Home

Download

NO BAD **RECOMMENDATIONS**.

London, England

Red Room

Copenhagen, Denmark

Delphine

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Chez Nina Green Brasserie

The most popular restaurants in Nova Circle right now

TRENDING NOW

Guide to

During Winter

Prague 

in Finland

The Northern Lights

Winter Edition

Paris

Best bars

New York Cities

Explore curated travel guides filled with hidden gems and top recommendations to inspire your next adventure.

TRAVEL GUIDES

Discover standout moments and top picks from our vibrant community of travelers and explorers.

USER HIGHLIGHTS

Meet our most active and inspiring community members sharing unique recommendations and insights.

TOP USERS

On A Budget

5 Star Luxury Travel

You Must Visit

Eco-Friendly Hotels

Avoid Bali belly

How To:

That Are Worth The Trip

Dining Concepts

The World Is Slowing Down

Soft Travel

Stay updated with the latest travel tips, trends, and exciting updates from the Nova Circle community.

NEWS

Explore

Copenhagens Boutique Hotels

Discover

Tokyos best Ramen

Travel philosophy

The Rise of ‘Soft Travel’

Dublin Best Pubs

 Find fresh ideas and experiences to discover, from must-visit spots to unique activities.

MORE INSPIRATION

Connect with trusted partners who share our passion for unforgettable experiences and quality travel.

OUR SELECTED PARTNERS

Nova Circle is your single space for saving and sharing top recommendations around the world while getting inspired by likeminded people.

Nova Circle - No Bad Recommendations

As a valued Nova Circle member you can enjoy our exclusive partner discounts. Simply just sign in to claim the deals.

Partner Discounts

Enjoy exclusive travel partner discounts with Nova Circle.

Nova Circle Benefits - Travel Partner Discounts

Benefits

Kansas City, MO

North America

United States

# Story – Upscale New American Restaurant in Prairie Village, Kansas City, MO

Story is an upscale New American restaurant located in Prairie Village, Kansas City, MO, known for its innovative dishes and seasonal ingredients. Established with a vision to create a unique dining experience, Story has garnered a reputation for its avant-garde menu and exceptional service. The restaurant has become a beloved spot for both locals and visitors, offering a warm and inviting atmosphere complemented by a stylish interior. Review highlights often mention the delicious food, particularly the beef short ribs and desserts, alongside a few critiques regarding service speed and seating arrangements. 

## History
### The story of Story
Story was founded with the vision of providing a distinctive dining experience that combines creativity with high-quality ingredients. The restaurant aims to elevate the traditional dining experience by offering a menu that reflects the seasons and showcases local produce. This commitment to quality and innovation has helped Story carve out a niche in the competitive Kansas City dining scene.

### Milestones and growth
- Established in Prairie Village, Kansas City, MO.
- Gained recognition for its unique New American cuisine.
- Participated in local events like Restaurant Week, attracting new patrons.
- Developed a loyal customer base through consistent quality and service.

### Cultural and local influence
Story has become a significant part of the Prairie Village community, influencing local dining trends with its focus on seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. The restaurant's innovative approach has inspired other establishments in the area, contributing to a vibrant culinary scene that celebrates creativity and quality.

### Continuing the tradition
As Story continues to evolve, it remains committed to its founding principles of quality and innovation. The restaurant regularly updates its menu to reflect seasonal changes, ensuring that each visit offers something new and exciting for patrons. This dedication to excellence helps maintain its status as a premier dining destination in Kansas City.

## Community
### Community involvement
Story actively engages with the local community through various initiatives, including participation in food festivals and charity events. By collaborating with local farms and suppliers, the restaurant not only supports the regional economy but also fosters a sense of community among its patrons.

### Community notion about the place
The community views Story as a cornerstone of fine dining in Prairie Village. Many locals appreciate the restaurant's commitment to quality and its ability to create a welcoming atmosphere. Reviews often highlight the restaurant as a go-to spot for special occasions and casual gatherings alike, reinforcing its reputation as a community favorite.

### Events and gatherings
Story hosts various events throughout the year, including wine tastings, seasonal menu launches, and special holiday celebrations. These events not only showcase the restaurant's culinary offerings but also provide opportunities for community members to come together and enjoy unique dining experiences.

## Offerings
### What Story offers
Story offers a diverse menu that emphasizes New American cuisine, featuring dishes that are both innovative and rooted in tradition. The restaurant prides itself on using fresh, seasonal ingredients to create flavorful meals that cater to a variety of tastes. From appetizers to desserts, each dish is crafted with care and attention to detail.

