Osteria Il Centro
Osteria Il Centro is an Italian bistro in Kansas City serving classic Italian dishes paired with high quality, award-winning wines. The restaurant aims to create an atmosphere of casual dining and an appreciation of good food and wine. No reservations are accepted except on New Year’s and Valentine’s Day so you have to come early to get a table. This Kansas City restaurant opens at 4pm and closes at 10 pm Monday-Thursday and 11pm Friday and Saturday.
The menu presents simple Italian classics. The appetizer list for instance features bruschetta, focaccia, hummus, and goat cheese and garlic spread. The fresh salads are served with vinaigrette dressings and the entrees are a variety of chicken, meat, and seafood dishes served of course with pasta. Some of the favorites are the seafood ravioli, sausage and pepper pasta, veal piccata, eggplant parmesan, and spiedini di pollo. Other best-sellers on the menu are the calamari fritti, chicken and vegetable salad, pesto shrimp, cannelloni, and chicken walnut pasta.
For dessert, this Kansas City restaurant serves the classic Italian gelato. Also on the dessert list are cheesecake, crème brulee, chocolate mousse, chocolate truffles, spumoni, and tiramisu. Diners can also order basic Italian coffee: espresso, cappucino, and latte. The wine list of Osteria Il Centro has received a number of excellence awards since 1996. More than a thousand wines are available by the bottle and around 45 can be ordered by the glass.