Voltaire

It had been years since I last visited Voltaire, and after this recent visit it may be a while before I return. We ordered the seasonal salad, baked ricotta, octopus, skirt steak, and pollo Oaxaca. The restaurant was busy but not overwhelmed, so the 25 minute wait before any food arrived felt an oddly long. The first dishes out were the octopus and salad. The octopus started out slightly overcooked and grew rubbery as it sat in the very hot broth. The salad was fine, though the dressing leaned so sharply on vinegar that it felt unbalanced. When the baked ricotta and entrees arrived, the ricotta unfortunately missed the mark. It was so dried out that it had turned into more of a paste. The skirt steak was alright but cooked past what we expected, and the accompaniments didn’t quite come together. The pollo Oaxaca had good flavor but some pieces were cooked so firmly they were difficult to cut. We did stay for dessert, which was enjoyable, though the coffees we ordered never made it to the table. Our server was friendly, but there were a few moments where we would have appreciated a quick check-in, especially with the long wait, drink refills, and the untouched ricotta. I don’t enjoy writing critical reviews, and I know off nights happen, but this visit disappointed from start to finish.

What a special place. A comfortable atmosphere and well done decor. Nice. Oysters, did I mention oysters... on the half shell, oysters anybody? What a great place, great people, delicious food and a high vibe positive space. Visit this establishment. Stay and relax awhile. You will be happy here. Nice job to the staff and ownership at Voltaire. Well done. KUDOS!!!

Lovely laidback little cocktail bar with Sinatra on the record player and the most unique and delightfully delicious curated cocktail menu you ever did explore. Fantastic food menu and excellent HH. LOVE IT

We stumbled upon Voltaire in the stockyard district on Saturday after going to the antique shops and I’m so glad we did. First and foremost, they have happy hour on Saturdays! Yes, happy hour on Saturdays with $7 old fashioneds, gin and tonics, and great food options. The atmosphere, seating, and lighting is 10/10 with music played from an old school record player. We ordered fries to start off and they came out hot, fresh, and crispy with the best port wine ketchup I’ve ever had. Our cocktails were fantastic and the bartenders definitely knew their stuff. We also got the brussel sprouts which were absolutely amazing. We will 100% be back for a date night dinner!

Excellent food, excellent service, excellent drinks. At first I was skeptical because it isn’t really my type Of atmosphere. But when you walk in and it’s a friendly greeting and people all around just being themselves it makes you feel pretty at home. I only rated 4 stars on atmosphere just because it can get a little too loud to hear the person across the table at times. Will always come back here for fun nights out.

Came in last night for Happy Hour for the first time and came away very impressed. The atmosphere is super chill and inviting. The PEI Muscles and Baked Ricotta were fantastic and the Old Fashioned was very good. We sat in the bar area and our server was very slow. More interested in chatting with coworkers then helping us…which would normally reduce the number of stars! However, the host was so friendly that it jumped back up to 5! We will be back.

The atmosphere is casual historic bar with excellent food and service. We went to Voltaire for a friends birthday. With 11 of us they had to split us between two tables side by side. Not ideal but it worked. I think they had another large party further down along the wall. Food was great! I had the pork loin which was the most tender I have ever had. The Brussel sprouts and fries were wonderful.

A somewhat upper scale restaurant with a pleasant slightly darker relaxed atmosphere. A little outdoor seating. A nice little lounge area just inside. The music played on vinyl was reminiscent of, but NOT David Bowie. The Pommes Frites, lightly breaded French fries, with parsley flakes and a port wine ketchup were very crispy and the sauce was good if served with too little. Couldn't really taste the garlic on them. The pan seared Lion's Mane Mushroom dish was pretty good, the mushrooms were well cooked and had a good texture, although they could have been a little crispier on the outside for my taste. The flavors were varied and interesting. The piquillo pistachio relish was pleasant and added some depth. The sauce verte was also good, although very kicky with black pepper and another strong herb that I can't quite place - somewhat citrusy. The radishes were nicely cooked, the pureed cauliflower was pleasant. The sherry miso sauce didn't really show through much amid the other flavors. The leeks ... had a nice flavor, but the outer half of the layers were almost impossible to cut with a sharp knife or chew - so that put a bit of a damper on the dish and made it a little frustrating to eat. The service was welcoming, knowledgeable of their dishes, and friendly. I have had some really good food from Voltaire at an event before. This visit was interesting to try, and probably worth trying, but I wouldn't quite say that it lived up to the price vs other options.

