Farina

Last visit food was better. The dessert and braised short run were excellent.

Reviewed on Opentable

Took my wife for her birthday. Our first time there and we can't wait to go back. The duck meatball appetizers were fantastic. I had the Tagliatelle Bolognese and she had the Bucatini Carbonara. Both plates were amazing. Michael came to our table and spoke with us about the food so we were able to compliment him personally. The prices were surprising reasonable and the atmosphere was outstanding as well. We can't wait to go back and try other menu options. More...

Reviewed on Opentable

Found this nice gem on yelp after searching for Italian restaurants. Farina was in the vicinity of where my date and I were located. So we decided to give this place a shot. We did not have an reservation but luckily were able to be seated right away. I ordered the Tagliatelle Bolognese and a glass of red wine. I wish I could remember the name of the wine, but it paired perfectly with my dish. My date ordered the Alaskan Halibut and he mentioned that it was the best Halibut dish he has ever had. The service was wonderful! Our waitress was attentive throughout our service. What made our night was when the Chef introduced himself. I thought that moment was very personable. In the end, we both left the restaurant very happy. Farina is more on the high end Italian cuisine in Kansas City. I highly recommend Farina to any one who is looking to try some excellent Italian dishes. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Our initial visit to Farina couldn't have been better. We have recommended it to friends, and we are already planning our next visit. Everything on the menu looked so appetizing we want to try it all. More...

Reviewed on Opentable

Did not have a reservation but took a chance on getting a spot at bar. As luck would have it, able to get nice spot for two at the oyster bar. Wife and I tried all of the oysters (they are a natural aphrodisiac by the way!). Dirty martinis excellent compliment. Nice twist on bread with unique twist on olives. Picked favorite oyster and ordered a dozen of those. Another round of the ice cold salty but not too salty martinis!  Next came the wild Irish salmon appetizer. Wow!!! Served cold in a coconut  with a phenomenal balance of fruit and spice. And fresh lemony herbs go perfectly. Very generous portion. We finished with the absolutely massive mozzarella stuffed veal chop, medium rare. Grilled to perfection! We were sooooo impressed with Farina! The execution of the food was flawless and the service was on point. The restaurant has a great vibe with creative menu items across the board. Legit five star dining in a fun environment.  We had a great time! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

We had the very pleasant experience of dining at Farina with our extended family while visiting from out of town. In short, it was divine. Fine dining from start to finish. There were about 14 in our group and we had reservations so were seated immediately once our coats were taken and put away. Our table was a single large rectangular piece that afforded plenty of room, all in a private room.I don't recall our waiter's name but he was very proficient, knowledgeable, helpful and attentive throughout. The menu is ala carte, with numerous entrees and plenty of optional side dishes. Since I am not well versed in Italian cuisine I relied heavily on those around me including our waiter and the Sous Chef that made several appearances as he is the son of our gracious  hosts. Worth noting is that we were also greeted by the restaurant owner and his wife.That said, I ordered the Tagliatelle Bolognese for my entree. My wife ordered Chicken Parmesan and Gnocchi Pomodoro. Between the two of us we shared Parmesan Clam Toast, Sardinian Black Rice, and broiled oysters. Plates were freely shared and I recall getting a couple Duck Meatballs, Oysters on the Half Shell, and if memory serves, Crispy Sweetbreads and/or Cavatelli.  Other entrees our group enjoyed included the Ribeye and Short Ribs.There wasn't anything I tried that I didn't enjoy but I especially liked the Black Rice and  Parmesan Clam Toast. Embarrassingly, I don't recall exactly what dessert was but I can tell you it was delish. Like everything! In my professional opinion Farina is a classy and intimate environment best suited to sharing those special occasions with equally special people such as family, friends, and loved ones.Trust me - you won't only not be sorry, you'll be better for it. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Our dinner was terrific. Our server, Katie, was awesome - very knowledgeable and her recommendations were perfect. Started with the cucumber and burrata salad; normally cucumber isn't very flavorful, but this was marinated and delish! Had cacio e pepe and the angnolotti and both were great. Finished with a delightful pudding, which was the best part of a great meal. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Great food and service

