Dish & Drink KC: An afternoon of surprises at Front Range and Yummi Crab
Front Range Coffee // Photo By Tiffany Watts
Front Range Coffeehouse & Provisions is a cutesy little cafe in Brookside. And while I’ve been there quite a few times for meetings and work, I finally noticed something I’d overlooked: they’ve got a full bar. How’d I miss an entire bar?!
Shame on me. To make up for my lack of curiosity on previous visits, I started looking over the cocktail menu. Sure, it was still pretty early in the day, but as they say in the movies, it’s 5 o’clock somewhere.
Two cocktails immediately caught my attention: The Rise & Grind and The Sunburn. The Rise & Grind combines coffee and spirits in a way that makes your morning cuppa look like child’s play, while The Sunburn leans bright and fiery with tequila, citrus, and a little heat. Both sounded tempting, but with no bartender on duty during the quiet mid-day hours, I made a quick pivot straight to the smoothie menu. Sorry if I got you excited about the cocktails. Now you know how I felt.
Anyway, I ordered the Mixed Berry Smoothie and, truly, I wasn’t mad about it. It was a simple blend of berries, orange juice, and agave, but its vibrant, tart-meets-sweet flavor really woke up my taste buds. Since I’ve been steering clear of coffee (unless it’s mixed with alcohol), the smoothie hit just right. Refreshing, light, and a little indulgent.
Front Range Coffee & Provisions is located at 400 E Gregory Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64131.
Yummi Crab // Photo by Tiffany Watts
For months now, my mom has been telling me to try Yummi Crab over in Gladstone. She’s been hyping it up since she and her friends popped in for their first seafood boil.
Finally, in the area, I decided to stop by, but I wasn’t sure what I should order. I didn’t have the time or the taste for a seafood boil. Shrimp also felt like a little too much work. I really just wanted something low lift, tasty, and quick.
After staring at the menu a little too long, I finally decided on the Fried Oyster Basket with a side of Cajun fries. The menu said it came with 7 oysters for $13.95, but when my server rang it in, it somehow turned into 10 oysters for $17. No explanation, no heads up — just a change. I wasn’t mad about it, though. Between my mom’s glowing reviews of the place and my own curiosity, I figured more oysters couldn’t be a bad thing.
When the food hit the table, it came out hot, fresh, and smelling incredible. And sure enough, they weren’t playing about the portions. Ten golden fried oysters and a mountain of Cajun fries. Naturally, I dove into the fries first (you have to eat them while they’re hot). They were well-seasoned, crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and surprisingly not spicy despite their fiery look. Just pure flavor.
The oysters, though, caught me off guard. The breading had the kind of crunch you want, and the oysters themselves were fresh and tender, but the breading itself was almost bland. Luckily, they came with a dipping sauce that saved the day. Once I paired the two together, the flavor really came alive. Still, I couldn’t help but wish the oysters had been seasoned enough to stand on their own. They were so close to being perfect.
Lesson learned: Mom knows best. I’ll be back for the seafood boil, no questions asked.
Yummi Crab is located at 6571 N Oak Trafficway, Kansas City, MO, 64118.