BRUNCH IS BACK. My husband and I would come down for brunch a lot pre covid days and we always loved it. When I saw they were bringing it back on Mother's Day I immediately booked a reservation. Now we have a 2 year old daughter and though I know it's not exactly a place for kids, I did risk it for Mother's Day. Everyone there was so sweet and accommodating. They found us a high chair and even a plastic cup with a straw for my daughter to use! We probably could've been fine with my daughter sitting next to me in the booth but the fact that they took time to find a high chair for her was really special. And I could have my brunch with both hands free! Everything was so good I forgot to take pictures! I got a Garibaldi cocktail and a cappuccino and for food I ordered the lemon ricotta pancakes. Their pancakes were just as good as I remember with lavender ricotta and a blueberry compote on top. No syrup necessary. This place has a beautiful bar and a fun atmosphere. While we were there they were playing a Blondie vinyl. My Mother's Day was made so special by being able to have brunch there.

We stopped into Voltaire for a cocktail and happy hour spontaneously. We were immediately greeted by the friendly staff and bartender and loved the vibes of this old school feeling place. Their happy hour menu was really impressive and affordable. I had a Paloma and 2 oysters. The Paloma was great and my first oyster tasted really good, but I'm 99% sure my second oyster was a spoiled one. I ate it because I was expecting it to taste like my first but the taste was extremely off putting. I should have said something to the staff but it was already too late and we needed to leave to catch our dinner reservation. I'd honestly come back because of the service, drinks and food choices, but I will avoid the oysters next time.

Stopped by Voltaire for happy hour... and was reminded of how good this place is! It is just as good as I remembered... if not better! We sat at the bar, grabbed some happy hour drinks and snacks. Service was great, drinks and food were delicious. Portions sizes were great! This may be my new favorite happy hour spot!

This has quickly become our new favorite restaurant! We were absolutely blown away by the entire experience. The staff, food, and drinks were all outstanding. They are incredibly food allergy-friendly and highly knowledgeable about their menu items. They even provided me with a personalized menu specifically labeled for my tree nut allergy, which was so thoughtful. The atmosphere was fantastic, and the food was truly out of this world. We tried the Duroc pork and duck, and both dishes were exceptional! The drinks were equally impressive--we had the Lady Head and the Three Cacti Makes a Pear, and they were both phenomenal. Overall, this was hands down the best meal and dining experience we've had in a long time!

Quaint spot with unique dishes. Service was great and staff was knowledgeable about the menu. Great spot for a date night or night with friends! I had the Lobster Pappardelle with house made noodles and it was delicious. We ended the evening with an Affogato.

Amazing!! Had the Spanish octopus which was so good. Drinks were creative and delicious, and ambience was moody and fun. Definitely want to come again and try some more stuff!

Came for happy hour on a Thursday night. They had a special including $20 on select wine bottles as well as happy hour pricing on various small plates from 5PM-6PM (short time). Food was decent, not mind blowing, but solid for happy hour. We started with the mussels and pommes frites (best item we had), as well as the pommes aligot, both very tasty and delicious. Other dishes we tried included the hummus plate and seasonal salad. Loved the salad, perfectly dressed and lots of crunchy pistachios and whipped chèvre cheese that made for the perfect bite. Service was sort of slow, especially for there only being 3 parties in entire place, but not awful. Overall would give probably 3+/5 stars for food and service. Restaurant itself is beautiful and definitely fits well in the West Bottoms. Would still say worth trying again maybe for an actual full dinner..we all have off nights sometimes.

Had a great dinner at Voltaire. Service was great, and everyone's meals were delightful. This was the pork tenderloin that was Korean bulgolgi inspired with kimchi and pear on top. I am personally not a fan of fruit with meat, but everything was flavorful and seasoned very well! I had their one mocktail on the menu which was not the best, but it is a mocktail, so it's not a fair judgement on their cocktail menu! Would definitely go back to this quaint but vibrant spot to try their other dishes and cocktails.

I'm normally down here visiting the dive bar next-door called lucky boys but decided to have a nightcap and grab a cocktail before heading back home. The cocktail chai and love again caught my eye immediately after looking at the menu. It was beautifully crafted, and so delicious and warmed my tummy. The space was also super cool. I loved the record player that they had in the window and the bookshelf of records by the bar. I don't think I've ever been in a bar with an actual record player playing music before, so that was very interesting to see. I'll have to stop by again soon to check out more of their cocktails. Unfortunately we only had time for one.

