I will be in Overland Park KS the week of October 19. Does anyone have any restaurants to recommend?

Hi Frank...

Used to live in OP for 7 yrs. Our favorite bbq restaurant (there are MANY!) was the Smokestack in Martin City (I understand there's now one in OP). Favorite steaks were at Jess & Jim's (REKNOWNED!!!!) also in Martin City (this town is on the MO side of State Line). My favorite ''unique'' recipe for wings is at the Paradise Diner at the OakPark Mall.

The Bristol is at 119th near Nall and is well known for their fresh seafood (yes, it's true, even that far inland). Expensive, but worth it.

With all of the growth in OP in the last 5 yrs. there is an over-abundance of great and good restaurants. I can vouch for the ones I've mentioned.

Enjoy...Carol

I have lived in and around O.P. all my life and can't recommend any one restaurant to you since there are so many. The Town Center Plaza (new shopping area at 119th St. between Nall & Roe) has many very good choices - The Bristol as mentioned above, Yahooz, Ya Ya's, Martinis (italian & other), Herford House (steak), etc. Some of those I mentioned as well as several other very good restaurants are adjacent to the Town Center Plaza area. One of my favorites is The Macaroni Grill at 91st & Metcalf. Great Italian food, waiters/waitresses that break into opera while you're eating and house wine in huge bottles that they set on your table on the honor system. A favorite Kansas City Italian restaurant recently opened in O.P. - Garozzo's (don't know exact location - I think College Blvd. Supposedly the best Italian in town. Find a restaurant guide somewhere - maybe at a local hotel. You have lots of choices - enjoy!

Garozzo's IS great. The new one is on College Blvd. near Highway 69, in the strip shopping center across from the Doubletree Inn. There's also an excellent breakfast/lunch (best for breakfast!) place in the same center called First Watch.

I saw this post, and was wondering if anyone can tell me a bit more about OP. I am thinking making a move there in the near future, what's it like living there? Is the cost of living high? I currently am in Chicago. Thanks.

Garozzo's is good but do not limit yourself to Overland Park - good eats but other parts of the metro area have much more personality. Check out the Brookside area Joe D's and Carmines are great and it is just 20 minutes from OP KS - take Ward Parkway boulevard for scenic route. Continue on Ward Parkway to the Plaza (ten more minutes). PF Changs and Plaza III on the Plaza are great.

For the post about whether overland park is a good place to live, I have lived in the Kansas City area, St. Louis and Chicago. Kansas City/Overland Park definitely has a small town atmosphere compared to St. Louis and chicago. Overland Park is a suburb of KC and is a great place to raise kids or if you are single would be a great place to live. OP is separated by Kansas City by State Line Road. Depending on where you live in Overland Park you can be minutes away from KC (Plaza etc) or up to 30 minutes.
KC and OPKS much more compact than St. Louis and Chicago. Cost of living in overland park and kansas city is reasonable. homes anywhere from 130 on up depending on the neighborhood. Leawood is the best neighborhood in Overland Park. Homes in Old Leawood, ie., 700 to 900 block off Mission have the most personality.
Only downfall to OPKS is that with the exception of Old Leawood it is definitely a cookie cutter suburb. Public schools are obviously better in OPKS. But if schools are not an issue and you want more personality and diversity you should check out Kansas City. Brookside is a great area and is midtown. Great community with reasonable homes and is smack between the Plaza and downtown and Overland Park. More upscale homes just south of Brookside between Wornall and Ward Parkway, Arbor Hills, etc. have great ambience.

Thanks, Emay. That very much helps.