Restaurants in Leawood

Brightly painted arches greet patrons as they walk into Little Egypt Restaurant, easing the eyes into the vivid murals of pyramids and ancient-Egyptian-style figures painted onto the brick walls inside. Under the watchful gaze of the Sphinx, tables fill with a menu of Egyptian and Mediterranean fare that centers around hummus, falafel, and spiced meats. A slow-simmered lamb shank steams in a garlic and tomato sauce, and at a grill, gyros, chicken kebabs, and kitta kebabs crackle alongside veggies. Pita bread emerges freshly baked from the oven, ready to hide the treasures in floury confines like a baker’s wallet.

Roaring flames rise and fall inside the kitchen of Wai Wai Thai Place Express. Some might think that a dragon lives there, but it’s just the dramatic cooking methods of Pa Noi and Pa Nut, the restaurant’s culinary team. The pair also makes noodles tumble through the air at this edible circus, where flavors from Thailand coalesce in classic dishes such as pad thai, panang curry, and galanga chicken soup. Guests can witness the performance from nearby booths and tables that sit within view of the kitchen, where cooks chop bell peppers rather than fashioning them into clown noses. The stove’s heat summons the veggies’ crunch for ginger-laced stir-fries, and scallions and garlic unlock the flavors that dwell within the peppers' colorful shells. At a handful of outdoor tables, diners can marinate in fresh air and sunshine as they munch soft spring rolls and crispy pork ribs kissed with garlic and sriracha.

Fresh ingredients play a starring role in the kitchen at Sammy’s Pizza and Pub, where chefs craft each neo-Neapolitan pizza crust by hand. From there, diners take meal matters into their own figurative hands, customizing each golden-brown circle with a choice of premium red, alfredo, olive-oil, or pesto sauce, and toppings such as meatballs, spinach, capers, and shrimp. Cheese options include a cheddar-mozzarella blend and a vegan-friendly version milked from fresh ears of corn. Those forgoing sliced sustenance altogether can opt for one of the menu's savory sandwiches, such as a house-made meatball grinder, featuring meatballs made from a blend of ground beef and pork and seared in red wine.

The choices don't end there, however, as the eatery's dining room has been cleverly split into two sections. Couples and sophisticated singles can admire the carefully erected towers of glasses filled with Boulevard beer and top-shelf liquor on the restaurant and bar side, and families find suitable midmeal entertainment in a game room that keeps bored tykes from playing with their dinner or sculpting it into a new imaginary friend.

From morning, noon, to night, the hardworking chefs at Paparico's dish out mouthwatering meals of Mexican. Breakfast burritos and quesadillas greet the rising sun, and traditional meals of pozole, carnitas, and tamales round out suppers graced with garnishes of colorful pico de gallo, creamy queso rico, and salsa verde. An ample supply of Mexican beers and potent margaritas wash away spicy notes of poblano and chili de arbol, and provide more sturdy toasting apparatuses than enchiladas topped with ranchero sauce.

Tamale Wizard's kitchen blends six different salsas from scratch each day, evincing a food philosophy that is "really all about doing it the hard way," as owner and chef Bruce Swabb reported to the Kansas City Pitch. From a River Market storefront, the food-truck veteran crafts a focused menu of tacos wrapped in hand-pressed tortillas and plump tamales, each dolloped with sauces that include creamy avocado, mango banana, and chili peanut in addition to classic jalapeño varieties. Pork carnitas, chili-lime fish, and chicken en mole prepared according to Oaxacan and Yucatecan recipes fill the corn or flour tacos, and black beans, sweet potato, and cheesy green chili join the slate of fillings on the tamale menu.

The taps behind the bar dispense ales and lagers from Kansas City's own Boulevard Brewing Company, and artful bottles hold all-natural Soda Vie soft drinks in pineapple cilantro and strawberry mint. Exposed-brick walls and chalkboard menus create a flexible space for the staff's constant innovation, from whipping up ever-spicier taco fillings to building a sidewalk cart in time for summer weather and the taco-racing season.

Opera House Coffee & Food Emporium serves piping-hot coffee, espresso drinks, and smoothies from Classic Rock Coffee Co., whose specialty white chocolate coffee called Dirty White Boy is available. The Opera House space plays host to a diverse selection of eats that also includes breakfast dishes, such as the Bake Haus's cinnamon rolls and muffins, and the Paleo Grill's burgers and sandwiches. Speaking to The Pitch, co-owner David Anderson expressed his hopes that the upscale food court will make people feel "comfortable and at home." This sentiment is reflected in the decor, with art that embodies Americana lining the walls and a telescope pointed toward the sky.