I really like this location of Crow's coffee, they have solid specialty drinks and drip coffee is…read morealways solid. They probably have my favorite Americano in the city, though it could be a bit stronger. One thing I would like to point out is how good their scones are, I dream about their rosemary parmesan variety at least once a day. I'm not sure if those are made in house or if they source them from somewhere, but either way they are very good and I love to snag one when I stop by to grab a cup. All the barista's are very nice and easy to talk to, and the interior of the location is very welcoming and cozy. I've started making it a Sunday tradition to go in and read from one of their lounging chairs for a couple of hours while having a bite to eat and a few cups of coffee, it's a new favorite place for me. I can't say whether or not it's a all-time great coffee spot for everyone, but for me having it so close is super convenient and nice, and the solid coffee and staff interactions make this my go to. In the future, I would love to see more of a dark roast bean be available for me to have.

I have been to Crow's South Plaza location multiple times and always had a great experience, but I…read morewas greatly disappointed by my initial visit today to the Waldo location; and it tainted Crow's entire reputation because of some horrendous customer service. Today was my first day using a cane after weeks of weaning myself off of crutches and I was moving pretty slow. As I approached the counter I was looking for a seasonal drink menu to see what unique beverage could kick-start my afternoon. I didn't see one anywhere and asked if they had any seasonal offerings from the barista. She looked puzzled and annoyed and said "here is our syrup list". I stated that I was looking for more of a seasonal drink menu or featured beverages not on the regular menu that most every coffee house offers. In an exasperated tone, she turned around and pointed at the main menu board with all the basics and replied; "This is what we serve". Wow! I politely ordered my go-to cortado for here and left a tip. I then hobbled over to the nearest table to the pick-up counter and waited. A few minutes later the same barista brought the drink to the counter, looked at me an entire 4 feet away and shouted "cortado" and walked away. Wow again! If I was in the business of customer service and receiving tips I would be damn sure to take the beverage to the customer when they're 48 inches away and the shop wasn't busy; regardless of customer mobility issues. I have never asked for a tip back, but I sure felt like it at that moment. My Cortado was tasty, but not enough to remove the foul taste in my mouth from blatant customer disrespect. In my over 200 coffee shop reviews, this is my first time giving such a low score. Adios Crow's.

Yesterday was my second visit to the Front Range Waldo location and this time it was for stop #3 of…read moreRoute #3 ofthe Spring Caffeine Crawl. Of the 4 shops we visited this was by far the weakest of the presentations and offerings. We received a 4oz sample of their Ranger Maple Latte and a 5 minute presentation on the business. The drink is tasty but definitely not on the same level as what other shops were providing in the amount of different products offered for samples and certainly not for quantity when focusing on only one product. I was surprised to learn that Front Range is owned by the "Made in Kansas City" retail chain. No offense to the presenter, she was welcoming and friendly, I just think a more detailed presentation of the company as a whole could have been given. I do like the Rocky Mountain cabin vibe that they have created to make you feel that you've traveled 10 hours west and holding up in a cafe in Breckenridge. 3 stars for Caffeine Crawl experience (this location only) 5 stars for ambiance. 4 stars for product and value

My go-to is an iced vanilla latte. I'm a huge iced coffee person. But every time I walk into a…read morecoffee shop, I still pause for a second. I look around, take in the atmosphere, smell the coffee in the air, and just let a smile happen. The vibe matters to me, and so do the baristas. You can feel when they bring a warm presence - it makes the whole experience better. Anyway, back to the coffee. I was there with a friend, took one sip, and instantly knew... I'd be coming back to Front Range again and again. It was one of those "where have you been all my life?" moments. Like. don't ever leave.

In the storied enclave of Waldo, where the rhythm of Kansas City pulses with a quiet, neighborly…read morecharm, there stands a sanctuary not of silent stone, but of flour, butter, and memory: McLain's Bakery. To step through its threshold is to surrender to the siren song of warmth that curls from the oven like a whispered secret. I have made it my pilgrimage to traverse the entirety of their menu, a culinary odyssey that has yielded no false steps, only a symphony of consistency that borders on the miraculous. Each offering, from the flaky, golden architecture of their pastries to the robust, honest comfort of their savory fare, is a testament to the artisan's hand. Here, affordability is not a sacrifice of quality but a generous invitation, a rare confluence where the exquisite meets the accessible. There is a certain magic in the air at McLain's, a sweetness that feels woven into the very fabric of the establishment. It is a place that understands the language of comfort, speaking it fluently in the dialect of a perfect crust or the rich, dark notes of a expertly pulled espresso. It is perhaps no surprise that such a bastion of authentic delight has garnered a reputation that extends far beyond our local borders; if the standard of excellence is high enough to grace the plate of Taylor Swift, then surely, it is more than enough for us, the grateful residents who claim this treasure as our own. Yet, beyond the flour-dusted counters and the glowing glass cases, my deepest admiration is reserved for their spirit. In a world that often measures worth in cold, transactional metrics, McLain's chooses to honor those who pour themselves into the future of our community. As a teacher, I feel that recognition in the small gestures, the welcoming nods, and the genuine appreciation they extend to educators. It is a profound kindness, a recognition that the work of shaping minds requires nourishment, both intellectual and literal. They understand that a classroom is a marathon, and they act as the essential pit stop, providing the fuel that keeps the light of inquiry burning bright. To dine at McLain's is to participate in a ritual of belonging. It is a place where the passage of time is marked not by the ticking of a clock, but by the turning of the oven trays. It is a reliable heartbeat in the neighborhood, steadfast and true, offering a reprieve from the clamor of the outside world. Whether one seeks a quiet moment of reflection over a cup of coffee or a celebratory feast that honors the simple, profound joy of eating well, McLain's remains an unrivaled steward of taste. It is not merely a bakery; it is the living, breathing soul of Waldo, a place where every bite serves as a reminder that some things in this life are exactly as good as they ought to be.

