Welcome to the Crossroads, where Kansas City comes together. An evening at Lazia begins at the hearth, where the warm glow of candelabras and the sound of hip-hop’s greatest legends fill the room. Guests are immediately welcomed into the restaurant with an aperitivo, an amaro medley of regional Italian distillates which serves to open the palate and excite the senses. Lazia marries traditional Italian with modern influence, offering special consideration for sourced ingredients from the farms and fields of the Midwestern American heartland. The menu feels both familiar and surprising in its selection of Italian favorites, including Neapolitan pizzas from the hearth and expertly prepared, made in-house seasonal pastas. From the bar, Lazia focuses on modern adaptations of Italian classics. Spritzes, negronis and classics are separated by style to shine a light on the wide range of flavors in Italian spirits and vermouth. Equally captivating is Lazia’s playful approach to dessert, Affogato e Amaro. A twist on the classic serve of espresso poured over ice cream, amaro is poured atop signature made in-house ice creams with espresso served on the side. One such pairing, fudge brownie ice cream with Fernet Branca Menta, is sure to be a favorite.
Lazia’s culinary team features two talented local chefs and a bar manager whose love and passion for experiential dining shines through every detail keeping guests coming back. With full support from Aparium Hotel Group the team has created a menu rooted in the regional Italian experience and imbued with the soulful vibe of Kansas City. At the helm is Chef Justin Kent who over the past decade has worked at some of the city’s top restaurants including Classic Cup and The American, the latter of which put Kansas City on the map with accolades from James Beard, Forbes and Mobil. Working closely alongside him is the Chef de Cuisine Jordan Hayes, who recently joined the team having formerly served as Executive Chef at J. Rieger & Co. The menu created by Kent and Hayes is complemented by a satisfying beverage selection developed by another J. Rieger alum, Liz Ramirez, who is now the Bars Manager for Crossroads Hotel.
“It’s the simple things that make for a memorable experience: attentive service, an inviting atmosphere and a menu that aces the staples,” said Chef Kent. “When our doors reopen Lazia is poised to become a local fixture in this historic neighborhood.”
The restaurant’s moniker “Lazia” pays homage to notorious Kansas City resident Johnny Lazia and his friendship with politician Tom Pendergast, two influential local Kansas City figures from the 20s and 30s. A true reflection of the heart and soul of Kansas City, Lazia was created to be a part of the fabric of the community evolving into a local mainstay.
The menu at Lazia begins with a selection of small plates and antipasto to fill the table. Cicchetti such as fresh sliced Prosciutto di Parma with blackberry mostarda and house-made Nduja with charred scallion are served with warm house focaccia and are offered to fill the table and be shared by all. Next, perhaps a visit from the mozzarella cart, pairing fresh seasonal ingredients with mozzarella pulled table side. The heart of the menu is the traditional handmade Italian pastas including dishes such as Ricotta Cavatelli with braised lamb and mint and the iconic roasted veal and pork filled pasta “pillows” of Piedmont, Agnolotti del Plin. Wood fired pizzas as well as generous sharable main courses or Secondi will be offered, such as the traditional T‑bone steak, Bistecca alla Fiorentina and whole roasted branzino with fregola sarda.
“At the bar we’ll focus on spritzes and negroni variations. I absolutely love the infinite combinations that come from balancing the Italian amaro, spirit and vermouth. We will have a robust amaro selection at Lazia, so it will afford our team, and our guests, a lot of space to play with flavor,” said Ramirez. “Our wines are ‘clean and cheerful.’ That’s the vibe we’re trying to create in Lazia, approachable wines that are fun and vibrant, extending beyond prosecco into spumantes, lambruscos and a wide range of regional and varietal offerings. Italian wine is a really broad category, we aim to make it as approachable as possible.”
A meticulous restoration of the landmark 1911 Pabst and Pendergast buildings, the award-winning 131-key Crossroads Hotel is part of the Aparium Hotel Group portfolio. This year, Crossroads Hotel was recognized as one of the Top 15 City Hotels in the U.S. by Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards. Crossroads, just like Kansas City, is at its core about community and connection. At every turn, the hotel taps local artists, designers and purveyors to share their talent and creativity within public and private spaces.
