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Connect Café

4.8 (25 reviews)
InexpensiveSandwiches, Wraps, Salad
Closed 7:00 am - 2:00 pm

Connect Café Photos

Business Info

CONNECT CAFÉ ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Outdoor seating
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - Connect Café

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Breakfast croissant
Michael T.

Amazing place, very good food and coffee. Very friendly stuff. Love the ambiance as well, will be definitely back, very recommended.

Jessica F.

My new favorite coffee and sandwich shop! Sooo many cozy vibes, great artwork and a great cause- supporting kids aging out of foster care with jobs. Sandwiches and salads are solid and staff are always prompt with the order.

BLT on wheat and side salad with ranch dressing
Laura M.

Newer to the KCK coffee and lunch scene, Connect Cafe is a gem and one of my favorite local spots in KCK. It's run by Foster, Adopt, Connect building, a local non-profit, and former foster youth are intentionally employed as staff. Their staff is kind, thorough, and a joy to interact with! Equally important- their food will blow you way! The soups, salads, and sandwiches are made with quality ingredients and there is no skimping on flavor. My personal favorite is the BLT on wheat-- we're talking 8-9 pieces of bacon and it might just be my favorite BLT in the city. Pair the cute side salad, any soup of the day, or a homemade cookie and you're guaranteed to have a great day. I've taken several friends and the takeaway has been that everyone has loved the meal they picked. They offer several bread choices and a few non-meat options. It's perfect spot to meet with a small group of colleagues or friends- there are several small tables, high tops, and a couch area to accommodate groups of 2-6. Everything comes out of their kitchen very quickly, so it's a great add to your work week lunch rotation! Only con is that they are closed weekends, but you won't regret finding the time to fit it into your work week!

Roast beef melt
Marie M.

My husband and I came here as a plan "B" when our original coffee shop plan fell through when we found that location closed today. On our endless quest to visit almost every coffee shop in the metro area, we decided to come to this location since it was on our radar and nearby. I am not really sure why Yelp has it as a coffee shop because it is mostly a café type restaurant. I would compare it to Mildred's at the Crossroads but not nearly the same food, nor the their tasty coffee. The drip coffee is from Messenger coffee KC, and so how can you go wrong? Well, you can if it isn't brewed correctly. I've found this to be the case at some coffee shops that brew Messenger or if the beans are a bit stale. Although, I will admit when I asked the man behind the counter about the brew he said it's the same beans they use for espresso, so that should tell you something. I had a chocolate hazelnut croissant, which I'm sure came from the Messenger and it was good of course. Although we came late for breakfast (they stop serving at 10:30 AM) we stayed for lunch, just to see because I had the feeling that we won't be back again. My husband had the spinach berry salad and he liked it, but couldn't be totally honest because he said that he was hungry. I ordered a roast beef melt sandwich w/o the ham it normally comes with. However, so disappointed because for the price at $10.95 I would have expected chips with it too. The sandwich also just seemed lackluster, small and very homemade, something I could have made at home with good roast beef, since it was the roast beef that was good. Overall the place is a bit smaller than images on Yelp show. Not many places to sit, and there are high top benches to sit and plug-in your laptop, but anyone who knows me or other reviews elsewhere knows that I don't like sitting at high top benches to work on my laptop. They do have cushioned seats in a seating area, where you can enjoy your coffee, but my husband found the internet connection there to be poor. He kept loosing signal and believes they need a booster. Overall, I believe they need a booster in many aspects here.

Art inside
Dawn H.

This cafe was around the corner from my hotel so I stopped before going to my meeting. When I walked in I immediately heard jazz music playing and saw beautiful art on the walls. I ordered a vanilla latte and a lemon blueberry muffin. As I waited for my order I noticed a large selection of locally made items, jams, honey, pickles, etc. The latte was ok, could use a little more flavor in my opinion. The muffin was delicious! The lemon flavor was so fresh and not overpowering.

Ralphie S.

"Caffeine for a Cause" is Connect Café's tagline and the cause is fostering. They are operated by the Foster Adopt Connect agency that assists in programs to help foster children in WYCO. They not only are using the profits to support the organization, they are giving job opportunities to those older kids that are aging out of the foster care system and giving them life lessons via employment. This alone is worth 5 stars in my opinion, but Connect Café earns their 5 stars for the space they have created, the product they are delivering, and the earnest hospitality they are giving those of us that venture in. A great coffee house vibe with tables for working, an elegant comfort pit for lounging and great local art for sale on the walls. Currently showing large paintings with a local jazz theme. Beautiful stuff! The coffee menu is pretty basic, so don't expect a big seasonal menu, but all the basics are covered. They have partnered with Messenger Coffee Co. for their beans and training, so they are definitely on the right path. My Café au lait was a great accompaniment to my near perfect cinnamon roll. The food menu is very impressive with a full range of bakery sweets and breakfast and lunch sandwiches, dishes, salads... all made from scratch in their large open kitchen. The large serving of mac and cheese at the table next to me looked like a sure fire item to order on my next visit. The 3 gentlemen that I interacted with were gracious, professional and welcoming. Masters of providing quality customer service. Righteous Cause. Righteous Product. Righteous People.

