Dish & Drink KC: Sandwiches and world-building at Marina 27, Italian Sausage Co., and Brass Monkey
Illustration By Teddy Rosen
Like everyone else, I have a list on my phone of restaurants and bars that I want to try. It’s a hodgepodge of places that Mark Zuckerberg thinks I’d like, places that people have recommended to me personally (that I sometimes have no intention of visiting, but wrote down anyway), and places that I have a genuine interest in.
Among that final category are some three- and four-dollar-sign restaurants that I am mentally reserving for special occasions—Marina 27 being one of them. However, a good friend recently informed me of their Monday $12 burger special, which is all I needed to hear to make the drive from downtown to Lake Lotawana.
Marina 27 // Photo by Alexander Omorodion
I arrived pretty close to sunset and got to soak in the incredible view of the sunlight shimmering across the lake. The sounds of flowing water, ducks wading through the soft waves, and laughs reminiscent of well-funded retirement accounts comforted me like a warm hug.
I felt like an unc sitting at the bar. Most of the employees seemed to be either current or recently graduated high school students, but nevertheless the service was organized and timely. Their smash burger ($12 on Mondays, $26 every other day) was decked out with colby jack cheese, Marina bacon, L.T.O.P. (lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickle—one of my favorite acronyms), and a side of fries.
Marina 27 // Photo by Alexander Omorodion
The beef patty was succulent, rich, and a bit smoky—a reminder of why I love burgers so much. The rest of the ingredients complemented each other as well as you’d hope for in a burger, but a standout flavor was the subtle sweetness from the bacon that took this burger from great to amazing.
In the spirit of Boy Math (since I saved $14 on the burger, I could use that $14 on another entree), I figured why not get a steak while I’m here as well. The 14oz Prime KC Strip ($59) landed on the bar counter with a thud, and I got to work.
Marina 27 // Photo by Alexander Omorodion
A brilliantly charred crust, a perfectly cooked medium-rare center (yes, medium-rare is perfect), and melt-in-your-mouth tenderness characterized this cut of meat. It was one of those dishes so good that I dipped into my stomach’s reserve capacity to make sure I could eat everything in one sitting. For context, these entrees were served at the same time. I’ll never forget the look of respect I earned from the bartender when I devoured them both.
Marina 27 is located at 22 A St, Lake Lotawana, MO 64086.
Italian Sausage Co. // Photo by Alexander Omorodion
If you’re chronically online like me, there’s a strong chance that you have seen the wave surrounding the chicken Caesar sandwich ($13.99) at The Italian Sausage Co. My first experience here, a couple of years ago, was at their original location in North Kansas City where I enjoyed a face-sized #7 that fed me for two meals.
Upon hearing about the opening of their new location in the River Market, I thought it was only fitting to head down and see what the hype was about. As I’ve explored the social media and content creation scene more, there’s a level of skepticism that has started to creep up whenever I see a sudden influx of overwhelmingly positive reviews. Despite that, I walked up to the sidewalk window (the concept of slinging sandwiches from a sidewalk window is endearing to me) and placed my order with an open mind. And boy, am I glad I did.
Italian Sausage Co. // Photo by Alexander Omorodion
One of my favorite aspects of this sandwich was the range of textures that I experienced in each bite: The varying degrees of crunch from the fresh baguette and chicken filet, with the soft dressing-covered lettuce and shredded parmesan rounding out the sandwich. It really did taste like a damn good chicken Caesar salad on some damn good bread.
One thing you’ll notice about Italian Sausage Co. is you can ask five different people what their favorite menu item is, and you might get five different answers—a testament to the variety of their menu.
The Italian Sausage Co. is located at 7319 N Oak Trafficway, Gladstone, MO 64118, and 518 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64106.
The Brass Monkey Lounge // Photo by Alexander Omorodion
What Sarah Sipple has dubbed “little treat culture” has been on the rise in Kansas City. It seems like every week there’s a new cafe, speakeasy, cocktail bar, lounge, or some other spot ready to satisfy our impulses—or perhaps quell our troubles.
When one of these new spots hits my radar, the first question that pops into my mind is “What’s going to make me want to come here instead of the 10 other places?” Many times it can be the allure of exploring somewhere new for the first time, but that allure is short-lived and fades once you’ve visited.
At The Brass Monkey Lounge, the appeal lies in the story.
As I sat down in the 1940s-themed lounge, the deep jade greens on the walls enveloped me. Warm, amber ambient lighting illuminated the golden accents on the menu, books, and furniture in the room, while casting shadows that seemed to have personalities of their own.
A man wearing a crisp white button-down and blue vest came to our table and greeted us with “Welcome to the Brass Monkey” in a firm British accent. As he walked us through the menu, my eyes landed on the Alchemist Experience ($24). My guest and I both ordered it, and our server’s eyes lit up. “I’ll be right back,” he said.
He came back with a deck of cards and a brown leather booklet. After asking us to each draw two cards from the deck, he opened the book where the cards corresponded to different ingredients. Hearts corresponded to sweet, diamonds to citrus and fruit, spades to bitter, and clubs to floral and herbal flavors. Each number represented a different variation within its suit’s flavor profile. He took our selections back to the alchemist, who crafted our drinks with hands guided by the Brass Monkey himself.
I drew the six of clubs and the seven of hearts (keep your 6-7 to yourself, please). What came back was a unique cocktail that was as herbaceous and sweet as advertised.
In the heat of the moment, I forgot to jot down the ingredients, but in hindsight, perhaps that was fitting. Each Alchemist Experience is different—even if you draw the same two cards, you won’t get the exact same drink, as measurements aren’t taken during the crafting process. I call it Vibetending.
The drinks were served in vintage glassware, which guests can take home for $5. My experience at Brass Monkey showed me what it means for a business to have a story to tell. The furniture, lighting, service, menu items, and so many more small details all contribute to the worldbuilding that The Brass Monkey pulls off.
Time flies when you’re having fun, and before I knew it, I was there until close. Before leaving, I struck up one last conversation with our server to learn more about where he was from. Then, out of nowhere, he took off the mask: “I’m from here,” he said in an unmistakable Midwestern accent. “I’ve spent a lot of time working on the accent and learning about towns and schools in England so I can answer those questions, but I’m from here.” Worldbuilding goes deep.
Legend has it that the original Brass Monkey is buried beneath the concrete floors of the lounge.
The Brass Monkey Lounge is located at 307 Admiral Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64106.
