4. Restaurants

Happy Gillis Cafe & Hangout

549 Gillis St, Kansas City, MO, 64106
  • (816) 471-3663
  • Store is closed

Happy Gillis Cafe & Hangout Menu

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  • Erin M.

    Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord: It is the Happy Gillis Tartine...Glory, glory hallelujah! It was a hungry day. A low on sleep/slight headache from the night before day. I was in Westport and decided to pop into Sunfresh to check out their sushi selection. No veggie kind made that day. BLAST. I hopped over to Goodcents, my one true weakness in fast food subs. CLOSED. (what?!) I was reaching the point of delirium where one thinks their forearm would make a good snack. And then, I remembered this lovely, lovely place. I'd trekked here a few weeks ago and treated myself to their quaint decor, lovely orange couches and a sammie with fresh ricotta, arugula (they were out of the arugula/pistachio pistou), asparagus and pea sprouts. Lovelylovely, but a little too heavy on the ricotta for my tastes. Something told me I wanted to make the trip from the 'port to Columbus Part...and I thank sweet tiny infant Jesus that I did. An open-faced delight of toasty, crunchy wheat bread (with all the grains and nuts and great stuff about good bread) smothered in creamy hummus, topped with AMPLE amounts of arugula, feta and an assortment of olives (warning!: with pits...don't hurt your chompers) all sprinkled with Za'atar. *breathe* I love Happy Gillis. It's so sunshiney and bright (and I have a major crush on one of the employees there to boot.) and I want to go there again and again and again. And because sandwiches are by far my most favorite food group...I will!

    (5)

  • Sarah C.

    Doesn't get any better than this in KC - or anywhere! Consistently high quality food and certainly one of my main go-to's for breakfast sandwiches. Menu rotates seasonally so there's always something new to try. For breakfast try the Cello-esque BLT - ridiculously good!! Thanks Happy Gillis for making my life a little... happer! :)

    (5)

  • Nicole B.

    I love a place where I can get a freshly made breakfast sandwich to go because sometimes I just have things to do and need to eat on the go. The staff is friendly and courteous and the food is delicious. Happy Gillis Cafe is a cute little cafe tucked into the Columbus Park neighborhood. Everything is made to order so you will have to wait for you food but it is completely worth it. The vibe is laid back and relaxed. There are a few tables lining the sidewalk outside and some tables inside as well as a couch and coffee table. Whether you are dining in or getting your order to go, the food is always consistent and reasonably priced.

    (5)

  • Sharon K.

    The food here is FANTASTIC. We eat here most weekends, and I have never had anything I didn't like. Simple things like egg and tuna salad sandwiches taste wonderful and fresh, and the soup is always amazing! Last time I ordered a roasted mushroom sandwich, which I was a little hesitant about but it was lovely...a grilled-cheese mushroomy piece of heaven! The menu is mostly sandwiches, plus soup and some breakfast stuff. There is a soup (or salad, I believe) and sandwich combo. They have beer, plus mimosas and bloody marys- guilt free before noon drinking! You order at the counter and seating is limited so sometimes there is a line/wait. I have found that it usually moves at a decent pace, and by the time you have your food there is usually somewhere to plant yourself, although it may be the couch...but I immediately forget any awkwardness when I start eating. There is some outdoor seating.

    (5)

  • Brandi C.

    I admit it, when my husband first told me about this place I turned my nose up and didn't want to go. It just didn't sound real exciting. BUT I was wrong. Totally, completely wrong. I'm sorry for doubting you, husband, and you, Happy Gillis. Ok, now that the fervent apology is out of the way, let me say that this place is pretty cool, and has some GREAT sandwiches. We've been here 3 times now, and I'm a huge fan of the Curried Chicken Salad. The lettuce wraps are also super tasty (and light, yet filling), as are the cookies (which are humongous)...and my husband is a fan of the Plain Jane sandwich, too. So basically we've enjoyed everything we've had here. The first time we came in I also had some blended veggie soup that had some Indian spices in it - can't remember what it was called for the life of me, but I was ready to lick my bowl clean. Now that it's freaking hot outside I haven't had any more of the soups, but the sandwiches have me sold, hands down. One other thing that can't be beat - fresh organic mimosas. Um, yum!! We haven't had breakfast here yet, but I'm sure it's just as good. This is a great place to visit on a relaxing weekend, especially if you plan on hitting up the City Market too. Seating can be a little difficult to come by at times, as it's not a huge place but it is popular, but that's the only complaint I have, and it's not a deal breaker. And now I'm craving Curried Chicken Salad.

    (4)

  • Joi B.

    I think I have found the best sandwich of my life at Happy Gillis. And I have been known to have a good sandwich or two in my life time. I never would have thought to put winter squash in a sandwich, but oh, how it works when combined with a bit of ricotta (just the right amount, otherwise I imagine it could get messy!), peppery soft arugula and a walnut/caramelized onion tapanade caught in the embrace of fresh, chewy ciabatta. Holy freaking mole and there ain't no mole involved but damn is this a sublime sandwich. I also had a few bites of my boy's ginormous "cookie" that appeared to be a volcanic mountain of batter (soft and chewy, crispy on the edges) with chocolate lava and walnut chunks erupting at each stab of the fork (yes, it was *that* big). The goddamned Pompeii of cookies and I mean this in a good way.

    (5)

  • Nicole K.

    Happy Gillis feels like eating at the home of a friend who is a particularly good cook. It is comfortable in a familiar, welcoming way, and the quality of the menu, the ingredients and the presentation is unusually high-caliber. I love to get their homemade granola for breakfast. Served with yogurt and fresh berries, it's so beautiful I just had to take a picture the first time I ordered it. The taste is just as good. I've had sandwiches and soups here as well, depending on the season, and the results are always impressive. Nice people behind the counter top off the experience. One of the best places in town.

    (5)

  • Chad C.

    Absolutely loved this little dive just outside downtown before my trip to the airport. Tried their Italian sandwich and the grilled cheese and both were absolutely superb. Tons of flavor and quality of ingredients. You'll also love the charm of this place.

    (5)

  • Nancy T.

    Oh how I love this incredible restaurant. It's got everything -- friendly staff, great service, amazing food with the best ingredients, creative menu, a relaxed and charming atmosphere. There is nothing not to love about this place. They do everything right. Lots of other places around town could learn a thing or two about running a restaurant from this place. A+++++ Do not miss the BLT (best I've ever had) or the potato leek soup. I can't wait to go back and try everything on the menu.

    (5)

  • krysztof n.

    Walking into Happy Gillis is reassuring to someone like me. One step in the doorway of the once neighborhood-market, a glance around the room to check out the people, the decor, the menu, the smiles behind the counter, and I know instinctively, "They get it here." This is the kind of place that looks like it may have been plucked out of a hip neighborhood in Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, Brooklyn...but KCMO has it, and we're richer for it. They want you to hang out here, and most people there on the day we showed up were doing just that. Groups of folks from large to small, all taking advantage of the comfort of the space, the boho decor, the big windows, the generous plates of food...the absence of any need to rush. I just had a sandwich while I was there; which sounds simple enough, but the flavors of it, the combination of ingredients that were obviously combined with skill and care were mouth-wateringly appreciated. Nothing like a delicious mouthful of an expertly crafted sandwich while enjoying a sunny afternoon with friends. Ultimately, though, I just remember being in a space where the smiles, talking, laughter, tinkling of glasses, and artful yet unpretentious decor felt just as comfortable for my coolest friends, guests from out of town, or taking my young kids for an afternoon treat (they would LOVE those cookies!). It's cool without being snobby, it's fresh without feeling pretentious or that it's trying to be anything other than what it is: a neighborhood joint that's as happy to be there as you are.

    (5)

  • Eva J.

    Is it possible for this place to make anything that isn't completely delicious? I haven't had one bad meal here, ever. And I've told the servers that take my food away that my meal was "delicious" so many times that I think they're beginning to suspect I'm a bit chemically imbalanced. I usually order one of the pesto-sandwiches -- in the winter, it has fantastic roasted root vegetables, and in the summer I believe it's mozz, tomato and basil -- but since swearing off cheese I've been ordering a side salad and the soup of the day, which has been nothing but excellent. (Cuddling up to one of their lumpy hand-thrown mugs and a steaming bowl of soup on a winter's day is one delight I will never tire of.) Pro tip: arrive at 11:30 on weekdays, and you'll have your pick of tables. This place fills up fast around noon, and it's just not as much fun when you're trying to eat your sandwich in one of the fuzzy, bottomed-out chairs rather than one of the cafe tables.

    (5)

  • Amanda S.

    I have been looking forward to trying Happy Gillis for quite awhile. I really enjoyed the atmosphere, mismatched tables and chairs and the excellent service. I had the meatloaf sandwich which was really good. I liked the Dijon as the condiment. The meatloaf itself was loaded with flavor and thankfully not greasy. Now that I have been, I can't wait to go back. Especially to try their breakfast.

    (4)

  • Amanda G.

    I've never had anything that wasn't absolutely delicious here. Arrive early or expect to stand for a bit - there isn't much seating available - but the atmosphere is friendly and food is ready quickly, so the tables turn over frequently. The menu changes on a regular basis, but the soup is really what keeps me coming back. It's on the expensive side, but worth every penny and if you like what you have, they are happy to pack up more of it to go. Everything is fresh and while there are a lot of options with meat, the vegetarian options can be equally or more enticing and soups are often meat-free. A recent offering? Potato-thyme with goat cheese and roasted caraway - absolutely delicious.

