Wow, what a great find on a beautiful Saturday afternoon! I was actually picking up something nearby so I grabbed my brother and said come check out this place and Cosmo burgers.... completely impressed!!!! The atmosphere was welcoming. It was a beautiful day so the garage door open--nice breeze..... the bartender Paul was probably the best bartender I've had in a long time!!!! Made you feel right at home....conversational.... making sure that we were always taken care of!! in addition to the fact that we did not know Cosmo burger had to be ordered online and you just picked it up at the window ....so he helped us figure out how to do all that I read online that they were probably the best burger in the area. I have to completely agree!!! a combo of great taste on a smash-burger made just right!!! Plus, the made from scratch margarita was amazing!!! Just an all-around great experience and made for a wonderful quick lunch!! RUN don't walk!!! read more

Dodson's Bar & Commons - Fantastic margarita! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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We have been here multiple times and the bartenders, maybe just Paul, has been a bad experience. Wrong checks, wrong order, and hurtful experiences. Would not recommend 0 out of 5 stars if i could. read more

Great bar with some interesting signature cocktails. I was an absolute fan of the Cosmic Burger that you were able to order in the bar as well. I of course had to grab a burger and some tots, both were great! I tried the Watermelon Margarita which was tasty. I also tried the Clarified Milk Punch - Fruity Pebbles drink. It was funky. I thought the crushed fruity pebbles in the rum were a nice touch. Overall, the vibe was chill and casual and the bartenders were friendly. I only wished that there were maybe a couple more things on the wall. It was not only noisy in the bar but the sound was bouncing off the walls making it hard to hear and understand my friends who were sitting right next to me. Great bar with great drinks and food. I will definitely be back. read more

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Man, what a great spot to meet friends for a drink! Every staff member I encountered passed the vibe check. The burgers and chili cheese tots were killer. Love that they have NA options for us non-drinkers! read more

My friend and I were in the area and decided to stop in for a cocktail before dinner. We asked the bartenders if we just sat anywhere and they said yes. They spent the time talking to each other and helping a couple other people. After about 10 minutes we noticed the coasters on the table had QR codes on them and thought maybe we ordered drinks that way. It was only the menu. After a few more minutes, we decided to leave. read more

The his placed shocked me! Their insta screams high end cocktail bar but it's mixed with the perfect amount of "dive bar." It's the best meet in the middle for your indecisive friends. Also cosmo burger is attached so you can't go wrong with that. Bartender was great and helped me decide between a few drinks! read more

I came here to Cosmo burger to get some food and I have my daughter with me. It's apparently against the rules for them to serve water at this establishment if you have a kid with you. The ambiance is okay. Loud. But I just come here for the burgers. read more

Dodson's Bar & Commons - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

Dodson's Bar & Commons was well worth the drive from the Northland. I only wished we had a neighborhood gathering place with awesome craft cocktails and uber friendly mixologists. The best decision we made on our first visit was to sit at the bar. There is plenty of seating elsewhere, but that's where you'll develop the greatest appreciation for what makes this place so special. We are big fans of the Suffering Bastard cocktail (made with Bourbon and Gin) and that was an easy first selection. Paul, one of the bartenders, explained how they made their version of the drink. The citrus flavoring was the difference maker. Paul led us thru the best drinks on their menu, plus some that aren't, each with a unique hook. My wife who is our house mixologist appreciated him showing her the various liquors and allowing her to smell what made each special. John, another bartender we met, was equally friendly and engaging. Beyond the great drinks and conversation, you can't beat the Happy Hour prices that end at 7pm. Next I ordered the Cock & Bull, followed by the spicy Mango Habanero Gimlet. My wife really loved the Don't Give Up The Ship, the Last Word and White Negroni. All were exceptional and would be ordered again. If you're not into cocktails, they have a wide selection of draft and canned beers. An added reason to visit is the Cosmo Burgers ghost kitchen located inside Dodson's. I'll review it separately. So you can have drinks and a meal. We can't wait to return and bring some local and out-of-town friends to enjoy the warm welcome we felt read more

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I am so sad that I didn't get a picture of my burger because it was phenomenal. Think of a diner mixed with gourmet. If you like Town Topic, this is your place. I went to Dodson's to have a beer and a burger. My friend and I ordered the double Cosmo burger which was filled with two double patties, grilled onions, cheese, burger sauce and a pickle. It was served on a potato bun. I also had a Cinder Block Dry Cider. Both the food and beer hit the spot. If you like a place that is loud, vibrant and busy, then Dodson's is the spot. The only downside is a 45-minute wait for your burger, but the excellence of the burger makes it worth it! read more

Paul is a great bartender go see him. The place is cozy and chill. We stopped in on a whim and I am glad we did :) read more

Dodson's Bar & Commons - Side car treat - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

@dodsonsbarwaldo What a place!! Games, drinks, and chill environment. Drinks to try - Cock & Bull and El Diablo. Also they have a great happy hour. We went on a Saturday and cocktails are $3 OFF! read more

