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 Tips:
Kansas City, the city of fountains, just drive through the Country Club Plaza and you will see what I am talking about. You will also see a ton of high end shopping and a lot of delicious restaurants. The Plaza also offers some of your common mall shops such as Victoria’s Secret and the Gap in an area modeled after Spain. The plaza was designed in 1922 as the nation's first suburban shopping district. For your nightlife life, head down to Westport where you will find a wide variety of restaurants and bars, including clubs and live music venues.
One really inconvenient thing with Kansas City is that the city is very spread out. However, it is a great restaurant city. Below, I have reviewed some of our favorite places close to Worlds of Fun.
I also have reviewed the two hotels in town that we have stayed in. However, with the opening of the Worlds of Fun Village, complete with cute little cabins and swimming pool for guests, I am not sure why you would want to stay any where else, unless of course they were full.
Summertime is a great time to be in Kansas City, you can catch a Royals game or a T-Bones game. The T-Bones are our amateur baseball team and the stadium is located out by the NASCAR race track. The T-Bones stadium is small but nice and they have great food. Of course Kauffman’s stadium, where the Royals play, is a classic baseball stadium.
We are Friends of the Zoo and try to get out there at least four times a year. The Kansas City Zoo is under new management and has made improvements every time we go out there. The only down side is all the exhibits are spread out, so be prepared to walk.
In my Westin Crown Center review I mention Union Station and all that it has to offer with Science City and the IMAX theaters.
Of course, there is Oceans of Fun, conveniently located right next to Worlds of Fun; it is a great way to cool off under the hot, hot sun.
Hotels
Westin Crown Center: 8 out of 10 Stars
We stayed at this hotel the night before we left on our honeymoon in San Francisco. It’s a very nice hotel with very comfy beds; the Westin calls them “Heavenly Beds”. The room was good sized and they have good toiletries. The hotels atrium lobby has a spectacular five-story waterfall. What is really cool about this hotel is the location. The hotel is attached to Crown Center which is a mall with a lot more to offer than just shopping and dining, and if you have children there are special activities geared just for them. There is also skywalk that takes you all the way over to Union Station were Kansas City’s Science City is located. Also, even more dining choices and IMAX theaters. The hotel is also just minutes away from the County Club Plaza which you will definitely want to check out while you are in town. This hotel is located about 10 miles away from Worlds of Fun and without traffic will take around 15 minutes to get there.
Hyatt Regency Crown Center: 8 out of 10 Stars
We stayed at this hotel for our first anniversary. I know, how sweet. It also allowed Jason and I to get pretty tipsy and not have to drive home. Again, very nice hotel, it is a Hyatt, and they also have very comfy beds and good toiletries. The rooms are spacious and comfortable. The lobby is a little dated however. The reason we picked this hotel is because it houses the restaurant we were eating at that evening, which is the Peppercorn Duck Club, I will tell you about that in the restaurant reviews, you must read on. Before we eat at the Peppercorn Duck Club we always go have a drink at Skies. It is located at the top of the hotel and is a restaurant that revolves 360 degrees every 45 minutes or so giving excellent views of the city (you can even see Mamba from up there). If you go just for drinks (we have never eaten there), they have a lounge area set-up right next to the windows. Again, allow yourself at least 45 minutes to get all the way around the city. It is in the Crown Center part of town, so, it is again just minutes away from the Country Club Plaza. This hotel does not have any skywalks, but only a block away from Union Station and Crown Center itself. Again, this hotel is located about 10 miles away from Worlds of Fun and without traffic will take around 15 minutes to get there.
Fine Dining
Peppercorn Duck Club: 8.5 out of 10 Stars
This restaurant is located at the Hyatt Regency at Crown Center which is approximately 10 miles away from Worlds of Fun. Jason and I have gone here two years running for our wedding anniversary (if it a special occasion, birthday or anniversary they make a big deal of it-no singing however- you get your own little cake and other little surprises, tell them when making the reservation). The décor is of that of a gentlemen’s club, dark wood, softer lighting, and gilded oil paintings on the wall. The service is outstanding, exactly what you would expect in a fine dining establishment, but better. The specialty is of course duck, which is quite good, its rotisserie duckling, served with I believe three different sauces. They also have a wide selection of seafood, and also on their menu are chicken, lamb, and beef entrees ranging from $30 to $45. This restaurant ranks at the top of Jason’s list because all entrees include the chocolate buffet for dessert, and Jason can eat his weight in chocolate. Every kind of chocolate thing you can think of at your disposal as soon as you get done with your dinner. So the buffet gives the Peppercorn Duck club that little something special, especially for you chocolate lovers.
