Rosso

It was hard to find a place to park once I found the hotel/​restaurant. Ended up parking in ramp. Luckily, the hotel offered a free ticket for me rk scan on my way out or I woukd havr paid an arm and a leg for parking in the ramp. For restaurant week lunch with a friend I had the salad with lemon vinagrette and the Margherita Flatbread. The salad was excellent. However, the flatbread entrée was sub par to say the least. I could tell they used fresh ingredients, but it wasn’t very flavorful– it definitely lacked zest. The service was okay but nothing exceptional. The view of the plaza area was pretty but I doubt I return to Rosso.

his was our second time dining at Rosso, and it was even better than our first visit. This may be the best Italian food in KC. The food quality is absolutely outstanding. Every aspect of the food was very enjoyable. First of all, I love that they offer both a smaller and full size of each dish. That alone is pretty cool. The meatballs are outstanding. The bread is fresh and hot. The wine list is impressive and the price point is not bad at all. I love the pasta Sorella, it’s a really fresh tasting pasta dish done in a Carbonara style but not too heavy at all. The Caesar salad is totally legit and the anchovies are the best I’ve ever had on a Caesar salad, not overly salty somehow. I’m bummed that I can’t remember what the dessert was because I know it was delicious as well, as was the coffee. And our server was absolutely terrific. Had a nice table by the window. Ambiance was great. They check your coat. I mean, this was top-​to-​bottom an excellent dining experience in every aspect. Just don’t like having to wait for the valet when I want to leave but that’s not the restaurant’s issue and I know it sounds spoiled. This is one of our favorite KC restaurants!

If you are looking for a great ambiance this is the place to visit. The view of Kansas City is really spectacular and the fireplace gives this restaurant a really romantic feel. The food, however, is nothing to write home (or write a lot on Unilocal) about. I had a very forgettable steak here and my boyfriend had some kind of meatball and pasta dish. Both were ok, but were dishes we could find at other locations for a much lower cost. I’m glad we tried Rosso because I had heard so much about it, and I wouldn’t be opposed to going back if someone asked me to, but it’s definitely not a place I would pick myself or rush back to.

Rosso appears to be working to generate an upscale dining experience in an increasingly crowded market. This was my first dining experience there and it got off horribly. We arrived during Happy Hour to have a cocktail before dinner and were lucky enough to find a small booth along a rail that overlooks the bar. My dining partner arrived before me and was having a drink (a Manhattan he said was not very good…). The server came by several times with a promise of «I’ll be right back» and it took almost 20 minutes to even place an order or get water. Our server also seemed stressed and abrupt. I ordered a very dry Hendrick’s martini with a twist. After a while, my drink came-​but it had a twist of lime peel rather than lemon (the conventional «twist» with a martini) and the cocktail was undrinkable (both due to the lime taste and WAY too much vermouth). When I was able to flag down the server and explain the issue, I asked for the cocktail to be re-​made. When she spoke to the bartender, which our vantage point allowed us to observe, the bartender tossed the lime, poured the drink in a shaker, added a few cubes, and then re-​poured it, adding a lemon twist. The server came by, dropped off the drink, and said «I’ll be right back». When she returned, I explained what I had witnessed she assured me I was wrong and that the drink had been remade. I told her I clearly observed it had NOT been remade and to remake it. I should have just ordered a beer in retrospect as the third attempt was a poor martini. I was ready to go elsewhere to dine, but my partner convinced me to stay. In summary, the quality of the food and the menu were both Excellent in terms of design and execution. The highlight of the evening was being able to tap into the expertise of Michael Sherzberg to help choose an ideal wine for a hodge-​podge of menu items. As the dining area was not crowded, we were also able to have some conversation with Michael about wine and food pairings and the KC area dining scene. Our server was also excellent and knowledgeable about the menu. Overall, the «F» on the front and the «A» on the back of the evening lead to a «C» rating. However, while Rosso has a long way to go on the bar area (starting with a true bartender and operating ethically), heading to the dining area for a bottle of wine and dinner is something we’ll likely do again next time we are in town.

TL;DR — stay away at all costs if you’re with a group; bad service from server and management; food was forgettable.
I went to Rosso last weekend for a friend’s birthday with a group of 14 and had one of the worst service experiences of my life. Upon arrival none of the staff could find our reservation, which was made a week prior. The manager pushed some small chairs and tables into an uncomfortably small corner, where we sat while the rest of our group arrived. Finally, over an hour after the time we made our reservation for, we were seated a a table for 8. Several of our group members stood awkwardly around the ends of the table; nobody offered us extra chairs or another table. We finally pulled an empty neighboring table over and squeezed our group in.
Our server was slow and rarely at the table. Some of us went downstairs to the bar to get drinks rather than wait for him. When the server finally took our food order, he was annoyed that only some of us were ordering food and brought the manager over. The manager told us that since they had gone out of their way to accommodate us (REALLY?) and we were seated in the dining area we all needed to order food. We got a few extra small plates to share, but none of the food was impressive or worth the money or trouble.
When it was time to get our checks the server told us it was against Rosso policy to split checks for tables. I asked why we weren’t told this when we made the reservation or when we were seated, and he started to tell me that they had called us several times that day to try to talk to us about the reservation THAT THEY COULDN’T FIND WHEN WE GOT THERE. The manager came over and said that they don’t split checks because they are usually too busy to take the time for that. He said since it was later in the evening and had slowed down they would make an exception and let us pay separately, but wouldn’t print out individual checks. We had to stand around him at the terminal, hand him individual cards and tell him how much to run each for. This made splitting tax and gratuity extra difficult as well.
If you are looking for somewhere special for food and drinks with a group, there are far better options in Kansas City.

