Dish & Drink KC: Relaxed bar fare at Taps on Main and Lew’s

Cobb Salad at Taps on Main // Photo by Sarah Sipple

Taps on Main is a go-to restaurant for my husband and me. This is due in part to the fact that it’s open on Mondays and has longer kitchen hours than other spots downtown, is locally owned, and is within walking distance. Heck yeah.

It’s a reliable spot where the only thing that changes are the taps on the self-serve beer wall.

While my husband orders the same thing every time, I’ve tried over half of the entire menu by now. The Creamy Potato Soup ($4) is a comforting fall and winter staple of mine, and I’m sad to say that I’ve ordered the Spicy Battered Cauliflower ($10) so many times over the years that I’ve burned out on it. (I’ll recover.) On one spontaneous visit last fall, I took it upon myself to try every seasonal beer–I think it was seven–of course I only had small pours.

My current rotation is the Cobb Salad ($13) pictured here, and the Nashville Hot Sliders ($14). The sliders are greasy, kinda-sorta-hot, and come with a load of fries: a quintessential bar food. 

On this visit, I was in the mood for something lighter. The Cobb Salad arrives on a long plate, with a bed of mixed greens tossed in a very small amount of buttermilk ranch. The greens are artfully topped with a fried chicken tender, big chunks of bacon, a hard-boiled egg, bleu cheese crumbles, avocado slices, and tomato. I was relieved to see that mixed greens truly meant mixed greens, and not simply a sad iceberg pile.

As I said, the dressing is very light, so if you are a dressing person, I recommend asking for a small cup of it in addition to the salad. The arrangement of the toppings looks eye-catching in photos, but also provides an element of practicality. Since each topping is grouped, it is easy to pick off anything you don’t like or mix in just a small portion of it.

The fried chicken at Taps on Main is always a good move. Our server says it is hand-breaded and fried here. The unique crunch and quality chicken pieces keep Taps as one of my husband’s very favorite chicken tender spots.

To make the Cobb Salad a perfect meal, be sure to steal some of your tablemate’s fries, and pair it all with a Quirk. 

Taps on Main is located at 1715 Main St, Kansas City, MO 64108.

Hot Honey Chicken At Lew’s // Photo by Sarah Sipple

We pulled up to Lew’s Grill and Bar on a rainy afternoon and enjoyed a late lunch, only to find out the next day that two other groups of Pitch staff and their families had been there before and after us. Only one of us lives in the Waldo area.

Though this was my first time visiting Lew’s, I’ve been aware of their good reputation for years. Between hearing staff and friends mention going there regularly, to seeing Lew’s participate in our Pitch food weeks, it had been on my list to try for a while.

Right after my husband and I were seated at a hightop, an older couple headed to a table near us. Before they even sat down, our server called out that she’d have their iced tea and PBR in a jiffy. I adore seeing staff and regulars interact. It gives me the warm fuzzies.

After perusing the menu of bar and grill classics, I ordered the Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich ($18). Since it includes a side, I went with Southern-style Green Beans with bacon and caramelized onion. Plus a Diet Pepsi to wash it down.

The Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich featured a beer-battered chicken breast, hot honey drizzle, melty pepperjack cheese, pickles, and shredded lettuce on a brioche bun. It was messy, and I felt overly prim and proper eating with my fork and knife in this neighborhood dive setting.

It was so messy that it clung to the serving paper and started picking up the (food-safe) ink. After a while, I ditched the bottom bun and finished the cheesy, honey-sticky chicken breast on its own. The sweetness of the sammie was balanced by the slightly savory green beans. They maintained a slight snap.

Though this can depend on the individual staff at any given time, we were impressed that our drinks were never low, we didn’t feel rushed or ignored, and we left full and happy.

The menu has many other things I’d like to try, so it will not be long until we’re back. I’m looking at you, Banana Spring Roll, Spicy Burger, Das Boot, and intriguing shelves of glass jars with house-infused vodkas…

Lew’s Grill and Bar is located at 7539 Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO 64114.