We used to love this restaurant, but tonight the server ruined our experience. We will not be back. It's a shame because the food is great.

Cafe Verona is finally open again on the square in Independence. It is a quaint dining experience with an upstairs and a patio. It has a fairly good wine list when the wines are in stock. I ordered the Chianti, which is usually what I have when I have Italian, which I am but they were out. Overall it was a good meal and a fair ambience, though there is room for improvement. Our waitress was nice enough when she happened to drop by. I had to flag her down, however, to get the ball rolling. When she did stop by I thought it would be a good idea to order appetizer, salad and entree all at once in case she got distracted elsewhere. Wrong decision as all three showed up at the same time. It took us 20 minutes just to get a glass of wine. To be fair, however, it was busy as expected and if expected, an additional wait staff should be waiting in the wings ready to jump into action. Either that or have the wait staff be more aware of their tables and how far they are progressing. Our appetizer was the "chopped" antipasti which came in a bowl mixed together instead of the platter with the meats, cheeses and such laid out for viewing pleasure leaving one the opportunity to taste test one at a time. The pasta was "al dente" which in Italian means "to the tooth" a phrase whereby the pasta is firm when bitten and not soft or limp. Cafe Verona has only been open for about 3 weeks and still needs to work some things out. I'm sure they will and Cafe Verona will become the premier dining experience I remember it being. Oh, and some Italian music in the background wouldn't hurt. read more

This is my favorite Italian Restaurant in the area. We always start out with a drink at the charming bar. For me, it's always a Mr. Rosa. The most lovely cocktail with Citron Vodka and St. Germaine. Watching the bartender put this drink together is something to see. Don't ask questions.....just order yourself one. It is lovely to look at and even better to drink. Between my hubby and I, we've ordered a good deal of items on the menu. We have never been disappointed. I seem to always go back to the Chicken Orecchiette. The most lovely pasta with a vodka sauce. If you love vodka sauce, you know it can be hard to come by in the KC area. Don't miss out on this one. While I am not a big fan of Calamari, I was recently with a large party of folks who are big fans. Every single person claimed it to be the best they had ever had. And these people are picky like you read about. And the service is always on point. Starting with the bartender and later with the servers. Overall, a place to not be missed if you love Italian food. read more

A fun experience and great food. We had their Mac and cheese and it was very tasty. A good place to go to.

If you take the time to place an order online...Do yourself a favor and call to verify order was recived. 2nd time this has happened!! Inexcusable!! This will certainly be the last time. Vivalore...Here I come!! read more

This place is cute and it's located in one of the most adorable town squares I've ever laid eyes on, but with that being said....we weren't impressed with the food or the service. We came here for restaurant week and what we got we could've paid the same price for and gotten at any time, basically. Right when we sat down they put oil on our table but the bread was MIA for another 10-12 minutes, even though the place wasn't busy. We were starving so we ordered the fried cheese appetizer, which came out as three mozzarella sticks and two triangles of provolone cheese with marinara dipping sauce. This all basically tasted like something you could buy from the freezer section of any grocery store and was not worth the money. Next, the bread made an appearance, and the oil was weird. I don't think it was actually olive oil because it was very dark yellow, so I have no idea what I consumed, but it wasn't tasty. My friend ordered the tomato basil soup which she said was good. I ordered a house salad with homemade Italian dressing that was not good. Most of my lettuce leaves were dead and had brown spots on them and the flavor of the dressing was very off. For entrees, we both ordered chicken orecchiette, which was ok, but pretty bland. Neither of us finished our entree. For dessert we had about a two bite serving of tiramisu, and about a two bite sized pistachio cannoli. The tiramisu was nothing great, but the cannoli was the best part of the meal. With the food being so "meh", I can't imagine that I will ever return. It's sad that this place isn't taking restaurant week as an opportunity to show off what they do best to gain some repeat business. read more

Cafe Verona - Italian Near Me - Independence, Missouri

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Food is always good and authentic. We love the sangria as well and, service is always great! read more

Met my friend here for dinner last night and it was delicious! I had the lasagna which was amazing and the Arincini appetizer was perfect. I'm from the east coast and very picky about Italian food and was not disappointed. I dislike the sugary sweet sauce here in the midwest and was happy Cafe Verona doesn't make theirs like this. Waitstaff and bartenders were on point too! Will be back :) read more