    (5)

  • Joanna J.

    What a wonderful little hideaway! I walked through the door and took a step back in time. The feel was vintage in a comfortable and unpretentious way. Also, the curried chicken salad that I ordered was uber delicious!

    (4)

  • Matthew S.

    Perfect. This is the kind of unique place that highlights the joy of living in a vibrant city and having one-of-a-kind options. Sitting in a quirky little corner spot in the insanely underrated Columbus Park neighborhood, this is the kind of place that would be the city lover's little secret before the Internet created buzz, and it is a place you won't forget or confuse with some other boring cafe. Happy Gillis started after chef Todd Schulte made a good business about making soup for delivery, and I'm glad he's branched out. The food at Gillis is hearty, usually pretty simple, and executed perfectly. The ingredients are fresh and flavorful, and they've always got some great choices for vegetarians. The space itself is quite small, but that's a key part of the charm. Take a seat in a worn out couch, color on a paper tablecloth or, better yet, grab a spot on the sidewalk in the summer and enjoy the ambiance of a dense low-rise neighborhood. However you do it, you'll be happy you did.

    (5)

  • Jonathan H.

    I've been amazed by every sandwich I've tried here. Great place to bring a friend for a unique Kansas City experience.

    (4)

  • Zee A.

    Only had breakfast. "The biscuit" which is a sausage egg ham sandwhich on a biscuit in a plate of gravy. Unreal. Only biscuits and gravy I've ever had that I thought were actually delicious. Then the gillies breakfast sandwhich. Good sandwhich on grain bread. Something about it just made it taste better than a normal sandwhich

    (5)

  • James J.

    I love this place. Great atmosphere, unpretentious, unique sandwiches, good service. Over the past year or so have been here 4-5 times and everytime I have had something different and have never been disappointed. It IS a bit pricey for a sandwich, but once I bite into whatever I have ordered I forgot all about paying $10 for it. They rotate the menu every few months...which is nice as to have new options. However, I am dying for them to bring back the blackened chicken breast & Andouille sandwich that I had late last summer. It was nothing short of amazing. Limited seating inside - get there early for lunch, unless it is a nice day and you want to sit outside.

    (5)

  • Arvind ..

    This little brunch haven's only brush with nondescriptness is with where it's located. With fresh ingredients and inspired cooking, Happy Gillis brings simple and beautiful food to the table. Everything from the horseradish sauce in the roast beef sandwich and the almonds in the mulligatawny soup was made just right - in perfectly complementing fashion. Along with cozy interiors, and friendly staff the dining experience at Happy Gillis is nothing short of sublime. This is one place I would definitely revisit time after time.

    (3)

  • Amy C.

    Happy Gillis Cafe is where the cool kids like to eat - that was apparent to me and my three girlfriends when we dined at the restaurant on 2/4/12. The outdoor signage and flooring inside the space hint that Gillis occupies a former corner shop/cafe from the 50s and 60s - it's been in a bit of a time capsuel. The sea green walls are decorated with kitchy art. A small hang-out area decorated with 1950s furniture looks comfy and inviting, although a little beat-up, but if you're a beatnik you don't care. And the pink in the ladies restroom is almost assaulting, but just on the right side of the line. The tables and chairs, all mis-matchy, may remind you of eating at your grandma's house when you were a kid. Tables are covered with butcher paper and guests are invited to create their own Crayola art as they await their meals. As a matter-of-fact, if your art is nice enough the staff may choose to display it in the "Abandoned Art" corner. Gillis has a small but refined selection of sodas including the standard Coke products, several Izze products and Pellegrino. At lunch they offer about eight sandwich choices and two soup choices. As we were there to enjoy lunch, the four of us ordered sandwiches and chips. Following the advice of the gentleman behind the counter, I opted for the seared tuna roasted red peppers, basil with olive-caper aioli. My tuna was cooked and seasoned perfectly. I thought the amount of basil on the sandwich was a little overpowering, but I easily solved that problem by pulling out a few of the leaves. The aioli nicely complimented the fish. While the flavors were quite good, I found eating the sandwich a bit awkward; trying to eat the slivers of tuna kept slipping out of the bun despite my best efforts. My sandwich, a bag of chips and an Izze soda was $15. Two of my friends ordered the meatloaf sandwiches and one ordered the ham and cheese. All very enjoyed their dishes and the meatloaf was bragged upon. Incidentally, our group decided to try this restaurant after having a very good experience at Genessee Royale Bistro, as the two share the same owner. At Gillis the food was very good, but not mind-blowing. I had a nice sandwich in a nice atmosphere and I enjoyed my company. Would I go back? Sure, if someone else suggested Happy Gillis I would go with bells on, but if I were choosing I would probably pick the Royale.

    (3)

  • Jocelyn R.

    Supporting local business is important, and Happy Gillis definitely qualifies. I love a Sunday morning breakfast date and the bacon, egg and cheese sandwich I had was awesome - my husband loved his biscuits and gravy too. Prices are more than reasonable and it's a cute place. I don't mind having to share a table with strangers when a place like this is crowded, although my husband is not a fan, other than that, we liked it and I'll certainly be back to try lunch sometime soon.

    (4)

  • Jeff P.

    There isn't much to say that hasn't already been said; Happy Gillis is awesome. It tends to be a very mixed crowd so this is refreshingly both hipster and non-hipster friendly. It can get crowded on weekend mornings, sometimes to the point where people are just standing around waiting for a table to clear. Fortunately, it still doesn't get as maddeningly crowded as You Say Tomato does...but I expect it'll get there eventually thanks to Yelp exposure. I love the fact that the staff is always quick to answer when you can't decide for yourself and you ask them what their favorite is. Somehow they're always in a good mood and they seem to remember repeat customers so that you don't feel like just another face in the crowd. Go here!!!!

    (5)

  • Ali A.

    I love writing reviews on Yelp because it gives me a reason to try new places. I have heard so much about Happy Gillis I needed to finally try it. Today was the day. I order the albacore tuna sandwich with pickled red onions and a side of mushroom soup with barley, my friend got their special corned beef sandwich. I tried both and I definitely think mine was the best :) It is a small quaint cafe not much seating is available but some tables came open while we waited for our food to be prepared. They offer chips with the sandwiches for extra money and they have various bottles and canned refreshments. I also tried their brownie they had on display, delish. They had two menus displayed on for breakfast one for lunch. I think I am going to make another trip down to try the breakfast foods. My friend used the ladies room while we were there and she loved it, she said it was pink and it had a little chandelier in it that gave the room a beautiful glow. I am obsessed with awesome bathrooms so if you are check it out too. One complaint, the guy preparing the food was not wearing gloves. That is a health code no no. The place was clean but that bothers me a little.

    (3)

  • Emily S.

    My husband and I are regulars here because the food is outstanding, the price is right, and the staff is amazing. My favorite dish for breakfast is a staple, the biscuits and gravy (small=$3, large=$5). I love anything with the flank steak for lunch as well as the classic curried chicken salad sandwich. Everyday there are specials, and I usually ask the staff for a recommendation as they create and try it every morning. So fun! Also, many of the sandwiches are big enough to split! My only complaint is that they don't serve dinner :)

    (5)

  • Jessica C.

    One of the most important qualities in local business is that feel of authenticity. It is what make me shun most all chain restaurants and seek out locally owned businesses even if it inconvenient or even a little more expensive. Happy Gillis gets this and capitalizes on authenticity while turning out absolutely amazing sandwiches among other delights. Being a complete cheese freak, the ham, cheese, and tomato sandwich was calling my name. And conveniently enough, tomato soup with zucchini was the soup of the day! Voila! Grilled cheese and tomato soup on a blustery fall day. Heaven. The soup was expertly seasoned and hearty. The sandwich was full of creamy Boulevard beer cheese that was perfectly melted. The tomato actually did its genus proud and was treated as a star by the chefs at Happy Gillis. No flimsy, flavorless, translucent and slimy slice here rather a zesty and colorful accent to the sandwich. The smokey ham was delicious on the sandwich, but a vegetarian could have easily left the ham off and been extremely satisfied. The shabby chic decor, quirky flower arrangements, and interesting neighborhood are all huge perks that make Happy Gillis a true neighborhood hangout that I look forward to getting to know better.

    (5)

  • Susan N.

    I know everyone's raving about this place and when I walked in, I really wanted to like it. We walked in starved one day and it is a pretty cute place. We both ordered sandwiches - me, a curried chicken salad sandwich and the boy, a banh mi. While it was good, there was nothing that made the sandwich really memorable. There wasn't a kick or a flavor that made the sandwich scream "EAT ME NOW!" I think my own version of this salad has more flavor. I had a couple bites of the boy's banh mi and did like the spice but overall wasn't blown away by the sandwich. It's a cute place, for sure. Would I go back? I guess. But it wouldn't be a place that stands out in my mind and I'd probably only go if I'm literally passing by while hungry.

    (3)

  • Callie E.

    If you can serve me pesto which rivals that of what my grandmother made growing up, then you're pretty good in my book. Upon my first visit to Gillis I was happily charmed by the quaint setting and somewhat remote location. Moreover, impressed with it's refined menu - as in, this is all we serve and we're damn good at it. I like that. Being a vegetarian, I steered clear of the meat options and instead opted for the pesto, mozzarella and red pepper sandwich. Personally, I don't think the prices are that high (in response to some reviews), but then again, it is a la carte - so I could see where some might think differently. The sandwich was delicious and like I stated above the pesto was superb. If you're a pesto fanatic like myself, then you know a lot of places seem to mess it up - not the case here. Plus, the ciabatta was perfect - crispy on the outside and soft/chewy on the inside - I couldn't get over how delicious it was. In regards to the atmosphere, well, I appreciated the eclectic decor - however, I wasn't a huge fan of the lack of seating. Just a few more seats and it would be perfect! So, if you do go, I'd recommend going a bit earlier than usual or a bit later - we went around 11:45 and made a seat at the bar against the window (all full). Also, the staff is super friendly - which is obviously a huge plus as well. Sadly, I'm moving this Friday, but if I ever come back to KC, I'll definitely have to consider popping in for another delicious sandwich!

