lidia’s

ate at lidia's while in town on business. food was great, service was extremely attentive. had their signature pasta trio and think it was some of the best pasta i've had. fettuccine with a bolognese sauce was outstanding and the ravioli with ricotta and swiss chard was great. dessert was good but not as good as the main meal. still highly recommended.

milwaukee loves lidia's. while on a road trip to a family wedding in manhattan, ks, we planned to drive from milwaukee to kc in one day, specifically to dine at lidia's. i've been a long-time fan of her pbs show, and dining there was on my "bucket list." i can now die a happy woman! upon our arrival and telling the hostess that we'd come all the way from milwaukee, the staff treated us with special attention all night. we were even able to meet the chef, cody, who could not have been sweeter! he also sent us a complimentary appetizer, the frito misto, which we devoured after we enjoyed the frico. my husband and i shared the ginormous bone-in rib-eye, as well as the pasta trio. it was all simply divine. we finished off with the tiramisu, which we probably should have skipped -- but why? who knows when we'll come this way again. the entire evening was perfect, and kc is lucky to have lidia's!

delicious food and impeccable service. impressive attention to detail.. i brought my girlfriend and a friend of hers to lidia's kc for her birthday dinner. every imaginable effort was made by the staff to make our dining experience a memorable one.

the ambiance is vibrant and warm, yet friendly. the staff had expert knowledge of the menu and wine list. our server was perfectly attentive and friendly without being intrusive."

best italian. imho it is the best in kc, but i haven't been to jasper's yet, sooo...

lidia's kansas city brunch is one of my favorite things. breakfast is great, lunch definitely has it's place in the world, but for some reason brunch is just one of those things that when it's done right is almost an unparalleled pleasure.

disappointed. dined 7:15 on may 16. not been here for a while and was looking forward to it. 2 guests had the classic three way pasta and were very pleased. the other two of us ordered the porchetta special and excited to see it on the menu tonight. we ordered drinks, wife's martini was good, two other guests were served room temp white wine and a not very cold beer and i left my margarita sitting on the table, one of the worst i have ever had. the porchetta was less than spectacular, dry actually. this along with mediocre service at best left us with questions about returning.

everything was very good but the pasta trio was a bit underwhelming. my wife choose the gnocchi which was really good. i would stick to regular menu items next time.

sadly, miserable from a dining perspective. had high hopes: beautiful day, great energy in the building, the store looked open and welcoming. our server was prompt and professional. we were with another couple that we did not know well. the makings of a great meal...

the food was underwhelming. cold shrimp risotto, pasta trio was cold and limp. overall, very flat and dissatisfying.

we had a great time celebrating our 7 year olds birthday. we had a great server who made great recommendations and was very attentive. we made reservations for 6:30, but arrived around 6:15. we were sat at a cozy table in the center of the restaurant. the restaurant is all “cozy”; tables are very close together and it’s dimly lit. although this could easily be a date place, we felt more than welcome with our children.

the fresh foccicia with spreads were very tasty, even the kids enjoyed them.

we had the calamari for an appetizer, which i would not recommend. it was mixed with veggies and shrimp and we searched for the calamari. i tend to think a calamari appetizer should consist mostly of calamari. the bits that we did have were tender, i just wish there was more calamari and less veg.

the kids had pesto gnocchi (absolutely delicious) and calamari (too many tentacles he said). the gnocchi was soft, tender and had a generous but not overpowering basil sauce. the calamari was just ok. the breading was light and seasoned well but fell off most of the pieces.

hubs had filet mignon which was tender and flavorful, but lacked the truffle flavor as described. the steak was cooked beautifully and overall he was pleased.

i had the pasta trio: fresh fettuccine (delicious), sausage ravioli (very good) and boxed spicy cavetappi (not that great). i wonder, why even search a 3rd option that isn’t fresh pasta?? all the pastas came out hot, but some bits of the ravioli had raw dough and some filling was quite salty. overall hubs liked the ravioli best and i liked the fettuccine. the servers were careful to always give pieces of shrimp with the fettuccine.

we upgraded the pasta trio to include a caesar salad (shared) which was very very good. it was dressed well with freshly shaved parmesan and house made crouton, even the kids liked the salad! it also included a dessert which we let the waitress choose - it was delicious! she gave our little guy a special treat for his birthday which was so thoughtful!

we would definitely return with or without the kids and enjoy other items or drinks!

