Executive Chef Joe West is ready to debut his nod to midcentury dining at The Savoy at 21c Kansas City, which opens Tuesday.
The 125-seat restaurant pays homage to the former Savoy Grill, which was Kansas City's oldest restaurant until it closed in 2014. Louisville-based 21c Museum Hotels LLC gave the restaurant a facelift while still preserving its history, including murals painted in 1903 by Edward Holslag, stained glass windows and the "President's Booth" banquette that was frequented by Presidents Harry Truman, Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan.
In addition to West's take on classic Americana, the menu will feature French influences and dishes such as scallops meuniere; chicken liver mousse tart; gnocchi and mushrooms; prime rib with creamy horseradish; and Lobster Newberg. For dessert, options will include passion fruit and coconut cake; crème brûlée; and profiteroles.
Click through the attached photo gallery to see some of the menu items available at The Savoy at 21c.
The drink menu will offer "tried-and-true" classic cocktails with a modern twist, local bottled beer and a variety of spirits, including a number of bourbon options. Wines have been curated to complement the menu and will highlight environmentally conscious producers from throughout the world.
West, a Prairie Village native who brings more than 16 years of culinary experience, got his start at age 16 at 40 Sardines, an Overland Park restaurant founded by James Beard Award-winners Debbie Gold and Michael Smith. Since then, he's worked at a variety of restaurants including Michelin two-star restaurant Alex at the Wynn Las Vegas; The Cincinnatian Hotel; Stock Hill; and Bluestem.
21c has been redeveloping the historic Hotel Savoy and Savoy Grill building at 219 W. Ninth St. into a boutique "museum hotel" for about two years. The $47.5 million project will transform the Hotel Savoy into the 21c Museum Hotel Kansas City, a 120-room boutique hotel with restaurant, event space and contemporary art displays.
Here's a closer look at some renderings of the hotel rooms and restaurant at the 21c Museum Hotel Kansas City, which is slated to open in the summer.
Reservations for the new hotel are currently available for visits starting on July 30.