Café Des Amis Menu

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Visit below restaurant in Parkville for healthy meals suggestion.

Visit below restaurant in Parkville for healthy meals suggestion.

  • Rachael J.

    Wonderful atmosphere and staff. The food is comparable if not better than what we experienced in Paris.

    (5)
  • Ashley S.

    Best French food in the KC area. Recently updated wine list complete with a full page description and picture of each wine. Ask your server for a wine pairing recommendation. This place is quaint and delicious. My favorite dish is the goat cheese salad but I've never disliked anything I've ordered. Their bread and lavender butter is AMAZING! It is owned and operated by a Frenchman and his wife is in the kitchen. We love this place, it's my birthday present each year. Definitely worth the drive. Prices are totally reasonable for the quality.

    (5)
  • Madison D.

    I've only been here once on a field trip with my French class, but I absolutely loved how great the food tasted and how welcoming the owner was!

    (5)
  • Lantz W.

    Ze best French Cuisine outside of Paris. Only exceeded by the warmth and charm of the management!!!! Lantz Welch

    (5)
  • Tracy I.

    A quaint French restaurant in the heart of Downtown Parkville. The restaurant is small and cozy, located upstairs in an old renovated brick building. Don't be surprised as you have to walk up a slightly crooked wooden staircase to reach your anticipated meal! Ahhhh...your palate will be pleased with delicious savory crepes, or my absolute favorite...bouillabaisse! Oh wow is all I can say! A wonderful savory broth filled with fresh seafood, fish and a delicious toasted baguette slice on top. It is marvelous! Speaking French is a bonus because the staff will happily converse with you in their native language. Try it for a casual lunch or a special dinner! You will not be disappointed.

    (5)
  • L B.

    Delicious French food served in the second story of a quaint building in downtown Parkville! On our most recent Saturday night visit, we went with a group of 10 friends, and it was a lovely drawn out multi-course, multi-champagne, multi-wine meal. We tried almost every appetizer on the menu except for the sweetbread (it may be delicious but my brain says ew to organ meat). The stand-out for me was the gnocchi in bechamel sauce. LOVE. For dinner - the filets and the fish were divine. And holy French dessert - you have to get the chocolate souffle with homemade ice cream. Is it pricey? Sure - any place you want good seafood or steak will cost you. Go here for the great atmosphere, friendly waiters and super cool owner, Guillaume.

    (5)
  • Caroline C.

    Very quaint, intimate, and friendly restaurant with yummy food. Our waiter was the owner and he was very helpful in recommending appetizers. They had house-made lavender butter and warm, fresh bread. We tried the soft shell crab from Chesapeake Bay and the pork cheeks. Both had good flavor, were tender, and fresh. The Bouillbaisse was delicious. The seafood was fresh, cooked just right, and the broth was very flavorful. For dessert, we had the chocolate souffle, which was good. I do wish they made their own ice cream. The atmosphere is casual, yet upscale. Great place to go for a small celebration.

    (5)
  • Pam C.

    Authentic french bistro, the ambience is lovely and the best attention (customer service) you'll find here. Try the cafe au lait and the salmon!!

    (5)
  • Caressa S.

    I feel like I need to fancy up my typical reviews when writing one for Cafe Des Amis. But my French is sorely lacking, so you'll have to make do with my caveman-like demand: GO. EAT. NOW. Upon walking in the door, we were treated like family. We had a reservation, but were a bit early, so we sat at the bar and had a drink and spoke to the owner, who was running around doing everything and anything that he could to make sure the guests were happy. Cozy. Intimate. That's how it feels. An extensive drink list with wines organized by region set the tone for the evening, which included some of the best food I've had. Period. The lights outside Parkville twinkled during our dinner. It felt like we were dining in someone's dream of quaint, small-town nostalgia. I realize that sounds a bit dramatic, but as I've mentioned, the wine list was great. It's absolutely worth a trip if you're in the area. And possibly worth the trip even if you're not.

    (5)
  • Brian S.

    I give this place a solid four stars for it's international charm, character and overall dining experience. You can expect a nice little restaurant with a family-owned, but polished/professional feel; serving "French-Inspired" but slightly Americanized dishes, along with an extensive wine menu of regional French wines, and French-inspired desserts. Recommend calling ahead so the owner knows you're coming. Once you arrive, staff makes you feel welcome and in my opinion balances the crowd of customers well. So, kuddos on customer service. So, the food...yes, the food is good, but in my opinion didn't have the depth of flavor I was hoping/expecting from "traditional" French cooking. But, you'll have to be the judge of taste yourself since this is always completely subjective on Yelp. What I will say is overall, this is a nice international "dining experience" - the combination of the French owners + availability of imported wine, French-inspired starters, main course and desserts + the opportunity to enjoy your meal outside on their porch seating area...it's pretty much the entire dining experience package. Great for a "date night" or if you're looking for a special occasion dining experience. Bill came to around $100 for two people and multiple courses. Bon Appetit!!

    (4)
  • John B.

    Love the setting. We joined friends for a fine conversation on the upper patio on a fine fall August evening. The waiter was very congenial, and interacted pleasantly with us. We had a nice selection of reasonably priced red wines. My biggest disappointment was the bouillabaisse. I think it was just overcooked. There was little or no broth, and the mussels were essentially inedible (dry and most didn't open.) In hindsight, I probably should have sent this dish back. I admit I am no expert on bouillabaisse, but I have had it before in other settings, and in this case I was disappointed. I will add that my wife and I had dined here last year, and had a totally lovely evening, and were looking forward to returning. They are members of KC Originals, for you locals, so don't forget to record your visit with them.

    (3)
  • Daniel H.

    Cafe Des Amis was great! I met with seven others for one of my friend's belated birthday dinner. The restaurant was hard to find if you didn't know to look up at the restaurant's name on the building. It was upstairs above the store that was below. Street parking was plentiful but it was pretty empty to begin with in Parkville. It was small and cozy (do I want to say intimate?) inside of the restaurant. In my opinion, it would be great to go for a date and if the two of you don't mind French food. Their dinner and dessert menu were simple and we were given both from our waiter who happened to be the owner of the restaurant. He asked if we were all paying with separate checks which was why he brought out the dessert menu, too. The owner had a great sense of humor as well. I ordered the Filet de boeuf Bordelais ($34) and the Crème brulée ($6). I think three or four others at our table ordered the magret de canard ($25) which was the duck. The bread we were given was hot, fresh, and very soft. Our food came out later and I thought the Filet de boeuf Bordelais was good. The portion was small for me but could be okay for somebody else. The Crème brulée was delicious and better than other restaurants I've had it from. I'd recommend it for dessert. Great restaurant for a date and I thought the food was good here.

    (5)
  • Melissa W.

    I wish I could say this place was on par with the good things I've heard/read. I wish I could say the meal was delicious and the service superb, but I can't. I haven't even had the chance to try the food and that is entirely because of the terrible service. I made a reservation weeks ago for this upcoming week, but received a call today saying that they had another reservation that night that turned out to be for 42 instead of the 24 they had written down (their inside occupancy is 40). We could keep our reservation - if we wanted to sit outside in the 90 degree heat. How utterly unprofessional. How they manage to keep open when they can't seem to read, write, or provide any sort of customer service is beyond me. Their food must be extremely good for them to behave in this manner, but again, I won't ever know and from now on that will be entirely by choice.

    (1)
  • Janelle F.

    Great food and experience especially if the owner is there! Goat cheese tomato bisque... I have had dreams about it!

    (5)
  • Judy K.

    Excellent food. Had the best bouillabaisse last night The soft shell crab was out of this world. My grandson licked the plate of the escargots. Always a warm welcome. Have to make it a priority to return

    (5)
  • Denise C.

    I really love this restaurant but this most recent time I had mussels there and ended up in the E.R. The Dr. said he sees this all the time where people get sick from mussels, he said they either aren't cooked thoroughly or have debris etc in them. I was so sick I thought I would die. However, this place is so good that I certainly will not stop going there. I just doubt I will ever eat Mussels anywhere again.

    (3)
  • vkr o.

    Amazing. Go there. That is all you need to know. Okay you may also need to know that a reservation would be a good idea since others have discovered this gem as well. We didn't have a reservation, but got there early in the evening. They offered up seats at the bar, which was fine with us. We got to see the kitchen which we find entertaining. Our experience was fantastic. Completely by accident we found ourselves in Parkville after a day of shopping in KC. When searching for restaurants this one came up with great reviews. So we thought we'd give it a shot. The host (and owner) was accommodating and helpful in wine and menu selections, though honestly everything I saw on the menu and coming from the kitchen looked fantastic. The hardest thing is narrowing it down. We had escargot and butternut squash gnocchi to start. Duck breast special and Scallops for entree and creme brûlée and chocolate soufflé for dessert. Every dish was done perfectly. Best meal we've had in some time. We will absolutely be back!

