Sicily, Differently: Salute! Osteria Bianchi opens its doors in Liberty
Photo by Katie Currid
In many ways, opening Osteria Bianchi was all about a homecoming for Josh and Kelly Bianchi. For one, Kelly is a Kansas City native, so the return here seemed like the right fit for their family after the glitz of Las Vegas. The American Italian restaurant is also a return to some family roots: Josh’s grandmother is from Sicily, and the restaurant’s tightly-composed menu of Italian dishes draws a lot of inspiration from traditional recipes. On top of that, the Northland Kansas City-based restaurant is all about continuing to establish a chef-driven community near Liberty.
Photo by Katie Currid
Josh, who serves as Osteria Bianchi’s chef, and Kelly, his wife and manager of the front-of-house, have spent many combined years in the kitchens of KC, Las Vegas, and New York. However, they say that coming back to the Kansas City area felt serendipitous. “When we decided to open and operate our own restaurant, we were originally planning a spot on the Strip in Vegas,” Kelly says. “After a lot of negotiations, we discovered we just weren’t going to be able to realize our vision. That’s when we started discussing a move back to Kansas City.”
The Bianchis moved their family to Northland Kansas City, near Liberty, and within a few months, realized that the area was in need of high-quality, chef-driven restaurants. “The service community in Vegas is tightly-knit, but most of your guests aren’t living in the community,” Kelly says. “It’s extremely rewarding to hear feedback and make connections through your food with your friends and neighbors.”
That sense of reinforcing community extends to many aspects of Osteria Bianchi. Josh’s recipes are based on simple, traditional Italian favorites that lean heavily into authentic flavors and sauces. They try to source as many local and organic, small-batch ingredients as they can—they use Campo Lindo eggs and chicken, and Kelly’s mom owns a nearby apiary, as just a few examples—and make as much in-house as they can, such as the pastas and breads.
Photo by Katie Currid
They also aren’t limiting themselves to the “box” of Italian cuisine. “One of the reasons we were so drawn to a community-driven restaurant like ours is that it gives us the chance to find out what people really want,” Kelly says. “The menu we’re starting with for our grand opening is hyper-focused, but we’ve both worked in so many different kitchens that we won’t be afraid to branch out.”
The commitment to high-quality, traditional recipes shines through in the Bianchis’ menu. Spaghetti cacio e pepe is about as simple as it comes, but the combination of housemade pasta, cracked black pepper, and shaved parmesan is a flavor-filled nostalgia bomb for anyone who loves noodles and cheese—and who doesn’t? Another early favorite is the chef’s focaccia bread, baked fresh each day and served with a parmesan salsa of oil, herbs, and calabrian chilis.
Photo by Katie Currid
If you’re on the hunt for a meal that will leave you some leftovers, Kelly recommends the Cannelloni. It’s made with a braised lamb shoulder, wild mushrooms, and a walnut pesto to give everything just a little extra bite.
Photo by Katie Currid
On top of the tasty food on offer, Osteria Bianchi also features a small, curated wine list, and they are currently working on expanding their cocktail menu. Kelly and Josh are also excited to extend their hours into lunch and weekend brunch.
As they continue to build on their successes, they’re also excited to start collaborating with other area chefs and businesses. “Collaborations were always favorites of ours,” Kelly says. “Whether it’s something small like a cocktail or single dish, or something bigger like a full menu takeover, we love working with people in the community to make special, memorable experiences.”
Osteria Bianchi is open now for dinner five nights a week. With around 70 seats, reservations are recommended but not required. If you’re craving a different take on the tastes of Italy, you owe it to yourself to check it out.
Osteria Bianchi is located at 9261 NE 83rd Terrace, Kansas City, Missouri 64158. It is open Tuesday through Thursday from 4:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m., and Friday through Saturday from 4:00 p.m.–11:00 p.m.