we have wanted to eat at lidia's for some time. yesterday after going to the zoo we had dinner there! it's beautiful and the staff is lovely. we started with flavored spreads, bread and bread sticks. it was very good. we couldn't decide between lamb chops and salmon. finally we decided to not have an appetizer, get both and share. our waitress was wonderful. she had both entrees split before being brought to the table, so we each had a plate of lamb and a plate of salmon. i can honestly say it was the best lamb chops i've ever eaten. the salmon was one of the best salmon i've ever eaten. the vegetables were perfect. it was so much good we couldn't eat it all but it was outstanding! this is definitely our new favorite restaurant!

with the grunauer next door and the rieger right around the corner at the same price point, i was expecting a good meal. honestly, i have had better italian food at fazoli's, and that would have saved me $130.00. my wife's cinghale (wild boar ravioli with rosemary infused sauce) was obviously frozen, reheated and just plain bad. i had the "american sunday sauce with braised pork shoulder, italian sausages and meatballs". bland sauce with that tin can taste, what must have been a reheated meatball (horrible), a 2" cube of shoulder that was like chewing on jerky, and the worst italian sausage i have ever tasted in my life. all of this was piled on top of rubbery, poorly cooked rigatoni. the manager happened by and saw our uneaten meals and asked if we wanted it packaged up to take home. there was no inquiry when we declined, just that knowing look (we served you shit). our waitress came by a few minutes later with a desert menu, which we also declined and got the exact same "knowing look". when we left it was raining so i left my wife in the entry so i could get the car. i find out later that the "host" stood there and ogled her until i returned. unpleasant experience, horrible food. we will not be back.

we went here for my birthday which happened to be during restaurant week. i would love to go back another time because i think they had to make so much food and were so busy it may not have been an accurate reflection of their normal food. food was a little dry and several orders were over or under cooked-but cutting some slack given circumstances.

given how busy they were, they were so friendly and really took care of us with free drinks because of wait times. the place is beautiful and comfortable.

we have been going to lidia's since we moved to kansas city in 2008 and have never been disappointed. whether ordering ala carte from the menu or enjoying their fabulous sunday brunch, the food is always consistent and delicious although a bit pricey.

antipasti (appetizers) range from $7.50 to $14.00 and include traditional favorites like "frico" (cheese crisp - $12.50), "cozze" (mussels - $12.00), "arancini" (deep fried risotto balls - $12.00), and "pappa al pomodoro" ( a tuscan tomato and bread soup - $7.50). the frico, for example, is delicious with crispy cheese (usually a higher-fat hard cheeses like montasio or asiago) baked in the oven with various decadent ingredients, having originated in the friuli region of italy.

insalate (salads) are normally ordered along with the main course (secondo) when dining in italy and are not "meal size" as you will find in the united states. at lidia's they range from $8.00 to $12.50, but i cannot comment on them as i have never ordered one because, other than the caprese salad - one of my favorites, you should not come to restaurant like lidia's unless you plan on focusing on pasta and meat/seafood dishes, all of which are quite filling.

ranging from $17.00 (canneloni) to $22.00 (pasta trio), the prices for their "primi" (first courses - pastas) are lidia's "best value", especially their "pasta trio" which my wife and i have had on numerous occasions. this "all you can eat" medley of three pastas changes daily and includes three different selections (fettucine, penne, ravioli, etc.), each with its own sauce (butter and sage, amatriciana, and other favorites). servers come around with a large plate of each, giving you as much or as little as you desire so you can sample all three before deciding on which one (or three) you want more of. you can add a caesar salad and choice of dessert for an additional $13, but i would not waste my money and recommend enjoying as much pasta as you can eat instead.

the meat and seafood (secondi) dishes are not cheap at $21 for the lemon chicken to $49.50 for the bone-in rib eye steak, but if you like a traditional italian meal with antipasto, primo and secondo, you will not be disappointed ... you will, however, be bursting at the seams! secondi at lidia's, unlike restaurants in italy, are accompanied by "contorni" (vegetables and potatoes), making a full meal if you prefer meat and potatoes over pasta. my favorite used to be their "involtini di manzo", rolled beef scallops with pickle, vegetables and mustard (a northern italian recipe), accompanied by mashed potatoes, but it has not been on the menu lately.

their wine list is extensive with nothing under $32 for a bottle (the "value list" has a nice selection of reds and whites) and ranging up to as high as $495 for a bottle of lange (2005) gaja if that is your style. we have ordered from the value list every time we have been there and found the wines quite good and somewhat as the name implies, a "decent" value. they also have a full bar with drinks ranging from $9 to $34.

