Hey all, hank the reviewer coming at you again.\r
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The amazing thing about Kansas City's is that its food scene is eclectic with price not an indicator of how good the food will be. To me American Restaurant is just such a place. Lets look at the positive. The service was exceptional. Everthing was choreographed to the last detail from the arrival of our cocktails to the removal of last plates. The food arrived and placed in front of us at the exact same time. The staff explained everything in detail as to the ingredients and preparation. All of this brilliant dancing framed by some really great views of downtown and Crown Center. If the service and the ambience were the only two things to judge this restaurant then it would be, without a doubt, a well deserved 5 star. \r
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But lets face it, at the end of the day, its not. Food is what its all about. The menu is organized in what the staff calls a tasting menu format. Not really sure what this means except that maybe its a license for small portion at exhorbitant prices. Both my wife and I choose the 4 course meal. I started with the Pork Belly hash and my wife had the corn soup. Both were certainly good although i found the quail egg on mine a bit too well done. For the second course, she had the beet salad and I had the spinach salad. We looked and looked for the beets on the her salad and found some. My spinach salad with the the two slides of prosciutto was exceptional. For the third course, she had the scallops and i had the bass. She got two small scallops that were very good but would have been better labeled an appitizer. I go a perfectly prepared piece of fish. The last dish, the cheese dish was by far the most disappointing. We both got two miniscule pieces of cheese. \r
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As good as the food was none of the samples and the service - and except for the salad, thats all it was - really stood out that would make this place the exceptional experience the price warranted. \r
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At the end of the day, the two meals, two cocktails and two glasses of wine with tip cost us $235.00. I never rate a place after only one visit but frankly, i wont be returning. Visit if you want but be warned - simply isnt worth the price.
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