    (5)
  • Clarice W.

    I am still befuddled at how Cafe de Amis came to exist in the teeny town of Parkville, MO, but after my fiance took me here for a birthday dinner, I found the location to be just perfect. I think you have to know what to expect at Cafe de Amis, because I will admit I went in expecting something a bit different - and probably would have been disappointed in my experience, had I not realized what the aesthetic is at this restaurant. Cafe de Amis, though "nice," is not an upscale French bistro. You will not get elegant square plates and artful presentation here. Rather, it is a quaint, traditional restaurant that serves classic French cuisine. It reminds me a bit of 1980s style Jacques Pepin cooking. My duck confit was served bone-in with a couple asparagus spears here, a roasted tomato there, some potatoes gratin underneath. The components of this dish are not necessarily meant to all marry together as is more common in modern cuisine. But the duck was tender and juicy, and the sides were good (the potatoes were actually far better than "good"). My fiance had the quail, which was a little tough and harder to eat off the bone. The sweetbreads appetizer was rich and warm. Again, not the most attractive presentation (brown chunks atop a pasty?) but hearty and comforting. Our server was friendly (and let's be real folks, the French accent does make everything feel more authentic...) and made sure we had a relaxed dinner. He even brought out a candle to place in my creme brulee! (Which, by the way, is the way to go for dessert - perfectly crackly caramel, dense custard, and it comes as a duo!) I think what I liked most about Cafe de Amis was how candidly real it was. I love modern, novel cuisine but I also like knowing that I have the option of driving out to Parkville, MO and having a nice quiet French dinner on a porch.

    (4)
  • Tania M.

    I am not a big fan of French food, but for those that enjoy it, it's a nice little place and it has very good service. It is a very quaint little restaurant, kind of old-fashioned as it is made out one of the older houses in Parkville. I liked it, but it is not a super fancy place for the price of the food. It does have a very nice outdoor area that is very enjoyable. The menu only caters to French food, so it is best to research it online before going. French food is rich and has a lot of butter, etc. so to me, it's just not really my thing, although I have eaten here several times and at least moderately enjoyed my meal.

    (4)
  • Meredith R.

    I had a beautiful and delicous dinner at Cafe Des Amis with my husband last night. I really enjoyed everything about our visit. We had a very nice table by the windows and I had a nice glass of wine. We tried to Beef Cheek which was absolutely amazing. I had the Rainbow Trout (to die for) and my husband had the lamb and he loved his as well. The fresh bread with lavander butter was devine. My husband also had the crepe for dessert and he devoured the entire thing. The meal was finished with two mini-chocolate french macaroons. Our waiter was prompt, polite and informative and the location was perfect for staying in Parkville. Very romantic and very tasty.

    (5)
  • Mark C.

    Quaint and cozy atmosphere especially for those "date" nights. The owner greeted us at the door introducing himself which was unexpected. The waiter picked out some fabulous red wine to start out with since we were not familiar with French wines. We had the cheese and fruit tray to have with our wine. Delicious! Bread came out warm and soft.

    (5)
  • Ann W.

    The hubby and I decided to check out Cafe Des Amis for a pre-Valentine's Day dinner. First, let me say, that when it comes to French food, the bar is incredibly high in this area. It's really not fair, but I know that I judge all other French restaurants against Le Fou Frog. Otherwise, Cafe Des Amis would probably have garnered five stars. The atmosphere at Cafe Des Amis was definitely different than Le Fou. It's occupies the second floor of a beautiful old building in Downtown Parkville. It seems to be that it has a bit of a rustic French country vibe. It's certainly a much mellower, quieter place than Le Fou, which I don't really think is necessarily better or worse, just different. And different was nice for a change. We started our meal with the pate which was served with crusty French bread and had tiny pickles and a sweet onion confit that was the perfect accompaniment. Yum! We then shared the salmon salad which was divided into two servings for us and they were generous servings! The salmon was lightly smoked and had a wonderful flavor. The greens were nice, but a little overly dressed with a vinegary dressing. My husband had duck for his main course and it had a really nice flavor. My husband can't eat dairy, so the chef prepared him potatoes without dairy that he really enjoyed. I had the rainbow trout which is stuffed with prosciutto and brie and topped with a brie sauce. I enjoyed my trout, but wasn't knocked out by it. There wasn't enough prosciutto to stand up to the flavor of the trout, so it basically just added a bit of saltiness. I really liked the brie sauce and wished there were just a bit more of it. The portion sizes at Cafe Des Amis are really big. We didn't have room for dessert, but they have some desserts I'd like to try. I'd love to see how their chocolate mousse compares to Le Fou's. Cafe Des Amis's chocolate mousse comes with a chocolate brownie, too! Our server did a wonderful job. He was knowledgeable and helpful in steering us towards selections we'd enjoy. Cafe Des Amis is shockingly inexpensive. We had a coupon we had purchased that greatly reduced the total bill, but our bill only came to about 88 bucks before the coupon was applied! And we each had an adult beverage, too! Holy freakin' cow! We will definitely be back!

    (4)
  • Brenda V.

    Cafe Des Amis is a quaint restaurant in downtown Parkville. The owners are very friendly and personable, and the food is divine! They have an impressive wine list, great service and I can't say enough about the quality of the meals we've had there. Presentation of each dish is beautiful and taste is incredible. I highly recommend going here for a romantic dinner, special occasion, or anytime for a nice quiet meal.

    (5)
  • Erik B.

    One of the best meals I've had in a long time. Service was excellent, food was superb. Definitely on the list of must-visit when in KC.

    (5)
  • Cynthia T.

    Your belly will be saying tres bien if you stop in Cafe Des Amies for dinner, dessert, coffee or all of the above. The French bistro is tucked away upstairs in a quaint apartment over looking downtown Parkville. Come here for the experience and be delighted by the food and service. I started with the goat cheese salad served with warm banquette and lavender butter. The trout was delicious and quail had a lovely sauce. This time we strayed from the chocolate soufflé (which is delightful) and tried the orange crepe which was filled with the most delicious creamy goodness. The waiter brought two tiny macaroons to finish the glorious meal. I hope you are able to enjoy a lovely evening at a quiet table with a cocktail at Cafe Des Amies. Sit by the window and plan to take your time no need to rush perfection.

    (5)
  • Vanessa W.

    Lovely restaurant with authentic French cuisine overlooking Parkville. Knowledgable staff and great wine list. If you're at all interested in French food you should definitely check this quaint little restaurant out - it's delicious.

    (4)
  • Brooke T.

    Just amazing little treat in beautiful Parkville (the other restaurants in the area are not good at all). My fiancé and I love going for lunch (cheaper during the day). Owners take pride on the food and customer service. Best of all... Food was Amazing!!!

    (5)
  • Scott G.

    What a charming little restaurant in the heart of Downtown Parkville! While it's definitely known for its gourmet French dinners, Cafe des Amis has quickly become one of my favorite brunch spots. Unlike their pricey dinner entrees, Cafe des Amis offers extremely reasonable breakfast and lunch items that are absolutely delicious. Our favorites thus far are the Quiche Lorraine and the Croque Monsieur, which both come with a fantastic side salad and are very filling. In addition to offering amazing food, Cafe des Amis also has a large wine list, great cocktails, amazing coffee, and an intimate atmosphere that's a welcome change from most other restaurants. The fact that it's located on the second floor of one of the oldest homes in Parkville adds a charm and character to the entire dining experience. The inside decor creates an authentic ambiance of a street side French cafe. But the best part for me is the outdoor patio, which on a beautiful day makes for a perfect setting for a meal. Finally, I have to mention the service. I love coming here and being served by the owner himself. He's extremely welcoming and funny and always makes our experience an enjoyable one.

    (5)
  • Robert P.

    Took my wife here for our anniversary. I had the duck which was fantastic. Definitely a little on the pricy side, but well worth it. And such an awesome setting in Historic Downtown Parkville to wander around before or after dinner. I highly suggest reservations as the space is rather small, but the wait staff will take awesome care of you with suggestions for wine pairings and desserts.

    (5)
  • Madelynn W.

    Its fall along the river banks and we were up for some scenic driving. My husband and I stopped at Cafe des Amis for lunch and it was delightful. My hubby started with a red Burgundy and escargot; I started with a white Burgundy and the pumpkin spice soup. For the main course my husband had the short rib special w/ a side salad and I had the Cafe des Amis salad. My husband said the short ribs were amazing. Dessert was a shared chocolate mousse (which was DELICIOUS!!) , an espresso and cappuccino. Total bill was $86 for lunch. It's a little pricey but very good and authentic French food. I enjoyed hearing the kitchen staff chattering away in their native tongue - completely unexpected. I felt like I was in Paris again having lunch at a street side bistro.

