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Avenues Bistro
Categories: Restaurants French Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Restaurants Tapas/Small Plates French, Breakfast & Brunch, Tapas/Small Plates [Edit]
338 W 63rd StKansas City, MO 64113
Neighborhood: Brookside
(816) 333-5700
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 10 pm
Sun 9 am - 8 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Paid
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
81 reviews for Avenues Bistro
Review Highlights
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"The lobster mac n' cheese may be my death row meal." In 9 reviews -
"Tapas happy hour everyday of the week is amazing." In 14 reviews -
"...portioned and very tasty (bacon-wrapped dates, yum." In 3 reviews
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81 reviews in English
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Review from Bill B.
2/17/2012
Impressive. But my criteria are different from most. If I were to rank this restaurant based on the selections on the menu, I'd rank it as three stars. I was particularly turned off by most of the small plates choices, as described on the menu. But at upscale restaurants, I almost never order anything on the menu exactly as listed. Typical fine dining is like smoking an expensive cigar: very enjoyable at the time, but decreases your life expectancy. High-end chefs tend to use too much butter, cheese, cream, meat, sugar, and salt. So in such restaurants, I ask for different preparations, such as sauces made from wine, tomatoes, or olive oil with herbs and capers. I judge a restaurant based on how well the chef and servers can deal with my requests.
Good chefs like the opportunity to show what they can do. What this restaurant did with my unusual requests could not have been better. So if you go here and don't like what you see on the menu, don't hesitate to ask for changes in the preparations. These people know what they are doing.
The restaurant has some seriously competent sommeliers. I usually prefer to have no one interfere with my wine choices and never ask for advice. Most sommeliers try to convince you to buy a bottle priced at twice what you want to pay. I tried to discourage the sommelier who came to my table, but he offered his advice anyway. So I told him I wanted to order from the "cheap cheap" page (yes, there is one). He recommended a bottle from that list, and I ordered it. He was right. It was an outstanding buy.
This excellent restaurant offers discounts on entrees and small plates ordered before 5:30 pm. The small plates discount applies to all small plates. The entrees discount consists of a fixed discount price on any entree combined with a vegetable side and a soup or salad. You need to have their frequent diner card to be able to get the discounts. I was given one of those cards as soon as I asked. -
Review from SJ L.
Kansas City, MO
5/6/2012
I like Avenues, I really do. But.
I've eaten there several times, and am always willing to go back (especially since that surly joysuck brunette waitress doesn't work there anymore. Tell me where she's working so I can avoid it). But I need to write: I ordered the butternut and serrano lunch salad - it was yummy, but tiny. Size of a side salad. What a rip off. I was still hungry and out 11 bucks. I was annoyed to the degree that, one more incident like that and I'll never go back.
The waitress was nice (and said she agreed with me when I told her it was too small), except she didn't bring us any bread (which I was told by another server she was supposed to) and it took way too long to get our food.
One more chance is all I'm giving them. There are too many restaurants to choose from. -
Review from Zach G.
4/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
Sunday Brunch Review Only:
This really wasn't worth the drive from Olathe. Food was a 3.5, but service was a 2.25. Aside from the guy who sat us, everyone seemed miserable and exuded it in our interactions. Even the door guy seemed shocked we didn't have a reservation. Sorry, bro, the place isn't that busy...don't think so highly of your restaurant when the weather is nasty outside.
Anyways, the buffet isn't huge but has some solid choices. Lots of tasty pastries and meats. The buffet sausage, eggs and chicken are all just ok. My fiancé ordered pancakes and I got a waffle. The pancakes were decent, but the waffle, though tasty looking, didn't have a whole lot of flavor, unfortunately.
The service is what left me with a sour taste. Our server wasn't rude, per se, but she wasn't the friendliest. Barely checked in on us, and didn't thank us for coming. What really ticked me off is that she refilled my water but not my fiancé's water, despite the glasses being so close to each other that you would have trouble sticking her small tip in between, and being at the same level of H2O capacity.
In addition, perhaps as punishment for thinking we could get in without a prestigious reservation, we got stuck in a back corner with barely enough room to breath. I'm not a claustrophobic person, but I felt very confined and uncomfortable there.
I might check them out for dinner, but I'd hope for a very, very positive experience to give them any higher than 3 stars. -
Review from Christina M.
Kansas City, MO
12/29/2011
I wasn't sure whether to go 2 or 3 stars here. When in doubt, I give the restaurant the benefit. I leaned towards two stars because the food is pretty hit and miss. However, I think three stars is appropriate because I have always had really great service here and the food is palatable. In fact, there are a couple of items on the menu that are quite delicious such as the Serrano ham, butternut squash, and grilled asparagus salad. It is delicious. The tenderloin sliders WOULD be delicious because they are nice and rare... If only they weren't such gut-bombs. I blame the butter.