My wife and I stayed at the hotel for our wedding night. At about 8PM on a Sunday post-​wedding reception we were hungry and decided to give this place a shot. Boy am I glad we did!
I had the Grilled Valencia Lamb Chops and she had the drunken meatballs. We’ve both eaten at most high-​end places in KC but let me tell you, this was definitely in the top 5 of meals I’ve EVER eaten, if not top 2. The meat was perfect, the Goat Cheese & Potato Root Hash was amazing. Everything about it was delicious. The drink menu was extensive. Their signature cocktails were strong and very good.
The environment was unlike any other we’ve been in. Granted, we went on a Sunday evening so it wasn’t near as busy as I’m sure it usually is. It was very dark and moody, they usually have candles lit he said but they were out. It was hard to read the menu but that’s nothing a cell phone can’t fix. The fire place and view just topped it off perfectly. The service was as good as you’ll find anywhere.
Seriously recommend this place for a romantic dinner, date night to impress a new lady friend, or somewhere to take the hard-​to-​impress in-​laws.

We visited Rosso last week out of the blue because we were looking for somewhere to treat ourselves for the night and had heard good things about the place. When we were brought to our table we were immediately impressed by the hospitality, Michael their sommelier in particular. He gave us a wonderful illustration on the type of wine we were looking to drink, and taught us a lot about different wines and where they came from! The Spanish Rioja we chose was great. The dining experience was also a delight. For starters, the white anchovies on their Caesar salad were delicious, which also had a parmesan encrusted poached egg which was cooked to perfection. We loved the Sorella pasta and the lobster ravioli as well! A memorable night for sure!

My fiancé and I were celebrating our sixth anniversary, and from the gratis glass of champagne to the custom-​prepared dessert, I was very impressed.
The wine we ordered wasn’t available, but our waiter recommended a fabulous replacement at the same price point. We were pleased to see it received a good review on vivino and was not overpriced.
I ordered the Caesar salad and seafood mixed grill, and my partner had the duckling. Both were perfectly cooked and nicely presented.
All in all it was a wonderful experience. It was gourmet with a personal touch.

My husband made a reservation for us to eat at Rossso tonight about which I was not terribly excited. I am not one who prefers «hotel restaurants» for many reasons, ambience and food quality/​creativity topping the list. We arrived about 30 minutes early to have a cocktail at the bar. The bar area is beautiful as were the drink offerings. The bartender left a bit to be desired with her «standoffish» attitude but that was quickly out shined by the dinner service and food!
My husband and I shared a grilled fruit salad and the traditional charcuterie platter as starters. I ordered the gnocchi, he the pork tenderloin as entrees. The food was AMAZING from start to finish! Every bite was five-​star! The service was top notch! The timing was impeccable.
We will definitely be back. I will crave that pork well into the future! Well done Rosso!

Rosso Restaurant takes «date night» to a whole new level… literally. Located on the seventh floor of Hotel Sorella, the dining room houses some serious sex appeal, including stunning views of the Country Club Plaza, a glass-​enclosed fireplace and sleek red and black décor. But it doesn’t stop there. Rosso’s menu is just as beautiful — featuring bright, seasonal dishes that look straight out of a magazine.
Executive chef Brian Archibald goes for quality over quantity, meaning the menu is small, but well executed. Take, for example, the Sea Salt Roasted Beets ($ 12), a delicious combination of crunchy pistachios, sweet Cara Cara oranges and roasted beets in all colors of the rainbow. Hiding underneath is a goat cheese maple vinaigrette, a subtle complement to the earthy flavor of the beets. The soft, pillowy mozzarella Burrata ($ 10) is another appetizer not to be skipped on Rosso’s menu. It’s drizzled with smoked Miller’s honey, olive oil and pepper cress.
On the entrée menu, Drunken Meatballs ($ 26) sit atop thick threads of bucatini noodles in a homemade Chianti red sauce. It’s the perfect pasta to recreate that «Lady and the Tramp» scene (if we’re still talking date night here). And those meatballs. Pork, veal and beef put together in golfball-​sized perfection.
Rosso’s most popular Kansas City Restaurant Week menu item is now featured on their main menu — the Barolo Braised Beef Short Ribs ($ 34). As my server Sharon said, «The meat just melts in your mouth.» Yes, Sharon. The short ribs are incredibly tender. They’re also accompanied by a sinfully rich polenta, citrus and garlic gremolata, hunks of gorgonzola and balsamic drenched cipollini onions.
I’d say Rosso is a no-​brainer. Sexy atmosphere, fantastic food, Sharon’s great service and, hello, it’s in a hotel?! Don’t make me spell it out for you.

