City: Kansas City, MO

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (816) 461-4525

Address: 201 N. Main

Description: When Ken and Cindy McClain created this hip, urban restaurant and inn, they gave after-hours life to historic Independence Square. The American regional menu is as artfully done as Cindy’s paintings on the walls. Favorites include the brandy-laced crab soup and roasted rack of lamb. And at just under $18 the salmon and jumbo sea scallops in a saffron white wine beurre blanc isn’t just a culinary standout, it’s a bargain. Lunch is casual with a kick, such as chicken salad with port wine apples and candied walnuts and a smoked pork sandwich with pickled red cabbage. A low-fat spa menu is also available for lunch and dinner, a thoughtful touch for guests staying at the inn upstairs. Lunch and dinner are served every day but Mon, and brunch is available on Sun. On Fri and Sat evenings there’s live jazz in the bar; the large open space makes it easy to listen and still enjoy a conversation. To turn a delightful evening into a good night, reserve a room at the inn upstairs, where Cindy has worked her creative magic with seven rooms and one luxurious suite.