Courthouse Exchange Restaurant

Surprisingly bad food! Been here once for beers and appetizers and liked it so decided to try dinner next time I was in the neighborhood. My sandwich didn’t taste very fresh, the meat tasted like it had been made earlier in the week or last week so by the time they warmed it up for dinner service it tasted just like old leftovers served with crunchy fries that I can only assume got left in the oil too long or dropped twice to warm them back up.
Friends food was cold on delivery, the only thing hot on her plate was the chicken fried chicken but the green beans and mashed potatoes weren’t even a little warm. Mashed potatoes also tasted sour and the gravy they poured all over everything didn’t have any flavor at all.
The waiter who hadn’t been seen after dropping off the food sent the manager to our table even though we didn’t ask him to, I guess the barely touched food with the napkins on top of the plates was his cue to do that. The manager herself was a little ridiculous in the way she approached us and making bad jokes. Her answer to bad food was free dessert, she offered the same deal to the booth behind us that wasn’t happy with their food either.
Think this place might have been good once but not sure what happened lately.

Its hard to review this place accurately… Every time they get new servers the place goes to hell. Most recently a group and I went in for dinner. We were not waited on for twenty mins and made eye contact with countless workers. The food is pretty good but the service can be made to be better… They need to tell anyone who is off and waiting on a ride that they need to leave and not sit yelling behind my booth rolling silverwear. I dont care what becky did to tommy I want to eat my meal in peace. Oh and they cant stay consistant on soup days. I go in for the soup of the day almost once a week and somedays they just decided to make something different??? And sadly the last two times I got the chicken tenders platter it was burnt and noone would even ask.

A great find in a really cool old downtown. Very good food. FANTASTIC desserts. Our server James was a real champ too! If you are going to the Truman Presidential library or home THIS is the place to stop for lunch or dinner.

Went here for the second time in a year tonight. The first time we had burgers that were good– really long wait even though they were dead. This second time it was very busy… the wait was long, but expected for the crowd. My husband got the French Dip and fries. The sandwich was ok, the fries were good. I got the special which was Liver and Onions. We won’t be back. The potatoes were covered in that powdered brown gravy garbage that had formed a gelatinous mess that resembled «magic shell», the canned green beans were cold and tasted like a salt lick… and the «roll» was un-​risen mush that was basically dry on the outside and raw and yeasty on the inside. It is pretty sad when the school cafeteria uses pre-​made elements more successfully than a locally owned non-​chain restaurant.
Unless you order french fries, expect a disgusting disaster.

While in town thought I’d try this place. My hamburger with pulled pork and fried pickles was really good. The fries were cold and I had to get more. I got fries after I finished burger. So, biggest problem with this place is the service is really slow and bad. I saw other customers wait and leave. This place really poor and won’t come back.

Classic old school eats in a classic Independence setting. I can bring my family and everyone is pleased.

Chicken fried steak was perfect. Catfish sandwich was a miss as batter was way too salty!

I went to Courthouse Exchange while in Independence, and overall, this place is probably a better bar than a restaurant.
Since half this restaurant is actually a bar, it is sort of fitting that you have to go into a basement to get there. The lights are low and they have an old-​school jukebox right at the entrance. We sat down at one of the booths, and really the only thing I can remember was that the benches were very uncomfortable. They were straight-​back wooden benches, and someone in my party had to switch to a freestanding chair because the seat her.
The food was just general, everything you would expect and nothing you would expect. But certainly the field of cells as just an American restaurant, so I don’t think you should expect some type of haute cuisine.
The food was not very memorable, and very carb-​heavy. The openface sandwich was covered in a tasteless gravy, so you couldn’t really taste much.
I don’t really think I would recommend Courthouse Exchange if you find yourself on the Square. The bar seems like a better bet, if anything.

Gm is a bit of a douche, but the food and service are always amazing. The wife and I love this place.

Have you ever seen the tavern scene in «Inglorious Basterds?» this restaurant reminds me of that scene. minus the Nazis and the intense shoot out. But the décor and the basement atmosphere is pretty spot on.
Nazis or no Nazis this is still a good place to eat. I had the smoke house club special. it was light on meat and heavy on bread but it was still tasty.
The staff was quick and friendly. It seems as if they really enjoy working here.
If you need a place to chill out walk on down (literally walk on down — it’s in a basement) to the Courthouse Exchange.

For real. I had the tenderloin and about half of my wife’s chicken, bacon ranch sandwich. Both were good but the chicken was phenomenal. Kids salad bar was just $ 3.50 and came with a drink.
Next time I’m getting the fried chicken dinner… Because man… That chicken.

I love the interior, certainly keeping the Olé court house theme. This place serve comfort food.
Chicken fried steaks was the best I’ve had. Crispy not mushy. Gravy had a good amount of pepper, to many people under season. Real mashed potatoes and country style green beans.
Next trip I’m getting the buttermilk soaked fried chicken.

Great food, with an awesome atmosphere. I have been many times now and have tried many things on the menu. The bailiffs chicken is great, along with the Mac and Cheese. I also prefer their green beans with the chicken fried chicken. It’s a must place to visit and have dinner.

