Story

The hype is real. This place is amazing.
Now, I want to start off by saying that I came here with every intention of photographing my meal since all of the pictures on Unilocal looked so artistic and amazing. However, the tables are close together and they sat me next to a woman with an actual fur resting on the seat between us as well as a diamond ring the size of my eyeball, and well… I lost my nerve to photograph my dishes based on my imagination making me sweat as I pictured how she would hate me whipping out my phone and snapping pics. She’s probably a very nice lady, but my fear of judgement from strangers wins the day on this one. What can I say? I’m a chicken.
Now, on to the food. Oh, the food. Boy is this place worth every penny.
Their homemade bread and butter is incredible, served warm, and was brought out with our wine (the blue label pinot noir), and everything tasted fantastic together.
To start, I had the lobster pasta and my boyfriend had the venison ravioli. Both were delicious. My boyfriend raved about his, but I honestly can’t picture it being any better than mine. My noodles were homemade, with the perfect amount of sauce. Numerous hunks of lobster were found throughout the dish and it was presented beautifully. The portion size was generous for an appetizer in a restaurant of this caliber, which was a nice surprise as well.
For entrees, my boyfriend got the short rib and raved about how good it was. I ordered the arctic char, and it was fabulous. Cooked to perfection, and sitting in a homemade mushroom cream sauce, this dish is a stand out for fish lovers.
Of course, we had to order doughnuts for dessert and they were melt-​in-​your-​mouth amazing. Perfect little orbs of light and airy dough, coated in caramel sauce, and sitting in vanilla crème, surrounded by passion fruit gel. Truly incredible. I could eat these every day.
We will definitely be back!

Saw that both veal and fois gras, both extremely cruel, were on the menu. I cannot support a restaurant that supports these industries. Please reconsider these items.

This was good, but I felt like the food was pretty average. There was a group of four and we all ordered something different. The atmosphere is great.

Came for KC Restaurant Week, but I went off-​menu and decided to go for the pork cheeks after deciding the restaurant week menu wasn’t to my fancy. My partner-​in-​crime, however, wanted the mahi mahi and dessert, so he stuck to the restaurant week menu.
The pork cheeks sat upon a bed of potato purée and was very good — extremely tender. My partner-​in-​crime enjoyed his mahi mahi, and I quote, «The cream sauce was very good.»
And as always, I have to have dessert. After an internal debate of whether I should get the Cardamom Panna Cotta or the German Chocolate Cake, I knew I had made the right decision after the first taste. The panna cotta was very creamy and exactly the way a panna cotta should be. I could have eaten a bucketload.
My partner-​in-​crime had the Dark Chocolate Brownie, and he commented that the brownie itself was subpar, but the caramelized white chocolate sauce made it better. I had a bite and agreed. The brownie was just an overpriced «fancy» brownie.
Upon final evaluation, I feel that the whole meal may have been slightly overpriced, but I would probably return for the good food.
Overall: ⁴⁄₅
Service: 4.5÷5
Food: ⁴⁄₅
Atmosphere: 4.5÷5

I enjoy this place very much. Good food and great service. I have been twice in the last two months and both times I had a good experience.
They are a white table cloth restaurant without the pretentiousness. I was told they are accommodating to children and to my surprise this was true. I brought my two kids and the staff was great with them including having a kids menu.
Upscale and tasty with a good beer and wine list.

Excellent food and desserts!!!
A little loud to try and carry on a dinner conversation…

There is absolutely no reason for this not to be your favorite restaurant in the city. It definitely is mine. Every meal is fantastic. The service, outstanding. The ambience, exquisite. Make sure you try the empanadas and the short ribs – you won’t be sorry.

This restaurant is terrific. Fantastic service, food, and atmosphere.
The menu may seem limited but it is really just very focused. The drinks were well done. Overall, everything is phenomenal.
If you’re looking for a classy night out in a quaint neighborhood, this is your bet. I’m looking forward to having a well done summer cocktail on their patio this summer.

The food last night was excellent. The plate presentation is some of the best in the city. Our server did an outstanding job and the restaurant is beautiful.
My only gripe is the tables are a little too close together. I understand why obviously, but they are still too close together.

Our favorite restaurant in KC right now. We come here for special occasions and when we’re in the mood for exceptional food. Their short ribs entrée is just incredible — our favorite dish in town. Everything else is great about this place, too — great bartenders who make wonderful craft cocktails, wonderful bread, great appetizers, and a great atmosphere.

