Lonnie’s Reno Club — Restaurant in Kansas City

My husband and I got to eat at Lonnie's Reno Club and it was an unforgettable experience! It's a little pricey but worth every penny!

We get to the basement of The Ambassador hotel where a man in a suit greets us with a drink and takes us to our seat for the evening. We go into a room that has pictures that will take you back to the time of the prohibition era.

We sit down and a server takes my order. I got the Caeser salad, beef Wellington, triple chocolate mousse. Once I gave my server my order, she worked in the background as to not disturb the show.

We start to see some of the band members get on stage signaling that the show is about to start. Suddenly the energy in the room goes up. It feels more electric and that is because Lonnie has entered with an energy that is unmatched.

He starts playing notes that are music to my ears. He is dancing on the stage and it looks like he is having the time of his life. You can't help but smile and nod your head to the beat of the music.

The server brings me a Caeser salad that is light and crisp. I can't help but eat every bite. I was most excited to try the beef Wellington and it was everything I dreamed it to be. The beef was tender and juicy. The puff pastry was crispy. I can't wait to eat it again. The chocolate mousse was every chocolate lovers dream. I was at the point where I was making room in my stomach so I could eat every bite.

Throughout dinner, the show continued and I got to learn about Jazz music in KC, the prohibition era, and jazz legends such as Charlie Parker.

The band that Lonnie had playing with him were phenomenal. A pianist, cello player, and drummer. Each getting solos throughout the night and proving again and again that they can hold their own.

There was an intermission and Lonnie went to each table and thanked everyone for being there and how much it meant to him. I got to meet a legend that night.

The end of the night came and a part of me was a little sad. I didn't want the show to end. I truly didn't know what to expect and that night was better than I could have ever imagined. The show, music, and food were everything I could have hoped for and more. I can't...

Wow! All I can say is wow! If you’ve never seen Lonnie before, you are missing out! He is such a great entertainer - a true STAND OUT!!!!

We had seen Lonnie in the past at the Black Dolphin a few times and we were sad when we found out he didn’t perform there anymore. I was looking for a nice intimate place to surprise my husband with a birthday treat. As I was going through OpenTable, this restaurant just happen to catch my eye. I did some more reading on the Reno Club to see if it was the same Lonnie we had seen and enjoyed before. To my delight, it sure was!!!! I had to book it!

We went on a Saturday night to celebrate my husband’s 50th birthday. I didn’t tell him where we were going and what we were doing. When we got to the restaurant, it still didn’t click with him who we were about to see! As we walked downstairs to the restaurant, we were greeted by a nice gentleman who asked us for our reservation and handed us some champagne to start the night. While we were waiting to be seated, I told my husband that it was Lonnie McFadden that we were going to see. His eyes lit up and said “THE LONNIE MCFADDEN”? I said yes! He was soooooo happy when it finally clicked!

Needless to say, it was a great night watching Lonnie and his band perform. They were all equally good!!! But I have to give a shoutout to the maestro - Andrew. He was my favorite! Lonnie was also very nice and talked to everyone in the crowd individually. He really made sure everyone was having a good time.

The price for both the three course meal along with the show was WELL WORTH IT!!!! The three hours that we were there flew by! But as they say, time flies when you’re having fun. Dinner was very good. My husband loved the beef Wellington so much that he wanted to order two more to take home! The staff there were also very nice and took good care of us.

If you’re looking for a nice evening out in the town to enjoy the best jazz around Kansas City, do not think twice. Go see Lonnie and the band!!!! You will be so...

I don’t usually write reviews. But I was compelled to because I was taken aback by just how great this show was and considering I’ve lived in Kansas City my whole life and never heard of it.

Me and my fiancé went to show for our 2nd year dating anniversary and to celebrate 29 days til our wedding. We’re staying at the Ambassador Hotel on our wedding night. So it seemed an obvious choice.

The sales staff suggested Lonnie’s to us and us both being fans of the performing arts thought it’d be great.

I was not prepared for how INCREDIBLE it was! First of all let me say that Lonnie’s energy is OFF THE CHARTS! He came on to that just bursting at the seems with excitement. I thought, there’s no way he can carry this all night. But he did!

That’s not to say he was overtop or anything. Just his enthusiasm was palpable! His appreciation for the history of Kansas City jazz was also notable. His charm, his stage presence, his aura… all awe inspiring!

They played for 2.5 hours with only a 15 minute break towards the end. And during that break Lonnie went from table to table to greet everyone who was there to celebrate something. At our table he showed so much warmth and appreciation for us coming. It really built upon the intimate setting of the room.

The 3 course dinner was also superb! While it is prefix and your choices are limited, the dishes are prepared perfectly! We both had the Caesar salad, I had the salmon, she had the beef Wellington, and we split the deserts. All items were delightful and were served atbthe perfect times throughout the show.

Now I will say this: It isn’t cheap. Tickets that include the 3 course dinner are I think $115 each, but drinks are not included. And there is an automatic 20% gratuity for the staff. And there’s a space to tip the band, which i was more than happy to do considering how great they played. BUT, it is worth EVERY PENNY.

Save this for a special occasion or for someone who LOVES jazz. You will not be disappointed!!!

I hope to go back...