The Lounge at Bluestem

My boyfriend and I decided to stop in after a suggestion from a co-worker.  The ambiance is beautiful, and perfectly set aside on a busy street.  I've driven up and down Westport Road for the better part of 13 years and never knew it was there.

We had a bottle of Dr. Loosen Riesling which is nearly impossible to find in the KC area.  We sat at the bar for happy hour, because unfortunately there were limited seats available on a cushy couch area.  Our bartender was delightful, and didn't hover or interrupt our conversation.  

We started with the beef tartar which at first sight, was concerning due to the raw meat and raw egg yolk on top, all over a bed of greens and kettle chips.  It tasted good, and an interesting dish.  We shared the burger (cooked perfectly) and the mac-n-cheese.  Next time, I'd probably skip the Mac n cheese, but the burger was outstanding.

Great place, will go back for sure.

WoW....

Yup, Bluestem Restaurant, you are the KING of Happy Hours in Kansas City. You win. The end. Now when can I go again??

Happy Hour was A-MA-ZING! We came on a Friday night (runs from 5-6:30pm) and it was definitely packed by 6! We passed on drinks this time, but next time fo sho! My bf got the $8 Colby 8oz burger, which came with a side of fries. He said that this was the BEST burger he has ever had in KC. There was a thick cut of bacon over it and he said you could just taste how clean and the great quality of beef that this burger was made. Sooooo jealous that I didn't get this! But I will definitely get it next time! I ordered the Hanger Steak, which comes with a side of fries and a salad...it's marked as $10 in the menu, but they only charged us $9 for it. They cooked the steak to perfection (medium rare) and it was so tasty! Salad and fries were just an added bonus for me! We decided to finish our meal with some dessert of course and chose the Strawberries and Shortcake $5. YUM! With a dollop of strawberry ice cream as the centerpiece, shortcake, pie crumbs, fresh strawberries, and some herbs (that's right, some of Mother Nature's green stuff) surrounded the ice cream to make this delicious dessert! We will definitely be coming back to try everything on the menu! Starting with that burger :D

Pros:
- drinks galore....wells for $3, beers $4, and TONS of cocktails!
- food is delicious and it definitely felt like I was eating Top Chef quality food since it was so artistic
- very reasonably priced (can get a drink, meal, and dessert for ~$30)
- excellent service - you don't have just 1 waiter, but the whole restaurant makes sure that you are having a great evening

Cons:
- parking lot could definitely be better, but there are plenty of places to park in Westport!

Why I gave it a 5...
The food is superb. Great price. Excellent service. Best happy hour in Kansas City. It's modern American food that is done with a high sense of quality in mind. Bluestem believes their food is a piece of art and it truly is. Love this place! Just wish I could have stopped by their lounge a whole lot sooner!!

I have wanted to try this restaurant for years and when I finally had a happy hour opportunity I chose to go here and try it out. I was determined to get there early because I had read and heard that the lounge fills up fast. On my way down the sidewalk I walked in and realized right away I was in the wrong place. A man at the bar glared at me and I tried to laugh off my mistake. So beware: the sandwich sign on the sidewalk that says "Pot Pie" is not a menu item...it is a place. And you will look like a goof if you walk in thinking you are in Bluestem and their special of the day is pot pie. The man at the bar seemed to be the owner or manager and he snidely remarked "it happens all the time" and "this definitely isn't Bluestem." Obviously it definitely wasn't...because when you walk into Bluestem there isn't anyone glaring at you. They are welcoming and it is a cozy atmosphere. There were several friends who came and went over the next four hours and we all had a good time. The drinks were good and the flank steak I ordered was a little chewy but good (I realized later that they didn't ask how I wanted it cooked so it was more rare than I usually like it). If my schedule ever works out where I can go to another happy hour I will be sure to go here. It was worth spending the whole happy hour time at this cozy spot!