Side note: I like butter a lot, I really do. It is pretty damn delicious and it certainly has it's place in every restaurant kitchen. However, I personally rarely cook with butter and when I do, it is is a tablespoon or two here and there per multiple servings of whatever I am cooking. I've been working off of one pound of butter from my freezer for more than 4 months. It's good but let's not go overboard, right?
That being said, Avenues needs to LAY OFF THE BUTTER! Every single piece of bread in this joint is just freaking loaded down with butter. I do not like it when the bread for my sliders is so buttery that I can't eat more than one. The baguette that is served with their dips is also WAY too buttery. Also, what is with the freaking mayo? Does everything have to have mayo or butter in it? The french fries were served with mayo for dipping. Sick. Agh, my arteries are clogging just thinking about eating at this place.
Ok, so the good points: Nice servers and reasonable prices (especially during their tapas happy hour, which is until 6 and then again after 9). They make a mean roasted butternut squash and asparagus dish. Good wine list too!
Bad: The main ingredient in every dish seems to be either butter or mayonnaise (and I freaking hate mayonnaise).Comment from Joe B. of Avenues Bistro 3/14/2012
Hi Christina, We have listened! You must check out our… More » -
Review from Marie D.
12/29/2011
I'm a girl who likes to get together with girlfriends, drink sangria, and eat nicely done little bites of food. This place is great for just that.
P.S. You can get pitchers of sangria if you ask nicely:) -
Review from Kenna B.
12/25/2011 Seated via OpenTable 4 Check-ins Here
Some of the best conversations with the dearest of friends have taken place over dinner at Avenues Bistro.
The service is European style, so plan on spending at least 1.5 to 2 hours for dinner, and at least an hour for lunch. They have wonderful soups and salads if you are wanting something on the lighter side, as well as comfort foods (steak and potatoes anyone?). Every dish is prepared to perfection, tastefully presented, and delicious.
I see from other yelp reviews that the tapas and happy hour are amazing - I'll be back soon to try those! I also hear that they have a killer Sunday brunch. -
Review from Joe H.
Prairie Village, KS
10/3/2011
Meh. I've experienced better. And by this, I mean from Avenues Bistro.
I'm not sure what happened but this place went from being almost a regular 5-star haunt to being a place I won't even consider right now.
They have a great little tapas menu, fun wine pairings and better than average wait staff. The environment can feel cozy one minute and then cramped the next.
The real reason for the downgrade is that they jacked with their brunch menu. It used to be stellar (pecan and bacon glazed pancakes with marscapone cheese and white chocolate yadda yadda as well as other fun options) but now is lack-luster and unimaginative. It isn't bad (or good for that matter) but considering what it used to be and then witnessing what it is now is like watching the fall of the Roman Empire or worse... having to sit through the Star Wars prequels after seeing the originals.
Oh how the mighty have fallen. -
Review from martini g.
Chicago, IL
12/21/2011
I'm giving this place 5 stars for inventive cocktails and for the fact that they have a "early" dinner special.
The food overall is good quality, but standard types of entrees. The wait staff is good, but DEFINITELY come here for the drinks! -
Review from Amy K.
Dayton, OH
9/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
I came in last night with my parents for dinner. They had been to Avenues several times and said it was a nice place for dinner and not wanting to drive downtown or muddle through plaza traffic, I thought this was a good idea. We made a reservation for three at 7 and were able to walk right in, parking was excellent (although strange, I don't think I have ever seen all the spots open in front of the shops).
Service was effective and quick although perhaps a bit rushed towards the end of the meal. The interior is classy and warm although it makes for a hard to hear dinner conversation. I would like to come back with friends for drinks at the bar some night. It makes for a great neighborhood spot. Brookside is starting a nice trend by adding the mid-high end places to contrast with the uber casual spots.
I got the lobster ravioli and while it was good, it was DRENCHED in a very rich sauce. For as rich as it was there wasn't a need to turn my pasta dish in a soup. I had lots leftover and inhaled it today for lunch.
I had some of my dad's steak which I thought was excellent. And plan to get next time we stop in. The bread they offered at the table was super chewy and paired with a whipped butter.
They have a fairly impressive wine offering, I got a glass of the Riesling (for me, you can't go wrong with riesling, regardless what it is paired with)
I have heard nothing but wonderful things about the Sunday brunch and would love to try it next. -
Review from Rachel S.
