Parlor 101
Published April 23, 2021
A NOTE FROM THE WRITER: This is the first installment in a sporadic series called “Better Know A DistriKCt” which will serve to occasionally provide a guide to the best spots in a specific district or neighborhood of Kansas City. Now, does it seem a bit cheap or outside the spirit of this column to have my very first edition dedicated to one building that’s not really a “district”? Probably. But that’s the joy of running my own website - I can do whatever I want. Happy Reading!
A few weeks ago, a friend texted me to grab dinner downtown. When I asked him what he was in the mood for, he replied, “I could really go for chicken, or maybe Korean.” And my reply? “Sounds like we’re going to Parlor!”
The first time I noticed Parlor in 2018 was when I was walking out of Double Shift Brewing towards my car. It almost felt as this 18,000 square foot space had sprung up overnight. One day it was just another building and the next? There was this mural covered building with a lit-up sign and what seemed to be an amazing balcony patio. It feels like the moment I noticed Parlor, I started hearing about it as friends, clients, and co-workers raved about the space. Having no idea what I was getting myself into, I took a former client up on the offer to meet him there in Fall 2018 as he insisted that I could not go another day without experiencing this place.
So what exactly is Parlor? It’s the first food hall of note to come to the Kansas City area. (Thankfully, this concept has begun to spread across the metro!) The first time I went, it gave me immediate memories of my friends Michael and Vickie taking me to Ponce City Market in Atlanta. While not nearly of the same magnitude in size and offerings, Parlor currently is a collection of five restaurants, one pop-up concept, two bars, and a basement event space whose applications and offerings continue to expand. It brings together a diversity of elevated quick-serve restaurant styles and tastes under one roof.
If you’ve ever been in a situation where you want to grab dinner with friends and you cannot agree what you are in the mood for, Parlor is likely the answer. Salads and wraps? Check. Asian fare? Yup. Pizza? Some of the best in town. A chicken sandwich or burger? Of course. And a wide array of draft beers and quality cocktails? You know it!
And it’s not just about the food styles - the space itself offers a variety of ambiances. Whether you are looking for a table for a large group dinner, some couches to chill out, a private booth for a date, a patio for happy hour, a remote workspace to set up shop, a cozy nook where you can read a good book, or a bar where you can post up and unwind - all of these experiences can be had at Parlor as well.
As much as I love this space, my first visit was a bit intimidating! So many choices and options! I know I spent at least 20 minutes running up and down the stairs between the two floors, going from restaurant to restaurant, reading the menu boards and watching them prepare food. Hopefully, this roadmap will help you have a better idea of what you’re getting into when you make your way to the Crossroads’ elevated food court.
The Southwest (pictured as a rice bowl) features shredded chicken, grilled veggies, shredded cheddar jack cheese, spring greens, and black beans.
The Hungry Hatch
Floor 1
For Angie Maciel, The Hungry Hatch is a family affair. Originally opened as a food truck with her daughter Katie Brill, the mother/daughter duo brought their mobile offerings to a more permanent home in the fall of 2020. A veteran of the food truck scene, Maciel and Brill originally started Hungry Hatch to fill a noticeable gap in the street food genre. These meals on wheels are usually griddled, grilled, or deep fried. Hungry Hatch turned that dynamic on its ear by offering a fully customizable menu featuring healthy wraps, salads, quinoa bowls, and rice bowls that pull from a variety of culinary styles and cater to a variety of diets. That same spirit continues to drive The Hungry Hatch in their brick and mortar location. Most of their staple favorites have the flexibility to be offered as a wrap, salad, or bowl. Hungry Hatch brags on their ability to accommodate vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, keto, whole 30, paleo, and Mediterranean diets. Sure, you can follow The Hungry Hatch and figure out the next place their food truck will be parked, but why do all that work when you know that your favorite bowls, wraps, and salads will always be served inside Parlor?
So, What Do I Get? I am a sucker for “The Southwest”. The chipotle aioli is delightful. It’s not spicy, it has warmth with a flavor that has staying power but any essence of heat quickly dissipates. There is almost a note of vinegar in the aioli that gives this mix just a bit of contrast. The veggies are perfectly cooked and the black beans are quite exceptional. Amazingly enough, the chicken is of good quality but the beans, grilled onions and peppers, and greens are the showstoppers. And let’s not forget the abundance of bold, springy cheddar jack shredded cheese! When it comes to what form it should take? I recommend going salad for every option where it’s available. The greens are so nice, leafy, flavorful, and crisp. It’s rare that I would go salad over rice bowl but at Hungry Hatch, I definitely would.