5 stars for view and service. 3 stars for food.
There were six of us. No one was pleased with the appetizers. Bruschetta was a big disappointment, not really sure why the call it that. Caesar salads were odd too. Big chunk of romain with cheese and croutons on the side. Server said that chef likes to «deconstruct things».
Entrees were much better. They have full and half portions. Everyone was ordering half so I did too so I wouldn’t look like a pig. It was plenty and left room for desert.
The bar and patio looked phenomenal. We plan to go back for happy hour soon.

Everything we tried was so delicious. Service was good & we found a delightful new Cabernet! Would highly recommend.

The ambiance set the scene for a great experience of love and adoration. It would have been great for the food to meet that expectation.
The menu, although it reads with the sweet and sultry elegance of Italy the execution of the dishes leaves much to be desired.
My salad was the gem lettuce described to be a crispy parmesan chile crisp with white anchovy dressing — this merely was romaine spears with a fried egg with a boat load Ceasar dressing as the base oh and two anchovy slices on the side.
An an entrée my spouse had the Sunday gravy which was in his words stringy meat mush.
It’s necessary to say that our palettes are refined and know fine dining but also have an appreciation for experiences off the beaten path. The challenge with Rosso is that it misses the mark. It was like seeing the biggest box under the Christmas tree only to unwrap it to find nose hair trimmers.
I had the lemon & ricotta pastas with crab. I’m certain this was the pasta that I purchased a few month back at Costco. Though edible it was luke-​warm.
We have moved this place to our happy hour only menu when they are not busy. a

The restaurant Rosso was amazing! Top notch service and excellent food! The setting was classy and beautiful. Rotunda shaped glass bar on the 7^th floor with great view.

Excellent choice for KC Restaurant Week! Dinner or lunch, the quality of food and service will hook you!
My wife and I went here to enjoy the three course special dinner and found it to be a great introduction (first time here) and a great value. As an added plus, their participation in KC Restaurant Week gives back to the community. [Best kind of winning combination!]
First on our target list for KCRW was ROSSO. nestled within the Plaza’s Hotel Sorella. We were hooked at the KCRW preview by the slow Barolo Braised Beef Short Rib, along with the Citrus and Cranberry Bread Pudding are heavenly.
We fell in love too with the first course introduction to the dinner. We both had the Ricotta & Lemon Ravioli although there were other options. Of course we both had the Braised Beef Short Rib, and it was exceptional!
The wine list is affordable and varied and very well presented by our knowledgeable server.
The dinner offering is also enhanced with a luncheon selection but I didn’t try that menu.
Strongly recommended. A great experience benefiting both the diners and a great event!
Perfect match! Short time to get there for this special offering.

Pros: cool modern décor, creative cocktails, conveniently located on plaza
Cons: pricy for kc, slow service, hard to find a table

Went to the bar with about 8 girlfriends for our last happy hour of the year before everyone leaves town for the holidays and we had a great time. Happy hour is until 7 PM which worked for our busy schedules and the prices were great. Cocktails were only $ 6, beer $ 3, and food is half off. For wines you only get a house red, white, or prosecco for $ 5. The only negative is our server seemed over worked at times and it hard to get her to stop by or stay long enough to give everyone an opportunity, but she was friendly and very fast with our orders. I ordered the margarita pizza and was expecting some type of small flat bread since it was happy hour, but it was an entire pizza and absolutely delicious! I will definitely be back.

Andrew, Rick and I came here because Andrew is the master of food, and we were not disappointed. One of the best meals I have had in a long time anywhere.
We started with the octopus appetizer — probably the second best I’ve had anywhere. It was so delish, and family styled three mains (Seared Tuna, Pork Loin, and Seafood Pasta). The pork was by far the best dish, followed by the seared tuna. The seafood pasta was ok. We also had the asparagus side, sauteed spinach and the Brussels spouts. Both are fabulous.
The menu appears to be seasonal and ever changing, and we must have hit it on a night where everything was humming. Based on this one experience, I would definitely come back, especially given the fabulous ambiance. However, I don’t think I could guarantee that the meal would be this awesome once the menu change, so take this with a grain of salt.

One of the most beautiful bars in KC, Bar Rosso is located on the 7^th floor of Hotel Sorella. Providing a gorgeous patio, overlooking a pool and historic Ward Parkway, this is a perfect location for a craft cocktail, glass of wine or cold beer. Staffed by one of the best bartenders in our region, Kenny Cohrs, provides every person who enters his bar an amazing cocktail and an unforgettable experience.
The kitchen also provides a number of lovely selections to enjoy while sipping a drink, visiting with friends or relaxing on the patio all of which will ensure a fantastic night and memorable experience.

My wife and I celebrated our 5^th aniversary at Rosso.
The food was fantastic.
We started with a meat and cheese plate that our server recommended and it paired perfectly with the wine.
We could not have asked for a better server. Christine made us feel like a king and queen as we enjoyed our meal, and dined overlooking the plaza from the top of Hotel Sorella. I would certainly recommend Rosso to anyone who is looking for quality food, and exceptional service.