    (4)
  • Dawn T.

    My husband made us reservations for our 21st Anniversary. I had never been to a French restaurant, however I was extremely impressed! The French onion soup of course was amazing as was the lavender butter to go with the fresh French bread. I ordered the Salmon special that was cooked in parchment paper; the salmon was delicious! My husband ordered the duck special and he liked it. The soufflé was excellent and worth the trip! The kitchen made me homemade hot cocoa even though it is not on their menu. The hot cocoa was divine and paired well with the soufflé. It may have been our first time eating here, buy it won't be our last! We have already talked to our friends about visiting when their outdoor deck is open!

    (5)
  • josh s.

    Great meal, terrific service, wonderful atmosphere - recommend this anyone. We'll be back for sure

    (5)
  • Brenda D.

    The best French restaurant in the KC area in my opinion. I love the location in Parkville as it makes the intimacy of this restaurant even more. A very small dining room and even smaller bar, make a reservation! The food is truly excellent. This time we had the elk -very tender. The escargot is always a must. They had a French onion soup that particular night. I know... You're thinking what could be so special about French onion soup? Well if you are lucky enough to visit on a day they have it, you will find the answer to that question. I always look forward to eating here!

    (5)
  • Mopsie B.

    We had a really unfortunate experience here the other day for lunch and I hope it was some kind of misunderstanding or aberration because by the reviews and also the smells coming out of the kitchen, I think we would have definitely enjoyed ourselves under other circumstances. My husband, who used to live in France, and I were visiting his family in the K.C. area and decided to make a special trip to Parkville to enjoy this restaurant. My sister-in-law is disabled, so I went ahead to try and get us a table. Problem #1: Cafe Des Amis is located at the top of a very steep, outdoor staircase. I looked everywhere for a different entrance or some kind of sign that would show how they might be ADA compliant, but could not find one. Problem #2: I ran up said stairs and walked past a couple tables outside, but no servers. I walked inside and stood at what appeared to be the host stand. No host appeared. I stood some more. Still no one. I glanced into a bar area that led to a kitchen. I could hear people in the kitchen but no one came out. A mother and daughter were sitting at the bar. A man was seated on a bench near the bar. He and I made eye contact, so for a moment, I thought he worked there. But he looked away. I then said out loud: "Does anyone know if there is someone who works here?" The man on the bench said, "The owner/host is in the kitchen and should be out soon." So, I waited some more. Still no one came out. A woman came out from the dining room and appeared to be wandering around, also looking for someone who worked there. She was holding her purse and it looked like she wanted to pay her bill. She joined the man on the bench. After standing there for at least 10 minutes with no assistance, I left. Meanwhile, my husband was helping his sister with her walker, as they tried to walk to the restaurant. I had to tell them that I did not see any way she was going to make it up there. Additionally, his mother is older, and probably also could not have made it up the stairs. Still, my husband was undeterred as from the bottom of the stairs, we saw a waiter! So, he sprinted up there to talk to the guy. The guy told him to drive up the alley (on the side of the hill) and drop off his mom and sister and then drive back down and park. At this point, it seemed like a lot of trouble, but he attempted it. The alley and the area where he was supposed to drop them off was way too narrow. He said the waiter was pretty dispassionate about the whole thing and it was getting close to 2 p.m. by this point, so we aborted any further efforts to give this place our business. They lost at least $75 and probably more like $100 that day. I really don't understand how they get away with this sort of inaccessibility and attitude. We love French food and were looking forward to our experience so this was really a let down.

    (1)
  • Kay L.

    Café des Amis, located in one of my favorite "old-town" districts (from back when Parkville was an important stop on the river-trade route,) is a true jewel. The restaurant is a little bit out of the way, which only adds to its charm. From the street, go up a long flight of wooden stairs to a deeply shaded wooden deck with several bistro tables. Or, sit at one of the dozen or so tables inside. You'll be greeted by Guillaume Hanriot, the elfin owner, who laughs and jokes with the regulars as they come in. The dining room is situated in the oldest remaining building in historic Parkville - "older than the Eiffel Tower," as Guillaume is quick to remind you - and the old-fashioned tall-sashed windows afford a great view of the village. The yellow and blue décor gives the dining area a country-house feel, with little French tricouler flags stuck in the window boxes amongst the geraniums. The ambiance is casual - the noisy kitchen is near the dining room, and the servers chatter to one another in French. In the kitchen, one of the sous-chefs sings along in a robust tenor to the French pop music that is playing in the bar area. Guillaume's wife, Ingrid, presides over the kitchen; they are natives of the region of Champagne, which is reflected in the menu choices, a mix of traditional and progressive French dishes. Portions are generous, and the service is unhurried and friendly, and just a touch whimsical. For example, instead of shouting like a short-order cook, Ingrid uses a toy train whistle to signal the food's readiness in the kitchen, while you hear the real trains rumbling by outside. My meal started with a loaf of crusty French bread with lavender butter, a house specialty. There's a variety of traditional appetizers to choose from, including veal sweetbreads with a creamy black truffle sauce in a pastry shell that is so light it falls apart. I couldn't pass up the delicious salade aux chevre chaude - the tangy cheese is half-melted and buttery, crusted with nuts, served with baby greens dressed in a sweet honey-dijon dressing. I also enjoyed the confit au canard - a beautifully seared pair of duck legs with a rich, sweet taste, served with selected seasonal vegetables, and a side of potatoes au gratin made with raclette cheese, which lent a nutty, earthy tone to the dish. Everything was superb. The charmingly tiny bar doesn't really accommodate serious drinking, but it's a great place to sit for a few minutes until your table is readied.

    (5)
  • Pat B.

    My broccoli soup was served warm and was very bland tasting. I ordered a medium well steak and was served medium rare...

    (3)
  • Mike L.

    Had a great lunch experience. Beautiful fall day, so we elected to sit outside on the patio. Service was friendly, attentive, knowledgable, and willing to make recommendations Salad was excellent, appetizers were great, and the daily special entrees both tasted great and had nice presentation. Go.

    (5)
  • Dan V.

    Great atmosphere for a quiet romantic dinner. A pleasant change from the loud chain restaurants. A great place to try something new. The crème brûlée is incredible!

    (4)
  • Matt E.

    I would say that Cafe Des Amis is a destination type restaurant. I, however, came across it a different way. Maybe that's the reason for my meal being less memorable than what it seems so many others have experienced. I was spending the day working in downtown Parkville, when all of the sudden OHMYGODIAMSTARVING! I spent about 10-15 minutes walking around the neighborhood, trying to find a place to eat that was actually open and served somethign that would agree with my temporary vegetarian diet. After a few different misses, I came across Cafe Des Amis, and even though I knew it was the type of place that is better suited to a fancy dinner than a work-through lunch, I needed food and walked in. First off, the place is cute. You walk up a set of stairs and through a wooded patio that would be at home in the Ozarks, or I guess whatever would be their French equivalent. It was cute, as was the interior. It's like an old house, emphasis on the old. Kind of like eating in an antique store or something. I guess this was one of the major strikes for me against Cafe Des Amis. The reputation for this place positions it as a NICE restaurant, and the vibe of the place is just more quaint. Certainly too quaint for the price point. Oh the price point. I had a cup of tomato and goat cheese bisque soup (which was a delight!) and their namesake salad. It too was quite good, with baby greens, a dijon vinaigrette, portabella mushrooms, blue cheese and candied walnuts. It tasted great, but in the end I feel like it was just a salad. I had the soup, salad (and OK OK, a glass of house wine) and my bill pre-tip was $25! That's a pricey lunch! I'd like to add that this is what I had for lunch as it seemed my only vegetarian option w/o seriously modifying the menu, which is against my self-appointed rules. Not a good place for the anti-meat crowd. The real shining star of my experience was my server. He was amazing! A french gentleman, he added an air of authenticity to the experience. He was warm, helpful, and anticipated my needs. Some of the best service I've had in a long time. Because of his service I've been considering pushing this up to 4 stars. However, I simply don't feel you get the bang for your buck that I'd expect from such a well-regarded establishment. I will go back for dinner sometime and if it's a pleasurable experience, I'll adjust my review accordingly. I just don't much feel in a hurry to do so.

    (3)
  • K M.