Good, American food! Reuben is on point, friend mushrooms are my favorite and their Apple pie with ice cream is to die for!
The waitresses are very friendly! I would recommend this to anyone looking to go to a place they have never been before.

My daughter and I visited here today for lunch. I’ve been here many times, as I was deacon at Old Trinity Church, which is north of the square, and would go to lunch here (or many of the other restaurants on the Square) with our priests.
I don’t know how long CE has been around. It’s a great restaurant location for lawyers and jurors to eat; the Old Courthouse is across the street and the annex (where the trials are held) is southeast of the building. Courthouse Exchange is on the south side of the Old Courthouse. It is not handicap accessible, as to get into the restaurant you have to climb down into it via two levels of stairs. The first set of stairs is shorter than the second and the bar and dining areas are cement and rock walls… but they do have cell phone access.
The menus are old legal brief covers with the menu inside of them. They have daily specials and a salad bar. We chose two half orders of fried mushrooms and fried pickles. My daughter had a half order of cob salad, and I had a BBQ brisket with applesauce as our entrees. Their fried pickles are amazing compared to other restaurants fried pickles. Here they are perfectly crisp and crunchy with minimally juicy/​salt flavor. Darling daughter liked her cob salad and I enjoyed the brisket, although there was too much sauce in it. We both commented on the three half orders we had ordered… they were HUGE! If you’re not too hungry order half orders and they will suffice.
The atmosphere here has a cool vibe, and the wait staff are knowledgeable and very kind. If you’re reading this review from out of town and are planning a visit to KC, I’d advise that a stop here for lunch or dinner is a Very Good decision. The Truman Museum and home are within a short drive. A large area of downtown Independence is a Truman Historical area and there is much to do here on a day trip. You won’t be disappointed!

Awesome dive-​restaurant in downtown Independence, MO! Came here this evening for my Grandfathers birthday with a party of ten. Our waitress was friendly and kept all of our drinks filled. Everyone said their food was delicious and had no complaints there. (pork tenderloin and sandwich, pot roast, turkey club, chicken fried chicken). Also, the bread pudding is one of a kind! I rated this four starts only because there was nothing spectacular that stood out to me although it surly is a gem once you can find it!

Comfort food at its best and a true hidden gem in Independence.
I love the burgers, the onion strings are my favorite, and the bread pudding is worth the visit!
We always take out-​of-​town family members here when they visit… they always ask for it first thing when they come back.

I was terrified to come in here, but was happy I did. It feels like you are stepping into a Twilight Zone episode wherein diners are trapped in a restaurant for hundreds of years, or like the Hotel California of Independence basement diners.
This seems like a wonderful lunch spot as they have a lot of burgers and sandwiches. I enjoyed the turkey reuben and fries.
Definitely old-​school, but solid.

Cozy place in downtown Independence. Established in 1899, you’ll be charmed with the stone walls and wood beam low ceilings. I’ve been here only a couple times and had different opposite experiences.
The first time for dinner and wine where everything was good and service was attentive on a weeknight. This second time we decided to sit at the bar for beers and chips & queso dip on a Saturday night. Our bar ledge wasn’t cleaned even after we sat down. I hate to sound like a prude, but I don’t want to set my drink down in someone else’s crumbs. Nonetheless, I was delighted with the first couple chips but we noticed the rest of them were stale with chewy, soggy middles. Eick, they were gross. The girls behind the bar came off as unapproachable and rude, but after a while they came around and warmed up. After bar & dinner seating, I’ll try patio next time.

We were going to First Friday, but I decided I didn’t want to bother with the crowd. For that, I’ve had the Courthouse Exchange bookmarked for ions on Unilocal.it’s 5 minutes away.
The Unilocal map would take you down Truman Road, it’s horrendous. Do not use the Unilocal Map for this. It is on Lexington, and if you stay on Chrysler to Lexington, it’s on the left side. there’s now Lower Lexington, Unilocal.
You enter the Courthouse exchange, (I put up a picture of the awning, so you can see where it is.), and immediately walk
reminds me of a grotto. it’s been there since 1899. Inside the walls are cave like and stone. It is long and narrow. You are seated and given a menu.
On Friday night, it’s boiled shrimp special: $ 8.99 for for a half of pound, $ 12.99 for a pound. We order fried mushrooms which were large and hand breaded. They were delicious, and I made the mistake of ordering onion rings, which were so/​so.
The boiled shrimp, though, was top notch, there just wasn’t enough of it. No sides comes with the boiled shrimp. Next time I’ll get a pound for $ 12.99, skip the onion rings. The shrimp comes with shrimp sauce, and an extra bowl. The shrimp were seasoned very well, They weren’t too spicy, or too small.
The service was really good, except they forgot my mom’s shrimp order. They immediately took care of it. The drinks are served in Mason jars with a handle. How cute! Around the inside are old pictures of the Independence Courthouse, which this faces.
There’s specials every night, but Friday is shrimp night. That’s the best night of all.