Justus Pharmacy-The Restaurant

Throwing caution to the wind, last Friday night we put the top down on our convertible bug and drove up Hwy 169 to Justus Drugstore, without making a reservation. This is Smithville after all, small town USA north of Kansas City. We were greeted by the hostess and with my tail in between my legs, I confessed we didn't make a reservation, and what were the chances they would have us for the evening. She told us to have a seat at the bar, and she would she what she could do, as they had a full schedule. We snuggled into the bar, taking in the ambiance, wondering how a hip restaurant like this could make it in a small country town. I felt like I was up in Napa. One glance at the wine list told me I should exchange Napa for Tuscany or Provence. The bartenders were great, and just as we started enjoying our cocktail, the hostess announced she had a table for us. The kitchen is wide open and I noticed that every employee would frequently stop by a faucet and wash their hands randomly and frequently...nice. We had a great waitress that gave us a heads up that everything was prepared fresh, so things took a bit to come out to the table and recommended an appetizer to satisfy our appetites until our entrees would be served. I appreciated the suggestion and knew we should settle in and prepare for what I was already anticipating would be a good meal. I noticed on the back of the menu all the local farms they restaurant supported, and having just read the book SLOW FOOD, appreciated anyone who "got" the notion of supporting local farmers who grew or raised a great product and incorporated it into their menu. After ordering, and before our appetizer came out, our waitress brought us out a little nosh. A crostini sliced impossible thin, with a layer of fig jam, the creamiest liver pate', with a sauce and herbs to die for. That set the tone for the whole evening. I'm not going to bore you with a play by play of each thing we ordered, but instead invite you to try the restaurant for yourself. All I can say is each and every dish had a melody of flavors that didn't overpower one taste over the other. There was unusual combinations that surprised your mouth with every bite. After dessert and individual french pressed coffee, our waitress brought us out a petite glass of moscato, another wonderful touch. I told her to tell everyone in the kitchen I wished I could have given them ALL a big hug. By far the best meal I had ever had in my life! I can't wait to get back up there again....and this time I will call and make a reservation.

http://www.drugstorerestaurant.com/ see what all the fuss is about!