Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Kansas City, KS

OpenTable

Updated January 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies in Kansas City, KS? 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!

Story

4.8

4.8 (2929)

$30 and under

Modern European

Prairie Village

About the restaurant

Story is a contemporary American restaurant in The Village Shopping Center in Prairie Village, KS. The Center is located 10 minutes southwest of Kansas City, Missouri's Country Club Plaza.
Story offers local, seasonal creative American cuisine from Chef Carl Thorne-Thomsen. Chef Carl Thorne-Thomsen is a 2022 and 2013 James Beard Semifinalist for Best Chef Midwest and FOOD & WINE magazine's The People's Best New Chef: Midwest. Chef Carl Thorne-Thomsen is FOOD & WINE Magazine's The People's Best New Chef National Winner for 2014.

Story features comfortable dining room, patio and bar seating. Story accepts reservations and walk-ins Wednesday - Sunday 4:30pm - 8:30pm.

Top review

RobertVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Great service from Lars! Wonderful evening! Looking forward to returning.

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Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ - Overland Park, KS | Bluhawk (Kansas City)

4.8

4.8 (423)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Overland Park

About the restaurant

Founded in Tokyo in 1996, Gyu-Kaku has become the world’s #1 Japanese BBQ brand! Thanks to our devoted fans we have reached over 700 locations worldwide. Each day, hundreds of thousands of people gather around the table-top smokeless grill, a centerpiece of our dining concept, enjoying selections of premium meats, just off the grill, and other freshly prepared foods from our kitchens, inspiring laughter, conversation, and a magical dining experience.

Our authentic yakiniku (grilled barbeque) dining experience crowns you the chef. Share a variety of delicious appetizers and premium cooked meats over a flaming grill, paired with Japanese sake, frosty cold beers, or other alcoholic and non-alcoholic options of your choice. We're the perfect spot to enjoy time with friends and family, organize an office party, or to spend quality time with your significant other!

Before you go, don't forget to taste our best-seller Harami Skirt Steak or Prime Kalbi Short Rib among other must-try dishes!

Top review

Susan

Dined 2 days ago

Good food. We really enjoyed our meal, fu interactive way to eat

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Experience

Prix-Fixe BBQ Courses for Everyone: Starting at...

North Italia – Kansas City

4.7

4.7 (3376)

$30 and under

Italian

Leawood

About the restaurant

Reservations may be limited online. Please call the restaurant to inquire about availability.

At North, we focus on what we do best: Italian from scratch. Enjoy any of our handmade pastas and pizzas, created with seasonal ingredients and inventive flavors. Or, try a different signature dish, prepared with our fresh flavors from the garden, farm, and sea. We’ve hand crafted seasonal cocktails that pair great with our food, creating a real modern Italia experiences perfect for any occasion.

Top review

Dana

Dined 5 days ago

Unfortunately it was a very cold day and seating near windows was uncomfortable. Had to keep coat on. During unusual cold weather it might be better to use side of restaurant without windows

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YaYa's Euro Bistro - Overland Park

4.7

4.7 (2945)

$30 and under

Contemporary European

Overland Park

About the restaurant

The eclectic menu is inspired by a combination of American, French, Italian, and Greek cuisines. Innovative small plates share the menu with fresh salads, wood-fired pizzas, classic pastas, an array of the freshest seafood and other Bistro classics.
Come dine with us and relax in the glow of the hand-carved sconces, order from the outstanding wine list and savor one of our delicious entrees. Enjoy the warm atmosphere, homemade food and staff that will treat you like family. The service team at YaYa’s consistently aims to provide the best service and complete guest satisfaction. We’re proud to be able to meet the special request of our guests whether it’s food, beverage or a special setting.

Top review

Cheryl

Dined 5 days ago

I ordered the special (cheese ravioli with short rib meat) and it was wonderful! Service was helpful and pleasant. The restaurant noise was perfectly balanced…it was nice to have others around me but it was easy to have a conversation at the table.

