Price Guide (average entree): $ bargain - $6 or less, $$ inexpensive - $6 - $12, $$$ moderate $12 - $19, $$$$ expensive - over $19.
Quality Rating: Superb is the highest, considered the very best possible. Notes are qualifiers allowing insight into the reviewer's rating. Disclaimer
| Restaurant: | 40 Sardines | Location: | 119th & Roe (Hawthorne Plaza), Leawood,KS |
| Cuisine: | Bistro-Ish | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | *** excellent | Notes: | I'd give it "superb" if it weren't in JoCo |
| Food: | **** superb | Notes: | what you'd expect from James Beard winners |
| Service: | ** very good | Notes: | this was their first real business day |
| Favorites: | Seared, Rare Tuna |
| Comments: | 40 Sardines opened last night with little fanfare. The cooking of Debbie Gold and Michael Smith - was predictably superb.
The menu is simple yet provocative. I only recently resumed consumption
of fish and seafood or I would have had to ask for a vegetarian
dispensation, however. Several of the salads and appetizers were meatless
but none of the entrees were. I somewhat nervously ordered gazpacho as a
starter - I don't, as a rule, order anything this ingredient-dependant
outside of peak season, but I trusted these chefs not to let me down and
they delivered. It was, as described, a classic Spanish rendering and
miraculously tasted of tomatoes. The perfect antidote to an unseasonably
warm June evening. My companion had the golden beet and tongue salad. He
rated it favorably, noting that the tongue was more subtly flavored than
his German-influenced grandmother made. The roasted golden beet I
purloined was sweet and toothsome.
The seared, rare tuna arrived - a plentiful eight slices, both seared and
rare (don't laugh; this is apparently not as easily done as you'd think,
based on past experience). It was napped with ethereally smooth and light
olive oil-mashed potatoes, with a few small olives (Gaeta, maybe?), capers
and greens tossed in for good measure. It was a delightful combination of
subtle-yet-assertive flavors.
My companion's tamarind-glazed salmon was tasty but almost overwhelmed by
its own beauty. I begged him not to cut into it and disturb the hue or
balance of the plate but he scoffed and destroyed the whole of it without
so much as a fare-thee-well. |
| Reviewer: | Judy |
Date: | 6/7/02 |
| Restaurant: | 40 Sardines | Location: | 119th & Roe (Hawthorne Plaza) |
| Cuisine: | Bistro | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | * average | Notes: | Much concrete = noisy |
| Food: | * average | Notes: | Beet soup was very good. |
| Service: | * average | Notes: | Like most waiters, he was auditioning for stand-up comic. |
| Favorites: | Beet soup |
| Comments: | Hostess was knock out gorgeous but I should have expected a let down after the obvious window dressing. I ordered the tuna medium. It was rare. it was 2"X2"X2" cube for $12 dollars. That is honestly insulting. Tuna is usually not the most flavorable fish, but this frankly had no flavor. The beet soup was very good and had I just ordered it, I would have walked more satified. Wife ordered the vegetarian dish. The squash dumplings were tasty but saturated with butter. The vegetable were cooked properly (warm w/ crunch) but the sauce was heavy with butter to the detrement of the meal. She also had a mixed green salad. Salad was small for $5. The salad dressing just tasted like vinegar. The deserts for $6 were small. The apple crisp came with a scoop of ice cream that took one through about half of the crisp below. The baklava was soggy. Pop came in a 12oz bottle ... no refill. Bill came to $54. Add in tip, and I can think of at least 10 other restaurants that I rather spend $65 at. Will never return. |
| Reviewer: | Jack |
Date: | 10/24/02 |
| Restaurant: | 40 Sardines | Location: | 119th & Roe (Hawthorne Plaza), Leawood,KS |
| Cuisine: | American/Continental | Price: | $$$$ expensive |
| Ambience: | * average | Notes: | wait staff seemed put out when we asked for a better location |
| Food: | * average | Notes: | Definitely not as good as the hype |
| Service: | poor | Notes: | Pushy, rude, arrogant, rushed us along, not helpful |
| Favorites: | Not an issue-food we had was average and very expensive |
| Comments: | Not worth the hype-expensive-portion size was small, wait staff was as about as bad as I have ever experienced-pushy, rude, arrogant, seemed put out when we asked to move to a better table; did not explain menu itmes; described menu items is sketchy terms or openly dogged menue items; overall pitiful service; food was cold, average, and small in portion; stay away and save your money. |
| Reviewer: | Dave |
Date: | 11/9/02 |
| Restaurant: | 40 Sardines | Location: | 119th and Roe |
| Cuisine: | American | Price: | $$$$ expensive |
| Ambience: | *** excellent | Notes: | great bistro atmosphere |
