‘Really rich history’: Kansas City restaurant named best of its kind in the country
Kansas City fine-diners are well-acquainted with the glimpses of the past on offer at The Savoy at 21c: the carved oak bar that dates back to the downtown restaurant’s opening in 1903, the Edward Holslag murals that wrap the room, the stained glass windows, the President’s Booth where Harry Truman liked to sit.
It appears that those outside of KC are increasingly aware of its charms as well: The Savoy (219 W. Ninth St.) was recently named the best historic restaurant in America by the Historic Hotels of America Association.
The award, which has been given out since 2010, recognizes restaurants that are “part of a historic hotel that offers the finest cuisine, historic atmosphere and exceptional customer service,” said Larry Horwitz, executive vice president of the HHAA.
Horwitz cited the The Savoy’s food and drinks menu (which pays homage to dishes from the past and notes the year each cocktail was created) and the preservation of its dining room as factors that earned it the honor.
“We’ve definitely got a storied past,” said The Savoy’s food and beverage director Taylor Tantillo, who just returned from accepting the award at a ceremony in Phoenix. “We’re the oldest continually operating hotel restaurant in Kansas City, so there’s a really rich history in our dining room.”
The Savoy Hotel opened in 1888, then expanded to include Savoy Grill 15 years later. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
After suffering a fire in 2014, it closed in 2016 and underwent a $50 million renovation by the Louisville-based boutique hotel chain 21c. The Savoy reopened in 2018.
This story was originally published November 4, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
