"Open for: Dinner Price range: $$$ Executive chef Johnny Leach and executive pastry chef Helen Jo Leach may be coastal transplants, but the husband-and-wife team are already local institutions. Tucked inside the Hotel Kansas City, the Town Company feels glamorous but warm, with easygoing cocktails and wood-fired dishes showcasing Midwestern ingredients. Even the dinner rolls are made with local Marion Milling flour produced from heirloom Kansas wheat. Request a seat at the chef’s counter and marvel at the staff’s calm and precise cooking over a wood-burning hearth. Save room for Helen Jo’s innovative and thoughtful desserts. Know before you go: Every seat at the chef’s counter gets a warm bath from the hearth. In the summer, request the main dining room." - Liz Cook
