Johnson County tapas bar is now open, bringing a taste of Spain to the metro
Kansas City area residents may feel like they’ve traveled to their sister city in Seville, Spain, at this new spot.
Thanks to co-owners Bryan Albers and Stephanie Cashion, the beloved European small bites are now available in downtown Shawnee — carefully paired with specialty cocktails, of course.
Gilda’s Bar de Tapas is open for limited hours at 5815 Nieman Road, near recently opened Hank’s Garage. Cashion, who also owns Bonner Springs cafe The Glass Cat, has been infatuated with Spain ever since she was a little girl.
When people ask, “Why a tapas bar?” she tells the story of her father bringing her a beautiful Spanish doll she cherished. But she also tells them about her love for the cuisine which — aside from the seafood — is easily replicated in the Midwest.
“It’s all very familiar ingredients,” Cashion said. “So we like to get as local as possible.”
One such tapa is the Gilda: salted anchovy, pickled white anchovy, pickled pepper and buttery olive. Cashion said they’ll be giving some out to customers to walk through the door, encouraging them to try the dish.
“Midwesterners don’t love anchovies so much,” she said. “If they try it, most people love it. Which — I was shocked.”
The appetizer and restaurant are named after the 1946 noir film “Gilda,” starring actress Rita Hayworth. At the time, the romance film was a controversial piece.
“It’s a little spicy, it’s a little dirty,” she said, both of the appetizer and the movie.
There’s a canvas painting of redheaded Hayworth hanging on the back wall of Gilda’s, looking mischievously over the dining room.
As far as drinks go, Gilda’s is offering Strawberry Smash G&T (Sipsmith strawberry gin, lemon, house tonic, strawberry liqueur and mint for $14), Fig Side Car (H by Hine cognac, dry curacoa, lemon and fig syrup for $12), Bianco Negroni for $10 and more.
Tapas include char-grilled lamb chops (harissa-glazed carrots, parsley salad and sherry scented, demi-glaze lamb chops for $22), beef tenderloin (foie gras, cabrales blue cheese espuma and sherry reduction for $29), croquetas (serrano ham and manchego cheese with quince dipping sauce).
People who have stopped in for pre-opening events have noticed the “Avenida Kansas City” sign hanging on one side of the bar. It’s a nod to the real Avenida de Kansas City in Seville, which became Kansas City’s sister city in 1967.
The Country Club Plaza features a half-scale version of the Giralda Tower in Seville.
With Gilda’s, Cashion hopes to bring a communal feel to the area. It’s joining a thriving neighborhood with several recently opened bars and restaurants: Wild Child, Buenos Aires Restaurant and more.
“To me, tapas bars are more than the food, more than the alcohol — it’s the community,” she said. “If people aren’t sharing food by the time they’re leaving, I feel like I’m doing something wrong.”
Until Gilda’s celebrates its grand opening Aug. 15, it’ll be open on select days — perhaps three days a week, Cashion said. They still have to nail down the exact timeline.
Customers can contact the restaurant at (913) 258-2032.
After its grand opening, it will be open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays, 3 to 10 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 3 to 11 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturdays, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays.