R Bar

Let me get this straight. I SOOOO wanted this to be a good experience. Because this place is the sort of place I would go to on a regular basis. The location, décor, music, venue — all way up my alley. Nice place, clean, and legit-​cool.
But the service was soooooo bad. The owner did shots with the customers not 10 feet away from our table while our server went MIA for 30+ minutes. Which was very unprofessional. But intrigued by the drink menu, I went over and sat at the bar itself to order a drink. Which I was willing to pay for right then and there, but the bartender refused to serve me. Which is odd. There were other people drinking their drinks at the bar???
After that we left.
It turns out, the place isn’t even open to the public any more, which is sad. This review was for an experience in early 2012. So probably not helpful these days. I probably would have returned to give it a second shot.

This is by far my absolute favorite bar in Kansas City!
I feel so sexy when I am in here. I love the lighting, the décor and the crowd it brings in. The bartenders also make each experience worth while.
They have an amazing cocktail list and their food menu is also delicious. it’s small but each plate is well though, like bone marrow risotto.
I was on a five week streak coming here but I got off work too late one night and they were already closed. I heard that they were opening on Wednesdays now as well.
If you like live music they almost always have a band on the weekends, great great addition to the already amazing ambiance.

R Bar is a very chic little West Bottoms bar and restaurant! We were there on the early side (7pm) on a Saturday night and while the restaurant wasn’t super busy yet the bar business was brisk and you could tell the night was just getting started.
Wine list is great. We aren’t very ‘cocktail’ but I think they have many many specialty cocktails to try. I wound up with a glass of Sonoma Cutrer Chardonnay which always takes me back to 1998.
Our server was great. She was informative, personable and funny. She was perfect.
The food was amazing. I started off with a salad and my husband started off with the shrimp appetizer both were really yummy. Main course, I had the hanger steak and my husband had the pork chop. Both were so good. The food was really really yummy.
They post their menu weekly on the website which is great. I feel like this must take a lot of time and effort. With such a limited menu, to be able to post a few first courses, second course and desserts that have a LOT of creativity but appeal to a wide variety of people is a huge accomplishment.
Well done, R Bar! We are adding you to our restaurant shortlist!

There are a lot of great things about R Bar really but I think what I like the most is that you can spend a few hours there in an environment that’s like a big hug and feel like you know something most of the rest of the city doesn’t.
By now, I haven’t had a lot of food at R Bar so I’ll reserve comment on their food for some other time. But what I have done is drank, listen to live music and people watch. Let’s talk about the drinking first.
Recently, an article was circulated (
) touting Kansas City as a player in the national craft cocktail scene. Although R Bar wasn’t mentioned (not sure why not), they are a force in that Kansas City scene. During one of my recent visits there, I got a great lesson on crafted bitters and infused liquors. Whether or not that interests you may not matter because even if you don’t care to hear how their cocktails are made, they are amazing.
The music: R Bar is kind of a weird venue for music. Not sure whether it’s imperfectly charming or just imperfect but until I decide, I’m really enjoying hearing the likes of Barclay Martin, Victor & Penny, and The Late Night Callers.
And the people: Charming. It’s the kind of crowd, probably because of the first thing I said (you feel like you know something most of the rest of the city doesn’t know). Theirs a kind of kinship with the crowd, you’re all part of a mutual secret.
I can’t wait to try the food; I hear it’s great too.

OK seriously, I haven’t written a review of R Bar yet? Well let’s fix that now!
First of all, this is one of the most beautiful bars in the entire city. It’s like the really fancy bar that the rich people are always going to in old westerns (I haven’t seen a lot of westerns) The bar is incredibly long, with the shelves behind bursting at the seams with both an incredibly impressive liquor collection but also bric-​à-​brac that just seems awesome an not at all like a TGI Friday. The significant other and I like to play a game of seeing how many Rs we can find around the place. Trust me, there are a lot.
The cocktail list is thoughtful, creative and, well, expensive. But come-​on, you’re pretending to be a wealthy resident of the wild west, so that’s just part of it. My personal favorite is the Corpse Reviver, though it’s just one of many excellent drinks that I’ve imbibed on at R Bar. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable about the drinks, including their ingredients and the history. They have a lot to teach you, if you’ll let them.
I can’t speak for the food, as for me this is much more of a drinking establishment than it is a place for dinner. That being said, everybody raves about the food, so don’t take my review to mean you should avoid it.
There are often really great bands playing here, usually of the country-​western variety. The stage is a bit wonky, as it’s right by the front door, but whatever. A lot of fantastic acts come through here, and it’d be wise of you to keep up to date with their calendar.
This place has recently slimmed down their hours to just Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You all need to check it out before they slim them down to nothing. Everybody needs to experience R Bar and be inspired by how phenomenal the scene in KC can be!

Omg did they read my Unilocal review? Probably not, but last Saturday when I dropped by to see Konza Swamp Band, two NEW bartenders were working. One, named Todd, asked our names, introduced himself, and shook our hands! Way to go, friendly bartender! I am completely serious. He was very knowledgeable and helpful with a couple of new tap selections. I am saving star #5 in the event that this is a repeat scene. If that happens, I may just be here every Saturday night. Not kidding.

Another amazing night at R Bar. Phantoms of the Opry were playing old-​style country music (a la Bob Wills), food was amazing, and drinks were strong. I love not ever having to worry whether I’ll have a good time when I come here. I just always do.

My only regret regarding my recent trip to Kansas City is that I didn’t stay long enough to eat at more restaurants. If every restaurant is as good as R Bar I’d be in for a good treat. Then again my pants probably wouldn’t fit either so perhaps it’s good this was a short trip.
I was absolutely famished when we arrived since I had nothing to eat all day besides some chips and cheez-​its. Healthy day! I quickly ordered myself a Pimm’s Cup (yum) while salivating over the menu. I was having trouble deciding between the scallops and the pumpkin ravioli. When in doubt convince your dining companions to share an extra entrée for the table… and we did exactly that for the pumpkin ravioli.
Both the scallops and ravioli proved to be incredible and I think I may have been guilty of eating 2 full entrees. My apologies to my dining companions.
I can’t forget our fabulous waiter and the uh-​mazing bacon topped donuts (in place of bread) that made this a true 5 star experience. I can’t wait to check out other dining establishments during my next trip to Kansas City, although I may need to make time for another meal at R Bar.

Note that this is simply a review of the drinks, not the food.
I’ve wanted to come here for ages, and my wishes finally came true. It was a Friday evening and fairly quiet… in fact, 5 of us could get seats together at the bar. It was quiet and laid back until the band started, and they were fantastic, catchy and a nice addition. The whole place has an awesome atmosphere — upscale yet relaxed.
I ordered a Chopin martini, straight up with olives. Scott, the bartender, gets credit for making the best martini I have ever, ever had. It was so smooth, so flavorful, and made with such care and skill. The only disappointment were the olives — small and flavorless. The price was $ 12.50 which is quite high, but I did not feel ripped off. It’s definitely not an every night bar, but on special occasions or the occasional splurge, this is just fine.
Watching Scott at work was a pleasure. Everything he made took time and effort, and it all seemed to pay off. He really knew his stuff and you could tell he loved his job.
So, R Bar vs. Manifesto. Well, both places have bartenders who are amongst the best in Kansas City. R Bar is much easier to get in to, so I give them that. Manifesto has more inventive drinks, so I’ll give them that. It’s just so hard to choose… I love them both. But on a Friday or Saturday night, I would probably choose R Bar because it’s easier to get in to (no multi-​hour wait).

Joi: Are you hungry for dinner?
Aimee: Yes.
Joi: How hungry?
Aimee: Very hungry.
Joi: There’s a place around the corner that–
Aimee: LET’S GO!
Yeah, I was this hungry and probably would have settled for anything, but little did I know I was about to have a whopping five star KC experience! I would go back to this place again and again if I lived there. Men, take note: great date place, and the cocktails are good and strong enough to get you to at least second base.
I was instantly impressed by the look of this place… the big lit-​up ‘R’ on the outside of the building is cool, and when you walk in your eyes can’t help but admire the perfectly lined up tables from the front to the back. R Bar is long and narrow and I love the dim lighting and sexy feel.
The server deserves a paragraph of his own… I wish I could remember the poor guy’s name because I’d love to give him some well-​deserved credit, but alas I was too tired (and later tipsy) to catch it. He was so on top of his game and walked us through every cocktail and tons of menu items, and was so charming and knowledgeable. Kudos, awesome server man.
We decided to split an order of the pumpkin ravioli, and as soon as I tasted it I instantly regretted not getting a whole order for myself. It was so rich and the flavors were perfect… you get some sweet from the pumpkin, and a lot of savory from the creamy sauce. There were some diced apples in it too, and it was basically like fall in a big white bowl. I ordered the roasted chicken risotto off the small plates menu but it was plenty for one person — get the risotto if you’re looking for something satisfying, it’s definitely comfort food.
To top it all off, they made me the best gin gimlet I’ve ever had. I’m telling you, this place deserves your biz and well earned $$. Go with an empty stomach and a craving for cocktails, and you’re all set!

This week when my work colleagues were in town and we were in the Bottoms to prepare for Chiller Theatre, I knew in a city full of stellar dining choices, R Bar would be a great option for cocktails and dinner.
I admit that on a past visit to R Bar for a late dinner, things seemed a bit «off.» Alex Pope had left the building and I think they were in the midst of doing a major overhaul. I was also slightly cranky because thanks to the seasonal menu change, there was basically nothing I could eat (and I really am not thrilled when I’m told I can leave the meat off the salad). Things turned around when our awesome waitress assured me they could whip something up for me (I love this). And the result was quite spectacular.
This visit:
The current fall menu is extremely appealing. We were all pretty undecided because that pumpkin ravioli looked so damn good, but sounded a tiny bit rich to eat as a main course. So, the three of us split it. Heaven! Something about how buttery/​pumpkiny it all was just tantalized my taste buds to the point of mouthgasm. For my main, I ordered the fingerling potato casserole, which came with a mushroom gravy and crispy breadcrumbs on top. Normally the idea of a starchy thing like this would make me look for another option on the menu, but I was in the mood for comfort food and I knew R Bar would somehow avoid making this oppressive. I still have visions of it dancing in my head, if you must know (fingerling potatoes are quite graceful). I ate every last bit. Kind of embarrassing, but it’s true. Perfect portion size, perfectly filling and I didn’t feel like I had overeaten either.
Special mention for our server with the radio announcer voice the other night. I wish I could remember his name. Fantastic at his job.
R Bar will always be a top choice when I return to KC for visits. One of the many places I will pine for.

So, I am always asking «What does $_​_​_​get you?»
At a taqueria $ 6 gets you full and flavors galore.
Here, $ 50 gets your appetite wet and flavors galore.
Bargain? Nope. Don’t come here for cheap eats and big portions. Come here for balanced flavors and twists on cuisine.
Case in point, they have corned beef plate that is basically a deconstructed Reuben. That is what you will find here. All carefully prepared and presented.
Even the side on a pork osso bucco dish was creative. A little piece of pretzel baguette toasted perfectly and hollowed out, turned on end, and «planted» with «shooting» asparagus tips. It was glued to the plate with a cayenne hollandaise sauce.
Get the picture?
Art. On. Plate.
You. Eat. Art.
May. Leave. Hungry.
But, that is what the ice cream in the freezer at home is for, right?

I absolutely love this place! I’m not a fan of the traditional bar scene but this bar makes you feel like you’ve stepped back into an upscale 1920’s bar. The food is phenomenal, although pricey. My favorite so far has been the crab cakes, I’ve lived on the East coast and I’ve never had crab cakes this good, seriously!
The music is always fun and the staff is always nice. If you like to sit instead of milling around the bar, make reservations (possibly avoid any covers) and get your own table for the evening (but make sure to order!)
The drinks are fun, interesting, and unique with some classic cocktails long forgotten in the traditional bars. The Old Fashioned is good, the mule was very popular but I’ve never tried it, the Elder Hombre is my husbands favorite and I can understand why! However, if in doubt just ask your waiter or waitress, ours had great suggestions!
We will be back many times!

I’ve always heard great things about R Bar and was eager to try it, especially their morels ravioli we had heard so much about. Unfortunately, they had just changed to their summer menu and that meant no ravioli. I tell you this because it started the meal with a little disappointment that may have colored this review.
I read reviews prior to coming and saw complaints of loud music and cover charges. We enjoy conversation when dining so I called ahead, and the staff told me the music started at 10. Thus, I planned our reservation accordingly. However, around 8ish the band started setting up. We were confused as both the staff person I spoke with and the outdoor sign said 10pm. We asked our server, and he said it was a mistake as the music always starts at 9pm. We were disappointed by the miscommunication. Although the music was enjoyable, we were unable to talk over the noise, and we rushed out of R Bar as soon as we finished.
Another ambience related issue: I understand and appreciate the atmosphere (dark, old bar/​restaurant, etc.), but the tables are entirely too close together. With a simple extension of an arm, I could have been rubbing my neighbor’s head. This also meant that no conversation was private, and before the music started, it was difficult to focus on your own conversation as your neighbor’s convo was right next to you. We also had a few butts on our table as guests tried to slip out of the seats adjacent to us and couldn’t fit in the table gaps. I think this is a sign that seats are a little too close.
Service was good, but was slow at times. Manager was properly working the house.
On to the food! The bread course of savory doughnuts were unique and delicious. The short ribs were very good, but I think the sauce was a bit too rich for my stomach. The crab linguine was just fine. I thought the portions were plenty, and I even brought some home. The prices seemed lower than those on the website ($ 17 – 28 for entrees), and I thought they were fine.
The cocktails were unique, and I had a delicious, fabulous, and unique toasted coconut rum martini.
Taking this all in, it seems to me they are primarily a bar that happens to do pretty good food. We had high hopes going in, and overall, we were somewhat disappointed.

Admittedly, our visit was soured by the fact that we were told that Tiki Tuesday meant our tiki drinks would be half-​price. We got a full price drink each, and then ordered tiki drinks to catch the little bargain. We had told them when we made the reservations that we had a groupon. When it rang out, our drinks were full price. Apparently you can’t use a groupon and get happy hour deals. They knew this would happen, but didn’t tell us. Wouldn’t have ordered them. The Mai Tai wasn’t THAT good.
Other than that, the food was bliss. I had the pork and chard sausage, and Mark had the Reuben dish, and they were both fantastic. I really think you can’t go wrong with the food, but to be honest, I couldn’t find a drink that I couldn’t live without. I had the Corpse Reviver because I like absinthe, and it was okay, but I wish they had more gin and tequila cocktails on the menu. It was pretty much all rum and whiskey. Not my favorite.
All in all, it’s not my first choice. It takes a lot for me to spend $ 75 on dinner, and while I value the experience, I wouldn’t go back unless I was feeling particularly frivolous.

Apparently, not a lot of people know about this place or maybe just the handful of people I’ve asked. lol It was located in a quieter place of Kansas City unless it was a coincidence that nobody was around when I came here with my friends.
There was a live DJ when I came in. That was the first thing I noticed when I walked in then it was the bar and the tables. The lighting was dark but that was fine with me. I looked at their drink menu and ordered a Ginger Shandy ($ 9.50) because the waitress said it was good. She was right because it was good! We met two others who were eating away when we came. I couldn’t decide on what to order because everything sounded good to me. I didn’t want to spend so much so I settled for the main entrée and no other appetizers. There was an option for a three course meal (appetizer, entrée, and dessert) for $ 38. I chose the Campo Lindo Chicken ($ 20) as my main entrée. I took a few pictures of the appetizers my friends ordered but I don’t remember the name of one of them…
There were Curry Chickpeas on the table and it was good. They also gave us free handmade donuts covered in pesto sauce. It was an interesting combination but pretty good! I didn’t want to eat a whole lot since I was waiting for my food. I waited a long time and that was because I didn’t order an appetizer like everybody else. lol My Campo Lindo Chicken came and it was good but I have to say it was a little salty. I think it was more about the presentation of the food because everything was served on huge plates with a small portion in the middle. The Campo Lindo Chicken was about the right portion to make you somewhat full (at least for me) which would explain why you would order an appetizer as well.
After we all finished our main entrées, my friend ordered the Strawberry Tiramisu ($ 6) for dessert. I tasted it (more like finished it all) and it was yummy! It was a big chunk though so I’m sure for those who ordered the 3-​course meal would be full by the time they got to their dessert.
I thought this was a nice place to eat and grab a drink even though it might be pricey to some.

I couldn’t ask for a better birthday dinner — great atmosphere, excellent service, mouth watering food, strong cocktails topped off by listening to the Grand Marquis all shared with my main squeeze. It was worth putting on a dress!
The Smoked Salmon appetizer was very fresh tasting. The salty onion bagel chips and kalamata olives off-​set the sweet salmon really well.
I ordered the «Philly» strip steak, medium rare. I always order my steak medium rare knowing I will get medium to medium well. Not this time! The steak was exactly medium rare. The entire dish was delicious with the smoked gouda in place of provolone or cheeze whiz with sautéed peppers and onions on the side. The dish was truly the best entrée I have had in a long time.
The strawberry tiramisu was perfect for my birthday dessert. I am not a chocolate fan at all. I personally think this the way all tiramisu should be made. It was filled with lots of strawberries and had a balsamic reduction on the side.
Yes, I did have a cocktail. Our excellent waiter, Dustin, suggested the Burning Bush. I was kind of scared since the menu does state «order at your own risk» because of the high proof of the bourbon. My fears were put to rest though. It was a strong drink but VERY drinkable.
Our evening at the R Bar was pretty damn perfect.

OK, enough of the whining about not reviewing the food, just the cocktails. Not that the cocktails aren’t first rate. They are! Do try the «Aviation» — maraschino liquor, gin, lemon juice, crème d violette; the «Millionaire» –rum, sloe gin, apricot brandy, lime juice. But as good as these cocktails are… the food is better!
OMG lick your lips and wipe away the slobber when you wrap your tongue around the house-​made bratwurst and cheddar cheese, fried mustard bread, smoked beet relish, and pine syrup. Only slight embarrassment as my date licked the plate. Yes, he liked it! I’m just saying… the plate licking… a little over the top, even for him!
For the perfect balance of spice and succulent shrimp, opt for the
Spicy sous-​vide shrimp — butternut squash, avocado, lemongrass pickles, and cilantro. Tender, with a hit of heat. And, if you’re into aesthetics, which I am, this food is beautiful. Each dish is a lovely piece of food artistry.
Mixed greens-​warm Brie, candied pecans, dried cranberries and a lemon vinaigrette. The dressing is what makes this salad interesting. If it wasn’t for the vinaigrette, this would be very pedestrian.
Braised Bacon-​apples, spout leaves, Rosemary-​Ranch and porcini crisps. Really, what do I need to say… Pork rules! And one of the few times that a «big belly» will sound enticing.
Lamb and feta pot pie, spaghetti squash, preserved lemon, green onion, and raisin sauce. The flavors are sublime. Don’t let the raisin sauce scare you. It is rich and silky, like a demi-​glacé, but warning, this is not McDonalds. You can’t get this super-​sized!
Now, at last, my favorite part of the meal. Dessert! The R Bar even makes a fabulous dessert cocktail. Like the Classic chocolate martini — white crème de cocoa, vodka, kahlua, and a cherry, for the perfect amount of seduction in a glass.
When I die and go to heaven, please let it be after eating the dark chocolate peanut butter cup. Maybe, I should skip the death part, and indulge in this heavenly concoction of caramelized bananas, brown sugar, peanut butter, whipped marshmallow, orange zest, and exquisite dark chocolate. By the way… I liked it. I liked the R Bar. Major understatement!

