Ingrams June 2023

BEST NEW RESTAURANT You don’t need a flight to Europe to experi ence the Mediterranean in fare and feel at ENZO BISTRO & WINE BAR in the River Market. A sister restaurant to the Plaza ar ea’s Ragazza Food & Wine, this newest effort from siblings Laura and Grant Norris has made a splash with readers who favor dishes like the ocean’s bounty found in its cioppi no, choices of lasagna and eggplant parmi giana, or right-at-home-in-KC seared rib eye steaks. Bonus: A Happy Hour that runs from 3-6 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. BEST SERVICE Sizzle isn’t limited to the steaks at THE CAP ITAL GRILLE ; the staff is fired up to ensure that your lunch or dinner experience goes well beyond what you eat. And for a record 14th time, the Grille is Golden here. Why? Top-tier service allows patrons to focus on what matters—their clients, guests, friends, or family. It enhances your meal at every level. And unlike health or friends, which you might not fully appreciate until they’re gone—you’ll know this when you get it. BEST ASIAN RESTAURANT The thing to keep in mind about Asian food is, Asia is a darn big place. There are

BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT

lots of ways to engage. Tops on our list for Gold this year are perennial favorite BO LING’S , easily accessible with six area locations and menus bursting with authen tic Chinese fare. Chinese and Mongolian flavors come through at FORTUNE WOK in Overland Park, which splits Silver with LULU’S THAI NOODLE SHOP with locations in the Crossroads, Westwood and Overland Park. BLUE KOI in Leawood, with its upscale Chinese comfort food, nabs the Bronze . Perhaps the most highly competitive niche in ethnic foods, this category marks yet another year-over-year exchange of places. In 2023, readers favored LE FOU FROG in the River Market for the Gold , best ing CAFÉ PROVENCE of Prairie Village, which takes the Silver . Both represent the best of what the Provence region of France has to offer, such as the tuna tartare or duck confit at the Frog, or perhaps selec tions like onion soup or escargot at Café Provence. The latter, by the way, is owned by the same family that brought you our Bronze -winning FRENCH MARKET just around the corner. BEST FRENCH RESTAURANT

Michael Garozzo and his team at GARO ZZO’S RISTORANTE tighten their hold on the Gold for an eighth straight year. Serving Downtown and in Overland Park, they offer a robust menu that features fish, pork, chicken, and beef—as lunch, din ner, and family-style offerings—wrapped up in a family-feel setting that resonates with readers. Silver goes to CASCONE’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT with a full range of house specialties. The Bronze is divvied up between JASPER’S in south KC and FARINA in the Crossroads District. BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT How robust is the Mexican food market in this region? Consider this: Gold -winning K-MACHO’S , in Overland Park had to fight off nearly 50 competing eateries in this category—half again as many as Best Barbecue. Unlimited chips and salsa, lus cious margaritas, and a huge range of Mexican platters surely had something to do with that finish. Silver goes to the ever popular JALAPENO’S (slogan: “Mo Hotta, Mo Betta”) in Brookside, while MANNY’S in the Crossroads secures the Bronze .

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