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    Dear Donna

    4.9 (23 reviews)
    Open • 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 3 weeks ago

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    DEAR DONNA ATMOSPHERE

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    Exterior
    Toni A.

    The reviews were on point for this spot. I had no idea this is the former Happy Gillis. The menu is small but everything sounds delicious. So based upon recommendations I ordered the Dutch baby. Even though it's not necessarily something I'd order because I don't typically like sweet and savory combos, it was yummy. The crispy savory fried chicken breast atop of a sweet Dutch baby was a combo of complex flavors. I was sad that the beet salad is no longer on the menu. They offer lunch and breakfast items. Not a lot of gf or vegan options. In addition to coffee, soda and tea they also have a great list of classic cocktails: aperol spritz, Hugo spritz and more. I tried the Devils brew. A combo of cold brew and amaretto. I asked them to add a splash of oat milk. Oh My! It was so delicious. I had to work very hard not to slurp it all down in one gulp. The staff are super friendly, like they are genuinely happy to see you. They keep your water filled. It's also super cute on the inside. It's definitely worth several repeat visits to try more menu items.

    Roasted beet salad
    Yara E.

    Were you looking for a neighborhood joint where everyone knows your name? Well, that can be Dear Donna if you make it your goal to try every item on the menu as I have. (I'm 3 things away from accomplishing that.) It's a small but mighty collection of offerings, and I'm honestly impressed that they were able to curate such an interesting variety that could appeal to anyone you're dining with. As of now, my faves are the egg sandwich + bacon and the drip coffee for breakfast, the meatloaf sandwich pairs well with the herby green salad for lunch (consider adding an Aperol Spritz), and if you're here for brunch, go with the Dutch baby. A standout is the beet salad. Whatever it is they put in the sauce is the secret. If you can, save room for dessert! Service is top-notch. It's a group effort from the gals behind the bar to the kitchen staff and the owners. They're all looking out to keep things running smoothly, make sure you're topped off on coffee, or bring out your order. Vibes overall are chill and bright. I'm really bummed I moved away from being walking distance, but glad for a short period of time, I could call myself a regular.

    Banana pudding
    Olivia S.

    Dear Donna absolutely lives up to the hype and more! Opened by the brilliant chefs behind The Town Company, Dear Donna lives in the space that used to be the beloved Happy Gillis, and I honestly can't think of a better replacement. The space is quite tiny, so expect to wait on the weekends. So this is not the place to bring a massive group of friends -- be selective about who you enjoy Dear Donna with! You order at the counter and then take your number to a table. The menu is small and concise but packed with tons of delicious options. I must admit, it is quite expensive. But I think it's worth it for the flavor. These are maybe the best French fries in KC, and I'm not exaggerating. I could not stop eating them. And they're perfect with the scallion dipping sauce. On top of that, the breakfast sandwich was fantastic. I am a breakfast sandwich expert, and this one hits all the notes - crispy crunchy hash brown, fluffy eggs, cheese pull, and a delicious sauce. The desserts were also incredible. Is this the prettiest banana pudding I've ever eaten? Probably! The service is fantastic. Everyone was super friendly and helpful. The owners were running food and chatting with all the diners! I can't wait to come back and be a regular. There's always plenty of street parking on Gillis in this quiet part of Columbus Park!

    Eggs sandwich with bacon
    Alix A.

    My fiance and I made it to Dear Donna this morning. It's been on our list since it opened since we're such fans of Town Company, but with it being a breakfast and lunch spot in Columbus Park, it's just not that convenient for us. So we made a special run over there and arrived around 9:05 on Saturday morning. Happy to report that I think if you get there before 10, you're in a pretty good spot. It's a pay at the counter with table service kind of a place. I got their egg sandwich with add a bacon and my fiance got the Dutch baby with fried chicken. I also threw in a slice of their almond cake that has been all over social media, which was peaches and cream flavor for the season. I will say the kitchen was moving a little slow at first, but they open at 9 so it was still very early. But once it got moving, our food came out very quickly. My sandwich was probably one of the best breakfast sandwiches I've ever had. Certainly very heavy, but the crispiest hashbrowns I've ever had in my life were on it plus a really nice hot sauce aïoli to make it more interesting. Not a light breakfast, but very satisfying. I think ultimately I preferred what Kyle had, which is really their take on chicken and waffle, it had a really deliciously sweetened butter with it and it had a very complex but delicious flavor. And the cake was definitely worth it too. Every component was delicious on its own and together was just incredible. I definitely would recommend this if you're ever in Columbus Park in the morning or for lunch. They've really done a good job of threading the needle between extremely casual service and approachable food while still being extremely elegant. I definitely want to go back for lunch because both their pimento kimcheese and their french fries look incredible. The table next to us got the fries and I could hear how crispy they were from 4 feet away lol