Reviewed on Opentable

I was surprised by my girlfriend to dine at Farina for my birthday. I heard from the talk of the town that this was a good Italian restaurant by a James Beard chef so I had high expectations from the start. The portions are decent but I recommend ordering for the table since there are so many great things on the menu. My favorites were the beet fusilli and the duck meatballs. The duck meatballs were extremely tender and complemented the sauce very well. The Cacio e Pepe had the core flavors but I've had better Cacio e Pepe elsewhere. I've been doubtful of Italian cuisine in Kansas City but Farina set a new standard for Italian cuisine in this city! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Wow. Bring a group of people, and try all the stuff - things usually can be ordered as little small plates! For appetizers, we started with the crispy Sardinian black rice with calamari - this was delicious! Calamari was perfectly cooked. I also got the oysters, but they were not as good - we ordered west coast oysters which are usually sweet but these did not taste super fresh. Not sure what happened there. The salmon ceviche was spicy - so beware if you don't want a numb tongue! On to the pastas - this is absolutely where Farina shines! The cavateli, bone marrow, absolutely delicious! The lobster pasta was the only disappointment - really bland, which was unfortunate. For dessert, make sure yoU get the pudino 1- rich, caramel-y, divine. Service: we had the best waiter, I think his name was Jeff. He was fantastic, super friendly, and knowledgeable. Thanks for a great experience!! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

We've had Farina on our list for a while as a highly recommended spot from our friends.  For our second wedding anniversary we decided to give it a try.  We started with a nice bottle of wine.  Worth mentioning is that they didn't have the bottle we ordered so they gave us a similar wine that the GM recommended at the price of the bottle we wanted, which was slightly less expensive.  Then we decided to share the duck meatballs for an appetizer.  They were very good, and the sauce we soaked up with the focaccia bread they brought to our table.  I then had a bowl of the seasonal soup which was a creamy carrot.  I couldn't eat it all, but it was fantastic.  Then for a main course I went for the Cacio y Pepe which was by far one of my favorite dishes when we were in Rome.  Michael Smith's version is worthy of Rome lore.  My husband had the pork roast with fried zucchini and saffron risotto (which was my favorite taste of his plate).  Everything was delicious, the service was also incredible.  Our server, Aaron, took impeccable care of us.  We finished our meal with some coffee which was very good.  My only complaint is we were at a table that ran down the middle of the restaurant and were incredibly close to our neighbors.  Otherwise, love it and we will definitely be back!  I would highly recommend this for a fun date night or night out downtown with friends. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Blown away by everything from service to food to overall aesthetic at Farina. James Beard Award-Winning Chef Michael Smith and his wife Nancy Smith do it again with what can only be described as an incredible Italian experience. One can tell every detail was carefully curated in the making of Farina. The setting is warm and inviting while simultaneously giving every guest the feeling of being a true VIP. Make a reservation, especially during peak times. With a reservation, we were sat promptly. Our waiter was extremely attentive and professional. Staff asked before they removed our plates, even when they were "licked clean." Menu recommendations were given upon request, but never once did I feel pressured to order anything specific or additional.After reviewing the impressive wine list, I ordered a glass of refreshing prosecco. Then, I had the Little Gem Lettuces with cherry tomatoes, everything bagel seasoning, and goddess dressing which was delicious. My friend had the carrot salad which looked divine (even to a person who doesn't love carrots). My main dish, the seasonal cavatelli, was to die for. I'm still having dreams about it. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I ordered a medium rare steak and it came out way too tough. Cocktails are great. Still a great neighborhood place.

Reviewed on Facebook

The service was fantastic! Our waiter was really helpful in making recommendations from the menu. I had a very well made Old Fashioned. For antipasti, we had the duck meatballs, and the tomato based sauce was rich in flavor and when the meatballs were done we enjoyed dipping our bread in it. We had the Cheese Filled Caramelle, the Bolognese, and the Carbonara for pasta dishes with a pork roast secondi. The Cheese Filled Caramelle was my favorite of the pastas. I did enjoy how the Bolognese was lighter on the sauce to highlight the noodles and the beef/pork ragu. I was not a huge fan of the carbonara as the egg yoke did not stick to the noodles to form a sauce as it should but ran to the bottom of the bowl. We split one order of the roast pork, but that half portion was more than enough to be filling as the pork had so much flavor and perfectly crispy fat. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Great service and atmosphere. I had the short rib-good but not great. I also had raw oysters. The Cocktails were great.