Kansas City, MO
2/2/2012
Perhaps I'm alone here, but I've had nothing but GREAT experiences at Avenues. What I really love here is the value-- exquisite food for a pittance. I can think of view other places in KC that produce such great food and charge under $20 a plate. Some of my favorite dishes are the lobster mac & cheese, lobster bisque, crab and avocado BLT (okay, I have a theme going, I see it now), and the super-rich chocolate gateau. Can't wait to update this review once I try their brunch. The servers have always been attentive and knowledgeable, and while I feel that the "atmosphere" leaves a little something to be desired, I really could care less. I'm here to eat, and when I'm eating at Avenues, I'm happy.
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Review from Alexis R.
6/26/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Tapas happy hour everyday of the week is amazing. The plate sizes are more like light entrees so you can easily make a meal of them, with over 20 from which to choose. I've never had a plate here I didn't like, but some of my personal favorites are the bacon-wrapped dates with brown sugar glaze, the fiery shrimp, the potato rosti covered in gruyere, the artichoke gratin, and the trio of hummus, olives and goat cheese all for $6 during happy hour. House wine and martinis ($6) and sangria ($5) round out the happy hour offerings.
I'd been here before for dinner and enjoyed my meal, but I really love the happy hour to gathering with friends and enjoying the warm ambiance at the Bistro. -
Review from Meghan M.
6/10/2011
Rich, decadent food. Mmmm! I don't know why it's labeled as "French," especially since their main advertisements are their tapas which are distinctly Spanish in origin. However, I don't care.
Their French fries, or pommes frites as the French side of them calls it, are AMAZING. Among the best fries in the city, but what makes me come here the most is the good food that can be had at amazing prices during their tapas HH. From 4-6 everyday and 8-10:30pm on Friday and Saturday, you can enjoy $6 tapas with a drink purchase. Our party of 3 had several drinks and tapas for $35...it was cheaper (and fancier) than the barbecue we had the night before. Ridiculous. Deal.Listed in: Best Happy Hour, Best fries
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Review from Jakki C.
Saint Louis, MO
Tapas style menu offering, but NOT tapas style dishes. These offering were huge. Needless to say between lobster mac & cheese, stuffed mushroom, spreads, and small bites. Our eyes were much, much larger than our stomachs.
Upon entering you see the bar area and then further back the dining room. We spent about 30 minutes discussing what we thought used to be before it became Avenues. I don't think we ever figured it out. But we did enjoy the food for the most part. The cocktails, not so much. Watery and not tasty in the way you'd expect.
They do have amazing specials so I'd check those out and give the place a whirl.Comment from Joe B. of Avenues Bistro 10/23/2011
Avenues Bistro (open five years now) used to be a dry… More » -
Review from Matt E.
2/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
I drove 60 blocks for THIS?
I feel pretty dispassionate about this place,so no epic-scale review from me. Just the highlights:
- Not particularly friendly service, especially from the greeter/host.
-strange environment. The only natural light comes from windows up near the top of the walls, giving the whole place a basement vibe.
-Super dull food. Nothing had any texture, and frankly, not much flavor either. With the uninspiring food and the geriatric clientele around me, I felt like I was eating in a more-upscale Furr's Cafeteria.
No sense going back.Listed in: My Mom Says I'm Funny, B-B-B-B-Brookside!
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Review from Roxanne A.
Shawnee Mission, KS
2/17/2011
I'd say this place is consistent, but that's not a good thing. The employees all approach you as if they expect you to give them something. (I should've whipped out my Costco card to see what they would do) I was excited about trying a new restaurant so I stayed patient, but I had to ask a lot of questions and ended up feeling like I was doing the waiters job. After guiding him through lesson 1 from waiter school he recommended the best appetizer for people to share and guess what?? It was a SALAD....the menu includes sliders, stuffed mushrooms, pomme frites BUT for sharing he highly recommended a SALAD. These guys aren't like Olive Garden either, where they bring out tongs with the salad. -We improvised with forks and knives.
The entrees come with only one side, and since we had already eaten salad I ordered the potato casserole with the Special. The Lobster Imperial was okay but not special, a small portion which looked smaller sitting next to a mound of potato casserole, but I understand the logic. (Something Grammie used to do back on the farm when times were tough) The casserole was very dull, tasted like a box mix. I tried my best with the pepper and even added salt but I might as well have been at the Lakeview old folks' home with Gramps.
They have $4 sangria & $5 martini's if that's worth anything to ya. -
Review from Dev V.
2/16/2011
I won't go into too much detail here, but Avenue's just doesn't do it for me. Their food is okay, not great, not horrible. The best meal I've had here is when we did tapas instead of entrees. The servers usually lack personality or even a smile. One server we had had a black eye and bruises all over his face. Good for a story, but he didn't want to tell it.
