Don't even bother. Â I wish I could tell you something about their food and drinks, but I can't because the last two times we have been there, we have walked out. Â Service here is horrendous.
Our first attempt to patronize this bar was on a Sunday for brunch. Â We walked in, looked around, grabbed two seats at the bar. The place was packed and the food looked good. We were never greeted. Â We sat at the bar for 15 minutes. Â Not so much as a hello, no "I will be with you in a minute", nothing. Â Bartenders were talking to people around us, to each other, but apparently we were invisible. Â We left and took our money elsewhere.
Our second attempt was last night, a Thursday night. Â We had been to dinner at Pierpont's and decided to grab some cocktails on the way home. Â Again, we walked in and were never greeted or acknowledged. Â We grabbed two seats at the bar and sat there, apparently invisible again. Â This time it was not very busy, the wait staff and bartenders were leaning against the back counter chatting. We were there for 10 minutes watching them chat with each other and get other patrons their drinks. We got up and left again.
Someone, please correct me if this is a "help yourself" bar and I am off base.
303 is a beautifully done resturant and bar that is geared towards a gay clintele. Â Normally, these three factors would lead me to say "let's check it out." Â This was my first visit and probably my last. Â I had a few friends in town that had been to 303 several times and really enjoyed it. Â It was a cold winter evening but still early, maybe 7ish. Â There was only one other couple seated in our area off to the right, away from the bar area. Â They were chatty with the waiter and each other. Â Every time the waiter came to our table, he continued chatting with this other table. Â We had to request more water, the food was luke warm (probably because the waiter was too busy chatting with this and other tables) and I think that if he could have, he would have just plunked the plates down in front of us instead of gently placing them down. Â We all ordered the steak special and were all pretty happy with our meals, so kudos to the chef. Â The front of house just needs some help!
If I was asked to go back.. I may consider one more trip but it's nothing I am going to go out of my way to experience again.
I stopped here for a drink before a hair appointment, so I can't review much. They do have some good martini specials. The happy hour bites menu was impressive and tempting. Their brunch menu really makes me want to go back and try it. Good options for vegetarians and carnivores. They have a nice wine selection. The exposed brick warms up the atmosphere. My only complaint was the service. Unfortunately, the waiters seemed more interested in socializing than serving, so this was not a good place for a quick drink.
Review Source:This is a gorgeous bar, architecturally and vibe-wise. The bartenders are great. I am straight and went with a friend who is not. It was a great, warm, welcoming, adult evening of great conversation and good cheer. I met some awesome people.
It was unlike San Francisco where I recently walked into a gay-centric neighborhood bar to meet friends and heard "breeder" growled at me from some grumpy troll holding court at the end of the bar. Yikes. In SanFran, no less. So much for tolerance! What a baffoon.
Bistro 303....not like that. I cannot wait to return. Great place!!
I often avoid gay bars because...well because they're trouble. But whenever I go to 303, it makes me wish there were more places like this in KC. This is a NICE bar, that just happens to be geared towards a gay clientele. No rainbows, no drag queens, no shirtless twinks dancing away their 21st birthday. Just a nice bar for adults. I'd say the crowd ranges from 30s-40s, and frankly, that's what I prefer these days.
The bar staff is generally quite friendly, and while they don't do a lot of specialty drinks (which surprises me), they do well with the classics. The beer selection is fine, as is the wine. They also serve food, which I have been told is very good. I've eaten here before and enjoyed it, but it's been YEARS, so I don't feel right claiming it one way or the other.
I like the decor. Huge paintings, dark wood, and lots of mirrors for which to admire yourself and/or that hot dude across the room. There is a nice, isolated patio in the back, which is great on a nice night.
Bistro 303 can be VERY slow on the weeknights, but there's generally a good crowd on the weekends. I need to be a part of it more often.
Oh, 303, what are we gonna do with you.
I've been living here for about 8 years, and usually make one or two visits to 303 a year -- and I'm usually reminded why. Â It's just not my kind of bar.
Sure, the atmosphere is pretty chic, but the service is slow (my last visit, I never got my drink at my table at all -- and when I ordered it at the bar instead, the server still didn't realize that he'd completely forgotten to bring it to me at the table). Â It gets crowded easily, and conversations in the main room tend to get drowned out fast.
It's not awful, by any means. Â But it's... just not my cup of tea -- when it totally should be.
My defacto bar. I love the atmosphere, and the prices are great. Good food, though it is a bit predictable. Six months ago, I would have given 5 stars. However, the bartenders have really started slipping lately. There have been a number of times I've stood at the bar for a couple of minutes while the bartenders finished their personal conversations (even after making eye contact with me). However, they remember my drink and are friendly when they do serve, so I'm willing to be more lax in my expectations. Unless something drastic changes, I'll be a loyal patron for a long time to come.
Review Source:I've been here twice in the last couple months. Â Once for happy hour and once for Sunday brunch. Â The happy hour was awesome. Â The service was great and the atmosphere, friendly. Â The happy hour specials for food are perfect for a light dinner. Â The three of us who went all got the personal $5 pizzas and split some appetizers. Â For brunch, we had a group of nine and were accommodated wonderfully. Â Mind you, we made a reservation because it was Pride weekend. Â I had the omelet of the day. Â While I ate almost the whole thing, I didn't think it was terrific. Â The bloody Mary's I had were pretty good, though could have used an olive, or two. Â I love stuff in my drinks. Â Everyone else seemed to love their food. Â Favorites of the table were the pork special of the day, the quiche and the pancakes.