Reviewed on Opentable

We decided to come back to try the regular menu for my husband bday. The experience didn't disappoint us one bit. The old fashioned, I would say one of the best one in this city! The broiled oysters was so flavorful, I just wish I can have more! The Italian salad, has so many components, that would take your palate to many good places. Both the potato gnocchi and garlicky spinach were perfect size to accompany the main dish. The main dish cavetelli pasta, was something else! We love the texture and the flavors of the entire dish. I had mine in regular spicy sauce and my husband has his without the spicy sauce, they're both equally great! The servers and staff are very attentive and right on point, they clean off dishes off our table as soon as we're done with them. Even though they're busy, but their services was on point, never felt like we were neglected. We would love to come back later this season to sample more dishes. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

It’s a great place to dine on fine food in a cool space.

Reviewed on Facebook

In town visiting a friend. As we were headed to a specific place, she spotted the word oyster. Menu has a small plate, Italian focus. So, we went around the block and found a parking spot (not easy). As we walked up we noticed the contemporary facade. Big windows with tables near the windows. Contemporary interior design. I think they have valet parking, but I could be wrong. As we entered I noticed it was full of casually, well dressed people. Hostess stand is right there; we ate at the bar. Competent bartenders. I enjoyed my Purple drink and she enjoyed her 2nd drink--a custom drink. She said oysters were okay (I.e. there are better in town). The duck meatballs were good. The plates served to nearby diners looked tasty. They looked pleased with the dishes. This reminds me of a neighborhood restaurant frequented by regulars. Next time I will try a pasta dish or other bigger plate. Recommend. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Wow, everything was superb. Went for a friend's birthday, the service was top notch. But what toy world come to expect from a Michael Smith restaurant. The Hamachi was excellent. The potato gnocchi had me wanting more. As always, the Pork Roast is amazing. Will come back for the oyster bar. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

The restaurant was a great experience for our dinner party as we celebrated our dear friend's birthday. The service and hospitality were excellent. We had for antipasti an order of six broiled oysters, prosciutto wrapped halibut cheeks, and grilled octopus salad. We had two local lettuce salads and castelfranco with anchovies, all were good. For the pasta atipica course, my friend ordered the linguini puttanesca, which was cooked and prepared with perfection. I ordered the sardinian malloreddus, probably the least favorite. We had a great dinner experience. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Food, drinks and atmosphere are incredible! We WILL be back!

Reviewed on Facebook

We celebrated my wife's birthday at Farina on a Wednesday evening. We had 8 pm reservations but arrived early and were seated promptly. The place was 70% full and the noise level was nearing Arrowhead level decibel range. As the occupancy rate dropped over the next hour plus  and my hearing became better acclimated; I no longer had to lip read my wife or the waitresses conversation. Now on to the positives; and there were plenty...Our server Ali was encyclopedic in her knowledge of the menu, never missing a beat on perfectly timed table visits. Personable without the chattiness. We sampled all over the menu sharing 6 plates plus a dessert. We started with Clam Toast - a savory crostini with plenty of cheese and pieces of clam and garlic. The salad was heirloom tomatoes with peaches, basil, mozzarella and covered in a flavorful and fruity balsamic. Cream of mushroom soup was over the top in richness and a drizzling of truffle oil. Pasta - Potato Gnocchi with braised rabbit, leeks, shiitake mushrooms and shavings of Grana Podano cheese. Maybe the best thing I have had all year; a photo of this dish should be in the dictionary right next to comfort food. We also shared a plate of Saffron Risotto, creamy and alluring and a plate of Grilled Oyster Mushrooms. A powerful flavor explosion that rivals any meat coming off a wood fired grill. A reason in itself to return. Dessert menu looked deep and intriguing, but I'm a sucker for Tiramisu, and it did not disappoint with it's chocolate sauce and hazelnuts.Albeit a touch on the pricey side when a few drinks are included, I feel like I left with a bargain considering this chef driven kitchen is the invention of a James A Beard Award winner Michael Smith. These are dishes that I could never replicate and they will linger with me for as long as I can talk or write about food. A superb evening! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Every single time I have dined there has been excellent! Love it.

Reviewed on Facebook

9/22/19. We had a lovely experience. Everything was delicious from the oysters, to the pasta, to the great wine. Definitely want to go back.

