On the first day of law school, they told us that attorneys have the highest rate of alcoholism of any profession. Then they told us when the first happy hour of the year was. I am not, nor do I ever plan to become, an alcoholic, but I do enjoy a cold drink with my friends every once and a while. The KC Star’s Ink magazine posted a list of bars in KC on their website and I was intrigued because there are a lot I’ve never been to. So I decided to post the list here and I’ll add comments about the ones I’ve been to. I don’t know about you but I know my friends and I always have the problem of deciding where to go, so here’s a few choices to get you started:
Downtown
12 Baltimore Cafe
801 Chophouse
The American Restaurant
Angels Rock Bar–dislike; its upstairs at P&L and the few times I’ve been there it has been super crowded and headache loud.
Anthony’s Restaurant & Lounge
Balanca’s
Blue Bird Bistro
Blue Room
Bo Lings
The Brick
Bristol Seafood Grill
Bulldog Bar & Grill: like–we were there on a Friday evening and had the whole back room to ourselves (which is good because my law school friends and loud and tend to have inappropriate conversations)
Caddy Shack
Cafe Al Dente
The Cashew:went here on during First Friday with the parents a while back; it was super busy but that was probably because of FF
Cigar Box
Coda
Crosstown Station
Czar Bar
The Drop
Drum Room
El Patron Cocina & Bar: we went here on a Friday night for a friend's birthday; the food was good but the service wasn't great--it may have been because we were a big group or it may be the norm , I really don't know
El Pueblito Restaurante
Extra Virgin
Famous Dave’s Legendary Pit Bar-B-Que: I haven’t been to this location, but have been to the one at the Legends; as I recall, it was decent, but not our favorite (but we are picky about our barbecue in my family)
The Farmhouse
Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue: I've eaten at the one on the Plaza--tasty but expensive and not my kind of barbecue atmosphere
Flo’s Cabaret
Flying Saucer Draught Emporium:like; good atmosphere and a ton of beers; its downside would be its P&L location, but you can get to it without going into the courtyard, which is nice
Fran's Restaurant
Garozzo’s Ristorante: boy took me here to celebrate our one year dating anniversary; it was delicious and had a fun atmosphere but was super pricey
Genghis Grill — The Mongolian Stir Fry
The Golden Ox
Gordon Biersch Brewery: like; a bit pricey for my tastes, but to be expected from a micro-brewery in P&L
Grandma's Bar and Grill
Grinders: love! They were featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives; I’ve been several times and everyone I have taken there loves it! Tons of beers on tap too
Grinders West
Grunauer
Hamburger Mary’s: like; went here for dinner with some of my college girls the other night; seemed like it would probably be a good time after the sun went down too; they brought our check in a gold painted high heel, if that tells you anything about the atmosphere :)
Harry’s Country Club
Howl at the Moon: ok; went here for a bachelorette party; we got in free and got super cheap drinks, but it was SUPER crowded
The Indie on Main
Johnny’s Tavern: like! KU bar in P&L (even if they try to deny it)
John’s Big Deck
The Jones
JP Wine Bar
Kansas City Blues & Jazz Juke House
Kansas City Cafe
Kobe Steak & Seafood
Korruption
La Bodega: I went here with some friends for happy hour--we got half price sangria and tapas and spent $10 each; food was good, atmosphere was good, but it was super busy and we had to wait nearly 15 minutes with a reservation and our waiter was not all that impressive
Le Fou Frog
Lidia’s: had lunch here with a bunch of lawyers from Jewell and it was delicious (and even better, I didn't have to pay since I was a student--got to love college alumni organizations)
Lill’s on 17th
Lucky Strike Lanes
LuLu’s Thai Noodle Shop & Satay Bar
Luna
Madrigall
The Majestic
Maker’s Mark Bourbon House & Lounge
Manny’s Restaurante Mexicano
Margarita’s: love! Taco tuesday!
The Marquee Bar & Grill
Martini Loft
McFadden’s Sports Saloon: like; Pretty good as far as P&L goes, but it can get super crowded after a concert at the Sprint Center
Minsky’s: like! Except for the one on 39th –its a little shady, but love the one in the City Market
The Monaco
Mosaic
Nara:great happy hour sushi deals
NRG
PBR Big Sky:like; one of my favorite places in P&L (which isn’t saying much because I generally dislike P&L) because its big and I like the music; I’ve never ridden the mechanical bull (nor do I plan to) but I have watched friends do it
The Peachtree Restaurant
The Peanut:love! The sign on the one on Main says its the oldest bar in KC; its tiny but the BLTs are great.
