If you can't get to Italy, go to Farina! (In fact even if you regularly go to Italy - or even if…read moreyour Italian visiting KC - GO TO FARINA...!) Some of the best Italian inspired food anywhere. It's justifiably difficult to get a booking, as befits the best restaurant in Kansas City. Beautiful dishes in a great atmosphere. Start with the ambiance: it's usually busy in an enjoyable uplifting way. People watching is at a peak here as smart diners move between elegant and tasteful furniture while friendly, professional (and invariably handsome) wait staff glide through it all. If you recognize and appreciate good Italian design, this place will delight you before you've even glanced at the menu. Talking of the menu - it's a revolving tableau of Italian inspired deliciousness that will cause you to pause after each first bite - and look up at your dinner companion with a smile that says "wow"! Last night I had a lobster roll that defied gravity in its lightness. And the taste and texture was just perfect - what an appetizer! It was a moderate eating evening so I only had the pasta. A Carbonara of homemade thick noodle pasta with a deeply seductive cream sauce base. Paired both with a selection from the other great feature of Farina, its wine list. My selection was a minerally dry sparkling rose (I know, but trust me!) from the slopes of Etna. The wine selection is itself a wonderful experience - I'd recommend sticking with the Italian options - of which there are many, and they are quality examples some of which are rare finds in America. When you add great service and - as always - a brief check in from one of the two owners (he chef, she sommelier) you can round out a top level dining experience right here in KCMO. One to rival any other eatery in much bigger markets - or even Italy itself.

We went to Farina for our anniversary dinner and all in all it went well! We were impressed by the…read moreappetizers and the pasta, which is accurate with all the raves we've heard about the place. Service was very good too, and the ambiance was impeccable even with how busy they were that night! We had the duck meatballs and the beef carpaccio for appetizer. The beef carpaccio came with beet tartare and horseradish cream which complimented it, but it's just missing something salty. The duck meatballs, on the other hand, was perfection! Sauce was perfectly seasoned -- we ended up scooping the rest of the sauce with the complimentary bread! The pasta dishes are surely the star of the show here. The caramelle, creste di gallo, and carbonara were all so good. We also ordered main entrees -- we got the tiger prawns, the KC strip steak, and the pork roast. The mashed potatoes that came with the steak was the best out of all of them -- the rest is unfortunately forgettable. We'll surely go back to get more of the appetizers and pasta -- maybe we'll try them again for happy hour!

This place is awesome! Food is fresh and delicious…read moreService is a-plus Comfortable, quaint, friendly

Small, quaint, oozing Italy . Limited seating so call ahead. We sat at the bar and enjoyed watching…read morethe action. I had the Lobster ravioli, which is served in a vodka kind of sauce with tomatoes, onion and spinach. It was delicious. Smooth creamy and a hint sweet.it came with a house salad. Pricing was moderate. The noise level is loud when full. Service was very friendly and fast

In town for the World Cup, my wife and I stopped in after spending the day at the Fan Festival, and…read morewe're so glad we did. Laura, the owner, greeted us as soon as we walked in and was probably the sweetest and most welcoming person we've met in Kansas City. She immediately made us feel at home. We started with the meatballs and burrata, both of which were delicious. The meatballs were especially well seasoned. My wife had the bolognese and absolutely loved it, and she really appreciated having gluten-free options available. I had the cacio e pepe, and the pasta was cooked perfectly. All in all, the food, service, and ambiance were outstanding. One of our favorite meals of the trip. Highly recommend for both locals and visitors alike.

went in for happy hour on saturday (you can only get the happy hour menu if you sit at the bar),…read moreand it was pretty packed, but the maître d' was very attentive and made sure our names were on the list. the limoncello cocktails were perfectly refreshing, and the happy hour menu has killer prices. literally everyone here was so nice, it felt like trader joe's. the roasted goat cheese was a great mix of creamy and tangy, and the meatballs were well spiced. definitely need to return to try the eggplant fries.

