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    The Wise Guy

    4.7 (225 reviews)
    Closed • 4:00 pm - 11:00 PM
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    The Wise Guy Photos

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    THE WISE GUY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Intimate
    Romantic

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    Recommended Reviews - The Wise Guy

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    Cheesecake with blueberries
    Jennifer M.

    Love the decor & ambience of this place! It's like being in a mafia social club. The Almafi Coast & margarita were tasty & a good balance of savory & sweet. Started with the creamy whipped ricotta the salty & buttery crostini and shared the Caesar salad ( great anchovy taste). The shrimp scampi was so buttery but with such a light sauce. We had to complete the experience with blueberry cheesecake. Ryan provided exceptional service, made some recommendations & had a natural great personality.

    Caprese Salad
    John O.

    Wise Guy is classic Italian food done incredibly well. I doubt you'll try anything you haven't had here, but it's all going to taste very good. We had the Chicken Parmesan and the Caprese Salad and both were quite good. The ambience is perfect for a date night. I hope to be able to come back and try some of the cocktails in the future.

    Chicken Parmesan with spicy rigatoni alla vodka
    Emily S.

    Gotta say it was pretty funny how my mom and I walked in while everyone was parking, asked for a table for 7 on a Tuesday night at 4:45pm... the place was pretty empty and we were turned away because of alleged reservations, and we were told "we can seat you at 9pm" like okayyy that's a crazy thing to say to people who are there before 5pm to eat. Well, my cousin in law went in to try since he was a regular, and lo and behold we got our table for 7 after all. The place ended up being pretty packed, but regardless the whole experience with the host was strange and even a little rude... but the drinks and food and table service were all great. My chicken parm with spicy rigatoni vodka was delectable except sadly the pasta was room temp, meanwhile the chicken was piping hot. The drinks were super yummy too, loved their peach vodka martini and margarita with blood orange. The rest of my family really enjoyed their happy hour pizzas which are a great deal at only $15!

    The Wise Guy with Pepperoni, Italian Sausage, Meatball, Canadian Bacon and Bacon.
    Shawn T.

    The food was delicious. The deviled eggs were excellent. Have to brag on those. Wait staff did an awesome job. Long bar on the left and tables on the right and more further back from the area we were seated. The hallway to the restrooms also have more seating. It's an intimate setting with very dim lighting. Happy hour inviting!

    Candice S.

    The food was amazing, the service was great, and the atmosphere really fit with the decor. We came for a nice, quiet dinner one weekend and were very happy with our choices. The portion sizes were large enough that we were both able to take some home for another day.

    Cara S.

    Wise Guy is overall pretty good. I stopped in on a first Friday with a couple of friends, and they were able to add us to the list and get us in in about 20 minutes. I appreciated that they had a text feature to let us know that our table was ready. We shared the fries, a caesar salad and the rigatoni alla vodka, and the fries were a shining star! The rigatoni was a little too al dente bordering on chewy, but some people prefer that. I do think they could benefit from some better tables for three or four people, there is mostly just bar seating and 2-top stool seating. We had a server who was a bit awkward and it seemed like she was trying out different accents on us, which was a bit weird and confusing and it threw off our table's conversation every time she stopped by. Definitely want to come back for a happy hour!

    Spicy rigatoni & Wise guy pizza
    Claudia S.

    Overall 4.5. This is my second time here. This time around I got the Caesar salad, whipped ricotta, spicy rigatoni pasta, and wise guy pizza. Minus 0.5 for the Caesar salad being underwhelming, maybe ask for more dressing? I appreciated the whipped ricotta, but I think more crostini is needed. The entrées were definitely my favorite! The rigatoni definitely has a spicy kick to it but I enjoy that! Wise Guy, pizza blew me away, you definitely get plenty of toppings. Will return again and hope to try the Caprese salad!

    Combo pizza
    Marc M.

    I was just walking by when I noticed that I couldn't see inside of the business I was walking past. They have blacked out windows and a very nondescript front. I walked inside and it was dark and fairly narrow. I got a seat at the bar and ordered the combo pizza with the meats. Amazing. Thin crust, not oily, lots of toppings, but resisted flopping even after 20 minutes. I crushed the entire thing in about 30 minutes while watching an MLB game. Staff is attentive and patrons are chatty. If seeking pizza, put this on your short list.

    The View when you walk in
    Joshua J.

    I lucked into a reservation at 545. Reservations are almost required as this neighborhood joint is popular. I booked a high top, which is actually an intimate booth with a chair opposite the table. Happy hour goes till 6 pm ( Monday - Friday 4-6 ). We ordered a Pizza, Fritto Misto, and Fries. The cocktail menu is fun, with a mix of updated drinks and a classics. The wine list is succinct and bottles are available for take out. We split the chicken sandwich with the truffle fries, which are even better than the Parmesan Fries! The Lighting is low. The atmosphere is almost romantic, but i can't call a place romantic that has flat screen TVs on the walls.... Next time i will have to make an attempt to try an entree, it'll be tough because the appetizers are great and the pizza is Incredible!! My server told me I had to try a drizzle of hot honey. I completely agree and echo that. There is a back room that eas not open across from the restrooms. It was semi-private.

