City: Kansas City, MO

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (816) 931-6200

Address: 4710 Jefferson (Country Club Plaza)

Description: Blanc likes to say they’ve done for the gourmet burger what Alexander McQueen did for couture fashion. Staying with the metaphor, let’s examine their version of the LBD—a classic burger. The typical lettuce and tomato topping is taken up a notch with aged white NY cheddar, housemade pickles, and made-from-scratch ketchup on a brioche bun. A bison burger achieves star power with pepperjack cheese, peppadew pepper jam, and mayo, while the Inside Out is stuffed with blue cheese. Keep that napkin handy. Not big on beef? Go for grilled mahimahi, a spice lentil burger, or a salad. Just save room for the sides that arrive in miniature shopping carts: sweet potato fries, truffle fries, and thick onion rings. The crunchy batter is made from Kansas City’s own Boulevard Pale Ale. Local vendors are also tagged for the milkshakes (with or without booze), including Foo’s Fabulous Custard and Shatto Milk. In fact the dairy farm had to buy more cows to keep up with Blanc’s needs. Burgers are around $9; worth it for a custom blend of tenderloin, ribeye, and strip steak. The Quick-Fix lunch menu lets you choose a burger and a side for eight bucks. There’s a full bar and a mind-boggling selection of flavored sodas that provide a pretty pastel display in the spare, white decor. So that’s where they get the name!