    (4)

  • Kimberly C.

    How do they do it? Make sandwiches so seemingly simple so utterly delicious? I don't know but I am very glad. Happy Gillis makes some of my favorite sandwiches in the country. Consistently fantastic, made with fresh seasonal ingredients done in a modern way. I'm amazed at how much they can do with a simple small sandwich press, no stove here!. Lots of choices for meat & veggie lovers alike. My meat-eating friends love the chicken salad (the phrase "it's the best I've ever tasted" has been thrown around quite a few times) & the cello (BLT+egg) is legendary. My usual fave is the seasonal veg + cheese which usually has a pesto or romesco on it (i.e. asparagus/ricotta/pesto or zucchini/arugula/romesco/queso fresco). I also like the shrimp salad & egg salad. Soup & or sandwich specials of the day are frequently posted on their website so check that out. Yummy cookies too. Prices are a little steeper than some would like but I think the deliciousness is worth it, so am happy to pay fork over my dough to this great local biz. The staff is always friendly, the owners rock & the setting is downright charming. extra points for: (1) brown paper & crayons to amuse yourself w/ drawings while dining & (2) cutie patootie salt & pepper shakers Happy Gillis makes tastebuds happy

    (5)

  • Montoya J.

    This would go down as one of the top 5 breakfasts I've ever had...and I've been to many breakfast places in the US. I had a baked ham biscuit sandwich. The biscuit was simple but homemade and DELICIOUS. It also came with whole grain mustard and another kind of jam for a deer and savory combo. Price is right, we didn't wait too long, and the food was delicious! If I lived here I'd be here all the time.

    (5)

  • Tyler M.

    The Biscuit, Gravy, Bacon, Brisket, Egg and Sausage breakfast may be the manliest meal in the history of the world. I was a child until I finished that meal. I was also extremely hung over and cured instantly. It also cured my cancer.

    (5)

  • Matt C.

    Love this place! Very small and quaint with a retro feel. The food is always changing and always fresh. They use local ingredients and always create fantastic dishes. Very friendly people and very quick to get food. This time around I had The Stevie, which is a BLT and egg salad sandwich combined! Delicious! With a homemade black bean soup. They primarily do sandwiches and soup it seems with rotating breakfast dishes as well (want to try the biscuits and gravy ones of these days!). Love little KC shops like Happy Gillis!

    (5)

  • Jenny M.

    Happy Gillis Cafe and Hangout made me feel so happy! It was a great experience with delightful staff, a fantastic sandwich and terrific location. I really can't add anything to the reviews here that have not been said before, I will definitely return again. Oh, my husband could not stop raving about the stewed tomatoes on his BLT. He kept going on and on about them through the entire meal with a crazy little smile on his face as he ate. See, it makes you happy.

    (5)

  • Kyle L.

    This place has charm for days and overall the food was pretty tasty but the size of the establishment (or lack thereof) and the price kept me from falling in love like many of the other yelpers that have reviewed it. Happy Gillis is located in the charming Columbus Park area and it's cozy and charming on the inside. The staff seemed to all be very friendly and helpful and I certainly appreciate that. Avoid it during the lunch hour at all cost. We showed up right at noon and the place was already packed. Luckily as our order was being taken a table came open and we were able to snatch it up but they go fast. I'd suggest coming at a different time of the day (which is really kind of a shame) I was unsure of what I wanted but after seeing a bowl of the black bean chili, which happened to be the special of the day, I decided to go that direction. That bowl of chili and a Boulevard Wheat cost me nine dollars and some change. Pretty steep for what I received but it was quite tasty all the same. A few of the folks I was with got sandwiches and they all looked amazing and everyone did remark on how tasty it was. Overall I'm not head over heals like some of the other reviewers are but I can't mind much to fault it on other than the size of the place (There are seriously about four tables, two couches with a coffee table between them, and some bar seating by the window) and the price (Nine bucks for a bowl of chili and a beer is kind of outlandish for a small little place if you ask me). Will I go again? I'm not sure. I'd like to think so because charming little local spots like this are right up my alley but I don't think this one is amongst my favorites... That much I can be certain of.

    (3)

  • Kent A.

    Found this place on Yelp and Urbanspoon while looking for lunch. I was very impressed with the food. Sandwiches were great. Atmosphere was great. Quirky and fun little local place. Glad we found it and will be going here again on our next trip to KC.

    (4)

  • Payton H.

    Two words: Ham Salad. No matter what they have paired with it, David's Ham Salad is the best thing ever. Seriously. When I see via Twitter that it's the special, I usually have a Pavlovian response: find keys, get in car, drive to Columbus Park, get in line, pay for Ham Salad and a beer and jalapeño chips. It has never done me wrong. If you're not in the mood for a ham salad sandwich for breakfast (..yes I said for breakfast..) get the biscuits and gravy. John has perfected the art of the most delicious gravy ever. EVER. Happy Gillis is great. It's cozy, the people are friendly (and attractive!), the food is above reproach. Everything is seasonal and fresh. I also really appreciate curing my hangover with food in a restaurant in a comfortable chair that looks like it belongs in my grandma's house (in the best way possible). Yes, sometimes it's crowded, and yes Guy Fieri has been there, but it's still worth whatever your qualm for the amazing food and even better service.

    (5)

  • Lorena M.

    Sunday brunch this was the choice. It has very limited seating but you can order to go which we almost had to do but a couple got up right before we ordered (you order at the counter) so I snagged the table and then went back up to order. I decided on the 1/2 sandwich 1/2 soup combo and my choices were the Stevi, which is their BLT with egg salad on it, sooo good! My soup was curried cilantro, chicken and lentil soup and it was perfect with a bit of kick and the fresh taste of cilantro, very good! My friend ordered the meatloaf sandwich which came with a side of pasta salad which was ok, nothing great. He loved the meatloaf sandwich although he's kind of picky so he pulled off the roasted tomatoes, which I thought we perfect on the sandwich. I would find my way here and give it a try, plus it's nice to explore Columbus Park.

    (4)

  • Michael W.

    Sweet Cuban Goodness. I am a Cuban sandwich fan. This interesting little place happen to have one on the menu the day I was there. It was meant to be! Crispy hard roll, tender juicy pork and homemade pickle spears all pressed into a beautiful sandwich. This place is very cool. Very casual. You can just see how much the staff cares about you and the food they serve you. It is a great place to bring a book and hang out on the couch and spend part of your day. Parking is on the street but it manageable and there is definitely a relaxed atmosphere inside.

    (4)

  • Maggie L.

    This would be a 5-star establishment if we hadn't gone on such a busy weekend (Big 12 and St. Pattys Day). Very kitschy and small with a team of all-women. The food was DELICIOUS! Biscuits w/ sausage, cheese, and gravy hits the spot. Good filling food. My friends had the ham biscuit and said the flavors complemented one another and was possibly the best they ever had. Definitely give Gillis a try, just be cautious of your timing, or you'll end up waiting an hour.

    (4)

  • Andrew W.

    serve yourself coffee - out egg sandwich - eff yogurt with granola - ing staff - stand ambiance - ing! can't wait to try this place for lunch!

    (5)

  • Krystal P.

    After hearing about this place on tv and great reviews on yelp we finally made it. What a great place for Sunday brunch. The restaurant is small, unique, and comfortable. Shabby chic decor and exceptional food. I was torn on what to get. This is a place where nothing is standard but everything looks good. I settled on the shrimp salad sandwich, my husband got the gills turkey. We were both very happy my shrimp salad could take on the best lobster roll sandwiches. Great seasoning. The turkey was far from ordinary. I will be back many times!

    (5)

  • Linda M.

    The food was outstanding!! It was fresh and inventive and seemingly organic!! This place was hard to find bc the yelp directions took us on a wild goose chase. When we pulled up we were abit worried bc the area look run down. It is in Little Italy. The atmosphere was extremely simple. However, it was clean. An awesome surprise considering the exterior! We were so pleased w our breakfast!!!

    (5)

  • Scott J.

    You don't get on the Food Network by being typical. Normally, I hear "steak sandwich" from this great little sandwich place and I'm like "Oh geez, sounds like a pound of dry bread and hard to chew steak, neato." At Happy Gillis (which we spotted on the Food Network before visiting Kansas City) the steak was slow-cooked, stewed to make it tender and marinated in red wine. We ate another sandwich too, maybe a BLT or something with fish. I forget, that was back in September - I just thought to write this as the menu where I work today is from some takeout sandwich place that made me WISH it was Happy Gillis back in Kansas City. All the food was fresh and seasonal, like it's supposed to be. The decor's like a vintage store hangout. The staff was friendly and they had fancy sodas in bottles and a bright pink bathroom. They had local beers, they had wine. And it's all in a neighborhood I had never even noticed when I lived there. Great experience.

    (5)

  • Nathan S.

