This historic restaurant remains one of KC's best
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The Savoy is at Ninth and Central in KCMO. Photo: Travis Meier/Axios
The Savoy's three-course Restaurant Week menu combines elevated dining with down-home flavors in a tradition more than a century old.
Why it matters: This award-winning downtown Kansas City staple sets the standard, from delectable classic dishes to an expertly crafted atmosphere.
The vibe: Walking into The Savoy is like stepping into the past, where history is literally painted on the walls with murals dating back to 1903.
- Sitting there inside original stained glass and amid quiet live jazz makes you wonder which booth was President Truman's favorite (apparently, there's a plaque somewhere).
What they're saying: "It feels like you're stepping into old Kansas City with all the comfort and flair of today," David Stowers, a server at The Savoy, tells Axios.
- Stowers calls it a "classic traditional American restaurant with a French backbone," adding that its Restaurant Week menu uses items from the standard menu to showcase what they're all about.
Dig in: The $50 prix fixe menu includes miso and mushroom chowder, a rich and savory starter that is lifted by a scrumptious garlic confit. The chili oil on top gives a little kick.
- The Campo Lindo chicken, which is sourced from a local pasture-raised chicken farm, came with a crackling, savory skin and a silky, buttery potato puree.
- For dessert, I opted for the pot de crème (not on the original Restaurant Week menu), a thick, dark-chocolate custard topped with orange Chantilly cream and zest.
Travis' thought bubble: Everything was top notch, but the chowder and custard made my jaw drop — after I was done chewing, of course.
- The music wasn't too loud, and the tuxedo martini I ordered — part of a discounted Martini Monday menu — was a lovely accompaniment.
Context: In 2023, The Savoy was named the best historic restaurant in America by the Historic Hotels of America Association, the Kansas City Star reported.
The bottom line: If you're looking for an excellent local meal, it doesn't get more KC than The Savoy.
- Restaurant Week runs through Sunday.