Were you looking for a neighborhood joint where everyone knows your name? Well, that can be Dear Donna if you make it your goal to try every item on the menu as I have. (I'm 3 things away from accomplishing that.) It's a small but mighty collection of offerings, and I'm honestly impressed that they were able to curate such an interesting variety that could appeal to anyone you're dining with. As of now, my faves are the egg sandwich + bacon and the drip coffee for breakfast, the meatloaf sandwich pairs well with the herby green salad for lunch (consider adding an Aperol Spritz), and if you're here for brunch, go with the Dutch baby. A standout is the beet salad. Whatever it is they put in the sauce is the secret. If you can, save room for dessert! Service is top-notch. It's a group effort from the gals behind the bar to the kitchen staff and the owners. They're all looking out to keep things running smoothly, make sure you're topped off on coffee, or bring out your order. Vibes overall are chill and bright. I'm really bummed I moved away from being walking distance, but glad for a short period of time, I could call myself a regular. read more

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The reviews were on point for this spot. I had no idea this is the former Happy Gillis. The menu is small but everything sounds delicious. So based upon recommendations I ordered the Dutch baby. Even though it's not necessarily something I'd order because I don't typically like sweet and savory combos, it was yummy. The crispy savory fried chicken breast atop of a sweet Dutch baby was a combo of complex flavors. I was sad that the beet salad is no longer on the menu. They offer lunch and breakfast items. Not a lot of gf or vegan options. In addition to coffee, soda and tea they also have a great list of classic cocktails: aperol spritz, Hugo spritz and more. I tried the Devils brew. A combo of cold brew and amaretto. I asked them to add a splash of oat milk. Oh My! It was so delicious. I had to work very hard not to slurp it all down in one gulp. The staff are super friendly, like they are genuinely happy to see you. They keep your water filled. It's also super cute on the inside. It's definitely worth several repeat visits to try more menu items. read more

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Dear Donna absolutely lives up to the hype and more! Opened by the brilliant chefs behind The Town Company, Dear Donna lives in the space that used to be the beloved Happy Gillis, and I honestly can't think of a better replacement. The space is quite tiny, so expect to wait on the weekends. So this is not the place to bring a massive group of friends -- be selective about who you enjoy Dear Donna with! You order at the counter and then take your number to a table. The menu is small and concise but packed with tons of delicious options. I must admit, it is quite expensive. But I think it's worth it for the flavor. These are maybe the best French fries in KC, and I'm not exaggerating. I could not stop eating them. And they're perfect with the scallion dipping sauce. On top of that, the breakfast sandwich was fantastic. I am a breakfast sandwich expert, and this one hits all the notes - crispy crunchy hash brown, fluffy eggs, cheese pull, and a delicious sauce. The desserts were also incredible. Is this the prettiest banana pudding I've ever eaten? Probably! The service is fantastic. Everyone was super friendly and helpful. The owners were running food and chatting with all the diners! I can't wait to come back and be a regular. There's always plenty of street parking on Gillis in this quiet part of Columbus Park! read more

Dear Donna - Banana pudding - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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My fiance and I made it to Dear Donna this morning. It's been on our list since it opened since we're such fans of Town Company, but with it being a breakfast and lunch spot in Columbus Park, it's just not that convenient for us. So we made a special run over there and arrived around 9:05 on Saturday morning. Happy to report that I think if you get there before 10, you're in a pretty good spot. It's a pay at the counter with table service kind of a place. I got their egg sandwich with add a bacon and my fiance got the Dutch baby with fried chicken. I also threw in a slice of their almond cake that has been all over social media, which was peaches and cream flavor for the season. I will say the kitchen was moving a little slow at first, but they open at 9 so it was still very early. But once it got moving, our food came out very quickly. My sandwich was probably one of the best breakfast sandwiches I've ever had. Certainly very heavy, but the crispiest hashbrowns I've ever had in my life were on it plus a really nice hot sauce aïoli to make it more interesting. Not a light breakfast, but very satisfying. I think ultimately I preferred what Kyle had, which is really their take on chicken and waffle, it had a really deliciously sweetened butter with it and it had a very complex but delicious flavor. And the cake was definitely worth it too. Every component was delicious on its own and together was just incredible. I definitely would recommend this if you're ever in Columbus Park in the morning or for lunch. They've really done a good job of threading the needle between extremely casual service and approachable food while still being extremely elegant. I definitely want to go back for lunch because both their pimento kimcheese and their french fries look incredible. The table next to us got the fries and I could hear how crispy they were from 4 feet away lol read more

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Dear Donna makes for the perfect weekend brunch. Small but mighty menu, we had the breakfast sandwich, French fries, and fried chicken Dutch baby. Wow, so good! An ideal breakfast sandwich, but the real winner was the fried chicken Dutch baby. No further explanation needed! Great spot and can't wait to come back. read more

