In Kansas City's days of old, enterprising bar owners would offer free food to workers heading home and craving a beer or whiskey. This food was usually very salty, encouraging the patrons to drink even more.
The term “happy hour” didn’t exist at this time, but a mix of food and drink has always been an intoxicating lure that nearly every restaurant offers.
On Friday’s Central Standard, Charles Ferruzza and fellow food critics Emily Farris, Mary Bloch, and Gloria Gale discuss the best happy hours in and around Kansas City.
The Best Happy Hours:
- Stone Canyon Pizza, 15 Main St, Parkville, Mo. 64152, Monday-Friday 3-6pm
- Café Trio, 4558 Main St, Kansas City, Mo. 64111, Monday-Friday 2-6pm
- Webster House, 1644 Wyandotte St, Kansas City, Mo. 64108, Wednesday-Saturday 4:30-6pm
- Westport Café and Bar, 419 Westport Rd, Kansas City, Mo. 64111, Everyday 4-6pm & 10pm-close
- Bluestem Restaurant, 900 Westport Rd, Kansas City, Mo. 64111, Tuesday-Thursday 5-7pm, Friday 5-6:30pm
- Extra Virgin, 1900 Main St, Kansas City, Mo. 64108, Monday-Friday 11:30-6pm
- Voltaire, 1617 Genessee St, Kansas City, Mo. 64102, Wednesday-Saturday 4-6pm
- Grand Street Café, 4740 Grand Ave, Kansas City, Mo. 64112, Everyday 3-6pm
- Bristol Seafood Grill, 51 E 14th St, Kansas City, Mo. 64106, Sunday-Friday, 4-7pm
- Genessee Royale Bistro, 1531 Genessee St, Kansas City, Mo. 64102, Friday, 4-7pm
- Pierpont’s at Union Station, 30 W Pershing Rd, Kansas City, Mo. 64108, Monday-Thursday 11- close, Friday 11-7pm, Saturday 4-6pm, Sunday 4-9pm
- Le Fou Frog, 400 E 5th St, Kansas City, Mo. 64106, Tuesday-Friday 4:30-6:30pm
- Story, 3931 W 69th Terrace, Prairie Village, Kan. 66208, Tuesday-Friday 4:30-6:30pm
- Ruth’s Chris Steak House, 700 W 47th St #115, Kansas City, Mo. 64112, Monday-Friday, 3-7pm
- Louie’s Wine Dive, 7100 Wornall Rd, Kansas City, Mo. 64114, Monday-Friday 4-6pm, Monday-Thursday 10pm-12am, Saturday-Sunday 11pm-12am
- Murray’s Table & Tap, 12921 State Line Rd, Kansas City, Mo. 64145, Monday-Friday 3-6pm
- The Dubliner, 170 E 14th St, Kansas City, Mo. 64106, Monday-Friday 4-7pm
- EBT Restaurant, 1310 Carondelet Dr #100, Kansas City, Mo. 64114, Tuesday-Friday 4:30-6:30pm
- Anton’s Taproom, 1610 Main St, Kansas City, Mo. 64108, Monday-Friday 3-6pm
- Avenues Bistro, 338 W 63rd St, Kansas City, Mo. 64113, Everyday 4-6pm
- Affäre, 1911 Main Street, Kansas City, Mo. 64108, Monday-Friday 3- 7pm, Friday-Saturday 9:30pm-close
- Summit Grill & Bar, 4835 NE Lakewood Way, Lee's Summit, Mo. 64064, Everyday 3-6pm
- Port Fonda, 4141 Pennsylvania Ave, Kansas City, Mo. 64111, Monday-Friday 3-6pm, Monday-Saturday 10pm-close
- Kona Grill, 444 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, Mo. 64112, Monday-Friday 3-7pm, Monday-Saturday 10pm-12am, Saturday 1pm-5pm
- Merchants Pub & Plate, 746 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, Kan. 66044, Everyday 4-6pm & 9pm-close
- The Majestic Restaurant, 931 Broadway Blvd, Kansas City, Mo. 64105, Monday-Friday, 2-6pm
- Haus, 3044 Gillham Rd, Kansas City, Mo. 64108, Monday-Friday 2-7pm, 10pm-close
- Bo Ling’s, 4701 Jefferson St, Kansas City, Mo. 64112, Monday-Friday 3-6pm
- Gram & Dun, 600 Ward Pkwy, Kansas City, Mo. 64112, Monday-Friday, 3-6pm
- Standees, 3935 W 69th Terrace, Prairie Village, Kan. 66208,Tuesday-Sunday 4:30-6:30pm
New & Noteworthy:
- Grunauer, 101 W 22nd St, Kansas City, Mo. 64108
- Cucina della Ragazza, 301 Westport Rd, Kansas City, Mo. 64111
- Café Sebastienne, 4420 Warwick Blvd, Kansas City, Mo. 64111
- La Bodega, 703 Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, Mo. 64108
- Rosso in the Hotel Sorella, 901 W 48th Pl, Kansas City, Mo. 64112
- Pig & Finch, 11570 Ash St, Leawood, Kan. 66211
- Providence New American Kitchen, 1329 Baltimore Ave, Kansas City, Mo. 64105
- Ricco’s Italian Bistro, 11801 College Blvd, Overland Park, Kan. 66210
- Hot Basil Thai Cuisine, 7528 W 119th St, Overland Park, Kan. 66213
- The Rieger Hotel Grill & Exchange, 1924 Main St, Kansas City, Mo. 64108
- Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, 6601 W 135th St, Overland Park, Kan. 66223