Quaint, dimly lit restaurant with great drink options and pretty good food! I loved enjoying their oysters which were on their special menu that day. Great date night spot!

Very cute spot located in a seemingly hipster area. The menu is a tad limited, but we had a good time. The food was a little too salty for my tastes & the service was a bit slower than other spots we tried in KC. Worth it to try for sure!

Met Jill(Owner) at the brewery across the street and she recommended trying the brunch on Saturday/Sunday. I was beyond impressed with the food and the mimosas are freshly squeezed. Will definitely be coming back!

Stopped by after my daughter's graduation at hyvee arena. We had drinks, tried the shrimp tacos and mussels! Was soo yummy! Loved the atmosphere! We will be back!

Charming, beautiful spot in the west bottoms with a great menu. The Szechuan steak au poivre was delicious! Perhaps my favorite item on the menu is the Lisbon cake. Great date night spot.

Only came for drinks, but I'll be back for food next. Great service, and super LGBT friendly. There was a DJ at 7 on a weeknight. I asked for their whiskey of the moment and got to try something I've never had. Fantastic cocktail selections, and a full bar--so you can ask for something not on the menu.

Seems like a nice quirky place down near HyVee arena. Met there with a group of six . Like everywhere else, I would assume they were short staffed and we had a significant wait between placing food orders and actually receiving our food, and even the ln two of our party were still waiting on a salad when most of us were halfway finished. I thought it was fairly expensive for what I received. I ordered a summer pasta dish for, I believe, $23. It was flavorful, but I had trouble with the beans in my fettuccine; it was a texture thing for me. Wine was nice, and appetizers were tasty.

We went on a Friday night and had a reservation although it was not busy at all! We decided to split a few apps for dinner. We tried the hummus plate, pommes aligot, and chicken livers. I was super excited about the pommes, but it was more cheese than potato so more like a fondue than cheesy potatoes - not what I was expecting but still solid! The hummus was delicious and we enjoyed the sides. The chicken liver was an out there pick for us. The flavor with the gochujang was really good, but texturally got very challenging as I started overthinking! Would not order again but it was fun to branch out. We also tried a cocktail and a mocktail that were really good. Our service was quick! Would love to come back when the pretzel is back on the menu!!

Second time visiting Voltaire but it was our first time eating here. Voltaire did not disappoint. First off, you can't go wrong with any of their cocktails. I always order a margarita which isn't on the menu but its always so refreshing + not sugary! But my favorite cocktail I have ever had is their espresso martini. It is probably one of my most favorite ones I have ever had. Food? Woah... where do I even begin? We started with a few apps to get us going! We started with the dumplings, mussels and two sides of fries to split between 6 of us. The mussels were my favorite. I'd also like to add that the amount of mussels are very large. Like much larger than you would normally get at a smaller plate type restaurant. Every entrée we ordered was also spectacular. The service was a little on the slow side but the food + cocktails made up for it!

I'll keep this one a little more brief, as my mom (Christina P) left a nice long review of our visit here. In short, we had a lovely experience at Voltaire. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it had been on my list for a while so away we went! I find the ambiance to be quite nice. Dimly lit with a bit of a hipster vibe. One thing that surprised me is that it felt more like a local coffee shop (or place where regulars visit) as opposed to a nicer restaurant. It definitely is nice though and the food was great. Probably the best raw oyster i've had. It was mini and they had a variety of sauces to add to it. Only $2 on happy hour! The drinks are fun and the dishes are unique. Check the menu ahead of time, because it isn't for eveyrone. I ordered the quinoa with black beans and we also got the beet ravioli. All good, though a bit lacking in flavor. I think that the West Bottoms is really starting to flourish and Voltaire is certainly helping!

Nice restaurant. Elegant..all them fancy words. I went in for the cocktails on a happy hour. I left out feeling good, but if I had to be honest ... there not an extensive cocktail menu. However the wine and beer menu I didn't get food, but I shall return to give that a try next time!