Randy-Liliana B.

I love the look and feel of this quasi-subterranean space. Well decorated with plenty of seating. Arguably one of the best looking coffee shop/cafe interiors around town. Street parking in front of the door and additional parking to the north in the lot. Lots of food options, which appear to be mostly made in-house in the large open kitchen. Very much looking forward to trying some of their other dishes. Everything looked very clean and well kept. I visited an hour prior to close, so they apparently must stay on it. They use Messenger Coffee, so no problem there. I'd really like to see actual coffee cups for in-house use, not paper cups. I ordered a cappuccino, and was asked what size, 10 or 16 ounces. Not a good sign. Cappuccinos are 6 ounces. End of story. I was able to get mine in an 8 ounce paper cup. It was good, but when you want a cup of coffee while at a cafe, IMO the experience is diminished drinking it in paper. Connect Cafe' has top notch coffee equipment and beans. A few tweaks and the coffee service could be greatly improved. Perhaps Messenger could provide some input? I ordered a BLT @ $10.50. No sides come with. I'd give it a 3/10. Smallish sandwich for the price point. Tiny pieces of not very flavorful tomato, with small pieces of lettuce, like they also use it for salads. A couple pieces of the lettuce were very brown. Small, chewy pieces of bacon rounded it out. Not much punch or flavor for a $10+ sandwich. The staff was very friendly and seemed happy to be there. Always a plus! I'll definitely go back again. I would genuinely love for Connect Cafe to flourish! Their mission (which is to help kids who are, or were once in foster care gain work experience) is an exemplary one.

Tory A.

Went here for the first time today. They service was excellent, the staff was friendly and of course all the food was very yummy! Large portions and all for a good cause too!

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

Fresh, real food. Great atmosphere and wonderful staff. A hidden gem and plan to come back anytime I am in KC

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3 years ago

Another great experience at Connect Cafe. They handled our big group well and it was warm enough to enjoy the outside seating. Thanks guys!

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

I had the most delish tomato soup here today, sad with myself for not snagging a photo first! Guess I'll have to come back sometime ‍

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Review Highlights - Connect Café

Sooo many cozy vibes, great artwork and a great cause- supporting kids aging out of foster care with jobs.

Mentioned in 3 reviews

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Breit's Stein & Deli - Tuna Salad

Breit's Stein & Deli

4.6(104 reviews)
0.5 mi
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I was staying in the area on business and I love to try local places. I found Breit's on Yelp and…read moretheir sandwiches were highly rated. Since they were close by my hotel, I decided to check them out. Breit's did not disappoint. Upon entry, I definitely felt the local vibe. It seemed like everyone knew each other and I was a stranger. I struck up a conversation with another patron and before I knew it, I was enjoying some great conversation with my fellow patron and the bartenders. I wasn't there long... maybe an hour and a half, but by the time I left there, I was feeling like a local- the staff could not have been nicer! The Reuben sandwich was great, the bread was nicely toasted and the pastrami was tender and flavorful, and it came with chips. Pair that with a couple of nice cold beers, and I was a happy camper. Will definitely return here anytime I'm in the Kansas City area.

I ate at the location earlier this week. Service was good…read more It was a late lunch and we were a party of 4. You seated yourself and there were a couple of people at the bar and maybe a few people at another table inside when we arrived. The woman from the bar took shortly after we sat down. I originally ordered the Muffaletta and was excited to try it since I moved here from NOLA a couple of years back but it's pre-made and the bread can't be toasted which is my preference so I changed to the KC Rueben which is $12.95 for the sandwich with no side. I chose not to add a side for extra cost. I also requested it with no 100O island dressing because I do not like it. It was good. The burnt ends were flavorful and I like that the slaw is vinegar based and not overly sweet. It can on tasted deli sz bread cut in half. I wasn't very hungry so I only ate half and saved the other half. It is not a great sandwich to save because it was not great as a leftover. Too squishy. There's not a large amount of burnt ends and with a small tip and tax (I just got water), I spent about $17. I think I will probably try something else next time. My friends liked their Reuben's and build your own sandwiches.

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Breit's Stein & Deli - Daily Specials.

