Rye – Upscale American Bistro

I finally had the chance this past summer to visit the Mission Farms location of Rye. It was a family member’s birthday. I had heard lots of buzz about the restaurant from fellow food critics and the local foodie scene. Rye has also been in the international news in the past year as pop star Taylor Swift has dined there several times, either with boyfriend Travis Kelce (who lives nearby) or with friends. Kelce is reportedly a big fan of their cinnamon rolls. This prompted a special effort by me to try their rolls during my visit.

We had hoped to dine on their large patio during our special dinner, but it was closed because of the heat. We had a table towards the back of the dining room. It wasn’t a very busy night. I recall the staff being friendly and helpful. There were no issues with our dishes.

One of the plusses of the farm-to-table American bistro format, is that a dining party with diverse tastes and dietary needs can find something fulfilling on the menu. If somebody wants meat and potatoes fare, they have options. Vegetarians? Options. Eating lighter fare? Options. And dessert!

And if the menu for one night doesn’t match your interests, check back in a few days for menu changes. The farm-to-market format is going to be responsive to seasonal food that are available.

During our birthday party night, it looks like I started with some devilled eggs and had some kind of avocado toast with chickpeas. I remember being very satisfied with my choices. The upscale toast may sound like it was too light for a main course, but I try and eat light and I had dessert plans.

I’ve written in my newsletter and elsewhere about why cinnamon rolls may be Kansas City’s signature cuisine after barbecue. I’m definitely not the first person to make that observation. Local restaurants are doing interesting things with cinnamon rolls and they’ve become a feature dessert. Part of this may have to do with Kansas City’s barbecue and steak traditions. I’ve been wanting to do a deep dive into KC’s cinnamon roll scene.

And then there is the part about Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, Rye, and his love of cinnamon rolls. Kelce moved into Leawood in late 2023, around a mile from Rye’s location in Mission Farms. From media reports, on at least two of her visits to Kansas City, Taylor Swift had dinner at Rye with Kelce or her friends. From what I remember of the media reports, on that first visit, he introduced her to Rye and their cinnamon rolls. She visited Rye a second time with friends.

What did I think of Rye’s cinna rolls? I was impressed. The rolls were dense and flavorful. I don’t like ones that feel empty and airy like the goal is to cheat me of a solid cinnamon roll. The cinnamon wasn’t overpowering and the icing wasn’t overly sweet. Definitely a destination dessert!

10551 Mission Rd, Leawood, KS 66206
4646 Mill Creek Pkwy, Kansas City, MO 64112
Website: https://ryekc.com