Dish & Drink KC: From cozy to craveworthy at Geo’s Cafe and Gaia Masala & Burger

Dish & Drink KC logo by Theodore Rosen

I’ve officially become a coffee shop addict. I’m always on the hunt for a new-to-me café with a cutesy aesthetic that satisfies my need for a cozy place to work, a genuinely good drink, and top-tier service.

So imagine my delight when I found myself in South Kansas City one morning at Geo’s Cafe for a co-working-and-latte session with a friend.

From the outside, you wouldn’t expect much. It’s tucked into a modest strip mall, which had me assuming the interior would be equally low-key. Quaint, maybe. Functional at best.

I was wrong.

This café is anything but quaint.

The space opens up beautifully, with thoughtful design choices that immediately make you want to settle in. And that same attention to detail shows up everywhere, not just in the aesthetics, but in the menu, the comfort of the seating, and the overall flow of the space. What really sealed the deal for me? Outlets. Everywhere. No awkward chair shuffling, no hovering near walls, no guarding your seat like it’s a competitive sport. Wherever you land, you can plug in and get to work, and that alone deserves applause.

Anyone who’s ever walked into a coffee shop only to realize it’s wildly impractical for actual working knows how frustrating that can be. Geo’s clearly gets it.

Photo by Tiffany Watts

I kept my order simple: a sugar-free vanilla latte, served in a proper coffee mug. The latte itself was smooth and comforting, with a balanced espresso base that wasn’t bitter or overpowering. Love a good latte when it’s steady, satisfying, and creamy without being heavy.

And let me just say: if you’re working from a café and the option is there, ordering hot drinks in a mug (or cold drinks in a glass) is a small upgrade that makes a big difference. It instantly elevates the experience. It slows you down just enough. It lets you romanticize your focus time a bit, like you’re the main character in a workday montage.

I don’t often find myself working on the south side of the city much, but Geo’s Café is absolutely worth going out of the way for. The spacious layout means you’re not working elbow-to-elbow with strangers, and the mix of individual and communal seating makes it easy to find your rhythm, whether you’re solo grinding or co-working with a friend.

Geo’s Cafe is located at 3523 E Red Bridge Rd, Kansas City, MO 64137.

Photo by Tiffany Watts

Anyone who regularly stays out past 11 p.m. on a weekend knows the truth about late-night food: a lot of it only hits after a couple of strong drinks. Sober, that same meal can go one of two ways—you either love it even more, or you wonder why you ever went there in the first place. More often than not, it’s the latter.

That’s exactly why I had to give Gaia Masala & Burger a proper second visit. This time, clear-headed.

My first stop was after a night of dancing and spreading queer joy through Kansas City. My friends and I rolled in late for wings, burgers, and anything that could satisfy those post-midnight cravings. They’re open until 3 a.m., which makes it an ideal landing spot when most kitchens are already closed.

Round two was different. This time, I ordered the Buff Vegan Burger ($19), which immediately earned points for offering solid options for folks with dietary restrictions. I went all in: vegan bun, vegan cheese, jalapeños, onions—the full stack. I like a burger that feels intentional and indulgent. That said, all the add-ons pushed the burger to $25, and adding curly fries for another $7 brought the total north of $30.

Sober Tiffany is frugal Tiffany, and I won’t lie, I flinched a little at paying that much for a burger and fries.

Thankfully, the food showed up ready to defend itself.

The burger was genuinely good. Juicy, flavorful, and satisfying in a way that didn’t feel like a compromise just because it was vegan. The bun deserves special mention: soft, warm, and fresh, with that pillowy texture you want from a good burger bun. It tasted like a real bun, not an afterthought, and it held everything together without falling apart.

The curly fries were tasty, well-seasoned, and hit that savory craving, but I clearly got the bottom of the batch. Lots of smaller pieces and a bit crunchier than I prefer. For $7, I expected a more generous, better-balanced portion.

Still, the most important takeaway? It passed the sober taste bud test.

Gaia Masala & Burger is a spot you can enjoy any time of day, not just after midnight. The food holds up, the flavors deliver, and it’s worth checking out again… unless you’re watching your budget and not in the mood for a splurge meal. In that case, maybe save it for a night when you really want to treat yourself.

Gaia Masala & Burger is located at 425 Westport Rd, Kansas City, MO 64111.