Beer Kitchen
I was most disappointed when I heard that One80 Lounge in Westport had closed, it was one of my favorite places in KC. I loved the sleek and urban vibe and the sophisticated menu offerings were amazing!
What once housed the sleek and sophisticate One80 Lounge is now called Beer Kitchen.
Owned by the same group as McCoy’s, The Foundry and the late One80. I was sure it was worth trying and added Beer Kitchen to my list. I could not have been happier when my friend Shannon from FrothyGirlz, (which is an awesome site about pop culture and movie reviews) called me to go to go lunch there. She knows the owner James and we had the chance to visit with him.
So the big question for James, why the switch? He said that his partner and him have a such passion for beer and really wanted to focus on bringing in unique beers and while serving up gourmet bar food.
I am here it to tell you , even though I am sad to lose One80, Beer Kitchen did not disappoint! The food is phenomenal and the menu is just as impressive, but in a very different way.
With a variety of burgers ranging from the Barvo burger which has crispy prosciutto, the Braut burger, a house-made bratwurst patty with beer-braised kraut and of course a classic with lettuce, tomato and pickles makes the menu approachable.
The comfort food offerings include oven-fried chicken, fish and chips, shepherd’s pie and a create your mac and cheese with mix-ins like prosciutto, caramelized onions, maytag blue cheese and more. I also cannot forget to mention there is breakfast available anytime.
For my lunch I chose the “build your own lunch box” which includes a choice of sandwich or flatbread and then add a salad, soup, or a bucket of fries or chips.
The sandwich I chose was the short rib sandwich. It had smoked Gouda, caramelized onion, oven-dried tomato, arugula and horseradish aioli all grilled up on sourdough bread. This sandwich is unbelievable. The flavors are so good and I love the texture of grilled sourdough bread. The salad I chose was the baby arugula salad it had beets, walnuts, shaved fennel, sun-dried cranberries and was topped with a goat cheese croquette. I am a sucker for a salad like that. I love the combination of the salty goat cheese and the sweet cranberries together. Shannon opted for the grilled four cheese sandwich and the butter lettuce salad. We also shared an order of the truffle fries. Everything was exceptional!
Beer Kitchen’s burgers and sandwiches are made from a custom blend of brisket, short rib and chuck tenderloin from the locally owned McGoingles Market. The breads and buns are freshly baked and from the locally owned Farm to Market Bread Company. Beer kitchen also house makes their bread and butter pickles and three kinds of ketchup. I loved the chipotle it was the perfect blend of spicy and sweet.
With a name like Beer Kitchen, I am sure you are wondering about the beer. Beer Kitchen offers a variety of beers and beer cocktails. All though I did not partake at this particular luncheon, the summer beer, which is a scrimshaw pilsner with citrus vodka and rosemary infused lemonade, would be right up my alley. They also offer a variety of martini’s, specialty cocktails, and wine. The beer menu changes constantly so there is always something new to try. You can check the website for a complete listing of beers for that day.
After this meal, I have decided I will miss One80 that much! I was so impressed I checked back with James to see if we could come in and “show” you what you are missing, by shooting some video. He was very gracious and took the time to talk a bit about Beer Kitchen and let me sample a few dishes. Check out this link to get to see what you are missing. Warning…it will make you hungry!
I am really looking forward to visiting Beer Kitchen again. I hope you do the same! I promise you will not be sorry.
For more information visit the Beer Kitchen Website.
Beer Kitchen
435 Westport Road
Kansas City, MO
(816) 389-4180
And as always, if you have a great food find in KC you think I am missing, email me.
In Good Taste,
Sharm
