Food on Friday: Overdue for a Date Night

Story’s calming, minimalist interior is a welcome refuge from the all-encompassing experience of parenting…

This weekend the mister and I are indulging in a little R & R, and we couldn’t be more ready. Between two kids and three jobs our daily interactions rarely get past who’s picking up the girls and whose turn it is to empty the dishwasher. Luckily, we have amazing friends and relatives who will babysit when we feel like tearing our hair out. And when those precious nights come, we usually make every moment count by staying close to home. I love the fact that we can walk to our favorite restaurants — we’ve got outstanding local options, and it’s great to not worry about having to drive home if we decide to imbibe.

With that in mind, here are a few of our favorite places to walk for a cocktail or bite to eat:

Tavern in the Village: I first fell in love with the cocktails at Tavern during their annual Kentucky Derby party. The Cucumber-Ginger Refresher is uh.maze.ing. The Lavender Lemongrass Drop is also one of my faves. And since I’m a sucker for deals, we usually try to get there for the traditional and reverse happy hours, where yummy bar food is around $5.

Story: If the constant chattering (or screaming) of our toddler is getting to be too much, I seek Story out for some peace and quiet. I love their minimalist decor and their upscale menu items make me feel like a grown up. Like Tavern, Story has a fabulous happy hour — recently we went, ordered several dishes and drinks, and our bill was around $40. I was pregnant then, and I really appreciated their wide variety of non-alcoholic drinks (like fancy Soda Vie sodas).

Cafe Provence: This was one of the first restaurants Jay took me to in Kansas City, and it continues to be a favorite place to spend special occasions. I love it’s old school vibe, and you really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. Cafe Provence, I heart you.

Tavern in the Village’s well-regarded bartenders make it a great place for an evening cocktail date.