Red Door Woodfired Grill heats up classic American burgers, fried chicken

Last month, several readers emailed me to recommend the jalapeno fried chicken served on Thursdays at Red Door Woodfired Grill in Leawood.

“Red Door serves jalapeno fried chicken every Thursday,” wrote Valeria Edwards of Olathe. “It’s delicious!”

Edwards was right — the restaurant’s spicy fried chicken is juicy and perfectly seasoned, with a hint of heat. Executive chef Bryce Noelle makes it by marinating chicken for four days in buttermilk, diced jalapeno, garlic, salt and pepper. The pieces are hand-battered and then pressure-fried, which Noelle says helps the chicken retain moisture while developing its crisp, caramel-colored crust.

Red Door’s fried chicken costs $11.49 for a three-piece lunch, which comes with cornbread and one side. Options include mashed potatoes, green beans, steak fries and Brussels sprouts with bacon jam. At dinner, it’s $13.99 for a three-piece meal.

The Thursday-only special attracts many fans to Red Door Woodfired Grill, a locally owned “upscale casual” restaurant located in the Camelot Court center at 119th and Roe. The restaurant was packed when I dined there for lunch recently, and at 6 p.m. the previous Saturday, the estimated wait for a table was 45 minutes.

Camelot Court’s ongoing facelift hasn’t hurt Red Door’s business, says marketing coordinator Taylor Harris. The restaurant, decorated with reclaimed wood and concrete floors, is undergoing a makeover of its own by enclosing part of its patio and adding accordian-style floor-to-ceiling windows in the bar area.

The bar is a popular hangout during happy hour (4-7 p.m. Monday-Friday) and on Saturday nights, when there’s live acoustic music from 8-11:30 p.m. During happy hour, which the bar also offers from 10 p.m. to midnight Friday-Saturday, appetizers such as smoky green cheese chile dip are discounted to $5, domestic draft beers are $2.50, and select cocktails (such as margaritas and Moscow Mules) are $4.25.

Another busy day at the restaurant is Monday, when Red Door discounts its classic burgers to $5 and gourmet burgers to $8 (they’re usually $9-12). If you like cheese — who doesn’t? — try the Sweet Cheeses, topped with cheddar, Swiss, double-smoked bacon, Sriracha mayo and, just for good measure, a melty cheese fritter. The best part is the burger patty, a McGonigle’s custom blend of brisket, short rib and chuck tenderloin seared on a grill over smoldering pecan, oak and hickory.

More adventurous eaters might want to try the burger of the month, a grilled patty on a glazed doughnut with bacon, bacon jam, grilled onions and cheddar cheese. It sounds strange and is slightly messy to eat, but tastes surprisingly good. The doughnut burger costs $12, or $8 on Mondays, and will be on the menu until May.

If you like to eat light, try the grilled salmon salad ($14), a wood-fired filet on a big bed of baby spinach, tomatoes, Kalamata olives, goat cheese, basil, chimichurri and house-made croutons with balsamic vinaigrette.

Red Door’s portions are pretty filling, but if you’re hungry for dessert, there are two new options on the menu worth indulging in. The first is layered red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting and fresh berries. A wide slice costs $9 and is big enough for two to share.

I like the Millionaire’s S’more ($5.50) — wedges of shortbread layered with caramel and chocolate paired with a light and fluffy marshmallow cream sauce. Like the fried chicken, it’s a delicious twist on an American classic.

This story was originally published April 11, 2016 at 9:55 AM with the headline "Red Door Woodfired Grill heats up classic American burgers, fried chicken."