McCormick & Schmidt: 9 out of 10 Stars
Located on the beautiful County Club Plaza, McCormick and Schmidt is a seafood restaurant and all of their seafood selections are fresh and flown in daily. The menu is quite extensive, if you have a member of your group that is not a seafood lover there is definitely several things for them to choose from. The décor is very nice, a lot like its other locations, dark wood, kind of a club feel to it. However, it does have a beautiful stained glass dome over the main dining room and bar. It is one of the few places in town that will actually serve Ahi tuna correctly, very rare, just lightly seared. We have not been there for a little while, but from memory entrees start around $18.00 for the seafood entrees. The number one dessert at this restaurant and possibly all restaurants is what is called the chocolate bag. It is precisely that, a chocolate bag filled with white chocolate mousse and berries. It is a little pricey but can very easily be shared by two or more people and it is delicious!
Lidia’s: 8 out 10 Stars
Lydia’s is a Italian restaurant located in the freight house district, which is right across the street from the art district, and just a hop, skip and jump away from Union Station. It has a very contemporary décor, very open. The service is always very good. When I go I usually get the all you can eat pasta trio, which a la carte is $16, if you would rather you can also get the pasta trio with a salad and a piece of tiramisu, that is $26. Some waiters will let you switch out your dessert, some will not. I have only hade one dessert there I liked, and it was an anniversary special. Their caesar salad is awesome, but I really do not care for their desserts, so next time I go I will be looking at the price difference at just adding on a salad to the trio. Well, this is horrible but, I don’t think I even know anything else about this restaurant food other than the trio, it is different every day, and it is always good.
Garrozzos: 6 out of 10 Stars
Garrozzos is one of KC best Italian restaurants serving both traditional and house dishes. They have an extensive menu and three locations around town. The closest one to Worlds of Fun is located blocks from downtown, and is by for the best of three locations as far as taste and ambiance. My favorite is to begin with a stuffed artichoke and then for an entrée have the Veal Garrozzo with a side order of fettuccine alfredo. If you do have this meal you will be spending a pretty penny. The artichoke with everything on it is around $10, the veal is around $24 and to upgrade to the alfredo of course is extra, maybe another $6. The veal comes with a salad though, and the artichoke can be shared easily by 2 - 4 people so it’s not all bad. This is one of my favorite meals anywhere, they put something nobody else does in their alfredo, I don’t know what but it is one of the richest most delicious foods I have every ever tasted. Their signature dish is chicken spiedini and they have 3 different forms of this dish. The setting is what I think your typical Italian restaurant would be, very close seating, low ceilings, black and white family photos on the walls and Sinatra and Dean Martin belting out the hits. The service is not always the greatest, sometimes a little slow. The wait can get very long, try to go at off times, I do not believe they take reservations. All entrees come with a salad, besides veal, they have beef, chicken, fish and pasta dishes ranging from $15.95 to 28.95. They even have low-carb dishes available. Casual Dining
Oklahoma Joes: 8 out of 10 Stars
This is a local bar-b-que joint that has been voted the best fries in KC & I have to say I agree. There are two locations; the one closest to Worlds of Fun is in a gas station. Don’t let this scare you! Scattered around the restaurant you will find trophies and ribbons from the local and national bar-b-que contests that Okalahoma Joes has won. Jason and I love the pulled pork. They have a sandwich that has pulled pork and sliced sausage (all pigs go to heaven) that is by far my favorite, it is of course called The Hog Heaven. Add some fries to that and it will be difficult to finish. Their smoked chicken is also very good and their beans are a little spicy. Very different from anyone else’s I have ever had. Sandwiches range from $4.30 to $5.80 for a jumbo and plates range from $7.10 on up and that includes one side. You order at a counter and take your food with you when you sit down so service does not come into play here.
Mi Cocina: 7 out of 10 Stars
This is a trendy Tex-Mex restaurant that has a kicking sound system pumping out a funky Latin beat. The walls are covered with contemporary original art and the space is very open and airy. The bar is has copper-plated trim with multiple 19” television sets inset into the wall, and the kitchen has a stainless steel entrance, which gives an interesting contrast. The restaurant is located at the Country Club Plaza which is around 14 miles away from Worlds of Fun, or a 23 minutes drive time. They serve your typical Mexican fare, however it has a little different twist. The “tex-mex basics” which are their combinations plates range from $7.95 to $12.95 for larger appetites. The other entrees start at $9.75 and go up from there. The service is always good, and the margaritas are delicious.
