Novel Restaurant image

Novel Restaurant

Restaurant Bar Wine bar Fine dining restaurant New us american restaurant

Cozy New American offering inventive dishes made from seasonal ingredients, plus classic cocktails. People often mention good, great, service, time, menu, dish, nice, delicious, experience,


Address

1927 McGee St, Kansas City, MO 64108, United States

Website

novelkc.com

Contact

+1 816-221-0785

Price rating

$$$ $

Rating on Google Maps

4.60 (693 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Sunday: Closed
  • Monday: Closed
  • Tuesday: 5 to 9 pm
  • Wednesday: 5 to 9 pm
  • Thursday: 5 to 9 pm
  • Friday: 5 to 10 pm
  • Saturday: 5 to 10 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: good (14) great (12) service (10) time (8) menu (8) dish (7) nice (7) delicious (6) experience (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 4/5 Wuji F. 2 years ago on Google
    I rate this restaurant a 7 out of 10. Here is the breakdown: 7 on food, 8-9 on service, 10 on ambiance. We ordered 2 apps and 2 entries. The egg dish is 8. Interesting fusion dish, I think it has a lot of Asian cuisine inspiration on it. The warm octopus salad is a 5. Not much taste, and the octopus is very dry. Do not recommend. The scallop main dish is an 8. Pretty tasty and the sweet potato base compliment the dish very well. KC strip steak is maybe a 6 to 7. It's cooked well, but lacks a bit flavor compare to the best steak I have had. It's also a bit too salty for the steak in the end. So if you take a simple average, that's a 7 on food. Service is generally good, attentive, and fast. The only reason I knocked 1 off is the waiter didn't capture our order completely, so we were waiting on our second appetizer for a long time. But once it is fixed, the speed is very quick. So I would say it's very nice service. Solid ambiance and decorations for any occasion so it's a 10. Simple average again you get 7. If I were to come here again, I would order a bunch of appetizers and skip the main entries. I believe the appetizers show a lot of creativy of the chefs, so the main courses pale a bit in comparison.
    8 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Shaan S. 2 years ago on Google
    I consider this to be one of the best fine dining experiences in Kansas City. I particularly loved the duck neck aglonotti - the pickled cherry was such a nice pop of flavor. The scallops and key lime pie were also phenomenal.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Samantha R. 9 months ago on Google
    I loved this restaurant. I can't wait to go again. The food is so delicious and unique. The portions are small but worth it. Definitely get the Seared Diver Scallops, they were very scrumptious. I also really really enjoyed the Crispy Farm Egg. I'll be getting that again. My favorite food item was the Ramen noodles with lobster. That was awesome. For dessert I got the Pistachio Cream Pie. I also tried all the other desserts. Pistachio was definitely the best and the Strawberries & Cream Semifreddo was second best imo. Service was phenomenal. Loved all of the individuals serving us. My only complaint is that the cocktails were very weak. They tasted good but it took a lot of them to get me buzzed...and I'm a serious lightweight.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Keith S. 2 years ago on Google
    Could not have had a better meal than the one last night. Everything was on point. The Warm Octopus Salad is so good, great first course. The Freshly made Tagliatelle with pork/Sweetbreads is so legit. Homemade Lobster Ravioli is perfectly balanced and intense Lobster Flavor. Nothing is soaking in sauces or over done with nonsense that doesn't belong. Portions are perfect size (and priced) to course out several and make a night of it. Save room for Dessert, perfect ending. Thanks so much for a great dinner.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Mike G. 9 months ago on Google
    I recently had the opportunity to dine at Novel restaurant in Kansas City while entertaining a few business clients. Coming from California, we were looking for a place that would provide a unique dining experience, and Novel seemed like a good fit. The environment was great - modern with a touch of swank, and the open kitchen design added an interesting dynamic to the overall dining experience. The menu is diverse and intriguing, offering a range of dishes that cater to a variety of tastes, all made with fresh ingredients. The bread service was a bit of a mixed bag. The whole wheat bread was somewhat bland and could have used a touch more salt or more time to develop. The white bread was solid, and the smoked hummus was nothing short of excellent, offering a delightful start to the meal. The Beef Sirloin Tartare was a standout, despite being a tad too salty. The bright Asian flavors shone through, making it one of my favorite dishes on the menu. The 7 Layer Salad was reminiscent of a classic Caesar salad but elevated to a new level. The Crispy Farm Egg was another winner, with creamy and delicious grits. However, I wasn't a huge fan of the sorghum. Unfortunately, the Fried Pork Pie didn't quite hit the mark for me. I would have preferred a crisp on the pork belly, and instead it was gummy in texture. While the hot sauce wasn't my favorite, I can see why it works for the Midwest palate with its Southern and Carolina taste. The liver mousse, however, was a delight. Overall though, I would totally rework the pork pie. The Broken Lasagna was creamy and tasty, with the sweetbreads adding a nice touch. However, it could have used a bit more sweetbreads and a touch of salt to finish. The Crispy Potatoes were not crispy at all, and instead floppy, which was a bit misleading. They were still yummy, but I would have preferred a thicker cut and triple cooked for that promised crispiness. The Fried Cauliflower had tasty Indian flavors. I think it would be interesting to have a crispy exterior to offset the softness in the rest of the dish. Maybe a corn flour or tempura fried exterior could add that needed texture. The Ramen Noodles were excellent! The miso butter sauce was a wonderful touch and the balance across the dish was perfection. I was a bit surprised that the waiter didn't give us a more confident recommendation when we asked about it. Best item we had that evening. Overall, Novel KC is a restaurant that is serious about their food but still figuring out their voice. There is a lot of room for upward growth, and I look forward to seeing how it evolves. As someone who travels and eats at a lot of establishments across various regions, I may be more critical than most. I believe that with a few adjustments, Novel KC could truly shine. Rating: 3.5/5
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Amanda M. 11 months ago on Google
    This place was amazing. Great food and great service. I'm glad that I chose this place for my hubby's birthday as we both really enjoyed it. Will definitely come back to celebrate other special occasions.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Justin P. 9 months ago on Google
    Fantastic environment with a great concise menu! The pork chop was phenomenal alone, but out of this world with the garnishments! It was great to meet the friendly staff after I ate.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Eva L. 2 years ago on Google
    First time at Novel. Started with the butternut squash ravioli - excellent, very tasty, and loved the different flavors in each bite. For our entrees, we ordered: Seared diver scallops Prime reserve KC strip Portion sizes were decent. The entrees themselves were very salty: drowned out the other flavors. I’d read other reviewers share these same sentiments and hoped something had changed. Overall alright experience. Atmosphere were great, service was fine. Starter was excellent. Entrees were good if not for the excessive salt.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 hopperado 9 months ago on Google
    Does not look good from outside and much better upon entering. Short yet attractive menu list. Very nice Slovenian rose wine. Attentive and helpful service - those guys truly do care. Thank you!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Scott S. 9 months ago on Google
    Came for dinner and had a very good experience overall. Food was great, presentation was impressive, and portion sizes were large. Understanding we dined during a busy dinner time on a weekend, the servers seemed overworked and some of the dishes came out a little colder than expected. But the taste was still delicious, and we’d certainly be back to give it a second try.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Nikolas S. 1 year ago on Google
    I love Novel. Their menus are all quirky and changing. The location is quaint and pocketed away in the Crossroads. The staff is all friendly and attentive. Food and drinks are AMAZING. The price is also very fair for what you get, and the presentation is some of the best I've experienced. Please, go to Novel if you get the chance!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Dexie K. 1 year ago on Google
    Wow! Wow! Wow! I’ve been to NYC,Boston MA,EI,MD,LasVegas & reside in Houston TX. I’m a foodie. I’m so surprised and impressed by Novel Restaurant! Didn’t expect to find a FOOD Heaven in Kansas City, MO. Everything is super good! Done here twice [2 dinners] Super great food from soup, salad, main entrées and try all their desserts it’s super crazy good! Thank you Chefs & Crew you’re the best! 💯💯💯 Great service too
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ryan 1 year ago on Google
    5 star service as always. Our second time visiting, this time celebrating a birthday. We decided to try several dishes and split each of them. That’s the best bang for your buck and in our opinion the best way to taste all of the delicious menu items. The pumpkin gooey butter cake dessert was divine. 🤤

