Chef Carlos Falcon to open south KC location of Jarocho Pescados y Mariscos, Thomas says goodbye, and the week’s restaurant events

Carlos Falcon — one of the most talked-about chefs in Kansas City the past two years — is heading southeast. He aims to open a second, 60-seat location of Jarocho Pescados y Mariscos, his popular Kansas City, Kansas, Mexican seafood restaurant, later this year. Jarocho South, as Falcon plans to call it, will open at 13145 State Line Road, on the Missouri side.

“A lot of our clientele comes from there [the south Kansas City–Leawood area],” Falcon says. “It can take from 25 to 35 minutes to get here [KCK], and it sometimes deters their intentions to come.”

Besides relieving the drive time for some of his customers, the new location, tucked into a busy strip mall, fits Falcon’s model of what he has heard people call the “high-low experience” of his restaurant. Like the original, it will sport an unassuming look, with décor Falcon describes as colorful, reminiscent of a beach shack. But the cuisine, he says, will remain top-shelf.

“You can come in and just get fish tacos, or get a seven-course meal,” he says. “This isn’t about money. It is about making people smile with my food.”

Falcon plans a menu similar to that of his his original location, which is primarily centered on fresh seafood, sourced from Argentina, Europe and Asia. At his new location, though, he says he’ll incorporate more local foodstuffs, including rabbit, lamb and pork.

“One of the things I’ve discovered about the movement of farm to table is that where I’m coming from that is an everyday thing,” says the Veracruz native. “I want to bring here more food from my hometown.”

Thomas Restaurant (1815 West 39th Street) abruptly closed last week, with no announcement other than a sign on the door. Building and restaurant owner Brian Donatell is remodeling the cozy Volker space, with plans to lease it to another restaurant. (One deal has already fallen through.) Thomas’ lemon-butter scallops were heavenly, and I will miss them.

Because there is no such thing as too much fast-casual pizza, MOD Pizza is opening soon at 1912 Star Drive in Liberty. MOD (that’s “made on demand”) offers thin-crust pizza in three sizes: mini, mod and mega. The prices are a flat rate rather than based on how many toppings you put on it, so go nuts. The Seattle-based chain also offers salads, with beer and wine on tap. It dares you to go mega in four to eight weeks.

Underdog Wine Co. is set to open a second location, at 2980 Gillham Road, in the new McGee Building — next door to the new Gillham incarnation of its Crestwood neighbor Café Europa. According to a press release, owners Ryan and Jenny Sciara plan for the new Underdog location to “create options for corporate events, dinner parties and social activities,” in addition to selling wine.

This week’s restaurant events:
Thursday 9.22
There could be no more perfect dinner for the first day of fall than a cider-themed dinner at Rye (10551 Mission Road, Leawood). This four-course dinner celebrates the diversity of the beverage, pairing different tart and sweet varieties with Green Dirt Farm Dirt Lover’s cheese, smoked Atlantic cod with compressed apples and stone-ground mustard, Berkshire pork with sweet and sour apples and sunchoke puree, and an apple tart tatin with sour-cream ice cream. The dinner is $65 per person, not including tax or gratuity. Call 913-642-5800 for reservations.

Armagnac feels like an old-fashioned spirit, but tonight it gets new life. Visit Charisse (1006 Walnut) for a four-course Armagnac of Château Arton–themed dinner, featuring the brandy paired with Ahi tuna (with mango-habanero coulis), rabbit served with a house rigatoni, duck served in a masoor dal with shiitake mushrooms, and Roquefort cheese served with an Anjou pear and tart cherry. The Armagnac cocktails are designed by Brock Schulte and Brandon Cummins. The dinner is $50, sans tax and gratuity. Make your reservation by calling 816-474-0000.

Friday 9.23
One hundred fourteen barbecue teams compete today and tomorrow at the Shawnee Great Grillers State BBQ Championship, at the Shawnee Town Facility at 11600 Johnson Drive. The sanctioned judging is not open to the public, but there is still much food and drink to be enjoyed, particularly on Saturday: barbecue samples, food from a variety of food trucks, and a beer tent (sponsored by the Shawnee Irish American Club). No tickets are necessary.

Saturday 9.24
Antioch Urban Growers (2727 Northeast 44th Street) is hosting a potluck today that features a salsa contest appropriate for the end of tomato season. You can come just to enjoy the Latin-themed potluck, or you can enter the salsa contest; if you plan to eat, bring a dish. Contest entrants, note that there are two categories: tomato-based and non-tomato-based. And you must provide bowls and chips for tasting. More information is available on Antioch Urban Growers’ Facebook page.

Sunday 9.25
Pour Coffee (11120 South Lone Elm Road) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. celebrates its second anniversary by putting on a pop-up event with Lawrence’s the Waffle Iron. Something special is always on the menu when it comes to the Waffle Iron — flavors such as cookie butter and banana brulee and Tasso ham with peach–and–green chile maple syrup have been featured at recent events. If waffles aren’t your style, Pour serves quiche and breakfast burritos.

Service industry folks, make plans to head to Jax Fish House and Oyster Bar (4814 Roanoke Parkway) ] for National Food Service Workers Day. The restaurant is offering 40 percent off to those in the industry, plus one guest. There’s also a free meal for industry dishwashers, with Jax Fish House founder Dave Query noting that dishwashers are the “most important, yet underappreciated, position in the restaurant.” Kudos for recognizing that. Call 816-437-7940 for reservations.