Larkspur | Bistro & Bar — Restaurant in Wichita

Very odd experience, won't visit again. I visited the restaurant on a Saturday evening around 5:30pm (solo dinner). I was seated in a very comfortable area, not around the maybe 2 other tables that happened to be there which I did enjoy. I started with the quesadilla appetizer and a glass of white wine. The waiter or waitress I'm not sure .. asked to see my Id, I gladly showed an America Passport. They then proceeded to ask me for a driver's license. I ask them, why? And they answered that some places in Wichita won't take that as a form of identification ( it was then clear to me this person had never seen or used an passport or knew that a passport is more official than a dl) I bring up the fact I didn't drive here..so I dug in my wallet and found an expired license and they glady proceeded to fetch my wine. They returned with the quesadilla and I was met with a multi-grain tortilla filled with cheese on a bed of iceberg lettuce, with a side of tasteless I guess it was salsa ?? I wouldn't order it again. Then, I ordered the cup of lentil soup with the salad w/grilled chicken... Luke warm soup and no matter how much salt and pepper I added it tasted of water.. the salad was drenched in a mayo based dressing.... the grilled chicken saved it ..I told the server that the soup did not taste good and they said they would take it off the check, I asked then for a water no ice. They came back with my third order which was a steak (the larkspur steak.. I don't remember the name, it wasn't rememberable) and a glass of water filled with ice.. I asked the server for the water with no ice and they went to the back and I could hear them bickering to their co workers about my Simple request. At this point I just wanted to leave the stiff atmosphere with terrible service and food to match. Looking at my tab, I was charged for the soup. The total for everything was I think 89-98$ I left a 10 tip, I just didn't care at that point to talk with anyone there and wanted...

The first time I ate here the 'Chicken Pistachio' was sublime. It appears that the chef, (now gone 😥) had the mindset to steam the chicken. The whole meal was a melt in the mouth foodgasm!!! So delicious I yearned for weeks until I was able to go back. Alas, now all the chefs serve it grilled. After four seperate attempts to relive its delight I am left underwhelmed. I realise that per the menu it is described as grilled, but this just results in a lackluster plate of tasteless chicken leather. It should not be allowed in the same room as the pistachio sauce, let alone paired with it. My most recent meal was the burger. The onions taste meh. A perfectly delightful vegetable ruined with nonsense. When ordering I asked was it a 'normal' burger bun? To which the reply was yes. Hmmmm I found it to be more akin to what a five year old would like. The bun was so sweet it tasted like I was eating meat off of birthday cake. After one ghastly bite I boxed it to go. The possums that frequent my garden at night have found it to be delish.

They have an extensive wine menu and decent selection of spirits. Decor is eclectic & thus a beautiful oasis in the blah that is Wichita.. The bar mural is interesting and lends an air of cosy chic, but the rendering does resemble an art student's finals piece. The music is akin to a Japanese water torture and good luck getting served at the bar. It has been atleast 19minutes and she has given me zero acknowledgement that my glass is empty, and will apparently remain that way, even though I am the only on at the bar, unless I move to an actual table & share the waitres with two other patrons...And boy do I really need that drink now, to drown out the...

I don’t normally leave reviews so bear with me. I have dined at Larkspur on a couple handful of occasions. I have great memories of this restaurant because my wife and I had our wedding reception in the banquet room.

Last night might be the last time we dine at this restaurant. Staff was helpful and did a decent job. Drink order came out late with our salads. Wasn’t upset with the waiter he made a mistake it happens. My Caesar was not great I didn’t eat half of it because it made up of yellow and white stalks of lettuce. I like my salads green unless it is potato salad. My entree Steak Arrbiata with fettuccine was great. Only critique would be it could have used more beef or mushrooms. It was a great dish.

So how did dinner go sideways? We had the privilege of a table neighbor bringing a purse dog in who barked repeatedly through our meal. Every time the dog felt like it needed more food the dog would bark incessantly while the owner gave it no mind as it barked. Not sure when this became okay to bring your pet to a restaurant but it is not an establishment I will go back to.

Makes me feel like an old man saying “Get off my lawn”. The thing is I have a dog and think of her as an extension of my family. To subject other patrons to this seems rude and inconsiderate of others and their hard earned money on an above average dinner bill.

Then again maybe I am out of line and this is a new normal for...