4Janet

Coming to Kansas City this weekend. Staying around the Plaza area. Would like good Italian restaurant around that area for pizza and pasta, also great hamburger, salad place. Having dinner saturday night Arthur Bryants. Hoping for great game.

travelisfun

Have fun at the game! You'll enjoy staying at the Plaza--there are tons of restaurants and shops there. For Italian, there is Buca di Beppo--family style, huge portions, decent food, but a chain (a good chain, but chain none the less). Also Figlio's--I haven't eaten there, but I've heard good things. If you want some GREAT Italian, you should take a cab to Garozzo's--it's north of downtown and in my opinion THE BEST Italian in town--great atmosphere, great food, great service. It's only 10-15 minutes away and well worth it. For hamburgers or salads, try the Classic Cup cafe or Cheesecake Factory. Both in the Plaza area and good. You didn't ask for this, but Kona grill is good for Japanese food and sushi, if you're up for that! Have a great time--let us know if you have more questions about KC!

Toto

Figlio's has delicious homemade pasta, reasonable prices and is right on the Plaza. Ask for an outside table if the weather is cooperating. Lidia's Restaurant is near Crown Center (10 minute cab ride) and has wonderful Italian food...more upscale in decor, but price is still within reason. Also has outdoor dining. Houston's on the Plaza is popular for burgers and salads. Places get crowded on weekends, especially around Chiefs games. Reservations wouldn't hurt unless you don't mind a long wait.

travleis

Lidia's offers the best overall Italian dining experience in KC without question. The restaurant is one of the most attractive in town, the food is very good and not all the recipes are cookie cutter reproductions of most other Italian places. (There are 2 Lidia's, the other being in NYC). You'd have to take a cab to the downtown area to get there. Lidia's is across the railroad tracks from Union Station.
Garozzo's (the downtown location) provides a unique environment, like eating in someone's home. Crowded, loud and not too formal. Food is decent.
Figlio's is a very poor excuse for Italian food. It's exceedingly greasy food, Chef Boyardee quality IMO. Location is great but this place needs to be closed and let something worthwhile come in and take its place. It's owned by a guy who runs several poor (and several failed) restaurants in KC, along with one relatively good one.

Kansas City is void of great pizza places. You'll get recommendatiuons for places like Minsky's and D'Bronx Deli and Rosati's. They're all mediocre compared with pizza in many larger cities like Chicago, NYC and Philadelphia. In fact, the Classic Cup (someone mentioned above) which is in the Plaza, has better pizzas than the other places mentioned. California Pizza Kitchen is in the Plaza (not what I'd call great pizza), and Pizzeria Uno, too (ditto). Pizza Hut and Papa John's hold their own just fine in Kansas City.

Keith

I give Garozzo's the edge over Lydia's, but the main Garozzo's had a fire a couple of weeks ago. They both have great Italian food, but they aren't pizza places.

For Pizza near the Plaza, try Torre's in Westport or Frondizi's Ristorante just a few blocks south of the plaza on Main.

For a burger on the Plaza, hands down, Fred P. Otts (yes, I know it is a chain). The Westport Flea Market Bar & Grill also has good burgers and is about a mile away.

If you get a taste for burger late at night, Town Topic is a wonderful little hole in the wall open 24 hours. a few miles north at 2021 Broadway St.

Keith