    My wife and I absolutely love this place! Their menu changes regularly but everything is awesome! Our new staple is the curry chicken salad sandwich which is amazing! The chef at Happy Gillis is wonderful and has a true passion for food. This is a place where the people remember you if you are a regular and the customers range from young hipsters to elderly couples out for a Sunday lunch. It appeals to everyone with a passion for good food and life. If this is you, you won't be disappointed. You must go!

    (5)

  • Marie D.

    I've never had anything mediocre here. It has all been amazing. I usually have a half sandwich and soup and I can't ever decide which I like better. The banh mi, cuban, ricotta/butternut squash, and turkey sandwiches are great and if you like soup, this is your place. I'm always looking for good homemade soups and this is the best I've found in at least the Kansas City area, but probably anywhere. I love soup, but the preservative filled, over-creamed, made from a frozen block soups (think Panera) do nothing for me. Here, they are made from scratch and have enough of a twist to make things exciting, but still fill the role of comfort food. If I'm in town on a Saturday, I'm usually having lunch here.

    (5)

  • Robert J.

    Great food, well priced but the staff seemed almost annoyed that we bothered them by ordering food. The location is quaint and unique, sandwiches and soup were fresh and tasty. The decor reminds me of my grandparents house which was always neat, organized and cute. Even though we annoyed them by coming to eat there the food was good enough I will go back - everyone has a bad day so I hope it was just their day :)

    (4)

  • Lacey M.

    Everything about my experience here made me happy. :) -Great service -Super cute interior -Crayon drawings on paper tablecloth -Bright hot pink restrooms -Bahn Mi Meatball Sandwich -Biscuits and Gravy -Lettuce Wraps -Walking distance of City Market You bet I'll be taking my happy little ass back there when in KC again!

    (4)

  • Stephanie L.

    I like that it's a really quaint place to have breakfast. The decor is just reminds me of someone like Dharma (from Dharma & Greg tv series) who tried to make it homey but a lot of the furniture/decor is mix-matched. LIke having an old couch in a restaurant (more like a mini living room in the entrance of the restaurant) - who would have taught of that?? Anyway, if you like unique/interesting/quaint places, this is definitely a place to check out. As for breakfast goes, I only had the huevos something something on the menu: 2 sunny side up eggs, carmalized onions, goat cheese, meat with spicy sauce, and corn tortilla. It was the weirdest combination and i'd have to say that the food texture and taste do not go together at all. But it didn't taste horrible. They could have put more carmalized onion to offset the spicy taste. Other than that, I like that it's in a corner of a quite street, perfect for a Sunday morning lazy breakfast. ;) I know if I have visitors, I'll be taking them here for breakfast/lunch.

    (4)

  • Erika D.

    It's a sin to visit Happy Gillis and not order a massive sandwich. The short, sweet menu is ruled by innovate (and mammoth!) sandwiches. If your taste buds want a jolt, order the Banh Mi Marinated Chicken Sandwich, made with cucumbers, scallions, cilantro and chili sauce. If you are craving a steadfast classic, try the BLT made with roasted tomatoes or the Cuban with savory pickles. One of the more interesting creations is the Tracy's Meatloaf sandwich with "aged white cheddar, caramelized onions, Dijon mustard and Fresno chilies." Being a meat-in-moderation kind of gal, I could not bring myself to order something with meatloaf in the title. However, I think that the combination of ingredients sounds intriguing. The regulars at Happy Gillis Café & Hangout are intriguing as well. It is the kind of place where everyone seems to have story. The atmosphere is cozy and laid back. Even the name of the establishment invites you to settle in and "hangout." A mix of café tables, homey armchairs, and vintage sofas make up the intimate seating area. If the restaurant has a fault, it's that too many patrons settle in for an extended stay. The small number of tables can drive you crazy during a busy breakfast or lunch rush. I have to say that Happy Gillis has not been a hit with my son. He doesn't eat salad, and the sandwich offerings are far too artisan for his 4-year old tastes. He will purloin bacon from my BLT, but that's about it. The staff was nice enough to slice up an apple for him the last time we were there. Unless your kids are adventurous eaters, it's probably better to go without them (or feed them first). Read more on my Tumblr blog, The Family Unit (see Profile for link)

    (4)

  • Mark S.

    Checked this place out for breakfast one Saturday. I got the biscuits and gravy and they were outstanding. Great homemade biscuits and the gravy had plenty of sausage. I'm not much of a bloody mary fan but if I had to have one, it would be here. I'd definitely recommend this place to anyone. Looking forward to going back soon!

    (5)

  • Uncle Grannon L.

    Part of me wants to write a one-star review... You know, spin some fanciful yarn about finding a poisoned sparrow bone in my curried chicken salad. This would probably be because instinctually, I want to dislike something that others so heavily covet. I hate the Yankees and the Patriots. The Lakers can suck it. Telling tales about H. Gillis, though, would be a lie. And we know what those do to baby Jesuses. I went here on a Saturday with my fiance and my stomach. I'm not a big fan of lunch by nature, but I'd heard and read good things, and I love me a sandwich now and again. So I hopped right in. I had the meatloaf sandwich. It was crunchy and tasty in all the right spots. Dulaney had the asparagus contraption and I sampled that as well. It was surprisingly good, even though asparagus makes your urine stink. Everyone has already written about the neighborhood (old-world charm) and the decor (alt-country threw up in your grandmother's parlor) so I won't. It wasn't busy at all, which would normally induce worry about the future of a place that I'm just learning to enjoy, but it's been there for awhile and everyone seems to rave, so I'm not too concerned. I want to go back soon and try the Bah Mien, which is made out of Vietnamese people, and the curried chicken salad sandwich, which is probably made out of what you think it is... sparrow meat. Mr. Gillis, I'm glad I found you.

    (4)

  • Kris D.

    This place has some seriously excellent sandwiches. the menu changes pretty frequently, but we gave both the pork torta style and curried chicken a try. I have to say, the curried chicken was the best that day. Im excited for my next visit, which will have to be very soon.

    (5)

  • Jose C.

    I haven't been to many neighborhood cafés in KCMO yet, but so far, this is my fav. The atmosphere is rustic and comfortable, the people are fairly friendly, and the food is simple and done very well. I had the BLT (their twist was using sun-dried tomatoes, and the choice of bread--thick toasted sour dough), made the the meal perfect for my "not-so-hungry" brunch appetite. If they only served breakfast past 10:30AM, I probably would have given them another star.

    (4)

  • Benjamin B.

    Loved every single thing I ordered. 1.) Chicken salad sandwich: high quality, very tasty. 2.) White bean soup: uhm god that was so good. 3.) Brownie: light, great chocolate flavors. Count me as a happy patron of Happy Gillis.

    (5)

  • David A.

    I'm not sure why this place got such high ratings. I do have some ideas though: It's not a chain. It's in the Columbus Park neighborhood and kind of off to itself in a residential neighborhood. It seems like it has a lot of regulars that eat inside or outside on the patio. It has a very homey/comfortable feel to it. I had a banh mi (which is a vietnamese meat sandwich), but this one had chicken and was a little different than typical ones I get. It was fine. It wasn't exciting or anything. Would I order it again? Probably not. The staff was very friendly and warm. Prices were decent. Street parking was adequate. They had a couch there that was cool, but you sink right into it :( It was rather busy for a Saturday lunch and people looked pretty happy and talkative there.

    (3)

  • Aimee A.

    Very long time coming, but hey, it's been busy. Long short story: February - Mike and I were exhausted after a gut-wrenching journey back to see fam in Olathe. On our way to the airport, and loving my new Windows phone, I check Yelp for a fab place to eat. They say Happy Gillis is the place. I did not know they had done 3D on Food Network, but now I know why. I had an amazing sandwich (pumpkin or some type of squash?) with an AMAZING soup (I love soup) with bacon, corn chowder, something. Wished I could have tried any ANY of the other dishes too. And a root beer to wash it down. It HIT THE SPOT. And then we flew home.

    (5)

  • Gretchen P.

    If you're confused about which item to get for breakfast, get the Biscuit. It's a fantastic compilation of their various breakfast meats and flavors. The sausage gravy was the best I've had at a restaurant in KC.

    (4)

  • Brent K.

    driving around looking for a new place to try, my wife said this place got good reviews, so i thought, meh, why not. located in the columbus park neighborhood, it was fairly easy to find. looking over their menu however, the options were severly limited. we were kinda looking for breakfast, and this place had a few breakfast sandwiches, biscuits and gravy, and that was about it. the sandwiches for what they were were severely over priced. i had a ham & cheese sandwich that was supposed to come with an egg, which they forgot. my wife's egg, bacon and cheese sandwich was pretty big, but not 10 dollars big. and no sides? i think we'll skip this next time, for what we spent here, we could have gotten a whole lot more food from somewhere else. I'm guessing the people who give this place such high and glowing reviews are rich and don't mind dropping 10 bucks on a breakfast sandwich, but not me, sorry.

    (2)

  • Tj P.

    I love this place.If you like good food you will too. Eclectic, homey, unique, tuna salad is one the best in town. Good bread and flavors are perfect. It is simple, nice and easy. A yes, yes.

    (5)

  • Scott D.

    Never been disappointed by Happy Gillis. Love their egg salad sandwich. Most recently, at 2 in the afternoon, I had a turkey club and it was incredible! Thick slab of fresh turkey, with ham, cheese, bacon (?!), and what seemed to be sun-dried tomatos! The mushroom soup was good too, with little dumplings in it. My wife had a tasty butternut squash soup with a chicken salad sandwich, -woo-ooo. We tried a day earlier at lunchtime and it was too crowded for me, with a lengthy queue, so that day we went to the Farmhouse instead.