Adorable place. We were walking around the square looking for a quiet but good place to get drinks and dinner and found this place. So happy we went in. Chase the waiter was expedient, checked in on us just enough times. Food was tasty but not crazy expensive. Drinks were delish. They made me a mocktail which was great! read more

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Lovely cafe with amazing Italian food. Amazing atmosphere and friendly and helpful staff. Margarita was the best. Planning to visit again with my boy. read more

My boyfriend and I just had lunch earlier today there. The food was decent. My boyfriend had Verona's Baked Lasagna. I had the Baked Mac & Cheese. The service was awful. We don't drink alcohol and neither one of us like unsweetened tea. So, when he told us they didn't have sweet tea, and we advised the waiter we would just be drinking water, he seemed annoyed. We will probably not be going back. read more

Cafe Verona - Baked Mac & Cheese - Italian Near Me - Independence, Missouri

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Stopped in for lunch. Food was great, and staff very professional and friendly. I have been looking for a really authentic Italian in Independence. I have found it! Highly recommend, wonderful dining experience. read more

Delicious food. Place is very fancy. Service very good.

Eat well, drink well, and have a wonderful experience at Cafe Verona. Every town seems to be known for something. Independence is known as President Harry S. Truman's stomping grounds. Truman's home was fairly close to the historical Independence square where he visited for the occasional dinner out. Cafe Verona sits right in the middle of this nostalgic area and if Mr. Truman was around today I am sure this gem would be a favorite of his. On the rare occasion when I am in the Independence area I always make sure that I eat at this wonderful restaurant. The ambiance makes you feel like you are sitting somewhere in Italy and the food leaves your mouth watering for months after your meal. During my last visit I selected a nice glass of Chianti Rufina and ordered the Portobello Panini sandwich. The server brings you some delicious bread sticks with oil and freshly grated cheese. You can order wine by the bottle and most are available by the glass. The presentation of the food is very well done and the servers are very helpful and polite. If you want great food and a pleasant atmosphere for a reasonable price then make a trip to Cafe Verona. It is an ideal place for a date or for a romantic dinner with your spouse. They also have a cool bar and patio area that makes for a fun place to hang out with your friends and family. Large groups are welcome but call ahead because they need to prepare the upstairs for your visit. read more

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I've only ate here a couple times but I remember it felt fancy and the food was delicious!it's been closed a very long time because of covid. I hope it reopens soon. It's just on the square in Independence but you don't feel like you are on the square! It's magic! You must try it to believe it! Maybe a romantic dinner for 2? read more

We went during restaurant week. They have a cute bar area to grab a cocktail if you get their prior to your reservation. For appetizers, we ordered the Warm Lobster Dip and the Veal Meatballs. Both were absolutely phenomenal! For our entrees, we ordered the Crab & Shrimp Gnocchi and the Gorgonzola Crusted Strip with Garlic Whipped Mashed Potatoes and Asparagus. In my opinion the gnocchi was a little dry but my fiancé apparently liked it because he ate the entire plate. The strip was nothing special in my opinion. For dessert, we had tiramisu and a lemon blueberry cake. Both of which were sub-par. Our service was incredible; George is on top of it! Overall, we would go here again for a date night and try something different! read more

I love this place! The chef is 5 starsi n my book! The location, parking, the building and decor... All very appealing. The food is all wonderful. We were there with relatives for our anniversary. And the portions are generous, the wines complement the foods very well and the service is very friendly. Not pretentious, but they could be! (I shall return). read more

Cafe Verona - Italian Near Me - Independence, Missouri

So glad to see the door open again! They have the best Preserved Lemon Shrimp dish I've ever had! Good service tops the food making it a truly awesome experience no matter the time or day read more

What a wonderful little Italian gem at the Square! The food is delicious, the drinks are well made, the atmosphere is calm and the staff is wonderful. Eveyone there is so genuinely nice and attentive. They have great happy hour specials almost every day, and their food is very reasonably priced. Highly recommend for romantic date night or even bringing family and friends for a large group. read more

