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✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in
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The Founders’ Lounge offers a menu of elegant dishes, a selection of seasonal craft cocktails and a diverse collection of wines and spirits. This reimagined restaurant will continue to provide a perfect pre-show complement to any Kauffman Center visit. Located just within the south doors, the Founders’ Lounge offers you a sweeping view of Kansas City in a sleek and sophisticated atmosphere. Please visit the Kauffman Center website to view current dining availability, menus and reservation information.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 1601 Broadway Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108
Phone: (816) 994-7208
Website: https://www.kauffmancenter.org/dining-at-kauffman-center/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: kauffmancenter.org
Photo Gallery
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Reviews
Sarah Drewing
We booked reservations for pre show dining. Dining 5:45 pm show 7:30pm. It was delightful. Excellent, unique options. The service was helpful and friendly. We also chose valet for the show, which ended up literally right outside the restaurant. Could not have been more convenient. It was a lovely night. The restaurant had plenty of staff, it was clean and time efficient. We had plenty of time to eat and relax and then find our show seats!
… moreDirk Christensen
A gourmet venue with a view, designed for dinner prior to Kaufman Center events. We enjoyed chestnut top salmon on cabbage confit. Not particularly generous (I guess that WAS the side : ) but a delicious sauce. We also enjoyed a chocolate mousse/poached pear dessert – with a sesame brittle chunk that I would buy by the box if offered!
… moreFran Keal
What an amazing experience! My party of four enjoyed drinks and an early dinner before a symphony performance. The service could not have been better and the atmosphere was classy yet cozy. The view out the Kauffman windows was spectacular as always. We enjoyed a three-course dinner and enjoyed every mouthful. The servers did not hover but were always available for anything we needed. Menu is interesting and well prepared. I will definitely be back again.
… moreBrad Elpers
Okay food. Convenient location. Steak frites and Parmesan French fries both tasted microwaved. The caprese salad was burrata with tomato and peach. Excellent. Service was great. The bartender was slammed yet kind to everyone and patient. Price was $80 for three glasses of red, a lot of fries, steak frites and a caprese salad.
… moreLiz Whelan
Excellent food and amazing service. The trout rocks. Visit recommended on symphony nights.
… morehazel taylor
We decided to eat at Founders for the first time last night before we went to see the Nutcracker. It was a delightful experience. The food was delicious The service and atmosphere were top notch. My granddaughter enjoyed the cute hot chocolate bar. It was a great way to kick off the night . I was also surprised at how reasonable our bill was. Very good value for the money.
… moreJordan Tanner
I popped in before the symphony started to get a glass of wine and the service was phenomenal! Corrine was bartending and was incredibly sweet and helpful and went above and beyond to make my short experience so sweet! The drink selection was better than most places I frequent. I will plan to have more time before the next concert to try the food and other beverages.
… moreKelly Gardhouse
We usually enjoy our experience at the Founders’ Lounge; however, last night’s visit fell short.
I ordered a rare steak and received a dry, medium-well cut of meat that appeared to have been sitting in the window for some time. I didn’t complain and just ate it.
We ordered a dessert to split and, before it got to our table, a staff member (who was not our server) dropped the check. I noticed the boar ragout had been rung in for me (instead of a steak), which explains why my steak was not cooked to my liking — the server (I think her name is Jennifer) rang in the wrong dish and likely did not realize it until the food was ready, so grabbed a steak that had been sitting out under a heat lamp unclaimed. It seems she asked a staff member to drop the check and run my card so she didn’t have to explain why the check was wrong.
Dessert finally came several minutes after I had paid my bill and it was totally unappetizing. My daughter and I each took one bite and pushed it away. Have you ever seen a 9-year-old turn down dessert? We ordered brown butter mochi, which did not resemble mochi in the slightest. It was a dry, flavorless coconut crusted cake log. The cinnamon toast crunch ice cream was chalky and gritty. The dish was also missing the black sesame sauce.
Our server never checked back on us. She scurried past us several times in a nearly empty dining room, but completely avoided contact. My processed tab with tip filled in was sitting at the edge of the table, clearly visible. I can only assume the server saw that and immediately stopped caring, despite an obviously untouched dessert pushed to the side. Didn’t even offer a to-go box. I should have never been given the bill before my dining experience was finished. It felt very tacky for a rather upscale restaurant. Overall, a very disappointing experience.
We are season ticket holders to the ballet and have eaten here before each show for the past 2 seasons. This place was amazing the first few times. Sadly, the food has gradually gone downhill (we had an unplalatable dish last time) and now the service is crummy. We are typically given a warm goodbye/thank you as we’re leaving. The staff used to go out of their way to make you feel welcomed and appreciated. Last night, there were several staff members near the door on our way out. I tried to make eye contact to say goodnight, but they were all either oblivious or plain didn’t care. This was our last visit.
… moreI ordered a rare steak and received a dry, medium-well cut of meat that appeared to have been sitting in the window for some time. I didn’t complain and just ate it.
We ordered a dessert to split and, before it got to our table, a staff member (who was not our server) dropped the check. I noticed the boar ragout had been rung in for me (instead of a steak), which explains why my steak was not cooked to my liking — the server (I think her name is Jennifer) rang in the wrong dish and likely did not realize it until the food was ready, so grabbed a steak that had been sitting out under a heat lamp unclaimed. It seems she asked a staff member to drop the check and run my card so she didn’t have to explain why the check was wrong.
Dessert finally came several minutes after I had paid my bill and it was totally unappetizing. My daughter and I each took one bite and pushed it away. Have you ever seen a 9-year-old turn down dessert? We ordered brown butter mochi, which did not resemble mochi in the slightest. It was a dry, flavorless coconut crusted cake log. The cinnamon toast crunch ice cream was chalky and gritty. The dish was also missing the black sesame sauce.
Our server never checked back on us. She scurried past us several times in a nearly empty dining room, but completely avoided contact. My processed tab with tip filled in was sitting at the edge of the table, clearly visible. I can only assume the server saw that and immediately stopped caring, despite an obviously untouched dessert pushed to the side. Didn’t even offer a to-go box. I should have never been given the bill before my dining experience was finished. It felt very tacky for a rather upscale restaurant. Overall, a very disappointing experience.
We are season ticket holders to the ballet and have eaten here before each show for the past 2 seasons. This place was amazing the first few times. Sadly, the food has gradually gone downhill (we had an unplalatable dish last time) and now the service is crummy. We are typically given a warm goodbye/thank you as we’re leaving. The staff used to go out of their way to make you feel welcomed and appreciated. Last night, there were several staff members near the door on our way out. I tried to make eye contact to say goodnight, but they were all either oblivious or plain didn’t care. This was our last visit.
Mary Lou
I did not eat at restaurant but I loved the beautiful environment and the views! I was there to see Kenny G!
… moreLuke Kohl
An absolute must before any show at Kauffman Performing Arts Center! Super delicious new Winter menu. Wow! Service, food, atmosphere, and management are top notch. I always enjoy myself here. Wonderful wine and specialty drink selection.
… more