### Dining and food experience
The dining experience at Story is designed to be both enjoyable and memorable. Patrons can expect a thoughtfully curated menu that changes with the seasons, featuring dishes like the highly praised beef short ribs and a selection of creative appetizers. The ambiance is elegant yet comfortable, making it suitable for both intimate dinners and larger gatherings.

### Events and packages
Story offers various dining packages for special occasions, including prix fixe menus for holidays and celebrations. These packages often highlight seasonal ingredients and showcase the restaurant's culinary creativity, providing guests with a unique dining experience tailored to their needs.

### Facilities and features
- Elegant dining area with stylish decor
- Full-service bar with seasonal cocktails
- Private dining options for special events
- Outdoor seating available during warmer months

## Pros and Cons
### Key insights from reviews
Reviews of Story reveal a mix of experiences, with many patrons praising the food while noting some inconsistencies in service. The restaurant's commitment to quality ingredients and innovative dishes is frequently highlighted, though some guests have mentioned slower service during busy times.

### Compliments and strengths
Patrons often compliment Story's creative menu and flavorful dishes. The beef short ribs, in particular, receive high praise for their tenderness and taste. Additionally, the restaurant's ambiance and stylish decor contribute to a pleasant dining experience, making it a popular choice for celebrations.

### Contrasts and notable mentions
While many reviews are positive, some guests have expressed concerns about service speed and the seating arrangements, particularly during peak hours. A few reviews mention that the restaurant can feel a bit dated in terms of decor, though this does not detract from the overall dining experience for most patrons.

### Summary evaluation
Overall, Story is regarded as a solid dining option in Kansas City, offering a unique blend of innovative cuisine and a welcoming atmosphere. While there are areas for improvement, particularly in service consistency, the restaurant's strengths in food quality and community engagement make it a worthwhile destination for diners.

## Location & Nearby Attractions
Located at 3931 W 69th Ter, The Village Shops, Prairie Village, KS 66208, Story is situated in a vibrant neighborhood that offers a variety of shopping and dining options. The restaurant's location makes it easily accessible for both locals and visitors. Nearby attractions include local boutiques and parks, providing a charming backdrop for a day out in Prairie Village. The area is known for its friendly community vibe, making it an inviting spot for dining and leisure activities.

## FAQs
**What type of cuisine does Story serve** Story specializes in New American cuisine with a focus on seasonal ingredients.  
**Is there outdoor seating available** Yes, Story offers outdoor seating during warmer months.  
**Do I need a reservation** Reservations are recommended, especially during peak dining times and special events.  
**What are the restaurant hours** Story typically operates for dinner service, with specific hours varying by day.  
**Is Story suitable for large groups** Yes, Story can accommodate larger groups and offers private dining options for special occasions.

## Visit Story Today
Experience the culinary delights of Story, an upscale New American restaurant in Prairie Village, Kansas City, MO. With a commitment to quality ingredients and innovative dishes, Story offers a unique dining experience that is perfect for special occasions or casual gatherings. The welcoming atmosphere and community-friendly vibe make it a must-visit destination for food enthusiasts. Whether you're celebrating a milestone or simply enjoying a night out, Story promises a memorable meal that showcases the best of local flavors.

9041fce4-78b4-4640-afc0-af0059bfb463

Went here with my boyfriend for a pre-Christmas date and had a very tasty meal. I had made reservations for 7 and we were seated immediately. We were pretty close to the door, which wasn't ideal with how cold it was. They have a sort of vestibule outside but it's not fully enclosed so it does almost nothing to improve the blast of cold air when the door opens. I should preface this review with I liked the food but the service was a bit slow, however, I know fine dining service is a bit more leisurely, so I may be overly harsh on that front. Anyway, once we were seated, water came out right away. We then waited a while for the waiter to get our drink orders so I ordered the empanadas with our drinks (we were hungry). Empanadas came out quickly and were very tasty. Drinks were not quite as quick but were also very tasty. Then we waited a while for the waiter to come back to order our entrees. And at that point, I asked if we could have some bread. I saw a bunch of tables with bread but I think our waiter maybe forgot because most folks in his section didn't seem to have it. When that came out, I wanted to laugh. 2 small pieces of focaccia and a small piece of the other kind. 3 pieces of bread does not a bread basket make. He did offer to bring more but my boyfriend declined (What?!, but I didn't contradict him) so I can't fully complain about that. Once our mains came out, my complaints about the slower service and small bread portion were erased because good heavens the short rib was INCREDIBLE. So melt in your mouth and flavorful. Definitely some of the best short ribs I've had in my life. My boyfriend had some kind of dish with a butternut squash puree, mushrooms and cauliflower. His was very good too but perhaps a bit gravy with the salt. We did get our order for dessert in pretty quick and that was a great end to the meal. The passionfruit puree made it really bright tasting. TL;DR: really delicious food (4.5-4.75) but service pacing, and the blasts of cold air made it a 4. We would go back but I had a gift card, and I'm not sure I would have been as happy with the meal if we'd paid full price, if that makes sense.