My husband and I went to Santi-Cali-Gon. Our daughter had gone off with her friends- We definitely did not want festival food. So we tried Cafe Verona. We were greeted promptly and the hostess was very friendly. Even though we didn't have a reservation we were seated right away. I loved the decor and ambiance of the the restaurant. Our server was very nice and never tried to rush us. Since I had never been there I tried something simple. I had gnocchi in a basil cream sauce and my husband had fettuccine alfredo. They were both very good. The salads were simple but very fresh and the dressing was very tasty. It was very reasonably price. We would have the same or more on "Festival Food. We will definitely be going back. read more

This place is a gem! This was my second time coming to this restaurant, and I can't wait for the third. First impressions were that I felt like I walked into Italy. We came in the summer time and ate on the patio which was really romantic. The second visit we had a party of eleven and the waitress was fantastic. Our service was prompt and accurate. Everyone raved about their food choices of how delicious they were. I ordered the Egg Plant Parm and really enjoyed the sweetness of the sauce. They have really great Happy Hour specials in the bar that we took advantage of before getting seated. I am glad to have a place like Café Verona on the Independence Square! read more

I love this place for a date night or a nice weekend lunch on the patio where you really feel like you're in fair Verona. The food is great and the staff is wonderful read more

The best thing about cafe Verona is the venue.....it is in old downtown Independence (President Truman's home town) in a brick building that used to be a 5 and dime variety store for decades. Back in the old days, the family that owned it lived above the Jones store. When it was sold, and about to be remodeled, the roof and 2nd story in the front of the building caved in. So instead of going through the expense of redoing the roof, the new owners left it open, to create a courtyard, which is perfect for an Italian restaurant that has been here since 2001. They kept the great brick walls, added wrought iron gating that has a nice Italian green patina, added a stone fountain, and about half a dozen tables including one with an umbrella for summer evening outdoor dining! Inside, the decor is also nice, with rich wood accents, leather backed booths, and two rooms upstairs for groups with 6 large tables in one, and the other with 4 tables that overlook the bar below. We sat outside and started with our favorite...Insalata Caprese ($6.99) They did the classic ingredients, offering a genrous 4 slices of red tomatoes topped with nice large egg sized buffalo mozarella, and accented with the classic basil leave chips and balsamic vinagrette. A nice twist was sea salt sprinkled in. Mama Mia! It could have had a little more basil, to freshen it up a taste. We also split the Bruschetta Trio (hint: Americans pronounce this broosheta; in Italy, it would be pronounced broosketta.... the "ch" being hard, like Chianti! and the double T being hard, not soft) This was 3 slices of bagguette, topped with marinated tomato and goat cheese; prosciotto and brie cheese; and white bean hummus ($8.99) This was pretty good, and we dipped the smaller pieces in the remaining sauce of our Caprese! We felt like pasta, and here, all pastas are served with a small house salad and bread. The house salad is forgettable, as it is not Italian but more toward the tastes of the local salad bar crowd, although it did have a little house balsamic vinagrette, which was so-so. My associate had the Rigatoni Sausage Rosa. This is salsiccia, mushrooms, onion, peas, in a peppered vodka rosa sauce. ($12.99 full, half order $8.99). He thought is was a little overcooked and overspiced. I had the Seafood Diavalo ( $15.69) which was a spicy marinara with shrimp, scallops and clams over penne pasta. Meh. It was ok, but somehow a bit unsatisfying, perhaps the night before at Flatiron in Omaha had spoiled our palettes, since this seemed a bit vague, a bit overdone and looking for some inspiration. There were no clams, but the shrimp and scallops were decent. We both had a glass of wine, a Cali Merlot ($7) and a Super Tuscan from Italy ($8) Emily, the tall Georgian blonde by way of Sacramento was very friendly and attentive, and cheeful and friendly. A solid choice, particularly the ambiance and service, but the food was meh, except for the Bruschetta and Caprese, those were excellent! read more

I really love the look and feel of this place. I really love the sculptures and the giant mural of The Birth of Venus over the bar. It's gorgeous! The restaurant is in Independence Square, which is becoming a really nice area. There is both inside and outside seating and a full bar. The menu isn't extensiver, but it has a nice selection. There is only one vegetarian option, but they did say they could prepare many of the dishes without meat. Prices were reasonable, the wait staff was excellent and the berries and cream dessert was too die for! I've been dreaming about it ever since. After dinner be sure and take a walk around the area and go shopping! read more