Overall, the fish entrees usually are soaked in too much butter and I haven't enjoyed most of the entrees. The decor is bad, very dark, lots of red and you feel like you're in somebody's basement. If you go, choose to sit in the bar area.
Wow, I'm being negative! Here is a positive, the wine list. If you read my reviews, you know I love wine. They have a diverse wine list, lots of things you won't see anywhere else. A definite plus.Listed in: Brookside
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Review from Kirun M.
Updated - 10/4/2011
We can't get enough of this place. Brunch here is now a favorite. Aside from the regular brunch menu available at a reasonable $13, you can upgrade to a filet for $5 more. This is an 8oz filet for just $18. And this is the best filet you'll ever have- hints of rosemary and perfectly cooked. For another $5 add on a mimosa. The breakfast strudel is also really good! Great place for an easy Sunday brunch.
Listed in: Toto, we're not in Kansas…, Rise and Shine, It's Breakfast…, Me Need Meat (say in…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/20/2011
I haven't had a bad meal at Avenues Bistro. I love it there. I've always had great service and… Read more »
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Review from Stephen H.
Overland Park, KS
4/27/2011
Oddly, though it's in one of my favorite neighborhoods in town, I've never been here for anything other than business appointments. The service has always been attentive yet discreet and the food is always too good, with large portions to boot (and hence, leftovers). They have a wonderful pomme frites appetizer with three types of dipping sauce.
Like Andre's you're going to find an older crowd of mostly women, but, that's fine. :-) -
Review from Jennifer H.
Kansas City, MO
1/23/2011
We went into Avenues to take advantage of their Happy Hour tapas special. We'd heard really good things about the restaurant and were looking forward to trying it; we were also rather apprehensive, because lately all the places we've heard really good things about have been really big disappointments. Fortunately for us, Avenues was far from a disappointment.
The tapas special is $6 for any of their small plates. This is SUCH a great deal. Everything we tried was so flavorful, well presented and precisely put together. I rarely go back to a restaurant unless it's a particular favorite, simply because there are so many to try, but I will make a point to go to Avenues again and soon. -
Review from Katrina R.
Los Angeles, CA
1/11/2011
Take it from a former "Brooksider" now living in LA, the Avenues can go toe-toe with any restaurant in Los Angeles. Home for the holidays, we ordered our Christmas Dinner for carryout. Everything was AMAZING! The prime rib roast was cooked expertly to order . . . and the horseradish sauce the perfect pairing. And the flavor of the prime rib? Wonderful.
Cannot say enough about the scalloped potatoes, the yams, traditional green bean casserole (a huge step above what your grandma makes) and the spinach salad with raspberry/poppy-seed dressing was just fabulous. Tasty dinner rolls too.
We've always enjoyed the Avenues for brunch and dinner, but if you need anything catered, I can't imagine a better choice. -
Review from Joel S.
Mission, KS
1/5/2011
The half-price tapas and $5 sangria (Friday and Saturday nights, after 8:30) may be the best value in town. My lady and I had our first date here, so obviously I have an affinity for the place. It remains our default "date night" restaurant - the prices are right, the ambiance is perfect and the food is rich and luxurious.
The only reason it doesn't get five stars is that the servers are variable - some are top-notch, but there are a couple of duds - one guy spent more time at the bar hitting on girls than tending to his customers; another was friendly but *really* forgetful (stoned?) and needed to be reminded about things like bread (it's complimentary) and long ago-placed drink orders.
But the food more than makes up for it. The filet tips with mushrooms and bleu cheese sauce are a must-have every time we visit. The lobster mac n' cheese may be my death row meal. I get tingles every time I eat it. There's also a great artichoke cheese dip, which can be dangerous - you need to pace yourself, as its so rich you may not be able to eat the rest of your meal.
We tried the new Leawood location, which was fine, but the atmosphere and food don't quite touch the original. -
Review from Sovana L.
Long Beach, CA
9/14/2011
My brother and I came here for lunch last year. I had crab cakes and I absolutely love it. We also ordered their truffle fries and it was so tasty. I wish I could write more things about it but it was almost a year ago. I thought about writing the review now because I'm currently back in town. I recommend you come here for lunch.
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Review from Jason R.
1/24/2011
Brunch, how have I missed this?
Huge fan of this place but I have never been to the brunch. Wow, we impressed. Several options all of which looked wonderful. All breakfast choices come with their Euro-esque breakfast buffet. Plenty of baked goodies and other options to choose from. We had the Tuscan Benedict and the Steak and Eggs, both were morning food perfection, Roasterie coffee (local plug) and extraordinary service topped off the morning. As good if not better than some the more famous breakfast places in town with none of the 90 minute wait. -
Review from Joi B.
