You named this Power & Light restaurant the best new spot in KC. Is it worth it?
When Star readers voted Palm Tree Club their best new restaurant of 2025, the results surprised a few, but not Erick Bromberg.
Of the 315 votes collected, the majority voted for the downtown restaurant that opened in September 2025 and describes itself as “laid-back luxury coastal vibe dining.”
Why did this not surprise Bromberg? He’s one of the chefs crafting the meals inside the Power & Light District restaurant, which he and Brian Barnes, the entertainment district’s director of restaurants, say has seen a steady flow of customers since its grand opening.
“I can see how popular we’ve gotten, and it’s been really exciting to see the action,” Bromberg said.
The restaurant isn’t a Kansas City original. There are three other Palm Tree Clubs in the United States. But it boasts that it’s unique for the city, with its beachy atmosphere and wide variety of shareable food items on the menu.
Readers said the spicy edamame hummus was their favorite appetizer in all of Kansas City and that the sushi was phenomenal. Others shared appreciation for the mezze rigatoni and espresso martini, while some of Bromberg’s personal recommendations include the A5 wagyu dumplings and the grilled chicken yakitori.
Vibe dining is the goal inside the 11,000-square-foot, two-level space at 14 E. 14th St., and nothing throws the vibes off faster than a bad meal. The rooftop bar with wraparound views of downtown Kansas City, palm trees and fancy-looking drinks can only hide so much if the food isn’t up to par.
Does Palm Tree Club live up to the hype? The Star visited the restaurant to find out.
Palm Tree Club’s shareable menu
Palm Tree Club’s space is geared toward parties who want excitement before they hit the club, or those who want to have fun before tucking into bed by 10 p.m. It also makes itself as a good option for business lunches: When we visited on a recent Tuesday at noon, the first floor was half-full inside with co-workers sitting in groups .
“There’s just something about having the groups share the food and ordering it tapas style, just making it easy for a group to really get a taste of everything,” Bromberg said.
Once we were seated a few minutes after walking in, we wasted no time placing our first order: the recommended spicy edamame hummus ($16), A5 wagyu dumplings ($18) and mezze rigatoni ($22). We also ordered two drinks: a lavender hugo spritz ($14) made with prosecco, lavender, lime, mint, St-Germain liqueur and topped with an edible flower, and a salted caramel espresso martini ($15).
The drinks came first and fast, and for a first-ever espresso martini, the salted caramel option was a good choice. It hides the bitter coffee taste just enough to make this an enjoyable beverage. An espresso martini flight option is available for $16, where it includes two additional flavors: a classic martini and tiramisu-flavored.
Don’t let the look of the green hummus sink your appetite. The striking color pairs well with the strikingly sweet and buttery flavors, and the small bell pepper rings adds a nice spice. The six pieces of nori flatbread are somehow soft and crunchy at the same time, but only when it’s fresh. It does harden over time and loses its luster, which is to be expected with bread.
The wagyu inside the dumplings is tender and flavorful, and the vodka sauce on the rigatoni is rich and creamy. The noodles were cooked al dente, with a slight chewiness . These three dishes alone would make for a good meal, but we decided to try two more items: the Firecracker sushi rolls ($21) and amish chicken yakitori ($15).
Visitors receive eight sushi rolls made with lobster, avocado, togarashi and spicy mayo, the latter of which takes over the taste buds and lives up to the firecracker name.
The three chicken skewers are topped with a sauce made with Thai chili, cilantro and peanuts, the latter of which also takes over the taste buds and for a brief moment, it feels like you’re eating a scoop of peanut butter. The tenderness of the chicken on the skewers is perfect, and the meat slides right off the skewer.
Our eyes were bigger than our stomachs at this point, so perhaps we couldn’t have enjoyed the final two items as much as we could’ve if they were the first things we ordered. We may have not also ordered as much or received the same flavors on a weekend. Bromberg and Barnes say things can get hectic on Friday and Saturday nights.
Barnes said it’s a social destination, meaning he sees lots of birthdays and celebrations that want to get together and try different things. The prices may also reflect that social aspect, since it would be hard to justify spending $140 after taxes in one sitting alone.
Most things are better shared, and Palm Tree Club is one of those.