First visit to Cafe Verona and we're hooked. Everything was excellent. Started with a bottle of Rosso then shared the calamari appetizer. For the main course we ordered the rustico and veal marsala. Both dishes were delicious and we'll portioned. Nice to see the main dishes include a side salad. The house vinaigrette was superb. Finished our evening with the cannoli trio, zippolis, coffee and tiramisu cocktail. read more

Wow - I have to say that the owners and staff here impressed me more than any other place I've ever been. On a previous trip, I'd been less than please with a dinner that was sub-par. After sharing the experience with the owner via their website, I was personally contacted by the owner and offered a meal on the house to make up for the previous bad experience. On this second visit, I tried the grilled Ribeye ($16.99) which had a great grilled flavor, served in a savory pan gravy over a heap of creamy potatoes. My BF got the Chicken Oriechette- the chicken was a bit sparse, but he loved the spicy sauce. We started with the mozzarella sticks, definitely the best sticks I'd ever had! The server Rick was amazing and offered great advice on wine. I loved the personal service and attention to detail! We'll definitely be back - it's now one of my top dinner choices. read more

I would SO like to give Cafe Verona five stars, but I just can't. It has a lot going for it. Visually, it's great ... an impressive bar, beautiful artwork, gorgeous woods, the heavy tablecloths and high ceilings ... and the little courtyard in front is a wonderful place to sit on a nice day ... umbrellas for shade, comfortable mesh metal chairs and tables, the fountain gently burbling in the corner, the surrounding brick walls for shelter and the brick and black bars separating the area from the front sidewalk. It feels very European. In June, my Mother and sisters took me there to celebrate my birthday. We had planned to sit inside, but the music was so loud that conversation would have been difficult, so we let them know we would sit outside. It was almost 20 minutes before the server brought us menus, and another 10 before she came back to take our orders, and another five minutes to bring us water and a basket of bread and the little dishes of olive oil with Parmesan and herbs (very tasty). Fortunately, it was very pleasant in the courtyard with a light breeze blowing and the soft sound of the fountain. And we had plenty of time for a nice visit while waiting ... and waiting ... for our food. My Chicken Parmigiana (lightly breaded breast, marinara sauce and mozzarella, oven-baked and served over fettuccine - $14.99) was very good. I requested the marinara on the side, and they graciously accommodated me. One sister and my Mother shared an Insalata Bistecca (sliced KC strip steak, mixed greens, beets, asparagus, red onion, walnuts, and Gorgonzola vinaigrette) for $13.99. They said the salad was OK, but the meat was difficult to cut, and almost impossible to chew. So they ate the salad without the meat. They were not really crazy about the dressing, either. My other sister ordered the Italian Chopped Salad (mortadella, capicola, salami, proscuitto, Parmesan, kalamata olives, red onions, fennel, mixed greens, with white wine vinaigrette - $13.99). She didn't really like her salad very much either, and she normally loves this kind at other restaurants. Since it was my birthday, the server offered to bring me a complimentary dessert. I chose the cheesecake from the selections offered, but about five minutes later, she came out and said that there was no cheesecake available, so I chose to have vanilla ice cream with fudge sauce. You know it's sad when something so simple disappoints. It just tasted ... I don't know ... "flat." Not rich and creamy ... and definitely not worth the calories to eat it. SO ... I'd give my entree and the breads/oil, and the visual atmosphere my five stars. But for my Mother and sisters' entrees, just two stars ... and two stars for super slow service, and the overly loud music inside, and I'll average it out at three stars. In our server's defense on the slow service, I think that perhaps she was also tending the bar that day, but for the number of customers that were there during our stay, I don't see how it could have been that busy. I'd say, definitely check it out for yourself. I've been other times and had great service, and my food has always been above average. The other thing I've tried there is the mac & cheese with the grilled chicken, and it was very good. The bread is always wonderful. But ... go when you are not in a hurry ... just in case ... read more