9/24/2010 1 Check-in Here
Avenues is a fine place to have a late lunch when in Brookside. At 3:15pm, we were the only diners in the place.
At first glance, the options for vegetarians seem dismal. Not a veggie burger or sandwich to be had and all of the salads have meat (because of this, I have the idea stuck in my head for now and evermore that Avenues definitely has an "old school" mentality). I asked our (extremely efficient!) waitress if I could get the spinach salad sans the bacon, to which she replied that everything is made to order. Fabulous! I also ordered something sinful to make up for the healthy salad (go me!), the artichoke au gratin app and luckily our helpful waitress told me that the portion was big, so I might want to order the smaller size salad. Good call. I would have preferred a half app option, but let's be realistic.
The salad was absolutely fresh and delicious. It came with strawberries, mandarin orange, candied pecans or walnuts and a tiny scoop of goat cheese. Perfection! The app was far too cheesy for my liking and I couldn't discern any artichoke to speak of. I ate about half of it, because it was tasty, though the crostini was too greasy. The combination of all this richness was not entirely desirable and a dry crostini or bread would have been an appreciated option.
Looking at the small plates/tapas/HH menu, I will make it a point to return! -
Review from Suzanna L.
Kansas City, MO
10/22/2010
The brunch here is delicious!! They have the best chocolate chip cookies I've ever had on their brunch bar. The food is certainly very rich, I guess that's the French influence. Lots of butter and cream! The shrimp gratin for example is a creamy decadent dish, but hey, sometimes I want decadent. I'd say brunch and happy hour are the best times to go. $5 tapas (which are really big portions, unlike most tapas), and $4 sangria. The sangria is good, but my only beef is they serve it without fruit in it.
If you are doing brunch I would get reservations, it's easy because they have Opentable on their website. -
Review from Amanda S.
8/2/2010
This review is for Sunday brunch.
I perfer to sit in the "bad people w/o reservations" area in the front of the restaurant. Yes, I like to brunch but don't always plan. I don't have a problem with sitting away from the other diners. Plus, you can people watch better from the front.
My one complaint is the service. The servers are very good but overloaded. It seems the restaurant isn't property staffed with enough servers. If I let this affect the rating it would be 3 stars but the food keeps it at 4 stars.
The food is great. I like there are entree selections and included with the entree is a buffet. It isn't huge but there is plenty to choose from. On the buffet are a couple pasta salad, meats, cheeses, an antipasto platter, fruit salad, cold shrimp and cocktail sauce, and quite a few pastries. On the menu is a selection of Benedicts and the entrees on the lower portion of the menu rotate. This time they had chicken and waffles with a balsamic maple syrup as well as biscuits with shrimp gravy. I sampled my hubby's chicken and waffles. For me, it was too sweet but the syrup and balsamic did help to cut the sweetness. The shrimp gravy was excellent. It wasn't too rich but had a touch of tomato, lots of oniony flavor and quite a few shrimp. A big plus for me, the potatoes on the side were cooked perfectly.
All in all, it's a good brunch. I think for the portion and selection of items it's priced well. But, it can be expensive if you add on a Bloody Mary, mimosa or screwdriver all are $5. This is a great "take your parents out" place without costing too much. -
Review from Hussein D.
Scottsdale, AZ
3/28/2011
Awesome Sunday brunch. Value written all over it. Any of the menu items (which range from about $13 to $18) include the rather nice buffet arrangement in the center of the dining room. Pastries, croissants, meats, cheeses, yogurt w/ muesli, fruit etc. I had the crab & potato frico. It was hugemongous, and pretty good. After about halfway through it did get a bit tedious to eat, all I could detect was salt and fried on the tongue. Make sure to get a bit of acid with each bite (balsamic or lemon). Only complaint was the lack of signs on the buffet items, and the lack of server knowledge around what was in each dish.
Drinks: Great mimosa, so-so Bloody Mary.
PS. They should update their menu, "All House Specialties Above served with Breakfast Potatoes" is simply not true. -
Review from Natalie C.
Lenexa, KS
8/2/2010
This place was amazing!
Definitely endulge in the Tapas and Wine!
Tapas I recommend:
Shrimp Gratin
Lobster Mac & Cheese
Butternut Squash Salad
Curried Lamb
Lemon Chicken!
We split these 5 between 3 of us and it was PERFECT!
Chardonnay and House Cabernet are delicious! -
Review from Stephen K.
Seattle, WA
1/9/2010
This place was wonderful!