Another review that is months late. I swear you'd think after 10 years I'd figure out a way to stay on top of my reviews, but clearly I haven't yet. Thank goodness I like to Instagram- my food on date nights otherwise I wouldn't be able to tell you we had for dinner on our random Wednesday date night back in August. We decided on dinner out at Voltaire afternoon at KC Wineworks, because it was close and a new spot we hadn't yet tried. So of course, I insisted we have dinner here. Given this was during the summer COVID times, we sat outside. While service was good, the one not so great aspect was that we would periodically get face full of smoke from the smokers outside. I don't begrudge them being outside by our dining area, more just wish that the wind blew the other direction. Anyway, on to the food (can you tell that I've maybe had a drink tonight?) - to start we had the pommes frites (fancy french fries are never a bad idea) followed by (based on my Instagram photos) the hanger steak and the duck. If memory serves we both enjoyed our dinner but now looking at the menu again as I write this...I think we need to go back and try some more options. Overall a great little spot to enjoy a random weekday date night at the end of summer.

Tucked in the Stockyards district, Voltaire was such a great find. I've heard great things and my friend and I decided to try it for my birthday. First off we started with a $20 bottle (such a deal). We got the Rosé by suggestion of our server and it was crisp and tart and SO GOOD! We started off with the pomme frites and the pakora but the star of the meal was the Szechuan Steak Au Poivre. It was cooked to perfection and the turnips had the perfect flavor and texture balance. We ended the night with an Affogato which was also delicious! Lastly, the ambience was great and the service was excellent. Everyone seemed to be having a great time and the server was the perfect amount of attentiveness

I enjoyed a nice dinner before a show down at Crown Center with my daughter at Voltaire. It's a hidden gem in the West Bottoms area close to HyVee (Kemper to us older folks) Arena and Amigoni Winery. Nestled inside an charming little store front across from the Golden Ox, the space is inviting and eclectic. The bar offers an interesting selection of creative cocktails and happy hour (Wednesday thru Saturday 4-6 pm) specials change weekly. We took advantage of the special on oysters, croquettes, and mussels. They were all excellent. Wine by the glass is only $4 during happy hour as well. Our entree choices were the vegan Quinoa con Frijoles Negros and the Beet Ravioli. Everything tasted fresh and the presentation was very colorful and pleasing. I highly recommend Voltaire, especially for happy hour. You will get an interesting, high quality, great value experience. It's a great date destination as well. My next stop there will be to enjoy an after dinner Affogato and to try their Grapefruit Beignets!

Made reservations for a Saturday, options were limited for times. Neat area. Found parking about a block away. Voltaire has character. Tables, booths and a beautiful bar. Several staff members. They did dim the lights off and on through the evening. Great vibe. Waitress was nice but not overly friendly. She made sure our water was continuously filled but did not interrupt. I started with a Rum, Rabbit, Rum. I tasted no carrot but the drink itself was very very strong. Was fine but I would not order again. Friend had the Hemingway Spritz, she said all she could taste was the absinthe. Drinks were presented beautifully. Friends shared mussels and said they were fine. We also shared an order of Pommes Frites, again fine but not mind blowing. I had Golf Shrimp Tempura Tacos. Came with 3 street style tacos, each only had one shrimp. IMO it lacked flavor. I keep only tasting the char from the grill they put on the tortillas. Friends had Puntanesca Primavera and Lion's Mane Mushroom and both enjoyed their meal but no one was blown away. Bar was busy but the tables and booths were mostly free, which was interesting since reservations were limited online when she booked. Bathroom was clean. Overall, nice place. So many places in the city I am not sure this will draw us back, but definitely give it a try.

