Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Kansas City, MO

OpenTable

Updated October 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies in Kansas City, MO? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Conductor Club

5.0

5 (400)

$31 to $50

Cocktail Bar

E. Kansas City

About the restaurant

Tucked away in a hidden corner of historic Union Station, the Conductor Club is a unique rotating themed cocktail bar. We feature a specialty cocktails, small bites from Pierpont's kitchen and lots of fun.

*All guests must be 21+ years old. Reservations are exclusively through OpenTable. Kitchen is open until 9pm on weekdays and 10pm on weekends.

Top review

Mikevip

Dined on Sep 28, 2024

The drinks and decor were great! Relive is one of the best themes yet!

Café Sebastienne

4.9

4.9 (1247)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Kansas City

About the restaurant

Café Sebastienne combines the worlds of contemporary art and delicious cuisine in the heart of the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art. Led by Chef Ted Habiger, a three-time James Beard nominee for Best Chef Midwest, our menu emphasizes local, fresh, and seasonal ingredients, featuring organic and sustainable components. The menu is perfectly complemented by an eclectic wine list featuring natural, organic, and sustainable wines. For more information, visit kemperart.org/cafe.

The Café offers two unique dining settings: an intimate dining room adorned with over 100 paintings by Frederick James Brown, and a naturally light-filled enclosed courtyard. For groups of 12 or more, please email us at cafe@kemperart.org. Semi-private and private spaces are available for various occasions, including bridal and baby showers, birthdays, and special celebrations.

Top review

harvey

Dined on Sep 27, 2024

The food is fantastic since Ted Habiger took over the restaurant. The tasty menu changes regularly. Today, I had the quesadilla for lunch, the best I’ve ever had.

Extra Virgin - Kansas City

4.8

4.8 (1936)

$30 and under

Mediterranean

Kansas City

About the restaurant

James Beard Award Winning Chef Michael Smith's latest culinary creation is Extra Virgin, located in Kansas City's historic Crossroad's Art's District. Open to rave reviews in December 2008, Extra Virgin serves Mediterranean Tapas and has an extensive wine list and full cocktail menu. We offer patio dining for 50 people & private dining for 30 people.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 1 day ago

Amazing food and the happy hour deals must be the best in the city! I went with three friends and we shared several small plates - all were fabulous, but I particularly loved the whipped ricotta and the roasted feta. (I love cheese 😅) the weather was great so we sat outside, but as others have mentioned, it’s pretty loud right by the street. Other than that - run, don’t walk, to their happy hour!

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Seasons 52 - Kansas City

4.8

4.8 (5022)

$31 to $50

American

Plaza / Brookside

About the restaurant

Seasons 52 is a Fresh Grill and Wine Bar offering a seasonal menu that is naturally lighter and always flavorful. Our seasonal menus feature ingredients at their peak of freshness, oak-fire grilled or brick oven roasted (without a fryer in sight) to be naturally lighter and more flavorful. We also offer an extensive list of wines by the glass and bottle. Here, you'll always feel free to enjoy every bite, every sip, every moment. Lunch and dinner daily with happy hour Monday-Thursday from 3-6PM.

Top review

Brandon

Dined 5 days ago

Excellent experience, food was great, and really enjoyed the seasonality of the menu.

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Popular dish

Lump Crab And Shrimp-Stuffed Mushrooms

Popular dish

ROASTED MUSHROOM

Popular dish

Wood-Grilled Shrimp And Grits

Noka

4.8

4.8 (30)

$50 and over

American

Kansas City

About the restaurant

The dining experience at Noka is about inviting guests to immerse within the familiar, while our senses simultaneously transport us somewhere new. Primitive yet modern, our dining space offers many different avenues—whether you’re looking for an intimate experience near the bar, a hands-on culinary view into our live-fire kitchen at the Chef’s Counter, or feel like dipping out of your comfort zone at one of our communal-style tables, there truly is a little something for everyone. So venture in soon, we look forward to hosting you.

Top review

Lindsay

Dined 7 days ago

Currently the best restaurant in KC for food, vibes, unique cocktails + mocktails (Umami Bomb I'm looking at you). The food is outstanding - better than some Michelin-star restaurants I've visited. The chef is deserving of all the accolades coming his way.

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Experience

JOIN US FOR KAISEKI NIGHT - 5 COURSES FOR $50.00

Experience

HALF-OFF SUSHI!

