This new Italian restaurant near Kansas City looks to fulfill a niche
Platte City — a community sitting on the northern outskirts of the Kansas City metro — isn’t known for its Italian cuisine.
A group of servers and longtime residents unanimously agreed during a Tuesday afternoon visit with The Star that Doni’s Italian Restaurant might be the town’s first. The Star found no record of another one in its archives.
Even if it’s not the first, it’s been a while since Platte City has been served chicken Piccata.
Doni’s opened just days ago at 339 Main St. in the historic downtown area, moving into the former Shirley’s Fashion Center space.
Chef owner Liridon Mehmeti and his sister/manager, Shqipe Mehmeti, hail from Venice. Liridon goes by “Doni” and accumulated fans for his previous work at Luigi’s, an Italian restaurant in Liberty.
Shqipe told The Star that the community’s feedback has been positive thus far.
“They enjoy the food, they like the ambiance, they enjoy the service,” she said.
The space, which was redeveloped by building owner David Barth, according to the Platte County Landmark, has kept its rustic brick walls and archways. Several tables and a long bar — where bartenders pour a variety of wines — have been added.
Doni’s lunch menu features several pasta dishes, including chicken scallopini (garlic, shallots, capers, mushroom, spinach in a white wine lemon sauce for $16), the “chef favorite” (garlic, onion, peppers, mushrooms, sausage over penne pasta in red sauce with baked mozzarella cheese, for $16) and lasagna ($15).
Dinnertime sees offerings like chicken fettucini Alfredo ($21), shrimp Fra Diavolo (five jumbo shrimp grilled with garlic, shallots, mushrooms, broccoli, sweet peppers, hot peppers and spinach, then splashed with sherry wine and red sauce over linguine pasta for $25) and chicken alla pesto (garlic, onions, tomatoes, broccoli and olives tossed in house-made pesto over penne pasta for $23).
Ever since he moved to the U.S. several years ago, Doni has wanted a place of his own.
“He’s worked very hard to open his own restaurant,” Shqipe said, while working behind the bar.
The restaurant sets itself apart from competitors for its freshness and authenticity, she added.
There aren’t many restaurants in Platte City, though some in city limits include The Cove at 524 Branch St., Roxanne’s Cafe at 1126 Branch St. and Fetterman’s at 2405 NW Prairie View Road. Doni’s is a neighbor to Mexican restaurant La Cabana at 325 Main St.
The Italian restaurant is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays.