Great night out - we made reservations for 4 people, glad we did. When we left it was packed. All items were lovely - they say you're supposed to share, and we did a little, but mostly kept to our own plates. The papaya salad + fried tofu was wonderful, beet "quesdadillas" were a great portion for sharing, lots of colored beets. Lamb was perfect and rare. And the guest who ate kangaroo loved it! We skipped dessert, next time we will have some! I wish they had a longer list of custom cocktails. but otherwise all was lovely. read more

Cool vibe. Not overpriced. Check out happy hour. Their cocktails are why we go! Staff has personality and are super fun.

Sat at the bar Thursday Feb 5 - ordered wine- found a lemon seed in my glass. Bartender/ waiter was dismissive about the issue. Salad/ entree ordered- arrived simultaneously. Bartenders/ waiter was clueless and unconcerned. But food ( bouillabaise/ ahi tuna poke) was good Attitude of the bartender and service detracted from an otherwise good experience. read more

Just a quick note to update my previous review. This is still my favorite restaurant in the city. They're closed for the majority January 2014, or at least until the 22nd I believe, which is particularly frustrating given that the meal I had on New Year's Eve from a totally original special menu was the best food I have eaten in years. Shouts out to Voltaire's staff for maintaining quality and bustling business nearly a year out. Better than ever. Can't wait to go back. read more

I think the French philosopher himself would approve of this place. Voltaire is a small restaurant/bar that doesn't quite feel like it belongs in Kansas City - it has that somewhat pretentious, foodie vibe that our humble city lacks. This works in Voltaire's favor; it stands out as a unique establishment. The drinks are well-crafted with thoughtful details (mine had smoked lemon rind in it). The food was similar - my heirloom tomato salad was simple but every element was balanced, and the grilled watermelon elevated it to a whole other level. The interior, though small, is beautiful and sophisticated. Oui...I've been Enlightened by Voltaire - it is now one of my favorites! read more

Food and drinks are excellent. The service was great first time we went, but we were not as lucky with latest visit. Apparently, we upset our server when we asked her to wear a mask, like every other employee there was doing. Service from that point was slow and rude. But again, the food was superb. read more

My boyfriend took me here for an impromptu happy hour. I wondered where in the world we were headed as it is located in an 'off the beaten road' area. But...what a beautiful building!!! The bar is insanely gorgeous and feels upscale without being too "stuffy". I can only comment on happy hour food and drinks as I have not yet eaten dinner here. Although...that will probably change soon! Drinks...I had the house red wine, which was a fab price during HH, and he had a beer from the large selection of options. Food...my guy and I shared vegetable chips with a decadent dip , ham and cheese balls, and flavorful potatoes. There were so many reasonably priced options that it was difficult to decide. The flat bread pizzas also sounded wonderful. The service was prompt and professional without being overly friendly. She made suggestions when asked and kept the drinks full. I would definitely recommend this place for HH...and if that is any indication of the likes of dinner...whoo hoo, we are in for a treat. read more

I'm a slut for mussels and craft cocktails. I was pumped to come here. The decor was cool and so was everyone there. Very Cool. Food: Steak-poivre, pei mussels and calamari, patatas bravas. Sadly, the mussels needed more bread. I always want more bread with mussels. The Paige Unger drink, the Miss Piggy, did not do that girl justice. Everything else had lots of whiskey and was lovely. Stick to the mezcal or the whiskey here. If you stay too late, the hipsters all rush the bar and they smell. Beware the artsy crowd in the west bottoms. Verdict: Try it with a crowd so you can try all the small plates. And, get the "neat" whiskey or mezcal drinks. Nom nom nom... read more

I had the prosciutto and avocado eggs Benedict. It came with their American Fries (which had a hint of garlic). Ok the Benedict was great with 1 small problem. Too much arugula. So I just pulled it off and ate the rest. Eggs were poached perfect. The server (Autumn) was an awesome lady who answered ALL of our questions. It is a farm to market restaurant so EVERYTHING is fresh. She also told us that they dont have a microwave. This was true because we ordered the cinnamon roll and that came with orange glaze and brandied cherries on top. The cinnamon roll was warm and toasty so we knew they didn't nuke it. Here's an interesting point...the music being played is coming from a record player read more

