O’Dowd’s Gastrobar — Restaurant in Kansas City

We had the privilege of dining at the newly remodeled O’Dowd’s Gastro Bar (Formerly O’Dowd’s Little Dublin) on the Plaza in Kansas City on Sunday. While the outside remains the same the inside is a revelation. As guests, we were there to assist the soon-to-be-reopened restaurant in staff training. I will refrain from critiquing the service and the staff except to request O’Dowd’s management exorcise the phrase, “No problem” from the staff’s vocabulary. Upon entry to the newly redesigned space is impressive with décor that, for lack of a better description, is industrial chic dominated by an impressive bar in the middle of the main floor and a long community table made from repurposed industrial equipment with a hardwood top. The space, resplendent in dark woods and tiles, is at the same time very open but features niches that make one part of the whole yet ensconced in a more intimate and private area allowing for easy conversations. There are street-side windows that open to allow one to take in the weather and experience the Plaza. O’Dowd’s also has a large open-air venue and a unique twist on the restrooms…separate necessary areas for men and women and a shared lavatory for freshening up once one’s task is complete…love it! The new menu is a mix of appetizers, sandwiches, flatbreads, Irish classics and traditional Midwest entrees along with a strong wine list and, of course, a full bar. I ordered my warm day go-to a tall GTO (Gin & Tonic with olives); my partner chose a nice glass of merlot. We skipped the great looking appetizer menu (even though the zucchini chips and the steamed PEI mussels beckoned) and went straight to the entrees as we wanted to save ample room for a taste of the dessert menu. For me, a thick, bone-in pork chop grilled to perfection and served with decadently rich mashed potatoes and a hash of kale and lardons that did not sound appealing but turned out to be incredibly flavorful and matched perfectly to the other items on the plate…the potatoes were crealumpy…a few lumps among a perfect blend of creaminess. My partner opted for the 6-ounce tenderloin filet grilled to a perfect medium rare and served over those same dreamily smooth yet lumpy mashed potatoes alongside nicely done asparagus. As the entrees were more than filling, we decided to split dessert and, after a long conversation settled on the Bourbon Maple Cheesecake. The flavor of the bourbon and the maple syrup shown through both the cheesecake and the sauce; the drizzle if balsamic vinegar around the plate was a touch of genius, adding an acidic tartness to the divine sweetness of the main event. Prices are what can only be considered mid-range for a Plaza eatery and with the extensive menu yet to be explored, we will...

I’d been going here for a couple years on a Saturday night for great drinks and music, however, I’d never been early enough to try food before the kitchen closed. Fortunately, I made it in time tonight. I got the double smashed burger, pretzel sticks, I’d 10/10 recommend. I’d give the place 5 stars had it not been for service. Sat at the bar top around 8:40 PM and had to ask for a menu after I ordered drinks. I was told that the kitchen only serves so much after 9 PM but since the menu is limited, it took no time at all to place my order. It was not very busy at all, 5 tables at max. There were even staff members waiting around, like the calm before the storm since I know how busy it gets with the DJ on Saturday nights. Me and my friend had noticed a man pouring shots behind the bar and giving them out to crew/staff as we were in the middle of our meal.

I’ve been working in the restaurant business for over 10 years and I understand that sometimes, you gotta do what you gotta do to make it thru lol

However I felt that this was a bit unprofessional and disrespectful to the 4 people, including myself, who were sitting at the bar top, watching this happen. We ignored it and continued eating. I let my friend try my drink before I finished up my food and the server came to ask for her ID. I’m not complaining about her doing her job, since I was the only one to provide proof of age before getting served. We’re both 28 but we felt as though since everyone behind the service bar were taking shots, it didn’t cross our minds to provide both IDs for one drink. Again, not knocking the lady bartender for doing her job when asking for ID but after I mentioned that since everyone on the clock was drinking, it slipped our minds that she might need proof of age after I had gave my friend a drink. She had her ID but after I told the lady I thought we could all drink since the staff was, the bartender said “well we are all 21.” Either way, what we both did was illegal. Had I pressed the issue, my friend did have proof of age while crew was still drinking on the clock. We were gonna stay and drink, my friend just needed to eat before drinking but we went elsewhere afterwards.

Whatever makes the Saturday night shifts go smoother, great, do what you gotta do. The least I think staff could do is take it to the back where paying customers aren’t watching staff get their game face on, taking shots to ease the Saturday night nerves before the DJ even got there.. I was concerned about intoxicated people handling my...

I usually am not the one to leave reviews, but this situation really bothered me and I hope upper management sees this and fixes this issue as I had heard good things about this place, but that was NOT our experience last night.

My boyfriend and I specifically chose to go to this bar last night before our reservation at another plaza restaurant. We chose O'Dowds because we heard good things and they were on our KC passport (drink passport program where you buy the passport and go to participating restaurants and get buy 1 get 1 drink specials). So far, every place we have been to have honored the passport EXCEPT O'Dowds last night. The manager and bartender were extremely rude. They claimed since they were "too busy," thus refused to honor our passport deal for just that night (NOTE: Passport says bars do not have to honor on certain holidays, which are mentioned in the passport itself such as new years, valentines, etc). Last night was NOT one of those exceptions. Another thing that shocked us was that they were not even that busy! Seemed like they underprepared for that night and because of their lack of planning, we were punished. It was also a game day and chiefs had won so seemed as if they were not prepared for young drunk scene? I am not sure, but when we entered soberly, we were treated like they wanted nothing to do with us. We noticed 2 elder couples coming in and the manager's expression changed rapidly, promptly greeting them and telling them it was open seating, while he flat out ignored us! Not sure if it was because we looked younger or because I am a colored woman (my boyfriend is white, he also did not get treated well, so maybe I am just speculating here). We were just very confused and disappointed with our treatment more than the fact that they did not honor the passport after all the planning we did. We came from farther away and planned out our spending for date night (eating and drinking and getting ubers to plaza is expensive) and was highly disappointed at the rudeness of not only the bartender, but the manager himself as well as them deciding on the whim not to honor the passport just because they were not prepared or whatever the reasoning was.

Just to add, we walked in around 7:00pm, so not like it was absurdly late or anything!

VERY DISAPPOINTED. WILL NOT be reccomending this place solely because of...