Osteria Il Centro: Classically Italian In Kansas City

 

The staff at Osteria Il Centro takes pride in the fact that "nobody does Italian food" quite like them. This upscale yet casual Italian neighborhood eatery, which has been named the best Kansas City Italian restaurant by Zagat, has an extensive wine list with over 10,000 reserve list bottles and an alluring dinner menu full of Italian specialties. 

Their menu consists of a variety of soups, salads, and antipasti such as osteria bruschetta with tomato, capers, fresh basil, and parmesan on grilled bread; goat cheese and garlic bread; and shrimp carciofi with six shrimp served over artichoke bottoms with garlic lemon butter.

When it comes to entrées, Osteria Il Centro offers seven different pizzas such as the pollo bruschetta with grilled chicken, diced tomatoes, garlic, basil, mozzarella, Parmigiano Reggiano, and Romano cheese; the Carciofi with artichoke, roasted red peppers, spinach, and red sauce topped with mozzarella, and feta cheese; and the basic Margherita with some added goat cheese. There are also a variety of primi choices, such as the cannelloni with two soft crepes filled with sautéed chicken, spinach, and mushrooms topped with tomato cream sauce; and chicken walnut pasta with sliced chicken breast tossed with penne in a gorgonzola cream sauce. Secondi choices include five lamb chops that are marinated, grilled, and topped with a rosemary brandy sauce, and pan-seared orange roughy topped with crabmeat, sautéed spinach, and garlic lemon butter served with herb-tomato pasta.

The dessert menu is comprised of six dishes ranging from a tiramisu to a chocolate crème brulée, and there are two dessert wines available to diners – a Muscat and a Vidal ice wine. 

Osteria Il Centro is open for dinner Monday to Thursday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m, and Friday to Sunday from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Skyler Bouchard is a junior writer at the Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter at @skylerbouchard.