I have never written a restaurant review of any kind before. However, my experience at Café Verona in Independence Square was so appalling that I'll put in writing. In fact, the owners were notified by mail, of my experience and they have not bothered to reach out. That speaks volumes of what they think of customer feedback and of dedication to improving the business. First, it was supposed to be a relaxing Friday night after work for my husband and I. Despite the fact the restaurant was not busy (bad sign) we were seated at a table that was wobbly. We brought it to the attention of the server. He tried to shim it and it didn't work. I asked what was I thought to be a logical request and move to another table. Whoa boy! We moved but it set off a big fight with servers, the contents of which we were unfortunately within earshot of. Next, my appetizer came with a little something extra - a very long hair. Maybe revenge for taking away a server's assigned a table?? I don't know. Next, I spotted a soccer-ball sized hole in the wall in the dining area. The owners don't even bother to fix it. You can't have that in restaurants as it quickly becomes hidey-holes for vermin. Never again with the restaurant. If there are blatant problems in the dining area, ...you can rest assured there's whole lot more problems in the kitchen. Disgusting place and uncaring owners. read more

I concur with the other reviewers. Cafe Verona really is a solid 4.5 stars. Why? Because it's incredible! I couldn't decide between the special of the day, a chicken panini or the mac and cheese. The waiter suggested possibly doing a panini with a side of mac and cheese. I figured I could have the mac there, along with half the panini and then take the other half home. I have to say I was a little reluctant to order the side of mac and cheese due to it's price. $4.29 for a side? That's pushing it. But after seeing it, I totally take it back. The side is big enough to be a meal in itself. In fact, after eating the side of mac, I could only take the tiniest of bites of the panini just to give it a try. The whole thing was coming home as leftovers. As for the mac and cheese, it was tasty. I'd say it's pretty up there, though not the best I've ever had. When it cooled off, you could taste the creaminess of it. I loved the crust on top. And as I said, the side was a meal in itself. I'd hate to see the full mac and cheese meal. No, I take that back. I'd love to see it. Leftovers! I tried the panini for dinner. O. M. G. The chicken is grilled so perfectly. I will probably dream about said panini for the next few weeks. So rarely do they use a decent piece of chicken and then grill it properly so the flavor is meaty yet light and has that wonderful grill taste. The other stuff just added to it. Service was nice and attentive. They came around to fill our water glasses, made suggestions as to what to order and brought out the parm. I loved this place and have no hesitation returning next time I'm in Independence Sq. If you're in the area, this is the go-to place. Avoid the way more expensive, yet far poorer quality Ophelia's around the corner. read more

We went today for lunch - a weekday. Started with the toasted ravioli with a surprising pesto white sauce that was excellent. I got the MAC & CHEESE orecchiette pasta tossed with our homemade four cheese sauce topped with Parmesan cheese with chicken - creamy dreamy goodness. My spouse got the INSALATA BISTECCA KC strip over a bed of arugula, beets, asparagus, red onion, walnuts, gorgonzola vinaigrette and enjoyed it. Bathrooms were very clean, service was great, wine a little expensive but not bad. They were a little heavy on the salad dressing - be sure to ask for it on the side. I will definitely be back. read more

Cafe Verona is absolutely the best Italian Restaurant in Independence. Now, don't get me wrong, I love V's too. What would Independence be without V's, it's the quintessential italian standby, but I would not recommend Cafe Verona for children. Why? Because it is 10 times more romantic than V's. Still not dissing on V's, but if you are looking for someplace a little more upscale with 100 x's the ambience, then Cafe Verona is IT! After my third visit, I am compelled to review and recommend this star in the McClain crown. The food is consistent, well prepared and flavorful. The Risotto Palle appetizer is stunning. Over three visits, my boyfriend and I have tried the Ribeye (our favorite, the gorgonzola and pancetta really send it over the top delicious), the Chicken Marsala, Shrimp Scampi and Chicken Rosa (a special). Each time, the dishes were presented beautifully in perfect portions. The service is always impeccable, the servers knowledgeable about the wine selections and fast and friendly. The ONLY reason I did not give Cafe Verona FIVE stars, it is a solid 4.5, without a doubt, is the chance that you may get stuck upstairs. The downstairs dining room is incredible, as is the bar and the patio. The upstairs dining room is obviously the banquet area and it feels like it. Cold and stark compared to the lovely downstairs. Definitely make a reservation so you do not get stuck upstairs. On a recent Wednesday evening, we ended up there with one other couple and it was not nearly as pleasant with no music, no fun table cards, etc., once the other couple left, I felt sorry for our server having to tramp up and down to take care of us, but nevertheless, the service was fantastic. Dinner for two ( 1 app, 2 entrees) with a bottle of Stillette de Notte (1/2 price wine night) was still just $60. Best italian food in Eastern Jack and a far better place to 'fall in love'. Wewt! read more

