Standard Pour in Westport has a new chef: Pete Peterman

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Just a few months since it opened, Standard Pour, at 1511 Westport Road, is doing a little kitchen rehab. Opening chef Travis Meeks is leaving the venue at the end of this month, to be replaced November 2 by Pete Peterman, former owner of SORedux and Peanches.

“Travis had the opportunity to do some consulting work for a new restaurant in southern Missouri, where he’s from,” says owner David Sederholm. “It’s a very positive thing for him, so it left us looking for a new chef who understands our philosophy of offering elevated comfort food.”

Standard Pour opened in June, inside the former Boozefish Wine Bar location, with a simple menu of starters, sandwiches and salads created by Meeks and restaurant consultant Joe Shirley. The Pitch named Standard Pour’s Reuben sandwich best in the city in this year’s Best of Kansas City issue.

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Peterman plans to keep that Reuben on the menu, but he’ll change just about everything else. He’s not tipping his hand on the changes yet, but knowing the indefatigable chef’s style, I’m betting that the $5 starter of biscuits and jam will be on the 86 list quickly.

“This place has always been more about gathering friends together for a glass of wine or a beer,” Peterman says. “That won’t change. But we will have nightly specials, and I’d like to add more reasonably priced small plates and smaller entrées, so our patrons can have a three-course dinner if they want a more traditional dinner.”

Peterman and Shirley will work together to create the menu for a special beer dinner with Torn Label Brewing Co. in mid-November.