My husband and I came here for my birthday dinner on a Friday night. It was an odd experience. I have heard great, amazing, wonderful things about Voltaire and was very excited. We made reservations on Tock and referenced that we were there for my birthday. We were seated right away one we arrived but then it went downhill from there. Our server finally came to our table after we had been there for about 15 minutes, she was friendly and seemed nice. She explained how the menu worked and then said she'd come back for our order....she finally came back about 20 minutes later. We ordered the pommes frites, they took about 20 minutes to come out. Now, the fries were delicious, absolutely amazing. The food was amazing, no doubt about it. We were about half way into our fries when she came back to ask us how it was and then darted away. We thought this was odd because we were going to put in entrees. Well, we finished the fries and they sat empty on our table for about 15 minutes, someone else finally come and picked them up. 10 minutes after that she came back and asked how it was, we said great and asked her if we could put food in so we finally did. I ordered the shrimp pasta and my husband got steak. The food took about 20 minutes to come out. Once again, the food is very good and delicious, smaller portions but not unexpected for a place like Voltaire. By the time we got our food we had been there an hour and a half. We ate our entrees and then again they sat there...empty on our table for 10 minutes until someone came and got the plates...we sat there again...our server was no where to be seen. She finally came over about 20 minutes after we had finished with a dessert menu, we figured we'd try one more time and since it was my birthday we were going to get dessert. Well she didn't come back to see if we wanted any dessert for 20 more minutes, and when she did come back she had our check so we just decided it was time to cut our losses and leave. We had our card on the table for about 10 minutes before she finally came and got it. Overall, we were there for almost 3 hours. I appreciate not being rushed, but this was on another level. We were not drinking, as I am pregnant. The place wasn't very busy. Our server did have one other table of 12 so that took some of her attention, but they didn't arrive until an hour after us, and we saw her at their table frequently compared to us. The restaurant had about 4 bartenders too so it didn't seem like they were short staffed. It was just overall such an odd experience, I wish I had chosen somewhere else for my birthday. Again, our server wasn't rude, she seemed friendly enough but she was just missing a majority of the time. We should have just left after the appetizer. The food is good, I'm sure everything else is wonderful, the atmosphere is very hipster, but cool. I am in no hurry to every come back, which is disappointing because most everyone else loves this place. So odd.

I tried this place the first time pre-Covid because I showed up to The Campground on a Wednesday having forgotten they were not open. So I walked a couple doors down to Voltaire. Over a year later I finally made it back, and it was even better than I remembered. Their cheese and charcuterie board is perfect, so good that I am craving it even now just mentioning it. They have great happy hour cocktail prices. I really enjoy how they make an old fashioned neat but ice cold. My wife and I need to keep returning so we have a chance to try more items from the menu.

Our waitress was very knowledgeable about the menu and suggested great drink options. The food was delicious. I would stay away from the lamb & ravioli as well as the wings. The lamb ravioli was gamey and the ravioli was rubbery with no filling. The wings needed a little salt and to be fried crispier. But the steak and the Spanish octopus was AMAZING!!!!

Cool vibe. In the historic stockyard district. Ordered a midsummer cocktail. Bartender (Kim) was very friendly and knowledgeable about the history of the space. We will definitely be back.

It was our first time last night and my boyfriend and I fell in love. The food was amazing, our waiter/bartender was awesome. Sorry, I can't remember his name :( This place is perfect for date night. It's a cool/sexy vibe! The Mahi Mahi was literally the best I've ever had! My boyfriend had the lamb and said it was amazing as well. We will definitely be back! Especially to check out Wednesday nights and happy hour! Thanks for a beautiful evening :)

Very cool vibe kind of place. We stopped in for a nightcap and it was the perfect destination. They're quite busy so next time we will make sure to rsvp. The space is very cozy abut the decor is top notch. Our cocktail was delicious! Server is very attentive and knowledgeable. The play their music out of the wall of vinyl, how cool is that! While we're there the food smell so good...so we will have to come back for dinner and drinks next time!

This place is a joke. They took our reservation days in advance and texted me the day before to confirm our booking, only for us to show up on the night to find the restaurant completely closed. This was a place my mom had been looking forward to trying and wanted to take me to before I flew home. On the plus side, there are several other great places nearby who were more than willing to accommodate us on short notice. We ended up at Novel - which was absolutely delicious and would highly recommend - a special shout out goes to the Fox and Pearl who, while they initially had no availability, called back within 5 minutes to offer us a table. Voltaire didn't even answer our phone calls while we were sitting outside their restaurant to inquire about our reservation. We drove ages in fairly poor conditions to come for dinner and were left stranded. We felt completely let down and have no desire to ever try this place again.