We went to their late night happy hour(Fri 830-10) for the $5 tapas with drinks and I have to say it's one of the best deals in town. We(my wife and I) ate a tremendous meal for under $50 dollars, and all of the tapas were very well portioned.
We thought you got one $5 tapas plate with one drink, but the truth is one drink gets you as many $5 tapas plates as you like. I can not overstate the deal this is. One beer is under $5 and most the tapas are $9-$11 but the quality is such that you might spend $12-$20 at many other high end places. The portions are large and everything was very well made.
As far as tapas go, it is different from La Bodega in the sense that LB is typical Spanish plates while Avenues is really several styles of food so you can't compare the two restaurants plate for plate as several other reviewers seem to want to do.
I will say that where La Bodega has more subtle spices and delicate balances, Avenues has lots of rich, creamy sauces.
For our first trip, we only tried the tapas, but judging by those alone, I'm betting the menu items are just as good and also appeared reasonably priced (around $20 an item)
The ambiance is a little snooty, and the crowd is a lot of trendy middle aged folk in sport coats but I can't even hold that against it. The place was really happening with everyone drinking, laughing, and enjoying themselves so it doesn't feel as uptight as it looks.
The place also has sommeliers, and while we didn't have any wine, almost everyone else in the joint was. It seems to be one of their selling points and we saw one of the sommeliers pouring for a table and talking enthusiastically about what he was giving to everyone.
Our service was good and we will certainly try this place again. -
Review from Erin M.
1/20/2010
Very rarely do I feel incredibly unwelcome by a server at a restaurant, but Avenues sure hit a home run in that area.
At first I thought our water glasses being slammed down without much of a greeting was because we were a good 30 years younger than everyone in the dining room. Ageism is lame, but hey, don't I wince when I see a table of high schoolers being sat in my section when I'm working? Then I considered that it was a weird time in the afternoon for lunch (2:30ish) but there were 5 other tables occupied so certainly she couldn't have been angry at just us?
Whatever the case, the lady was quite a pill for most of our meal. We weren't asked if we wanted other drinks beside water (I had planned on requesting a wine list but was honestly a little scared she'd set my hair on fire for asking.) and I felt like we were putting her out the entire time.
To be honest, my food was pretty fantastic. I ordered the quiche of the day (broccoli cheese) which was delicious and a huge serving. I paired it with the spinach salad without the bacon. The candied nuts, mandarins, strawberries and finely sliced red onions balanced perfectly with the lightly dressed spinach. Boy I was with ordered Avenues' version of a Croque Monsieur, which had chicken, ham and bacon on a croissant with some tomatoes. So it basically...wasn't a real Croque Monsieur at all? In keeping theme with other reviews, it was definitely heavy and hard to eat.
I can see myself coming back one more time to try the happy hour. But I'll be sure to stay in the bar and not annoy the servers in the dining room. Yeesh.Listed in: Danger. Abort Mission.
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Review from Wendie W.
Kansas City, MO
4/12/2011
1. Tapas: Delicious tapas before 6:00 pm; get the sangria and bacon wrapped dates or I'll fight you. I heard a rumor that there's a group of 20-something guys that come here every week JUST for the bacon wrapped dates and scotch.
2. Parents: I came here to celebrate my engagement w/my parents. Good place for that kind of thing, as I've never gotten a bad dish here, and both my parents enjoy their entire menu. For example, my mom throws a bit of a fit if she can't go to Avenues for some creme brulee when she comes up for a visit. I myself prefer the German apple cake. Brunch is great, too!
3. Flavors of Europe: I've been enjoying Avenues' food for years and can taste the reminiscent European rainbow, although I don't think they're trying to pass themselves off as any particular genre (e.g., French, Italian, etc.). This restaurant is on my top 5 list in all of KC.
4. Cool Staff: But not snooty. -
Review from Lacey M.
2/18/2010
This is my favorite restaurant to go to when I'm in town visiting my parents. I've gone on several different occasions for dinner and brunch, and have had amazing service and food every time. I'm just sad it wasn't here when I lived in KC years ago!
The menu is inventive and everything I've tried has been amazing and delicious. My favorite dinner entree is the BASQUE STYLE CHICKEN: Sauteed Chicken Breast in a White Wine Cream Sauce topped
with Prosciutto, Roasted Red Pepper, Artichoke Hearts,
Sun-Dried Tomatoes, and melted Cheese. Heavenly!!!
For brunch I definitely recommend the TUSCAN BENEDICT: 2 Poached Eggs on Tuscan Bread with Prosciutto, Marinated Tomatoes, Goat Cheese and Tomato Hollandaise. Served with Breakfast Potatoes. All brunch items are prices the same at $12.95 and include a buffet of pastries, deli meats and cheeses, shrimp, fresh fruit, salads, and other apps. Probably the best brunch in KC, in my opinion!