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Dodson's was a fun hodgepodge of entertainment with different TV's showing anything from a video game speedrun to a panda livestream. The drinks were priced at the KC standard ($10-12) with $2 off during happy hour, so overall a good deal. My friend and I tried 6 cocktails by the end of the night and while I loved all of them, the housemade prickly pear selzer was a standout. read more

I've gone to Dodson's for years and I kept coming back because most of the bartenders are so kind and the drinks are great. However, the female bartender who works there is deeply unpleasant every time I go in. I usually try to brush it off but I'm tired of spending 12 dollars on a drink just to have someone be actively rude to me and my friends for no reason. Won't be coming back. A big shout out to all of the other bartenders though, they're great and seem to dislike having to put up with her attitude as well. read more

The bartenders are amazing, especially Sarah. She works super hard and is very detail oriented and friendly. I appreciate her! (Paul, John and Deon are cool, too). read more

Dodson's Bar & Commons - A martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

The atmosphere is great - a nice chill vibe, not super loud with comfortable seats and benches. The staff is super friendly and the cocktails are spot on. Plus, they have fun stuff like shuffleboard, old-school vid games and a big screen that only plays the iPanda channel. The only kinda weird thing - the pretty, petite bartender kept showing us her "feats of strength". She lifted a full keg over her head and was like " hey, check it out". She was also pressing cans to her forehead and flattening them like pancakes. She was very sweet though and said "come see us again!" We will. read more

Used to love it. Too bad the owners are ok with having a bartender being an absolute jerk. If you want poor service, ask for Sarah.

Great vibe with very friendly bartenders. Feels like a neighborhood place that welcomes everyone. Cocktails are reasonably priced and made well. They don't serve food, but they do allow you to bring food in which was nice. I had noticed mention of the panda tv on several reviews and now that I know what it is, it's crazy how entertaining and calming it is all at the same time. Who knew just watching a live stream of a panda sanctuary was so cool We enjoyed our visit here and will definitely be back. It's also nice to see that during this pandemic, they are taking the health and and safety of their staff and patrons seriously, and by no means, does this make your experience any less enjoyable! read more

Spent a lovely evening in here with some coworkers. To try some good drinks and check out some burgers from the cute little cosmos place inside. The drinks were so good. I basically just told the nice bartender girl what i was feeling and she was just whipping up the best drinks. Place was totally cool. Will definitely be back. Great service. Place was busy but really appreciated the good service from the bartenders. And especially Sara. She was made the night special for our first time. Dodson's really seems like a neighborhood gem. read more

Happened to walk by this place because a nearby rooftop was closed for an event. Love the vibe! $5 cocktails from 4-7pm, such a great deal!! Staff was really nice and atmosphere gives the downtown feel. Can't wait to come back to KC! read more

Dodson's Bar & Commons - Moscow Mule, Menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

I was in another place a few weeks ago, where the bartenders were discussing Dotsons being the best cocktails. I decided to stop in recently. A fairly small place with a dozen tables or so and the same for bar seats. I admit to being a rookie in the cocktail arena. Asked for a suggestion and got a Last Word cocktail. It was quite good. Then got a Suffering Bastard, less good. I know this is personal taste. I am always on the look out for the best burger in KC. Co-located is Cosmo Burger. All they sell is burgers of various sizes and add ones. Only side is tots. It was only just ok. Certainly doesn't rank. Main problem for me was the cost. If you drink these cocktails, better bring your checkbook. They do offer a full bar with everything, however. It wasn't so special that I will return. read more

Dodson's Bar & Commons - a cocktail in a glass - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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I've been meaning to try Dodson's for quite some time. A friend and I finally came in here one week night for a drink. I was infatuated with the panda TV immediately upon arrival. I ordered a horse feather and stared intently at the cute pandas playing. Our bartender was attentive and the atmosphere here is great. I would definitely come back here for a drink or two. read more

Stopped in this local bar while waiting to meet some friends, yelp help me pick this out this neighborhood bar. We walked in and felt like we weren't strangers right away. Often when you go into a new bar everyone looks at ya and you can automatically feel the judgment, none here. We sat at the bar and immediately greeted by one of the bartenders. He gave us a rundown of some of the cocktails and made a couple of recommendations. I ordered the El Diablo (tequila, cassis, lime & ginger beer) and he ordered the Horse Feather(bitters, rye whiskey & spicy ginger beer). We watched our bartender mix them up upon ordering. His had a slight heat to it but wasn't too spicy. Both of ours had a good balance of liquor vs ginger beer. My second cocktail was the margarita, so light and refreshing. As we walked out, I saw some colleagues visiting for the first time as well. The place started getting busy, so want to come by back and stay longer. read more

Dodson's Bar & Commons - El Diablo & Horsefeathers - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

We went to Dodsons to watch the Final Four game and had a blast. Being pregnant, the bartender was incredibly nice and accommodating with making me a delightful mocktail. The atmosphere had a great sense of comraderie, drinks were lovely (Dan had two supposed delicious cocktails that I couldn't try!) and comfortable. Definitely a great hang out spot for games, group outings, and options for playing video games or shuffleboard. Happy drinking! Oh!!! And the smashburgers are the best! read more