This was my first time there for dinner and it was a really fun experience. We had reservations for a group of five and were readily seated upon arrival. Chris, in the magical tiger shirt, was attentive and provided really good recommendations. Of the items we ordered, I much preferred his recommendations over some of the rogue decisions we made. I'm a big fan of shared plates so if you like family-style, this place is for you. Also - super great place for vegetarians. I actually preferred all the vegetable dishes over the meat dishes. Below is a collection of dishes we ordered. It was my birthday so we kind of went a little crazy. Tiger Cry Beef - This was really good. It reminded me of Vietnamese/Thai flavors. Chris said that it just came back on the menu so if you see it, definitely order it. Lots of lime and perfectly cooked steak. Apple beet salad - I love beets so this is totally my kind of salad. I've had variations of this salad before and it didn't disappoint. It was tart, sweet, and crunchy. Grilled octopus - Spanish flavors, there's chorizo and perfectly grilled in a tomato broth. It's not overly salty which I often find when chorizo is involved. The table really liked the broth and Chris gave us extra bread to dip. Vegetable tagine - I love Moroccan spices and although it was not cooked in an actual tagine (or at least didn't come out in one), the flavors were tried and true. This was a generous portion and I ended up keeping the plate for the entire dinner. Pappardelle - Perfectly al dente. It was a good midway dish for us that had a mild, earthy flavor. Scallops - This was also good but not as memorable. There was a blackened crust that gave a little crunch. I wasn't in the mood for seafood but my friends loved it. Gerber chicken - Reminds me of Christmas on a plate. Chris said it was Thanksgiving, but you get the gist. Super flavorful and sweet/cinnamon from the apples/sweet potatoes/pecans. This was a hands-down favorite for the table. The chicken was fall-off-the-bone tender. I'm not one for sweet entrees but this was an overall table pleaser and favorite. Steak - Cooked well, horseradish potatoes were a hit, and yum to tempura green beans. Not as memorable ... probably because we were mostly full by the time this dish arrived. We ended the night with three desserts. Matcha-chai creme brulee was a huge letdown. It was very chai-forward and the consistency was where I took most offense. It was not as smooth and velvety in texture. I think the egg was overcooked so it was a little chunky. Apple pie was ok, nothing to rave about and the dark chocolate bar was also good but not outstanding. I had great expectations for this meal overall because the dishes were pricey and our check was not a joke. For the price I'm paying, I wanted to adore/anticipate every dish that came out and then upon taking the first bite of every dish, I wanted to see the satisfied reaction on everyone's faces as well as hear all the appreciative noises. That didn't happen really happen. I loved Chris, the atmosphere and restaurant vibe were wonderful, they played records (yes!), and the food made for a lovely birthday. I heard the drinks were good, too. I didn't partake because I'm pregnant. Come to Voltaire to at least try it out. This is an "occasion" restaurant for when you want to splurge on a special meal. I just don't see myself as regular.

Went for brunch and it was busy! All the food looked great. We had two cocktails- well balanced and boozy. To eat we had the waffle the malt didn't disappoint. I would recommend sitting at the bar, bartenders are really helpful.

Stopped in to Voltaire for happy hour with a few good friends after it was highly recommended by several people. Love the ambiance in the space - music from a record player, solid mood lighting, and plenty of seating options (lounge, outdoor patio, tables, and the bar). Drinks are made fresh to order with great craftsmanship by the bartenders. Make sure you're there for happy hour from 4-6pm, as there's some great food/drink specials (see photo) available for purchase. Even the bathrooms are well-maintained with hand lotion, hair pomade, toothpicks, and mints. Only complaint during the visit was with the order of chips and dip - the chips were quite crumbly, which made it difficult to dip in the delightful blue cheese/French onion dip.

Review from dine-in experience on Friday evening, August 3rd. Top 10 in KC! From the lighting, to music, to great service and wonderful Creations on the menu, Voltaire is one of my top 10 places in Kansas City. Visited last night for a second time. Same as the first experience, absolutely wonderful. Our menu: Bottle of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir Flash fried heirloom tomatoes with lump crab Salmon dish (will have to refer to menu for correct name) Chicken dish (" " ") Summer Creme Brulee Our server (female with dark hair) was great about suggesting items from the menu (we ordered everything she suggested). Will return again, and again...

Waw...amazing! It was late and most restaurants were closed so we had to go to a bar for food. The menu looked interesting so we took our chance. And I'm so glad we did! The menu is incredible...full of imagination, diverse ingredients and bursting with flavor. I seriously can't wait to come back here and might schedule another business trip just to eat here again ;) We had duck and stripped bass but really each plate had many vegetables, sauces and garnishes. Have I said it was delicious?!

After 3 years since our last visit, I was still just as pleased as I was before. However, this time around, I just wanted to give a shout out to Chris, who brought us genuine laughter with his humor and quick wit. Thank you for making our experience so enjoyable!

