Nancy and I had a pretty good time last night at 1911. With Mark Lowery and friends providing the entertainment, it was easy. We stayed from 7:30 to until about 9:45 or so. I want that place to do well, but they need something outside to draw people in. There were 5 in my party, maybe 6 at the bar and I think 2 other people at a table across the room. The food was good, the prices are reasonable, and they seem to be able to make a good drink. If they can hang in there long enough I think they can make a go of it. I just worry without more customers they may be make it.
I will have to say the service was not top notch. I think our server had the right attitude, was friendly etc. she just wasn’t very experienced and had no one to help her when she struggled. She spent most of the night at the end of the bar where the cash register was located. If 20 people walked in off the street, I don’t think they could have handled them. Which is too bad because that is exactly what they need to happen.
It must be tough for owners to decide when to hire more servers and I can see the Catch 22 about needing more servers for good service, but not wanting to pay servers to stand around when you have no customers.
It’s a tough business to be in.

Seems like successful ventures advertise and promote well before the doors ever open. Rieger is a pretty good example.

This place has a cold entry. Terrible signage. No visible parking. No signs stating where parking is located. No sidewalk signs.

Compared to places like Jardine's, Phoenix, etc., this place fails.

I mean, I understand that it's a tough business... But, come on. Does anybody in the ownership group have a business degree?

you can actually judge a book by its cover, and this cover says "dazed and confused".

The real story is this guy has some serious business issues. His card stores no longer carry Hallmark because he never paid his bills, and focused more on third party vendors. While Hallmark floated him and kept him up and running for a decade or two, and eventually enough was enough and Hallmark cut ties. (There may also be some lawsuits - although I'm not certain). Basically he has zero business smarts and manages his finances very poorly. This place won't last for sure.

Review of 1911 Main as a jazz venue

http://kcjazzlark.blogspot.com/2011/11/ ... -town.html

Went last Thursday night for Alejandro Escovedo. Good crowd (300+) - worked out really nice as a venue. Was an absolutely fantastic show - featuring local musicians as the backing band. Hope they can keep it up with some quality music. Need to check out their lunch some time.

It seems this place is folding after the first of the year. Maybe if they have a good NYE they might hang in a little longer but that is doubtful. A couple other friends went for lunch a few days ago and when they got there, they were told they are not doing lunch any longer. And one of the people were one of their biggest supporters by far. We went to Rod's birthday party there last week, and it was sad that even with free food the crowd wasn't what it should have been. It's a great spot and hopefully something good will open there.

You'd think they would profit from Jardines troubles.

Bagatelle files for business license.

http://www.kcmo.org/idc/groups/neighborhood/documents/neighborhoodcommunityservices/new_licenses.pdf

Looks like the French-inspired Bagatelle is now Affare with German cuisine. The menu looks incredible, but I was looking forward to a new French place and am a little bummed that the owners are going with a German restaurant so close to Grunauer.

Here's a link to an article describing the change and another to the restaurant's website.

http://www.pitch.com/fatcity/archives/2012/04/26/chef-martin-heuser-hopes-to-create-an-affare-to-remember

http://affarekc.com/#13364061672861&true

I hear you, but the menu does look quite a bit different from Grunauer.

I'm not very versed in the intricacies of German versus Austrian cuisine and am afraid a lot of people might choose one over the other (instead of both). That rhubarb dessert sounds incredible, btw.

Looks fun, and I look forward to trying it. I hope KC can support this sort of restaurant, that the concept doesn't scare people off.

That block of Main is becoming quite the restaurant strip with Michael Smith's/Extra Virgin, Rieger, and now this. If the rumored new Justus place shows up, the Crossroads will be KC's uncontested best foodie neighborhood.

Haven't heard the best comments about the chef from his prior lives but hope it does well.

my very positive yelp review http://bit.ly/K6g5Zh

Nicely done, Dave. Glad to hear we have another winner to the lineup.

My partner is a stylist down the street from Affare (where is the umlaut button on a keyboard?) and when I went by to see him Friday afternoon he showed me some samples the restaurant left off for neighboring businesses. I was able to try the rhubarb-y dessert and it was phenomenal! Can't wait to try more.

It is encouraging that their M-TH Happy Hour is from 5:30 to 7:30. So many places don't have HH that is accomodating to people who work a bit later.

When they say "small plates," what are the portions like? I absolutely love places with small plates, but I also often end up spending more at these places than I would on a regular nice meal. Those affordable plates add up in the end. They have items on the menu that read almost like entrees, but it sounds like one would need to order a few dishes to make a meal. Does this sound accurate to anyone who has already been?

we made a full meal out of the following:

- spit roasted seafood (w/cherry spritzer)
- slow roasted elkloin (w/wine)
- bison short rib
- Schokoladenmousse (w/port)

not at all hungry after that.