I visited this restaurant for lunch a few weeks ago. I went with my husband and my friend. The food was mostly good. It wasn't the best, and mine was somewhat heavy, but it wasn't bad. If I was purely rating the food, I would have given it 3 stars. The service was terrible. Terrible. When the waitress asked what we wanted to drink. my friend and I said water. My husband said nothing, he was fine for now. The waitress looked at him, said "I'll bring you water" in a voice that said she was obviously annoyed and noticeably rolled her eyes. I'm fine with her bringing water to everyone at the table, but not rolling her eyes. While we were waiting for our food, another staff member was vacuuming the room we were sitting in. This included vacuuming under our table. When our food arrived, she put mine on the table and said "for the lady", she put my husband's down and said "for the gentleman". She then put my friend's down and said "for you". I considered this very rude. When the waitress was clearing our plates, she asked us to hand her some of the plates. She also cleared the table while one of us was still eating. Not the worst thing in the world, but still a bit obnoxious. Maybe we caught them on a bad day, but for us, the service was so bad it was unbelievable, and the food did not even start to make up for it. read more

This was a wonderful find for a large group of 14 from Texas. The food and service was exceptional.

I can't say that I was all that impressed. There were some good parts to the meal, but we drove from south Overland Park because it was recommended. It wasn't worth the drive. To its credit, my salad was good. but I found the portion to be rather small. The "olive oil" was too bright in color to be real olive oil and likely was something else. it also didn't have the taste. The balsamic vinegar was okay, and the bread was not memorable. I had a breaded chicken dish with capers and pasta. the chicken was slightly overcooked but was well seasoned. There were a lot of capers on the dish, which I like but others may not. The pasta was clearly from a box and not fresh-made (which is not necessarily bad) but I felt the portion was way too small. When we were done, I felt like I needed to go someplace else and get something to eat. My wife ordered eggplant Parmesan (a dish that I will never like but is one of her favorites).. She ate maybe a third of it and left the rest behind, not even getting a "to-go" box. Everything appeared to be clean although some spots could use a fresh coat of paint. The atmosphere was not Italian to me at all but was more "plain ol' Missouri" trying to act Italian. If I were in the area and wanted a quick fix, I might go back... but I imagine there are better places to explore in the Independence area. I really hate it when restaurants play "Italian" and don't know what they are doing. read more

We have been coming to this restaurant for over a decade, and any review I might have written then would be the same now. Cafe Verona is consistently delicious!! The location on the square is nice and the building and interior is full of charm. I love that you can make reservations here and you'll probably need them on a Friday or Saturday night during any season of the year. That said, you can also pop in at 5:30 and be sure to get seated. The host staff are always friendly and accommodating. I like the slightly dark ambience of the dining rooms here but yet it's perfect for date night or a family dinner. Now for the main Pros of Cafe Verona: Of all the years and times we have visited, we have never had a long wait for our food (drinks, bread, appetizers or entrees). We have also always had wonderful wait staff. I suppose that goes to their training of their wait staff, but it's comforting to know when you go out for a special dinner you're going to be treated well every time. Our last waitress Sarah was a prime example of a fantastic waitress: attentive, professional, and friendly. The bread they serve is perfectly soft on the inside, crusty on the outside and they give both a plain and seasoned kind. The dipping oil is full of just right spices. We've had too numerous of entrees to comment on each of them but I can honestly say everything we've had was delicious. We are partial to the Chicken Orecchiette which comes with a spicy rosa sauce. It is a spicy, creamy bowl of heaven! Cons: These aren't really cons just subtle suggestions. Years ago they used to have Table Talk cards on the table to chat with while waiting. Why did they leave? It was a neat addition to the table. Of late, they changed the Tiramisu to be inside of a coffee mug instead of the usual square piece on a plate. Tiramisu is my absolute favorite dessert in the world and it's draw is the beautifully square cut piece on a plate where you can see the decadent layers all dusted with chocolate or sugar. It never belongs in a coffee mug drowned in whipped cream. From a faithful patron of at least 13 years, please no!!! You drowned out all the beautiful flavor and rich bite-fulls by stuffing it into that horrendous mug. Tiramisu is simply perfect on its own, you don't need to reinvent it. Ultimately, you can't go wrong with Cafe Verona, it's real Italian food made right and top notch service!! I would always highly recommend this restaurant to any and all!!!! read more

