Liberty (MO): Inexpensive, Quality Mexican Fare

Rancho Grande Cantina

921 W Liberty Dr
Liberty, MO 64068
(816) 792-4844
$ - All entrees below $15

RANCHOGRANDECANTINA.COM

Rancho Grande in Liberty was a staple for me during my first four months in Kansas City. Yes, of course it is Americanized Mexican, but we are in America after all. If you have a craving for inexpensive, quality food, this is the place.

We have never had issues with the service. Even though we seem to get a different server every week, we have gotten to know a few and they are always prompt and friendly. There is usually a short wait, particularly on Friday and Saturday night, but rarely have we had to wait more than 20 minutes. It is a bit busy, noisy, confusing, and hectic, but the noise adds to the atmosphere.

Once seated, you immediately receive a basket of fresh made chips and salsa (you have to ask for the "hot" version) and your server arrives shortly thereafter. The margaritas are excellent, at $5 per glass or $20 for a pitcher ($12 for a small), coming frozen or on the rocks. They are potent, so bring a designated driver if you plan to have more than one!

The guacamole is excellent and consistent, although I have to add a little salt each time and the portions seem to get smaller all the time, but still worth the price ($4.95). The chili con queso is also very good, but a full order is too big for two of us, so we usually get a small order. Quesadillas are very good and come with all the trimmings, but a little overpriced for a bit of cheese and tortillas.

Rancho Grande makes the second best restaurant tacos I have had in the U.S.. The shells are not pre-made, they are very fresh and deep fried for every order. You can only get ground beef with the hard shells and they come with lettuce and cheese. I usually save a little guacamole for my tacos or add some of my wife's pico di gallo to spice them up, but they are good alone. You can order a side of guacamole for less than $2, so go that route if you do not order an appetizer.

The enchiladas are excellent, smothered in red sauce and cheddar cheese. I usually order two, one shredded beef and one cheese and onion. Like everything else, the portions are large and the enchiladas tasty. 

The chimichangas are HUGE, so come hungry and everything (except ala carte) comes with rice and beans, which are also tasty. The fajitas are also excellent and filling, coming in beef, chicken, or shrimp. Wednesday's are "fajita night" and are a real value at $8.95, so if you like fajitas, Wednesday is your night!

The only disappointments I have had are the carnitas tacos. Carnitas do not come in a plate with accompaniments and tortillas like most places, they only come pre-wrapped in a tortilla (for a good reason). They are skimpy on the meat and the pork looks like it is boiled, not "slow-roasted" as is the case in most places. Pass on the carnitas!

In all, Rancho Grande in Liberty is an excellent choice for quality American-Mexican food with large portions at a reasonable price. Enjoy! 

CombatCritic gives Rancho Grande Cantina in Liberty 7 out of 10 BOMBS ... More Bombs Are Better!

Parkville (MO): Consistent, Tasty, Inexpensive Mexican Fare

Rancho Grande Cantina
(816) 505-9097
11015 NW Hwy 45
Parkville,MO 64152


RANCHOGRANDECANTINA.COM
Price: $$$$$ - All entrees below $15

Rancho Grande in Parkville is a weekly staple in our house. Yes, of course it is Americanized Mexican, but we are in America after all. If you have a craving for inexpensive, quality food, this is the place. I have been a customer for over three years and continue to go back week after week!

We have never had issues with the service. Even though we seem to get a different server every week, we have gotten to know a few and they are always prompt and friendly. There is usually a short wait, particularly on Friday and Saturday night, but rarely have we had to wait more than 20 minutes. It is a bit busy, noisy, confusing, and hectic, but the noise adds to the atmosphere.

Once seated, you immediately receive a basket of fresh made chips and salsa (you have to ask for the "hot" version) and your server arrives shortly thereafter. The margaritas are excellent, at $5 per glass or $20 for a pitcher ($12 for a small), coming frozen or on the rocks. They are potent, so bring a designated driver if you plan to have more than one!

The guacamole is excellent and consistent, although I have to add a little salt each time and the portions seem to get smaller all the time, but still worth the price ($4.95). The chili con queso is also very good, but a full order is too big for two of us, so we usually get a small order. Quesadillas are very good and come with all the trimmings, but a little overpriced for a bit of cheese and tortillas.