| Food: | **** superb | Notes: | perfect |
| Service: | *** excellent | Notes: | attentive, informative |
| Favorites: | Short Ribs, Foie Gras, Skatewing, Lemon Meringue |
| Comments: | I was in 40 Sardines about a week ago and had a wonderful
experience. The food was outstanding and the service couldn't have been
better. It was worth the drive from midtown and we will definately be
going back. It's about time we had a restaurant like this in Kansas City! |
| Reviewer: | Anne |
Date: | 1/14/03 |
| Restaurant: | 40 Sardines | Location: | 119th & Roe (Hawthorne Plaza), Leawood,KS |
| Cuisine: | American | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | **** superb | Notes: | Fun, Fun place... great decor!!!! |
| Food: | **** superb | Notes: | First-Class food at reasonable prices... how do they do it. |
| Service: | **** superb | Notes: | Friendly and very knowledgable |
| Favorites: | Foie Gras |
| Comments: | This is the best restaurant KC has ever had. The food is always extremely tasty. And they do it at reasonable prices. Can't beat it! It's fun, lively, and excellent food. |
| Reviewer: | John |
Date: | 2/13/03 |
| Restaurant: | 40 Sardines | Location: | Johson County |
| Cuisine: | seasonal whatever | Price: | $$$$ expensive |
| Ambience: | **** superb | Notes: | noisy, fun, great looking everything |
| Food: | **** superb | Notes: | |
| Service: | **** superb | Notes: | |
| Favorites: | crab cakes and rib eye |
| Comments: | I have no idea what happened with the some of the previous
reviews, but this was the best meal I've had since I was in Napa over a
year ago. Chef Smith personally chatted with my wife and I, the food was
great, and the service was friendly but not in your face. I loved the
atmosphere and the 20 wines for 20 bucks menu too. Only problem was the
wait (we had reservations at 7:30 and didn't sit 'till 8:00) I will be
back and so should you. |
| Reviewer: | Travis |
Date: | 4/21/03 |
| Restaurant: | 40 Sardines | Location: | 119th & Roe (Hawthorne Plaza), Leawood,KS |
| Cuisine: | American/Continental | Price: | $$$$ expensive |
| Ambience: | * average | Notes: | Paint, hard surfaces, Formica |
| Food: | * average | Notes: | A total miss by "great chefs". |
| Service: | poor | Notes: | Brusque, unattentive waiter |
| Favorites: | None |
| Comments: | Made reservation for 7PM on Friday. Told them it was our
anniversary. Restaurant was half empty when we arrived and remained that
way, but the noise level was high due to all the hard surfaces. Michael &
Debbie spoke only to an investor at the next table, ignoring other
customers. Waiter was obviously displeased when tuna sent back to be
cooked to my wife's liking. The corn meal blob with the tuna was just
that, a tasteless blob. A "blackberry soaked brioche" dessert tasted like
white bread slices soaked in a syrup that had little berry flavor.
Michael finally acknowledged us as he wiped off the next table. Nothing
about our anniversary. This meal wasted nearly $150 for 2 people with a
$20 bottle of wine. Even with the gift certificate Michael finally
provided after we complained, we will never go back. I expect to see
"Entertainment Book Coupons" for this restaurant in a year or so. Avoid
it, there are far better places in Kansas City to spend this kind of
money.
|
| Reviewer: | Irv |
Date: | 6/23/03 |
| Restaurant: | 40 Sardines | Location: | 119th & Roe (Hawthorne Plaza), Leawood,KS |
| Cuisine: | American | Price: | $$$$ expensive |
| Ambience: | * average | Notes: | Nothing special, exposed kitchen is not a plus |
| Food: | substandard | Notes: | |
| Service: | * average | Notes: | Felt like each item had a sales pitch, annoying |
| Favorites: | none |
| Comments: | I had the pork chop entree and while it was lean it was quite tough. It was served with a butter knife which was insufficient. When I got a steak knife delivered the waitress seemed surprised that I would need it since it is usually so tender but she neglected to offer any accommodation and I am not the type to create a scene especially on my mother in law's birthday. There were some other more minor points of displeasure. At these prices I expect more. Won't be back. Only the prices are four star. |
| Reviewer: | Bill |
Date: | 8/3/03 |
| Restaurant: | 40 Sardines | Location: | 119th & Roe (Hawthorne Plaza), Leawood,KS |
| Cuisine: | American | Price: | $$$$ expensive |
| Ambience: | * average | Notes: | |
| Food: | * average | Notes: | |
| Service: | ** very good | Notes: | |
| Favorites: | None |
| Comments: | Sorry to say, but I was not at all impressed with this restaurant. Four of us ordered the halibut. It cost $23, and we didn't get our money's worth. The piece of halibut was quite small, as was the portion of rice that came with it. Not only that, but more importantly, the halibut was over cooked. It will be a long time before I go back to this restaurant.