I am obsessed with my new boyfriend. His name is R Bar.
Located in a neighborhood I only previously frequented for high school haunted house trips or for my cousin’s bachelorette pole dance party (seriously), R Bar has given me reasons to come back again and again and again.
I met a few friends (including fellow badass Unilocalers Matt E. and JP J.) here during my first visit and absolutely adored it. There was a folky, rockabilly band playing and for once, a band in a bar was fun and catchy while not being so loud I couldn’t hold a conversation. What a concept!
I had just finished a long shift slinging food and beverages so I was lazy and didn’t check out their extensive cocktail menu. Upon my request of a vodka soda the old timey-​frocked bartender exclaimed «Come on! We have all these drinks and all you want is a vodka soda?!» I manned up, checked it out and ordered a Vesper. Thank god he made me get an actual cocktail. While he concocted it, the bartender gave me the Bond history lesson on the drink… which was perfectly made and absolutely delicious.
Other concoctions I’ve sampled during that and my other trip to R Bar: Corpse Reviver No. 2 (Plymouth gin, mmm), French 75 (Brandy, lemon juice and champagne – refreshing!), and the luxurious Aviation.
Both bartenders are incredibly talented and personable (but really, every employee I’ve come into contact with here is). The décor is dark but not intimidating, with lots of rich wood and huge mirrors, and several lit up «R» figures. Drinks are priced accordingly for the ingredients used and the talent of the people making them. Boy I was with on my second trip likened it to his favorite bar in New York. To be honest, this is what Violet Hour in Chicago wants to be.
True love in the form of a cocktail… perfection.

Across the street from a very unappetizing restaurant (Golden Ox) is R Bar. The façade is clean and polished and clearly a stand out in the West Bottoms area.
Entering the space, the décor feels slightly reminiscent of Harry’s Country Club but extra polished. The style is rockabilly crossed with urban chic.
At 1 pm, the place was empty except for one other table of 2. Our waitress Brooke, was speedy and friendly. She knew just how to be attentive without constantly interrupting conversations.
We started with the fried baked potato, even though it was listed under entrée’s. It was a great starter. Sort of a sophisticated version of potato skins. The waitress said the baked potato is first cooked, then smashed flat, fried and finished with the sour cream, cheese, bacon and green onion. It was a clever version of elevated bar food. Since it was an entrée, it came with a salad. The salad was mixed greens with candied nuts and goat cheese. The dressing was sort of a creamy vinaigrette? The taste of the dressing was very unique.
For my entrée I ordered the chicken breast sandwich, which comes with a great pesto and a toasted bun. The chicken was thick and juicy. I chose sweet potato fries as my side. They were cooked perfectly.
My friend had the special of the day, the bbq pork sandwich. Basically it was shredded pork formed into a patty, cooked and covered with bbq sauce. This is something I would not have ordered, but I tried it and it was amazing. His side was regular fries that had been tossed in herbs and olive oil.
I wish I had room for dessert, but I was stuffed. I noticed a plexi glass box on the bar with cookies and cupcakes.
R Bar is doing a lot of live music on weekends, so stop by and enjoy the food and entertainment. It is rare that both peacefully exist in the same locale.
On a side note, R Bar did a beautiful job of decorating for Christmas with fresh greens and flowers.