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I eat here around 5 or 6 times a year and it has always been outstanding. My latest trip was just as great. The lunch special was goat cheese artichoke wood fired pizza. The business client I took there ordered the fettucine with sausage. The bread and olive oil is always fresh and new (they offer different varieties of fresh bread-no reheated bread sticks here) The bar has an amazing ambience too. My favorite Italian restaraunts in Kansas City are the downtown Garozzos and Lydias; but I generally go to these two for special occasions. Verona's is great for a casual business lunch or date night with the wife. read more

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! First time and I can't wait to tell others about the experience. I had three courses; Calamari w/ garlic butter and marinara (appetizer), a divine serving of a four cheese macaroni with a twist- a sliced 10 oz ribeye prepared under medium tempered fire on top(entree), and lastly their infamous zepollis- a delicious dough all deep fried until golden and dusted with cinnamon and brown sugar served with sweet raspberry dipping sauce (dessert). A truly beautiful dining experience and Italian themed atmosphere. Reminds me of my time in Rome,IT sitting at a corner cafe. Four words for you: I WILL BE BACK! Excellent costumer service delivered by Katie. Thank you. read more

Cafe Verona - Italian themed atmosphere and authentic feel. - Italian Near Me - Independence, Missouri

This is our favorite Italian restaurant by far in Kansas City. We have been to Italy and this is by far the closest to authentic Italian food we have had. The Asiago chicken dish is phenomenal! They have great wine specials on Wednesday nights and a great service. read more

When I was little, my father had a small dentist office on the Independence Square. During the summer months, my sisters and I used to walk around, $5 in our hands, trying to make it last for a few hours. I tell you all of this because the only places to go back then were--seemingly--Clinton's, Watt Drug and a small, dingy bakery (name forgettable, donuts not). This is no longer the case. I was pleasantly surprised to find a new crop of little boutiques and M&P shops sprouting up on the Square. Refreshing, considering the revitalization of downtown is taking such a different--ah-hem, corporate--route. The square is definitely worth visiting. Now, on to my review of Cafe Verona. Based on the inviting, ambient entrance and the excellent customer service we received, this place deserves 5 stars. (If it had been slightly less humid, I would have LOVED to sit in the patio area. It's adorable.) About the food: I thoroughly enjoyed the bread/olive oil/Parmesan brought to us to start. Then I requested the half order of prosciutto ravioli for my meal. It was good, but the flavors were overpowered by an excess of oil. 3 stars. The service: Ours was very nice, but overattentive in a way that demonstrated her newness. She asked one too many times if we were ready to order. (I realize that many people want to sit down, eat, and leave; we were not those people. An experienced server will recognize the difference quickly.) On the positive side, a manager exhibited superior customer service skills: When my companion inquired about his dish, which arrived at the table unlike its explanation on the menu, the manager automatically fixed it by providing the alternative side dish. That is the type of customer service many restaurants (and businesses in general) lack these days, and I greatly appreciated his effort. The beverage: The wine selections were great. Maybe when I go back with my hubby, we'll have a bottle. Overall, the experience was great. Give this place a try! read more

The meals come with a house salad, which was $4.00 by itself. I substituted for soup, which was also $4.00, yet they added an up-charge. I inquired and they told me it was an up-charge for switching. Another member of our group had a millions special requests including changing the pasta in her dish. Was she charged an up-charge? Up-charges are meant to be when you substitute for something that would cost more. Other than that BS, it was very good. read more