Yes, new restaurants are opening. Here are five to try in JoCo, including Japanese BBQ

Kevin and Kerry Goebel — two-thirds of the Goebel triplets — were already partners in six area Pie Five Pizza restaurants.

But in October, they started planning a new concept offering healthy menu items that consumers would feel good about eating, but also so flavorful that they would return often.

The brothers partnered with Nam Cu and Kasim Hardaway on Cultivare Greens and Grains, and then signed a lease for a space at 13366 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, in February.

With the COVID-19 crisis upending the economy, they reconsidered the launch. But then they decided the concept fit with the times — consumers were focusing on healthy eating and quick service.

“You have to be pretty crazy to open a restaurant in a pandemic. But you have to be pretty crazy to open a restaurant in normal times,” said Kerry Goebel.

They are not alone. Many new restaurants were in the works when the pandemic hit. Some are delaying their openings, but others are braving the new marketplace and offering consumers choices that include patio seating and curbside pickup.

The fast-casual Cultivare concept offers a variety of salads, including steak and gorgonzola, Hanoi chicken with bean sprouts and marinated chicken thigh, and the seasonal special Everything Bagel with lox, and Meshuggah Everything Bagel croutons and seasonings (a blend of poppy seeds, white sesame seeds, black sesame seeds, dried minced garlic, dried minced onion and flaky sea salt) from local Meshuggah Bagels.

Its bowls include miso-mushroom with kale and beets, the chimichurri with crispy chickpea and portobello mushroom steak, and the bok choy Caesar with grilled chicken breast.

Customers can create their own salads and bowls from a list of 70 ingredients including sambal candied peanuts and roasted red pepper sauce.

It also offers cocktails, wine by the glass and local craft beers.

Cultivare has dine-in and patio seating, as well as to-go and curbside pickup.

Here are some other new Johnson County offerings:

▪ Viona’s Italian Bistro took over the former Ambrosia Cafe building in downtown Overland Park.

Benny and Morina Kika are the owners of the new restaurant at 7933 Marty St. The menu includes such entrees as cheese tortellini in cream sauce with a touch of marinara; spaghetti with different toppings (marinara sauce, mushrooms, sausage, meatballs or meat sauce); gluten-free pasta; shrimp and scallops Alfredo; and house specialties such as Chicken Gorgonzola and Salmon Florentine.

It also has sandwiches and pizzas, as well as pastas to take home and bake.

It is open for dine-in, patio, carry-out and curbside.

▪ Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ, Bluhawk, 7865 W. 159th St., Overland Park.

The menu includes bibimbap, Kobe-style kalbi short ribs, hanger steaks, garlic shio cabbage, salads and soups, and appetizers such as spring rolls, edamame, fried cheese wontons and black pepper wings.

The dining room is open with safety precautions in place and it also has patio seating and offers carry-out.

A manager said the Japan-based company has 849 locations with 62 in the U.S., but this is the first in the Midwest.

▪ Seafood Island, 10810 W. 75th St., Shawnee. It took the 11,000-square-foot-plus former Ryan’s Steakhouse building.

The menu includes chicken tenders, fried catfish, fried shrimp or fried oyster baskets; meals featuring clams, King crab legs, Dungeness crab or Black mussels with sides of corn and potato; salads and appetizers such as spring rolls, popcorn shrimp, fried calamari and steamed oysters.

It is just offering carry-out for now.

The owner said it is the first franchise for the Houston-based company, which has one Houston restaurant and two in the works.

▪ Ixtapa Fine Mexican Cuisine, 7305 W. 95th St., Overland Park. The Northland favorite recently opened the Johnson County outpost near Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue.

It offers appetizers, soups and salads, tacos, Tex-Mex combos and burritos, and a variety of entrees including vegetarian, seafood, beef, pork and chicken. Its new Molcajete for two people is a combination of pork, steak, shrimp and queso fresco with a chorizo sauce.

It opened in the Northland in 2004.

This story was originally published July 17, 2020 at 5:00 AM.