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The Russell - Fish and Chips

The Russell

4.7(402 reviews)
3.9 mi
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I recently visited The Russell and it easily became one of my favorite lunch spots in Kansas City…read more The atmosphere is warm, cozy, and full of character, with rustic details and antique decor that make it feel inviting the moment you walk in. You can tell a lot of thought went into creating the space. What really sets this place apart is the wood-fired cooking. Everything is prepared over Missouri hickory and oak, and you can truly taste the difference. The food has this incredible smoky depth that makes every bite feel elevated and intentional. I also love that they source ingredients from local farmers, which really comes through in how fresh and vibrant everything tastes. The menu feels seasonal, thoughtful, and well-executed. The food itself is not only beautifully presented, but packed with flavor. Every dish I tried was cooked perfectly and left a lasting impression. They're open for lunch, and they also offer catering from casual office lunches to full events. I've heard amazing things about their charcuterie boards as well. If you're looking for a unique, high-quality lunch experience in Kansas City, I highly recommend checking out The Russell. It's truly a hidden gem. FOLLOW on Instagram and TikTok To see video review @NeyanVentures

I ordered the salmon salad from Russell through DoorDash while staying in a hotel, and the food…read moreitself was really good. The highlight was the salmon. It was a full, nicely cooked piece with great flavor, not a small portion tossed in as an afterthought. The salad had fresh greens, avocado, egg, and plenty of nuts and toppings that made it feel filling and well put together. My only issue was the packaging. The salad container was left fully open inside the bag, and the bag was stapled shut. I did not realize there were staples and cut my hand opening it. Because I was in a hotel and had put a few small items in the bag, they ended up falling right onto the exposed salad when I opened it. For delivery orders, a closed container and a safer seal would make a big difference. Food quality was excellent though, and I would order again, just hoping for better delivery packaging next time.

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The Russell - Inside women's restroom

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Unforked

Unforked

3.7(281 reviews)
3.3 mi
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UNfortunately, UNforked continues to UNderwhelm and UNimpress…read more Took my girls here yet again around the holidays, and it's just continuing to slide in quality. Despite being located in a kid-centric mall, they don't have a kids menu. You used to be able to get a kids quesadilla and fries, but no longer. Instead you have to piece things together, with a semblance of half service and half "do it yourself," and the tables and chains looked like Chuck E. Cheese at closing time. When I was ordering a lemonade, I asked if I could get half lemonade, and the other half iced tea. They didn't understand, so I emphasized, half lemonade, half tea, and they then flatly told me, "We're going to give you a lemonade, and there's tea over there, so you can figure it out." Place is a chaotic mess, and I noticed a ton more people and families at the Spin across the hall, which I think we'll be joining next time.

This was an interesting visit! We had never been to this restaurant before, as we are from out of…read moretown. We lined up to order, and we placed our order. I will say it was the first place we could all happily order in just a few minutes. I had the surf-and-turf taco, my husband and son had a burger, and my daughter had a quesadilla. We all left full and happy. One comment I do have is that I was unsure what I was tipping for. You stand in line to order, get your own drinks, get buzzed when your food is ready, pick it up, and then clean up after yourself. More like a food court than anything else, but great food!

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Unforked
Unforked - Ancient Grain Bowl. Delicious w/a light spice.

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Anjin - Cabbage dish

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4.9(49 reviews)
3.1 miCrossroads, Greater Downtown

Have waited a long time to snag this reservation, and it was well worth the wait…read more A Japanese izakaya-style restaurant with authentic Japanese dishes. Hard to choose just a few items from their menu, but I went with the beet salad, the skewer platter, and finished it off with the soft serve. My favorite was probably the chicken heart skewer actually, so don't be scared to try this one! Everything was so delicious, simple yet really flavorful. Don't think you can go wrong with anything. Their Negroni was superb! Highly recommend, and will definitely be coming back. The service was exceptional!!

Everyone has a list of places they want to try. Finally knocked a few off the list with an old…read moreKansas City girl visiting. What are the new hotspots since I moved? Hold your sake. First, the vibe is so intimate and cozy. Getting in without reservations is tough unless you go at an odd hour. And if they do let you in, don't test them on the your time limit. Be extra grateful and make it easy so they can seat the actual pre-reserved folks. The place is small enough and the service is nearly 2:1, so they'll definitely remember you. With that said, we tried it best to be on good behavior but that Sake flight had us feeling spicy! Which I'll speak to next, the sake flight delightfully surprised me, and gave me a few things I liked enough to order again. Did not expect that. But I shouldn't be surprised, they're obviously going to have something wildly well-curated, given the successful history of Anjin's creator. I know I'm supposed to talk about the food. But it almost feels pointless. It was obviously amazing. It's a small curated menu. They're famous for their sandwich, whatever rotation they're serving will be sure to please you. They didn't have a lot of vegan options on the menu so my friend got the cabbage dish and it was absolutely wonderful as well. That might be my only watch out if somebody is a vegan, check out the latest menu before going. With such a curated, small menu it may or may not be in a vegan's favor depending on the season. And if it's not, just drink more sake! Can't wait to return, especially with those visiting from out of town to give them an authentic, locally-owned experience.

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Connect Café - sandwiches - Updated May 2026

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