Jerusalem Cafe: 8 out of 10 Stars
If you like Greek/Mediterranean then I think it would be impossible for you to dislike the Jerusalem Café. It is located in Westport and is about 13 miles away from Worlds of Fun, or 20 minutes. The only draw back is the parking, it is fairly limited in the Westport area, if you can find off street parking then it is your lucky day, if not, there is a parking lot a block away. When you first walk in, I think it would be somewhat close to what a café would be like in Jerusalem. It is dark, not very big, and has brick walls. Their hummus is delicious, and I love their chicken shawermah sandwich, and their falafel sandwich. Their gyros are also second to none. Sometimes the servers can be a little cool towards the customer, but still attentive. The sandwiches are in the area of $7.00 and their plates and other entrees are still very reasonable.
Korma Sutra: 8 out of 10 Stars
Again, this restaurant is located in Westport (it does have another location in Overland Park) so parking can be any issue. This restaurant serves the best Indian food in town. The only thing is, it is a little expensive. During the day there is a very comprehensive buffet loaded with both vegetarian and meat dishes, including goat (which I have never tried, I am afraid of the goat, but Jason likes). If there is anything on the buffet ending in Korma, that is the thing to eat, those are their best dishes. Usually they are pretty spicy, but, with the buffet they give you a mango shake which helps with the spice. They also give you a basket of nan (bread), and after you are done eating, or while you are eating your dessert, you are served chai tea. The buffet is around $9.00 a person, and they do only have a lunch buffet. If you want to go for dinner there is full menu and the entrees are around $11.00. We have never had anything but exceptional service; I think possibly the nicest man in the restaurant business works at the Overland Park location. If you do go for dinner you will be in for a unique dining experience and that is all I will say.
Falcon Diner: 6 out of 10 Stars
This is located at Ameristar Casino which is just minutes away from Worlds of Fun, and is a 50’s diner with a modern twist. It is very open setting with cool memorabilia hanging on the walls. They offer both booth and table seating. Breakfast is served all day and ranges from $3.99 to $8.99. The lunch and dinner menu range from $6.99 to $10.99 (with a few more expensive items), and offerings include: salads, soup, cold and hot sandwiches, burgers, melts, pasta, seafood, and your Midwestern favorites: crispy fried chicken, chicken fried steak, pot roast and meatloaf. Don’t forget dessert, the lemon square was delicious as was the King Kat Bar.
Stroud’s: 8 out of 10 Stars
Stroud’s is one of those restaurants where you wish you had more room in your stomach. It is in an old mansion that has been converted into a restaurant and is located less than 6 miles away from Worlds of Fun. The wait can get outrageous so it is best to go during non-peak eating times. The grounds are very nice though, they have a pond, and a couple of old buildings to look at to help waste the time, or there is always a miniature golf place just down the street. The fare is what I consider home-style cooking and the sides are served family style (the green bean are awesome!). They are best known for their pan-fried chicken, but my favorite is the broiled pork chops. You get two 10 ounce pork chops (I think if you only want one you can do that and they will reduce the price) and the great thing is if you can talk someone into eating one of your pork chops than their meal is only $6.95 to have all of their own sides and salad or soup. Their soup is incredible, homemade chicken noodle, it can’t be beat. Of course their salads are very good too; it is usually a very hard decision for me. Entrees start at $12.50 and go up from there, but remember, you have the option to do the split meal, and they will re-fill your sides if you ask, actually they usually offer when they see you start to get low. Then make sure you leave room for the homemade cinnamon rolls; you shouldn’t leave without having at least one.
Winstead’s: 6 out of 10 Stars
Jason loves this place, but I just like it okay. Maybe more now that he does not make me eat here once a week. I was going to put this in the fast food category, but you do have to go and sit down and have a waitress come and get your order. The closest Winstead’s to Worlds of Fun is located just right outside the plaza which is less than 10 miles away. The service and food is always very quick though. They have hamburgers, cheeseburgers, grilled cheese and fried egg sandwiches. Of course fries, onion rings and shakes and malts (I love the cherry malt). Eating at Winstead’s is just slightly more than eating at one of your run of the mill fast food places, just a lot better.
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