I've been to brunch here twice. The cocktails are amazing. The food is ok; nothing to write home about. I feel like they need to ramp up the salt and pepper, because it just feels a little bland sometimes. The best thing I've tried here was the blueberry lemon pancakes. I would highly suggest those. $35 was the appropriate going price at our table for 2 cocktails and brunch. read more

Voltaire - Bloody Mary and coffee - Bars Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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Hubby and I stumbled on this after our first plan for breakfast ended up being closed. Hubs had the prosciutto and avacado eggs Benedict and I had the chilaquiles roja. We also ordered a wonderful cinnamon roll that had orange flavored glaze and brandied cherries on top. It was warm and fresh, like the chef had been waiting for us to order it. Hubby's meal was very good, although there was a touch too much arugula on his Benedict for his taste (it did look pretty, though). My chilaquiles were very tender and easy to eat. BUT....my facorite was the potatoes. DELICIOUS!!!! Lots of flavor...garlic, salt, and pepper. Fried but not over fried, if that makes sense. We'll be back to try the dinner menu. read more

I've been waiting for all the internet crazy-ness surrounding Voltaire and "she who's name shall not be mentioned" to die down before I finally wrote a review for this place. Said crazy has died down so here it goes... I've been a fan of this place since day one. The location is perfectly situated to revamp an underrated area of our great city, the staff is knowledgeable and hospitable and the food is always spectacular. I've been here for happy hour, brunch, dinner & drinks and every combination in between and I have never had a bad experience. When I'm feeling adventurous I'll ask tell the bartender I love bourbon and let them make the call on the drink - again, never been disappointed. Whether you're checking Voltaire out because you've heard the food is amazing or if you're going to be truly honest with yourself and admit it's because you need to see what they hype is about, my advice is DO IT! You won't be disappointed! read more

Voltaire is a great place. It's a great place for an intimate date night or a night out with friends. It's a great place for some small plates to snack on or it has enough options to make a dinner out of it. The place is casual, yet sophisticated. I guess I'm saying it's a great place for a large variety of reasons. The reason for the four stars instead of five is that some of the food has been great, but not every single dish I've tried. The staff hasn't been the most consistent either. Nothing ever terribly bad, but I've had great service to some that has been less attentive. Believe me, this is a great place, I've just personally had a little consistency problems, but nothing to keep me away. The drinks have always been a standout. From simple poured drinks to the cocktail menu, everything has been made perfectly. Also the space, the space is just cool and relaxed. I probably prefer Voltaire for a casual night out more than a special occasion, but like I mentioned earlier, Voltaire is great for any night of the week. read more

Satisfactory. I didn't go for the full course meal, but I tried some things off the appetizer list. The were fine. Nothing wrong with the preparation or anything. It just wasn't exciting. It was a bit underwhelming. Same goes for the cocktail I had. It really lacked any power. I'll be back though! The dinner entrees that I saw fly by me looked delicious and the cocktail list had enough intriguing items for a retrial. read more

Stopped into Voltaire late one night on my KC visit, and immediately fell in love with the interior. What can I say? I'm a sucker for mood lighting and exposed brick. The boyfriend and I only got drinks, so this review is merely covering libations and the overall look and feel. I chose the Stockyard Fix (Tito's, apricot, ginger, lemon and orange bitters). I was apprehensive about the ginger, but was pleasantly surprised that it was more subdued. Our server was helpful but didn't hover - always appreciated when you are just enjoying drinks and good conversation. Voltaire is off the beaten path from our usual KC stops, but I am happy we stopped by, and would definitely go back. read more

I can't believe I've never done a review of this place before. I enjoy Voltaire quite a bit. From the outside, it's very unassuming. It's in the "not quite hip" part of the West bottoms, sitting rather nonchalantly next to the type of bar you figure old men frequent in very small midwest towns. Honestly, from the outside, Voltaire itself looks quite the same. Don't let that fool you. On the inside is rich dark wood and a line of low booths. Dim lighting. A wall of bourbon. A great happy hour and usually a slew of intoxicated, classy locals. Who knows? You might even see Mr. Haw in there having a drink, the veritable renovator of the West Bottoms himself. The food is exotic and priced to match. The drinks are spectacular and the service staff are brilliant and friendly. Be prepared to drop some serious cash to get the entire Voltaire experience but it's worth it. Maybe start with their happy hour and then move on to dinner. This is a top notch place and a definite destination for an after work gathering or an intimate date. read more