Voltaire is on our KC favorite's circuit because it continues serving up creative and perfectly prepared cuisine and cocktails, with pitch perfect service. Matt made my brother in law an "on the spot" original cocktail and explained the nuances of its mezcal base at table, and made my wife an "Officer and a Gentleman," Bourbon based and another of Matt's fun creations. Our table service was equally fab, with Sarah W., giving friendly knowledgable descriptions and advice on our smalls, mains and afters. The Turkish cheese appetizers, mains of haddock, pork medallions, and buttermilk chicken livers ;)' were all 10/10. The kitchen line was hitting on all cylinders. A level of care and detail that is exceptional. After mains, we shared the grilled peach "twist" on a Caprese that was a glorious bite and palate reprieve. I talked the family into dessert, the Chocolate Marquesa is over the top and I am not describing it because . . . spoilers!! Thank you all! Neal, Linda, Bill & Jeff

The food was fantastic! Multiple layers of flavors in every bite of the chicken meatballs and the pork chop. Really good cocktails and attentive service. A fun and casual cool vibe.

Voltaire was in the same place where R Bar used to be in case anybody was wondering. There was a lot of street parking as well as a parking lot nearby (not across from Voltaire since that was for the Golden Ox parking). This area was pretty empty actually so I'm surprised these restaurants and others were still in business (though I could be wrong entirely). I met up with 4 others, who were all part of the KC Foodies Crew, on a Wednesday night. It was somewhat busy, but there were still a few tables available. The decor still reminded me of R Bar minus the big R on the wall. I took pictures of the Cocktail menu, but I doubt it will be readable. I know the actual food menu would not be readable since Yelp will shrink the pictures down more so I cropped it into two separate pictures to make them somewhat readable. Anyways, they had a wide selection of cocktails, wines, and beer. I ordered the Kansas City Sour ($8) which sounded good to me. I also ordered the Steak au Poivre ($18). We all decided to share some appetizers, entrees, and dessert, because that was what we did in the KC Foodies Crew; in addition, that allowed us to try the majority of the menu. Here was what we ordered: Artisanal Cheese & Charcuterie ($14), Yucca, Fried ($6), Apricots, Broiled ($9), Heirloom Tomato ($8), Rabbit ($18), Duck Breast, Seared ($16), Lamb Chop, Corriander Crusted, Roasted ($16), and Wild Coho Salmon, Ginger-Miso, Grilled ($15). The Kansas City Sour was very tasty and good so I would recommend that. I didn't eat a lot of the Artisanal Cheese & Charcuterie so I can't comment on that. The Yucca, Fried was delicious and I especially liked the serrano-kiwi ketchup that came with it. The Apricots, Broiled was not bad and definitely not what I was expecting. The Heirloom Tomato was good and the grilled watermelon was interesting since I would have never thought of grilling a watermelon. lol I didn't eat any of the Rabbit, but I did eat some of the Duck Breast, Seared which was great with the sauce. The Lamb Chop, Corriander Crusted, Roasted was okay but then again, I'm not a lamb kind of person. Finally, the Wild Coho Salmon, Ginger-Miso, Grilled was good even though I'm not a seafood person. They didn't have a physical dessert menu (at least our waitress didn't give us one), but our waitress did tell us the 4 items for dessert. We ordered all 4 to finish off our dinner. The Flan over the Chocolate Cake was the best dessert there in my opinion. It was better than the Carrot Cake, the Sorbet, and the cookies with ginger and spices in them. I thought the food was good here and definitely on the pricier side considering the portions; however, if you're out with a group of friends (or anybody really), then this place would be great to have a family-style kind of meal where everybody would try everything that was ordered at the table while sipping on a cocktail drink.

Very cool spot in the West Bottoms with a nice atmosphere and they play good music. I'd been there a long time ago when it was R Bar and kept meaning to come back since it became Voltaire. I stopped in early on a Saturday evening; I expected it to be dead but there were a few people at the bar and three or four tables which seemed like a nice little crowd for the early hour. I sat at the bar and was still happy hour so I ordered a a half dozen oysters. They were good but small which I thought was a little off since they were $3/each on the HH menu. Then also from the HH menu I ordered the pomme frites and the mussels. The fries were not hot at all. The flavor was good, but if I'm going to eat a bunch of french fries, they need to be hot and crispy. So I let the bartender know and she apologized and sent them back. Meanwhile, I was eating the muscles and they were not good. The ones on top were very cold; the broth was lukewarm, and several of them were not even open. They brought out a new plate of frites and the server said that the chef sent her apologies and they would be taking them off my bill. (which I wasn't expecting.) They were very hot and delicious. The bartender asked how the rest of my food was and I couldn't even mention the muscles. I didn't want them to think that I just wanted my food for free, plus I didn't much care for the flavor (not really their fault) and didn't want them to offer to replace them. So I just didn't say anything, and ate fewer than half. The place is hip and the service was good and friendly but the experience was just off. I would come back and give it another try if friends wanted to go because even the best of places can have an off day. But I'd go later when it's busier and the kitchen is in full swing.

