Bluestem $$$

900 Westport Rd., Kansas City
816/561-1101
www.kansascitymenus.com/bluestem [1]

HOURS: Tues.–Sat. 5:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m.,
Sun. 10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

COST: Most entrées more than $20

Since its opening in March 2004, Bluestem has been a constant critic and customer favorite. The restaurant’s list of accolades is nearly as long as its menu and includes chef Colby Garrelts’ being nominated Best Chef Midwest by the James Beard Foundation for three consecutive years.

In the kitchen, Garrelts and his wife, Megan, prepare an expansive monthly menu influenced by seasonal flavors and local ingredients.

For the best value, consider one of Bluestem’s four tasting menus that offer 3 to 12 courses plus dessert. If you’re traveling on a budget, stop in for Bluestem’s happy hour complete with snacks, small plates, and an extensive wine list.

Service is top-notch here, which, along with the inventive and flavorful dishes, easily justifies the higher price point. The modern yet intimate interior, complete with plush lounge seating, hardwood floors, pendant-light fixtures, and brick walls, is an ideal location for a romantic date.