Bo Lings has a new partner
Big changes are coming to Bo Lings (4701 Jefferson St., KCMO) in the historic Skelly Building by the Country Club Plaza.
Owners Bo “Richard” and Far Ling “Theresa” Ng are partnering with another local company, W. VinZant Restaurants, to change the name, concept and look of their flagship restaurant.
“They have a stronger management team that can help facilitate this next step and multiple restaurant concepts,” Richard says. “And Whitney (VinZant) is passionate about the restaurant business.”
VinZant’s group owns such local operations as The Brew Top Pub and Patio, BRGR Kitchen + Bar, Gram & Dun, Louie’s Wine Dive, Taco Republic, Taco Republic Truck and Va Bene Italian Eatery, as well as restaurants in other markets. The restaurant group will manage the new concept, to be called Heritage–Asian American Fusion.
Heritage will feature Bo Lings’ staples along with new high-quality items such as whole turbot served tableside, fresh lobster pad Thai, Asian-braised short ribs and wood-fired steaks with house-aged Asian serving sauces. It will have a range of sake-inspired cocktails and an extensive collection of Asian whiskeys.
VinZant and the Ngs have been friends for several years. Over dinners, discussions would often turn to the restaurant industry, the breadth of Asian cuisines and the culture and traditions of Bo Lings, both its on-the-menu items and off-the-menu items. “I fell in love with the quality and comfort of Bo Lings’ traditional cuisine,” VinZant said in a statement. “The deeper you go into Bo Lings’ food, and of course in Bo Lings’ dim sum, the more interesting, and in our opinion, delicious the food is.” – Joyce Smith
Michael Forbes Bar & Grille closes
Forbes Cross, owner of Michael Forbes Bar and Grille, is retiring, and with that, he chose to close his beloved restaurant.
Cross says he has been honored to be part of the community and “deeply thankful for the loyalty and endless support of our patrons.” Cross says his success is rooted in those relationships and the shared passion for food and fellowship. Cross opened Michael Forbes in Waldo in 1985 with a partner, and it became a destination location until he sold it in 1999. In 2012, he resurrected it in Brookside (128 W. 63rd St., KCMO).
“When you work in restaurants, it gets in your blood, all the interaction with people, fun with your employees and customers,” says Cross, who at one time served as the president of the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association.
Some of the most popular menu items were ones using Cross’ mother’s recipes: Greek salad, pot roast soup and sour cream apple pie. His mother worked the front desk on Tuesday nights at the Waldo restaurant. His son, Matt Cross, was executive chef of the Brookside restaurant for eight years before opening Matthew’s Catering in 2020.
Cross also had such operations as Parkway 600 on the Country Club Plaza, which later became Japengo (Pan-Asian cuisine, white tablecloths); Martini’s in Leawood’s Camelot Court, which then became Michael Forbes Soulfish Grill; Union Cafe in Union Station; Forbes Woodfire Grill in Lee’s Summit; and Red River Cantina, a Tex-Mex operation in south Overland Park. – Joyce Smith
Owners of Ombra are opening a butcher shop and specialty market
Husband and wife duo Sarah Nelson and Louis Guerrieri opened their north KC restaurant Ombra at the end of 2022. They saw the restaurant as a chance to redeem themselves after opening, and closing, a sushi restaurant in the midst of the pandemic. After a successful year at their Briarcliff location, the chef owners are now opening a butcher shop deli and specialty market, Carne Diem, just a few doors down.
“It’ll be an upscale one-stop shop,” Nelson says. “There will be a butcher shop, seafood counter, large cheese selection, grab-and-go sandwiches, salads and snacks.”
The new 4,800-square-foot specialty shop will take over part of the former GreenAcres Market (4179 N. Mulberry Drive, KCMO) and include a retail section where customers can shop for “finishing oils, vinegars, tinned fish, crackers and all the accouterments,” Nelson says.
Seasonal produce and housemade pasta will also be sold. Carne Diem will also sell canned cocktails, wine and high-end spirits. Eventually, the couple would like to host classes for pasta making and butchering. – Tyler Shane
Thai Orchid opens new Northland location
Thai Orchid, a strip mall gem in Mission, will be opening its second location this fall in the Metro North Crossing complex northeast of U.S. Highway 169 and Barry Road (460 N.W. Legacy Drive, KCMO).
“We think the Northland is growing and needs more food selections for the people,” says second-generation owner Jonathan Rojjanasrirat. “We can only offer so much at the Thai Orchid Mission due to our limited space. At this location, we know that we have the capacity to do more and be more.”
Along with many Thai Orchid menu staples, the new spot will feature more casual Thai street fare and small plates. – Tyler Shane