For the first time ever I used McLain's for catering and I'm officially bumping my review from 4 to…read more5 stars because honestly they did such a spectacular job at such a reasonable price I'm already wishing I had another excuse to order from them again! A few months ago my sister and I hosted a baby shower for our other sister and after looking around an options we decided to go with McLains. It was a smaller group, and we were doing a brunch theme, and our sister LOVES sweets. That paired with our desire to support local, and our shared love of McLains, this was just the most obvious choice. We ended up ordering a cake and first of all I have to say their cake flavor choices are insane - I think we settled on a chocolate cake with peanut butter filling (YUM), but I don't think you can go wrong here. We also ordered one of their pre-set pastry bundles for pick up and honestly everything was wonderful. I think I placed the order about a week out and it was ready when I came to pick it up. What pushed this experience into five star category for me? Just the friendliness of the staff, the serving tools they send you home with, and how thoughtful everyone was. The food was also really just exactly what we needed and it was so good there were hardly any leftovers, I think the kids cleared us out by lunch! At any rate, if you're on the hunt for a great spot to support for your next brunch event consider McLains - they won't let you down!

By far my favorite KC bakery. Hands down. Never had a single thing here that I didn't absolutely…read morelove. The specialty biscuit sandwiches are always my favorite. And the orange cold brew!

Heirloom is one of my favorite neighborhood bakeries in KC. It's always buzzing and busy, so be…read moreprepared for a short line during busy rushes. Seating might be full, but there's both counter seating in the open concept kitchen or tables on the other side. A lot of people rave about their breakfast burritos or breakfast biscuit sandwiches. My out of town guests love them too when I bring them here. I'm here to rave about their weekend only croissants. You can only get them on Saturday or Sunday because it takes a days to ferment and laminate the dough. The quality of their ingredients shines in even the simplest plain croissant. I'll occasionally venture into the chocolate or almond version. They rival some of the best I've had in NYC, SF or Paris. In KC, the only other rivals can be found at French Market or Sour Rabbit Bakery. I'm glad their croissants are weekend only so I can have them as an occasional treat. I find their other pastries, especially the tarts, biscuits or scones are also lovely. For a baked goods focused spot, I'd say their cold brew is also pretty great quality as well. Usually I'd go to another coffee shop for a fix, but I'm okay grabbing both a croissant and cold brew here. I haven't been for their "after hours" dinner specials, but that's next on my to do list there!

Food - 3 Beverage - 4…read moreService/Staff - 5 Ambience - 0 Overall Average = 3 Added an extra point because the patio looks promising and the staff is really cool. I met a friend here and the staff were all so friendly and fun! I thought for sure this would be my new coffeeshop hang, especially for journaling or a lazy Sunday with my husband and the crossword. But by the time I left (90 minutes later), I had changed my mind. It was so ridiculously loud! The noise went way beyond the usual coffeeshop sounds of grinding beans, steam from the espresso machine, and the chatter of customers (which are all expected) . At one point, and I'm not exaggerating, it sounded like an airplane was landing inside the coffeeshop. A horrible, continuous, incredibly loud sound like a jet engine .... And it just wouldn't stop! It went on for several, several minutes. At one point my friend paused our conversation and said "My God, what is that?" It ruined our coffee date and made the experience so unpleasant that we just wrapped up our time together and left. To add insult to injury, when we got outside a car alarm was blaring. That is not Hattie's fault, of course, but it didn't change my impression that this is the loudest coffeeshop on earth. I've been to hundreds of coffeeshops, and I've never experienced a prolonged, wretched, grinding-engine sound like this before. I have no idea what it was. It was so bizarre. I had an Arnold Palmer and breakfast sandwich. The lemonade was too tart, but I could have added more sugar so that's not their fault. The sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich was meh, but the pastries looked great (although I didn't have one). Since the staff is wonderful and it is a convenient spot for me, I will go back on a nice day and try the patio. But I can't imagine I will ever try sitting inside again. The search of the perfect coffeeshop continues!

