North Kansas City is just across the Missouri River from downtown Kansas City. It has a vibrant downtown business district that has a number of new businesses from fun coffee shops, distilleries, restaurants and microbreweries. I recommend trying:
Colony Espresso & Beer Co. is now Post Coffee Company: At 312 Armour Rd., this is a local cafe featuring espresso and coffee drinks plus some food items. The owner is delightful and is the son-in-law of a friend I grew up with in St. Joseph, MO. They have several other locations in Kansas City and the suburbs.
Chicken N Pickle: At 18th & Burlington, this is a pickleball venue with a casual restaurant and bar next door. It is a fun spot featuring wood fired rotisserie chicken, sandwiches, salads and sides.
Cinder Block Brewery: Make sure to stop by their attractive taproom to taste one of their wheat beers, ciders, porters and IPAs. Tours are available, plus they have outdoor food trucks. It has a great outdoor patio for warmer months. 110 E. 18th St. North Kansas City.
Restless Spirits Distilling Co.: At 109 E. 18th Ave., this is a local distillery celebrating the owner’s Irish-American heritage since 1853. They feature their Builder’s Botanical Gin, Duffy’s Run Vodka, Sons of Erin Irish Whiskey and Stone Breaker Whiskey. Sign up online for a tour and tasting.
On my last trip, I found the hip and colorful Iron District, which is comprised of colorful shipping containers, arranged to create a unique outdoor dining and retail destination. With restaurants, a tiki bar, ice cream shop as well as boutique shops and a rentable podcast studio, it is a fun spot to visit when you are in the area. 1599 Iron St.
Located further north is Stroud’s Oak Ridge Manor. The original Strouds began as a BBQ restaurant in 1933 and then started to feature pan-fried chicken. This location on Troost is now closed, but their Oak Ridge Manor opened in 1983. It received a James Beard Classics Award by the James Beard in 1998.
The restaurant is set in historic, rustic farmhouse and rustic cabins and has three dining rooms. The menu includes fried chicken, beef and pork, fish and sandwiches. They also have lunch specials. I had the fried chicken sandwich for lunch and it was awesome.You also get free cinnamon rolls for dessert. I highly recommend the experience.
