Kansas city restaurants offer increasingly elaborate spins on ‘Girl Dinner’ trend
Art by Teddy Rosen
Girl dinner officially entered the zeitgeist in 2023 when Olivia Maher shared her “medieval peasant” meal of bread, cheese, and grapes in a TikTok video. Users related to her take so much that now #girldinner has 463.3K posts on TikTok alone.
Girl dinner, by definition, is flexible. Generally agreed-upon qualifications indicate a meal consisting of a few elements (rather than a large portion of just one thing) and a low prioritization of protein. Now there are sub-definitions like rat girl dinner, savory girl dinner, and the one that Kansas City restaurants are leaning into, which I’ll name “commercial” girl dinner: fries, Caesar salad, and a martini.
It’s all a clever way to reframe a menu without adding new items, as well as play into a trend in an effort to bring in business on slower days, a la “taco Tuesday.”
I visited a few area restaurants offering this special menu and learned that there’s something for every type of “girl” (which I defined for this context two years ago).
Incline on 9th girl dinner // Photo by Sarah Sipple
This West Bottoms restaurant and bar, Incline on 9th, to my knowledge, was the first to offer a girl dinner special in Kansas City. To be fair, McLain’s was earliest on the scene with their girl breakfast–a variety of half-portions for a well-rounded plate.
Incline on 9th took things a step further than most when they introduced five mix-and-match options based on pop culture figures.
On Thursdays from 4 – 10 p.m., girl dinner consists of your choice of an entree, side, and drink for $26. Some of the suggested combos include the dirty martini, Caesar salad, and fries named “The Elaine,” or the playful “Holly,” with an espresso martini, housemade chips, and chicken tenders.
The mix-and-match aspect earns them points in the girl dinner world. Diners are able to order exactly what they feel like in the moment, whether it’s a salty extravaganza or something resembling a more balanced plate.
At Incline on 9th, the energy is high, the lights are low, and it can get loud. But if girl dinner is the kickoff to a rowdy Thursday night, then this is a great start. The only catch here, though, is that it’s not easy to get into. Reservations book out quickly for Thursday nights, so plan ahead and make (and keep) your reservations.
Cru girl dinner (with salmon upgrade) // Photo by Sarah Sipple
In Brookside, one could make a fabulous evening centered around a Tuesday night girl dinner at Cru. I’d start with shopping at LADYCO, then Sierra Winter Jewelry, and end at Cru with a few friends.
This menu is less of a commercial girl dinner and more of a charcuterie-style plate. There are multiple drink options, a choice between a few soups and salads, and a side of fries and select meats with pickled veggies for $25. I opted to add the protein upcharge for a portion of salmon.
This is the one I find myself most likely to return to, between the variety of the meal and the comfortable atmosphere. The dining room is buzzy and happy, but not loud. You’d feel socially comfortable in jeans and a sweater, but you could also be a little more dressed up and not feel out of place. Reservations are recommended for Cru.
Stock Hill girl dinner // Photo by Sarah Sipple
A steakhouse is no stranger to the foundational elements of a commercial girl dinner. Stock Hill’s girl dinner is offered on Thursday nights, and includes triple-cooked fries, Caesar salad, and your choice between two martini varieties for $25. In a puzzling name choice, “the basic” is actually a seasonal, flavored martini (pumpkin spice on my visit). The other option is a “world-famous dirty” martini, which was crafted to perfection.
Ketchup and aioli are served alongside the thick-cut fries–served in a generous portion–while the Caesar salad was a little sparse in taste and texture. I wouldn’t go out of my way to return for this one, but knowing that it’s walk-in only may be worth a try if reservations are booked out at the others.
Palm Tree Club girl dinner // Photo by Sarah Sipple
If you’re looking for a girl dinner that transports you out of Kansas City, the beach resort aesthetic at Palm Tree Club is it. Aesthetics and location carry this bar/restaurant combo. The first-floor patio is great for people watching in the bustling Power and Light district, and I recommend making your way up to the rooftop bar for an after-dinner drink.
Girl dinner is served on Thursday evenings, where $25 gets you a chopped Caesar salad, truffle parm fries, and a choice between a few “tinis.” The relatively thin fries were a star, and my friend and I nibbled on discounted sushi from the happy hour menu while we waited.
Reservations are not required, but Thursday evenings can become busy if there is a concert or event in the area.
One thing missing from the overall girl dinner menu is non-alcoholic or mocktail options. Each of the restaurants was willing to accommodate the request when I inquired, but it would be ideal if the non-drinking customer wasn’t made to feel high-maintenance by making a request outside of the limited menu.
It is a limited menu, so diners who eat gluten-free or plant-based could lament the same, but with most bars offering at least one n/a option now, it’s not too big of an ask to see it on the menu. Simply adding Diet Coke as one of the options would make it more inclusive while leaning even further into the social media-based trend.
Other area spots that have recently introduced a girl dinner include Merchants Pub & Plate, Marina 57, Hollywood Casino, and Tom’s Town; with Blanc Champagne Bar, Tiki Taco, and McLain’s Market putting their own spin on the concept.
