You Say Tomato
You Say Tomato is a beloved local restaurant in Kansas City located at 2801 Holmes St., renowned for its breakfast and lunch offerings. Established nearly 19 years ago in a space formerly occupied by Weneck Brothers grocery and Anello Brothers Market, it has become a community staple known for its cozy atmosphere, vintage décor, and live plants. Owned by Anne Clark since 2018, the restaurant gained recognition for dishes like biscuits and gravy, baked French toast, and breakfast flatbreads. After a two-year closure due to staffing challenges and building uncertainties, You Say Tomato is set to reopen in June 2025, now enhanced with upgraded facilities and a focus on returning customer favorites while expanding its menu over time.
News Summary
You Say Tomato, a popular Kansas City restaurant, will reopen on June 4, 2025, after a two-year closure due to staffing issues. Owner Anne Clark has pivoted to catering during the downtime but is excited to welcome back customers with a streamlined menu featuring beloved items like cinnamon rolls. The restaurant has undergone improvements to enhance comfort and ambiance, ensuring a great dining experience. Loyal patrons are eagerly anticipating this reopening, marking a new chapter for this cherished local eatery.
Kansas City – You Say Tomato, a beloved local restaurant located at 2801 Holmes St., is set to reopen its doors to the public on June 4, 2025, after a two-year hiatus. The establishment closed in 2023 due to staffing challenges and uncertainties regarding the future of its building.
Anne Clark, the owner of You Say Tomato, shifted her focus during the closure to operating a catering service. With the recent acquisition of the building by a new owner, the restaurant has secured the ability to continue its operations, facilitating this much-anticipated reopening.
Following its revival, You Say Tomato will welcome diners from Wednesday through Saturday, operating from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and specializing in breakfast and lunch options. Clark plans to reintroduce a selection of popular menu items, notably the cinnamon and pecan rolls that have been a staple during Saturday brunches.
Initially, the menu will be streamlined, focusing on key favorites while providing rotating selections to cater to customer preferences and seasonal ingredients. Over time, Clark aims to expand the menu as operations stabilize, drawing from her enhanced culinary skills obtained through her catering experience.
Upgrades and Ambiance
In anticipation of the reopening, improvements have also been made to the restaurant’s physical space. The dining room layout has been reconfigured, and an upgraded heating and cooling system has been installed to ensure guest comfort. You Say Tomato maintains a unique atmosphere characterized by live plants, vintage décor, and a welcoming vibe that patrons have come to cherish.
Menu Highlights
While the full menu will develop over time, starting offerings will include classic favorites such as baked French toast, corned beef hash, and made-to-order oatmeal. During its previous operation, You Say Tomato gained recognition, being featured in the 2023 KC’s Best Biscuits and Gravy list, and customers fondly recall dishes like buttermilk biscuits and breakfast flatbreads.
Community Support
The closure of You Say Tomato sparked a wave of sentiment from loyal customers, many of whom expressed their sadness on social media platforms when the restaurant shut down. As reopening approaches, these fans eagerly await the return of their favorite spot and the chance to indulge once again in its offerings.
A Legacy of Culinary Excellence
Before becoming a restaurant nearly 19 years ago, the space that now houses You Say Tomato was formerly home to Weneck Brothers grocery and Anello Brothers Market. Anne Clark assumed ownership of You Say Tomato in 2018, having worked at the restaurant since its inception, and her expertise and dedication have since become integral to its identity.
Though the full operations were paused, You Say Tomato has remained active by hosting select pizza nights and special events, maintaining a connection with its community even during its downtime.
The tranquil setting of You Say Tomato features a front door that opens onto a quiet urban corner, complete with sidewalk seating for those wishing to enjoy their meals al fresco. As the reopening date draws near, the anticipation among customers builds, signaling a new chapter for this cherished Kansas City establishment.
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Additional Resources
- Kansas City Mag: You Say Tomato is Reopening for Service
- Kansas City Star: Openings and Closings
- The Pitch: Dish & Drink KC
- Chowhound: Best & Worst Barbecue Sauce
- Feast Magazine: You Say Tomato Breakfast Favorite