Providence Pizza specializes in a variety of pizza styles including Sicilian and Neopolitan but their most unique - and their best - is the Detroit-style pizza.
Providence Pizza Co.
Floor 1
While I only lived in Massachusetts for two years before my arrival in Kansas City, the thing I probably miss most about New England is the pizza. While New York and Chicago get almost all of the (well-deserved) pizza fanfare , the truth is that Boston, Springfield, Providence, Portland, and Hartford have their own delicious takes on pizza that undeservedly get lost in the shuffle. Fortunately for me, and this entire city, a pair of brothers from Providence decided to bring the pizza stylings of their home city, and region, to the Midwest. Brothers Luke and Aaron Salvatore opened Providence Pizza Co. in Grandview in 2014, and it was an immediate hit! Though Providence is mostly known for grilled pizzas (Bob & Timmy’s is a must if you ever find yourself in Rhode Island!), the Salvatore brothers originally featured three distinct styles of pizza - traditional Sicilian, wood-fired Neopolitan, and a thin crust pie that is clearly inspired by the famed grilled pizza of their hometown. Later on, another unheralded city’s pizza style, Detroit, made its appearance on the menu and put Providence Pizza over the top. When Parlor opened in 2018, the Salvatore brothers decided to open their second location at the downtown food hall. This expansion into the Crossroads introduced an entirely new segment of Kansas Citians, including yours truly, to, what this writer considers, the best pizza in Kansas City.
So, What Do I Get? While every style of pizza produced by Providence is exceptional, there is something really special about the Detroit style. The almost sheet cake-style crust is thick without being dense. It is fluffy, buttery, crunchy, and exquisite. The red sauce is robust with just a whisper of sweetness and a tangy zip. The quality of ingredients is evident in every bite. The pepperoni is impeccable. I love the way that the pepperoni is browned until the edges curl up. The dollops of ricotta that adorn the pie and the inclusion of fresh basil elevates this za into its own echelon. This is beyond any pepperoni pizza you’ve ever had. Seriously, order The Motor City now and then thank me later. And if you want a real treat, ask them to add Italian sausage.
Parlor features a pair of bars with a wide range of spirits and draft craft beers. The smaller of the two is the upstairs bar (pictured) which services the balcony patio.
Parlor Bar
Floors 1 & 2
With a bar located on each floor, these counters are what tie Parlor together and take it from being a mere food court to the vibrant, eclectic, food hall and hangout space that I know it to be. The bar offers a great Happy Hour from 2pm to 6pm on weekdays that offer specials on draft beer, bottled beer, wine, mixed drinks, and draft cocktails. Of particular note, Parlor offers a Reverse Happy Hour every night for the last hour they are open. While it seems minor, my favorite feature of Parlor’s bar is that your tab carries over between the two floors. In other words, if you choose to grab a pre-meal drink on the ground floor and then your outing moves to the upstairs patio, or you decide to grab a meal on the second floor, you do not have to worry about closing your tab. It will be there for you, conveniently, at the upstairs bar. And since the bar doesn’t serve food, and these bartenders frequently dine there, many of them are a great source of objective suggestions on what to try.
So, What Do I Get? Well to that question, I would say - what do you like and what are you in the mood for? The selection is incredible and the bartenders all know their craft. Personally, I am drawn to the wide selection of local taps. This time of of year, the “Cerveza Royale” from Stockyards Brewing in the West Bottoms is a favorite. The light-bodied Mexican Lager paired with a lime hits just right as the weather gets warmer and it’s a frequent entrant in Parlor’s tap rotation.
My very first meal inside Parlor was the Comeback Sandwich from Mother Clucker and it has continued to be a Parlor staple for me.
Mother Clucker
Floor 2
If you’ve ever wondered, “What if Chick-Fil-A were elevated and actually open on Sundays?”, then wonder no more! The answer is Mother Clucker.
