Lovely lunches at the Russell: Best of KC 2018

This month, we published The Pitch‘s annual Best of Kansas City issue. You can browse the results of the readers’ poll here. The issue also included a list, compiled and written by our editorial staff, of some our current favorite things about Kansas City in 2018. We’ll be publishing these items online throughout October. 

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Walking into the Russell is like logging on to a certain type of folksy Pinterest page — or, as our restaurant critic Liz Cook put it earlier this year, walking into a “hipster Cracker Barrel.” You’re confronted with lovingly arranged antiques, fresh flowers, and a color palette of cool grays and copper accented with dark wood. This brunchy-lunchy Midtown spot, which opened in May, has nailed the quaint vibes its owners were after. But we’re pleased to report that the food is as good as the restaurant looks. Wood-fire-roasted chickens, beef tenderloin, and vegetables are the foundation upon which the Russell operates, and chef Amante Domingo capitalizes on all of that fire-imbued flavor to create memorable sandwiches (steak chimi), toasts (salmon and avocado), and salads (try the heirloom). And beware before you order that olive oil chocolate chip cookie for dessert: it will haunt your fuckin’ dreams.

The Russell, 3141 Main. therussellonmain.com.