Absolutely fabulous. The best dinner my wife and I have ever had. We have moved a good bit for work, FL, GA, CA, and now KC. Phenomenal. We had the ceviche, duck empanadas, ribeye, and short ribs, followed by the donuts and german chocolate cake. Cant say enough good things about the entire experience. Will definitely be back.

Go. Just go. Simply amazing food and service. An unexpected and welcome change from the abundance of BBQ and steakhouses in the area.

Ugh, I do love this place.
Friday happy hour, awesome bartender and cocktail. Bread, amazing.
Here we go…
Warm Cesar salad, wilted and heavy dressing to boot.
Seafood Risotto too salty and crunchy to eat, and I love salty. I actually left half of it. Fish was very overdone.
So very sad

Let me tell you a love Story…
A man and a woman were out to celebrate the Anniversary of their marriage. With reservations made and dressed to the nines they were set for a wonderful evening. Arriving at the restaurant they were greeted with a smile and seated at an intimate table for two. The lighting was perfect, the ambience was grand and their conversation consisted of memories of the past.
First course shows up, Smoked Duck Empanadas, the presentation was sensational. Crisp flakey pastry filled with a spicy duck that had just the right amount of smoky flavor. The guacamole and black beans underneath were the prefect companions, like the couple at the table enjoying them.
The main course was the special of the night, fitting beings that it was a special day for the patrons. The whitefish was flaky and crisp on the outside and flavorful throughout. The summer squash and zucchini were citrusy and refreshing. These were layered on top of a risotto that was not too heavy for the summer themed meal. For the first time this evening our couple were silent, busy devouring and could not wait to take another bite.
Dessert was one of his favorites, the German Chocolate cake. It turned out to be the best compromise of the evening with the lady enjoying the chocolaty layers as much as he did. The toasted coconut chips added not only flavor but texture to the plate. And as if that weren’t enough the kitchen took great care to scrolled out «Happy Anniversary» in chocolate along the rim of the plate.
The man and woman had a tremendous evening together one they will not soon forget. The best part of this Story is it never has to end, because they will be back to Story again and again!

Before being seated the service from the bar was horrible… after ordering we never received our drinks. At our table our server was attentive. It did take a long time for drinks and food to be served and the food was just ok. …won’t be going back.

We came to Story for my boyfriend’s birthday and it was amazing…
Apparently the chef trained under Michael Smith and you can tell parts of his style match but he put his own twist on everything. I love the décor of the restaurant as well as the presentation of courses.
The smoked duck empanada was one of the most delicious and interesting things I’ve tried. We also got the ravioli that has black truffle oil and they were incredibly yummy too.
For the main course, I got the halibut and the boyfriend got the braised short ribs and we shared… well, I shared because he liked his way too much to want to actually split!
All in all, Story was very good. If it were closer to us, we would go more often. It’s so modern and very elegant at the same time. They also have a nice patio as well… I’ll have to check that out next time!

Heard lots of great things about this place and they lived up to their rep.
First thing that hits you is the ambience. They do a very a creative job with the space and openings they have in the restaurant.
1) Pear Salad — never thought goat cheese would work with a pear but then, maybe goat cheese works with everything. Would repeat.
2) Beet Salad — the beets were a little too crisp for my liking.
3) Ceviche with Crispy Carrots — wow! The taste of ceviche took my back to some memorable Indian dishes my mom makes and that we have had in India but it still retains the taste of ceviche. The crispy carrots added such a nice contrast to the softeness of the seafood that I’ve never had before in ceviche. Would repeat.
4) Beef Short Ribs — it was about 2 years ago when my wife and I realized how much we like beef short ribs and Story’s chapter on it was nicely done. The potato gnocchi and onion rings added a nice twist to this fish. Would repeat.
5) Arctic Char — nicely done with the brussel sprouts and apples. Would repeat.
Dessert
6) Doughnuts — wow. The first bite revealed what must have been some light cream sauce inside. The donuts were also laid over a passion fruit syrup. So many different takes on a doughnut that rolled together so well. Would repeat.
7) Chocolate torte — I’m a huge fan of marangue and when the marangue is toasted like it is in this dish… taste bud explosion. Would repeat.