Dodson's Bar & Commons - Mocktail - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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Really good beers on tap here. Great happy hour 4-7 everyday. Enjoyed sitting at the bar. Good and friendly service. Double Shift Tessellation beer is one of my favorites. read more

Dodson's Bar & Commons - Partial menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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So glad I gave this place a try. I was a regular at the first "Waldo bar" and hadn't been back since. This new spot has a great atmosphere, a happy hour that rivals others in the area, and the staff was awesome and attentive. Give it a chance, you won't be disappointed! read more

We had a strong referral that these are the best burgers around. Cosmo smash burgers w/ green chili are juicy and incredibly delicious. Tots and dipping sauce are super muchable as well. House cocktails are very tasty and the staff is awesome. Truly the very best. read more

Dodson's Bar & Commons - Double smash burger w/ green chile. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

The perfect spot for a night out! It's the perfect spot for when you want to go out and be social, but be intimate enough that you can have a conversation with the person sitting next to you without habits to yell. The drinks were amazing! I got the melon ball and 100% recommended. Perfect summer drink! Pair it with a burger and tots from cosmo burger, amazing!! read more

I went here to have drinks with some friends the other night and the brunette bar tender was so rude to us when we asked to order. She continued to ignore us after we repeatedly tried to politely order drinks. Glad to see we're not the only people that felt this way towards this bartender. The other bartenders ended up helping us with our order after they saw the way she was treating us. Such a bummer, seems like it would have been a great place to hang out otherwise. read more

Had Sushi at Kokoro Maki Sushi - also good but cream cheese? Anyway .... wanted to play some shuffleboard and forget the world. It's working... Staff here are working themselves to the bone ... respect and thanks! read more

Absolutely the best margarita in Kansas City. My husband and I try to come once a week and it's such a great atmosphere, always have great service and a great time! read more

Dodson's Bar & Commons - Margarita - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

We went here on a double date to try Cosmos Burgers which is a window inside the bar. You order online and it's carry out only. We ate it right in the bar...there's tons of seating. My husband loved the whiskey collection and the cocktails are good. Once it hit 7:30 it got very crowded so head in a little early to snag a seat. Overall we loved this place! read more

I live in Waldo and this is my favorite local spot. Great happy hour for $5 drinks. I usually get a cocktail. Extremely friendly bartenders. If I frequented more regularly, I bet they'd remember my name. Seating has never been an issue. Bar seating, tables, and some cushioned benches. The front opens up like a garage on nice days. They had an NES looking gaming system last time I was there. There is street parking, for sure. I think one of the lots behind might be theirs, but I usually just park across the street if I can't find street parking. read more

I was excited to try Dodson's last night, and it delivered! I have watched Waldo evolve over the years, and this is a great new addition. Dodson's is a great marriage of a sports bar/neighborhood bar concept. Their selection is on point. Their atmosphere is clean, modern and welcoming. Their service is friendly and experienced. In response to complaints about pricing. When you go out, you don't just pay for food and beverage, you pay for atmosphere. Part of what I am willing to pay for is what's NOT there. A slightly higher price point means that you are not going to deal with patrons who are out with the intention of getting blasted. Low prices attract quantity vs. quality patrons. Is it a place for binge drinkers? No, but that's one of the reasons I would go back. Cheers! read more

One of my new favorite small/low key bars! Dodson's has a great selection of craft beers, wine, and spirits for drinkers of all types. The space is very modern with awesome lighting and seating. The bartenders made it a point to introduce themselves, shake our hands, remember our names, and truly take care of us (Eric and Eric, you guys are awesome)! If you're in the neighborhood, Dodson's would be my first stop even with so many other options close by. read more

Incredible '44 style mai tai with housemade orgeat! The prices are good and the vibes are better.

This is an amazing place. I am in KC for the Holiday and asked a guy at the hotel for a recommendation for something new. Guy recommended Dodsons in Waldo? Owned by some little guy, Eric. Nice guy. Really quick drive through some great hoods and WOW. Great drafts and cocktails and a really nice staff. Stayed for several hours watching Panda TV and talking to other patrons. Good suggestion. Back when next in KC. read more

I really like this place! The seating options are great. I really liked the large inside seating area, would be great for a bigger group! The drinks were yummy. This is a great addition to Waldo! I especially like the panda tv! read more

Dodson's Bar & Commons - Inside seating area - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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An $18 bill and I got 2 of the worst tasting drinks I've ever had. A "mule" that was just seltzer water, and a horse feather that was just gross. Will never recommend or return. read more

I've been dying to have a neighborhood spot to call my own and this just might be it. Best happy hour in town! Plus the bartenders make a point to introduce themselves and get to know you. Super friendly and welcoming! Follow them on Instagram and you'll know what I mean. No food but they said I could bring in my own and sometimes they partner with local food trucks for a little collab. Just go here. read more

Omg the John Collins though... I could drink five. The bartenders here are top notch. My favorite bar in Waldo.