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    Dear Donna

    4.9 (16 reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    DEAR DONNA ATMOSPHERE

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    Haley W.

    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.

    Beet Salad
    Krista R.

    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!

    Inside dining room
    Kayla S.

    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.

    French fried potatoes with sour cream & onion dip
    Kent Jacob C.

    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.

    Meatloaf melt

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

    Egg sandwich with shoulder bacon
    Mindy A.

    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.

    Breakfast sandwich
    Meshelle R.

    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

    What was left of my share of the Dutch baby, meatloaf, and egg sandwiches.

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    2 months ago

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

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    Sunrise On 39th

    Sunrise On 39th

    4.5
    (135 reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$

    Don't skip coming here…read more We went with the two recommendations from Our server and we're NOT disappointed. My husband got the huevos rancheros. Delicious. I got the chilaquiles with chicken and for the two sauces choice the white and verde. It was the best I've ever had. Everything was cooked to perfection and the flavors were spot on! The service was slow but that was bc every single table was taken - and now I know why. We will be back.

    It was a really cute little restaurant! There is not a whole lot of space but I really liked the…read moredesign and space. The food was very good the flavor was on point and my favorite was the hash browns they were buttery and crunchy. My wife and I shared the meat lovers breakfast burrito and it was good size and filled with the filling. The sauce on top had a little kick to it but that could have been the veggies on top, but would get it again. Our friend got the breakfast enchiladas and said it was very good, she likes the green sauce over the red. I didn't personally try so I can't say how it was. My son ordered the traditional breakfast, and that's exactly what it was, but he liked it. The pancakes are the size of the plate and had a fluffy center and crispy edges. We did have to ask for more syrup because they were so big. The only reason it was not a 5 was because I felt the waitress could have been around more. I felt that since we had a group of 7 and the gratuity was already added she didn't worry about it. Our waters went empty and we had to ask a different waiter for more water and syrup, when she came over the water was warm and didn't have any ice. A kid spilled her syrup we went and asked for a rag and we cleaned it up which we expected but we had to flag someone down to see if she could get more syrup. I just felt she wasn't as attractive as she could have been. We went there on a Monday around 9:45, so it wasn't extremely busy. I would say that you should try it, it was good food!

    Photos
    Sunrise On 39th
    Breakfast Sopes
    Breakfast Sopes
    Sunrise On 39th

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    Messenger Coffee

    Messenger Coffee

    4.6
    (663 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    My friend and I got coffee and pastries here several times during our visit. The service was great…read moreand the coffee and pastries were even better. My usual order - a 16oz. vanilla latte and pan au chocolate - was amazing, and we plan on coming here again the next time we are in town.

    Visited this place twice while staying in downtown KC. I was pleasantly surprised that they had…read moresome solid gf options- I tried the chocolate banana muffin (gf) one morning, which was delicious + not overly sweet, imo. I also got a breakfast burrito (not gf) the second morning, which was delicious + had great heat. The coffee here was also amazing, although I opted for very basic oat milk lattes each morning. My husband got a maple tahini latte one morning + a smoked something or other on the other morning we went. My husband + son got croissants both mornings and loved them, but they also had some seriously cute rainbow donuts on display, which I was a bit shocked that my five year old passed by. The baristas were all very friendly and helpful, which I appreciated + the space was great with an open kitchen concept/plenty of seating. This seems like a great spot to work from, although they also had a wonderful (windy) rooftop to sit on also.. that looked like it had a fireplace for chillier days- so cozy. Best coffee in KC.

    Photos
    2nd floor seating
    2nd floor seating
    Toffee crunch cookie, iced Caramel Latte
    Toffee crunch cookie, iced Caramel Latte
    Soy latte 12 oz on the patio table

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    Soy latte 12 oz on the patio table
    McLain's Bakery

    McLain's Bakery

    4.5
    (312 reviews)
    7.6 mi
    $$

    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.

    The young man at the register was so helpful!!! He made it fast and easy. The cake decorator even…read moreput my daughter's name on it in GOLD! All in 15 minutes! Thank you.

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    McLain's Bakery
    Custom Cookies
    Custom Cookies
    Chicken Bacon Wrap

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    Chicken Bacon Wrap
    Heirloom Bakery & Hearth

    Heirloom Bakery & Hearth

    4.2
    (256 reviews)
    6.6 mi
    $$

    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!

    I love me a good bakery and coffee shop and thanks to the 2026 spring Caffeine Crawl I may have…read morefound my favorite it both categories. We were welcomed with a brief overview of the company and treated to a sparkling matcha limeade on the patio. Following this we were treated to a fantastic sandwich and beverage pairing. The diced chicken was marinated in Coca Cola and cold brew then served on toasted fresh made bread with house made bbq sauce and veggies. Then paired with a cold brew mixed with Coca-Cola and topped with a cherry-vanilla cold top. Phenomenal. Just as incredible was the bakery case. After a tough decision making process, I took home a cookie, Lemon Goat Cheesecake, and blueberry pop-tart. The cheesecake and poptart were best I've ever had in each category and the cookie that I didn't even get a taste of, was declared "the best damn cookie I've ever had" by my wife. Two days later she is still talking about it. With the welcoming and friendly owner and staff, the creative and top tier products, and a cool environment; I'm all in for frequent trips from the Northland to Brookside for further exploration.

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    Vibrant bakery!
    Vibrant bakery!
    Bakery items
    Bakery items
    Entrance

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    Entrance

    Dear Donna - breakfast_brunch - Updated July 2026

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