City: Kansas City, MO

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (816) 942-8870

Address: 1310 Carondelet

Description: Don’t be turned off by the nondescript bank building housing this popular restaurant. Step inside the big square edifice and you’ll see why it’s one of our picks for a romantic anniversary or first date. The name comes from Emery, Bird, Thayer, our town’s first department store, founded in 1863 at 11th and Grand. The grand store closed in the ’60s, and decades later its gorgeous mezzanine tearoom was reborn as EBT Restaurant using such artifacts as the massive sandstone column capitals and ornate brass elevator cages. A major makeover in 2006 gave it sex appeal with rich colors and enormous lighting fixtures that look as if they’ve been borrowed from a Moroccan palace. Dinners are just as compelling, such as the coriander grilled lamb chops served with shallot marmalade glacé and sweet potato puree, and parmesan-breaded Chilean sea bass. Lunch is popular as well when executives conduct business over peppered beef tenderloin, Caesar salad, or blackened pork tenderloin sandwich. Owner Ed Holland (who also grows the roses you see throughout the room) has been known to flambé a mean cherries jubilee. EBT also caters to music lovers. The lounge offers live jazz Mon through Sat and a delightful new small-plate menu to go with the wine selection. More hidden delights await in that big bank box: wine dinners and vodka tastings. Now that’s rich!