This is such a cute and inviting place, with great service and outstanding food....not to mention an amazing wine menu and certified Sommeliers who really know their wine! If you haven't gone yet, do yourself a favor and go ASAP! -
Review from Jeff E.
1/12/2011
Say 'hi' to Ren, for me! She took such good care of us!
To relive a bit of an anniversary, which also happened to be my lady's birthday, we settled in here on a frigid night for warm memories, the same waitress we had last time, and excellent food.
Importantly, Ren recommended something not on the menu...a filet medallion routine that was very good, though slightly overdone. If you're going to eat meat, good meat, don't overdo it.
She paired it with a great Grenache blend and as usual, this place is good to you even if you split the plate and throw in an appetizer or two. No need for 2 enormous entrees, a bloomin' onion, and a 14-layer cake shoved down on top of it all.
Well presented, good food, fair prices, and intimacy with just enough hustle to make it lively. Make reservations though, as it can be busy on weekends.
Until next year! -
Review from Jack O.
Kansas City, MO
5/11/2009
I was very impressed by this bistro. Not only was the service amazing, but the food was out of this world. The food is rather rich, but that it to be expected when you go to such a place.
They have a great reverse happy hour on the weekends. I appreciate this because there is no other place I've been to in this city that provides the amount of bang for my buck. I'm not a big wine drinker but after some prodding from my friends, I tried a glass and was floored.
This place is wonderful for a special occasion, dinner with friends, or a romantic night out. -
Review from Brandi C.
8/16/2010 2 Check-ins Here
I was really torn on my rating for Avenues - I would probably have given it a 2.5 if I could, but my husband thought it was more like a 3.5, so I'm settling for 3.
We had wanted to try Avenues for awhile, but it was packed the last time we tried to go for Sunday brunch, so we made reservations for Saturday night. Our reservation was at 6:30, and when we arrived at 6:21, the hostess said we'd be seated closer to 6:30. Um...ok. So, we proceeded to wait, saw a few people seated in the bar area ahead of us (should've just said one of those tables was fine!), and were seated at around 6:45.
Looking around the dining area, I immediately liked the light fixtures - they had sort of an organic vine-y look, with crystals in among the vines to catch the light. Pretty cool - I'd definitely love a couple of the fixtures in our place! Above our table was a pastel watercolor looking print of Venice, which was nice enough...until I noticed that there was something brown and gross splattered all over the glass. Ick. No more looking at the art. It was also pretty busy while we were there, and the dining area got progressively louder until it did become very difficult to have a conversation with my husband.
Our server was nice enough - they were out of the wine we ordered, so he suggested something similar that was only a couple of dollars more. He also was able to answer all of the questions that we had, and recommended that if we wanted to share some tapas as our dinner, 3-4 would be a good meal. The only odd thing about service was that we didn't get any bread. (Most tables did have bread, so I don't know if we were overlooked or if ordering tapas means you don't get bread, or what.)
We ordered 4 tapas to split, as we were hungry and indecisive. The tapas that made the cut were Shrimp Diavolo, Steak Milanese, Ceviche, and the Lobster Mac and Cheese. I have to say, first and foremost, I was really looking forward to the Lobster Mac and Cheese, and it totally let me down. I consider myself to be a bit of a lobster mac and cheese snob, and the only thing that redeemed this dish was that there were some generous chunks of good lobster in it. Otherwise, it wasn't impressive - the sauce was watery and not very cheesy at all, and it was full of onions to the point that the dish tasted overpoweringly of them. (I'm not a big fan of onions, so it was doubly a letdown for me.) So yeah...I wouldn't get that again, and my quest for really good Lobster Mac and Cheese goes on.
The Ceviche was really good - a nice, light summery dish that was not overly fishy (I've noticed some ceviche has a really fishy odor, to the point where I'm grossed out and can't eat it. That was not the case here). There were chunks of avocado in it, too, which made for a nice and tasty touch. The Steak Milanese was not what I was expecting - the steak was more schnitzely, and mostly tasted of breading, but the greens, tomatoes, sauce, and mozzarella made up for that. The Shrimp Diavolo was pretty tasty - not terribly spicy, but it was my husband's favorite and we'd get it again for sure.