11d501b9-d577-45cc-b730-e67dd2912771

One of the most inspiring meals I've eaten in a long, long time. My friend and I had never tried Story before due to its distance from us and prohibitive pricing, but we decided to try it during Restaurant Week. To provide some background, I'm a foodie. I've been to Boston, San Francisco, Italy, France, etc. I KNOW good food. Story is comprised of a menu that is a little more avant-garde than your typical Kansas City restaurant. The flavors are a bit more complex that require maybe more processing in the mouth before you can decide whether or not it's amazing. But I LOVED that about this place. Did I think that everything was a 5/5 in terms of taste? No, but I can say their carrot cake was DIVINE. I would definitely recommend Story and go back the next time I'm in the area.

563927cb-2daf-4676-a240-bfd1799f2e94

Story has been on my list of restaurants to try forever, and glad I was finally able to make it here. Located in Prairie Village, it's a beautiful, maybe a tad dated space, but modern and feels very elevated. They have nice selection of seasonal cocktails as well as wines by the glass and comprehensive wine menu. In regards to food, we shared multiple dishes including the heirloom tomato salad which was bright and refreshing and a great way to start the meal. We also tried the empanadas and had the seafood tagliatelle pasta which was delicious. For mains we couldn't pass up the soft shell crab which was very tasty, as well as the beef short rib which is one of their most popular dishes. We finished off with dessert, which was hard to choose because they all looked good. We decided on the seasonal peach tart which was accompanied by a buttermilk ice cream that was so delicious! The service was superb and overall food was very flavorful! Definitely a place for a nice dinner or special celebration. Final review: 4.5/5 stars

6b20585e-d33b-4c57-bcff-3d184d861c3c

What a quaint and stylish restaurant in the middle of Prairie Village! I met friends for drinks at the bar and we had the entire bar space to ourselves. It was lovely. Our bartender was awesome, and the drinks were delicious. I will be back for dinner soon. The food rolling out of the kitchen looked delish!

6663fcc8-a191-4c71-9e04-ab8274d7748a

Very pleasant - came for Father's Day dinner as a celebration and it was a great venue for it. We loved our apps - the smoked duck empanadas were so flavorful, also loved the ravioli with chicken, as well as the mushroom bisque. I enjoyed my short rib, loved the crispness of the onion ring, it offset the savory really nicely. My family enjoyed their lobster pasta, fish, and saffron risotto. The brownie a la mode was warm and gooey and perfect. The doughnuts were light and scrumptious too. I wish the other diners were more diverse, but that's my main critique. The service was very attentive, but not too much so. Would recommend for a lil KC celebration.

ae2b8b82-c229-41b6-8ab3-46f26f778f14

We had some drinks while waiting for dinner. Helpful bartender. Very modern. Good vibe.

f18348f7-653e-477b-970a-aa1d10502463

This was middle of the road for me! I've heard so many amazing things, so I may have just caught them on an off night. The space itself is nice and open, and the bar has a nice design to it. We were sat in the bar section which felt very separated from the regular dining area. I said dining area in my reservation so not sure what happened there. The food we ordered was all incredibly bland. We started with the empanadas. And the stuffing to shell ratio was off. It was also very oily. We went on a Thursday specifically to try the burger, and left feeling very disappointed the bun was an odd bread? Not really a true bun, and the burger itself only tasted like char despite having different sauces. The mahi mahi was also terribly under seasoned, but overall cooked well. I'm not sure if we'd go back given the price point and our overall experience

086b49d1-1ca5-4439-845d-aeceb9fe31a9

Never again. Very upscale restaurant and food is good. Worst service I can remember. We had to go to the bar for water refills. Cocktails and wine? Forget it. A hostess served our food, server was around but never looked our way. He never checked on our food. We had no fluids at the table for half the time--not even water. On the way out we told the manager what happened and the server came by and laughed out loud. Go to Provence across the parking lot. This never happens there.