    The Mr and I decided to hit up Cafe Des Amis for brunch one Sunday. We like Parkville and as it's only about hour from our home, we like to visit a few times a year. We were fortunate in that the weather was perfect for sitting out on the patio. Having never been to the cafe before, we were pleased with the attractive patio seating with it's black tablecloth clad tables surrounded by trees and planters of herbs. The two french brothers, one of whom being Guillame the owner, along with his wife Ingrid, waited on us. We started with pate and cocktails. The pate, made with black truffle and presented with cornichons and baguette, was more attractive than most and delicious. I had a classic martini with Hendricks (one of my favorite gins) while my husband had an Americano - both of which were well-made and went down quickly. For entrees, I ordered the Coquilles st Jacques gratinees and he had the Croque monsieur ou madame both of which came with a perfectly-dressed salad. I'm a big fan of salad at breakfast / brunch and therefore appreciated this addition. We each enjoyed our respective dishes which were neither too small to satisfy nor too generous to finish in one sitting. For dessert, I had the Creme Brulee duo which consists of a creamy vanilla bean and a decadent dark chocolate with Sezchaun pepper. The vanilla was more of a custard compared to the other and was obviously made with true vanilla bean which was evident in flavor and the tell-tale tiny black specks. The dark chocolate was drier, as it should be, but still quite moist. The pepper wasn't so much spicy as it was complimentary to the bitterness of the chocolate. The two cremes were like night and day with contrasting textures and flavors both of which I enjoyed immensely. During dessert we also each had a glass of burgundy. Their wine selection is as superb as the cocktails. Though we sat outside, I did peak indoors which is also a lovely seating area - small, intimate, not overdone or kitschy. The small bar is done in heavy wood, as it should be. The place as a whole seemed to run smoothly and the brothers were friendly and attentive without being overbearing. As we were the last table at brunch, Guillame took some time to chat with us. He's young, maybe early 30s and runs the front of the house while his wife runs the kitchen. We appreciate local, family-run businesses. Total, before tip, our meal came to just $65 for two cocktails, two glasses of wine, an appetizer, two entrees and dessert. We had to double-check to make sure they charged us for everything we ordered as we expected to spend much more than that! We are looking forward to doing dinner here sometime soon on our next visit to Parkville.

    (4)
  • Nicole B.

    Cafe Des Amis is somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. My experience wasn't bad, but after dining at other French restaurants in the Kansas City area, Cafe Des Amis left something to be desired in my eyes. The restaurant itself is cute. It doesn't make me feel like I'm in France though. More like an old house. It's not that big and doesn't have much of a bar area. Service was friendly, but my salad was a bit slow to come out. It was just a salad...not too much prep there. I went with the Warm Goat Cheese salad. It was very tasty. Warm goat cheese spread onto large croutons and served over mixed greens. There were some peppers in there, but that was really it. There was not much more to the salad and because of that, it was not worth the price. Cafe Des Amis is one of the few restaurants north of the river that is independently owned, and I appreciate that, but I think there are better French options in Kansas City.

    (3)
  • Paul M.

    Absolutely amazing little gem. Tucked away in the corner of sleepy Parkville. Any trip to Kansas City needs a detour to Cafe Des Amis. The host Guillaume as funny, witty, knowledgeable and VERY French! He was the perfect start to a perfect lunch. My wife ordered the truffled eggs and I had the mussels and Croque Monsieur. Both were fantastic. But the soufflé was absolutely out of this world. Top notch all around.

    (5)
  • Amy C.

    My husband and I happened into Cafe Des Amis on a lovely fall afternoon. We hadn't planned to go to the restaurant, but we were sure glad we ended up there. We started with an order of pate and an order of mussels. Both were quite good. The broth the mussels were cooked in was delicious when sopped up with my bread. For our main course I enjoyed scallops and mushrooms. The dish was a little different than I expected - it was served in crock-type dish. The scallops had a tomato and cheese sauce and the had been baked so the top was a bit crunchy and golden brown. The dish was topped with a cherry tomato and herbs. It was a very tasty meal. My husband enjoyed a duck sausage crepe. He very much enjoyed his meal. The service was quite good. Our waiter was French, très authentique. He was so welcoming and engaging. He got quite busy during our meal but worked hard to see that we were taken care of. Will I go back? If I'm in the Parkville area I would definitely give this another shot.

    (4)
  • Ammy W.

    We went for Valentines Day. We had reservations and still had to wait about 15 minutes for our table. The place was intimate. You could hear the staff speaking French in the kitchen which added to the setting. We went to the bar to have a drink while we waited, it appeared like everyone was the bartender. We had to ask to be served. Our waiter seemed to be a bit confused. You can tell they are not used to a full house. Our meal itself was good, no complaints other than small portions. My husband is a picky eater and liked the filet, it was cooked to his liking. They forgot the sauce for the steak and I didn't get my complimentary rosé when we paid. In all, glad we went, mark it off the bucket list. It was the most we ever paid for a 3 course meal.

    (3)
  • Practical P.

    Cute, historic space in a second floor space off Parkville downtown main drag. Went for lunch and would do it again. Waiter is French, which adds to the experience.

    (3)
  • Benjamin J.

    It was outstanding in every way. I was visiting and found out about this place by my hair stylist. I would go ever day if I lived in KC. As it is I went twice within a week. The escargot haunts my dreams....

    (5)
  • Ruby G.

    I love this place! The atmosphere aims to make you feel like you're in France and is in Parkville's oldest building with a beautiful outdoor patio and French/International music playing throughout. The menu is short, but I've loved everything I've tried. I order the pate every time I go. Just try not to fill up on the bread so you can finish the main course. Every soup I've tried has been awesome and their tomato goat cheese soup is the best I've had. The owner, Guillaume is one of the friendliest and charming hosts you'll ever meet. Once I became a regular, he would actually make the tomato soup the soup de jour if he knew me and my friends were coming. The Feuillete d'Escargots ou Ris de Veau are also exceptional for appetizers. My favorite main courses are the rack of lamb and the quail, but even if you make plans on what you'd like to order, it will be hard to resist the specials. They always sound amazing and usually are. For dessert, my favorite indulgence has been the dark chocolate mousse with the Tarte Tatin a close second. The coffee at CDA is made by a roastery down the street and is a special French Roast made just for the Cafe. Even though coffee keeps me up late in the evening, I get it every time. For wine, this is the best place around. I've had a $50 bottle of Bordeaux here that would easily go for over $100 in any other fine dining restaurant. Guillaume will also happily recommend a wine if you like. Brunch here is also amazing and only a few more dollars than you'd spend at IHOP/Denny's. So, why not have a nice French breakfast here instead? The croque madame (ham, cheese, poached egg sandwich) is delicious and a favorite amongst my friends who were nostalgic for the last time they'd been to France.

    (5)
  • Hope R.

    A rare gem in the midwest! Guillaume is always the first to greet us as we walk in the door atop the tall old stairs which makes it all the more special! No matter how long it has been since our last visit, which sometimes has been well over a year in time, he treats you like family who was there yesterday! Recently, April, we held my sister's bridal shower here, and Guillaume humored me as I attempted to request discreetly, in my not oft used broken French, escargot as my Aunt who had chosen the menu had chosen only two options for the menu, both types of crepes. Which were delicious don't get me wrong, but when I come here I expect escargot, pate, or foie to cross my plate as this is the closest I get to France most of the time. Anywho, he managed to understand me and try to make me believe that my french was not that terrible. My parents will even stop for a light bite on the way back to Paola from MCI on occasion...I think the Mr. and I will have to start doing this as once a year or even longer is far from enough times visiting this delightful super hidden spot in Parkville, MO. Absolutely cannot wait to visit again for my taste of France and a nice visit with Guillaume!!!

    (5)
  • David A.