The Phoenix Jazz Club
Pierpont’s
Pizza Bar
Pizza Bella
Power & Light Grill
Prime Rib Grill
The Quaff:like; watched KU lose a heartbreaker here to Mizzou so its tainted for me, but a really cool place none the less
Qudos Cigar & Cognac Bar
Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant
R Bar & Restaurant
Red Front Bar & Grill
Retro Downtown Drinks & Dance
Rhythm & Booze
Savoy Grill
Shark Bar:kind of like; good place to go if you want to go dance, but gets super crowded later in the evening; on the plus side, I think a lot of nights girls don’t have to pay a cover
Skies Restaurant & Lounge
Sol Cantina
The Stables Bar and Grill
Ted’s Montana Grill
Tengo Sed Cantina
Thirsty’s Cantina
Tootsie’s
Tower Tavern:like; first place I ever went in Martini Corner; only one bar though, so when it gets crowded (like for a law school happy hour) you have to wait; I think I heard they just opened a patio
Velvet Dog
Webster House
The Westside Local Restaurant & Beer Garden
Willie’s Kansas City:like; its one of the few downtown bars that has withstood P&L; biggest downside is that its a Mizzou bar
Winslow’s Barbeque
Zoo Bar
Westport/Midtown
America’s Pub
The Beaumont Club
Beer Kitchen
Bistro 303
Blue Koi
Bluestem
Boozefish Wine Bar
Buddies
Buzzard Beach
Californos: went here for a wedding reception the other night; cool venue, the food was pretty good, bartenders mixed the drinks strong and the staff seemed good
Chez Charlie
Club Zen
Conspiracy Room
D.B. Cooper's
Danny's on Broadway
The Dark Horse Tavern
Dave’s Stagecoach Inn
Davey’s Uptown Ramblers Club
Ernie Biggs Dueling Piano Bar:love! so much fun!; way better than the one in P&L
Firefly Lounge
Fitz's Blarney Stone
The Foundry at McCoy’s:like;was here on St. Patty’s day for a bit; they have a big patio and a good beer selection; also had dinner here with a friend a few days ago and it was decent
Fric & Frac
Friends Sushi & Bento Place
Gate's Bar-B-Q
Gilhouly’s
The Gusto Lounge
Harling’s Upstairs: like; went here for a law school event; might be a shady place when it is not full of law students though
Harpo’s:love! spent most of St. Patty’s Day 09 on thier patio and most of St. Patty’s Day 10 upstairs; what I think of as a typical Westport bar–more dive than glitz (but that’s what I like)
Harry’s Bar & Tables
Jazz: A Louisiana Kitchen:like; been here for lunch and dinner, seems like a fun place, but I wasn’t thrilled with the food
Jesse’s Tavern & Restaurant
Karma
Kelly’s Westport Inn:love! KC classic, and they just opened their rooftop patio
The Levee Bar & Grill
McCoy’s Public House:like; been here for dinner a few times–nice patio
Mike Kelly’s Westsider
Missie B’s
The News Room
Outa Bounds
Pot Pie
Record Bar:like; went here after a law school thing for some reason; I think they have live music a lot
The Rhythm Lounge
The Riot Room
Room 39
Sidekicks Saloon
Thomas Restaurant
Twin City Tavern
Westport Cafe and Bar
Westport Flea Market Bar & Grill:love! Excellent burgers and they have a car shaped like a cheeseburger parked out front; only takes cash though
Plaza/Waldo
75th Street Brewery:like! been here a couple of times, probably my favorite KC micro brewery
810 Zone
Accurso’s Italian Food & Drink
Aixois French Bistro
The Backroom Ultra Dive Lounge
Blanc Burgers & Bottles:really like! their food is a little weird for picky eaters like me but its really good, they serve their fries (sweet potato ones are the best) in little shopping carts and they have a great beer selection
Blue Grotto
Bobby Baker’s Lounge
Bo Lings
Brio Tuscan Grille:like; went here for lunch once (their lunch special is a pretty good deal if I recall correctly)
Brookside Avenues Bistro
The Brooksider Sports Bar & Grill:LOVE! I mean its not classy or anything and they only serve Natty Light for dollar beer night, but I love it none the less
Cafe Trio
Capitol Grille
Carmen's Cafe
Charlie Hooper’s Brookside Bar & Grille:LOVE!!! If you want something a little more classy than Brooksider, this is the place to go; cheap burgers on Monday nights and I think they have beer specials on Tuesday night
Chaz on the Plaza Restaurant and Lounge
The Classic Cup Sidewalk Cafe
Domo Sushi Bar & Japanese Grill
Eggtc.
