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  4. Kansas City, MO
  5. Downtown / River Market
The American Reserve Bar & Grille, Kansas City, MO

The American Reserve Bar & Grille

4.2
4.2
792 Reviews
$30 and under
American
The American Reserve is a vibrant downtown dining gem, with a warm setting distinguished by a chic décor, elegant marble walls and lofty 20-foot ceilings.

For gourmet breakfasts, business lunches and intimate dinners alike, guests may select from an inventive, locally sourced seasonal menu perfectly complemented by signature cocktails and an impressive wine list.

The American Reserve is located downtown Kansas City, open 365 days a year. Currently serving dinner from 5pm-10pm daily. The American Reserve can accommodate most dietary needs. Parking based upon availability.


Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Booked 5 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service, Farm-to-table
  • Hours of operation
    Breakfast Mon–Fri 6:30 am–10:30 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 8:00 am–2:00 pm Lunch Daily 11:30 am–2:00 pm Happy Hour Daily 3:00 pm–5:00 pm Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–9:45 pm
  • Phone number
    (816) 298-7700
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Bryant Wigger
  • Private party facilities
    The American Reserve is located inside the Ambassador Hotel with two unique private dining options, the Grand Ballroom and Founders Room. The restaurant dining area is also available for private events.
  • Private party contact
    Linda Waltz: (816) 326-7897
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown / River Market
  • Cross street
    11th
  • Parking details
    Parking based upon availability.
  • Public transit
    11th & Main
  • Entertainment
    Live music from 8 - 11 pm: Feel Good Fridays with the spectacular Ron Gutierrez Trio bringing you the best in soul, R&B, and romantic ballads on Fridays, and Kansas City Jazz with different local musicians every Saturday night.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Dancing, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 792 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.2
4.2 based on recent ratings
  • 4.1Food
  • 4.2Service
  • 4.4Ambience
  • 4.1Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Kansas City / Kansas

    Good for business meals

  • Kansas City, MO

    Good for business meals

  • Kansas City, MO

    Healthy

791 Reviews
  1. DebB

    Kansas City

    8 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We loved our late evening dining experience here! Our server, Gary, was awesome. Food and cocktails were superb!

    Is this helpful?

  2. CarrieD

    Kansas City

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 13, 2023

    overall4food5service5ambience4
    It was a little cold. Food and drinks were great. Our server Gary was very nice and friendly—he made sure we were well cared for and answered all of our questions.

    Is this helpful?

  3. OpenTable Diner

    Kansas City

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 11, 2023

    overall3food4service4ambience5
    The ambience really nice food was good the Jamaican me crazy cocktail not so good. The drink was a bit too strong and had to water down in order to taste halfway decent. I like strong drinks but they need to work on the mix for a better taste. Other than that cool place.

    Is this helpful?

  4. StanT

    Kansas City

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 6, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Wonderful food, service, and ambiance. I would put it on the more expensive side of dining out, but my family very much enjoyed the evening. Oh, parking is easy with valet parking @ $15.

    Is this helpful?

  5. OpenTable Diner

    Kansas City

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 4, 2023

    overall4food2service4ambience5
    Drinks and Live band are really good I recommend you go for that only

    Is this helpful?

  6. Mary

    Kansas City

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food is delicious but the wine list is crazy expensive.

    Is this helpful?

  7. AnnaW

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 1, 2023

    overall2food1service3ambience4
    Ran out of a lot of food. Food that we got was sub par

    Is this helpful?

  8. OpenTable Diner

    Kansas City

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 28, 2023

    overall1food1service1ambience4
    Positive: nice ambiance and location Negatives: service was horrible. Took forever to get drinks. Then after waiting over an hour, we were told our order was lost. They then said they would bring out our salad and put our food at the top of the list to be made. Said it would only take ten minutes. Got the salads right away, but after another 20 minutes, the food still wasn’t finished and could wait no longer. The waiter and manager were very apologetic. They finally cancelled and did not charge us for anything including drinks. Hope for their sake this was just an isolated incident.

    Is this helpful?

  9. JoshuaJ

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 27, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great place, good food, tasty drinks, nice atmosphere!

    Is this helpful?

  10. KaseyJ

    Kansas City

    31 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    31 reviews

    Dined on October 26, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing food and our server was so helpful and attentive.

    Is this helpful?

  11. DianaK

    Kansas City

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 21, 2023

    overall1food1service3ambience2
    Limited over priced menu , shrimp poboy over cooked with very little dressing. Shrimp and grits beyond sub standard.