    Got a special occasion? Smack in the middle of historic downtown Parkville, you can climb some stairs to get some culinary satisfaction. We decided to celebrate our 3 year dating anniversary together here last night. If you've never been to downtown Parkville, it's quite quaint. As you climb the stairs to the restaurant, you notice a plaque saying the building was a bakery from the 1840's. As you climb, you're greeted by a romantic patio with candles overlooking downtown. However, it was too humid and hot, so we passed and retreated to the air conditioning inside. Bonjour! Comment ca va? It's time to be seated! Our waiter recommended the Champagne special that had Grand Marnier with fruit in it. Tres magnifique! Not too dry. I enjoyed every sip. For the Hors D'Ouvre, I ordered a 1/2 portion of Moules Marinieres Facon Odile without the cream. What a large portion of mussels! Typically you get smaller portions at high-end restaurants for apps. Every bite was a tiny bit of heaven. Had enough seafood? I hadn't apparently. As I perused the menu, I ordered Bouillabaisse as my main entree. It was quite good. It had rice at the bottom with a smorgasborg of various seafood. It had a decent amount of fish and mussells, but not a lot of the other seafood. Quite few prawns (and small ones at that). It was lopsided towards mussels (which were amazing, but didn't I just eat a lot of those as an app)? All Musselled out, I turn to dessert.. I finished with a Lemon-Basil Sorbet along with a "cookie," kiwi, and dark chocolate. The sorbet was fantastic. The staff was quite attentive, friendly and knew the menu items quite well. He was able to quickly agree to having the chef alter the app so avoid my dairy allergies. On the way to the restroom, I caught the waiter and waitress speaking French to each other in conversation. No fakers here! Of note, restaurant.com and your KC Originals card will help take the sting out of your bill. Don't forget to tip well on the original amount! You'll find lots of free street parking nearby. It also doesn't appear to be handicapped accessible (you have to climb a lot of stairs). Why not 5 stars? Well, after my experience in the Rivermarket (Le Fou Frog review), we were left wanting the portion size, the quality of the food, and the charisma of the waiter. There was also a party of 6 middle-aged adults who were extremely loud in the other room, which disturbed our romantic dinner. We sat by ourselves in the other room thinking it would be quiet. Would we come back here? Sure! Is it our favorite? No, it isn't, but we highly recommend it.

    (4)
  • Kristin A.

    My friend and I were walking through downtown Parkville hoping to just have a glass of wine and some good conversation at the little wine shop, but unfortunately it was already closed. We happened across Cafe Des Amis and decided to try it. So glad we did! Their desserts are SINFULLY tasty! I asked the owner's recommendation between two different options we were considering, and he convinced us to get them both! It seems like the owner really cares about the restaurant and his clientele, which I definitely appreciate. The server decidedly lingered for a few moments too long examining our reactions after the first bite we took, but I'm sure it was irresistible to see us melt into putty following a delectably sensuous bite of chocolate. This place is definitely pricey, and it would be a GREAT place to take a special date. Lovely atmosphere. Heavenly food. Accommodating service. It all creates a perfect storm for wooing someone special.

    (4)
  • jennifer j.

    Passed this place a few times on other trips to parkville. In the summer, the outside deck is always packed. You actually enter through the deck area once you climb the stairs. This gives you a better view of Min Street in downtown Parkville. Inside it is charming, like the inside of someone's home. There are two rooms both feel very similar. Our waiter was just the right amount of attentive. He was happy to recommend entree's, which I like. The old "everything is great" rarely rings true all the time and I appreciate a little direction. We started with a bottle of French white and an order of mussels. The mussels arrive in the pot in which they were prepared. While I prefer an white wine or red sauce, this version arrived in a cream sauce. There was a definite hint of nutmeg. I wasn't in love with the sauce, which seemed thin and splashed all over the table every time I fished out a mussel. I really wasn't inspired to dip my bread in it. The mussels themselves were divine. Big, plump and juicy...not a poor mans mussel. They were so meaty that I was staring to get full when my entree arrived. I chose the sea bass with saffron sauce. The plain white rice it was perched upon is totally not worth mentioning, but i will mention it anyway. It also came with an oven roasted tomato with breadcrumbs and a couple slices of zucchini and a sprig of asparagus. I might have griped about my small side portions a lot more had my fish not been so generous. It was perfectly cooked and the saffron sauce was incredibly mild and delicate. We finished with the crepe suzette. This came with vanilla ice cream and a few green grapes for garnish. I might not do the crepe again, but I didn't really dislike it either. All in all I loved the charm and the simplicity. Customer service was great and the meal was well timed. But, and here is the but....I can't say I am loving it more then Le Fou. I am not comparing them just because they are both French, but because their menu's are VERY similar. Le Fou wins on even better ambience and a chef that is willing to take a risk when it comes to sauces and preparation, like infusing Thai flavors. I certainly enjoyed Cafe Des Amis enough to return, but only if Le Fou is closed.

    (4)
  • Jennifer V.

    My new favorite restaurant in Kansas City! Absolutely charming. Fantastic, authentic french cuisine. A nice wine list and a great little bar. Owners are a lovely French couple -- he's front of the house and she is the chef -- and they've created a quaint little oasis with ambience and fresh, well-prepared menu options. Dining outdoors on the patio is a must.

    (5)
  • Taylor F.

    Like a warm place on a cold night we find ourselves drawn to his little upstairs 16 table restaurant. The allure of the French Cusine wafting in the air, the singing French chef in the back, the only 2 person high top table in the bar. Walking into this restaurant is like walking in the front door of your childhood home. There is nothing so magical as to when food and wine and sevice match so incomparibly. We love you Cafe Des Amis and we cannot be broken of your warm and tender spell of hospitality. Truly a gem in the KC originals program.

    (5)
  • Reed N.

    We had a little business dinner here and really enjoyed the ambiance. My entrée was lamb rib chops, and although slightly over-cooked per my order, they remained tender and tasty. The braised red cabbage and scalloped potato sides were perfect. I also tried some sea bass with an orange saffron cream sauce. It was remarkably tender, yet firm. Just delicious. The desserts were shared: The chocolate mousse is delicious. The tart tatin is small but powerful, with intensely sweetened and subtly spiced apples. The clafouti was an inverted, peach/mint interpretation of the classic cherry dessert. Very surprising and exotic. The fish and the wines really shine here, as all selections are personally vetted by the owners.

    (4)
  • Uyen V.

    I usually drop by in the evening for dessert and wine. Unlike most KC restaurants (concrete blocks with cavernous rooms and many tables), CDA is located in the top level of a small old house in downtown Parkville. There are two adjoining rooms that serve as the dining area, so there's a very intimate atmosphere. A third room, which always reminds me of the brown cafes that you find in Amsterdam, acts as a bar. This is where I prefer to sit. There are two hightop tables and you can watch the staff potter about while you drink. Last night, we had the profiteroles and the tarte tatin, served with their new ice cream. Both desserts were excellent. Washed it all down with a few glasses of yummy Bordeaux. I've had dinner here a few times and never been disappointed. A Parisian friend of mine told me that CDA was the most authentic French restaurant in KC - that the food was identical to that served by her French grandmother. If that doesn't convince you to try this place, I don't know what will. I think CDA really comes into its own during the summer time. You can sit out on their charming deck, shielded from the sun by a forest of patio umbrellas. Surrounded by pretty potted flowers and the trees, (if you screw up your eyes very tightly) you could even imagine that you are holidaying somewhere in Antibes, not Parkville. I suppose what I'm trying to convey is that CDA has an authentic romance. Sure, you can find good food elsewhere, but it's nearly always located on a main road, in a shopping centre, or a strip mall. Who wants to get quietly sozzled with a fine bottle of wine, while soccer moms stride past with their snivelling children or traffic streams past (e.g. La Bodega)?

    (4)
  • Brian M.

    We hit up the Cafe last night. First of all I had no idea what a Parkville, MO was never mind where it was, but the GPS did not fail me, and WOW! Great vino, outstanding food and fantastic service! I rocked the Goat Cheese salad (stuffed with apricots) as well as the Bison Rib-eye which was the special and finished it off with the Crepe Suzette. (How can you pass up desert in a French Restaurant? The ambiance was great, the staff attentive and knowledgeable and I cant say enough good things, what a find in this town...its enough to bring me back, maybe even tomorrow night! (Oh yeah, they fixed a Mousse to go for my friend's babysitter!)

    (4)
  • Susan N.

    I love me some French food. So when our 3 year anniversary came up, we used it as an excuse to check out Cafe Des Amis. We read and heard such good things about this place. Luckily, it did not disappoint. We drove up to Parkville, where the restaurant is located. The outdoor area was really cute. It was a small deck with several tables under the shade of the trees overlooking downtown Parkville. I'd have loved to sit out there but alas, that day was a typical KC summer heat bath day and we opted to sit in the air conditioned indoors. We walked in and the first thing we noticed is that the place feels like a house. It probably was a house, with the rooms still intact but tables and chairs in place of typical house furniture. We were seated by a window and it felt cute and quaint and romantic until a loud group of six ruined the mood of the place halfway through our appetizer. But that's hardly the restaurant's fault. We started with the champagne mixed with Grand Marnier special. It had a strawberry and some berries in it and was absolutely fantastic tasting. We started off with hors d'ouvres. I had the pate maison, a pate with black truffle, onion confit and cornichons. It was rich without being too heavy at the same time. The black truffles really made this dish. Feeling adventurous, I decided to take it further. I ordered the pave d'elan sauce au poivre - a pan seared elk tenderloin encrusted with black pepper and flambeed with Courvoisier cognac and a creamy sauce. I'm not sure what elk is supposed to taste like after trying, this is hardly my favorite meat. It was cooked well but didn't have too much flavor. Thankfully the sauce was there to give it some flavor. I haven't had a French pate in forever and never tried elk, so honestly I don't know if either is the best ever or just slightly above average. I did happily finish both courses so there's something to be said for that. For dessert, I ended up getting the creme brulee duo. It was two small cups -one filled with a vanilla brulee and one filled with a chocolate version. Why I ordered dessert is beyond me. I've never had a chocolate brulee before and wasn't so keen on it, though I'm not a huge chocolate fan so take that with a grain of salt. The vanilla version was much better. They're pretty thick and heavy, so just be aware of that if you've devoured a large meal beforehand. The staff was great and very attentive to our needs. They refilled the water frequently and made sure we were content. Oh and the bread was nice and warm and delicious. The staff wasn't stingy on refilling after we greedily devoured the first batch. On the way out, we caught a glimpse of the bar area. There's only three or four seats there but it gives off the aura of French bordello bar. Love it. I could go back and have a couple drinks by the bar easily. Check out restaurant.com to help ease the pain of the bill. They are also a KC Originals place, which is a nice thing since the bill will certainly add a lot of points to your card. All in all, a pretty solid place but not my favorite French place in the area. Still, I'd recommend it for a lovely, romantic time.