    Haley W.

    Dear Donna makes for the perfect weekend brunch. Small but mighty menu, we had the breakfast sandwich, French fries, and fried chicken Dutch baby. Wow, so good! An ideal breakfast sandwich, but the real winner was the fried chicken Dutch baby. No further explanation needed! Great spot and can't wait to come back.

    Beet Salad
    Krista R.

    I'll be honest, I didn't know this restaurant existed until a friend brought me for lunch. It is such an adorable restaurant. You order at the counter and then they bring your food/drink. We came right during the lunch hour and lucked out finding a table for our party of 4. We ordered the best salad to split and then I ordered the meatloaf sandwich for my meal. The beat salad was really good. Beets were nicely cooked and the whipped ricotta added nice textural contrast. I could eat this salad every day. The meatloaf sandwich was phenomenal. The meatloaf was tender and juicy. I would maybe prefer a different bread as it did get soggy and hard to hold on to towards the end. But overall such a good lunch. Definitely give this place a try!

    Inside dining room
    Kayla S.

    I had the best breakfast sandwich of my life here last week! I miss the old Happy Gillis menu because of the biscuits and gravy, but Dear Donna makes up for it with their delicious breakfast sandwich. Service was order and pay at the counter but still friendly and helpful! It was clean, small and quaint with a nice atmosphere. So cute.

    French fried potatoes with sour cream & onion dip
    Kent Jacob C.

    The perfect successor to Happy Gillis. While the presentation is stunning, the flavor is the real star--this isn't your standard diner fare; it's something much more intentional. ​If you're a beet skeptic, the roasted beet salad will converted you. The Dutch Baby is a genuine treat, and the egg sandwich--featuring a brilliant flattened hash brown--is a total standout. Also, don't skip the French fried potatoes; they are easily among the best I've ever had. ​The service is impeccable. The staff is attentive, and the chefs personally check in on every table, making the entire meal feel like a curated experience. 10/10--I cannot recommend this place enough.

    Dutch baby and fried fish sandwich
    Dan R.

    Dutch baby fucked me up. Fish sandwich was tasty and the fries were great. Staff was all really nice, I'll make sure to go back. EDIT: For those confused by my colloquialism I greatly enjoyed the Dutch baby.

    Egg sandwich with shoulder bacon
    Mindy A.

    I had a great time at Dear Donna getting lunch with my friend! It's so cute inside, albeit kind of small! We ordered at the counter and they brought us out our food. The staff were friendly and service was fast. I had the egg sandwich with cheddar, hash brown & secret sauce and added shoulder bacon. It was seriously SO good. Great brunch spot and plan to be back.

    Breakfast sandwich
    Meshelle R.

    So amazing small busy. Very loud but I would come back. On street parking and seems like a good place to grab a breakfast sandwich to go

    Meatloaf melt

    Wow - what a find. Creative but not fussy menu including breakfast, lunch and beautiful desserts. Husband and wife team. Efficient service too. Try it.

    What was left of my share of the Dutch baby, meatloaf, and egg sandwiches.

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    18 days ago

    Upscale counter service in the historic Columbus Park neighborhood. The Dutch baby and Devil's Coldbrew cocktail were excellent.

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    5 months ago

    Fun neighborhood lunch spots. The food was comfort and wow all at once. Will be returning soon to try more menu items!

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    Entrance

    Dear Donna - breakfast_brunch - Updated October 2026

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