R Bar

The R Bar features seasonal eclectic cuisine. Chef Alex Pope takes it a step further by adding an additional flare to the dishes that makes them unique and delicious. Chef Pope has just won Best Chef Kansas City 2010 by the Pitch’s “Best of Award” and I can see why. The food is innovative and incredible.

Instead of starting the table with the token breadbasket, chef Pope serves up house made savory fried doughnuts. The doughnuts are drizzled with a tangy mustard sauce, and it is a delicious and unique way to start the evening.

The cocktail list is unique as well. I started with an Elder Flower Spritzer. It consisted of a blend of Sweet St. Germain Elder Flower liqueur, crisp Pinot Grigio and spicy ginger ale.

R Bar has a Prix Fixe menu that offers three courses for only $35.00. I love to have a little taste of everything so this deal is right up my alley!

For the first course, I had the duck chili, it is an innovative approach to chicken chili or as some people call it white chili. With hints of rosemary, chipotle sour cream and green onions made the chili very flavorful and added just the right amount of heat. The starter my husband chose was braised bacon, and let me tell you it was as good as it sounds!

For the main course I chose the Campo Lindo chicken breast. It came with dumplings, butternut squash and a rosemary sauce. Rosemary is one of my favorite flavors, I just cannot resist when I see it described in a dish, even though there were so many other dishes I wanted to try.

Lucky for me we were dining with friends who are not afraid to share. The chicken was moist and the dumplings and squash so yummy. The other dishes ordered where the smoked skirt steak, the braised turkey pot pie and the braised waygu beef. The skirt steak had a great smoky flavor to it, the pot pie had all the classic flavors presented with an added truffle sauce for a unique twist.


All dishes were great, but the table did have a unanimous decision that the waygu of beef was the favorite. The beef was cooked perfectly and layered with flavors of cheddar, caraway, and sundried tomatoes.

I need to apologize that there are no photos of the desserts. We dove in before having time to snap a picture. The menu at R Bar is seasonal and the desserts are no exception. Chef Pope has incorporated all the wonderful fall flavors in the mouthwatering desserts. I chose the sweet potato pie, it had a cornmeal crust, candied bacon, molasses sauce and a rosemary and butterscotch ice cream (I know.….again with the rosemary) I just can't help myself, but I am not going to apologize, because it is one of the best desserts I have ever ate. The other desserts ordered included a caramel apple tart and a sinful chocolate peanut butter cup with caramelized bananas. All I can say is Yum! The R Bar is worth going to just for that.

Located in the West Bottoms, the R Bar keeps the spirit of the old saloon days and kicks it up a notch with innovative cuisine a unique and lengthy cocktail list. I am looking forward to watching this area grow and hoping that more locally owned places will take up residents in this up and coming part of town.

Saddle up those horses and check out the R Bar today!

The R Bar & Restaurant
1617 Genessee
Kansas City, MO 64102

If you have a great food find in KC, email me.

In Good Taste,
Sharm