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  5. Downtown / River Market
The American Reserve Bar & Grille, Kansas City, MO

The American Reserve Bar & Grille

3.8
3.8
873 Reviews
$30 and under
American

Make a reservation

2 people
9:30 PM
Booked 10 times today
  • Charming
  • Fancy
  • Great for creative cocktails
The American Reserve is a vibrant downtown dining gem, with a warm setting distinguished by a chic décor, elegant marble walls and lofty 20-foot ceilings.

For gourmet breakfasts, business lunches and intimate dinners alike, guests may select from an inventive, locally sourced seasonal menu perfectly complemented by signature cocktails and an impressive wine list.

The American Reserve is located downtown Kansas City, open 365 days a year. Currently serving dinner from 5pm-10pm daily. The American Reserve can accommodate most dietary needs. Parking based upon availability.

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service, Farm-to-table
  • Hours of operation
    Breakfast Mon–Fri 6:30 am–10:30 am Sat, Sun 7:00 am–10:00 am Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–2:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30 am–2:00 pm Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–9:45 pm
  • Phone number
    (816) 298-7700
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Private party facilities
    The American Reserve is located inside the Ambassador Hotel with two unique private dining options, the Grand Ballroom and Founders Room. The restaurant dining area is also available for private events.
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown / River Market
  • Cross street
    11th
  • Parking details
    Parking based upon availability.
  • Public transit
    11th & Main
  • Entertainment
    Live music from 8 - 11 pm: Feel Good Fridays with the spectacular Ron Gutierrez Trio bringing you the best in soul, R&B, and romantic ballads on Fridays, and Kansas City Jazz with different local musicians every Saturday night.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Dancing, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 873 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

3.8
3.8 based on recent ratings
  • 3.9Food
  • 4.1Service
  • 4.3Ambience
  • 3.6Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Kansas City / Kansas

    Romantic

  • Kansas City / Kansas

    Lively

  • Kansas City, MO

    Romantic

  • Kansas City, MO

    Lively

  • Kansas City, MO

    Most Booked 1000-Point Tables

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The American Reserve Bar & Grille offers an upscale dining experience with a "classy atmosphere" and attentive service. Guests rave about the "excellent food menu" and "amazing customer service." Live music enhances the ambiance, making it a "hidden gem in KC." Steaks and cocktails are particularly praised, providing a delightful escape from traditional restaurants.

873 Reviews
  1. Cade

    Kansas City

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    Great vibe. The music is nice, the food is good, drinks and service were very unfortunate. We dined on a Friday night and waited an hour for drinks and when they arrived they were clearly rushed. Staff seemed very overwhelmed from the start because they were. Just not quite the service and hospitality you’d expect at a finer hotel restaurant. Go for brunch over dinner.

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  2. Grant

    Kansas City

    4 reviews

    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on December 4, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    Practically located in the Ambassador Hotel lobby, the ambiance is surprisingly quiet and relaxed. Seats were comfortable and the servers were friendly. There is no hurry here - so that’s either going to be awesome for your party as your conversation at the table will not be interrupted or it will frustrate you to no end if you are on a strict timetable. You are not going to be hurried off so they can get another group at your table. I found this very satisfying. Dinner and drinks are served at a relaxed pace. The bread service was outstanding with the cinnamon butter (although a bit pricey - more on this later.) We had the shrimp pasta and braised rib. The pasta was a little on the al dente side - which suited me great. Shrimp was flavorful, had a little kick to it. Braised rib was outstanding, the Demi sauce was amazing. No complaints about the food - it was very, very, good. There are a couple of minor irritations. The temperature was cool and we had a breezy draft hit us through out the dinner. The fact that it was 38 degrees outside didn’t help. This isn’t a deal breaker by any stretch. Price point - this is tricky. For two of us with no drinks and the bread appetizer the bill was $100. (Tax and tip included). We had shrimp pasta and braised short rib - not steak and salmon. And $10 for small loaf of bread seemed… a bit much. The food was great…but was it almost $40/plate good? I realize prices are going up and I’m not just paying for the food but the ambiance as well but it seemed a bit high given some of the other options in KC. Having said that - the food was top shelf and we had a very good time.
    The American Reserve Bar & GrilleResponded on December 11, 2024
    Thanks for the review, Grant! We're thrilled you enjoyed your time at The American Reserve Bar & Grille. It's great to hear that our ambiance and service met your expectations. We're glad you found the shrimp pasta and braised short rib delicious. We're sorry to hear about the cooler temperature. Your feedback on the bread and the price point is appreciated and will be considered for future improvements. We look forward to welcoming you back!

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  3. Susan

    Kansas City

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 1, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    We booked the restaurant specifically for brunch (came up in the Open Table search) before a downtown event and had reviewed their online menu in advance. When we arrived we were given a breakfast menu, at 11:30 a.m., and told they weren't serving brunch and the waitress didn't recall that they ever had a separate menu. I was extremely disappointed as we could have chosen to go to several other places. Thankfully the food we did have was prepared well and the restaurant is beautiful. We were offered a discount so all is fine. However, they need to update their website and remove the brunch menu.
    The American Reserve Bar & GrilleResponded on December 11, 2024
    Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We sincerely apologize for any confusion caused by our online menu regarding our brunch offerings. We understand how disappointing it can be when expectations are not met, especially when you have made plans around them. We appreciate your feedback about updating our website; we will certainly look into this matter to ensure that our information is accurate and up to date moving forward. It is important to us that our guests have clear and reliable information when making dining decisions. Thank you once again for your valuable feedback, and we look forward to welcoming you back soon.

