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Leona Yarbrough's Family Restaurant (12/07) |
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Leona Yarbrough’s Family Restaurant
Leona Yarbrough’s Family Restaurant
10310 Shawnee Mission Parkway
Shawnee Mission KS 66203
www.yarbroughrestaurant.com
Phone: (913) 248-0500
Lunch menu: $3.25-$18.95
Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
December is the peak of comfort food season. This time of year conjures up warm thoughts of mashed potatoes and gravy, roast beef, homemade soups and breads. When I find myself in this state of mind, there is no choice but to head to Leona Yarbrough’s Family Restaurant, the place that is Kansas City’s “comfort food central.”
Leona Yarbrough opened her original restaurant in Fairway in 1966. The restaurant moved to its current, larger facility on Shawnee Mission Parkway in 1998. Shortly after the move, Yarbrough turned the operation over to her son Ron, who had worked side-by-side with his mother in the restaurant for 25 years. Ron’s son, Mike, now carries on the tradition and oversees the restaurant. The care and dedication that the Yarbrough family has poured into their business is evidenced by the customers who keep coming back and a menu that offers high-quality food at reasonable prices.
From the friendly wait staff to the baked-from-scratch pies displayed in the refrigerated case in the lobby, Leona Yarbrough’s exudes a wonderfully homey atmosphere. Most of the customers are older and, judging by their familiarity with the staff, a number of them appear to be “regulars.”
Leona Yarbrough’s is probably the only restaurant in Kansas City that asks customers to write up their own orders. Leona copied this idea from dining cars on trains where passengers filled out their own tickets. Each of the restaurant’s tables has pads of order forms and pencils. Customers write down what they want and hand the ticket over to their server. The philosophy is that it creates a more relaxed atmosphere in which customers do not feel hurried or pressured to order.
The menu at Leona Yarbrough’s is extensive. It offers hot and cold sandwiches, salads, soups, burgers, smoked ribs, chicken, pork, beef and seafood. There truly is something for everyone. Best of all, the food is homemade. The breads and pies, in particular, are amazing, all made from Leona’s original recipes.
The first of my dining companions ordered the Thursday lunch special, the hot roast beef sandwich ($7.25). This delicious dish featured a roast beef sandwich on homemade white bread, served with mashed potatoes and gravy. Not only was it hearty and filling, but the mashed potatoes were real. The gravy was fabulous as well. The lunch special also included dessert. She chose the rice pudding ($2.50), a deliciously creamy concoction that I just know could become habit-forming.
My second dining companion opted for a bowl of the homemade chicken noodle soup ($3.75). Chock-full of homemade noodles, the soup made a great meal all by itself. He also had a fresh Parker house roll, which was simply delicious. Of course, the slice of homemade cherry pie ($2.50) made it an even better meal.
I selected the grilled ham and cheese sandwich ($4.95), which featured sugar-cured ham and melted cheddar cheese on grilled homemade light rye bread. It was quite tasty. It came with chips, but for just $1.50 more diners can substitute homemade french fries.
Leona Yarbrough’s is set up nicely for business meetings and lunches. Catering services are available for special events. In addition, businesses can reserve the restaurant’s banquet room for meetings of 20 to 60 people. This nicely appointed and spacious facility is available free of charge, as long as meeting attendees order meals.
During these times when large chains dominate the restaurant scene, Leona Yarbrough’s family-run operation is becoming a rare find. It has survived because the Yarbrough family is willing to go the extra mile for their customers. After all, it is not often that you read this on a menu: “If there is something you would like and don’t see it on the menu, please ask—if at all possible, we will fix it for you.”
At Leona Yarbrough’s Family Restaurant, customers matter most. It has stood the test of time and earned its place as one of Kansas City’s best-loved restaurants.
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Takeout is available. A menu is available online at www.yarbroughrestaurant.com. Parking is available on site.
Rating: Quick Lunch, Take Out or Working Lunch.
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