    (5)

  • Mina N.

    Happy Gillis always makes for a Happy Mina. I only wish I worked closer, so I could come here for lunch every day. Atmosphere: Reminds of Portland (and oh, man, I heart Portland, Oregon!). The vibe in the place is so ecletic and chill. Need a frame of reference? It reminds me of hanging out anywhere in Lawrence! (I heart Larryville too.) Completely just a great hangout. Unfortunately it can get so comfortable that you might not be able to get a seat (it's not a big place). But the vibe is so "community-friendly" that you would feel completely comfortable sharing a table with complete strangers. The furniture reflects the vibe of the place... they don't match, but they go together harmoniously. Anybody from any walk of life can belong in this place, so goes the decor. Service: The guys behind the counter are completely welcoming and are extremely eager to have you try their food. You can tell there's a passion there. Food: Ah, "delicious" doesn't do it for me. "Sublime" perhaps? Maybe it's the freshness in their product that boosts my endorphine levels, but the flavors and the textures are nothing short of amazing every time. I always get a soup/sandwich combo. And for $8, it's a steal. Their soups are soooo good -- handcrafted soups, with fresh herbs and vegetables -- one of my happiest moments in life was trying Happy Gillis for the first time with their beet gazpacho. I literally have never been happier in my life. Their sandwiches are the perfect partners for their soups. They know how to layer flavors and textures in each of their sandwiches. You'll get a crunch from the crusty bread, shortly followed by the creaminess from the cheese, a little crisp and bitterness from arugula, then saltiness with prosciutto, then a little salt, pepper and olive oil tie it all together before bringing you back to the crusty bread...Wow, excuse me. I need a moment... Seriously, that sensation happens with every trip to Happy Gillis. There is no bad choice on the menu. Every sandwich and every soup will get you to that euphoria described above. It's so simple but so incredibly perfect.

    (5)

  • Josh S.

    oh my! I am so glad the red wine braised flank steak recipe is on the website! I can't wait to give it a shot on my own. This is easily my favorite at Happy Gillis. I practically drank a bowl of carrot curry soup today with it, wonderFULL. While I don't see myself doing a lot of hanging out at Happy Gillis, I normally eat my sandwich within five minutes of receiving it. The guys and gals at this cafe are really genuine and are happy to just ham it up.

    (4)

  • jennifer j.

    **They now have a liquor license**!!!!!! Can you say mimosa?

    (4)

  • Danielle R.

    Unique sandwiches, good atmosphere , really friendly help. My sandwich was great because it was loaded with new tastes and favors.

    (4)

  • Bryan M.

    Loved the Biscuits and Gravy (thanks FourSquare tip!). Wife got the Bahn Mi, friend got the lettuce wraps and mom got the Nutty Green salad. Everyone was super happy with their choices (fresh and delicious), we got great service and the pink bathrooms are a trip. Highly recommended.

    (4)

  • Deana W.

    This is the kind of place that invites you to come in and help yourself to a cup of coffee. Grab a magazine and relax on the couch, maybe prop your feet up, and have a great conversation. This breed of watering hole draws regulars. People that just keep comin' back to hang out. Kind of a home away from home. The bill of fare is written on a chalk board, divided into breakfast/lunch options. The selections are all familiar, but with some clever twist or ingredient to elevate your experience. You place your order and pay at the front, then find a comfy seat, and your meal will find you. My dining companion chose a turkey club sandwich, made with thick slices of country white bread, lightly toasted, and piled high with ham, juicy turkey, bacon, arugula, tomatoes, and pepper aioli. A steaming hot bowl of Chorizo and black bean soup was added for a mere $4. The soup was the highlight of the meal. Thankfully, he shared so that I did not need to become unduly violent. My brunch of choice was a Croque Madam with a soft egg, made with thick slices of country white bread, ham, Swiss cheese, and coarse, grainy mustard. Unfortunately, the egg was almost completely solid. No beautiful golden runny yolk to dip bites of sandwich into. There was also a lamentable amount of gristle left on my ham. In an effort to placate myself, I decided to obliterate my sorrow in a house made chocolate chip cookie. These chocolate treats were leviathans, packed with walnuts and partially melted chocolate chips. Huge mounds of cookie dough, baked to golden brown and delightful. I can't wait to come back again and try another bowl of soup, or an interesting salad. This unique, homey restaurant is a must try. Come and relax away an afternoon.

    (4)

  • Jen B.

    This is the type of restaurant every neighborhood needs and deserves. The menu was fresh and delicious, appearing to change each day. The servers were great, the decor is comfy (with couches and small tables), and you got the feel that half the people in there knew each other. Appropriately named, this is a true neighborhood hangout. I had half a club sandwich and a bowl of the french onion soup. Both nailed it. My significant other had a chicken salad sandwich and the butternut squash soup. We happily devoured every bite and left as members of the clean plate club. After seeing so many positive reviews of this joint on Yelp, I'm only sorry it took us this long to drag ourselves down to the Columbus Park area to give them a go. We'll definitely be back. The breakfast menu looked entirely too tempting and I watched them make a bloody mary that looked out of this world. We are already looking forward to our next visit.

    (4)

  • Lannette G.

    I ordered the Thai Chicken Lettuce Wrap, it was very tasty. I would of loved to sit outside if it were scorching hot, but def, will try in the fall. I loved the chilax factor inside. It reminded me in a weird way of Central Perk from Friends, but in a much grungier matter. I guess since I'm practically done making it down the list of burgers at Blanc, I need a new project and might just start making it down the list of sandwiches at Happy Gillis. They all look very interesting and inventive. One down...hmmmm not to much to go.

    (4)

  • Farah A.

    I went to Happy Gillis for breakfast club today with all the expectations in the world of greatness from the high marks on Yelp and they were all happily met. Yummy food = YES (Pictures to come) Casual, relaxed atmosphere = YES (bright, cheery!) Friendly service = YES (My clumsy self spilled coffee all over the place, of course. The staff was happy to absolve me of blame and mellow some of my embarrassment). Everyone enjoyed their breakfast including myself. The fresh juice and coffee were also good. The virgin bloody mary (which I still haven't made fun of my friend Kara for getting) and salmon breakfast plate were crowd pleasers. Plates were cleaned off. I was pretty sure Erin was close to licking her place of biscuits & gravy. She raved about them. I didn't try them because of the meat issue, but I was secretly envious. I guess now on Yelp, not so secretly envious. My Happy Gillis breakfast sandwich had awesome bread. I'm not that into bread, but I was definitely into this. This could turn into my regular breakfast spot, ESPECIALLY with the paper table cloths complete with crayons. I love embrace-your-childhood coloring and my friends and I spent the time waiting for our food drawing lovely pictures of turtles in loving memory of my late pet box turtle, Donatello. P.S. Ladies, there is some nice eye candy behind the counter. ;)

    (5)

  • Craig M.

    Its an out of the way quaint neighborhood but a very short drive from downtown. By the looks of the place you would never guess that this is a gourmet eatery. Had an excellent bocadillo there and the soup was wonderful. There's not much room to hangout but if you do you'll find out that the people working there couldnt be nicer. I will definitely go back.

    (4)

  • Lisa K.

    What's not to love about fresh ingredients, ever changing menu and a locally owned establishment off the beaten trail? LOVE their egg salad sandwich (big chunks of egg, not too much mayo or relish on a multi grain bread) and fresh soups! If you're going for lunch get there early as they don't have a lot of inside seating (and with the recent temps in KC being over 100+.. sittting outside is not an option). The menu changes daily and usually includes a fresh soup, sandwich and salad. Order at the counter and they'll bring your lunch to your table. Need more water? Fill up your glass with the pitchers of ice water. Headed there for lunch today and have my fingers crossed they have egg salad. BEST egg salad. Did I mention I love their egg salad?

    (5)

  • Kelly A.

    Yum! Went to Happy Gillis for the first time today and it was delicious. Had some beet and chicken soup that was flavorful and hearty, then my husband and I split the chorizo and white bean sandwich and the chicken salad sandwich. Just like Genessee Royale that is owned by the same people, Happy Gillis has delicious food and a fun atmosphere, decorated with antiques and other fun vintage finds. Highly recommend this gem!

    (5)

  • Lung T.

    Very good sandwiches....relax vibe....very local...hidden gem in the Columbus park area

    (4)

  • Emily H.

    This snazzy little joint has five-star quality, five-star service, and a five-star location. My four-star rating is the result of the annoying and ever-present fact that I am vegan, and I try to reserve my fifth star for those places that threaten my hips with many options. It is tough to stick to my rule with these guys, though... I can easily get by on the hummus tartine, the hummus appetizer, and the vegan soups that come and go, and I have to acknowledge the satisfaction of my omnivorous companions. The attention to details here -- the herbs, the dressings, the greens, the bialies, and the fresh everything -- they are really second to none. Every plate is so freshly prepared, so bursting with flavor, and so photo-quality beautiful. The menu offers such treats as a curried chicken salad sandwich featuring toasted cashews, a banh-mi with grilled chicken, and classics like the BLT (with bacon from Webster City Custom Meats), biscuits and gravy, and homemade granola with yogurt and berries. The happy, delicious all-natural soups are fantastic and a perfect combo of authentic traditional recipes and very creative twists. They serve one at a time there, I think, but they make and sell multiple soups to deliver to your door on Saturdays, offering several items each week, sometimes all soups, sometimes a salad, etc... this service will be intermittent in the summer, which is a shame, since they make some really incredible chilled soups. If you don't know the spot, you will love it on sight. The old Gillis Sundries on Gillis (on honorary Chee-Bay Way) in lovely Columbus Park! It is right under the "Little Italy" on top of Columbus Park Lofts, and you can spot it in a snap by the original Gillis Sundries Coca-Cola sign, if not by the crowd of happy folks on the sidewalk. It is really convenient to drop right in off of Independence Ave. onto Troost, if you aren't coming from the City Market. I like their coffee (which says a lot, if you haven't suffered through me complaining about 95% of the coffee in the world), and I especially enjoy sipping it at a bistro table on the sidewalk and chatting with the neighbors, despite the great music they are always playing inside. So the food and drinks and ambiance are fabulous and all, but the best part of Happy Gillis, by far, is the people. ____________ 7/25/08 update -- I love this place more every time I go.

