Back in 1973, United Missouri Bank razed the downtown building that housed Kansas City’s best carriage-trade department store, Emery Bird Thayer. The bank saved a number of architectural relics from the store — brass elevator cages, a few leaded-glass windows, carved brownstone column ornaments — and used them as drawing cards for a lobby-level upscale restaurant in the UMB branch in south Kansas City. The name EBT honors the old department store, and, in keeping with the nostalgic elements of the décor, it’s one of the last restaurants in town to offer classic dishes such as Caesar salad, pepper steak and bananas Foster, still prepared tableside. Although it’s not fancy or shockingly expensive, EBT remains a “special occasion” venue because of the pianists who perform almost nightly and the fresh flowers on the table. — Charles Ferruzza
Price: $$-$$$$
Payment Type: All Major Credit Cards, cash
Parking: Lot Available
Reservations: Accepted, Call-Ahead Seating Available
Attire: casual to upscale
Entertainment: live entertainment (Mon.-Sat.)
Showing 1-1 of 1
This restaurant seems to be on the downside of their popularity arch. The dated decor and openness of the room gave it a very hotel-esque feel. The service team was prompt but unenthusiastic about the menu, which clearly needs a makeover in addition to the atmosphere. Given the price of the food, the only logical conclusion is that people with money live nearby and are willing to sacrifice it for convenience. It is entirely too mediocre to spend $150 for dinner. Kansas City has great restaurants, however both the interior and the menu of EBT needs immediate updating to be considered one of them.
Rating Detail:
Food: 3
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 2
Value: 1
Overall: 2
like
dislike
