Star-studded sushi + Old-school staple closes shop
Welcome back to Let’s Dish — your one-stop shop for all things eats in Kansas City. I’m Alison Booth, an audience development strategist at The Star.
We recently visited the Kansas City restaurant where Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce celebrated his birthday last fall to find out if it’s worth all the hype it’s been getting since — and those high prices.
Plus, a quirky burger drive-in that’s been a KC staple for over six decades closed at the end of the year. And we’re breaking down what you should know about Restaurant Week, which starts next Friday, Jan. 10.
Now, let’s dig in.
Dry-aged salmon nigiri at Nōka
Kansas City’s sushi scene is growing. The metro’s first omakase restaurant, Sushi Kodawari, opened earlier this year. Kata Nori, a handroll bar in the Crossroads, and Nōka, a Japanese farmhouse restaurant, both opened in 2023.
After Star editor Hannah Wise’s friends gave Nōka rave reviews throughout its first year in Martini Corner, the restaurant by chef-owner Amante Domingo quickly became the obvious choice for her birthday celebration last year.
Little did Hannah know, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift would have the same idea a few months later.
Nōka, which is Japanese for farmer, is a tribute to Domingo’s late father, who owned an organic farm in St. Joseph. His influence can be seen and felt throughout the restaurant, from the wood provided by his farm that adorns the dining room to the menu, which changes regularly to reflect what is fresh and in season.
A meal here is a treat and can come at a higher-end price point. But happy hour is accessible, and there are some weekday deals on the sushi, too. Here’s what Hannah ordered — and why she says it’s worth it.
Classic KC burger joint closes after 6 decades
There are only a few spots around Kansas City that offer a 1950s-style drive-in experience. And now, there’s one less: Harold’s, a 600-square-foot shack in KC that’s been flipping burgers for decades, closed at the end of the year.
Owner Deb Walker has been working at the joint off Admiral Boulevard since 2003. She bought the restaurant from its former owner, Nancy Smith, just prior to the pandemic. It’s been rough sledding ever since.
“We never really recovered,” Walker said.
For a while now, Walker has been borrowing money to keep Harold’s open. More recently, she and her landlord have been unable to come to terms on a lease. So she made the call in December: After 66 years in business, Harold’s permanently closed on New Year’s Eve.
Harold’s dates back to 1958, when Harold and Pat McBain took over a walk-up ice cream shop called Dairy Supreme. They changed the name and expanded the menu, selling burgers, sandwiches and fries to customers in the neighborhood, which sits between downtown and Northeast Kansas City.
Read more about its history, from my colleague David Hudnall.
À la carte
✴️ It’s that time of year again: If you want to dine out for Kansas City’s upcoming Restaurant Week, book your reservations now. Here’s what to know about the deals.
✴️ In 2023, Kansas City’s iconic Cafe Europa closed in the South Plaza. Soon, a wine bar, restaurant and butcher shop chain will move into its old space.
✴️ A bakery in midtown is closing after more than a decade, citing “too many continuous setbacks.”
✴️ This bakery chain from Taiwan is looking to open its first KC-area location sometime this year. (I tried it while in Seattle last year and am super excited about its arrival here.)
✴️ ICYMI, check out the 22 new KC area restaurant openings we’re eyeing this year.
My standout dish of the week
Ever since I moved back to Kansas City in 2022, I’ve been eyeing Ragazza, the midtown restaurant on the corner of Main and 43rd Streets.
It’s billed as a “neighborhood Italian restaurant and wine bar,” and from the outside, I could never figure out the vibes. Is it pizza-centric? Fancy? Go for the wine, not for the food?
Well, I finally made my first visit to figure it out, walking over with my girlfriend from her midtown apartment last week. We didn’t make a reservation, but I’d suggest doing so if you head over. We ended up sitting at the bar to catch the end of happy hour (which had some good deals, including $6 glasses of wine).
It’s clearly a neighborhood spot — complete with a bar brimming with regulars — with really good Italian grub. It’s not fine dining, but not go-in-your-T-shirt casual, either.
My standout dish was the Sunday Sauce Everyday: rigatoni slathered in their “Sunday Sauce,” a rich, six-hour gravy, and topped with meatballs, pork and sausage galore. It’s hefty, and lasted me for two more satisfying meals afterward. I’ll be back, for sure.
Hungry for more?
Check out all the restaurants we’ve covered in the Let’s Dish series here.
Looking for the latest industry news? Here’s what spots have opened and closed in the KC area lately.
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Happy eating! We’ll see you next week.
This story was originally published January 2, 2025 at 4:56 PM with the headline "Star-studded sushi + Old-school staple closes shop."