    (4)

  • Joe M.

    I've been on Yelp for a bit now and up until now have not been inspired yet to write a reveiew. Well that has changed. My good friends and I were on a weekend getaway this past weekend in K.C. Our last stop as we started our journey back to Minneapolis brought us to Happy Giillis for breakfast. I highly suggest "The Biscuit". It was the perfect blend of so many wonderful things. Biscuits and Gravy with three types of meet and a fried egg. WONDERFUL! It put me in a very good mood for the long 7 hour ride home and I will for sure go back the next time I'm in K.C.

    (5)

  • Michael M.

    Great place with great, fresh food with their own twist. Bravo

    (4)

  • Cory K.

    One of my favorite places in Kansas City. The food is amazing and always fresh. I would highly suggest this place to anyone. Love the BLT.

    (5)

  • Dawn K.

    I'm still drooling over my first sandwich from Happy Gillis Cafe and it's been 6 hours! I ordered the Mozzarella, red pepper, pesto sandwich on ciabatta bread. OMG! The flavor and freshness was amazing! My boyfriend ordered the curry chicken sandwich and I can tell you it was divine! I had to have a bite. I wasn't as pleased with my soup but it was still good. It was a squash and lemongrass and that was the only choice. It was on the bland side. The salad my boyfriend got was delicious as well. We decided to share a brownie with walnuts to go. I am also going to have to forget about the brownie because I literally basked in the glorious flavor of my half. I am not a sweets fan, but wished I had my own! I loved the are and the general feel of the staff and patrons. This will be a place we see again!

    (5)

  • Laura R.

    OMG sandwich heaven!! First off, this place is absolutely adorable and charming. I'm a sucker for places with this kind of quirky decor and atmosphere. Loves it. The sandwiches were awesome- I had the torta (I think that's what it was called- it had chicken, avacado, cheese, pico, red kidney beans, cilantro...) and my sweetie had the club. I tried both and they were soooooooooo good. They were a great balance of creativity and comfort food-y feel. Absolutely delicious. I am dying to try the breakfast food at Happy Gillis, which is also supposed to be great. Next time!

    (5)

  • Meredith S.

    Yummy lunch at HG yesterday. The chicken salad sandwich with bacon was outstanding. Adding to the yumminess was the bread. The soup was curried "something" with coconut topped with fresh cilantro. It was very tasty. I loved the way they decorated this old building with so much history. It was relaxing and while it was busy it wasn't noisey. Love the old wood floors! After we ate we took a drive around the "Little Italy" area and really enjoyed seeing all the renovations that are being done in the area. Great place for breakfast or lunch and I will be back next time I'm in the downtown/River Market area. The guy taking orders seemed to not be so happy yesterday but everyone has a bad day once in awhile so I'm not taking any stars off for it. We probably took a little too much time trying to figure out what to order anyway.

    (5)

  • Taylor S.

    You can enjoy the innovative/artsy aura blowing over from the market, but mind you Happy Gillis is on a corner in KC's "little Italy", so the edge of the city is quickly dampered by a warm, homey vibe. So you walk in and think, "oh sandwiches". Common for deli's and after a while they can all start to blend. But this place makes you say, "OH sandwiches". I got the torta which was chicken, their chunky salsa, avocado, cilantro, and queso fresco. I'm a sucker for anything with a latin flavor, and for some reason I usually enjoy a white man's spin on the whole texy, mexy deal. My mom ordered the winter squash sandwich with ricotta cheese and that, too, was amazing. These people are making bad ass meals and sticking it between two pieces of bread and I love it. And so do a lot of other people judging by their line to the door that lasted for an hour. Save room for their jumbo chocolate chip cookie, it is the best cookie I have ever had. Seriously. No, seriously.

    (5)

  • Stephen P.

    Best breakfast place in town. The staff is always wonderful, the ambience is outstanding, and it's a gem of the Columbus Park neighborhood. The menu is focused on about a dozen dishes each for breakfast & lunch, with dishes occasionally changing. It's hard to pin down any specific culinary influences or vibes, but from the biscuits & gravy to croque madame to homemade granola, nothing has disappointed.

    (5)

  • Shana M.

    After reading the rave reviews we decided to make the 45 minute drive to try this quiant little place. I wanted to puke when we arrived @ 1:30 on a Saturday to be told they'd run out of bread AND soup. I am glad they had a great business day but dear God! A sandwich shop running out of bread is like McDonald's running out of hamburgers. I would love to have been writing a review about how great the food was. Instead, I am disappointed.

    (1)

  • Let It B.

    If you're in the mood for some fresh sandwiches for lunch, this is the place. I"m usually not a big fan of sandwiches but I have to say this little hidden gem is very fresh and the people there are very nice. I had the egg salad sandwich, which was served on toast that was toasted perfectly. The egg salad was good, and the serving was perfect sized. My husband had capicola with mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, basil, red pepper and mayo on panini bread. I took a bite and it was DELICOUS. SO delicious we headed over to Costco afterwards and bought all the ingredients to make it. Customers in there were eating soup which looked so good, I'm going to definitely try it next time. Heard the biscuits and gravy is good too! Great find, thanks Yelpers!

    (4)

  • Mike K.

    Ummmm... delicious... Happy Gillis is one of my favorite lunchtime spots. I first discovered Happy Gillis back in the fall of 2008 when I started working downtown. I needed to explore the local culinary scene and found at gem at Happy Gillis, I've been back no less than 20 times. Happy Gillis is tucked away in the northwest corner of Columbus Park - which is just east of the City Market. If you know where Garozzo's is located... this place is just a few blocks away. Happy Gillis is located on the corner of 6th & Gillis - look for the sign that says "Gillis Sundries". And don't go on Monday, they are closed. Happy Gillis is not fancy, the décor is a hodgepodge of mixed chairs and tables and fairly small - I would imagine it seats about 20-25 people. Pictures on the HG website show the place accurately. The menu is excellent - always two daily soup options, one sandwich of the day and of course their normal menu. The food always takes a few minutes to come out (good food almost always does) so take a seat and enjoy the crowd. The menu is pretty diverse, but limited - about a dozen sandwiches, a few salads and the soups. I highly recommend the curried chicken salad with cashews and green salad - excellent. The soups are always excellent as well - even if the flavor is out of your 'comfort zone' I suggest giving it a shot I had the roasted cauliflower soup one day it was incredible (and I'm not a huge cauliflower fan). Whatever you order, you will most likely be Happy Gillis! PS... they also have a good to-go soup business... check out their website for details. The flavors change weekly.

    (5)

  • Mary R.

    Awesome place!! Went there for Sunday brunch recently with a friend. Was pleasantly surprised when I walked in to see this place was very laid back and casual. We ordered the homemade granola with fruit and yogurt. The granola was great. Very flavorful. And there was plenty of fruit with good seasonal variety. I ordered the Keller-esque (sp) breakfast sandwich while my friend got the egg sandwich on a bagel along with a half order of biscuits and gravy. The two of us split the sandwiches, which was perfect. The Keller was delicious. I don't know what type of seasoned bacon was on the sandwich, but the bacon made the whole thing come together. The biscuits and gravy was awesome too. They used Italian sausage which made it a very unique flavor. The bagel sandwich was excellent. They put a Vermont White Cheddar on there which was out of this world. Would highly recommend this restaurant. Cute atmosphere. Very nicely decorated; partly by patrons' art work that you can work on while you eat. The only minor draw back, was that we had a hard time finding it. That could have just been our fault though. It's in a wonderfully small, Italian neighborhood that neither was of us was familiar with, so there ya go.

    (5)

  • Carolyn W.

    My husband I arrived at Happy Gillis around 11:30am on a Saturday. The cafe is unusually furnished with unmatching chairs & tables. The feel is very warm and welcoming. You order at the counter off a blackboard of different items. My hubby had the cuban and LOVED it. I had a small taste of the pork & ham and they were outstanding. I had the banh mi sandwich which was marinated chicken, cilantro, greens, etc., on a ciabata roll. It was delicious - the flavors jumped out. The only reason I am not giving Happy Gillis five stars is the young man that took our order was obviously in a hurry and did not ask what we would like for drinks or offer a side (like chips) with the sandwich. I got the impression they were very busy so maybe short staffed? By the time we left, all the seats were filled and people waiting to order. Definitely a happenin' corner hangout. I look forward to a trip back and trying another sandwich or maybe experience their breakfast.

    (4)

  • Jared H.

    Great sandwich spot for lunch! Delicious filling sandwiches. Original menu. Fast friendly service.

    (5)

  • L L.

    This is one of the best little spots in Kansas City. Really! I have filed it right in my list of favorites. If they have Butternut Squash with Chorizo soup when you visit, try it. It's unexpectedly delicious! The staff is as welcoming and helpful as you can get, and cute to boot. :]

    (5)

  • Rhonda N.

