Dish & Drink KC: From castle to cozy, we found things fishy at Wandering Vine and Hemma Hemma

Arctic Char at Wandering Vine // Photo by Sarah Sipple

At dinner on Saturday, I committed one of my personally-defined dining sins at Wandering Vine:

I knowingly ordered the same entree as a tablemate.

Specifically–someone who I know to be comfortable sharing food with me. If we both loved it, great, but we miss out on trying other flavors and textures. If we both disliked it, well, we’d be hungry.

With the Arctic Char ($36), the gamble paid off. The fish was flaky and mild, but it was the dish in its entirety that worked. A lightly curried cream sauce provided some salt and intrigue, while pickled shallots brightened up each bite. Pumpkin seeds added bits of crunch to the otherwise soft dish. And unpacking the sachet of greens to access the barley, apple, and cranberry was a treat worth working for. The pacing, the presentation, the textures–each element played a role in earning a place on the upscale menu.

I left feeling more full than I have in months. However, it was not the double-ordered fish that was solely responsible.

The small plates menu at Wandering Vine actually excited us the most, so we chose four apps to kick off our meal. This included the bread service ($7), provoleta completa ($15 and our favorite app), deviled eggs with trout roe ($12 and our second favorite), and oysters. We appreciated that the mignonette was served in tincture form for delicate dashes on the oysters, but were less demure with the horseradish. The melty, sweet-and-salty provoleta completa was like the queso fundito at Barbacoa in a different font. In my family’s orbit, that’s a big compliment.

Flourless Chocolate Cake at Wandering Vine // Photo by Sarah Sipple

After our entrees had their time to shine, we ordered desserts to further explore the menu and the depths of our stomachs–this was our first time at the restaurant, after all. As predicted by our server, the flourless chocolate cake was indeed the crowd favorite. The fudgy custard was rich and not overly sweet, and the texture was divine–like a thick pudding. In fact, keep this in mind for when you want to celebrate something but not necessarily pay for a whole dinner out. This and a glass of red wine, or a decaf cup of coffee, says congrats or happy anything to me. 

Oh, and if you didn’t know, Wandering Vine is in a castle. The stone building just off Johnson Drive in Shawnee was completed as a residence in 1907, going on to serve as various restaurants and clubs since 1949. The interior aesthetic plays it safe with lots of greige and dark wood, but the architecture is certainly interesting.

Wandering Vine at The Castle is located at 12401 Johnson Dr, Shawnee, KS 66216. 

Hemma Hemma // Photo By Tiffany Watts

Some places feed your stomach, and others feed your soul—Hemma Hemma does both without trying too hard. This daytime eatery, whose name fittingly means “at home” in Swedish, isn’t chasing trends or trying to impress with flashy gimmicks. Instead, it delivers fresh, flavorful meals in a space that invites you to slow down, settle in, and just be. With a menu full of clean, vibrant dishes and an atmosphere that feels like your coziest corner at home (but with much better lighting), it’s the kind of spot that turns a casual lunch into something worth savoring.

I arrived just as brunch was wrapping up and decided to wait a few extra minutes for the lunch menu to roll out. Before long, my friend joined me, and though the plan was to get some work done together, the Wi-Fi proved to be a bit of a mystery—and with the line to order growing steadily, we took it as a sign to catch up instead. Conversations flowed effortlessly as we swapped stories, shared what we’d been working on, and spilled the kind of tea that only happens when you’re face-to-face with a good friend.

When it was finally time to order, we both opted for a hot tea ($3) to keep things cozy. For my meal, I went with the Brookside Buddha Bowl ($15). A beautiful medley of quinoa, cabbage mix, beet hummus, roasted broccoli and sweet potato, marinated chickpeas, watermelon radish, dried blueberries, and a zesty green tahini sauce (all vegan and gluten-free). Wanting to amp up the protein, I added roasted salmon on top ($9).

Now, I’ll admit, when the dish arrived, the salmon didn’t exactly look roasted—but any doubts I had vanished after the first bite. I chopped the salmon into tender chunks with my fork, drizzled the tahini sauce across the bowl, and mixed everything together into one beautifully chaotic blend of flavors. Every bite was a burst of freshness and texture. The sweet potatoes’ warmth, the tang of the tahini, and the earthy richness of the beet hummus balanced in perfect harmony. Honestly, I could’ve kissed the chef for this one. I didn’t realize how much I’d been missing salmon until that moment, and I refused to stop eating until my bowl was wiped clean.

The beet hummus deserves its own moment of recognition too. Smooth, vibrant, and packed with flavor, it’s something I could’ve ordered on its own and snacked on for days. The ingredients tasted as fresh as the space itself felt, reinforcing Hemma Hemma’s commitment to serving wholesome, nourishing meals that don’t sacrifice depth for healthiness.

And let’s talk about the atmosphere: cozy without being cramped, bright yet calming, and full of thoughtful details that make it feel like a home away from home. It’s the kind of place where you can lose track of time over good conversation—or maybe take a cooking class, which I’ve officially added to my must-do list for my next visit. The classes look like a fun and welcoming way to learn new dishes with a community of like-minded food lovers.

Hemma Hemma is located at 7122 Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO 64114.