Reviewed on Opentable

Great service and food was better than expected

Reviewed on Opentable

Outstanding service and an almost perfect wait staff. Then the food that follows is even better. We love MS and all his works. Go! Try Farina, and then try Extra Virgin. Hell, even go try Spin! pizza! Everything he touches is gd in my opinion. Cheers! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Went there for dinner after an event down. Visually the place is beautiful and has a nice window wall with a view of the street. I knew the menu changed regularly and wasn't sure what to expect. When I looked online there was some Italian choices, which I was looking forward to. However, it wasn't an option, so I ended up with haddock and my boyfriend had a steak. Both were very good and beautifully presented. The drinks were on point and so was the service. I like oysters, but not raw so it would have been nice to have other oyster options. It is definitely a fine dining restaurant and so is the price tag. It was worth the experience! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Birthday celebration - love Farina’s - pasta❤️

Reviewed on Opentable

Food great. Restaurant was very loud!

Reviewed on Opentable

First visit. Would absolutely do everything all over again.

Reviewed on Opentable

Perfect evening.

Reviewed on Opentable

This is the best Meal I've had in Kansas City. Michael Smith is a local treasure.

Reviewed on Opentable

The table next to us was so noisy that it really spoiled our experience.

Reviewed on Opentable

Delightfully creative menu and ingredients! We loved the rabbit gnocchi

Reviewed on Opentable

We have been to Farina several times, and every time, it has been outstanding. There are so many great choices on the menu, and they also do a good job of adding new items to the menu. Finally, we have found the service to be outstanding as well. The servers are very friendly and helpful without being intrusive. More...

Reviewed on Opentable

Great food, great service, and really nice vibe. My wife and I had a table by the window, and was cozy, yes still felt involved in the restaurant. It was a little loud, but not bad.We had oysters, salad, two pastas, and a dessert. Everything was amazing. One of the pastas was a little less hot than ideal, probably waiting for the other one to be finished. However, it was still great, and the server voluntarily offered a free dessert to compensate. Overall a wonderful evening, and now a new favorite place. More...

Reviewed on Opentable

Great place to eat, Food was tasteful and refreshing.

Reviewed on Opentable

delicious meal and the service was attentive and thoughtful

Reviewed on Opentable

Excellent dinner, service & atmosphere. More energetic than we were expecting.

Reviewed on Opentable

Had wonderful Branzino dish and fabulous heirloom tomato salad. The pasta was so so.

Reviewed on Opentable

My date and I started with Duck Meatballs. She had Linguini Puttanesca and I had Potato Ghnocchi (rabbi) small plates. Both were delicious and just as described on the menu. We left well satisfied and plan to return soon to try more small plates. More...

Reviewed on Opentable

We loved everything about this restaurant! Cocktails, food, and service were all spectacular!

Reviewed on Facebook

My favorite restaurant in Kansas City. I've been lucky enough to eat here twice, the first time with a friend and most recently with my mom who was visiting from out of state. The first time I went early in 2019 I had no idea how popular this place was (it had just opened up six weeks prior). The hostess informed my friend and I that reservations were usually required well in advance, so we left to find somewhere else to eat. However, no sooner had we left the building than the hostess came running out after us saying they had just had a cancellation and could actually seat us. We got very lucky! S make sure you have a reservation if you plan on attending, especially during the weekend.As far as the food goes, it's some of the best pasta I've ever had. Both times I had the tagliatelle bolognese which was a delight. On my most recent visit I also had an appetizer of the duck meatballs which I also highly recommend. It is a bit pricey, but still reasonable for the portion sizes and the quality of the food you're getting. If this place was on the coast I think they could easily charge twice as much per dish and get away with it. So do yourself a favor and check this place out when you're in Kansas City! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

KC is understandably known for its barbecue. (It is sublime.) But every now and then, this town surprises with an eatery that would be as comfortable in LA, Chicago or New York. Most recently, that eatery is Farina. With a compelling menu that features dishes combining ingredients like peaches, basil and heirloom tomatoes in an appetizer. Or duck meatballs. Or a perfectly grilled veal chop atop a spicy, chunky sauce. We ended with a peach trifle that featured mascarpone, sorbet, a a crushed bed of pistachio cookies. It was fantastic. We were there for a special occasion, but I have a feeling that Farina might end-up as our go-to whenever we want to head out for a fantastic meal. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Holy Delicious. Everything was spot on at Farina. We went hoping to snag a seat at the bar and were lucky enough to score a pair. The food was...amazing. Not only that, but the service was fantastic. All three of the bartenders were attentive and also seemed to be incredibly joyful to be there. Food came out perfectly and I couldn't be happier that this was our one dinner spot we got to go while in town. The Gnocchi was the best I've ever had. You have to try it. More...

Reviewed on Yelp