We did end up going for dessert, and again that's where mine fell short. My husband had the tiramisu, and was nice enough to share a bite - it was pretty darn good. I was excited to see a Vin Santo cake on the dessert list, and since I LOVE Vin Santo as a dessert, I ordered that. Sadly, the cake was really dry and didn't taste much like Vin Santo or anything other than just sweet. The cake was warm, which I think helped the dryness some (I'd hate to have it if it wasn't warm), but I was picturing a super moist cake sitting in a little tasty puddle of Vin Santo, and no such luck there. Sad.
I'd go back to try out the brunch, and probably to try a couple of the main dishes, but I was a little disappointed with a couple of the tapas and the dessert. Next time, too, I might prefer sitting in the bar area, as the dining area is super loud once it gets busy. -
Review from Rob M.
9/12/2010
This is a friendly, upscale casual bistro in Brookside serving an interesting "pan-European" menu to neighborhood residents and diners from across the metro. There are menu selections from French, Italian and German cooking, as well as "international" tapas, among others, so it's highly likely you'll find something that will please your palate!
I had the jaegerschnitzel, something I hadn't had in ages and that brought back pleasant memories of trips to Berlin. With a good salad to start and a glass of wine it ended up being a bit more than I had planned to spend, but everything was delicious and I thought it was money well spent!
Avenues prides itself on its wine service and selection. The friend I went with ordered the night's house-chosen "flight" of wines to sample and was very pleased with the choices included. I was driving, so I just had a glass of wine and left it at that. But I was happy with my selection, too.
I think I saw an article or ad in the Star announcing that Avenues will be opening soon in Leawood, too, which is great because it's closer to where I live. I definitely will give its new location a try -- hopefully they'll be as good as the original in Brookside.
At Avenues you can sign up for their mailing list, in which they'll inform you of their periodic special dinners with wine pairings. They're not inexpensive, but sound wonderful! -
Review from Josh M.
12/18/2010
A+
As good as it gets, indeed...
Order the Pomme Frites with dipping sauce.
Steak Frites might be the best dish in town.
'Nuff said. -
Review from Noelle M.
San Francisco, CA
4/8/2008
I came here with my GM and had a very enjoyable experience.
She insisted I try her favorite beer, Hoegarden, not often served at restaurants/bars (btw- we sat at the bar) which must be had with an orange slice-yum!
We also tried three very good apps- Lobster Mac & Cheese, Goat & Parmesan "cheesecake" tart, and some type of scallop thing that I didn't really eat...
All the apps were fresh, inventive, and tasty, surely a sign of good things to come on the menu!Listed in: Things That I Heart About KC
-
Review from jennifer j.
Kansas City, MO
7/7/2009 2 photos
Not such a smooth start. We were here to celebrate something special, but were not seated until 20 minutes after our reserved time. On the upside, the bartender made a killer lemon drop martini while I waited.
After we ordered we heard another table being offered the special, something we were never offered.
The menu offered a goat cheese and beet salad, which I ordered. I thought the wrong salad was delivered because it was basically a field green salad with nuts. The plate included a marble size goat cheese ball and a matching sized beet on the opposite side of the plate. Why would you name a salad after the smallest components of the salad?? Anyway, I ordered the filet with the cheesy potatoes. The cheesy potatoes had a choppy texture, like scrambled eggs and less like chunky potatoes. Steak was descent. We ordered creme brulee for dessert. It is served cold, which I don;t mind. However in the summer, I would prefer some type of seasonal garnish like a couple blackberries. The server was rarely around and we poured off the majority of our wine ourselves.
There is an entire section of "tapas" on the left side of the menu just for the summer. That part seemed more appealing, especially if you want a good deal and might want to do dinner in the bar. Be warned though, the selections are some very heavy tapas.
Atmosphere is ok. Windows are high on the upper part of the wall, so it can feel dark even in the summer.
I probably wont go back. There are just too many other places that hit a home run in every department. -
Review from Sarah B.
Kansas City, MO
8/17/2010
Brunch is good! And not terribly expensive (depending on which entree you choose) but it's a nice little restaurant so it feels more like a splurge. My bloody Mary two Sundays ago wasn't great, just ok. I probably should have ordered the mimosa, anyway. But my brie, bacon and spinach omelet was awesome. The breakfast potatoes are different; It seems like they are maybe deep fried or something? Not entirely unpleasant, but no real flavor. I had a couple of bites of my husband's Chicken and Waffle. Oh, yum. Garlicky fried chicken breast on a cheesy waffle with balsamic infused maple syrup. It's an experience, for sure; one of those things that's not for everyone. But we liked it. In addition to your entree you can partake of the yummy buffet and all it's fresh fruit and cheese and pastries and meats.
So it's not the best brunch ever, but it's a nice change of pace. And the service is good, very attentive and friendly. Which makes all the difference in the world to me when it comes to a dining experience.
