Jasper’s

“There’s just something about Italian food,” says Jasper Mirabile, Jr., chef-owner of Jasper’s. “It brings everyone to the table. It tastes good. It comes with loud conversation and breaking bread.”

After six decades in business, Jasper’s is the oldest family-owned Italian restaurant in Kansas City, but that doesn’t mean it’s not open to reinvention now and again. At Jasper’s, authentic dishes built on tradition have as much room at the table as modern ones do.

In fact, a fall favorite dish invented by Jasper’s is pumpkin ravioli filled with ricotta and topped with béchamel sauce. After being featured on the menu every year for the last 25 years, what started as a modern Italian dish has become a classic in its own right. As Mirabile Jr. sees more restaurants influenced by Italian cooking, he considers it exciting rather than worrisome: “There’s room enough for all of us in Kansas City.”

Urban Table

Since its opening, New American food has been Urban Table’s hallmark. But thanks to guests who were vocal about wanting to be able to order the restaurant’s frequent Italian-inspired specials on any given day, the restaurant has split its concept. Their classic menu is available during the day, but at night, Urban Table is full-blooded Italian.

“We listened to the guests,” says chef Jason Finnerty. “It is about fresh, simple ingredients. People are responding to it.” Some favorites are the Pappardelle, a handmade pasta with smoked bacon lardon, tomato-cream sauce and Parmigiano-Reggiano and the Short Rib Ragu with potato gnocchi, chili flakes and ricotta.