Figlio
Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue: see above
Fogo de Chao:love! I only have been here once and didn’t have to pay (my friend hooked us up) but the food and drinks were excellent and worth their hefty price tag
Fred P. Ott’s:love! My dad used to tend bar here in the 70′s, so of course it is cool
The Gaf Pub & Grille
Governor Stumpy’s Grill House
Grand Street Cafe
Granfalloon Bar & Grill: a couple of friends rented out the mezzanine level for night-before-the-wedding-drinks-with-friends-and-family and we had a lot of fun
Hannibal’s Waldo Bar & Grille
Houston’s:Alex took me here for dinner once and I had a delicious steak (and I don’t really like steak)
Jack Gage American Tavern
Jardine’s Restaurant & Jazz Club
Julian
Kennedy’s Bar & Grill
Kona Grill: good happy hour
Lew’s Grill & Bar
The Melting Pot:like! The first time I ate here, I was 17 and had an allergic reaction to something, but I’ve been several times lately just for dessert (happy hour chocolate fondue is cheap as long as you sit in the bar area) and loved it!
Minsky’s:see above
M&S Grill:kind of like; ate here a couple of times with and old roommate and her family, but I’m not a big fish eater, so not really the place for me
O’Dowd’s Little Dublin Irish Ale House & Pub:like! They try really hard to be a pub, and they almost get there
Osteria il Centro
Patrick’s Bar and No Grill
The Peanut:see above
The Piano Room
Plaza III Steakhouse
The Point Bar & Grill
ReVerse
Ruth’s Chris
Sharp’s 63rd Street Grill
Spin Neapolitan Pizza:like! Fun place for lunch (it’s close to school)
Swagger Fine Spirits and Food
Tanner’s Bar & Grill:love! My kind of place
Tomfooleries:like; The times I’ve been there for school, they’ve been understaffed even though they knew a big group was coming, but its a decent place
Waldo Pizza:like! Good food, nice atmosphere
Walsh’s Corner Cocktails
The Well:like!; a little nicer than some of the other Waldo bars, but their rooftop patio is worth the wait
Johnson County
810 Zone
54th Street Grill & Bar:like; I’ll group them all together, because they are all the same, but we used to go here a lot in college
Aftershock Bar & Grill
Ari's Greek Restaurant
Barley’s Brewhaus
Bash Riprock’s
Bilski’s Bar and Grill
Birdie’s Pub and Grill
Blanc Burgers & Bottles:see above
Blue Koi
The Blue Moose Bar and Grill:LOVE! A minute away from my parents house and probably my favorite place to eat in PV
The Blue Moose Mountain Grill: have recently realized there is another Blue Moose–must go soon
Bocce Basement
Bo Lings
Bonefish Grill
BRGR Kitchen & Bar
Brickyard Tavern
Buffalo Wild Wings:again, I’m going to group them because I think they are all the same; I’ve been to a couple–its ok, but not really my kind of place (and I don’t like bones in my chicken)
Callahan’s Pizzeria Pub & Grill
Carlo's Copa Room
Carmen's Cafe
Challengers
Clarette
Coach’s Bar & Grill
Danny’s Bar & Grill
Double Nickel Bar
Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue: see above
Fox Bar
Fox and Hound Pub & Grille
Freddy T’s Bar & Grill
Fred P. Ott’s: didn’t know there was a second one, but will have to check it out
Fuel — American Made Bar & Grill
Garozzo’s Ristorante: see above
Gaslight Grill
Gringo’s
Hereford House
Houlihan’s:like; been to the one at Town Center and Fairway; decent if that is what you are going for
Intentions
Jake’s Place Bar & Grill
Jerry’s Bait Shop
J. Murphy’s Irish Pub & Grille
JJ’s Cool Change Bar & Grill
JJ’s Other Place