    We heard such great things about Happy Gillis we decided to drop in one Saturday morning a few weeks ago. LOVE the neighborhood. LOVE the atmosphere. Food? Our entrees were not quite so/so. The eggs were overdone and greasy and delivered hours of indigestion. I've had worse, once, at a Huddle House in Wetumpka Alabama. 'nuff said. Service? Lovely, if you enjoy being barked at when you ask if there's more coffee (the self-serve air pot was empty). Friendly? Not at all. All in all, an "OTO" (one time only) in our book.

    (1)

  • Wes M.

    A picture is worth 1000 words (unless it's a picture *of* words--so this one is really only worth about 40): static.px.yelp.com/photo… With any luck, they'll immortalize it on their "Wall of Abandoned Art".

    (5)

  • Catherine M.

    My husband and I loved the breakfast here, and the informal atmosphere was very comfortable. Reminded me of a fifties diner only more home-spun. Fun place to go!

    (4)

  • Lindsay H.

    Happy Gillis is everything I want it to be. The food is brilliant, the atmosphere is unique and at the moment I walk out the door I start considering when I can come back. The food is not too stuffy but extremely artful and creative. Picky eaters and hard core foodies can co-exist here. This restaurant is the cream of Kansas City.

    (5)

  • Anne W.

    Yummmmm. Great lunch spot.

    (4)

  • Dallas N.

    We had breakfast here, and while the food quality is delicious, preparation left a little to be desired. Bacon was greasy and undercooked and felt as though it was microwaved. I would stick to their sandwiches. Solid, not great.

    (3)

  • Kurrer B.

    Oh, I wanted to love this place. Being from Portland, the uncontested hipster sandwich joint incubator, I longed for a piece of my former home. But, alas, I was very, very, very disappointed. First off, how do KC hipsters afford this fare on their meager coffee shop wages? Ten dollars for something the size of a KFC snacker sandwich (a steal at 1.29) is not my ideal of a bargain and I don't care how much free-range protein is stuffed between the craft buns (there isn't much, so don't get your hopes up). I also found a straight, red hair in my sandwich box today, but didn't speak up because I had zero desire to fight with a hipster about how it couldn't have been mine. My biggest complaint, however, is with the flavors. They were not delicious or innovative or bold or anything that I would want to pay 38 dollars for three people to revisit again. If the food was good, I would be back. We are in the neighborhood often because of the seriously good Vietnamese food around the corner. But, this little shop is a like a crazy poser in high school. And, I'm not buying it. I wish I hadn't today. Boo.

    (1)

  • melissa e.

    I LOVE Happy Gillis! I do happen to know one of the chefs, so it might look as if my opinion is a bit biased, but I truely do!! Infact, I even played hookey from work on a snow day just so I could go eat there with my husband! My fav is the cuban, which I am sad to say is only a seasonal item. Although, if you ask nicely they might be able to make you a pretty close version of it. This has become our new Sunday ritual. We meet up with friends for brunch, and it's the highlight of my week!!

    (5)

  • Kevin K.

    Happy Gillis Cafe has one of the best vibes in all of Kansas City. Located in the Columbus Park Neighbourhood, which looks and feels more like an ethnic enclave in Boston than Kansas City - this locally owned place is wonderful. I have never had a bad meal and I am constantly impressed with the variety in the menu. The soups are definitely stand outs, constantly changing, but always amazing. The curried butternut squash soup is the second best soup I have enjoyed in my entire life. I highlight recommend this place. The vibe is warm and you feel like you are dining in an old friend's living room. The one drawback is the limited seating which can lead to awkward situations hovering over 2 people sitting at a table for 4.

    (4)

  • James C.

    Yes, I finally not only got a first review, but actually added a place to the site! Father, I have become a man. So anyway, I heard about this place on the web and decided to give it a visit. It's kinda like "You Say Tomato", and oddly enough the week I went they mentioned that fact in the new review by the Pitch. It's small and quaint, and run by a friendly guy and a team of hip dudes with beards and Weezer glasses, at least when I went. Allegedly they are known for their soups, of which that is a food category I am not a huge fan of. Just don't care for them. I can talk about their excellent, if small portioned apple cake, and their huge variety of sandwiches. The BLT is pretty damn dynamite, and as much as I wanted to try the meatloaf, I went with the cuban. While tasty, it didn't quite have a ton in it, so maybe I just caught them on a miserly day or something. Why the four stars? Well, they have a nice variety, very cool interior, friendly service, and plus they're local and independent, which you always have to support. Don't be fooled by Subway people! Sure, they're five dollars... but they're also full of people. Subway sandwiches are peeeeooopppllleee!!! RIP, Chuck Heston.

    (4)

  • Lisa S.

    This place is so great on a few levels. Personally, I lived in this area as a very small child, and the building itself used to be called Chee Bays. My father first saw my mother there and proclaimed that "he would marry that girl someday" He usually did what he said he would:) and did. Now, its Happy Gillis, and oh what a treat. I want to try EVERYTHING! I have been 3 times, and wow, I am more impressed each time I go. Even if you don't have room after the generous sandwiches, get a chocolate cookie to go. They are in a class all their own. Two thumbs up, and thanks guys for giving a historical place more history!!

    (5)

  • Greg N.

    An absolutely perfect place for lunch. Everything is outstanding, service is great, the guys running this place know exactly what they are doing...the soups are always perfect, the meatloaf sandwich is outstanding. I could eat here once a week, and usually do in the summer!

    (5)

  • Laura M.

    happy gillis is a tasty sandwich shop. i had half a sandwich with asparagus and goat cheese and a salad. it was a good light lunch. the atmosphere at happy gillis is really nice, if a bit hipstered out, with nice tables and cool art.

    (4)

  • Eric N.

    Went here for breakfast after reading all of the reviews. We were in KC for a BBQ tour, and this offered a nice break in the action. I'm from Baltimore, and am not familiar with the Columbus Park area. It seems like a quirky neighborhood, just on the verge of maybe being iffy. That being said, it was in no way unsafe, and the location of this place was pretty cool. Placed on the corner of a serene block, with outdoor seating, it was just the ticket for a quiet breakfast. Service is provided inside, where you place your order, and the food is brought to you after being prepared. I ordered the croque monsieur, which is prepared with ham, swiss, toast, and an egg on top. The twist to this classic was whole grain mustard and cracked black pepper inside the sandwich. The egg on top was a nice touch as well. It was the best I've ever had. The coffee was unlimited, and very good. The staff was very friendly and attentive. The entire experience was simply excellent.

    (5)

  • C C.

    We loved every part of this place. The atmosphere made my wife and I reconsider our life trajectory and we nearly convinced ourselves to open a knock off in our hometown by the end of the meal. Comfortable, interesting, and simple menu done well. Kudos!

    (5)

  • Mark W.

    Trusting the reviews of some respected Yelpers, we had to give the place a shot. I had the half sandwich, which was more like a whole, and a bowl of roasted tomato soup ($8). I tried the "Not your Mom's Meatloaf" sandwich with white cheddar and a slice of tomato. It was excellent. The soup was a very good, thick soup. Overall very pleased with our experience. It is quaint and off the beaten path, and oozes with small-town charm. I get a little leery of restaurants that border along ladies-only sandwich shops with fufu, weird sandwiches, but this place is every bit coed. The three men behind the counter know how to serve up interesting food. We'll definitely be back to try more of the menu offerings. Exciting news!.....They have another restaurant in the works on Gennessee St. across from The Livestock Exchange building. Bring it on. We desperately need more choices in the West Bottoms.

    (4)

  • John N.