I've had Voltaire on my list to try for awhile and was waiting out their winter break. This past Friday we were finally able to make it in- yay! This is definitely a reservation place, but my husband and I dropped in on a Friday night and while they were booked up on reservations, we were able to get a cocktail table straight away for two, which was full service. Yay! Overall, I really like this place. The space is pretty much exactly the same as it was when it was R bar - but why mess with a good thing? The brick walls, local art and antique light fixtures definitely give this place a good cozy vibe. Now, onto the food. What I didn't know coming in was that the menu is small plate oriented, not bad just a pleasant surprise, and always great to try new things! Now, that said we misunderstood the ordering recommendation and WAY over ordered. Overall, we much preferred the smaller app-like small plates we ordered to the larger more entree like ones. Hands down, the shrimp and grits panzanella was our favorite. Really tasty, great mix of flavors and well balanced dish. I will definitely be coming back for this - I hope they keep it on the menu! Next favorite was a date and proscuito on ciabatta toast that had this great herby cheese. Tasty, good mix of flavors. We also got the spinach and Morbier (sp?) en croute. This was tasty too - a little pastry with melted cheese and spinach, though overall a less original dish. There were these really delicious poached pears on the side though that were really good. For mains we ordered the banh mi sandwich and the pasta (i can't remember what this was called, but the description spoke of saffron, black truffle, and an egg). Both were OK, though not standout. We love banh mis - great flavors, and while it did have good flavor, it wasn't something we felt compelled to keep eating, nor something I would eat again. For the pasta, the texture was good, loved the homemade noodles, but overall did not have as much flavor as I expected from the description. It was fine, but not standout. I would definitely try some of the other main plates. Cocktails - the drink menu was VERY whisky heavy, and I mean I think only two weren't whisky based. I like whisky but would like a bit more variety of options. Cocktails were good/fine, though not as standout as some other places in town. I got the only vodka drink on the menu which was nice, refreshing. Also ordered the whisky drink that has pilsner in it - was interesting though a little dry. One nice surprise was that they had Bell's Hopslam beer on the menu which my husband excitedly ordered - nice surprise. Overall, this is a great place. WE will be back (I could eat the shrimp and grits everyday!). I don't know how often they change the menu, but would love to come back and try more. And, I'll make a reservation next time! read more

I am mildly obsessed with this bar. Not meaning the establishment itself, but specifically the fixture. It is so alluring and beautiful, I can't sit in the restaurant and not be facing it. I need to start drinking here more, because I will gladly pay $8 for a cocktail just to be in its warm, glowing gaze. Tonight I ate a proper meal at Voltaire for the first time and everything was so SPOT ON. -Mussels were tender and plump -Fries were just amazeballs (lemon? seriously I could attempt a description but it would be remiss to write something untrue to their amazeballs nature) -Crab cake was no filler -Vietnamese wings were texturally sublime with that hint of funk you want -Panzanella featured bright basil and was...ok just a decent salad I don't know if it was because it was a slow night that everything came out at such a perfect temperature, but if this is replicable I will be in again and again. read more

Voltaire is an experience that everyone who is in Kansas City should experience. If you are a lover of old school style, great music, delicious food, terrific drinks, or all of the above this is your place. Walking in the door you feel transported back in time. With absolutely beautiful light fixtures and decor the space is gorgeous. As a vinyl nerd, my eyes were instantly drawn to the giant book shelf full of old school records. Not to mention, they use those records to create an atmosphere that is absolutely perfect. Nothing makes delicious food better like awesome music. The service was great. Everyone from the host, to the bartenders, to the servers were amazing and nice. The menu was full of worldly dishes that has a little something for everyone. The Korean Pork Bowl was delicious. The charcuterie board we got as an appetizer was full of fun meats and pickled veggies. The drink menu is robust and can find something you like on it. Seating can get a little cramped so I recommended getting a reservation if you have a group. There is tons of bar seating for you and a friend to get dinner and a drink. This is a must stop in the West Bottoms and probably a new favorite in KC for me. read more

