Enzo Bistro & Wine Bar: Welcome, Sis
(20 East 5th Street, K.C., MO)
Since Ragazza on Main is a favorite of ours (more so since Main is almost a viable pathway again), we were eager to try the newest family addition. Enzo Bistro and Wine Bar is right across from a street car stop, lucky us (and there’s free parking most days behind them in the River Market). We ate on their patio Friday night and definitely enjoyed the ambiance of a slightly different nature. (You’ll have to go there to understand.) We started what was supposed to be a lighter dinner until one half dug into the mussels in wine sauce (shallot, garlic, tomato, white wine, butter) and enough focaccia to share – which she didn’t. The other snarfed down the giant meatball made famous by Ragazza – it was just as delicious and also enough to split. Which he didn’t. We were, and are, happy to see a tastier, classier addition to the River Market.
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ACRE: Roasting Perfection
(6325 Lewis St., Parkville, MO)
One of us met chef/owner Andrew Longres at the sadly now-gone Bluestem. He's from Liberty so coming home from California's French Laundry restaurant to Bluestem was a welcome change. Then it was a couple miles toThe American, also now gone (this is NOT a trend for Andrew) where he was in charge for several years. With Acre, he's put all that training (and more, including a stint in Europe) to use. Most of his meats are cooked over the embers of a blazing fire, whose heat is controlled mechanically by hand. If you can, get a seat at the viewing bar -- which, remarkably, is not blazing hot for the customers, just for the talented staff. That’s where we sat, one lucky night.
Grass-fed cow provided excellent rib-eye. Even the broccoli was terrific. Although a meat-centric menu, there's lots from which to choose.