    (4)
  • Josh S.

    Located at the top of the hill in downtown Parkville, the location up the stairs at the end of main street is perfect. You know this place is quaint when your address is 112 1/2 Main Street. I headed here on a Friday night for a work Christmas dinner. I entered and was greated by Guillaume, the wonderful front of the house, does all, says all man. This man makes the restaurant! We opened with a goblet, or 3, of Gosset champagne and Grand Marnier garnished with a strawberry. Delightful opening to cleanse the palate for a night of eating. The menu was a set 5-course served with white and red from the homeland. cours un: French Onion Soup. Guillaume pointed out that in France, this is simply called Onion Soup, ha. Anyways, served with a nice warm loaf of bread, this soup was excellent. Perfect with gruyere melted on the top. cours deux: Salad of duck gizzard conift avec pommes de terre sautéed. My favorite of the night! The gizzards with succulent and ohh so tender. Even the women who cringed when the menu was presented cleaned the plates. Most beautiful presentation as well. This item is offered on the normal menu, and is a must order. cours trois: Bouillabaisse. A traditional dish from the south of France. This is a midwest Bouillabaisse as it contains shellfish, good nonetheless. I would have preferred stronger flavors here with some more texture. This was a very mild dish served with mussels, turbot, tomato, aspargus, and some tasty crostini. cours quatre: Beef Bourguignon. Beef marinated in red wine for 24 hours and slow braised for another four. This comes served a nice creuset with scalloped potatoes and onions. The very most tender beef you could expect and packs a new level of hearty-ness. I really enjoyed this dish with a glass of the red, Chateau Bolchet. cours cinq: Bavarois Flambee. Are you fucking kidding me? I don't know what this dessert is and barely know how to pronounce but I don't care. This came out of the kitchen as a huge cake, which Guillaume flambeed in rum and then cut and served. The best part, second helpings! This is best dessert I have ever tasted in my life. If you ever find yourself in France or any location with this dessert available, you have to order it! This is one of the finest restaurants I have eaten at in Kansas City, you will not find many more authentic restaurants that exist. This is a must go for anyone who knows French food or wants a great evening.

    (5)
  • Nico Camille F.

    Very good french restaurant in a great location. Yes, Parkville is a bit far but the menu and the wine list are worth to try. The owners are great people. I've been there twice already and i'll probably go there again. Maybe a bit expensive but they do have stuff like sweetbread made a way you cannot try in another place in KC.

    (4)
  • Cristin L.

    Such a great little place! We wanted to get out of our usual routine of eating in or around midtown, so we headed to Parkville and tried Cafe Des Amis. It reminded me of the quaint bistro's I dined in while visiting France last summer. Our waiter, the owner, was from Champagne and was wonderful. The cheese plate was amazing as was our salad, entree and dessert! They also have a nice wine list, and will suggest pairings. It's expensive but well worth it! Great atmosphere, service and food!

    (5)
  • Andy H.

    Best French food state side. I lived in Germany, my wife in Belgium, and her mom and step dad in Belgium and France for a number of years. We all agree that this is the most authentically French place in the US of A that we've been to. The atmosphere feels like France, the servers are (usually) French, they sing French songs in the kitchen, they serve the most delicious French food we've had outside of France (and better than most of the French places we ate at in France), excellent wine, great cocktails, desserts are killer too. Everything about this place, is French. If you haven't been to France, come here. We prefer to go on off nights so it's not very busy, because it's kind of small and I don't want to sit right on top of another table, unless they are speaking a foreign language. It's the cheapest ticket back to Europe I've ever bought, and the food kicks some serious ass. My wife and I go here as often as we can afford, and for any special occasion. We've tried pretty much everything on the menu since we've been coming for years, but lately I keep getting the Canard Confit. The duck has new competition however, because the Skate Wing was mind blowingly delicious. It was like a steak of lobster meat, cooked to perfection. Wow. This is one of those places you can just ask the server to pick for you and you'll have your mind blown. Pick your entree, and let them choose a bottle of wine (give them a price range if you're concerned about it), and get whatever appetizer is on special. Or the pate, my wife always gets the pate and I have to admit it's filthy rich and delicious (and i'm normally not a pate kind of guy). If you can, I highly recommend going towards the end of the evening (make a reservation for 8pm or so), and on an off night. Ask your server to sit and have a glass of wine with you as you wait for your dessert, you'll get some great conversation and make life long friends here.

    (5)
  • Andrew M.

    My wife and I go here about once a year for special occasions. We rarely order alcohol at restaurants due to the huge markup, not wanting to drive drunk, etc., but when we come here we go all out. That is the kind of place it is. We have been to two other prominent French restaurants in the KC area and this one is the best!

    (5)
  • Cindy W.

    My 81 year old mother and I went to Cafe Des Amis for lunch as it had been a while since we had been there. We both ordered the veal cordon bleu special, which took a long time to get it and when we did it was burnt. My mother cut into hers with difficulty and the underside was literally black except in spots where the veal didn't hit the pan. The veal was cooked too done and you would never know there had been any cheese in it. Mine was even worse. (My mother usually doesn't say anything so for her to say something I knew it was bad) We told the waiter while showing him the burnt veal and asked to get something else. Mom ordered the quiche and I a scallop dish. Her quiche was as burnt as the veal. She couldn't cut through the crust and it was not edible. My scallop dish was way overcooked and a very small portion. The side, well.... was a bunch of leaf lettuce to take up the plate. We again told the waiter that the quiche was burnt. We had ordered a glass of wine to share (they gave us one glass and put it between us), I got up to get another glass from the waiter near the bar area and heard the owner say in the kitchen "Well, the quiche was burnt too and I REALLY don't care!" He came out of the kitchen and had no idea I was there. I said to him, "You really don't care?" He said "No." I said, "I guess we just won't come back again" and he put his hands in the air and said "Oh Well!". I said to him. "I am so disappointed as we have been here before and have always been nice, saying Hi and addressing you when we see you. Again, he said "I don't care." I went and sat down and he came to take our plates and mom said "I can't pay for something that is burnt and I can't even eat." and I agreed. Guillaume, the owner said, "I don't care." I was so disappointed as mom and I are so easy and just wanted to have a nice lunch together. He put the bill on our table and said here, it's "0". And that is EXACTLY what it was worth "0"! We would gladly have paid for a good meal. To remedy the situation would have been to apologize and say come back for lunch on us and I will make sure it is good. But Guillaume made his arrogance well known when he repeated several times "I don't care". I have been to other restaurants when things were not up to par and was never treated or talked to this way. Well, we won't be back to Cafe Des Amis because "mom and I REALLY DO care!" Sorry Mom, we'll go somewhere else in the future that has an owner that cares. My one regret is that I didn't take a picture of the veal and the quiche.

    (1)
  • Sarah C.

