The Ox Cafe & Bakery — Restaurant in Kansas City

This cafe inside of the historic stockyards exchange building (adjacent to the legendary Golden Ox steakhouse and Stockyards Brewing Co.) was a place I went on a lark. I was getting work done on my car and needed a place to eat and check in with work. Not a lot of open options depending on which day you find yourself in the West Bottoms. I was lucky enough that it was a Tuesday and it was 10:30 and The Ox Cafe had its doors open. The sweet potato bisque was recommended to me (the only customer at the moment) by the barista/bartender. Ordered a cup and perused the all-day breakfast menu. Not wanting anything too super heavy or greasy, I opted for the bagel with lox. My good Lord. Where have you been all my life? The bagel used in this lox sandwich had a sweet glaze that perfectly complimented the salmon, cut with a careful dash of dill and creamy cheese to hold it all together. The bisque was light and sweet and full of flavor. I swigged a Topo Chico, surrounded by portraits of cattle lords and eyed the offerings in a mid-century glass display. The place is black and white and leather and steel with a very open feel despite the low ceilings. Music was piped in on matching wooden PA speakers that look like they came with the place (but cleaned up and polished like the rest of the restaurant). It felt very Midwest, very California, and in my flannel on a gray cloudy day (that still lit up the space) -- I was feeling very Seattle as well. And isn't that just Kansas City? A town full of unique history but also a melting pot of every coast meeting up in the middle. Grab a coffee (you enter through the front lobby of the Exchange apartments), meet some locals, and enjoy a surprisingly lived-in vibe for such a new cafe. A great addition to an already stacked block (and, mercifully, something I can enjoy when in the West Bottoms during the day on the front half...

The people in the kitchen know what they’re doing! 🙌🏽 The food is like WHOA! My fave lunchtime spot because they never disappoint on the food. I didn’t give five stars overall because the customer service can be a hit or a miss - though, the most likely cause is they’re understaffed like many restaurants, which is understandable. I have noticed some improvement. Highly recommend the French Dip and their blueberry muffins (split down the middle and toasted...

Felt very disjointed and dingey. It feels like it wants a swanky 40s vibes but there is no atmosphere other than the architecture. The prices are a little high for what they are serving and when I looked in the back it looked dirty and no one was wearing gloves. Their display for bakery was laughable. It was either over done , from frozen (looked from frozen) or both. It's lucky it is near a office or i doubt it'd have...