Review Source:I can't review the food, but the nightlife crowd is disappointing. In a town where most bars cultivate a very relaxed, takes-all-kinds vibe, 303 definitely fills the "wannabe WeHo boys staring at themselves in the mirrored walls and talking past one another in a tiny dim room" niche.
Service is good and the drinks well-executed, but the place can get crowded fast and early - which, if you're their kind of crowd, is probably more of a plus for you...
This is a great place to people watch and also get a reasonably fast martini by quick and friendly bartenders. Â The bar has a great ambiance and there is rarely a dull moment to be had at Bistro 303. Â There is a patio area outside and the bar is always super clean. Even though this is primarily a gay bar, you'll never feel excluded here.
Bottom line: If you're looking to get a drink without drama and a long wait, this is your place!
This is a weekend breakfast/brunch review, only.
Two important notes:
-being gay is not required to enjoy Bistro 303. Â I have always felt very comfortable, respected, and at home. Â I think my status as a breeder is seen by the majority as a head-scratching and curious proclivity.
-the sat. And sun. brunch is served until 3pm and though a limited menu, it has continuously been among the most satisfying in kc. Â You have the chance to reasonably build your plate a la carte, or you can select either the preestablished servings including blueberry pancakes, steak and eggs, or try the often scrumptuous specials of the day. Â I'm really fond of their cheddar cheese/jalapeno grits in combination with anything else.
These guys know how to make a kick-ass cocktail and their little patio is probably my favorite spring weather hideout. Â Don't tell.
Bistro 303 is one of the best-looking gay venues I've ever been in (and I've been in a lot, in cities around the country and around the world).  It's handsomely decorated, yet comfortable.  We're lucky to have it in Kansas City!  Besides expertly mixed drinks, Bistro 303 offers a small dinner menu some evenings (see their website for what's offered when), brunch on Sundays and a small but creative menu of bar foods/snacks that avoids the usual clichés.  The food has always been excellent whenever I've eaten there.  Popped in for a bite last night on the way to a showing at the Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and ordered the crab cakes, which were delicious -- all crab, served with aioli and capers.  They put together a creditable (but pricey) caipirinha for me, too.  I wish they'd offer a more extensive food menu on more nights -- the kitchen is good!  I also wish I didn't live so far away in outer suburbia that this could be a more frequent stop.  It's a great place to hang out, to have a drink, and to get something good to eat!!!
Review Source:If I could meet friends out for drinks every night of the week, I would always make 303 a stopping point on a bar tour.
303 is one of the best kept little secrets in Westport and in the gay community. Â It's located, interestingly enough, at 303 Westport Road (see how they did that? Â Bistro 303 / 303 Westport Road) and by no means is it a big, flashy place. Â It's small and quaint. Â From happy hour to 1:30 am you will always find the seats at the bar full and there are loads of conversations just waiting for you to join.
The drinks are strong and the well vodka is not your typical well vodka. Â These folks don't use Viaka or McCormick's, they use Smirnoff. Â And while Smirnoff is no Grey Goose, it beats the shit out of that uber-cheap well vodka most bars use.
If you are drinking, and if you are at 303 you probably are, be sure to try some food. Â The Pomme Frites, the calamari, and the chicken salad sliders are great and so is everything else I have had the pleasure of trying.
If you're lucky, they might even break out the cold chicken at 1:15 am and bring it to your table. Â No one will tell if you eat it like you've never eaten before.
I definitely recommend 303 for the drinks over the food. Â And perhaps sitting at the bar is better than a table, as service was suh-low.
I came to 303 with a group for a fabulous friend's fabulous birthday. Â We were sat in a room off to the side of the main area. Â The decor was really lovely: candlelight, art hanging on the walls, big cushy seating. Â The majority of us started off with the Pomegranate Martini, which was absolutely delicious. Â Those of us who didn't start off with that choice made it their choice on round two. Â It was tasty.
Round two, however, didn't happen very quickly, as our server seemed a tad nonexistent during our whole stay. Â I'm not sure if he was inexperienced or in the weeds or what, but it was a little annoying.
The food wasn't much to write home about. Â The saving grace was the bruschetta, which is pretty hard to screw up but they do a great version. Â The pizza I ordered was...blahhhhhhhhhhh. Â A little undercooked and a little gloppy from the goat, mozzarella and provolone cheeses. Â The menu as a whole is a little small. Â Honestly? Â Come to 303 for the drinks.
Their website describes the place as upscale but not snooty, and I couldn't think of a better way to say it. Â Cozy martini bar hidden away on Westport Rd. Â Very welcoming. Â They do a great (STRONG) martini. Â The drink prices are great: on a Friday night we got decent well drinks for 2.50 each, and surprisingly the place has a classy feel. Â Who knew.
Can't review the food, but the atmosphere, service, and patio get 4 stars. Â Will update upon trying their grub.
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