Fred P. Ott's 4770 J.C. Nichols Parkway, 816-753-2878
Because the Plaza is the Plaza, practically all of its bars tend to attract the Stepford-type crowd -- droids who are entirely too perfumed, tanorexic, gelled and shrieky loud. Which is why we like Fred P. Ott's, the low-key watering hole where the service-industry crowd gathers after shifts. Its décor is of the crazy-crap-on-the-wall school, which is a nice contrast to the sleek mod look of other Plaza bars. Plus, you can't go wrong with its scenic patio, good bar food, cheaper pitchers of Boulevard and a 3 a.m. closing time -- and its location on the east side of the Plaza, far from the maddening trendoid crowd.
