Well-known Wichita foodies pick the best local restaurant meals they ate in 2019
The year 2019 had 365 days in it, which left time for 1,096 potential opportunities to have breakfast, lunch or dinner at a Wichita restaurant.
I’m fairly certain that the Wichita foodies on this list did not actually dine out that many times this year, but they probably would have it was possible, practical or a habit that wouldn’t lead to their early demise/bankruptcy.
It’s become a holiday tradition for me to ask a group of Wichita foodies to think back on their last 12 months of dining out in Wichita and to choose which meal made the biggest impression on them.
I’ve rounded up a whole new batch of experts, and have thrown my choice in for good measure. Here are our picks for our best Wichita restaurant meals of 2019:
DENISE NEIL’S PICK: TACOS AT TACO LOCALE
When you can’t stop thinking about and craving a dish, that’s a clue that you might have had your best meal of the year. For me, 2019 was the year of the Taco Locale taco.
Late last year, I wrote a profile of local blue corn tortilla producer Pinole Blue and learned that the business planned to put on every-other-week taco “pop ups” at its shop at 242 N. Cleveland. I went to one of the very first ones in February to grab lunch for my co-worker and me, and that’s where I met Chef Carlos Vera, who was making the tacos.
The tortillas were great, and so were the proteins Vera was serving — al pastor chicken, coffee rubbed short ribs and the like. But what made these tacos special were his unique, flavorful and crunchy toppings that were as beautiful to look at as they were delicious to eat — bright pink lime-cured red onions, pickled radishes, fresh cilantro and sweet-and-sour slaw.
The pop ups stopped, but Vera partnered with Myranda Miller and Jason Rickard and in September opened a tiny to-go taco stand inside Revolutsia, the shipping container mall at 2721 E. Central. (The trio also managed to squeeze in winning the top prize at this year’s Wichita Taco Fest.)
We’re still getting the tacos to bring back to work all the time, but now, we don’t have to wait until Fridays.
ADRIENE RATHBUN’S PICK: FIVE-COURSE FARM-TO-TABLE MEAL AT ELDERSLIE FARM
Elderslie Farm’s farm-to-table dinners are the best experience to savor. The setting of this beautifully candle-lit restaurant and purposefully timed five-course meal will leave you feeling as if you’ve transported yourself to California wine country without a plane ticket or the headache of travel. Chef Katharine Elder will wow you with her artful presentation, blow you away with the complex ways she creates each course and leave you wanting to book dinner for the following evening. It’s a seasonal prix fixe menu that includes gratuity.
This month’s dinner starts you off with Elderslie’s incredible on-site-made goat cheeses, which are worth a drive out there in and of themselves. The meal progresses with a butternut puree course, a scallop course paired with cranberry relish with preserved lemon, then a petite beef tender. Chef Katherine’s desserts will always leave you wishing you had another one to savor, but I could have eaten a half dozen servings of her toffee gooey mini cake with bourbon caramel and black pepper gelato. As an added benefit, the kitchen can accommodate gluten free needs.
The reservation-only meals are served Thursdays through Saturdays and are $70 a person. Starting on Jan. 1, the price will increase to $75 a meal. There’s also a three-course option that’s $39 a person and available only on Thursdays. Optional wine pairings are $29 extra for the five couse meal or $15 for the three-course. Make reservations at eldersliefarm.com/formal-dining
Adriene Rathbun writes a food column for the Wichita Eagle’s Wednesday food page and also teaches cooking classes in Wichita
WICHITA BY E.B.’s PICK: P.M. SESSION AT GAGA’S GRUB
Half of the battle is trying to figure out where to eat. The other half? It’s deciding WHAT to eat. Fortunately, P.M. Sessions at the Canvas by Gaga’s Grub owner Dustin Presley can assist with that. My dinner there highlighted my 2019, a year when I tried to eat at every restaurant known to man in Wichita.
Presley has been running a multi-course “blind” menu dinner for parties of 6-12 at his place at 3080 W. 13th St. North. When you make your reservations, you’re asked about any food allergies. After that, everything is completely up to him. It’s your job to sit back, relax, be among friends and enjoy an evening any diner would envy.
