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
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