    I would rather give them 4.5, but they won't let me. skip to the bottom if you wanna find out why they lost .5 star Everything about the night was AWESOME! i tried to stop telling the waiter that everything was awesome, but it kept slipping out. We started with being greeted by a french waiter, added some authenticity to the eveing. Then our waiter who was nice and had an american accent (and he was cute, don't tell boyfriend i said that) and he took our drink order, the drink i ordered he said was his own recipe, and warned me it was strong. i was delish! We then ordered. Shared an order of frog legs- these were delishious, it was our first time having them and they were good, the sauce was fantastic. Ordered the goat cheese salad- When we ordered it we said that we would be splitting it and he put had it be put on 2 plates for us, the portion was small, but remember we split it, but it was delicious. the goat cheese apricot part was the best part of the salad boyfriend got the canard confit- i tried it, it was good, but i liked mine better (i'll let you know what that was in a second). he ate the entire thing. i got the pheasent (or was it the quail)- it was the special and it sounded delicious. and it was! i ate all but the fat and bones. it came with vegetables, but they weren't my cup of tea. but the little potatoes that they included OMG YUM! dessert! how could we pass up dessert at this charming place- We shared a chocolate souffle. It came with a little ice cream in a raspberry sauce thing. when i was done scraping the chocolate as much as possible i put the raspberry sauce in the cup and created a whole new flavor profile. we had a restaurant.com gift cert and the best part was instead of doing what they normally do when i've used them and tack on the gratuity they simply took the $25 off the check, BEFORE TAX! and i made sure boyfriend tipped waiter well. this is definitely a special night out type place, we celebrated a belated valentines night, but any night you think you deserve a treat i'd go for it. the only part of the night that was not to my liking, is i wore heels that night and they have tiny stairs going upstairs, and not a good handrail. so combine heels+tiny stairs+1 strong drink+my natural lack of grace= taking a small spill down the stairs. but that was nobodies fault, but the stairs. (this is where they lost a half a star with me)

    (4)
  • Ken L.

    A bit of France....right here in Kansas City. My friend and I have been going to Cafe Des Amis for over 15 years now. I bet we have dined there 30 times. And EACH and EVERY time the food has been memorable and flavorable! The service and staff is second to none and the ambiance is like your eating at a quaint Bistro in Provence. This is the real thing. If you have the opportunity dine at Cafe Des Amis. Guillaume and Ingrid are the best at what they do. Bon Appetit!

    (5)
  • Rebecca C.

    Eating here is a religious experience. Favorites include the scallops (oh, the scallops), the bouillabaisse, the goat cheese and apricot salad and the creme brulee. Guillaume is an exquisite host and runs a house so good and attentive that he brings over interns from culinary school in France and houses them in his own home.

    (5)
  • Jeff E.

    Disclaimer First: The contents of this review could be ever-so-slightly skewed in favor of this establishment, in part because it's located in the immediate vicinity of said reviewer's home and also in part because the food is of a quality not typically found in the Northland. ie. It's not fried and it's not at a major intersection with neon or blinky lights. Cafe Des Amis is a true French restaurant. Or at least as true as we'll get here in the Midwest. The guys running this joint are the real deal folks and you'll see them always (partially because it's very small and cozy). I've had various incarnations of duck here and never been disappointed. And if you do NOTHING ELSE, sit outdoors on a warm (not hot) day and enjoy one of their herb-infused champagne cocktails. You can't pick what they have concocted as it varies from time to time but I like the lavender-infused version. Let me be clear: I don't like champagne. But I do like this. This place is hard to find in Parkville if you don't know what you're looking for. It's on Main street, up the hill walking away from the Missouri river, and on your left. Watch for a tiny sign that points up a long staircase. Kansas Citizens complain that it's too expensive. Take a trip some time outside of the Missouri River Valley and see what good food costs. Then you'll see that it's not that bad at all. Bon Appetit!

    (5)
  • Barrett B.

    We have been to Cafe Des Amis three times in the last year and it is one of our favorite restaurants in the KC metro area! The food is great, that atmosphere is romantic, and very French, and the owner is a riot! We have enjoyed ourselves as a couple, with family and with friends and we will definitely be back again soon.

    (5)
  • Troy P.

    My wife and I went here for dinner with another couple. Everyone got something different and it was all excellent. Nice wine list as well. We got creme brulee for dessert and loved it as well. The food was excellent, the service great, and the atmosphere out of this world.

    (4)
  • Vanessa N.

    This is a delicious place to eat. I love the charming feel of the place. I have been here for both lunch and for dinner. Lunch was a lot more affordable, but just as delicious. Dinner made me feel like I was somewhere special. I have never been to France, but it felt authentic because every time, our server has had a heavy French accent. That's not something I hear every day in Kansas City. The dessert has been my favorite part of the meal each time I have been there. I don't normally order dessert as I usually don't have a big enough appetite to make it worth it, but I do order it here. Simply because every time it has been THAT good! I am now a lover of crème brulee, but I only order it here. After eating it here, everywhere else I have tried it has been a disappointment, so I have stopped trying.

    (5)
  • Shannon G.

    This past Friday night made for my 5th trip up to the quaint and always impressive restaurant I've deemed 'the gem of Kansas City dining': Cafe Des Amis. The restaurant deserves such a hefty title because it not only has exceptional food & service; staff & atmosphere that are so friendly, warm and welcoming; but it also hits all of these marks 100%, every time I have been there. And that is so rare and treasured. Like a gem...hence the title. Moving on.... This Friday was on par with all of my past experiences so I'll just recap this visit... The last time my date and I were here, Guillaume (co-owner) recommended a new red wine for us that we turned out to both love (very rare) and fortunately they had it on the menu this time so we ordered that again. Very nice. For starters, I ordered the soup du jour: Tomato & Goat Cheese soup (coincidentally this was the exact soup I was craving earlier in the day.) and my date ordered the puff pastry tower filled with sweetbreads. This was my first time trying sweetbreads and they. were. AMAZING. So over-the-top delicious with flavors that I would never have expected (my typical reaction to their dishes). Presentation was beautiful as well. And it was only ~$8. My soup was $5. VERY, very reasonable for the quality and creativity served. For mains he ordered one of the nightly specials which was the rabbit, served somewhat stewed in a sauce that escapes me right now (light yellowish in color). It was served with risotto, roasted tomato and broccoli. The dish itself was to die for, every bite was so well flavored (again with some unexpected flavors) and the meat was very tender. The risotto was creamy and delightful. I ordered the Elk (again new food to try for me) medium-rare with a peppercorn, white wine sauce. It came with gratin, broccoli and roasted tomato. The meat was cooked perfectly and was delicious, as well as the sides. I normally don't like tomatoes but the way that they cook them here, as well as the quality of their tomatoes, always makes it enjoyable. And to sway me to liking tomatoes is very impressive in my book. For dessert, we shared the chocolate souffle with vanilla ice cream and red fruit coulis and two espressos. The dessert was a lot larger than I expected and so delicious. They served it with an orange slice which went great with the rich chocolate, ice cream and coulis. I was 100% perfectly sated. Guillaume and our waiter (his name escapes me right now) were always very friendly, professional and on top of things. We chose to sit outside even though we were the lone porch goers after 7pm as the fall temperature started to dip. They have a large and very nice outdoor seating area that is somewhat secluded in the woods (I'm pretty sure we heard a bobcat screaming in the trees near us as well as the train going by a few times). They had nice French music playing the entire time. Candles on the tables. It's a very romantic place. The same goes for inside, as someone already described it has the feel of a very warm, cozy and romantic european apartment and we'll gladly move our party inside as it starts to get colder. The best thing about Cafe des Amis is that while having such great food and service (so regularly), the prices are much more reasonable and the atmosphere much more welcoming than a lot of the other restaurants of its caliber in the area. It never ceases to surprise and impress me. Try it once and you'll fall in love.

    (5)
  • Karmic B.

    Usually we stay in the city whenver we visit KC, but I am Glad we drove extra miles and found this charming place. We had limited time, so we could only schedule lunch on a Friday. Though it was July, we chose to sit on the balcony. The cafe is on the second floor of an old building, the balcony is right next to a windy hilly road; it was like sitting on a tree house. The wait staff was friendly and efficient. We had a 1/2 order of mussels, which were light and delicious. I liked my salade de saumon fume (they smoke salmon in house) -- the greens were fresh and tender, salmon was just a delight, and the dressing was just a gentle touch; it was perfect. The lunch special that day was crabmeat on pastry; it was so good. The pastry was flaky yet chewey and the crabmeat was cooked well with light yet flavorful sauce. The caramelized apple-tart with ice cream just gave a lovely final touch to the meal. Consensus is: viola, we like it. We will be back to try other dishes!

    (4)
  • Chelsea F.

    Cafe Des Amis is spot on what it's name means. A quaint little French bistro, fixed at the top of the hill in Parkville (a town that's as picturesque and cute as it can possibly be), a true hidden jewel that boasts fabulous flavors of food and company. It rests above an antique shop, and the hominess of the old house, with it's warm walls and simple decor, makes it that much cozier. My boyfriend and I celebrated the first anniversary of our first date here, and it was a wonderful place for a special occasion, but I would go here any day of the week when I'm craving a lingering meal. The maître d' discovered we were there to celebrate, and made our experience that much more special. We enjoyed the escargot as our appetizer - the puff pastry it came in was flaky and buttery and just melted in our mouths. He enjoyed a succulent rack of lamb, while I had the Bouillabaise which was nothing short of amazing. To finish, we had both the Creme Brulee (which is actually two - one vanilla, and one chocolate) and the Chocolate Souffle. Wow. It was an unforgettable meal. We'll definitely be going here again.