Experience

LATE NIGHT REVERSE DINING - 20% ENTIRE DINNER MENU

Blue Sushi Sake Grill - Westwood

4.7

4.7 (288)

$30 and under

Sushi

Kansas City

About the restaurant

Blue Sushi Sake Grill unites creative ingredients with energetic vibes, premium cold sake with happy moments to give you a fresh and fun new way to experience sushi. Our sushi and grill menus allow you to explore your sushi favorites in new and unexpected ways. We like to say that sushi is for sharing, and our menu encourages it. Order a spread of all your maki, nigiri and sashimi favs from the sushi bar, and throw in a few orders of starters from the grill. We'll stagger your plates so you can savor it all bite-by-bite, and maximize the sushi experience you've been craving all week. If you're not sure where to start, tour the menu during Happy Hour, where all our guest favorites — from our sushi, grill and drink menus — are available at an amazing value. We offer Happy Hour every day of the week at Blue Sushi Sake Grill!

Top review

Brooke

Dined 6 days ago

Food and ambience were great. Our server was fantastic! Thank you!

Pinstripes - Overland Park

4.5

4.5 (477)

$30 and under

American

Kansas City

About the restaurant

Pinstripes: Where Sophisticated Fun Meets Exquisite Dining. With over 30,000 square feet of entertainment space, indulge in scratch-made Italian-American cuisine, handcrafted cocktails, and a robust wine list. Enjoy our weekday happy hour from 3-6pm, or don't miss our famous bottomless brunch buffet on weekends. Experience modern bowling and bocce with full-service dining and entertainment options. Perfect for corporate gatherings, celebrations, or family events, our versatile spaces accommodate parties of 20 to 1000 guests. Book your unforgettable experience today!

Top review

Debi

Dined on Sep 9, 2024

Had never been - really lovely, away from bowling and bocce - patio is lovely and food was delish!

True Food Kitchen - Kansas City

4.5

4.5 (1293)

$30 and under

American

Plaza / Brookside

About the restaurant

True Food Kitchen is a chef-driven restaurant and scratch bar that was founded by Dr. Andrew Weil, the pioneer of integrative medicine, to provide food that tastes great and is good for you. At our table, delicious dining and conscious nutrition go hand in hand, without sacrificing flavor, creativity or indulgence. Our expertly trained chefs craft flavor-forward dishes, handcrafted cocktails and freshly pressed refreshers so you can enjoy epic food experiences that aren’t just good for you, but good to you. Join us in Kansas City for lunch, dinner, or weekend brunch. Located in Kansas City at Country Club Plaza, off of Ward Parkway and Pennsylvania Street, near Club Pilates. New flavors, new combinations, new obsessions. Come see us for something completely new and delicious.

Top review

Jennifervip

Dined 4 days ago

The food is really yummy. Their menu has a variety for everyone who dines to enjoy. The service is wonderful, and it has become my mine and my husband's weekly date spot.

Vignettes

4.3

4.3 (485)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

KC Power & Light District

About the restaurant

21+ ONLY ON FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS.

Everyone's favorite paper company opening an office in Kansas City? False. This is a pop up bar replica inspired by the greatest workplace sitcom of all time.
Is this the world’s best pop-up? Would it have a mug that says so if it weren't?
Here's what to expect:
🍹 Themed Cocktails & Pretzels: Gulp down some of Kevin's Famous Chili Old Fashioned, enjoy the sweet taste of 2:45, and even sample Meredith's Liquor Drawer! Remember - every day is Pretzel Day at this pop up!
👔 Iconic Decor: Lounge at Pam's desk, cause mischief in the warehouse, and immerse yourself in the world of Scranton's number one paper company!
🤓 Office Trivia Night every Wednesday: Test your knowledge of Michael's wisdom and Dwight's beet farm facts.
🎶 Live Music Sessions Friday and Saturday: Because what's a party without a little Threat Level Midnight groove?
🎵 Music Bingo Thursday - Test your knowledge and jam out!
🎤 Karaoke Sunday - Monday - Sing your heart out!

Top review

Melynda

Dined on Oct 2, 2024

This is our second themed trivia night (after Twilight last month) and we have had a BLAST!! We almost didn’t return after a bad experience at the Stranger Things pop up and I’m so glad we gave it another try! I think that was just a fluke. I just wish we’d come back sooner- I missed some amazing themes (Dolly 😞), but I’m so glad We finally did make our way back to Vignettes. It’s definitely become a tradition we look forward to every 6 weeks or so!

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