While so far, we have explored concepts that were successful on their own and Parlor offered an opportunity for permanence and/or expansion, Mother Clucker is an original Parlor tenant that was born within the food hall’s walls. The brainchild of Kansas City native and ex-Marine Derrick Foster, Mother Clucker was inspired by a lifetime of trips to Nashville and Foster’s love for their signature dish - Nashville Hot Chicken. After studying at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in New York, Foster actually exported Kansas City’s culinary calling card, barbeque, to California with his restaurant Ember. Combining his culinary pedigree and his upbringing, Ember has grown a cult following on the West Coast due to its reported authenticity (I hope I one day have the opportunity to sample it for myself). When Parlor sought out tenants in 2018, Foster saw an opportunity to accomplish this feat a second time by importing his beloved Nashville Hot Chicken here to KC. Known for their tender juiciness, Mother Clucker offers chicken breast sandwiches, wings, and tenders that have been deep fried to a perfect golden brown and dunked in a hot oil seasoned with ghost peppers, paprika, and blend of spices. Just as popular are Foster’s elaborate and extravagant milkshakes that are must-post on social media. Due to the success of his take on chicken and ice cream, and his belief in food halls as the future of the restaurant industry, Foster opened a second Mother Clucker location when Parlor expanded to Oklahoma City location in 2019.
So, What Do I Get? The Comeback Sandwich at Mother Clucker was my first ever Parlor meal and now, it’s the only thing I get at Mother Clucker. This two-handed sandwich is so massive that I’m secretly convinced that the breast comes from an ostrich. As someone who loves some spice in my food, the blazing is more perfect than I thought possible. The slow burn of the breading is equally unique and satisfying. Hot enough to make my gums tingle and take my time but not so hot that I cannot enjoy the flavor of the sandwich. The fuschia-colored slaw is crunchy, sour, and sweet and contrasts perfectly with the spice of the breast. The bun and comeback sauce perfectly balance out a sandwich whose flavor builds with each and every bite. The seasoned fries straddle a meridian between cajun and barbeque-flavored. These crinkle-cuts are a bit limp but tasty. One order of fries is enough for two people! My tip? Ask for an extra side of comeback sauce for the fries.
Celebrated local chef Michael Corvino’s popular burger led to him opening his own burger joint inside of Parlor - Ravenous.
Ravenous
Floor 2
Since Chef Michael Corvino arrived in Kansas City in 2017, the James Beard nominee has taken the fine dining scene in Kansas City by storm. Very quickly, an unexpected, and seemingly simple, entrant to the late-night special at Corvino’s Supper Club became all the rage among locals - his cheeseburger. Soon enough, another elevated American fast food staple, his malted milkshakes, became just as well known. This led Michael, and his wife Christina, to start exploring concepts built around elevating the simplest of American fast food meals. This concept became Ravenous, a play on their surname Corvino, which is Italian for raven. As they were set to find their own space for their burger joint, the restaurant industry was rocked by the realities of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only did this delay the opening of Ravenous, it also led the Corvino’s to take their quick serve concept to Parlor food hall. Ravenous continues the overall tradition of Parlor in proving that food can be both fast and casual while also being high-end and superb in quality. Beware, while Corvino’s elevated spins on smashburgers, tater tots, and malted milkshakes are phenomenal, they do also carry an elevated price tag as well. Nonetheless, the price is appropriate for the quality of the meal.
So, What Do I Get? There are only three sandwich options and it comes down to preference but for me? I’m all about the Double Cheeseburger. The sesame seed bun is chewy, yet doughy, with a nice firm crust. Bread is an underrated element in any sandwich review but this house-made bun really makes the burger. The patties are thin-pressed, juicy, and full of flavor. The melted Muenster is the perfect cheese for this sandwich and I always love some grilled onion. This is beyond grilled, the onion is charred and those burnt notes really elevate the overall burger. The aioli is perfect for this burger. The tots are crunchy with a fluffy inside and well-seasoned. I never turn down a chance for a good fry sauce so that is my suggested tot dip. And the milkshakes, they have a fan following for a reason. Corvino really leans into the malt which is just a part of what makes this treat so special.
The Kimchi Fried Rice at Sura Eats is a collection of flavors and textures that is sure to delight.