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  12. ChristyG

    Kansas City

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 21, 2023

    overall4food4service2ambience3
    Good food and cocktails….understaffed but they were as attentive as they could be.

    Is this helpful?

  13. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 21, 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    Super nice, they just needed more servers. It’s a great value.

    Is this helpful?

  14. Chuck

    Washington DC

    35 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    35 reviews

    Dined on October 11, 2023

    overall3food3service2ambience2
    I wasn't expecting a lot, and wasn't disabused. The restaurant was nearly empty, but service was glacial. I ordered a martini straight up, but it came warm. It took a long time for a chilled version to arrive. I ordered steak frites, which to me means - in the classic French version - a hangar steak. This was a very large sirloin. It was okay, but certainly not worth what I paid for it.

    Is this helpful?

  15. SarahG

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 2, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Our waitress was amazing and so was the food! The burger, though fantastic, was too greasy. That is the only thing I could say needs work.

    Is this helpful?

  16. hungry

    Kansas City

    45 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    45 reviews

    Dined on September 29, 2023

    overall4food5service4ambience5
    i had shrimp and grits and they were delicious, others in my party had salmon and thought it was over cooked

    Is this helpful?

  17. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on September 27, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience4
    Out waiter Garry made the experience extra special. He made the evening very special with outstanding service and the food was very good.

    Is this helpful?

  18. MariR

    Kansas City

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on September 24, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Always a wonderful night when I come in to see Ron Gutierrez!!

    Is this helpful?

  19. ErikS

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 23, 2023

    overall4food4service2ambience4
    I'll begin by saying that the overall the food was very good. We ordered the brussels sprouts for an appetizer, the brick chicken and the pork chops. The sprouts were well prepared and very tasty. I was expecting the chicken to have skin on it since it would get crispy as it seared. It was moist and not overcooked. The pork chops were cooked very well and tender and moist. The service was disappointing. When I made the reservation, I was asked if it was an event and I indicated that it was our anniversary. I'm not sure why this question was asked as only the greeter acknowledged it. I wasn't looking for freebies, but just thought it strange. Our server took drink and appetizer orders and delivered both to our table and took our entree orders without asking if we wanted salads or telling us what the "soup of the moment" was or asking us if we wanted wine. The entrees came before we finished the appetizer. It just seemed rushed which was odd because it wasn't very busy. I guess that they don't have desserts as none was offered. So much for trying to enhance the ticket. I was looking for a more relaxed dining experience and this wasn't it. We were out in a little over an hour. I asked for the uneaten food to be packaged and I was brought boxes to do it myself. The check was brought and then our server disappeared. I left money for the tab and we left without a thank you from anyone. The service was about the same as we could have received at a fast casual restaurant which is too bad because the food was good.

    Is this helpful?

  20. OpenTable Diner

    Kansas City

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 17, 2023

    overall1food1service1ambience1
    Unfortunately they were extremely short-staffed with only one person attempting to serve as both the hostess and waitress for the entire restaurant. She was definitely hustling and trying her best, but after 30 minutes with no food or drink, we had no option but to leave since we had tickets to an event. Our recommendation to management would be to limit the number of guests being seated when there is not enough staff to support a full dinner service. When we left, the restaurant was almost full of newly seated diners, and we felt genuinely sorry for the waitress. Extremely disappointing experience.

    Is this helpful?

  21. OpenTable Diner

    Kansas City

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on September 17, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Absolutely memorable. The icing on the cake was seeing the #latinluther👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽🙌🏽🔥🔥🥰🥰🥰, food was delicious 😋.

    Is this helpful?

  22. bobr

    Kansas City

    23 reviews

    5.0

    23 reviews

    Dined on September 12, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Friendly find, post-show. Lively bar crowd, otherwise nearly empty until late.

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  23. RANDOLPHS

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 30, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Zack, was our Server and could not have been more attentive. This was our 2nd night in a row going to the Restaurant, and luckily for us, we had Zach both evenings. When back in KC again, we will definitely be back. Randolph Smith

    Is this helpful?

  24. TNEELY

    Kansas City

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on August 27, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Fantastic ALL around!!! I cannot wait to go back!!

    Is this helpful?

  25. Vals

    Kansas City

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 23, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience5
    Food was well done. Great location for business lunch. Parked in public lot at 12th & Grand. 1/2 Block to restaurant.

    Is this helpful?

  26. OpenTable Diner

    St. Louis

    14 reviews

    4.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on August 5, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience5
    Great vibe and good food. Definitely worth checking out.

    Is this helpful?

  27. MariR

    Kansas City

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on July 30, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The entertainment was superb! And the food was fantastic! Always a pleasure!