Rancho Grande makes the second best restaurant tacos I have had in the U.S.. The shells are not pre-made, they are very fresh and deep fried for every order. You can only get ground beef with the hard shells and they come with lettuce and cheese. I usually save a little guacamole for my tacos or add some of my wife's pico di gallo to spice them up, but they are good alone. You can order a side of guacamole for less than $2, so go that route if you do not order an appetizer.

The enchiladas are excellent, smothered in red sauce and cheddar cheese. I usually order two, one shredded beef and one cheese and onion. Like everything else, the portions are large and the enchiladas tasty. 

The chimichangas are HUGE, so come hungry and everything (except ala carte) comes with rice and beans, which are also tasty. The fajitas are also excellent and filling, coming in beef, chicken, or shrimp. Wednesday's are "fajita night" and are a real value at $8.95, so if you like fajitas, Wednesday is your night!

The only disappointments I have had are the carnitas tacos. Carnitas do not come in a plate with accompaniments and tortillas like most places, they only come pre-wrapped in a tortilla (for a good reason). They are skimpy on the meat and the pork looks like it is boiled, not "slow-roasted" as is the case in most places. Pass on the carnitas!

In all, Rancho Grande in Parkville is an excellent choice for quality American-Mexican food with large portions at a reasonable price. Enjoy!

CombatCritic gives Rancho Grande Cantina in Parkville 7 out of 10 BOMBS ... Bombs are good!

Parkville (MO): Cafe Italia Re-Opens in Historic Parkville After Two-Year Hiatus

Cafe Italia
160 English Landing Drive
Parkville, MO 64152
816-584-0607
Website: http://cafeitalia2.com/
$$$$$ - Entrees $10-$30

There being a shortage of non-chain Italian restaurants in the Northland, Cafe Italia in Parkville didn't let us down. The atmosphere is sparse, but modern with a touch of elegance as opposed to their old locaton on North Oak. The menu was missing one of my favorites from the old location, vitello saltimbocca (veal saltimbocca). We started with wine, Canyon Road Cabernet ($22/bottle) from the limited wine list. Prices by the glass are reasonable, from $6-$7.50/glass.

We started with a stuffed artichoke, while tasty, and hot, was too "cheesy" and drenched in olive oil. A bit disappointing, but my standards are high because I learned an excellent stuffed artichoke recipe form my grandmother who was born in the Irpino region of Italy. We both had the ceasar salad which was excellent, the only problem being the very large (but delicious) croutons that had to be eaten by hand because they were too hard to cut into pieces.  My wife, an Italian citizen, had ravioli con funghi, stuffed with chicken, prosciutto, and capicolo in a mushroom sauce. The taste was excellent, but the pasta was too "al dente". Being Italian, she is hard to please when it comes to Italian food, but enjoyed her meal very much. I had the vitello alla parmigiana which was tasty, but a little tough for "milkfed veal" which was advertized on the menu. The color and texture seemed more like sliced beef to me, but it was tasty and resonaby priced, veal or beef.

The size of the portions was generous, so we had to pass on dessert. The owners stopped by to talk and one's family is originally from the same area of Sicily where my wife was born, so they were able to speak in Italian about their shared heritage.  Overall, we had a nice meal, the service was very good, and we will return soon to see if any of the problems noted above have been taken care of. After all, they have only been open for two weeks!

CombatCritic Gives Cafe Italia 6 out of 10 Bombs ... Bombs Are Good!

Menu:

http://www.cafeitalia2.com/user/web-storage/webstorage1/menu.pdf

"Our family is first and second generation Italian American.  Our heritage is laced in a rich culture of food and wine.  Most of the family hails from Sicily, the southern most state in Italy.  The food we bring to you at Cafe Italia strongly represents this Sicilian influence, especially in the rich red sauces and spicy pasta dishes we serve."

            Cafe Italia

Kansas City (MO):Excellent, Consistent American-Style Italian Food, Enormous Portions at Affordable Prices

Cascone's

3733 North Oak Trafficway

Kansas City, MO 64116

(816) 454-7977

cascones.com

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