Earl's Premier — Restaurant in Kansas City

The food is fine, but the hospitality is super disappointing.

We had a birthday reservation in April and, when asked, noted the special occasion on Tock. If you are going to go out of your way to ask your patrons about a special occasion, you have set the expectation that you care about these things. If you don't, don't ask.

Our reservation was for Friday at 7:30. Dinner rush, sure, but special occasions can - and do - happen at any seating. We ordered our first course (chilled crab cluster - a dish that will take a while to eat/a crab cake) and I was hesitant to order our meal at the same time because I did not want to be rushed. Our server assured us that the meal would be appropriately paced. I have worked in fine dining, so I trusted them. This was a mistake.

Halfway through the crab cluster, our second courses arrived. I ordered mussels as my main dish, so now I am racing against the clock; there is a plate of chilled crab legs that I do not want to waste and a bowl of mussels that are getting cold and french fries getting soggier by the second.

Not to mention that two-top tables are not meant to hold that many plates at once. We had a chilled bowl for the crab legs, a bowl for empties, a bowl for mussels, another bowl for empties, two glasses for water, two glasses for ginger beer, two bread plates, and a plate with a main dish on it. I highly recommend that someone from Earl's sits down and plates a two-top with everything on it and see how comfortable it feels to sit at a table that feels like a garage sale at a restaurant supply store.

It's also important to note that it is LOUD in there. There is no soundproofing or sound dampening and we were seated in what felt like a hallway, so people's conversations were bouncing off the walls and we could barely talk to each other (but could hear all of the conversations happening around us)

So, a birthday meal was rushed, cramped, and the special occasion went completely unacknowledged. Not even a "thank you so much for celebrating a special occasion with us tonight." Celebrate your special occasions elsewhere.

I shared my feedback with the restaurant privately, which also went ignored. This kind of hospitality - or lack thereof - will eventually ruin...

Let me preface this review by saying, I've worked in the hospitality industry for over 15 years. My husband and I decided to visit this establishment for lunch today. We walked in to a restaurant with about 6-8 patrons and chose to sit at the bar. Upon sitting the bartender was engaged in a conversation with another patron, as we usually do, we just waited to be acknowledged. The bartender never truly even looks at us, continues his conversation (which ended with a few profane words about a beach or something) and sets water down. I'm irritated because it takes A SECOND to say "Hi folks, I'll be right with you"... He then sets water down, STILL NO HELLO, NOTHING! The patron he was talking to got up and left... So you would think we were acknowledged right? WRONG! Still NOT EVEN A HELLO, he walks past us at the end of the bar, refills the drinks of the folks at the end of the bar, and offers them refills, BEFORE EVEN OFFERING US A STARTER! We frequent A LOT of "fine dining establishments" and spend a LOT of money for experiences because we are BOTH foodies! We also always choose a bartender or server to bless financially. Not that it matters, but we are both six figure earners and love to spend time together over a good meal... THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE... And not ONE person attempted to make the situation right when we got up to leave. We were treated as if we didn't belong or our money wasn't green! First impressions are everything in this business, and I DEFINITELY feel like we were treated the way we were because of what we look like. I'm not one who makes things black and white, but I 100% believe this bartender saw my husband and I and made assumptions. I am a reviewer and often leave Google reviews, in ALL of my years in the KCMetro I've NEVER left one like this! I guess if you look like us, your business isn't wanted in this establishment! So we took ours where it's wanted and EVERYONE is treated like they belong! Thanks Earls for absolutely RUINING our date and our afternoon. The next bartender will get theirs and your tenders tip! Thank you for allowing us to bless someone else today! Someone who sees US not what we look like!...

Earlier this Summer one of our favorite restaurant Chai Shai closed and I hoped that whatever business took over the vacated space would be as authentic, personable, friendly,and tasty if it was a restaurant. One day as I drove by the empty space, I saw movement. Ouuuu…!!! What will it be? Day after day as I drove by; a silent observer of the renovations, my anticipation grew. Then, one day, the sign went up, EarI’s Premier it read. It was a restaurant yayyyy!!! My curiosity with a hint of scepticism grew. 🤔 Will they be great? I pondered. I went online to look them up and the count down ⏰ begun.

They were packed from day one! I waited a few weeks to try and was rewarded with a DELIGHTFUL experience. From the cozy patio to the warm welcoming smiles of the staff, the magnetic personality and skills of the bartender, to the simple and well executed menu of the chef, they have successfully transported the shores of New England to us. It was a bonus that we ran into old friends. #eatlikealadyshould

FOR DRINKS WE HAD THE:

**Old Fashion **Paloma

FOR APPETIZERS WE HAD THE:

*New England Clam Chowder Creamy chowder filled with juicy clams, Dutch baby potatoes, yummy bits of salt pork and sinful fried saltines y’all’s!!! The chef fried some freaking saltines!!! and they are sinfully delicious! 😈

** Ipswich Clam Dip - Garlic Chives / Trout Roe / Potato Chips

*FOR DINNER WE HAD THE:

Fried Oysters Plump, juicy oysters expertly fried served with greens dressed with green garlic dressing and a lemon wedge.

Bangs Island Mussels & Chorizo Sweet mussels, roasted tomato, garlic confit, spicy chorizo in a tasty broth served with garlic bread to sap up the broth.

The lobster roll A special that night was scrumptious. All 🦞

Was going to order dessert but our friend from another table didn’t eat the crust on their Dark Chocolate Tart so,I was happy to eat it! 🥰 — at...