A bit pricey but they are classy, tasty and pretty nice group of folks. $9 on average for drinks and about $20 on the small plates. Alot of the options are combinations I haven't come across before but the flavors work. Seems to be their thing, taking classics and changing things up a bit. I mean everybody does this but it's all pretty wildly adventurous. Not to mention the courage it takes to put it out their. Their is a bit of a southern men's club feel to it. Lots of dark wood, big sturdy bar running the length of one side, and booths on the other. Low candlelight, duck decor, and the deal sealer a highlighted bourbon selection. Personally I like the place, the name, location and I'm looking forward to trying out their happy hour.

Nice ambiance! A little loud. I wouldn't come here for an intimate affair. 4 of us ordered and a couple of us were surprised to why showed up to the table, so I guess a couple of us had a hard time understanding it. We should have asked the waiter I suppose. I had the grilled octopus. It was very tough and the rest of the dish seemed disjointed. The food took a while to come out and honestly mine wasn't that warm. The bar seemed nice. Is come here for drinks but not a meal. I would recommend friends to come here for drinks but somewhere else if they wanted a nice dinner out.

Voltaire is hands down the best restaurant I have tried in 2018. I visited for the first time in September, and I have been back five times in two months. What do I love about it? Honestly, everything. I suggest you take a few foodie friends, visit for dinner, and order everything to share. The food is incredible. The scallops are perfectly cooked. You can't go wrong with any of the side dishes. The cheese board is decadent and includes a nice variety. Voltaire is also a great spot to cozy up to the bar for a drink. They have plenty of beer, wine and cocktails to choose from. The decor is inviting and warm, and the staff is first class. You'll always find great music coming from the record player. Check this place out if you're looking for something off the grid and a memorable experience.

Had great drinks and had awful service. The gentleman said he created the menu and was pushing us to order when we asked for more time "because it's easier to not have to walk back again". We are a group of 3 women and once the men arrived the condescending attitude suddenly stopped. Would go back for the drinks with a different server.

Had kind of a bad experience at Voltaire but the food was pretty lack-luster too. I will say it is a cool looking space and the bar seems nice, maybe this is a better place to have drinks. I just felt like I had to accommodate their cooking staff and kitchen as opposed to being accommodated as a customer. They couldn't put cheese on my scrambled eggs because it would interfere with the cooking line in the kitchen or something. I thought that was a little weird. I ordered two sides of eggs and two sides of bacon and sausage because I'm following a keto diet. The waitress instead decided to adjust my order to something else without asking me first if I wanted to change my order to that. What should have been $13 turned into $20 because of her adjustment. Two stars for the house made bacon. That is definitely pretty tasty.

So I found this Hidden Jem in the West Bottoms a year or 2 ago. And Boy had I been missing out! First the staff is Wonderful, polite, funny and very knowledgeable about their drinks and Menu. Second, the Food... Amazing! I'm a Brunch Fanatic and this place is in my top 5 in Kansas City. Also they have Service Industry Night on Wednesday's and I was not let down on there plates & drinks that I tried with a friend. And last but not least I LuV the ambience of this bar, older rustic, classy, and the location sets this bar apart from many others in town. Definitely Worth the Visit !

Wow! What an awesome place! Make your way to the West Bottoms to experience Voltaire. It's worth the trek if you're out of the area. Several menu options; many of which are unique or a spin on a classic. The staff is kind, helpful in describing dishes and helping you make the difficult decision of deciding what to get, and the bartenders are spot on. I've now come for dinner and brunch. They have bands playing on various nights and an extensive record wall that they select music from to play daily. GO TO HERE.

Voltaire might have just won my heart! Easily impressed by each and every eclectic dish. The octopus appetizer made me wish it was acceptable to lick the bowl clean. Each member of our party ordered a different entree and each one blew our socks off. Don't forget their cocktails! Initially unsure about carrot infused vodka, but holy smokes, they made magic happen with their hand crafted cocktails. Can't wait to go back again as their menu is constantly changing! P.S. 5 stars for ambiance! Perfect for a romantic date night or double date.