Through the course of a couple hours, I was treated to 11 different dishes. The dinner was like an art show of food with every plate creatively constructed to tell a story. We had spiced chicken skewers, blackened beef tenderloin, arugula salads, lamb, fried cinnamon rice rounds and more. It was a story my taste buds were excited to be a part of.
To make the meal more enjoyable, the experience is a private dinner for just you and your loved ones. When you make a reservation, the space will be occupied only by your group. I loved my time there. It was a meal that I fondly look back on as my favorite meal of 2019.
To book a P.M. Session, email gagasgrub@gmail.com or text or call 580-370-0918.
Wichita by E.B. is a local food blogger who has been reviewing Wichita restaurants since 2011
CARRIE RENGERS’ PICK: QUESADILLAS AL PASTOR AT LOS PINOS
It hurts my heart, and my stomach, that I did not discover Los Pinos at 1225 W. Douglas until 2019. The 7-year-old Delano restaurant is as friendly as it is tasty.
Dalia Rodriguez, whose family owns the business, is a smiling presence at the Mexican restaurant and has a stunning memory for faces and what dishes those faces would like to be fed. When I introduce new people to the restaurant and they’re perusing the menu, I always sit a little taller feeling ridiculously proud that Dalia just gives me a quick glance and says, “Quesadillas Al Pastor?” or “The usual?”
You can choose whatever filling you like (my husband recommends chicken), and the dish also comes with rice, guacamole, sour cream and pico de gallo. Every table gets chips, salsa, tomatillo sauce and an avocado-jalapeno sauce. Pro tip: Go early or late or just cross your fingers for a seat, because there are only a few. There’s also a drive-through. Truthfully, the portions are so large, you could easily share a dish, but why?
Carrie Rengers writes the Have You Heard? column for The Wichita Eagle and Kansas.com and is a renowned home entertainer
LYNN MARSHALL’S PICK, BREAKFAST AT STROUD’S
Note from Denise: Breakfast at Stroud’s is not available to the general public yet (unless someone needs catering for 40 or more.) But the owner said bringing back a weekend breakfast is something he’s considering The restaurant used to serve breakfast years ago then stopped.
My favorite meal in 2019 was from Stroud’s. It was the morning of December 21, the day we played VCU on ESPN at 11 a.m. I have a large group of friends that gets together before every game, who range in age from 9 to 91. We were treated to an amazing buffet breakfast at Stroud’s that included eggs, bacon, several sausage types, homemade cinnamon buns, hash browns, biscuits and gravy, and my very favorite — shrimp and grits!
The restaurant was warm and welcoming. The fire place was burning to go along with a beautifully decorated Christmas tree and all of my friends were there and so excited for a very important Shocker game. It was a special morning and Kevin (who runs the show at Stroud’s) made us a perfect breakfast.
Lynn Marshall is the first lady of Wichita State University basketball and wife to head coach Gregg Marshall. She’s also a big fan of the Wichita restaurant scene.
LILY WU’S PICK: PUPUSAS AND TAMALES AT RESTAURANTE USULUTECO
I grew up in Guatemala and have always enjoyed Central American cuisine. When I first learned about this El Salvadoran restaurant, it was located in South City, but they have since moved to 2265 S. Seneca, which is near Pawnee and Seneca. If you’ve followed my #LunchWithLily, you’ve seen various photos from this south Wichita restaurant.
Restaurante Usuluteco is one of my favorite lunch time restaurants in Wichita. The food and service are consistently good. I always order the tamales and pupusas. Pupusas are flatbreads stuffed with my favorites: bean and cheese or chicken. I also order their chicken tamales. They are by far my favorite tamales in Wichita.
If we have a few people join us for lunch, I like to get the yuca to share (yuca is similar to a potato). And, I like to get the El Salvadoran soft drink called Kolashampan (tastes like cream soda). I’ve tried other dishes on their menu, but I always go back to the pupusas and tamales. If it’s your first time, I recommend getting three pupusas.
I like the family who owns and operates this restaurant. They’re always happy to greet me and my friends. I’ve introduced many of my news friends to this mom-and-pop restaurant and none have left dissatisfied. You should plan accordingly, as they’re not open on Mondays.
Lily Wu is a longtime television personality who spent nine years on KAKE Channel 10. She frequently posts about her lunch outings on her Twitter account, @KansasLily, with the hashtag #LunchWithLily
This story was originally published December 27, 2019 at 5:01 AM.
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