Food was so good and the service was great! Went on a second date here and I'd say it's a great…read moreplace for a date! Nice mood lighting and intimate setting

The minute you walk in, you feel like you've entered a Time Machine... you just know there has to…read morebe a speak easy on the premises. The Wise Guy has a classic atmosphere that reminds you of an interior that emanates a mood of perpetual dusk. Our server was warm and timely. My wife and I shared the Wise Guy pizza and the chicken parm. No notes... it was fantastic. Pomodoro sauce had a nice kick. I have to go back and try the deviled eggs -- they look excellent from a table away.

This charming little restaurant is now one of my favorites in Kansas City and it's the perfect spot…read morefor a romantic night out. While I would have loved the option of a table, sitting at the bar turned out to be a great experience. The bartenders were knowledgeable, attentive, and clearly skilled at their craft. Now for the food! I was sent here for what was referred to as "the best chicken parm in KC" and I would definitely agree. Every single thing was delicious. The atmosphere felt effortlessly Italian, and I'll definitely be back!

Bacaro started well, but has fallen off in recent visits. Too much salt. And, they terminated…read moreChris, their best bartender, for reasons unknown. It is no longer in our rotation, which is too bad, as we live an easy walk away.

Great food, KC mainstay From Indian Springs to today it's…read morehard to beat. Calzone is what a true calzone is

We've had this for sports banquets plenty of times and honestly I'm not a fan. It's more…read moreAmericanized Italian food in my opinion but it's not bad just not great.

Holy cow did I LOVE this place!…read more I had just worked a 12-hour shift with my last ride taking me from STL and dropping me in KC! My options seemed limited that late at night, but pasta seemed to be calling my name so I landed here. I may have been a little under dressed, but no one treated me any different. From the moment I walked in and through my visit, the customer service was exceptional. My server, I wish I remembered his name, was amazing and everything he recommended was totally chef's kiss! I couldn't decide between the pasta I craved, or the highly recommended hanger steak, so I got both! Excuse my yelling but, THE HANGER STEAK WAS ABSOLUTELY TO DIE FOR!!! I had no idea!! All I know is that I thought there would be leftovers and I was ready to lick the plate! Nothing went home with me. I haven't been able to stop talking about the hanger steak since. I would probably order a different pasta next time, or none at all. Also, the focaccia was incredible as well. (Excited about that, but it wasn't the highlight clearly) I'm ready to drive back to KC JUST for the steak. Absolutely phenomenal.

Another great restaurant for the northland! Love the limited menu, which is seasonal, with all…read moretheir pastas being made in house. For starters, we had the squash salad with burrata which was delicious. The focaccia was incredible so don't pass that up! For pastas, we had the lumachi and the rotolo, which is a rolled pasta filled with butternut squash. The hanger steak entree was probably our favorite of the night. And to finish off the meal we had the soufflé which was very delicious, and the creme puffs. Overall really good meal, nothing mind blowing in terms of flavors, but it's definitely a restaurant to add to your usuals. Service was very good.

Oh man this place was BOMB!! Delivered to work and enjoyed happily…read more I ordered the sandwich and salad combo, to which I picked the fresh turkey and tomato salad. I mean look at that tomato salad. I was nervous it would be overwhelming with pesto with how green it was, but my oh my I could absolutely have this salad every single day of my entire life. Super fresh, light and just perfection. Could use a tad pinch of salt, but I'll get over it. Turkey sandwich was also fresh and I liked the caramelized onions in the sandwich. I'd come back!

Cupini's has been around so long it's become part of the fabric that anchors this part of the Plaza…read morearea together. I say Plaza area as it's sort of Plaza adjacent, and has a certain charm to this stretch of the city. That being said, Cupini's is known for being a charming Italian deli/ eatery and I love how it's kept that lowkey neighborhood energy over the years. The food is great - I usually go for something light as the tiramisu is great. All in all it's a great little spot in KC and worth a visit in this neighborhood.