Harvey's at Union Station — Restaurant in Kansas City

Anticipating a special experience within an architectural masterpiece, I expected Harvey's top floor to be the perfect dining perch. The atmosphere did not disappoint and the food was excellent but the service was mixed (see below). The Ruben was melt-in-your mouth, probably one of the best I've had around the U.S over the last 20+years. The server bragged that the chef makes the corned beef rather than ordering it in already cooked and I could tell that the dressing was fresh-made. My companion asked why I have been avoiding eating out and I had said besides the time it requires, I am very picky about quality, and I find the server / patron dynamic off-putting. I had picked this place because I was hopeful it would be worth my time, the food should be high quality and the service should be top tier. I did not get to explain what I meant by an off-putting service relationship dynamic and I did not have to because we were given a demonstration. Our server, who had been perfectly professional, pleasant, and on point throughout our visit switched gears the moment we began to settle our tab. Using a convenient hand-held payment device, she began telling us how financially strained she has been trying to keep up with her financially irresponsible child who is in college. She went on and on and on and even rattled off dollar amounts while my companion attempted to focus on the screen prompts on the device she held under his nose. I sympathetically hummed and ahhed and nodded and wondered WTF just happened to my perfect experience? Gross. It was so uncomfortable. We never asked about her financial situation nor had the personal/professional line been crossed in any way until it came time to pay. It was really unprofessional and undignified to passive aggressively beg and pressure us in the moment of selecting the tip and finalizing the bill. I worked my way through college waiting tables and I am typically generous even if service was not top tier but this type of dynamic has become such a turnoff that I would rather avoid dining out even in places where I expected a higher level of decorum. I will probably not return for this kind of experience and I would recommend it with caution that you may have to deal with something like that as a...

I ordered take out so I had to go around the corner to order. The person who waited on me wasn't familiar with menu items and had been sweeping the restaurant floor prior to asking what I needed. Well, I wanted to see my food before packaging...no big deal, I thought... I asked to speak with a manager. The manager finally comes with a "what the hell is this guy wanting" type of attitude with facial expression to match. Well, I asked about the menu items and explained to the manager I'm in a terrible hurry and could I see the item before it was packaged for take out. He rudely says "no, we don't do that". Well, ii didn't want to go into a full explanation about my last food poisoning experience at another restaurant because remember I'm in a hurry. After asking a second time, I got the same answer. I then said no thank you but seeing MY ALREADY PAID FOR TAKE OUT was imperative and would make me feel more comfortable. The Manager then realized that I was not playing once he saw me begin to communicate w him, pushing my glasses toward to the end of my nose viewing him from over my glasses (you know how grandma would do when she was tired of foolishness). The menu items was delicious but the manager (I believe a member of the gay community, as well as I) took me back 40 years when I would attempt to have a cocktail at a famous gay bar downtown and was told "you have to have 5 pieces of state approved, pictured ID to enter this establishment" (true story). Nobody has 5 pieces of pictured state ID. Mind you, those many, many gay bar experiences here in "Klansas City" were some 50 years after Jim Crow laws (these gay bar experiences were in the 1980s...Jim Crow laws were active during the 1950s and 60s)... I was totally taken aback by the restaurant manager's over all demeanor and overall prejudiced aura. This experience bought back hidden trauma for me making me regret coming back "HOME"... food's good, management terrible. For those reading this piece and wondering...yes I'm old,...

My family ate here for brunch during the Christmas season. The food was wonderful, there was a wide selection of both breakfast and lunch food, everything was delicious and well prepared. The staff was prompt, friendly, and wonderful. The issues I have are with the dining experience and the pricing. The price that we paid said 5 star restaurant experience, the food and the staff reflected my expectations.

However, the open air setup is just ruined it for our family. With it being the holidays, Union Station was very crowded and loud. I get it that having the open air situation adds to the ambiance of the restaurant, however, walls are badly needed around the outer edge of the restaurant, rather than a chain roping off the restaurant. We had to shout at each other in order to hear one another. Additionally, people were staring and even talking to us from outside of the restaurant, additionally the line of people standing right outside the chain, which added to the awkwardness of the dining experience. It felt like people were standing right over us while we were eating the whole time.... well that was because quite literally, they were.

Now eating there as a family, I did not mind as much, but if it was a date night for my husband and I, that would not have been a very romantic experience, and it is very much the reason I did not want to dine there for our anniversary, Valentine's Day, etc. I understand how seeing in, helps to fill seats, but that can also be done via a separation wall and windows allowing people to see through, but not interrupt guests as they are enjoying their meals and each other's company.

I left that day with saying that would be the perfect restaurant I would visit again if........ It is really a shame because everything else about the experience...