KC Sipps: Six restaurant openings outpace two closings, plus Chef Lidia brings her new cookbook to Kansas City

KC Sipps logo by Theodore Rosen

Life in KC is pretty delicious. In fact, there is often so much going on that it can be hard to decide where to go and what to try.

That’s where I come in. 

I’ve curated this weekly list of events, openings, deals, and celebrations to keep you in-the-know. Cheers!

Something New

News Bites: Whole Harvest Kitchen in Leawood will be closing temporarily. From October 13 – 20, the plant-forward restaurant will be closed for a “glow up”, then reopen on October 21 just in time to be part of our 2025 half-price Salad Week!

Guy’s Snacks has a cheeky new project. They’ve collaborated with Garage Beer (the Kelce brothers-owned lager brand) for a specially-designed bag of chips to match the no-frills Garage Beer brand. These are just basic “chip flavored chips” to go along with the “beer flavored beer.” Currently, a five-pack and larger quantities are available online, but it will soon be rolling out in KC-area grocery stores.

Courtesy Guy’s Snacks

Opening 

Arrow Dart Club: Crossroads gets a new bar-with-something-to-do this weekend. With a grand opening on October 16, Arrow Dart Club is the latest from the team at Cosmo Burger. Next door to the new burger and shake spot, Arrow Dart Club features top-of-the-line dart technology with a succinct bar and food menu. Jordan Baranowski gave us the inside scoop on Arrow Dart Club last week, but I stopped in over the weekend and chowed down on the Thai wings and only broke one dart. It’s not my forte, but I had a great time with the diverse gameplay.

Sound Bite Social: Warehouse on Broadway has added food to the setlist. Sound Bite Social is the name of the kitchen, with a separate entrance so you don’t have to have show tickets to snag the “killer f*ing food.” A selection of $13-17 sandwiches and burgers, plus fried apps and a couple sweet treats make up a smart drunk-food menu. It is open now, and operates daily from 5 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Beverly’s: The Strawberry Hill neighborhood has a new food and bev option. Beverly’s–named for the owner’s adopted dog–is open now. The brick-walled building features a large bar, a cocktail menu, and food such as pizza and charcuterie. Cocktails range in price from $8 – 10.

Bánh Mì KC: The metro’s latest Vietnamese sandwich spot opens October 18 inside 888 International Market in Overland Park. The fun kicks off at 9:30 a.m. with a traditional lion dance performance. Snag a bubble tea or trendy Propitious fruit ice cream from the market to round out your meal.

Tiki Taco: Tiki Taco, the spot that Pitch readers voted Best Tacos in 2024, has just opened its fifth location. The newest one, in downtown Shawnee, opened October 14 and features indoor dining, patio seating, and a walk-up window like the 39th St. location. This follows the opening of the Olathe location earlier this summer.

The Dub: The highly anticipated women’s sports bar is ready to hit the ground running! The Dub opens in downtown KC on October 16 at 2 p.m. It offers food and drinks (no grill or fryer, though), and features sports memorabilia and KC Current-inspired accent colors. Over a year ago, The Pitch interviewed the owners for an in-depth look at their vision and mission.

Closing

Aixois Sud French Bistro: The Leawood location of the French bistro has closed. The Crestwood location is still open. According to the Kansas City Star, the restaurant quietly closed a few weeks ago with a sign that says “closed for maintenance,” but the restaurant’s website has no trace of the Leawood location. 

The Homesteader Cafe: October 31 will be the final day of operation for The Homesteader Cafe in downtown KC. After ten years of farm-to-table brunch and lunch, owners of The Homesteader say they “are done with the restaurant world for a while.”

October 18

Mission Market: From 12 – 6 p.m., a portion of Johnson Drive in Mission will be closed for Oktoberfest! The inaugural fall festival will be held at Mission Market and will feature a variety of food vendors, kids’ activities, live music, and a beer tent from Rockcreek Brewing Co. and Sandhills Brewing. Admission is free, and lawn chairs are welcome.

Underdog Wine Co: Same grape, different soil. I love a lil education with my food and drink, and curious folk like me may enjoy this wine class all about the Chardonnay grape. Snacks are provided by Vita’s Place, and tickets are $60 for this tasting class.

Chef’s dinner at Thai Orchid // Photo by Sarah Sipple

October 19

Thai Orchid: For the foodie, there’s no dinner quite like a Chef’s Dinner at Thai Orchid (Northland location). After attending a media preview of similar dinners this summer, I can wholeheartedly recommend this. Each dish was more vibrant and satisfying than the last, and the evening was filled with surprises and historical or geographical interjections that made it feel extra special. Tickets are $180 for this 12-course dinner from Chef Anuson and Chef Pongsakorn.

October 20

Rainy Day Books: I have the distinct honor of interviewing Chef Lidia Matticchio Bastianich, live on stage, about her new book: Lidia’s The Art of Pasta! Rainy Day Books invites home cooks and pasta lovers to hear from the famed chef, restaurateur, and TV host, and even have your new cookbook signed by her. I am simply enamoured by her story as a young immigrant and realizing her talents with food and hospitality as a through-line in her life. I’ve made a few recipes from this new book and I must say, I impressed my own self with the fabulous fresh pasta textures. Tickets are $47.71 for two people and one book. If you have a question you’d like me to ask Chef Lidia, feel free to email me at sarah@thepitchkc.com!