Cafe Sebastienne At The Kemper Museum: A Hidden Gem

The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art is full of not only artistic treasures, but culinary ones as well. Namely, Café Sebastienne, a hidden gem tucked away inside the museum. It's a fantastic place to end your museum visit, and it also happens to be one of Kansas City's finest restaurants.

The restaurant is divided into two spaces: an indoor dining room that surrounds you with contemporary art (you are in a museum after all), and a glass-ceilinged courtyard atrium. The ambience is a bit stark, but it's stylishly laid out and reasonably priced.

Executive chef Jennifer Maloney has created a menu that's focused on contemporary American cuisine, riffing off the museum's theme. She takes advantage of local, seasonal, and organic produce, and the dinner menu changes weekly. Sample menu items include grilled fire back grouper with jasmine rice, bok choy, and sweet chile-peanut vinaigrette; grilled Akaushi strip steak with roasted fingerling potatoes, bacon,  caramelized onions, Roquefort, and cognac-peppercorn sauce; and Braised pork butt with capers, Italian tomatoes, oregano, and mascarpone polenta.

Next time you're in the mood for some art, head on over to the Kemper Museum. Just don't leave without taking advantage of Café Sebastienne.