Neat little coffee shop tucked in the corner with an incredible selection of beverages, limited…read moreseating inside but for Sunday morning it wasn't too bad. Very helpful staff, a lot of them used to work at one of their competitors so they're familiar with how people perceive the sizes and flavors.

This is a great location of the Roasterie! It's located conveniently on Brookside Blvd, close…read moreenough to the shops to stop before Saturday errands, but far enough away to find parking. I love that they are open before 7 AM and that their pastry selection is often well stocked and their service is very quick.

I tried out this location for the first time. The iced oat milk, sugar-free caramel latte was…read moregood. The barista's were OK, they probably could be a little bit more friendly and welcoming. They had a variety of baked goods from Ibis Bakery it looked fresh. They have seating scattered throughout the location, but I feel it's a little bit too crowded. I took my latte outside on the patio, which I enjoyed the most.

I've been looking for a coffee shop in the KC metro area and decided to give Summer Moon a try. I…read moreordered an iced vanilla latte with oat milk, and my total came out to almost $9. Yes, $9. That's on the expensive side for a latte, so I went in with pretty high expectations. Everything about the experience was quick and efficient. The line moved fast, my drink came out quickly, and I was in and out with no issues. The shop itself seemed like a great place to sit down and get some work done or catch up with a friend. Since it was such a nice day, I decided to sit outside. My first sip immediately stood out because of the texture. It was probably the smoothest coffee I've ever had; silky, creamy, and almost pillowy on the tongue. Unfortunately, that's where most of my praise ends. The coffee itself tasted fine, but nothing about the flavor stood out, especially considering the price. I ordered a vanilla latte, but I couldn't taste any vanilla at all and got virtually no sweetness from the drink. Overall, it's not bad coffee by any means, and the texture was genuinely impressive. But for nearly $9, I expected a lot more flavor. I don't regret trying it, but I wouldn't come back at that price point.

On a nice sunny day in OPKS, choose a new spot to try. Abby was extremely patient and helpful…read moreunderstanding there menu options and sweetness categories. There's plenty of other drink options too! There's breakfast options surely you can land on- sandwiches, donuts, pastries and other hot choices. You can tell quite a lot of went into floor layout of the shop. Open design is inviting with different seating sections from front tables, couches and then toward the back more tables where it's great for remote work. Then there's the patio. It's shaded because it's on the backside. I ended up getting an iced Blue Moon Latte, Full Moon sweetness and hot moon matcha to go. Both with oat milk. Their signature sweet cream and oak coffee was good. Since I asked for light ice, it was definitely more milk so the flavor was light, just a hint. My mom liked her matcha just fine.

I just want to say what a GREAT experience I've had dining at Hemma Hemma! I've been there twice…read moreso far, and have been consistently impressed. This past week, I joined a friend for lunch, and we both want to formally thank Dana at the front counter for being so welcoming, gracious and helpful. I accidentally knocked over the menu holder, and she reassured me that it was fine and happens frequently. My friend and I split the bill for our order, and she cheerfully rang up each of our portions separately. She guided us through some of the menu options which was much appreciated as there were some new items since my last visit. The food here is FANTASTIC!! I can't remember what I ordered on my first visit (but I do remember that it was delicious!); this week, I had the Brookside Buiddha Bowl, which was AMAZING! Even the presentation was wonderful (see attached photo)! All the ingredients were delicious, and the flavors melded beautifully, and it was so satisfying; it kept me fueled and focused during a long afternoon at work. My friend had the Pickle Chicken Bacon Ranch salad and said it was mouth-wateringly fabulous. The weather was nice enough to sit in the outside patio, which is well-appointed (even a free water station); the first time I was here, I ate indoors and the dining area is light, airy, and expansive, with plenty of room between tables and quiet enough to chat. Having such a healthy, delicious restaurant in the neighborhood is marvelous, and I'm already planning my next trip back to Hemma Hemma! Thank you all SO much!

Walking into Hemma Hemma, you feel welcomed in it's cozy, inviting space. The restaurant is…read morebeautifully decorated and it is apparent that consideration for the home-y vibe went into every aspect of the design of the space. The restaurant is not massive so I would recommend a reservation if you can, or you may end up needing to wait for a table (they only do dinner reservations). One thing I would want to mention is the tables are a bit close together making it a little awkward when you're getting up. We had to move our table to let the folks sitting next to us in and then again when we were leaving. I couldn't wait to try the Filthy Martini, a spring specialty cocktail, which contains both pickle AND olive juice + pickle stuffed olives and a salt and pepper rim. It was just exactly what I wanted and would come back solely for the cocktail. For dinner, I had the Yoshoku Beef Curry and it was delicious. The meat was so savory and the runny egg was a perfect add. Strongly recommend if you like Japanese curry. We cannot wait to come back to try brunch and we are also looking forward to their Dinette location downtown opening on the weekends to give that spot a try as well.