Voltaire - Bars Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

Fabulous. Funky atmosphere. Superb service. Friendly management and staff. Food was a nice change of pace, well executed. I have to recommend it. read more

Great location with fun atmosphere and a great bartender/wait staff. Arrived early enough to get a martini off the happy hour menu. Actually what I would call a half-martini. No happy hour value here. Started dinner with the Salt Cod Croquettes which were very good. Next where the Vietnamese-Style Meatballs which had great flavors but needed to be served with a steak knife. Lastly, the Steak Frites. The steak was cooked to an absolutely perfect medium-rare and tasted great. However, we didn't eat the Frites because they were way too salty. All the food presentations were wonderful. Voltaire is worth a try but I think for small plates The Antler Room is probably a couple notches above. read more

What a menu! It's brevity is extremely misleading... We enjoyed whiskey drinks that paired quite well with the delicious mussel app and cauliflower salad. The curried cider on the salad was over the top! Our entrees were braised pork w/ chorizo over a broad noodle and the Hanger steak over poblanos, spinach and sweet potatoes...WOW!!!! There is so much more menu to experience...I will be back! read more

This restaurant has a great overall vibe! The decor was great and felt like a secret hideaway in an area of town that can seem dark and spooky at night. The wait staff was good and helpful with the menu. They also encourage sharing the small plates. I wasn't very hungry so I just ordered the fries. But everything looked really good and several people commented that the soup was really good. This is definitely one to check out! read more

Really liked Voltaire. I started with the Captain's Currency cocktail (yum!) and my date and I split small dishes: the Ahi Tuna Crudo (Loved!), poached pear salad (LOVED!), Octopus carpaccio (good, though I'm not a huge fan of octopus), and the Vietnamese meatballs (yummy!). Service was very good, loved the dimly lit ambiance. I'd love to return and try more. Splitting everything makes it more fun! read more

duplicate--- (original post not viewable for some unknown reason) Saturday afternoon we decided to find a new place to try our for Brunch on Sunday. We decided and made reservations for 9/30 at 11:15am . Saturday evening we received confirmation email for our reservations. We arrived on time for our seating. There was a group of 4 that entered just before we did, and they were seated at the bar. We were greeted and escorted promptly to a booth located across from the walk-in cooler at the end of the bar. There was another group of 6-8 people already eating their food as we passed their table. For the most part, the rest of the place was empty. We sat in nice ambiance while, listening to Donna Summers Greatest Hits. Waitress greeted us. Order was placed for Bloody Mary. Observed the Bartender dancing and prancing, gave him a thumbs up. We watched a tray of alcoholic drinks sit on a tray at the end of the bar for 5 minutes. (The Bloody Mary included). Wait staff, then looked baffled trying to figure out what drink went to which customer. Waitress brought our drink to us. We placed our order for the Malted Waffles and American Plate. 25 minutes passed, No Food. Waitress finally came over asked if everything was OK. "We came here to eat" "Yea, that's why most people come here". We told her we would be leaving if our food was not out in 2-3 minutes. We waited another 5-7 Minutes, still no food. We then decided that enough was enough, went to the bartender and explained that we been waiting for 30 minutes and had not got our food, "$8.50 for the Bloody Mary". As we walked out asked another guy if he was the Manager. As we were on the sidewalk, the Manager approached."I am sorry you all have had to wait. Stated that he was helping in the kitchen and our food would be out in a few more minutes.. By now, its been near 40 minutes waiting on Breakfast food. The Manager did not explain what caused the delay, nor did he take responsibility for what had happened, nor did offer to Comp us and make it right on a future visit, It has been years since I have ever had to walk out of a restaurant for poor service. read more

I ate at Voltaire this past Saturday night and LOVED it! They had a DJ spinning soul tunes creating a fun sexy vibe. The drinks were carefully crafted with fresh ingredients, and the staff was friendly and super efficient! We ordered the spring rolls(just ok), chicken wings and steak frites! The chicken and steak were both amazing! I look forward to going back soon! read more

