This eccentric, entertaining "neo-Japanese Robata Grill" offers more than sushi and items cooked on a Japanese-style hardwood-burning grill — although those dishes are popular here. So are the fabulous Szechuan sirloin chili (a refreshing spin on the diner classic), flat-iron steaks, Kobe-beef burgers, stir-fried sirloin and grilled Berkshire pork tenderloin, among other choices that aren’t necessarily of Asian origin. This restaurant's owner, the iconoclastic Casey Adams, loves all things Japanese, and Nara is his attempt at bringing a little Tokyo cool to downtown Kansas City. The place is certainly stylish, and there's almost always an air of festivity, which is just the right climate for a post-work cocktail — a saketini, perhaps? — and a plate of gyoza dumplings and typhoon shrimp. — Charles Ferruzza
Price: $$-$$$
Payment Type: All Major Credit Cards, cash
Parking: Lot Available, Street
Reservations: Accepted, Recommended for Large Parties
Attire: business casual
Entertainment: DJs every night (10 p.m.-1:30 a.m.)
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My 2 sisters and I just went there for one of our birthdays. We did't have a reservation but there were many empty tables. The hostess asked us if we could be done in an hour or if we wanted to wait for a table. We said we would try to be done. The waiter was instructed to stay close by our table and make sure he took our order timely. after just 45 minutes, the waiter brought over the check and and the host came with him to tell us our time was up. We asked if we could be moved to one of the many empty tables. we were told they were all reserved. They were very rude and nasty and made sure to embarrass us and make us leave our table even though there were many empty tables when we left. The explanation was that they were all reserved. Until tonight that was one of my favorite places. I will never eat there again because of how badly we were treated. When we tried to complain to the girl at the register, she put her hand in our faces and said "good night ladies"..... I am very sad and disappointed.
Rating Detail:
Food: 3
Service: 1
Atmosphere: 1
Value: 1
Overall: 1
My favorite restaurant downtown. Always has great specials for food entrees. We love Nara. If you make a reservation, you will never have a problem getting your table on time.
The sushi is fresh and always delicious. The sushi chefs are so fun to sit with while they prepare the food. Very entertaining. We go about 3 times a month. Love it!
Rating Detail:
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Value: 5
Overall: 5
great experience.
terrific variety of food
Rating Detail:
Food: 5
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 5
Value: 5
Overall: 5
A very busy place no doubt, yet the overall product is worth the wait. Why does the place get busy, you ask? Good service, good sushi and sashimi, with respectably strong drinks. Having personally lived in Japan, this is a good stop in Kansas City for Japanese fare and happy hour libations. Those that say otherwise, obviously lack the international cultural experience. And No, I have zero affiliation with this establishment, aside from the consumer standpoint. I will be there again and again..
Rating Detail:
Food: 4
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 5
Value: 4
Overall: 4
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Every waiter/waitress I liked has been removed as well. The bar staff has improved, immensely. But good luck getting a good seat! The bar is so tiny for them to be focusing all of the place's energy on it.
The sushi is awsome. Very fresh. Takes a while but if you saw how small the sushi bar was you'd understand.
Rating Detail:
Food: 3
Service: 2
Atmosphere: 5
Value: 2
Overall: 2
Oh. My. God.
Can you say clusterf***? The place is, to quote, "demented and sad but social".
I've been there quite a bit. I will probably not go back except to drink, maybe. I've told my friends that we should eat somewhere else and really only go there for drinks if necessary. I'm telling you this too.
Atmosphere is very pretty but just know that with all of it's glitz it lacks ev-e-ry-thing else.
Then I first went there, last year, the place was awesome.
They had this wacky chef who made very interesting cuisine, and he would come out and chat with you about it. The food was amazing. There was a pretty solid staff and the atmosphere was delightful.
Since then every plate that I liked has been removed from the menu. A couple of wines I liked are no more. For this restaurant wanting to be known for sake, that menu certainly hasn't grown much. Cocktails have become bizzaro >Pernod tastes like liquorice people, just so you know
Rating Detail:
Food: 3
Service: 2
Atmosphere: 5
Value: 2
Overall: 2
Sushi is not fresh. Other dishes are overpriced and bland. Chefs don't know how to make the rolls or sushi very well as they kept falling apart.
Service is also abysmal. Atmosphere is great however. Go there to hang out and drink, just don't eat there.
Rating Detail:
Food: 2
Service: 2
Atmosphere: 5
Value: 2
Overall: 2
I really don't understand what the big deal about this restaurant is. The food isn't great, and the prices are too much for the quality of the dining experience.
Just because a restaurant is in a trendy area of town, people get all excited without realizing how much of a joke the restaurant is , really.
Rating Detail:
Food: 1
Service: 2
Atmosphere: 1
Value: 1
Overall: 1
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