Johnny’s Tavern: ditto to above; Thursdays are two for one burgers at the Prairie Village location
Johnny Cascone’s Italian Restaurant
Jose Pepper's Border Grill & Cantina
JR’s Place
Jun’s Authentic Japanese Restaurant
KC’s Neighborhood Bar
Key Hole Tavern
Kite’s Grille and Bar
Kokopelli Mexican Cantina
Lenexa Longbranch Steakhouse Saloon
Llywelyn’s Pub
Longbranch Steakhouse
Los Cabos
Lucky Brewgrille
Mac's Sports Pub
MacGuffins
Maloneys Sports Bar and Grill
Margarita’s: see above
Masala’s
Minsky’s:ditto; little bro and his gf both used to work at the Prairie Village location
Nick and Jake’s
North
Old Chicago: used to go to the one on the Plaza before it closed
O’Neill’s Restaurant & Bar
O’Shays Sports Pub & Grille
Old Shawnee Pizza
Orlando’s:dislike–if this is the place that I am thinking of, it is shady and gross and we got hit on by a shady, gross male stripper there (we knew he was a stripper because he gave us his business card)
The Other Place
Paddy O'Quigley's
Paradise India Bar & Grill
Peanut: ditto
PJ’s Sports Bar & Grill
Raoul’s Velvet Room
RA Sushi Bar Restaurant
The Red Balloon
Room 39
Saints Pub & Patio
Salty Iguana:like! Iguana dip is yummy!
Sharks Restaurant & Billiards
Side Pockets: I've been to a couple of these; not really my kind of place, but to each his own
Spin Neopolitan Pizza: ditto
Stroud’s:love! If you want good old fashioned fried chicken, this is place to go as long as you can handle the ridiculously long wait
Sullivan’s Steakhouse
Sumo by Nambara
Tailgaters Bar & Grill
Take Five Coffee & Bar
Talk of the Town
Tanner’s: ditto
Tatsu’s French Restaurant
Toad’s Pub and Perk
Trezo Vino Wine Bistro
Wallaby’s Grill and Pub
Waxy O’Shea’s Irish Pub: dislike; we went here for dinner and weren’t impressed by anything (the atmosphere, food or service); they claimed to be under new management and kept talking about changes that were coming, but that didn't help us much
Wil Jenny’s Tables & Tap
Zepi’s Pizza & Pub
Zest
Zulu’s Tropical Bar, Grill and Night Club
South/East
5.10 Bar and Grill
54th Street Grill & Bar:ditto
B:2: A Burger Boutique
B.B.'s Lawnside BBQ
Big John’s Corner Bar
The Blue Moon
Bullseye Bar & Deli:I think Alex used to hang out here, but the word deli is throwing me off; if it is in fact the same place, he's taken me a couple of times; not my favorite, but he knows tons of people there
Cafe Verona
Clancy's Cafe & Pub
Coach’s Bar & Grill
The Corner Bar:
Country’s Tavern
The Court House Exchange: like; had lunch here with dad before because he works across the street
Creekside Pub & Grille
Damage Control Rock Bar
DiCarlo’s Mustard Seed:dislike; went here for a bachlorette party and the waitress was creepy, the customers were creepy (we were there on karoke night) and the bartender made a Sex on the Beach that was purple and smelled like grape juice
D&J's Hangout
Doc Holliday’s
Eclipse Bar & Grill
Eddie’s Bar & Grill
Eddies Lounge
Firehouse Bar
Fun House Pizza & Pub
Gate's Bar-B-Que
Grand Saloon
Highlander Bar & Grill
Houlihan’s: ditto
The Irish Pub House
Jasper’s
Jerry’s Bait Shop
Joe’s Standard Bar
Jose Pepper’s Border Grill & Cantina
Karen’s Kozy Cabin
Knuckleheads Saloon
Lafferty's Lounge
Logan’s Roadhouse
Logan’s Cabin
Mac's South Kansas City Jazz & Blues
Neighbor’s Bar
Next Door Pizza & Pub: food and beer list were decent but service was super slow
O’Bryan’s Pub & Grill
Ophelia’s
Peppermill Bar and Grill
The Pit Grill & Bar
Pure Adult Ultra Lounge
Rancho Grande Cantina