b1099b5a-5c07-4002-9ed3-986c24fb89e1

I can't believe I hadn't ever been to Story before this! We had a pretty early rez (5pm Sunday) so arrived with the place to ourselves, but by 7pm it was packed. And rightfully so. The pear goat cheese salad and duck empanadas were fantastic. Dishes where you can taste every individual unique flavor (and the candied nuts are crushed small so they don't just take over everything). I ordered the lobster and shiitake tagliatelle as my entree and I would have licked the plate if it would have seemed appropriate. All 3 plates were so delicately done and absolutely delicious. I really liked Brian's entree too: beef short rib is apparently a staple on their menu and I can see why. The meat is perfection from the sauce to the tenderness. The gnocchi were a little tighter than I expected (more like spaetzle) but the perfect bite was a little of the crispy onion ring, a little of the flake-apart beef, and a mini gnocchi. We got fries to start and demolished them, though they were just a tiny bit over salted. The aioli is the key. I liked the lemon cake but LOVED the carrot cake with mascarpone buttercream and crunchy salty bits on top. Pair with good cocktails and a great wine list and we were happy diners.

5f5f9e8f-bfe5-4b6d-883f-08ce9ce7d50b

TL;DR: Story is good but not memorable (with one exception! I cover that below), and from the food to the decor, the experience is a bit dated. The flavors are familiar for fine dining and easy to like, and the portion sizes are relatively good. If you're okay with that and the location is convenient, then I'd recommend Story. Otherwise, here's where I would go: RECOMMENDATIONS Similar price or slightly more expensive, really special experience: - The Antler Room (intimate, classy, good for date night or dinner with your parents, not good for groups, downtown. All small plate style) - Corvino (larger than The Antler Room, classy, good for date night, can handle groups, downtown. All small plate style) Similar location, not small-plate, better bang for your buck: - Plate (Leawood and Brookside): Good Italian food, slightly more casual than Story but still a place you could wear something nice. - Silo Modern Farmouse (Lenexa): Beautiful venue, downside is you might run into the country club crowd. This is the most formal of these three venues - Gram & Dun (Plaza): Prettier and more modern in menu and style than Story, though I wouldn't consider Gram & Dun to be true fine-dining. Take a look through the menus and see if it's what you're looking for. HIGHLIGHTS If you do decide to check out Story, the best of the menu from the nine dishes I tried were the Lobster Tagliatelle, the Braised Beef Short Ribs, the Doughnuts, and the Lemon Cake. The Tagliatelle was tender, with great seafood notes and not overpowering in any way, while the Braised Beef Short RIbs was well-cooked and fell right off the bone. I liked the passion fruit sauce on the doughnuts. They were served warm and they were fluffy on the inside, would recommend. The Lemon Cake was the dessert I was least anticipating and most surprised by! It ended up being the one dish I really remember and love from Story. The cake is light, accentuating the lemon in a beautifully subtle way. The ice cream pairs so well with this cake, providing a more nuanced, savory take on dessert. This dish was so well-balanced and almost makes me want to go back to Story just to have it again. LETDOWNS Most of the dishes I tried were okay, but the few I would recommend avoiding are the Dark Chocolate Torte and the Smoked Duck Empandas. The Empanadas weren't well-filled (mostly crust) and needed something more for the flavors to meld together, while the Dark Chocolate Torte was extremely sweet and on the dry side.

Discover Story in Prairie Village, Kansas City—an inviting restaurant offering unique flavors and a cozy atmosphere. Book your table now for a memorable dining experience.

Story Restaurant in Prairie Village, Kansas City MO

Prairie Village

Story

Kansas City Metropolitan Area

Discover the vibrant atmosphere of Story at The Village Shops, Prairie Village. Enjoy delicious cuisine and a memorable dining experience near Kansas City, MO.

Experience Story at The Village Shops, Prairie Village - Unique Dining in Kansas City

Learn about Story at The Village Shops, Prairie Village. A top-rated restaurant offering exceptional food and service in Kansas City, MO. Book your table today!

About Story at The Village Shops, Prairie Village - Kansas City’s Favorite Restaurant

Opening hours for Story, Prairie Village, Kansas City. Find opening hours for Story at 3931 W 69th Ter, The Village Shops, Kansas City, MO on our website.

Story Menu Overview

Signature Dishes

Beverages and Pairings

Dietary Options

Chef Recommendations

Experience the Menu at Story

Tavern In The Village

Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken

Indian Hills Country Club