Dear Donna - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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I'll be honest, I didn't know this restaurant existed until a friend brought me for lunch. It is such an adorable restaurant. You order at the counter and then they bring your food/drink. We came right during the lunch hour and lucked out finding a table for our party of 4. We ordered the best salad to split and then I ordered the meatloaf sandwich for my meal. The beat salad was really good. Beets were nicely cooked and the whipped ricotta added nice textural contrast. I could eat this salad every day. The meatloaf sandwich was phenomenal. The meatloaf was tender and juicy. I would maybe prefer a different bread as it did get soggy and hard to hold on to towards the end. But overall such a good lunch. Definitely give this place a try! read more

Dear Donna - Beet Salad - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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I had the best breakfast sandwich of my life here last week! I miss the old Happy Gillis menu because of the biscuits and gravy, but Dear Donna makes up for it with their delicious breakfast sandwich. Service was order and pay at the counter but still friendly and helpful! It was clean, small and quaint with a nice atmosphere. So cute. read more

Dear Donna - Inside dining room - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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The perfect successor to Happy Gillis. While the presentation is stunning, the flavor is the real star--this isn't your standard diner fare; it's something much more intentional. ​If you're a beet skeptic, the roasted beet salad will converted you. The Dutch Baby is a genuine treat, and the egg sandwich--featuring a brilliant flattened hash brown--is a total standout. Also, don't skip the French fried potatoes; they are easily among the best I've ever had. ​The service is impeccable. The staff is attentive, and the chefs personally check in on every table, making the entire meal feel like a curated experience. 10/10--I cannot recommend this place enough. read more

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Dutch baby fucked me up. Fish sandwich was tasty and the fries were great. Staff was all really nice, I'll make sure to go back. EDIT: For those confused by my colloquialism I greatly enjoyed the Dutch baby. read more

Dear Donna - Dutch baby and fried fish sandwich - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

I had a great time at Dear Donna getting lunch with my friend! It's so cute inside, albeit kind of small! We ordered at the counter and they brought us out our food. The staff were friendly and service was fast. I had the egg sandwich with cheddar, hash brown & secret sauce and added shoulder bacon. It was seriously SO good. Great brunch spot and plan to be back. read more

Dear Donna - Egg sandwich with shoulder bacon - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

The food was amazing, the vibe is exactly what I want from a local brunch spot (cozy elevated neighborhood diner), and their team is friendly and attentive. My husband and I split the egg sandwich with bacon and the dutch baby with chicken and both had great flavor and were perfectly cooked. The owners were great about engaging with the diners and brought us an amazing dessert when I told her it was our anniversary, which really kind of made my morning, honestly. read more

Wow - what a find. Creative but not fussy menu including breakfast, lunch and beautiful desserts. Husband and wife team. Efficient service too. Try it. read more

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So amazing small busy. Very loud but I would come back. On street parking and seems like a good place to grab a breakfast sandwich to go read more

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Absolutely love Dear Donna, it's where I go whenever I need a treat! The attention to detail across the entire restaurant is so well done and thoughtful. Love the pink aprons and doilies, and the food is just too good. Get ready to go on an adventure, a cozy, genuinely lovely one! read more

Fun neighborhood lunch spots. The food was comfort and wow all at once. Will be returning soon to try more menu items!

The egg, bacon and hash brown sandwich was really tasty. Just wish it came with something. Was delicious, but expensive. It was $48 for two breakfast sandwiches, a soda and iced tea. read more

Omg this place is the best. We were first in line on Saturday. By the time we left, there was a line cleared down the sidewalk. I had the Dutch baby with chicken and it was phenomenal. I had never had chicken with any breakfast in my life it was so good. Its such a cool little place. read more

My husband, daughter and I stopped in Sunday before a trip to the City Market. We each loved our choices: meatloaf sandwich, fish sandwich and egg/cheddar sandwich!!! Wish you all the best!! We will be back! read more

Oh my gosh this place is spectacular. Three of us went and shared everything so we could try multiple things on the menu. We got the meatloaf sandwich, egg sandwich, the Dutch baby, French fries, gachi cookie and almond cake. Another review said these were the best fries ever but the photo didn't seem to reflect that. I promise you, they are the best fries ever. They are the ones that are crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside and have the -whatever it is- on them that makes them flavorful and amazing. I'm told they're called eczema fries if that helps Everything was impeccable. The cookie was crunchy and soft in the most perfect way. The cake was refreshing and every bite was bliss. We didn't leave any food, except the onions in my plate. My friend ate most of the other onions. They were perfect, if you're into onions. Anyway we forgot to take photos before we dug in so here's proof of how amazing it all was. read more

Dear Donna - What was left of my share of the Dutch baby, meatloaf, and egg sandwiches. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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