Louie's Wine Dive 119th Kitchen

4.7

4.7 (1165)

$30 and under

American

Overland Park

About the restaurant

Louie’s Wine Dive serves lunch, happy hour and dinner daily, and brunch on weekends. Award-winning food is created from local ingredients under the eye of formally trained Chefs. Louie’s wine list and featured wineboard offer hard to find, quality focused selections. Louie’s offers a craft cocktail and local beer menu. Louie’s Wine Dive features a warm, casually elegant atmosphere. It's the place for food and wine lovers to be social!

Top review

Lori

Dined 7 days ago

Our waiter was excellent and the food was very tasty. I’ve been there before for happy hour, but first visit for my friends.

Paros Estiatorio

4.7

4.7 (1014)

$31 to $50

Greek

Leawood

About the restaurant

Paros Estiatorio is an elegant 65 seat restaurant located in Mission Farms, Leawood. Our dishes are simply prepared and passed down from generations in order to provide you with and authentic Mediterranean experience. Sit back, relax and allow us to transport you to the sun-drenched Greek islands while you enjoy the company of friends and family.

Top review

LizVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Continues to be my very favorite dining experience in KC. They never miss!!

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Valentine's Day 4-Course Dinner Menu

Wandering Vine at The Castle

4.7

4.7 (1063)

$31 to $50

American

Shawnee

About the restaurant

The extraordinary wine and dining experience in the most romantic setting in Kansas City! Voted Best Wine List in Johnson County and Open Table Diner's Choice Award.

Top review

Lori

Dined on Jan 17, 2025

A hidden gem! Historic building, extensive wine list, great food, personable server and flowers for our celebration. Lovely evening!

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Culinary Tour de France Wine Dinner

Scratch Gourmet Kitchen

4.7

4.7 (177)

$31 to $50

American

Prairie Village

About the restaurant

Enjoy a night of fine wine, mixologist made cocktails and elevated comfort food at a locally owned casual fine dining restaurant in the Shops of Prairie Village. From humble beginnings as a small catering company we have transformed into a one-of-a-kind small boutique restaurant that provides a private and intimate dining experience focused on the food at the table and personal interactions with our team. Come experience the culinary expertise of Chef Taylor Hindman alongside 2024 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence wine program featuring more than 165 unique wine selections curated by our owner Tyler Morrison.

Scratch is a small gem of a restaurant that provides a surprise and delight as we continue to grow. Since our opening in 2021, Scratch has been awarded Best New Restaurant in Johnson County in 2022 by The Shawnee Mission Post, 2023 Best Caterer in Johnson County, Finalist for Best New Restaurant by KC Magazine, and 2023 Yelp's "People Love Us".

Top review

Richard

Dined on Dec 26, 2024

Food is exceptional! Wine selection is amazing! Chef Hindman is making a name for himself in KC

Plate Italiano Moderno - Leawood

4.5

4.5 (1220)

$30 and under

Italian

Leawood

About the restaurant

Award wining upscale Italian Restaurant from local Restaurateur Christian Joseph. Hand made pasta and bread are the stand out in this very chic and hip atmosphere. Voted diners choice by OpenTable, with awards from Wine Spectator, Societe Mondiale du Vin, and the Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs. Plate Italiano Moderno anchors the upscale Leawood shopping district Park Place.

Top review

JayVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Great unique Italian dishes and outstanding service.

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RA Sushi Bar Restaurant - Leawood, KS

3.9

3.9 (975)

$30 and under

Japanese

Leawood

About the restaurant

Everyone has an adventurous side and RA Sushi is the place to explore and find yours. At RA, we're all about lively music, an energetic atmosphere, inventive cocktails and out-of-this-world sushi. Where else can you enjoy happy hour every day of the week? You know when you're in the RA because there's no other place like it. Order up the best sushi in town and prepare to be blown away by our signature rolls and amazing Japanese cuisine. Whether you're a sushi aficionado or just looking to explore new flavors, RA is your go-to destination. So bring your friends and grab a table or hit up our patio, either way, you're in for a great time.

Top review

Jaclyn

Dined on Jan 15, 2025

We had an amazing time at RA Sushi! We went to celebrate my birthday and I couldn’t have asked for a better place to spend it! The waitress was amazing. I really appreciate how amazing she was in helping celebrate my birthday. She took pictures of all of us, with my birthday cake and made sure we all got copied. The dessert provided was delicious! I already loved this restaurant, but last night just put RA sushi at the top of my favorites list!

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