Dish & Drink KC: Quiet luxury at Vivilore and Clay & Fire

Vivilore Dining Room // Photo by Sarah Sipple

Vivilore

Entering the double doors of this vine-covered brick building in the Englewood Arts District transported me to another country and century. Visual storytelling is apparent from the first moment at Vivlore–which is fitting because the name translates to life story.

Vivilore is not only a modern American restaurant in Independence but also a bar, retail shop, and event space.

I’m a planner by nature, so when an establishment has a reservation service, I use it. So my friend and I made the easy drive to Independence for our early lunch reservations on a Friday. We brought the average age down a few decades, but in all honesty, when I say early lunch, I mean early.

Once there, the journey from the door to my table was slow. 

I spent half the time gaping at the space and the other half taking photos and videos. From the old-school guest book in the entry to hand-painted floors and full-wall muraling, there is a lot to take in. 

As you enter, a traditional dining room takes over the left side, while a full bar and additional seating reside on the right. Straight ahead is a wide wooden staircase that leads to private dining areas and retail shopping for art, housewares, and gifts.

We were sat at a corner table set with linens and comfortably upholstered chairs. Small wooden chairs were thoughtfully placed next to us to keep our purses from the floor. Even my out-of-place, thrifted, lemon-lime-colored faux croc handbag. Judging by the glassware and Americana-inspired menu, I assessed that this was the perfect spot to order iced tea.

Vivlore Tostadas // Photo by Sarah Sipple

The lunch menu has a variety of appetizers, soups, salads, sandwiches, and entrees. All with an American, maybe even retro, feel. Dishes like New England Crab Cakes ($20), Grilled Steak Salad ($26), Pastrami Rueben ($18), and Lobster Roll made me think of coastal books and movies from decades past.

I ordered the Fish & Avocado Tostadas ($32) and Bread Pudding ($12). And of course, unsweet iced tea with unlimited refills for $3.50. 

The Tostadas consisted of crunchy blue corn shells topped with Pacific Coast Salmon and New Zealand Orange Roughy that were blackened and sauteéd, then dressed with sliced avocado, arugula, heirloom tomatoes, salsa, green onions, thin sour cream, and goat cheese. Spanish rice was served on the side.

Digging into the tostadas was more practical with a fork than my hands since the toppings were artfully plopped in the middle of three overlapping shells. The textures played beautifully with each other. I found myself purposefully seeking the bite-sized cuts of the two fish as well as the avocado. It was satisfying, warm and comforting, while still fresh. I felt good after eating it. 

The same can’t always be said after eating dessert. But this bread pudding… damn. It wasn’t just good for bread pudding. It was a great dessert.

Vivilore Bread Pudding // Photo by Sarah Sipple

Straightforward bread pudding was accompanied by freshly churned butter pecan ice cream, a thin and buttery caramel sauce, fresh berries, and whipped cream. I’m a sucker for a warm dish with cold ice cream, so it already ticked one of my favorite dessert categories.

The bread pudding element was made in a way that no single bite was over- or under-baked. The sweetness level complemented the ice cream and berries. It is now the bar that other bread puddings will be judged by. Thankfully, this dessert is a staple on the menu.

The prices suggest that Vivilore is not a casual spot. Upon entering, it is evident that it’s not trying to be casual. It has a life (story) of its own.

Vivilore is at 10815 E Winner Rd, Independence, MO 64052.

Clay And Fire Meze // Photo by Sarah Sipple

Clay & Fire

I’m not confident that I can properly communicate the beauty of an unexpected moment, but I’ve been practically giddy about writing this piece. My dinner at Clay & Fire happened to land at that rare intersection of great food with excellent company–though neither was planned.

After attending a tea workshop in the West Bottoms, my sister-in-law and I discussed where to go for dinner. I pulled out my trusty Notes app where I keep a list of what I consider to be iconic or well-loved local restaurants that I have not yet visited, and suggested Clay & Fire. Since it was a Wednesday night we decided to chance it with no reservations. 

As we walked up the narrow staircase to the restaurant (an important note for accessibility), we saw two new friends we had just met at the tea workshop also entering the restaurant. After a warm but awkward “Should we all sit together?” exchange, we asked for a table for four and were led upstairs.

Our first round of appetizers are pictured here. We started with what we presumed to be house classics or a good representation of the restaurant overall. The Clay & Fire Spread Trio ($14) consisted of classic hummus, guajillo hummus, and apricot yogurt in one oblong dish. As expected, it was served with fresh bread, similar to pita with some light char. House-made pickles ($6) added a fresh pop of flavor and crunch. 

As it turns out, one of my tablemates and new friend is a regular here. On this night, that unexpected connection meant that our table was showered with more appetizers that I did not photograph. It had nothing to do with my job, as you may be thinking. That topic had not yet come up. 

The table was now overcrowded, fabulously brimming with variations of dips and vegetables and oils and soup. While we seamlessly progressed from introductory topics of work to travel stories to goals to family history, our foursome comfortably shared food and reached across the table as if we’d known each other for years. 

Though I would have been content to eat mezze all night, we moved on to the main course. 

Clay And Fire Jujeh Chicken // Photo by Sarah Sipple

The mangal, or barbeque, menu frequently rotates, highlighting flavors and dishes from a variety of countries. Jujeh Chicken Platter ($17)–also called Joojeh kabob–is an Iranian dish of Halal chicken marinated in onion, lemon juice, and saffron then charcoal grilled. The rest of the platter was generously portioned with pickles, Persian butter rice, a charred veggie medley, and fresh bread. 

Each dish on my large plate brought a unique flavor and texture to the meal. I downed my protein first, then the pickles, and experimented with combinations of bread and veggies and the remaining dips on the table. 

We slowly ate and chatted for a couple of hours. Each of us had traveled to many countries, so we recalled stories of our adventures and components of cultures that we appreciate. The concepts of slowing down and embracing community came up frequently. 

Slowing down is at times a necessity and at other times a luxury. This dinner felt like both, and we could not have had a better backdrop than Clay & Fire. I was left full and nourished. Body and spirit.

Clay & Fire is at 815 W 17 St, Kansas City, MO 64108.