    Tamia L.

    Finally visited the restaurant that now occupies the location once Rieger Hotel Grill and speakeasy and namesake of tv show I loved. The ambiance is befitting of a Italian sophisticated scene with moddy dark/dim lighting, bar, dark table/chair and red booth dining in both spaces. The main dining is right passed the bar seating with a modern touch of wall-to-wall tvs for your sports fans. On other walls, you'll find framed Italian-themed art and prints. If you take a turn down the hall towards the restroom, it's lined with black & white photos of 40s - 50's era famous Italian spots in the US, celebrities known to play in those fabulous Italian movies & roles. Now that's setting a vibe then you move to the menu where you'll find Italian staple entrees. We came desiring some pizza. For starters the Fritto Misto which had all the fried finger foods: calamari, shrimp, zucchini, mushrooms and broccolini with marinara sauce. Each of us found a favorite on the plate to enjoy. The coated batter was light, but crisp and held great flavor on each piece. Pizza was NY style, thin crispy and same great flavored sauce. My only regret is getting the espresso martini, the coffee liqueur and espresso was very overpowering. I asked for a shot of irish cream and boy did I pay for another drink, it was $8. It helped balance out the taste for me, but I won't do that again. I did speak with one of the managers about it, he was very receptive of the feedback. It was nice to hear the backstory on the evolution of the restaurant too. I definitely plan to revisit to try an actual entree. Our waiter started off being one gentleman whose name escapes me but I believe per the receipt Collin is who took over and he was phenomenal- courteous , attentive and personable.

    Limoncello cake - very light and full of flavor!
    Meghan W.

    We had another wonderful meal at The Wise Guy. Our server was a delight! She was so engaging and attentive. Never rushing us, and chatting each time she came to check in. You really can't beat their happy hour specials! It's quickly becoming one of our favorite spots. The marinated olives are delicious! Not too salty and just slightly citrusy. The frito misto was perfect! Not one soggy piece in the entire batch. Every piece was so crispy and hot.

    Supreme pizza
    Rasalind F.

    Finally had my first visit here and I was very impressed. The restaurant itself looks and feels very cozy. I love the intimate vibes it gives. The service was top tier; Sienna did an amazing job. My friends and I appreciated her suggestions from the menu. We hope to have her again for future visits.

    Rigatoni alla vodka
    Julie L.

    KC has a lot or restaurants to like but this is one to LOVE! As soon as you walk in you feel comfortable. The cozy atmosphere, the staff are friendly, and the food.... delicious Italian goodness. We had the deviled eggs( best ever), whipped ricotta ( the lemon in it really brought out the taste), chicken parmigiana, rigatoni all vodka (ooh spicy), and 4 cheese ravioli with shrimp. Everyone raved about their meals. Desserts were good but the best for sure was the tiramisu cannoli's. Perfect night. If you haven't been you need to go!

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    Wonderful dinner, drinks and desserts at one of our fav KC spots. Never disappoints!

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - The Wise Guy

    What is the dress code?

    Everyone seemed to be dressed casual in the restaurant.

    What are the parking options for The Wise Guy?

    There's street parking as well as a small lot to the left of the entrance

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    I've driven past the Fern Bar countless times, but had never stopped in. Truthfully, I knew next to…read morenothing about it. That changed yesterday, when Diana Condori, the bar manager, was named a 2026 James Beard Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service semifinalist. As we love supporting restaurants and bars that receive that kind of recognition, my wife and I headed to Fern Bar that evening. I was especially curious what exactly a "sugarcane and agave bar" meant. We arrived around 5:30pm and found only a handful of guests inside. After congratulating the bartender who first served us, he mentioned that Diana was working that night and would stop by to meet us. During our conversation, Diana shared that she didn't even know she had been nominated. She woke up Tuesday to a call from owner Bryan Arri, who said he had big news and was coming over. Her first thought was that something terrible had happened--like the bar had burned down. Instead, he showed up with coffee and told her she was a James Beard honoree. Diana is originally from Bolivia and has lived in Kansas City most of her life, with the exception of time spent in San Francisco during the pandemic. She further refined her cocktail craft through local pop-ups in Kansas City under the name Condor's Cove. When Bryan was preparing to open Fern Bar, he reached out to bring her onto the team. The printed cocktail menu immediately reminded me of the Monarch and the Mercury Room--not surprising given Bryan's background at Manifesto and the Monarch. Thoughtful, intentional, and clearly designed for people who appreciate serious cocktails. We planned on having one or two drinks but ended up staying for three, thanks to an outstanding lineup and a memorable conversation with Diana. We tasted: * No Fly Zone - Rum, agave, pineapple foam * Mr. Collage - Smooth, elegant, egg-white cocktail * Three Negroni Lunch - Bitter, boozy, and beautifully balanced * Pendergast No. 4 - Complex and spirit-driven * It's Bananas - Banana liqueur with bright tropical notes * Off the Rails - Creative and well-executed rum/agave cocktail One downside of many cocktail-forward bars is the lack of food, but Fern Bar offers two varieties of mini burritos for $4--just enough protein to keep things balanced while indulging. Great concept, exceptional service, and truly memorable drinks. Check it out--and be sure to say hello to Diana.

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