Cafe des Amis is one of my favorite places to eat in the metro. Run by a husband and wife team, they put great care and energy into their menu. They have just remodeled the bar area as well. Cozy, friendly, casual with wonderful food. Wine list is excellent. Would say this is one of my top three, with Farmhouse and Justus Drugstore.
The Justus's have a long history with the city of Smithville, and my childhood is filled with memories of getting cold drinks on hot summer days from the soda fountain that was in the old drugstore. While the city was sad to see the institution go, with the return of Jonathan and Camille, the place has been reborn into something no one ever expected to thrive in a small town Smithville.
In supporting exclusively local products including high grade ethically butchered grass fed beef from just down the road in Tremble, and a vast array of local organics they are able to capture the primary principle of French cuisine: start with fresh ingredients. Jonathan's French culinary education is evident in the subtle, yet complex flavors that seem to hit you, and then gently unfold in your mouth. The cocktails Camille cooks up are also a treat. The desserts are truly works of art with sugary projections jutting out from the plate. The menu is small, but that doesn't keep it from being a difficult decision, as there isn't a bad choice on it.
The success of this restaurant can be chalked up to quality. It has been written up in countless magazines, receiving national attention for the innovative menu and business practices. In short, it's worth the trek to Smithville. You would be wise to set aside the entire evening, as dinner here is not a quick affair, and make reservations at least two weeks in advance. It's the best restaurant in the in city, hands down, and one of the best in the country.
*Note: This review was written while living and dining in Paris, and craving a meal at Justus's.
Rating Detail:
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Value: 5
Overall: 5
Does anyone else think they might not like "samantha" if they met her?? Snarky.
I've been to Aixois dozens of times. With the exception of one visit, have always had great service and I always had a great meal.
My only complaint is that the main dining room can get a little too loud to carry on a meaningful convesation. There is little else to complain about.
Go on a Saturday afternoon...get Mussels, Pomme Frites and a glass of cote du rhone...perfect
Rating Detail:
Food: 5
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 4
Value: 4
Overall: 5
My meal was fantastic I went and sat at a table next to a grouchy debutante that kept calling my waiter Baloo. A nice gentleman in a suit kept coming by our table to check our service which was a fine stamp on our evening. All in all, I would highly recommend the establishment, just stay away from the girl with the salmon. Yikes!
Rating Detail:
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Value: 5
Overall: 5
I've been going to Tatsu's for fifteen years. I was annoyed to find a laughable, vaguely racist, at times unintelligible review on this web site.
The review is full of outrageous presumptions, self-centered reporting, and outright lies. Let's get to the most ridiculous accusation first: The writer says that Tatsu's rice comes from an "Uncle Ben's box" Does she know that Tatsu and most of his kitchen staff are Japanese?
Maybe she does know that Tatsu is Japanese because she next uses the term "...bad Chinese restaurant sauce..." Do I have to tell you that Japanese don't use box rice or Chinese sauce?
Then she mocks Tatsu's wait staff (which also has a fair number of Asian-Americans) for their poor French pronunciation. Now I ask you, would you want to be held to that standard? Typos, poor syntax, and at least one word with no vowels ("smth") make up the rest of her piece.
We can give her the benefit of the doubt and speculate that she was drunk when she wrote the review. Her complete paucity of paragraph breaks suggests some sort of chemical motivation. Otherwise, it's intentional bigotry and unintentional stupidity.
That's sad because Tatsu has given Kansas City so much. In 15 years and through close to 100 meals, I've never had a bad entree. I've probably taken 50 guests to Tatsu's and never heard a complaint. I'm not sure that Tatsu would call me a friend, but I've known him for five years or so, and his sunny personality is truly a delight.
Japanse are known for total quality management and consistency. Tatsu and staff are exemplars of the tradition.
Try the Boeuf Bourguignon, boneless beef short ribs braised in red wine. It melts in your mouth. Or try the poached salmon with champagne sauce. The perfect salmon is counterpointed by the velvety sauce. Or try the spectacular crab bisque (which absolutely has no "fake crab" in it).
In order to refute some the more outrageous accusations, I've had to repeat them here. That is a tragedy. A restaurant with the wisdom, subtlety, and tradition of Tatsu's should not have to defend itself against bigots and liars.
Rating Detail:
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Value: 5
Overall: 5
Re: “Justus Drugstore”
OK, this is one of my top three places to eat in KC. The main reason is that it is part of the slow food movement. When I really need to reconnect to my significant other, dinner here is a great leisurely meal with lots of adventure. If you are not willing to take the time to enjoy the experience, go to the Golden Corral buffet.
The food is excellent, the service has always been friendly and the wine list is spectacular. And we’ve picked up some interesting tips from the bartender as well. If you really want to appreciate and enjoy Justus, make a reservation, clear your evening calendar and relax. Its worth the trip.