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  4. Marisol

    Kansas City

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on December 1, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always a great time watching Ron Gutierrez! The crowd loved him! Definitely coming back!
    The American Reserve Bar & GrilleResponded on December 11, 2024
    Thank you for taking the time to share your delightful experience with us! Your enthusiasm is truly appreciated, and we are excited about your plans to return. We look forward to welcoming you back for more memorable moments in the future!

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  5. Z Taylor

    Phoenix

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 1, 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    Food was mediocre and over priced. Was sat right next to the expo station
    The American Reserve Bar & GrilleResponded 3 days ago
    Hi Taylor, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We're sorry to hear that you found our food to be mediocre and overpriced. We strive to provide our guests with high-quality dishes at a reasonable price, and it's clear we missed the mark during your visit. We appreciate your honesty and will certainly take your comments into consideration as we continuously work to improve our offerings. We hope you'll give us another chance to impress you in the future. Best regards,

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  6. Tina

    Nashville

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 28, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    We enjoyed your Thanksgiving lunch which was very nice. It is nice to have a place open to enjoy Thanksgiving without cooking yourself.
    The American Reserve Bar & GrilleResponded on December 11, 2024
    Thanks for the review, Tina! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your Thanksgiving lunch at The American Reserve Bar & Grille. It's wonderful to know that we could make your holiday a little more enjoyable without you having to cook. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to serving you again soon.

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  7. Carlo

    VIP

    Kansas City

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 16, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our food was outstanding. Our service was wonderful and the live music was unexpected and great highly recommend coming here. Hidden gym in kc !
    The American Reserve Bar & GrilleResponded on November 19, 2024
    Thanks for the feedback, Carlo! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your dining experience at The American Reserve Bar & Grille. We're glad that our food and service met your expectations. It's also great to know that you appreciated the surprise of the live music. We always strive to provide an outstanding experience for our guests and your recommendation means a lot to us. We look forward to welcoming you back soon!

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  8. LyzzieD

    Kansas City

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 16, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We couldn't have picked a better place to celebrate my mom's 63rd birthday. Kitty our waitress was unbelievable exceptional 10/10 I hope our appreciation showed in her tip. Thank you kitty again. We arrived and were greeted by absolutely beautiful decor and live soft music. we were seated right away. We did have reservations. Our drinks came out first our appetizers about 10min later. And the portion sizes are perfect, (bigger then usual) reserve has michelin star worthy food and aura but bar and grill prices. We were so very impressed everything was absolutely delicious we ordered the crispy brussel sprouts and lump crab cake for our appetizers. The KC strip, the citrus black cod, and the baked chicken for our meal. It's definitely upscale perfect for just drinks or a date. I look forward to returning.
    The American Reserve Bar & GrilleResponded on November 19, 2024
    Thanks for visiting us, Lyzzie! We're thrilled to hear that you chose The American Reserve Bar & Grille to celebrate your mom's 63rd birthday. It's wonderful to know that our team made your experience memorable and that you enjoyed our decor, live music, and food. We're also glad that our drinks and appetizers were up to your liking. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to welcoming you back for more delicious meals and drinks.

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  9. MkJ10

    Kansas City

    3 reviews

    2.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 15, 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    The appetizers and drinks were fabulous. We had the ribeye steak, chicken and the steak salad for entrees and everyone was just fair for the price. Presentation was very poor as well for the price. I wouldn’t go back and get dinner, but I’d come back for the espresso martini, Brussels sprouts and crab cake. They were setting up the band when we left, so we didn’t get to experience that.
    The American Reserve Bar & GrilleResponded on November 19, 2024
    Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We're glad to hear that you enjoyed our appetizers and drinks, but we're sorry to hear that our entrees and presentation didn't meet your expectations. We strive to provide our guests with exceptional dining experiences and your comments will certainly help us improve. We're also pleased to hear that you enjoyed our espresso martini, Brussels sprouts, and crab cake. We hope you'll consider giving us another chance to impress you in the future.

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  10. Stephani

    VIP

    Kansas City

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 12, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Third time going there. Excellent experience every time!
    The American Reserve Bar & GrilleResponded on November 19, 2024
    Thanks for the review, Stephani! We're thrilled to hear that you've had excellent experiences with us at The American Reserve Bar & Grille. It's always a pleasure to serve you and we're glad we can continue to meet your expectations. We look forward to welcoming you back soon!

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FAQs

The American Reserve Bar & Grille offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (816) 298-7700.

The American Reserve Bar & Grille is rated 3.8 stars by 873 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
9:30 PM
Booked 10 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for The American Reserve Bar & Grille

Ambassador Hotel, 1111 Grand Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64106

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    11th
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown / River Market
  • Hours of operation
    Breakfast Mon–Fri 6:30 am–10:30 am Sat, Sun 7:00 am–10:00 am Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–2:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30 am–2:00 pm Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–9:45 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service, Farm-to-table
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Parking based upon availability.
  • Public transit
    11th & Main
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Entertainment
    Live music from 8 - 11 pm: Feel Good Fridays with the spectacular Ron Gutierrez Trio bringing you the best in soul, R&B, and romantic ballads on Fridays, and Kansas City Jazz with different local musicians every Saturday night.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Dancing, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (816) 298-7700
  • Private party facilities
    The American Reserve is located inside the Ambassador Hotel with two unique private dining options, the Grand Ballroom and Founders Room. The restaurant dining area is also available for private events.
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  • Terms of Use
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