DOWNTOWN. The Westin Crown Center's signature restaurant is perched on the hotel's top floor. Elegantly appointed with white linens and candles, tables are intimately arranged, conducive to quiet conversation. The restaurant's subdued decor takes a back seat to floor-to-ceiling windows, which afford fabulous views of downtown. American steaks are the specialty, although chops, fish, and seafood are available as well. Rumor has it that Sunday brunch at the restaurant is a treat unlike any other, thanks to dishes like prime rib, made-to-order omelets, fresh fruits and salads, shrimp, caviar, and a host of delectable desserts.

DOWNTOWN. Vegetarian cuisine that tastes great? Yes, if it's at Bluebird Bistro, where they make simply spectacular soups and specialty pizzas. The comfortable spot, which also offers dishes that incorporate meat and seafood, makes you feel right at home, and much of the produce the cafe uses comes from a garden right across the street. When you stop for lunch, you get not only healthy food but great, tasty cuisine to boot.

WESTPORT. Exquisitely prepared and presented New American cuisine served in an elegant, urban setting can be difficult to find in Kansas City; since opening in 2004, Bluestem has filled that culinary vacancy with aplomb. Only the freshest, highest-grade ingredients are employed, as is apparent in an ahi tuna tataki appetizer with watermelon radish. Entrees like halibut with buttered lily bulbs in a sherry emulsion or wagyu beef with white asparagus and mushrooms are swoon-inducing (the bill might be too!). Don't miss perfectly crafted sweets, especially the spring mint ice cream sandwich. Expect dinner to be long and perfectly executed. Prix fixe menu only, 3-12 courses.

LEAWOOD. This classy restaurant is a near-perfect seafood standard. The dining room features a gorgeous, stained-glass dome that's only part of the restaurant's claim to fame. A visit to Bristol wouldn't be complete without at least a nibble of the sweet drop biscuits that have helped put the place on the map! Bristol also serves terrific crab cakes, wonderful grilled fish, and a sinful array of desserts. A great wine list and individualized service top off the experience.

WESTPORT. One of the best reasons to visit the Kemper Museum is this innovative American restaurant, whose talented chef serves up delicious portions of pan-seared foie gras, grilled scallops, and roasted beef tenderloin. A concise but eclectic wine list rounds out the experience. The dining area is decorated with more than 100 original oil paintings, each of which reflects a different movement, school, or figure in art history. While the cafe is a favorite lunch destination among members of Kansas City's well-heeled elite, dinner is served only on Friday and Saturday nights.