|
| Reviewer: | Wayne |
Date: | 8/6/03 |
| Restaurant: | 40 Sardines | Location: | Overland Park |
| Cuisine: | American | Price: | $$$$ expensive |
| Ambience: | *** excellent | Notes: | Had Classy New York Feel |
| Food: | * average | Notes: | |
| Service: | ** very good | Notes: | Nice Waitress |
| Favorites: | Salad with scallions and bacon |
| Comments: | Was a little disappointed although overall enjoyed the place and will probably go back. Hostess was thoughtful enough to offer me a black cloth napkin as opposed to the white one on my place setting because she thoughtfully noted I had black pants on. We ordered chef's 5 course pick for $55 a head. Was disappointed because the chef picked all items on the menu - I could've done that and picked what I actually wanted to eat for much cheaper. I can't believe they have chef's choice and they prepare menu items - what is up with that! I assumed the chef would be preparing something unique for each course - big disappointment!!!!! |
| Reviewer: | Julie |
Date: | 10/8/03 |
| Restaurant: | 40 Sardines | Location: | 119th/Roe |
| Cuisine: | American | Price: | $$$$ expensive |
| Ambience: | * average | Notes: | |
| Food: | * average | Notes: | One of our meals was not fully cooked |
| Service: | poor | Notes: | horrible, we will never go back |
| Favorites: | |
| Comments: | We were disappointed, it was way overpriced, the food was barely average, and we had very poor wait staff -- like we were bothering them to be there. |
| Reviewer: | Rebecca |
Date: | 11/7/03 |
| Restaurant: | 40 Sardines Restaurant | Location: | 119th and Roe (Hawthorne Plaza) |
| Cuisine: | Eclectic / American Fare Bistr | Price: | $$$$ expensive |
| Ambience: | **** superb | Notes: | Fine Dining Experience with a splash of jazz, very trendy. |
| Food: | **** superb | Notes: | Seasoned very well, flawless food, great flavor profiles |
| Service: | *** excellent | Notes: | Very good, Very informative, cared about us, perfect timing |
| Favorites: | Mahi Mahi, Rack of lamb, Warm Chocolate Cake with Molten Caramel |
| Comments: | This is the best restaurant in the Kansas City Metro Area. The restaurant provides an eclectice cusiine menu, having many options and types of food. Everything is inventive with flavors going well with other suprising flavors. Everything has a purpose on the plate, the food is great, trendy with classical french techniques, This isnt your steak and potato place although they do serve a grilled ribeye with yukon gold potatoes. People in JohnsonCounty, need to lighten up a bit and explore there palate and taste profiling and stop complainging about things they dont even know. the guy that said the brioche tasted like white bread well.... Brioche is a an condensed bread but like angel food cake flufiness, and it is yellow, pretty close to white. so yeah, that Brioche is soaked in a very flavorful dark blackberry sauce so you get a nice blackberry soaked brioche, its not soggy, its not hard, its perfect. There Desserts are all great and theres one for every personality!
The fish is cooked to tender moist doneness, the food is cooked the right way, not some macaroni grill type food or some kind of cheesecake factory type food. This food is fresh, flavorful, moist, crispy, and velvety as it can get. Great job 40 sardines
|
| Reviewer: | Joe |
Date: | 2/15/04 |
| Restaurant: | 40 Sardines | Location: | 119th and Roe |
| Cuisine: | european anything | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | **** superb | Notes: | nice color scheme, very cool logo |
| Food: | **** superb | Notes: | as good as you could hope for |
| Service: | *** excellent | Notes: | service doesn't floor you, it just stays out of your way |
| Favorites: | mahi mahi, the salads, any dessert |
| Comments: | Worth every penny. Only a fool wouldn't enjoy themselves at such a fun place. |
| Reviewer: | Margaret |
Date: | 3/5/04 |
| Restaurant: | 40 Sardines | Location: | Roe Ave, Overland Park |
| Cuisine: | Eclectic | Price: | $$$$ expensive |
| Ambience: | * average | Notes: | Many hard surfaces amplify noise |
| Food: | * average | Notes: | |
| Service: | * average | Notes: | Very slow to take order but pleasant |
| Favorites: | |
| Comments: | Our 3rd visit to 40 Sardines was our anniversary dinner. We waited 45 minutes before our order was taken; by that time they were out of my appetizer selection. Also out of wine selection. Wife's short ribs way, way too salty. My ahi tuna and lamb were both good if unexceptional. "Bread salad" inedible (they provided very good mashed potato replacement). Dessert trifle fair. There was a surprising lack of finesse in the preparation of all of our dishes; intensely-flavored, salty sauces overwhelm the dishes and homogenize the flavors of their various components. Disappointing. |
| Reviewer: | James |
Date: | 5/29/04 |
| Restaurant: | Forty Sardines | Location: | 119th and Roe (Hawthorne Plaza) Leawood Kansas |