Loved the European ambiance. I got the steak frites and Loved it! The fries may be my favorite ever. The server wasn't great but enjoyed everything else! read more

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You have to travel to get to Voltaire. No worries; you know how to get there. It's just down the street from Kemper arena, and across from the now defunct Golden Ox, whose sign remains as a landmark. Entering leaves the gritty neighborhood a fading memory: the restaurant unfolds almost as a movie set. You notice an old manual typewriter placed on an old heavy metal safe just to the right of the door. That must signify something. A cheery greeter leads you down the narrow room past a long bar with an artful display of backlit bottles. Your eyes adjust to moody lighting. The bar signals hipster aesthetic: the retro chic that has swept fashionable districts of Brooklyn and San Francisco. Bartenders with ample beards and cardigans over patterned shirts (but no bow ties!) man their stations. They are soon to be seen theatrically shaking classic cocktail shakers in order to pour classic cocktails though classic bar strainers, with serious expressions. You are seated in a surprisingly comfortable miniature banquette. The menu, along with a bottle of water and tiny water glasses, is delivered with a smile. The menu is relatively brief, but diverse and interesting. Hipster cuisine: many dishes fuse a mixture of European and Asian influences. You start with the duck breast: four little scallion pancakes with a fan of slices of rare duck breast with hoisin sauce, presented on a rectangular plate. Pretty, but somehow confusing: is this a take on Peking duck or magret de canard? Yes, probably. Next you try the salad of roasted cauliflower and brussels sprout. This turns out to be a brilliant concoction of the vegetables at a perfect al dente, mixed with feta, nuts, and raisins, delivered in a crisp bowl of spicy papadum. A concert of contrasting flavors and textures. The main courses arrive quickly; somewhat too quickly, in fact, as you have not finished your appetizers. Your lamb shank shepherd pie arrives in a ramekin that at first glance seems a bit small, but proves to contain a satisfying serving of comfort food with amped up flavor. And those brussels sprouts again - this time with the leaves separated and flash fried to make an appealing topping of crispy bits. No leftovers here. Your companion ordered the roasted oyster mushroom risotto. This is a gorgeous lump of roasted fungus nearly as large as your fist, meaty, earthy wonderfulness, in a bowl of lovely risotto with ingredients no Italian would recognize, but that add appealing flavor and texture. This is as unique and interesting a dish as to be found in Kansas City. For dessert you choose the pear tartlet instead of the chocolate crepe or brandied cherry flan - not an easy decision. Instead of the traditional thinly sliced pears with a fruit glaze, it appears as half a poached pear baked on a tart crust, with a tiny square dish of lovely crème anglaise on the side. It pairs well with artisanal french press coffee. You have to travel to get to Voltaire. It is so of the moment that you wonder whether it is built to last, but at least for now it offers a type of culinary experience that is unique to America, and unique in Kansas City. Don't have time for a trip to Brooklyn? Dine here. read more

In complete support of Mrs. Sonal B.'s review: Post #1 Basically, if the restaurant provided to-go containers and the customer was willing to accept their meal in a to-go container, I would think the restaurant would have been willing to accommodate the customer. In the time that the manager took to post a rebuttal on YELP, they could have packaged the meals and made a happy customer. Their website contains photos of their plated food... all they had to do was attach a picture to the order if they were that concerned the customer would miss the visual experience. Also, The comparison of the tax attorney to a divorce attorney is not the same analyzation as preparing meals and packaging them to-go when the means to do so is possible. The customer only asked the restaurant to go a little bit beyond their normal food presentation/packaging. It's not like they insisted the restaurant prepare them something that was not on their menu or that they were incapable of providing. I'm on the working customer's side. By the way, who in their right mind would choose Burger King or any other fast food establishment when they have a better restaurant across the street? In retrospect, I would have let the restaurant go to the trouble of preparing my food on a plate. I would have then taken their time to be seated at a table, dirtied their utensils by taking one bite of my meal, and then asked for it to go. Get my point? It would have taken a lot less effort, personnel, and expense to honor the customer's original request. Post #2 Again, she only reported her experience folks... What would each of you done had you been in her situation? We all complain about the decline in customer service over the years. Had the restaurant simply stated their policy, then offered to do their best to accommodate this lady, I'm sure she would have given them an excellent review and awesome tip! That's what all of these social media rating systems are about... holding businesses to the standards we expect for our money. When it comes down to it, her opinion/rating was only one of many for this establishment. read more

