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Nara

1617 Main

Kansas City, MO 64108

816-221-6272
Website

This eccentric, entertaining "neo-Japanese Robata Grill" offers more than sushi and items cooked on a Japanese-style hardwood-burning grill — although those dishes are popular here. So are the fabulous Szechuan sirloin chili (a refreshing spin on the diner classic), flat-iron steaks, Kobe-beef burgers, stir-fried sirloin and grilled Berkshire pork tenderloin, among other choices that aren’t necessarily of Asian origin. This restaurant's owner, the iconoclastic Casey Adams, loves all things Japanese, and Nara is his attempt at bringing a little Tokyo cool to downtown Kansas City. The place is certainly stylish, and there's almost always an air of festivity, which is just the right climate for a post-work cocktail — a saketini, perhaps? — and a plate of gyoza dumplings and typhoon shrimp. - Charles Ferruzza

Cuisine(s): Japanese
Hours: 11 a.m.-1:30 a.m. Mon.-Fri.; 5 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Sat. Fri 11am-1am Sat 4pm-12am
Price: $$, $$$
Serving: Lunch, Dinner
Alcohol: Full bar
Reservations: Accepted
Parking: Lot Available, Street
Payment Types: All Major Credit Cards, cash
Attire: business casual
Features: Takeout, Private Party, Catering, Banquet Facilities, Non-Smoking

show/hide reviews (5) Please log in to write your review

Overall:

Sushi is not fresh. Other dishes are overpriced and bland. Chefs don't know how to make the rolls or sushi very well as they kept falling apart.

Service is also abysmal. Atmosphere is great however. Go there to hang out and drink, just don't eat there.
Review by Foodie
Overall:

Oh. My. God.

Can you say clusterf***? The place is, to quote, "demented and sad but social".

I've been there quite a bit. I will probably not go back except to drink, maybe. I've told my friends that we should eat somewhere else and really only go there for drinks if necessary. I'm telling you this too.

Atmosphere is very pretty but just know that with all of it's glitz it lacks ev-e-ry-thing else.

Then I first went there, last year, the place was awesome.
They had this wacky chef who made very interesting cuisine, and he would come out and chat with you about it. The food was amazing. There was a pretty solid staff and the atmosphere was delightful.

Since then every plate that I liked has been removed from the menu. A couple of wines I liked are no more. For this restaurant wanting to be known for sake, that menu certainly hasn't grown much. Cocktails have become bizzaro >Pernod tastes like liquorice people, just so you know
Review by KLFBasscadet
Overall:

(continued)
Every waiter/waitress I liked has been removed as well. The bar staff has improved, immensely. But good luck getting a good seat! The bar is so tiny for them to be focusing all of the place's energy on it.

The sushi is awsome. Very fresh. Takes a while but if you saw how small the sushi bar was you'd understand.
Review by KLFBasscadet
Overall:

A very busy place no doubt, yet the overall product is worth the wait. Why does the place get busy, you ask? Good service, good sushi and sashimi, with respectably strong drinks. Having personally lived in Japan, this is a good stop in Kansas City for Japanese fare and happy hour libations. Those that say otherwise, obviously lack the international cultural experience. And No, I have zero affiliation with this establishment, aside from the consumer standpoint. I will be there again and again..
Review by william33
Overall:

great experience.
terrific variety of food
Review by mike

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