, known as one of Kansas City’s best, offers an ideal setting for enjoying craft cocktails or local brews. Inside, you’ll find urban sophistication in a relaxed yet stylish atmosphere.
KCRW: $55, 3-Course Dinner
Course 1: Choose between kale caesar salad, chicken and sausage gumbo, and asian pig wings
Course 2: Choose between tagliatelle bolognese, fillet with cremini mushrooms and yukon potatoes, and pan roasted salmon with butternut squash puree
Course 3: Choose between chocolate molten cake and blood orange tart
9. Grunauer
Neighborhood: Crossroads Arts District
Cuisine: Austrian
Grünauer stands as a testament to the rich culinary heritage of Vienna. This family-operated restaurant, established in 2010, is an extension of the Grünauer family’s sixty-year legacy of running a traditional Viennese restaurant, Gasthaus Grünauer, in Austria’s capital.
The restaurant’s menu is a tribute to classic Viennese techniques and family recipes. Utilizing high-quality products and local ingredients, Grunauer offers a dining experience that upholds both tradition and quality. From traditional Wiener Schnitzel to Sacher Torte, the dishes represent a culinary journey through Central Europe.
10. La Bodega
Neighborhood: Westside
Cuisine: Spanish
La Bodega is a Spanish tapas restaurant with exceptional craft cocktails and, of course, sangria. Their menu is categorized by hot and cold small plates, as well as a selection of larger dishes for the table. The dishes arrive as they are ready, and beautifully plated.
The space is vibrant and colorful, almost as if you were dining in Barcelona. The outdoor patio is lovely for dining in the warmer months.
KCRW: $40, 3-Course Dinner
Course 1: Choose between soup of the day, house salad, embudito pamplona (dry-cured chorizo, grilled bread, pickled vegetables), escalivada (roasted vegetables and yogurt)
Course 2: Choose between tapas sampler with six small plates, bacalao al romesco (roast cod with crispy fried artichokes), cachopo (pork cutlet, piquillo pepper sauce), pechuga de pollo (chicken, artichokes, sauteed spinach), and paella (bomba rice, chorizo, chicken, mushroom)
Course 3: basque cheesecake and poached winter fruits
11. Lidias
Neighborhood: Crossroads Arts District
Cuisine: Italian
When it comes to Italian cuisine, Lidia Bastianich is the Godmother of Kansas City. Housed in a historic railroad building, the ambiance – exuding old Italian farmhouse vibes – is as authentic as the pasta. With fresh, locally sourced ingredients and an extensive wine list, Lidia’s is a local favorite. Although her culinary career has taken her beyond Kansas City, Lidia has continued to provide culinary excellence to the Kansas City foodie scene.
KCRW: $40 – 3-Course Dinner
Course 1: Choose between arugula salad, caesar salad, ribollita, or arancini
Course 2: Choose between pasta trio, roast cod, “Sunday Sauce” pasta with meatballs and sausage, and beef and ricotta polpettone.
Course 3: Choose between panna cotta and torta with gelato
12. Mesob
Neighborhood: Midtown
Cuisine: Ethiopian + Carribbean
Mesob brings together the vibrant flavors of both Ethiopian and Caribbean cuisine through authentic dishes with a homemade quality. The chef-owner applies French-inspired culinary techniques to prepare the cuisine with a refined presentation. He is known for plating meals that are as visually appealing as they are delicious, and he continually creates seasonal specials to provide an exceptional and memorable experience.
The dishes are not a fusion of Ethiopian and Caribbean – rather, they are two separate offerings. The interior is well-decorated and the ambiance is inviting and cozy. They offer a craft cocktail menu along with their delectable dishes.
13. Plate
Neighborhood: Brookside
Cuisine: Italian
Plate is a Brookside neighborhood favorite for modern Italian that incorporates the best of traditional ingredients. Since 2014, they have offered an elevated, stylish dining experience.
Their house-made pastas and high-quality, fresh ingredients pair perfectly with their fine Italian wine selection and craft cocktails.
14. Pierponts
Neighborhood: Downtown Union Station
Cuisine: New American
Named after the renowned railroad baron J.P. Morgan, Pierpont’s in Union Station offers an atmosphere of casual elegance, combining 1914 decor with modern touches. As you step into Pierpont’s, you’re instantly transported to a bygone era.
Housed in the historic Union Station, the restaurant has a timeless charm with its high ceilings, rich wood furnishings, and a warm, inviting atmosphere. The restaurant partners with trusted suppliers that ship fresh seafood to Kansas City on a daily basis.
15. Rye
Neighborhood: Country Club Plaza
Cuisine: Midwestern
Rye refers to itself as “Midwestern” cuisine – and we aren’t disagreeing with that, but if you’re looking for some traditionally considered Southern dishes, like fried chicken and shrimp and grits, you’ll find it here.
The refined concept is local to Kansas City, and the couple behind it come with numerous accolades – their previous venture, Bluestem, was named a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation’s Outstanding Restaurant over multiple years.
The space combines rustic farmhouse elegance with local art. A hallmark of Rye is its commitment to locally sourced ingredients, with some produce coming from the owners regional family farm, Flat Rock Field.
With a James Beard recognized pastry chef behind the helm, you’ll be glad you opted for a multicourse dinner with dessert.
KCRW: $55, 3-Course Dinner
Course 1: Choose between house salad and caesar salad
Course 2: Choose between fried chicken, potato gnocchi, and hanger steak – each come with sides
Course 3: Choose from seasonal pie selection
16. Westport Cafe
Neighborhood: Westport
Cuisine: French
An intimate dinner at Westport Cafe offers approachable, modern French fare served in a quaint bistro. With velvet curtains, exposed brick, subway tiles, dimmed lighting, and flickering candles, the vibe is every bit romantic – ideal for a date night.
The menu changes seasonally. Don’t let an unfamiliarity with French cuisine deter you – on the menu are approachable dishes such as risotto, mussels, and oysters. Their cocktail offerings are extensive and creative.
We always opt for their house sparkling wine.
KCRW: $55, 3-Course Dinner
Course 1: Choose between leak and potato soup, escargot tart with butternut squash puree, and arugula salad
Course 2: Choose between tartiflette (potatoes, onions, bacon, cheese), salmon (cream sauce, pickled broccoli, goat cheese tart
Course 3: Choose from vanilla creme brulee, profiteroles, and chocolate mousse
Kansas City Restaurant Week was founded by Visit KC and the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association. You can visit the official website here.