we have not been there for sunday brunch in several years, but it used to be an excellent value at $25 (now $29.50). served buffet style, you can help yourself to a nice selection of antipasti and dolci (desserts), ordering a selection from the wide variety of main courses, including the "pasta tasting menu", frico, porchetta hash, osso buco, and lasagna bolognese among others.

we have never been there for lunch, but looking at the menu it appears to be a decent value with meal selections reduced by $5 or so compared to the dinner menu and with sandwiches in the $12 to $13 range. 

expect to pay a $100 to $125 for dinner for two, including antipasti and either a primo (pasta) or secondo, a bottle of wine from the value list, and a shared dessert (tip and tax included). we cannot afford to spend that kind of money every time we go out to eat, but for special occasions lidia's italy - kansas city is a decent value with exceptional food, excellent service, and moderate prices.

combatcritic gives lidia's italy - kansas city 7 out of 10 bombs ... more bombs are better!

we have been going to lidia's since we moved to kansas city in 2008 and have never been disappointed. whether ordering ala carte from the menu or enjoying their fabulous sunday brunch, the food is always consistent and delicious although a bit pricey.

antipasti (appetizers) range from $7.50 to $14.00 and include traditional favorites like "frico" (cheese crisp - $12.50), "cozze" (mussels - $12.00), "arancini" (deep fried risotto balls - $12.00), and "pappa al pomodoro" ( a tuscan tomato and bread soup - $7.50). the frico, for example, is delicious with crispy cheese (usually a higher-fat hard cheeses like montasio or asiago) baked in the oven with various decadent ingredients, having originated in the friuli region of italy.

insalate (salads) are normally ordered along with the main course (secondo) when dining in italy and are not "meal size" as you will find in the united states. at lidia's they range from $8.00 to $12.50, but i cannot comment on them as i have never ordered one because, other than the caprese salad - one of my favorites, you should not come to restaurant like lidia's unless you plan on focusing on pasta and meat/seafood dishes, which are quite filling.

ranging from $17.00 (canneloni) to $22.00 (pasta trio), the prices for their "primi" (first courses - pastas) are lidia's "best value", especially their "pasta trio" which my wife and i have had on numerous occasions. this "all you can eat" medley of three pastas changes daily and includes three different pastas (fettucine, penne, ravioli, etc.), each with its own sauce (butter and sage, amatriciana, and other favorites). servers come around with a large plate of each, giving you as much or as little as you desire so you can sample all three before deciding on which one (or three) you want more of. you can add a caesar salad and choice of dessert for an additional $13, but i would not waste my money and recommend enjoying as much pasta as you can instead.

the meat and seafood (secondi) dishes are not cheap at $21 for the lemon chicken to $49.50 for the bone-in rib eye steak, but if you like a traditional italian meal with antipasto, primo and secondo, you will not be disappointed ... but you will be bursting at the seams! secondi at lidia's, unlike restaurants in italy, are accompanied by "contorni" (vegetables and potatoes), making a full meal if you prefer meat and potatoes over pasta. my favorite used to be their "involtini di manzo", rolled beef scallops with pickle, vegetables and mustard (a northern italian recipe), accompanied by mashed potatoes, but it has not been on the menu lately.

their wine list is extensive with nothing under $32 for a bottle (the "value list" has a nice selection of reds and whites) and ranging up to as high as $495 for a bottle of lange (2005) gaja if that is your style. we have ordered from the value list every time we have been there and found the wines quite good and somewhat as the name implies, a "decent" value. they also have a full bar with drinks ranging from $9 to $34.

we have not been there for sunday brunch in several years, but it used to be an excellent value at $29.50. served buffet style, you can help yourself to a nice selection of antipasti and dolci (desserts), ordering a selection from a wide variety on main courses, including the "pasta tasting menu", frico, porchetta hash, osso buco, and lasagna bolognese among others.

we have never been there for lunch, but looking at the menu it appears to be a decent value with meal selections reduced by $5 or so compared to the dinner menu and with sandwiches in the $12 to $13 range. 

expect to pay a $100 to $125 for dinner for two, including antipasti and either a primo (pasta) or secondo, a bottle of wine from the value list, and a shared dessert (tip and tax included). we cannot afford to spend that kind of money every time we go out to eat, but for special occasions lidia's italy - kansas city is a decent value with exceptional food, excellent service, and moderate prices.

combatcritic gives lidia's italy - kansas city 7 out of 10 bombs ... more bombs are better!

went here during restaurant week, thought it was really good. the server was pretty knowledgable about the dishes and the service was decent for it being restaurant week. i would recommend trying for authentic italian.