KC’s First Vietnamese Coffee Shop Adds a Second Location
The wildly popular Cafe Cà Phê (916 E. Fifth St., KCMO) has been steadily growing since its 2020 pop-up origins in the West Bottoms, opening its first brick and mortar shop last August not far from the City Market. Now, after a successful first year, the business is bringing it back to its West Bottoms roots with a second location in the 12th Street Post building (1501 W. 12th St., KCMO).
The 12th Street Post building houses six different “badass” businesses that offer plants, home goods, jewelry and, now, coffee. While the local business hub is open every day of the week, Cafe Cà Phê will only be open on the weekends from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
A new location means a new exclusive coffee drink—the 12th Street Cold Brew infused with yuzu honey. “Expanding to a mini second location is a dream come true,” says owner Jackie Nguyen. “We are so excited to bring a little more of our culture and coffee, even if it’s just for the weekends. We are thankful to our ally 12th Street Post who believes in giving us a platform, no matter how big or small, to continue to spread love for Asians through our coffee.”
Westport Café’s New Chef Brings a Mediterranean Flare
Westport Cafe’s (419 Westport Road, KCMO) longtime executive chef Romain Monnoyeur recently brought on chef Thomas Milesi, a fellow Frenchman who has worked in France, Switzerland and Boston, to elevate the beloved bistro’s traditional menu. Milesi is from Menton in the south of France and brings a Mediterranean sensibility with him.
More refreshing fare such as marinated and slow-braised pork belly, shrimp scampi and steamed halibut with Japanese-inspired Dashi bouillabaisse are featured on the summer menu. For the loyal clientele, favorites such as steak frites and the truffle risotto with seared scallops also remain.
In an effort to switch up the French bistro’s usual dishes, Monnoyeur and Milesi collaborated on their first menu for summer.
Some of the menu’s highlights are baby artichokes pan-seared with basil pesto sauce and escargots tarte served with roasted shishito peppers. For dessert, thin layers of puff pastry delicately sliced in front of guests and crepes suzette flambéed tableside are a definite treat.
Post Coffee Company Introduces a Bar Menu with a Ruby Jean’s Juicery Collab
Post Coffee Company moved into the former Monarch Coffee on Broadway (3550 Broadway Blvd., KCMO) in November last year. This month, the coffee shop introduced a bar menu and a daily happy hour.
The bar program was curated by The Mercury Room’s Levi Roye. Classics like aperol spritzes and mimosas grace the menu, but there are a few drinks with a caffeinated twist, like the cold brew martini and a negroni with coffee liqueur. The Ruby Jean’s mimosa (available only on Saturdays and Sundays) is a fruity blend of Gigi Splash juice from Ruby’s (strawberries, orange juice, apple, lemon, pear and pineapple) and bubbles.
Happy hour is from 4 to 6 p.m. daily and includes $5 beers, $7 wines and $9 cocktails. The wines include oranges, natural reds and prosecco. Discounted happy hour small bites include goat cheese fig dip and a charcuterie board.
However, the bar and small bite menu is available during all of Post’s operating hours.
“[Post Coffee Company] serves both coffee and bar drinks all day because we never know when you have a day off,” says owner Katie Holland.
The new location comes with a few new gigs that go beyond the menu.
“We will be starting to host guest mixologists,” Holland says. “We have so many friends in both industries and would love to invite them in and highlight their talent and their signature drink, which would be available that month.”
The coffee shop just hired an art curator to host local artists in the basement level. The underground space, which will also be available to rent for events, will be named Arts On Broadway.
