Wild Sockeye Salmon.Photo byBristol Seafood, Steak + Social via Facebook.

Bristol Seafood, Steak + Social - Kansas City

Bristol is known for its fresh seafood and premium steaks. While I lean on seafood, this restaurant is one of my favorites because I’ve never been disappointed. Now referred to as Bristol Seafood, Steak + Social, it wants to take your fine dining experience even further.

Bristol has four locations: Creve Coeur, Kansas City, and O’Fallon in Missouri, and Leawood, Kansas. Visit here to get a glimpse of Kansas City’s menu.

If you love seafood and you’ve never been to Bristol, put it on your list of places to try. This restaurant is committed to quality and impeccable service. You don’t have to be on a date to visit Bristol. Go with friends or go alone. You’ll have a great dining experience.

Piropos Restaurant - Kansas City

Peppercorn encrusted 8 oz. filet in Brandy cream sauce and served with au gratin potatoes & sautéed mushrooms.Photo byPiropos Restaurant via Facebook.

The first time I tried Piropos, I was blown away. The flavors of the meal convinced me I would want to return and I did. Piropos is located at 4141 North Mulberry Drive in Briarcliff Village. It's the place to experience Argentinean dining.

Here, you’ll find grilled meats and seafood, salads, and try the empanadas. According to this venue’s website, the restaurant serves some of the best Argentina wines. Also, many recipes are from the restaurant’s owner. The hospitality and attention to detail as well as its atmosphere, are spot on.

Every bite of food or sip of wine will please you. Visit here for the menu. Dinner service begins at 4:00 p.m. every day.

Le Fou Frog - Kansas City

Grilled octopus salad over fennel with olives, sun dried tomatoes, red onion, and lemon dressing.Photo byLe Fou Frog via Facebook.

Established in 1996, this restaurant is a cozy venue offering French cuisine. It’s located at 400 East 5^th Street in Kansas City’s River Market area. With Le Fou Frog, you get a French-inspired menu prepared from locally sourced ingredients, and an impressive wine list.

Yes, you’ll even see pommes frites on the menu, but you’ll want to see it here because this restaurant has so much more. This is a great place for a date or meeting up with friends. It was an interesting experience for me but not one I repeated.

You’ll like the atmosphere along with whatever you order off the menu. Le Fou Frog is open from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Tuesdays through Sunday.

The Capital Grille - Kansas City

Photo byThe Capital Grille (Kansas City, MO) via Facebook.

The Capital Grille is located at 4760 Broadway Boulevard. This restaurant is also known for its extensive wine list. Here, expect to experience great dining, flawless service, a sophisticated ambiance, and a meal to bring you back.

The Capital Grille has a reputation as a celebrated steakhouse and one of the best places in the city to take a client. It's also committed to quality and a high level of hospitality from the moment you walk inside. The menu features dry aged steaks and fresh seafood and so much more. Visit here to check out the long menu.

If you dine at Capital Grille whether it’s a business meal, a birthday event with friends, or a family gathering, it will be memorable.

Charlie Gitto’s on the Hill - St. Louis

Photo byCharlie Gitto's on the Hill via Facebook.

Charlie Gitto's is a St. Louis landmark for fine Italian dining in The Hill neighborhood. It's been rated one of the top 100 romantic restaurants in the country. But that's not all. Visit here to peruse the press and media-related praises this restaurant has received.

Charlie Gitto's, established in 1981, is an iconic venue that has earned its reputation. Here, you have another restaurant dedicated to hospitality and committed to using the freshest ingredients to prepare your meal.

Visit here for the menu to check out some classic Italian meals. There are no overlooked details when your selection gets plated. Maybe you start off with the handmade toasted ravioli followed by the house-made meatballs with the popular pomodoro sauce. Maybe you have a steak with a salad. Each item on the menu might say pick me.

Eleven Eleven Mississippi - St. Louis

Local heirloom tomatoes and creamy buffalo mozzarella from Italy.Photo byEleven Eleven Mississippi via Facebook.

At Eleven Eleven Mississippi, you'll discover cuisine that blends Tuscan and Northern California flavors. This restaurant offers an inviting atmosphere with attentive staff. Even the name of this restaurant begs you to visit. The accolades and awards this venue has received since its beginning are impressive.

Eleven Eleven serves lunch and dinner, and has an extensive wine list. How about a 12oz. Char Crust Iowa Premium Ribeye or the Housemade Linguine Pomodoro? The menu is mouth-watering. The address for this restaurant is also in its name.

To learn more about the owners, Paul and Wendy Hamilton, and their portfolio of restaurants and venues, visit here.

Brasserie by Niche - St. Louis

Photo byBrasserie by Niche via Facebook.

If you want a classy relaxed environment with some French cuisine, Brasserie by Niche might be the restaurant to try. It serves brunch and dinner. The grapefruit brûlée off the brunch menu sounds interesting.

Yelp reviewers are over the moon about this restaurant. A reviewer from Mississippi said she wished she could give Brasserie 10 stars. Another reviewer from Florida said it was so good, he dined there for two nights in a row.

Brasserie is located at 4530 Laclede Avenue.

Ramsay's Kitchen - St. Louis

Photo byRowen SmithonUnsplash

Chef Gordon Ramsay recently had his grand opening of Ramsay’s Kitchen at 999 North 2nd Street inside the Four Seasons Hotel. It's a perfect venue with a pleasing view of the city.

Ramsay's Kitchen serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It also has brunch specials from 11 am-2 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Visit here to check out all the menus. The Creme Brulee French Toast for breakfast sounds amazing.

View this interesting Ramsay reel of the grand opening. While customers rave the food, some think the drinks are pricey.

What to expect with fine dining

Photo byNima NaserionUnsplash

One thing you can expect from fine dining is attention to detail. You can also expect impeccable service that gets you ready for a perfect experience. It’s something you can’t compare with chicken nuggets or cheap wine.

You can also expect to pay more for your meal. It’s hard to judge what’s too pricey unless you’ve been to several fine-dining restaurants. But for the most part, you’ll get what you pay for.

Everyone associated with a fine dining restaurant is committed to giving you an experience you either expect or one you’ve never had. The dollars for a meal are higher, in part, because every qualified person associated with the restaurant is earning it.

You can expect highly skilled chefs to use fresh and best ingredients to prepare your meal. Let’s not forget the passion involved with plating a meal. Whether you have water or wine with your meal, you won’t ever have to waive down an experienced waiter to pour you more. Certainly, your waiter or waitress will know when to visit your table to check on your experience throughout the meal.

The ambiance of a fine dining restaurant is also important. A lot of thought and creativity goes into designing the venue including the lighting around you and the chair you sit on.

Fine dining isn’t only about the food. It’s about your whole experience that begins when you’re seated and reaches the final chapter with the last bite of your dessert. If you’ve never experienced fine dining, it’s truly the way to go at least once in your lifetime.

Thanks for reading! There's a story in every meal.