How I Got My Booth: Falling in Love at Missouri’s Most Romantic Red Sauce Joint | Bon Appétit

"Family-run by the Totta family since 1963, this cozy Independence restaurant (about ten miles from downtown Kansas City) prides itself on a romantic, nostalgia-laden atmosphere: nearly every snuggle-up booth bears an engraved plaque for couples who got engaged there, and the official slogan is “Since 1963, a Nice Place to Fall in Love.” Locals say the food is consistently good, with the Italian rum cake frequently singled out as “to die for.” It serves as a multigenerational gathering spot for milestones—engagements and rehearsal dinners, birthdays, graduations, and even post-chemotherapy celebrations—where families return across decades and add their names to the wall of plaques." - ByLiz Cook