Table Hopping

Double Date – Romantic ideas for a meal & more

Sushi House

5041 W. 117th Street

Leawood, KS 66211

(913) 633-3333

http://www.mysushihouse.com

Sushi House, a restaurant concept out of Chicago, opened in Town Center several years ago. Owned by Tom Johnson, a local KC restaurant veteran, Sushi House has modern decor and servers who are attentive and quick. The sushi is good, but try something more comforting and get the Nabeyaki Udon for $13. A large hot pot will come to your table, filled with a fragrant broth, chewy udon noodles, a poached egg, sliced fish cake, spinach, mushrooms and a single tempura shrimp. It’s large enough for two and you can still enjoy some sushi, too. CATCH: a movie just across the street at the AMC Town Center Theater.

Queen Lizzy’s Fish and Chips

125 East 10th Street

Lawrence, KS 66044

(785) 856-5570

http://www.queenlizzys.com

Chef Matt Poulton left his native England years ago to come to Lawrence with his wife, who was originally from here. After cooking around town, he decided it was time to open up a proper fish & chips restaurant in Lawrence, serving all the English pub favorites he missed from home; that’s how Queen Lizzy’s was born. Mushy peas, Scotch egg salad, beer-battered sausage and chips served with both HP and curry sauce, and the outstanding fish & chips (just $6.95) are all well under $10 and the food here will put you right into an English pub. WALK: 3 blocks north on Massachusetts to the Free State Brewing Company for a pint of locally brewed beer. Everyone knows that beer and fish & chips need each other.

Magical Meatball Tour

(inside Czar Bar)

1531 Grand Boulevard

Kansas City, MO 64108

(816) 421-0300

 http://www.magicalmeatballtour.com

When partners Venus Van Horn and Ceasar Reyes needed a place to park their mobile meatball truck for the winter, they decided to approach their friends at the Czar Bar about camping in their kitchen. It was an inspired decision, benefiting both the venue and the chefs. Open inside of the Czar Bar for lunch Thursday and Friday from 11am-2pm, and dinner Thursday-Saturday, they’ve got the balls rolling. Order the Bare Ball Sampler for $10 for a taste of every meatball they make minus the bread. Who cares about bread - you are here for the meat! COME: early to get your magical meatball fix, then stay for a drink and the live music or entertainment the Czar Bar is known for.

Westport Café & Bar

419 Westport Road

Kansas City, MO 64111

(816) 931- 4740

 http://www.westportcafeandbar.com

Owners Aaron Confessori and Chef Richard Wiles might be running the hottest weekend brunch spot in the city right now. Serving Saturday and Sunday until 4 pm, with their convivial crowd and warm French cafe, it is the perfect spot to land for a bite in the heart of Westport. Each brunch entrée comes with your choice of coffee or one of three different cocktails. Get the Full English Breakfast for $12, and you will not leave hungry. Two eggs your way, sausage, bacon and baked beans, with sautéed mushrooms and tomatoes and bread and jam. DRIVE: down the street to Pryde’s Old Westport if it is Saturday, or World Market if it is Sunday, and paw through their kitchen wares and foodstuff.

SPIN! Neapolitan Pizza

4950 Main Street

Kansas City, MO 64112

(4 Metro Area Locations)

(816)561-SPIN

http://www.vagabondpopsup.com

When you have a winning recipe, you don’t mess with it. Partners Gail and Richard Lozoff and Edwin Brownell are certainly winning with this locally owned pizza concept. With recipes developed by Chef Michael Smith and artisanal pizzas made with the finest quality ingredients, the food is exceptional. Multiple awards and an aggressive local expansion plan across Kansas City is continued evidence of their success. Go for lunch and share a Sopressata salami and Calabrian pepper pizza for $12 to get the date off on a smoky spicy note, while you share a bottle of excellent wine at a value price. STROLL: up the street to local chocolate shop Andre's Confiserie Suisse after lunch and buy your sweetheart a box of chocolates.