Good Vibrations
Steven Blakley is bringing a new kind of dining experience to KC. His new spot, Triune, a moody small plates restaurant, opened last month in the former Screenland Theatre building off 17th and Washington (1656 Washington St., KCMO). It’s a destination that Blakley says will provide a “vibrational dining” experience.
What does “vibrational dining” mean? It’s all in the restaurant’s name.
“Triune is this idea of three things coming together and functioning as one,” says Blakley, who owns the restaurant group UHUNGRY? “It’s the atmosphere, the service and you, the customer.”
At Triune, Blakley says each of these three elements will come together to provide an exceptional restaurant experience whether it’s where you choose to start or end the night.
Before it was the Screenland Theatre, the building was a fish house. Blakley decided to keep some of the original elements, such as a pair of old steel doors, exposed brick and even some of the original paint, creating a moody atmosphere. The 2,300-square-foot space seats 89 and has a large patio.
A moody ambiance will be enforced with dim lighting, a modern interior and a “well thought-out bar program with craft cocktails and mocktails,” says Blakley, whose restaurant group also owns Sauced, a burger stand in the Crossroads.
“There’s a need for places that are just kind of the cool places to be, that prioritize ambiance and vibes,” Blakley says.
Rodolfo Rodriguez, who previously cooked at Blu Hwy, The Capital Grille and La Bodega, is the executive chef and has created Triune’s American fusion menu. The menu consists of small plates and entrees influenced by worldly flavors like crispy brussels sprouts, crab dip, jumbo sticky shrimp with tomato jam, bacon that’s cut and smoked in-house, coffee-rubbed short ribs with an espresso orange demi-glace and more. Breads like focaccia, ciabatta and biscuits will be made in-house.
Frozen Cocktails, Push Pops and Beach Snacks
A new cocktail bar called Frost specializing in, you guessed it, frozen cocktails plans to open this October.
The Westport bar will open in the 2,400- square-foot former Julep cocktail lounge space (4141 Pennsylvania Ave., KCMO). Frost will offer frozen drink classics such as pina coladas, daiquiris and margaritas; seasonal frozen drinks; collaborations with local companies such as distilleries and wineries; and frozen mocktails. It will also have beer and wine. Snacks will be a play on what you would throw in your cooler when you head to the beach, so look for a variety of pretzels, flavored popcorn, meats and cheeses.
“It will have nods to that nostalgic family vacation that takes you back, [like] classic push pops for the kids during the day,” says Lynne Pierce, creative consultant. “The idea of gathering and community, truly a space for making memories and escaping the day-to-day.”
The owners—Jim Baxter, Chris Rainbolt and Tommy Mueller—bring a range of experiences in the real estate and hospitality industries to their new endeavor. The ownership group also has a lease for the neighboring 3,600-square-foot former Becoming retail space and plans to expand into that space with a more extensive menu.
Holy Brunch!
During the pandemic, Drue and Kat Stewart decided there was a void in food truck options—namely, brunch. So they rolled out Holy Brunch KC, setting the truck up in spots from Lee’s Summit to Olathe.
“It just blew up from there,” Drue says. “Everything is really different and funky—not like your normal breakfast. And our portions have always been huge.”
In July, they opened their first storefront in Westport (204 Westport Road, KCMO), and with its bright magenta and black signage, it can’t be missed.
Holy Brunch specializes in made-from-scratch waffles topped with such ingredients as Cinnamon Toast Crunch, fresh strawberries, Oreos, banana cream, Fruity Pebbles and powdered sugar. It also has waffle sliders with hash browns and a choice of meat (fried chicken, smoked sausage, Philly cheesesteak or bacon). Then there’s the Taste of Holy Brunch Sampler, which has eight wings, four tenders, fries and the dessert of the day. Customers can also order such combos as four wings and fries or three tenders and a waffle. Even though the menu is already quite extensive, the Stewarts plan to add more items.
As for the name, Drue says it was a spiritual choice. “I had a dark past and got saved,” he says.