RC’s Back Door Bar & Grill
RG’s Lounge
Rival's Sports Bar: like; the bar inside Kauffann Stadium; if you can get in, buy cheap tickets to the game and sit here for a much better view
River’s Edge Bar and Restaurant
The Salty Iguana Mexican Restaurant: ditto
The Sandbar
Sand Trap Bar & Grill
Shady Lady Lounge
Side Pockets: see above
Spin Neapolitan Pizza: see above
Stix & Stones Bar & Grill
Teri’s Bigger Jigger
Tommy’s Tavern
Tonahill’s 3 of a Kind
Tool Shed Lounge
Trouser Mouse
Ugly Joe’s Sports Bar & Grill
Waldo Pizza: ditto (I’ve actually been to both)
Westside Grill & Bar
Whiskey Tango: umm…not really sure how to describe this one, but I have been here
North
54th Street Grill & Bar:ditto
810 Zone
Abuelo’s Mexican Food Embassy
Agave Mexican Grill & Cantina
All Star Pizza and Pub
Amerisports Brew Pub
Arthur’s Lounge
The Bar
Bar 12
Bojo’s Bar & Grill
Bo Lings
Bonefish Grill
Boomer’s Bar & Grill
Brass Rail
Bravo Cucina Italiana
The Brew Top Pub and Patio
Brick House Cafe & Pub
Brock’s Restaurant and Lounge
Buck’s Restaurant and Sports Bar
The Cafe at Briarcliff Village
Cascone’s Italian Restaurant
Castaways Marina and Grill
Chappell’s Restaurant & Sports Museum
Chip Shot Bar & Grill
Crazy Olives
Denim & Diamonds
Diamond Joe’s Gentleman’s Club
Dirk’s Sports Bar & Grill
The Dish:good pizza
Dluxe Lounge & Cigar Deck
Em Chamas Brazilian Grill
Gators VIII Bar and Grill
Granite City Food & Brewery:eh; been here a few times, but only the one at Zona Rosa; not a huge fan of their beers, but we had a really good appetizer (but I don’t remember what it was called)
Great Plains Cattle Co.
Helen’s Just Another Dive
Hereford House
The Hideout Bar & Grill
Houlihan’s:ditto
Jose Pepper’s Border Grill & Cantina
JR’s Bar & Grill
Justus Drugstore: A Restaurant
Kansas City Improv Comedy Club
Kato Japanese Restaurant
Kelso’s
The Landing Eatery & Pub:a Liberty classic
The Lost Bar
Mike & Charlie’s Italian Restaurant
Moxie Bar & Grill
Nick and Jake’s Bar and Grill
Oak Tree Restaurant and Lounge
O’Dowd’s Little Dublin Irish Ale House & Pub:ditto to the one on the Plaza
The Office Bar & Grill
One Eyed Jacks Tavern
Paddy O’Quigley’s
Pat’s Pub
Paul & Jack’s Tavern
Piropos
Piropos Grille
Pizza Shoppe & Pub
The Pool Hall
The Pub House:only been here for parties, but another Liberty classic
Rancho Grande Cantina:
Red Nightclub and Lounge
The Runaway Club
Shooters
Side Pockets: ditto
Stone Canyon Pizza Co.
Stroud’s:ditto
Swagat
Tanner’s Bar & Grill: ditto
Tomfooleries Restaurant & Bar: ditto
Tommy’s Bar & Grill
Trezo Mare Restaurant and Lounge
Unwind Bar and Grill
VooDoo Lounge
KCK
Backfire BBQ Featuring Orange County Choppers
Breit’s Stein and Deli
Cheeseburger in Paradise:love! fun atmosphere, fun drinks, fun food
Chicago’s
Club Sparks
Dad’s Hole in the Wall
Danny’s Bar & Grill
Dave & Buster’s:eh–overrated in my opinion, but I’m not one to spend a ton of money playing games after a few drinks
Dotlanders Bar
Double T’s Roadhouse
Famous Dave’s:decent bbq, but not my favorite
Fat Matt’s Vortex
Granite City Food & Brewery: ditto
Jaywalkers Sports Bar and Grill: like! went here with the boy a couple of nights ago for dinner and had a good time
Jazz: A Louisiana Kitchen–ditto
Los Cabos
Pin-Up Bowl
Stanford’s Comedy Club
Stix
T-Rex
Tucker’s Welborn Tavern
Wild Bill’s Legendary Steakhouse and Saloon
Yard House:like; been here a couple of times with a friends family–it was good, a bit pricy for me but they had a huge beer selection