Sura Eats
Floor 2
Sura Eats claims to be Kansas City, Missouri’s first restaurant dedicated to Korean cuisine, and I have no reason to dispute that claim. While Sura was an inaugural Parlor tenant, I must admit that it was one of the last places that I ventured out to try. Nowadays, their bowls are one of my go-to items when I visit Parlor. Originally started as a social media pop-up in 2016, the opening of Parlor two years later gave Chef Keeyoung Kim the opportunity to give his Korean fare a brick-and-mortar home. For Kim, he recognized that the food he grew up with was unfamiliar to many Kansas Citians and that he had an opportunity, nay an obligation, to share his passion while educating locals. While at first glance the limited menu seems simple, the dishes are anything but. A large part of the social media appeal of Kim’s original pop-up was that the dishes were tailor-made for Instagram. This is some of the most photogenic food in the city! What kept people coming to their pop-up events, and what continues to keep their lines long at Parlor, is that the food actually tastes better than it looks. The food is exquisite but what makes Sura so special is the welcoming manner in which they have introduced our city to Korean cuisine and the way they make this “unfamiliar” fare accessible to all of us. Since my first taste of Sura, it has become the restaurant I frequent the most inside Parlor.
As an added bonus, and in a style that Kim is familiar with, Sura currently has a pop-up noodle bar concept at Parlor adjacent to their permanent location. Based on the original announcement, Sura’s Korean take on ramen is set to disappear in the coming weeks so get to Parlor and try it while you can! Of course, perhaps it’s possible that this pop-up will also become a permanent tenant but that remains to be seen. As for Sura Eats, it seems to be at Parlor, and Parlor OKC, for the foreseeable future.
So, What Do I Get? For me, it’s all about the KFR - the Kimchi Fried Rice - with spicy pork. The collection of seasonings, flavors, and textures simultaneously satisfy every single taste bud. There are aspects of spicy, sweet, tangy, slight sourness, and savory in every single bite. The griddled pork is in delicious, chewy, strips. The rice brings the perfect amount of spice - there’s kick but not an overbearing heat. The kimchi is crisp and vinegary. The sesame seeds and chives only add to the textures and flavors. The runny yolk of the sunny side egg adds a richness to the dish while the egg white gives the dish a slight buttery taste. And the tinge of teryaki at the end of each bite really brings the dish home. Like everything at Sura, the bowl is going to be top notch food porn. My advice? Take your pictures, but then make a mess of it! Break the yolk, dump in all the sauces, mix it together, and enjoy these flavors fused together as intended.
An eclectic space inside and out, this large mural adorns the southern exterior wall of Parlor KC.
Like the district that Kansas City’s first food hall calls home, Parlor is itself a crossroads of geographic culinary styles. New England, Detroit, Nashville, the West Coast, the Heartland, and the far reaches of the world all collide within this collective of quick serve delights. The popularity of Parlor has inspired other similar spaces to come to the metro and also led to the opening of a second Parlor location in Oklahoma City. While some of the characters in the cast have changed over time, the spirit of Parlor remains the same - providing a diverse array of elevated quick serve food options in a lively space paired with well crafted drinks. Parlor continues to evolve as live mic nights, and other like events, have begun to take hold in the large, spacious, basement event space.
So the next time that you and your significant other, coworkers, and/or friends and family members cannot agree on what you want to eat - the answer is definitely Parlor. While I have given you the location for solving this dilemma, it may not be that simple. With six incredible dining options, the decision over which restaurant to patronize within Parlor’s walls can be quite overwhelming. However, this roadmap should ease some of the pressure and if not, let your eyes and nose make that decision for you. If I’ve at least gotten you to 17th and Locust, my work here is done.
What did I get right? Where did I go totally wrong? For you fellow Parlor goers, what is your go-to restaurant and meal at the Parlor? What do you always order at the bar? Let me know in the comments!
The 411:
Parlor
1707 Locust Street
Kansas City, Missouri
HOURS: Sunday, Tuesday, & Wednesday - 11am - 11pm; Thursday - 11am - 12am; Friday & Saturday - 11am - 1am
www.parlorkcmo.com
”So, What Do I Get?”: Whatever you’re in the mood for my friend! This collection of restaurants and pop-ups is sure to have something for everyone. However, if you’re having trouble deciding - Sura Eats and Providence Pizza are the cream of the crop.