| Cuisine: | eclectic bistro-type food | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | **** superb | Notes: | great atmosphere |
| Food: | **** superb | Notes: | unique, well thought dishes, flawlessly displayed |
| Service: | ** very good | Notes: | attentive and knowledgeable, yet slow at times |
| Favorites: | scallops with garlic and herb aioli, grilled marlin, rack of lamb, halibut |
| Comments: | What a bunch of snobby whiners we've got! From the first time I set foot in the Forty Sardines, I was immediately struck but the asthetic, eye-catching layout of the place. With a swank, almost New York style flair, this restaurant managed to blow my mind in both knowledgeable service, pleasing decor, and heavenly food. On my first visit in the winter 2003 I tasted their diver caught scallops in a light miso broth, surrounded by delectable wilted greens, and wild rice. As if that was not enough, the dish was topped with enoki mushrooms as a garnish. To complete the meal, I had the roasted pears. These ripe beauties were poached in their own juices with a bit of sugar, spices, and toasted nuts. Utterly delectable. Since my first visit I have returned several times to sample their seasonal fare. Being the summer, the menu offers a wide range of vibrant and clever dishes. Perhaps my favorite is the grilled marlin; dredged in carribean spices, with a nice pepperade, and black eyed pea fritters. One has to try this to believe it. In my opinion, there is no better restaurant in Kansas City; if you're into exploring exotic and fun new flavors, or just like to eat, visit the Forty Sardines and you will leave having with a huge smile on your face.
|
| Reviewer: | Andrew |
Date: | 7/8/04 |
| Restaurant: | 40 Sardines | Location: | Leawood, KS |
| Cuisine: | We're still unsure!! | Price: | $$$$ expensive |
| Ambience: | * average | Notes: | Nothing to write home about |
| Food: | substandard | Notes: | No taste!!! |
| Service: | poor | Notes: | Unskilled and rude wait staff |
| Favorites: | None |
| Comments: | We'd heard both good and bad about this restaurant and opted to try it anyway. We were extremely disappointed! The decor is okay, but the wait staff is substandard: they are unqualified and very rude. The meal was very disappointing. I chose the lamb and my husband chose the halibut. The presentation was acceptable, but the flavor was not. The entire experience cost us a lot of money and validated the negative opinions we're heard. The place is all hype. We will not recommend this restaurant to anyone, and definitely will never go back. You may like it if you enjoy wasting money, could care less how the food tastes, and want to be treated rudely. |
| Reviewer: | Joanne |
Date: | 10/8/04 |
| Restaurant: | 40 Sardines | Location: | Roe and 119th Leawood |
| Cuisine: | American eclectic | Price: | $$$$ expensive |
| Ambience: | ** very good | Notes: | very pretty, great bar, can be nousy |
| Food: | **** superb | Notes: | fresh, original, delicious |
| Service: | *** excellent | Notes: | knowledgeable servers, can seem snobby |
| Favorites: | swordfish, cauliflower manchego cheese gratin, desserts |
| Comments: | i'm shocked by the bad reviews as I've been here a number of times and never had a bad experience! The food is excellent, not surprising given the resumes of the chefs/owners. The environment is beautiful if a little noisy at times. The servers are well-trained and know what they're talking about, wether it be a wine suggestion or information about a particular dish. I can see where some folks would think they can seem a little snotty, I've had one experience there w/ that, but it was w/ a waitress I'd had before w/ no problems whatsoever, so will just assume she was having an off night. We're all human so I'll cut her some slack. All in all, this is my favorite restaurant in KC and I consider myself a "foodie" so I've tried many |
| Reviewer: | Erin |
Date: | 6/6/05 |
| Restaurant: | 40 sardines | Location: | 119th and Roe |
| Cuisine: | euro american something other | Price: | $$$$ expensive |
| Ambience: | **** superb | Notes: | new yorker feel |
| Food: | **** superb | Notes: | best in KC |
| Service: | *** excellent | Notes: | good most of the time |
| Favorites: | everything I've tried |
| Comments: | I don't understand how there could be one bad review for this place. Its remarkable that a place like this even opened in this location. From the second you walk in you notice its not like any other place. They even jettisoned the stupid signage they require you have and put up an awning instead. Inside its all New York cool and not so Johnson County Beige. The food is up to the task as everything from the scallops to the Rib Eye are top notch. The menu changes with the season so your not stuck trying to choke down tomatoes in November or Strawberries in February. An A-plus establishment that should get more respect. |
| Reviewer: | Ryan |
Date: | 6/16/05 |
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