My fiance and I are passionate about food & cooking and are planning our wedding in KC. We love places like Bluestem, Room 39, PotPie, Justus Drugstore, and we also appreciate more casual fare found at places like Blanc Burgers (or a place where we get street tacos that I can never remember the name). We don't have a lot of experience with local caterers, and would welcome any recommendations. We are focusing our wedding dollars on the food (not flowers, the dress, a band, etc.), so we really want to avoid the typical wedding fare you find at most weddings. It will be a fairly casual wedding, so we don't want anything fussy or fancy, just excellent ingredients prepared creatively and exceptionally well. Thank you!

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Bluestem
900 Westport Road, Kansas City, MO 64111

Room 39
1719 West 39th Street, Kansas City, MO 64111

Looking for recommendations for dinner on a Sat night in late April for 20-30 young professionals from Kansas City. Looking for really, really good food and wine, with a fun atmosphere for our group - doens't have to be upscale, but the food should be amazing. We are also celebrating the 40th b-day of a foodie, and I want to make it very special for him. A private room would be ideal, but want to avoid paying an expensive room fee if possible.

We are staying at the Marriott City Center.

The places I have looked at (online) so far include:

Mez
Carpe Diem
The Fig Tree
Arpa

Any comments on those for our large group and if you have additional recommendations - thanks!!

I will be in Charlotte, NC at the end of April with a large group, and we will be celebrating the 40th birthday of a foodie. We are staying at Marriott City Center. Looking for restaurant recommendations that have great food and great atmosphere for young professionals - a private room would be ideal. We'll have 20-30 people. Doesn't need to be ridiculously high-end, but no dives for this dinner. $15-35 price point for an entree. Good wine a must.

Thanks!

I will be in Charlotte at the end of April with a large group. We are heading to Lake Norman over the weekend and would like recommendations for a good place to have dinner for my boyfriend's 40th b-day celebration. We will probably have about 20 people...all "young" professionals...so a private room would be great....but not essential.

My boyfriend and I are foodies, so we need something with impressive food, good wine and a fun/cool atmosphere. No chains, please. Also no BBQ....we are from KC and get excellent BBQ all the time. Yes, I know it's different but not what we are wanting for this dinner.

Thank you in advance!

PS - if anyone wants to throw in suggestions for Sunday brunch in Lake Norman area, that would also be very much appreciated.

Had dinner there a few weeks ago. Good food, not great. But a good addition to Brookside's choices, and a cool, contemporary atmosphere. Owner was very kind and checked on us several times. Had a sundried tomato/cheese torte for an app and the Four Seasons pizza.

I think it's one of those places where the idea is great and the execution is somewhat less than that. Ingredients may have been less than top quality. But on the whole, a pretty good meal. Like someone above said - I prefer Pizza Bella.

I think that your average joe "non-foodie" would think it's great.

I don't think anyone has mentioned Ninfa's yet - in KCK at Kansas Ave & 10th. It's a dive - everything is served on styrofoam plates - but the hot off the griddle, homemade tortillas served instead of chips with the most unique (and garlicky) salsa make the experience. Their taco meat has potatoes and a lot of cumin - which I enjoy. I also enjoy their tamales. It's somewhat of a well-kept secret, but is often crowded. I see one of the KS Court of Appeals judges and his staff in there all the time. Anyone wanting to try should note that they are open for lunch only.

I also second the recommendation for Los Tules on Broadway. Great carne asada tacos - served on soft corn tortillas with onion, cilantro and lime - yum.