    Is this helpful?

  28. OpenTable Diner

    Kansas City

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on July 29, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Our server was incredible. She was by herself on a Saturday morning and still kicked butt. Her name was I believe Madeline, but I could be wrong. Just was just wonderful and the food was incredibly delicious. The French toast is to die for.

    Is this helpful?

  29. Sara

    Kansas City

    2 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on July 29, 2023

    overall2food3service2ambience2
    Unfortunately, the service was slow and inattentive. The bread was brought over with no explanation of what was on the plate. We had to wait a while before someone even offered us a drink and there were only 2 other tables in the restaurant.

    Is this helpful?

  30. OpenTable Diner

    Kansas City

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on July 27, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Food was great and the service was even better, Our server was one of the best we’ve ever had anywhere.

    Is this helpful?

  31. DanielJ

    Kansas City

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on July 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Service was prompt. Food was hot and tasted good.

    Is this helpful?

  32. Lavet

    Kansas City

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on July 9, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great experience as always, huge fan of Ron G and his wonderful band. Outstanding valet, drinks, food, service, energy and environment.

    Is this helpful?

  33. CableB

    Sacramento

    3 reviews

    1.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on July 1, 2023

    overall1food4service2ambience5
    There was a noxious lady who was obviously drunk, and the staff did nothing and she was just being very rude around everybody. It was just her, but the staff did not do anything to stop it so 

    Is this helpful?

  34. OpenTable Diner

    Kansas City

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 29, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Sherry was very hospitable and knowledgeable within her craft of mixology. Hats off to the chef who delivered an outstanding 9oz New York strip paired with a bed of garlic butter mashed potatoes and a garnish of asparagus

    Is this helpful?

  35. JackieS

    Kansas City

    7 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on May 27, 2023

    overall2food2service5ambience5
    The location and service was great. If only they could rise the level of the food. Our salmon dish was way over salted. The salad was good. The signature cheese dip appetizer was ok… kinda watery and way too buttery. Our server was very sweet and attentive but that could not make up for the over salted over priced entrees. I will not be coming back.

    Is this helpful?

  36. JulietteS

    Kansas City

    3 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on May 25, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience3
    We enjoyed a delicious meal for 2 with drinks and wine. The service was excellent. It was a perfect pre-theater choice.

    Is this helpful?

  37. CCOPKS

    Kansas City

    11 reviews

    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on May 21, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Nice space to go for nostalgic jazz supper club. Lonnie is a KC entertainer true to the legacy of jazz in Kansas City!

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  38. LoriB

    Kansas City

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on May 14, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food was excellent and service was great. The only glitch was my son-in-law did not get what he ordered. Didn't complain and he enjoyed what he got anyway. We were there for Mother's Day brunch, very quiet compared to so many places on Mother's Day that are hectic and crowded. We would all definitely go back. Highly recommend that you use valet parking.

    Is this helpful?

  39. JadaW

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 13, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Outstanding place service was great 10/10 recommend

    Is this helpful?

  40. Lulu

    Kansas City

    34 reviews

    4.0

    34 reviews

    Dined on May 7, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience5
    We had very good service and a nice meal before theater. It was very quiet on a Sunday evening. The cocktails were excellent!

    Is this helpful?

Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Surfaces sanitized between seatings
    • Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
    • Sealed or wrapped utensils used
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
  • Physical distancing

    • Limited number of seated diners
    • Extra space between tables
  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

The American Reserve Bar & Grille offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (816) 298-7700.

The American Reserve Bar & Grille is rated 4.2 stars by 792 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Booked 5 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for The American Reserve Bar & Grille

Ambassador Hotel, 1111 Grand Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64106

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    11th
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown / River Market
  • Hours of operation
    Breakfast Mon–Fri 6:30 am–10:30 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 8:00 am–2:00 pm Lunch Daily 11:30 am–2:00 pm Happy Hour Daily 3:00 pm–5:00 pm Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–9:45 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service, Farm-to-table
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Parking based upon availability.
  • Public transit
    11th & Main
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Bryant Wigger
  • Entertainment
    Live music from 8 - 11 pm: Feel Good Fridays with the spectacular Ron Gutierrez Trio bringing you the best in soul, R&B, and romantic ballads on Fridays, and Kansas City Jazz with different local musicians every Saturday night.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Dancing, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (816) 298-7700
  • Private party facilities
    The American Reserve is located inside the Ambassador Hotel with two unique private dining options, the Grand Ballroom and Founders Room. The restaurant dining area is also available for private events.
  • Private party contact
    Linda Waltz: (816) 326-7897
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