Cravings – Night & Day Gourmet

Night & Day Gourmet

Whether you’re hungry for a breakfast burrito and a smoothie, a cup of coffee, hummus and pita or a Prime Cut pizza, or you’re just in the mood to relax on the patio with a drink, Night & Day is a great new spot to stop in for just what you crave, morning, noon or night.

Affordable food with variety? On the Plaza? Isn’t that an oxymoron? Not any longer.

While the area has an abundance of wonderful restaurants, it can sometimes be a challenge to park, dine on a dime and not spend a great deal of time on a dining destination there.

Kansas City, meet the new Night & Day Gourmet. Located at the Plaza Tennis Center at 4747 JC Nichols Parkway, it’s a blended concept introducing the best of eggtc. and Minsky’s Pizza. Opening daily at 7:30 a.m. for in-house dining or takeout, it has a superb menu of breakfast favorites, sandwiches, salads and pizzas.

The ambiance within the restaurant is comfortable yet classy, without being arrogant. The local owners have adorned the walls with original paintings from a local artist, who also happens to work part time for them as a server. There aren’t any linen-draped tables here. It’s a casual atmosphere for a quick bite or a casual work meeting.

The staff here really is like family. In fact, some of them are family. General manager Kenneth Kantner and his wife, Lisa, have worked for the restaurant’s sister operations for years. Not only do they greet guests with a smile and remember faces from past visits, but there is also an air of general respect among staff members.

Whether you’re hungry for a breakfast burrito and a smoothie, a cup of coffee, hummus and pita or a Prime Cut pizza, or you’re just in the mood to relax on the patio with a drink, Night & Day is a great new spot to stop in for just what you crave, morning, noon or night.

Sometimes casual, fast, and affordable food is lacking in freshness or creativity. But the selections at Night & Day are not black and white. To the contrary, they have an eclectic menu of colorful selections. I was especially impressed with the breakfast offerings, which are offered throughout the day as well. The freshly blended smoothies were refreshing; my favorite was the tri-color Bango Berry with banana, strawberry and mango. A nice complement is their house-made baked blueberry muffin or a side dish of fresh fruit. For heartier appetites, the scrambled egg and sausage breakfast burrito is a win. Caffeine lovers will appreciate that they offer Red Bull, or free refills on locally produced Parisi coffee.

Lunch and dinner diners will enjoy a selection of salads, sandwiches and pizzas. The Greek salad with brined Kalamata olives, feta and pita wedges is excellent. The top selling Prime Cut pizza is a thick slice of meat heaven with a little bit of spicy kick for your taste buds. Wash it down with a sparkling lemonade or another beverage of your choosing. Equally impressive in presentation and taste is the Italian capicola, salami and provolone sandwich. Served on a large hoagie bun, it is easily enough to share or take some home for leftovers.

Dessert offerings are kid friendly and include Luigi’s Real Italian Ice, ice cream bars and chocolate chip cookies. The smoothies are also generous in size and are an excellent sweet treat.

Offering indoor and outdoor dining, the spot is appropriate for children and pets. Outdoor seating includes 55 spots on the patio, and four legged friends will be greeted with a friendly bowl of water upon being seated.

Night & Day Gourmet proves that anytime is the right time for casual dining on the South Plaza. No ties required. It’s the perfect marriage of two popular concepts in a café setting. And for long-time fans of the original restaurants at 51st and Main, do not fear. Night & Day Gourmet is simply an expansion of the current offerings, and the regular “restaurant row” will still continue to operate as usual, anchored by the higher end Osteria Il Centro, Minsky’s and eggtc. And this winter, look for new menu additions including specialty coffees and a selection of house-made soups.

“Dining should be fun,” says Kantner. “If somebody wants something fast and quick we’re the right place to stop on the Plaza, and it’s an affordable option for people working on the Plaza or doing holiday shopping.” HLM

Check out Night & Day Gourmet at 4747 JC Nichols Parkway in Kansas City, Missouri. Call 816-931-4626 or visit nightanddaygourmet.com for more information.