Former chef at popular Kansas City French restaurant opens Johnson County pasta spot
A striped, blue-and-yellow sign hanging above the counter lists menu items: creme brulee, beef stroganoff, fettuccine alfredo, tiramisu.
Most patrons can expect to find such dishes at restaurants with candles and white tablecloths — and then there’s Simon’s Pasta.
The new dine-in and to-go restaurant in Shawnee seeks to serve handmade pasta, sandwiches, soups and desserts on the fly.
Simon’s Pasta opened at 13655 W. 63rd St. on Wednesday. Despite the snow and bitter cold, cars pulled up to the window to order menu items like mac and cheese, chicken noodle salad and French croque monsieur.
While about 25 patrons can be seated inside, a drive-thru lane welcomes traffic off Shawnee Mission Parkway.
The mastermind behind the new concept is Simon Soeun, formerly a chef at French restaurant Aixois, 251 E. 55th St. Soeun was with Aixois for eight years and co-owned its second location at 11570 Ash St. in Leawood’s Park Place when it opened last summer.
He sold his share before opening his new concept.
Soeun grew up in Cambodia, earned his culinary stripes in France and worked in restaurants in the Caribbean.
“Everything goes smoothly, and (I’ll look) for another one,” he said. “I want to know what kind of pasta works and what kind is not good.”
In 2023, the spot was home to fast-casual Tex-Mex restaurant Taco Hangover, owned by the same team that operates Saints Pub + Patio. It closed after just 10 months of operating.
Weeks later, it reopened as Saints Express, an on-the-go iteration of the bar and grill. But that, too, had a short life. It opened in November and by the end of March, it was gone.
Simon’s is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.