Went for brunch, sat at the bar and had a great time! Place is packed, particularly as it is new - make a reservation if you'll need more than seats at the bar. They do serve a full menu there (for brunch as least). I had an eggplant dish and I think the BF had fried chicken something...we both tried various different cocktails including mimosas and bloody marys. Long story short, everything was delicious! Really a quality place. Excellent food, good drinks, ambience also cool. Love the West Bottoms location - old R bar. Service could have been quicker, but let's just give a little leeway in being brand new. Will most definitely return. read more

Stopped by here after a concert downtown. It was a slow, cold Thursday night around 9pm. Voltaire has a relaxed vibe with music playing from vinyls. The red brick interior is tastefully decorated with dimmed lighting and art work on the walls. They would not take orders for a small dinner where we were sitting but the drink selection was good and not overpriced. The location in the West Bottoms is easy to reach and there is plenty of parking across the street. We'll be back and check out their dinner selection. read more

Rudely one of them decided to openly trying to belittle the bartenders level of education, to trying to belittle him. Go home, learn some manners and don't come back, little man. read more

100% love this place. Amazing food, staff, and owners. Chris at the bar is an angel, and played whatever music we wanted, including Whitney Houston. Craft cocktails are delish, and knowledgeable bar staff makes great recs. A KC favorite! read more

OH MY GOSH.. so delicious!! A group of friends and I came here for dinner this past weekend and I swear, everything we ordered was absolutely amazing. We started off with some appetizers -- samosas and the charcuterie board. Everything was perfect. For dinner, I ordered the risotto special -- green curry risotto with pork belly. The pork belly was so tender -- it felt apart the moment I put my fork on it. The risotto was so flavorful and sticky -- it was the perfect compliment to the pork belly. I could have eaten six more plates of this dish! For dessert, we shared the Bananas Fosters and that too was fantastic. We ate it so quickly that we seriously debated ordering another one. The total bill for 5 of us was around $350, but for $70 a piece, two shared appetizers, two bottles of wine, a round of cocktails, dinner, and a shared dessert, it was perfectly affordable. The ambiance was dark and candle-lit... perfect for a romantic date or a small group outing. Our waitress was really friendly and knowledgeable about the entire menu. There wasn't one thing I'd change about this place! read more

Excellent Service ! Great Victorian Atmosphere...... Cocktails are made with expertise ..... Food was Delicious ...... Most Expensive item on the Menu ( which I enjoyed ) was only $27 ...... Worth a Trip to the West Bottoms ! read more

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Really good. Everything I had was excellent. Moreover, staff was nice and knowledgable, atmosphere was chill, open and clean. And the rest of our group's food looked really good. No complaints at all. Hell, even parking was easy. read more

4 stars overall: - Good ambience and service - Interesting menu items, takes the usual "New American" menu and puts a bit of an interesting spin on it. Also appreciate that the menu is constantly changing! - Highly recommend the Pollo Yucatecco. The flavoring of the chicken was amazing and the chicken itself well-cooked and succulent read more

This restaurant is on my TOP 5 list in Kansas City. The chefs are very inspired by seasonal options and therefore the menu changes constantly. The bar tenders are top notch and have amazing selections available. The sunday brunch is amazing with unique twists on some breakfast standards. This place does fill up quickly some nights because of its growing reputation. You may want a reservation!! read more

This restaurant did not live up to expectations. Ambience was nice but the music was abrasively loud. We ordered the steak and soup. The ribeye, while a standardly a fattier cut, was cold and over 50% fat. Since it was cold, it was not pleasant to eat. We ended up leaving hungry because half the steak was inedible. Soup was good, not great. The service was pleasant. I overall wouldn't go here again because the food just did not live up to the price tag. read more

Jonathan is Awesome! Try their happy hour on Saturdays and shrimp tacos - they are to die for!