Over the weekend, the Kansas City Chiefs rolled out the red carpet for an exclusive screening of their new ESPN docuseries, “The Kingdom.”
While posing for pictures and sharing their sentiments on the docuseries, players and other personalities also shared some of their favorite restaurants around the Kansas City metro.
Donna and Ed Kelce, parents of Travis and Jason Kelce, were among the first to walk the red carpet outside the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts Sunday.
“I do like Prime Social, that’s kind of fun to go to,” Donna Kelce said. No surprise here — the Country Club Plaza rooftop spot has become a go-to for the newly engaged Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift to celebrate after Chiefs games.
But what else?
“Obviously all of the barbecue restaurants, Joe’s, Q39, you know, there’s so many of them,” Donna Kelce said. “I’m hoping that 1587 will be on my list soon, so I can’t wait to go when that opens.”
1587 Prime is the highly-anticipated steakhouse coming to KC from Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce (1587 nods to a combination of their jersey numbers). The steakhouse is set to open their doors in just a few weeks on Wednesday, Sept. 17, the same day as Mahomes’ 30th birthday.
The restaurant will be two stories in downtown KC’s Loews Hotel, complete with subtle nods to the Chiefs stars’ football history.
Travis Kelce’s dad, Ed Kelce, also did not disappoint with his favorite restaurant, a local staple around Kansas City.
“Garrozo’s,” he said. “Mike is a great guy … he used to play city rugby I think in Kansas City when I was in Cleveland … great food … I highly recommend his place.”
Mike — as in Michael Garozzo — is the founder and owner of the restaurant, which has been around since 1989 and is known for its signature Chicken Spiedini.
Chiefs players who also walked the red carpet event also had a lot to say about KC’s food scene, too.
“You can find me at Ocean Prime or 801 Chop(house),” Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt said.
Both restaurants are known for their upscale ambience and top-end menu options.
Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis shared that he was a “foodie” and liked to explore different options throughout the Kansas City metro, naming a few local spots.
“I’d say Paros, which is in downtown Leawood,” Karlaftis said. That’s Paros Estiatorio, a Greek restaurant in Mission Farms.
The defensive star also mentioned Kata Nori (Hand Roll Bar) — the downtown sushi bar that Karlaftis’ teammate JuJu Smith-Schuster shouted out at a Chiefs practice last week.
“There’s this place called Piropos that’s up north, it’s really good,” Karlaftis continued.
The Argentinian steakhouse in North Kansas City was also an early date-night spot for Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. “Travis has been to Piropos a number of times and we were delighted to have him and Taylor visit earlier in the week,” co-owner Gary Worden told The Star in October 2023. “Everyone was excited to have them in the restaurant.”
Karlaftis was also asked if he had a favorite burger place around town — and had a ready answer.
“SAUCED,” he said. “The Two-Hand (smashburger)... It’s really good.”
Mark Donovan, president of the Chiefs, told us he’s “a big fan of Farina. Michael and Nancy Smith do a great job down there.”
Meanwhile Kimberly A. Martin, an NFL reporter for ESPN who was in KC for “The Kingdom” screening and red carpet event, raved about Kansas City barbecue.
“Q39 … Gates, that’s the one. Gates somehow always ends up in the pressbox when I come and I always sample,” Martin said.
What’s your favorite restaurant around the Kansas City area?