  • 5/5 Braulio R. 1 year ago on Google
    Grabbed dinner here on a Thursday night. The waitstaff was fantastic and the food was just as good as expected. I'd come back here again only thing I'd change is to bring a bigger appetite. Would recommend if you're looking for a chill spot for a small group of people. I sat inside but their patio area looked nice as well.

  • 5/5 Melissa K. S. 2 years ago on Google
    Loved our time here! We got 4 small plates and fried cauliflower and split between two people. Perfect amount of food.

  • 5/5 Stephany F. 5 months ago on Google
    Probably the best service in KC. Very welcoming, warn, and providing honest recommendations! The food was delicious, creative & very well executed! Will definitely return! One area of improvement is the wine glass offering. Will definitely return!

  • 3/5 Jess E. 5 months ago on Google
    Enjoyed dinner here, but was left a little wanting. Some dishes really stood out, some didn't, but enjoyed the cocktails overall. Don't know what to expect from the pork toast. It wasn't what I expected, or necessarily wanted but it was delicious and maybe the standout. Brussel sprout salad was not interesting or really that satisfying. Chestnut ravioli was amazing. Flavor balance between the sauce, pasta and filling were perfect. The duck agnolotti was not as much of a hit. Tasted good but didn't really wow. The server made a point of saying to make sure to get a cherry with every bite. Not possible when there are far less cherries than agnolotti to begin with, and if that's the effect you're going for, just put a cherry in with the duck. Grilled lamb chops disappointed in a way that main courses often do at restaurants like this. The appetizers and pastas, etc., are often more exciting in different ways, and the mains are pretty basic, as was this. Pistachio pie was great. I enjoyed it and would likely go back, but I'd probably be more strategic with the menu next time.

  • 5/5 Aaron S. 8 months ago on Google
    Truly outstanding all around. From the nice atmosphere to the great service and stunning food, this is a place you must try. The cocktail I had (smoke n flowers) was perfectly mixed and my wife loved their mocktail as well and it’s nice that they have a couple mocktail options on the menu. I had the Wild Alaskan Halibut, which had a perfect sear. The accompaniments of the dish were quite flavorful as well. My wife loved the farm chicken roulade, which is served in medallions and perfectly tender. There are definitely other options on the menu we’d love to try so we’ll be back.

  • 4/5 Gowtham S. 7 months ago on Google
    We celebrated my birthday evening at this restaurant and we enjoyed the food and experience. The executive chef gave me a birthday card at the end elevating the experience. I recommend the fried cauliflower and mock tails here. Chicken was good as well.

  • 3/5 Tanya K. 1 year ago on Google
    I had high hopes but we just didn't love it. Service was great. Food was just ok, wine pours seemed small. Steak was overly salty, salmon was good, fried cauliflower tasted like fish-but not in a good way.


Call +1 816-221-0785 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Parking
    • ✓️ Free parking lot
    • ✓️ Plenty of parking
    • ✓️ Free of charge street parking
  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Spirits
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Healthy options
    • ✓️ Vegetarian options
  • Popular for
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Solo dining
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible toilet
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✗ Delivery
    • ✓️ Takeaway
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating

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