Hell Yeah! is what I wanted to scream after my experience at Story, but that would not match the class and effort put out by the team at Story.
What a great experience from start to finish.
The staff was great and knowledgeable and worked as a team. The food was perfection from first course all the way to dessert. The drinks were perfectly made. The atmosphere is simple, modern and elegant. (huge fan of the slowly changing light boxes). It was nice to have something so modern and clean lined sitting in a neighborhood that feels very different. Unexpected.
The other reviews give great detail, I just wanted to add my vote to the five star column and to encourage others to try this place out. Go and have yourself a Hell Yeah kind of experience.

If I could give this place ZERO stars, based upon the terrible experience we had there on the evening of October 4^th, I would. I waited a couple weeks to write this review, because I wanted to make sure that I was not writing my review in the aftermath of the absolute WORST OVERALL DINING EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.
We had made reservations via Open Table… and when we walked in for our first ever visit to Story, we were impressed with the neat, clean, modern décor, and a bustling environment of a nearly full restaurant. We were greeted by our waiter and placed our cocktail orders. My son ordered a «very dry» Martini with Tito’s Vodka.
When our drinks were delivered, we began to enjoy them but found that our son’s drink had a very heavy pour of vermouth (a «very dry» Martini is supposed to have, at most, a misting of vermouth on the glass). We called for our waiter and explained the problem to him… that is when the downward spiral of the evening began.
Our waiter told us that the drink did not have any vermouth, and that he was certain of that «fact». I tasted the drink, and it did indeed have vermouth, a very large amount of vermouth. (At the risk of sounding like a lush… I have had many, many Martini’s in my lifetime, and I know how one is supposed to taste.) While the waiter was still standing there, my wife said «Let me taste… I will know if it has vermouth»…and, before she could take a sip, the waiter walked off…
Now, that upset me pretty badly… the drink was substandard, and our waiter showed no interest in making things right. We talked at our table how flabbergasted we were at our waiters total lack of concern, and even somewhat argumentative attitude. After discussion, we decided to call him over again, and insist that the drink be remade.
We did so, and the waiter still insisted it could not have any vermouth in the drink… my wife asked him if he would bet his life on it… and reluctantly, he finally agreed to take it back to the bar and have it remade.
This is where it gets surreal:
A few seconds after our waiter left with the drink, the bartender saunters up to our table, with the same drink in his hand and tells us that it doesn’t have any vermouth and when we insist that is DOES have vermouth, he tells us that, «well, then we are just going to have to agree to disagree», and leaves the same, poorly made drink at the table and walks off!!!
So, I ask our waiter to send over the manager. When the manager comes over we tell him about the argumentative bartender… and, the manager defends the bartender, saying that «the bartender is just trying to defend his skills at making drinks». After much arm twisting of even the manager, the manager finally agrees to take back the poorly made drink, and says that he, the manager, will make a replacement drink.
When he returns to the table, he finally brought a Martini that was actually made «very dry».
I could not believe that the entire staff was willing to turn our experience so sour over an $ 11 drink. It would have been so much better if they had just taken the attitude that «the customer is always right» and remade the drink when we first told them about it being improperly prepared.
That being said, three of us at the table had the Short Rib meal. The other person at our table had a «vegetarian dish» specially prepared by the Chef. The short rib was good, but not more so than at several other restaurants in town, but, the gnocchi that accompanied the meal was poorly prepared being the consistency of chewing gum. Our vegetarian of the group thought that the meal served to them was just «so-​so».
As others have stated, the portions are small, and the prices are high… given that the meal prices are so high, and the portions and quality so small… not to mention, at least in our case, that the level of «service» is so dismally POOR, I would not recommend this place to anyone.

Blew. Me. Away.
On a recent trip to KC and after reading several glowing reviews about the food and service here at Story, I felt the weekend wouldn’t have been complete without stopping in Prairie Village for a bite. I’m so glad I did.
Since the menu changes constantly with what’s fresh and available, I don’t know if you’ll have the same meal I did but one things for certain… they’ll have the short rib on the menu.
And you should eat it!
We had some Maryland soft shell crab to start. The batter and sauce bed were superb and the light slaw helped give an even more satisfying texture.
2 of the 4 of us ordered short rib. Typically in family style I love when everyone orders something different but one taste and I almost wished I’d ordered it as well. It’s hard to describe how good that was!
The pork belly with shrimp tastes divine and had a nice Asian flavor as well as a little kick of heat that set it apart from many other pork belly dishes I’ve tried.
Service, décor and of course the food were all excellent. Have a feeling I’ll be back to eat here in the future.