    (5)
  • Keith K.

    Another great meal. My daughter wanted to have her 17th birthday dinner here...what a shock. She's getting ready to head to France for 2 weeks in June and wanted a little taste of France before she left. All of the food was wonderfully done. I had the rack of lamb, wife had Berkshire pork tenderloin, daughter had the scallops, and my youngest daughter had the sea bass. What a beautiful night to sit outside and enjoy dinner. Thanks for a wonderful night.

    (5)
  • Bryon L.

    I brought my wife and children here for Mothers Day - our first time to Cafe Des Amis. The people and food were simply outstanding. I highly recommend them. Keep it up!

    (5)
  • Harrison S.

    I went here with my girlfriend and parents for dinner recently. Everyone's food excellent, but I think what really makes the place is the atmosphere. It's in a little place that my parents said was an apartment when they were in school at Park. To some people this may be a turnoff but to me it gives the place a very warm European feel. The service was excellent and friendly and the drinks were well made. It is a little pricey but I believe you get what you pay for here.

    (5)
  • Serra C.

    This is hands down the most romantic and delicious place we've found in KC (being from SF - the foodie capitol that is a compliment). We have been here many times and always enjoy a fabulous, long lingering meal. Just the way it should be. This past weekend my husband and I went - after being seated we were greeted with warm bread and champagne cocktails, next up olive tapenade, then we shared the lobster/endive sald, next up our entrees (Beef Bourgignon and Chicken puff pastries) for dessert - champagne mousse (to die for) and a coffee split. The last time I was here I had my all time favorite entree - ostrich yum! The owner and maitre de are delightful and they never hurry you out - they let you enjoy a meal just as you would in France. Here's hoping they are in business for a very long time

    (5)
  • Jamison U.

    My companion and I had lunch here, the service quality was good, great atmosphere. The Escargot was not to our taste (to much garlic) but it was good, I had the onion soup (always a good judge food for a French restaurant) and it was great. My main dish was one of the best prepared trout I have had, I would certainly have it again. Overall I would say it was a great meal, and I expect we will return again (for dinner).

    (4)
  • Jeff H.

    I've been wanting to eat here for years, but we just don't go near Parkville very often. We decided to go for an early Valentine's dinner and it was a really great choice for the holiday. Cafe Des Amis is a quaint little place that, judging by the bathroom (just about the nicest in KC), used to be an apartment above a storefront. It literally feels like eating in someone's house. The hostess was superb and our waiter very helpful, friendly and efficient. Our wine was brought to the table a mere couple of minutes after ordering. We weren't the exception, everyone in our room was served their wine a minute or two after ordering. We also had the treat of sharing a room with a Quebecian foursome who were speaking French without impugnity. I don't think they thought anybody else spoke French or else that dirty little minx, Dominique in the back corner wouldn't have been talking about swinging all evening or talked so loudly about it. And, no, Dominique is not someone I want to picture swinging. We got an appetizer of coquilles st jacque au gratin which is just the French way of saying scallops au gratin. The gratin was a sherry beschamel sauce with mushrooms. The appetizer was fine overall, but the scallops just weren't that great and neither my wife nor I were that impressed. For the entrees, I got the special which was a bison ribeye with a green peppercorn madeira sauce. My wife got the Canard Confit which she referred to as "the duck". The bison ribeye was quite the popular dish as the couple at the table next to us and the man at the table next to them all had the bison. I wish it was an everyday dish because it might have been about the best steak I've ever eaten. I didn't know bison could be as tender as that steak was. The sauce was just perfect on top of the steak. The sides seemed to be an afterthought. Underneath my steak were 3 or 4 slivers of a potato gratin, one squash disc, 3 or 4 pieces of artichoke and a roasted tomato with bread crumb. The roasted tomato was quite nice, but the potato and squash were run of the mill (I don't like artichoke so I skipped it). My wife's duck confit was good, but needed salt. The crispy skin on the duck was just wonderful and I joked that I would love to live in a world where we could eat crispy duck skin like we eat popcorn. I guess it could be the ritzy version of chicharrones. We ended with a chocolate souffle with a fruit sauce and a wonderful vanilla ice cream. It was quite a rich and decadent dessert and perfectly done. Every part of it was fabulous. This could very easily be a 5 star review were it not for the mediocre appetizer and one small thing. Our bread crumbs were on the tablecloth throughout the whole meal. This may seem like a minor inconsequential thing, but we were there for 2 hours (and spent $150) and had plates cleared 2 different times. The same bread crumbs were there throughout. Most restaurants of this caliber will have someone come over and scrape the bread crumbs onto a plate or something at some point. If bread crumbs aren't a sticking point, you get a different appetizer and don't mind skimpy sides that seem an afterthought you can consider this a 5 star review, I don't mind.

    (4)
  • Katy R.

    LOVE Cafe des Amis! For celebratory events or just "don't feel like cooking tonight," Cafe des Amis is a favorite. Convenient and charming in downtown Parkville. Not a bargain restaurant, but worth every penny. You'll be impressed!

    (5)
  • Adam A.

    I have been to this restaurant twice, and pleased both times. The service, ambiance, and food are outstanding!

    (5)
  • Asima F.

    Great find, and I'll be back. Lots of French wines by the glass, very fun, quaint ambiance. The duck confit was yummy as was the clafoutis!

    (4)
  • Nathan B.

    Love this restaurant. Great ambiance, tasty entrees and amazing wine.

    (4)
  • Michelle G.

    My husband and I went to Cafe des Amis for our wedding anniversary this past weekend. I would highly recommend it if you're looking for a quiet, romantic, leisurely dinner with your significant other or close friends. The service is top notch! Several members of the waitstaffed talked with us and all were very personable. Update: I forgot to add that Cafe des Amis is typically on restaurant.com and you can purchase a gift card at a discount there. The restaurant is in the second story of an older building. There's a large patio area as well where you either have a view of quaint downtown Parkville, or a nice wooded area. Either way, you should definitely sit on the patio if weather permits. The food was great. All perfectly cooked with fresh ingredients. We had the trout and the duck as entrees and escargot for an appetizer. All were delicious, but we agreed that the duck was the best. The sauce on the escargot is killer. Our waiter joked that you could probably cook a rubber boot in that sauce and make it delicious. He's about right, it's THAT good! We finished our meal with a really good chocolate souffle and our waiter also brought complimentary champagne along with it in honor of our anniversary. Altogether, Cafe des Amis was a close to perfect experience. There were several couples there as well as small groups, and everybody seemed to be having a great time. Go soon, go often! :)

    (5)
  • Marina P.

    We have had dinner there on several occasions and have always been pleased with the food. The last time we arrived the waiter gave us a little grief about not having a reservation, but I felt it was done in a joking way as only the French can pull off. He continued to harass me for not ordering wine, but I was hung over from the night before and just couldn't do it. All was golden though when I ordered the Bouillabaisse, he was very pleased with my selection and was soon my biggest fan. Everything was superb! My fiance ordered the Filet and practically licked the plate and we also ordered the Coquilles St. Jacques Au Gratin as an appetizer. YUM. Overall great experience, it did get rather hot in the dining area as they got busier. I would recommend eating on the deck outside with a view of the alley and neighbor cat if it's a nice evening.

    (4)
  • Bob K.

    I can't say anything that hasn't been said by others. It is our favorite "special occasion" restaurant in the KC area. Like any French restaurant, it isn't cheap. But the atmosphere is cozy and charming and the food is superb.

    (5)
  • Christine B.

    I LOVE this place! I have only been once, but I am already planning to bring visitors here. The area is cute with little shops around. I came here for dinner and was extremely impressed. It was worth the extra drive to get here. Authentically French and great service. The wine list is extensive and we were not disappointed with either of the 2 recommended bottles we tried. 6 of us went out together and we each tasted eachothers dish. Every single one was spectacular! My scallops were perfectly dressed in a delicate white wine sauce. My husband had an absolutely delicious venision dish and my sister had the wild mushroom stuffed trout, which may have just been my favorite. When we visited, it was sweltering hot, otherwise we would have eaten out on their cute little deck. This place really is a hidden gem, and it certainly is work the extra drive to Parkville. I highly recommend it, and I hope to see more reviews here soon... Oh, yeah, don't skip the desserts!

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Tue

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : No
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Intimate, Romantic
    Noise Level : Quiet
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Café Des Amis

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