    Happy Gillis is one of those quaint neighborhood eateries that serves delicious homemade breakfast foods and notably tasty soups, salads and sandwiches. Hearty and high quality with few to no processed ingredients or fast food shortcuts taken. It's run by Todd and Tracy Schulte (I am making the assumption Tracy's last name is Schulte). Todd's a full-blown chef (culinary school grad) with restaurant kitchen experience, but who has apparently figured out that running his own little soup service and neighborhood restaurant is far more fulfilling than fighting through the chefs' rat race. I hear chefs claim, often, that they put a lot of love in their food, but I've never truly experienced that any more than I do in what Todd dishes out at Happy G (he's been there, cheerily cooking and chatting with guests, every time I've gone). The restaurant has a homey quality few places could ever hope to achieve. Upon entering, diners find themselves standing beside comfortable old (but tasteful) couches, chairs and a coffee table covered with reading material, perfect for a pleasant wait if the tables are all full once you've placed your order. The dining room is unfortunately small, but I've never been served my food before I was able to snatch an open seat. There is also a shallow counter near the entrance looking out onto the street that's a bit cramped, but fun if you're alone or with just one other person. The walls are a funky green color, the furniture is vintage/second-hand, the menu boards are chalk board. It's got a great, unique vibe to it. And now that the weather is nicer, you can even choose to sit at one of three sidewalk tables. Reading through the menus is an exciting foray itself. Everything sounds good. On past trips, I've had the egg salad, curried chicken salad with cashews, and Plain Jane (turkey) sandwiches. All were delicious. On one of my recent trips, it was a rainy day in the budding spring and I felt like one last wintry meal was in order, so I had Tracy's Meatloaf. I rate this high on my life's list of best decisions. "Tracy's Meatloaf" is a meatloaf panini with a kick. I was thrilled with the fact that the bread, after having been pressed and grilled, was thinner than the weighty cuts of hot meatloaf inside. Tells you something about HG's philosophy of serving the best-possible-tasting sandwich, not cutting corners for the sake of cost. So despite few other toppings, this is still quite a substantial and filling meal. What toppings it does have are unique but perfectly suited to my tastes: the white cheddar cheese had a delightful stretchy quality to it and nice sharp saltiness. For a little kick, thinly sliced rings of fresno peppers (think red jalapeno) were layered on top. Sweet, a little crunchy and a little spicy, they were an ingenious addition. And for moisture and a more classic sandwich taste, good dijon mustard was detectable through its slight tartness. Recently, I've also enjoyed the banh mi, which is a Vietnamese-style baguette sandwich. The stars of this sandwich are two huge pork meatballs which, in a traditional baguette, would tend to get squeezed out, or just wouldn't fit inside, period. These meatballs are deliciously flavored (great call using all pork), sweet/savory protein spheres. Chomping down on one fulfills a primordial, inborn human desire like few other foods can. Offsetting the rich meat are sweet-marinated carrots, sliced cucumber, radish and brightly flavored cilantro. And the bread picks up a little of the gooey, spicy hoisin from the meatballs for added moisture. You just can't find a sandwich like this hardly anywhere else in town, so you've got to go try it. We also ordered a bowl of HG's Italian lentil soup with sausage. This hearty bowl was a great match for my meatloaf sandwich, thick, deeply flavored and satisfying. The soups at HG are a little on the pricey side, but take it from a cheapskate - they're worth it. They're all truly delicious. Happy Gillis actually hangs their hat on their soups, above all. Their website, happysoupeater.com , allows visitors to register and sign up for weekly soup deliveries. I'm not yet a member but can only imagine the euphoria of finding my new gift of soup waiting on my doorstep... especially when it tastes as good as theirs. The only knocks on Happy Gillis are the slightly high price/portion ratio and the occasional lackluster salad. (they could do slightly better on their salads, given relatively high prices for them). On service and atmosphere, it gets top marks. Make your stomach and your soul happy soon with a trip to Happy Gillis.

    (4)

  • Briana O.

    Cute little homemade coffee cup in hand, sitting on an antique orange crushed velvet chair, I enjoyed a delicious Croque Madame this morning at brunch at Happy Gillis Cafe. I've read about this little place on Yelp a bunch (thanks guys!) so when a friend was in from out of town and wanted to meet for Sunday brunch I decided to try it out! She had the Gillis Breakfast sandwich, which also looked amazing! I'm excited to go back and try this place again, and again. There were a couple of ladies sipping bloody marys that looked pretty good! Their baked goods looked scrumptious too....I wish tomorrow as another Sunday so I could go back! The staff was also very friendly, which always makes me happier to go back and visit again!

    (5)

  • Betts C.

    I have to add on to my previous review, because we did go back to Happy Gillis. Yes, about four days later. For lunch. And it was so not a letdown. It's like a perfect relationship, where each thing I try, I worry it will be a disappointment, and instead, I only love it more. And frightened as I am to just keep trying, I'm pretty positive I will have to move through the entire menu in order to be fully satisfied. But we made good progress on that today, as we tried the Beet Gazpacho, which absolutely blew my mind. I have to keep remembering that beets and I are only celebrating our year anniversary, as prior to that, I thought I hated the poor, beautifully pink vegetable. Now I regularly sacrifice the skin on my hands to their dye in order to make myself beety things. But it's even better when that sacrifice is someone else's, and it's near perfection when that is a soup that tastes lightly beet-y. It's not like cold borscht; it's sort of cucumber and bell peppery alongside the beets, and it's phenomenally tasty. We also had to try multiple sandwiches, so we shared the seemingly famous meatloaf sandwich. This really isn't you mama's meatloaf, as it's got some crunch to it through carrots, and is sliced thinly with some cooked tomato and wedged onto really good ciabatta bread. We also sampled the curry chicken salad, which is just mayo-y enough without being overwhelming, and the Thai hot sauce that's added makes for a mouthwatering good sweet and spicy combination. Let's just put it this way: I'm convinced. I will no longer get lost on the way to Happy Gillis; I will instead wear that path down. Ernest Hemingway the Jetta will be able to get there without my assistance pretty soon, because I'm ready to just keep coming back for more. And once again, the service was flawless. I mean, there isn't waiter service, but the gentlemen today did an excellent job and making sure we had what we needed without being overbearing, and never once were we lacking in anything. And again, the coffee is serve-yourself in the cutest bloody mugs in the world. This was a day when I needed a lot of coffee, so... Again, silly as it sounds, finding new places like Happy Gillis is like starting a new relationship. But it's like discovering your childhood connections with someone when you've only known them minutes. It's that magic thing that comes when everything is just going so right. I'm really hoping Happy Gillis continues to please. The hot pink bathroom has me pretty convinced it will.

    (5)

  • Katherine J.

    This place is really cute and fun. We really enjoyed our meal here. The people were very nice and helpful and the food was delicious. They stop serving breakfast rather early on weekends which kinda narrows the choices. It's a small menu but I'd rather go to a place that does a few things really well than a lot of things not so great. I definitely will come back!

    (5)

  • Mad C.

    I love this joint- makes me want to move to the Columbus Park hood. I love the way it looks. I love their beet soup and Vietnamese chicken sandwich (can't remember the proper name). I love Izze soda and I'm sure I would love their dessert if I'd had any. I want to go back for breakfast tomorrow. Love it.

    (5)

  • Timothy G.

    Oh my word, this is such a quaint, eclectic and urban place all in one. Love the meatloaf sandwich as well as the cuban pork sandwich. Yummy! I'll be back to try some breakfast items!

    (4)

  • Kasey G.

    This place was pretty darn good. I had the granola with fresh strawberries, blue berries, yougurt, walnuts, and almonds. It was a very good light breakfast and was just $5. The coffee they charged $2.36 for but you could fill up your cup as many times as you want. So my whole breakfast was like $7.85 which is pretty cheap. They don't have any waiters just one guy behind the counter who takes your order. My friend had their bisquits and gravy which were also just $5 and he thought they were good as well. They have about 8 breakfast items to choose from and about 10 items on the lunch menu. I want to try the breakfast sandwich next time. It reminds me of a cozy coffee shop I would recommend it.

    (4)

  • Tracey H.

    Great breakfast place for a LIGHT yet satisfying breakfast! They also provide a little hair of the dog via GREAT Bloody Mary's and local Boulevards brews.

    (4)

  • Mark H.

    Best breakfast ever!

    (5)

  • victoria l.

    We are always looking for little one of a kind jewels----this is definitely one! Though small, the menu is so awesome it is difficult to choose!! Very fresh, very good. Friendly and inviting,but almost like eating at home..Only BETTER!!!

    (5)

  • Ben W.

    I loved this place. We were looking for a good breakfast on our way through KC. Stopped and met some friends here. I had the Biscuits and Gravy - amazing!!! My friend had the breakfast BLT. It looked like one of the best (with an egg to boot) and he raved about it. Serve yourself coffee. Nice place all around and the neighborhood is great.

    (4)

  • Cris M.

    Have eaten here for lunch several times. I have tried several sandwiches. The meatloaf- the bread makes this sandwich (I'm a bread lover). If you eat the meatloaf by itself it's just ok but with all the components, the sandwich is really good. Have also had the curried chicken sandwich, which was also good. The ricotta, asparagus sandwich surprised me. The buttery richness of the ricotta with the other components was really quite good. Fresh and different. The breads on all the sandwiches are awesome. Again, I am a big bread person. The soups I've had are wonderful and what really makes them are the garnishes. Last time was a tomato with a goat cheese garnish. The time before that was a curried tomato with a cilantro, pistachio, pesto. Delish. The cookies were good also. Would definitely recommend.

    (4)

  • Andria N.

    Yum! Happy Gillis makes me feel like I am back home in Portland.....meaning good local and sustainable food. I get their soup delivery and have not received anything that I regretted ordering. It's worth the price and they use quality and local ingredients. Their sandwiches are also amazing! You cannot go wrong with anything you order!

    (4)

  • Tom G.

    Hands down the best BLT, best chicken salad and soup in the metropolitan area!

    (5)

  • Edward L.

    great fresh food. But bring your credit card cause it will cost ya.

    (4)

  • Philip A.

    Happy Gillis is great for lunch or breakfast on the weekends. The food is always creative without being contrived, and rich and delicious without being overwhelming. The service is great, the atmosphere is laid back, and you feel like you're eating in a friend's dining room. The rotating menus are always good, but if you find something you love, you may be disappointed to come back a few months later and have it be off the menu for the season. Overall a great lunch spot, and I will continue to come back

    (5)

  • Alicia J.

    My sister the elite yelper told me about this place. Which you will now find me almost every weekend. I love, this place. They are friendly and their food is always amazing! No matter what i have ordered it has always been wonderful and the staff and owners really care about making you happy. You can find hip urban couples old and young and family's, (but the hip kind not the annoying loud ones you would find at a chain restaurants that throw food all over the floor).

    (4)

  • Chuck F.

    I really enjoyed this place. Which is why I'm writing the review. I had the fresh mozzarella sandwich. Very good. And some lemonade. I'll definitely be going back.

    (4)

  • Kelli S.

    This is a cute little restaurant in a very unique neighborhood. The menu isn't extensive, but it has great variety. The meatloaf sandwich and potato soup were pretty darn good and the ricotta and roasted butternut squash sandwich was refreshing. I'm told the menu changes every 3-4 months so there's a reason to keep going back! Seating is hard to come by during prime eating hours, but the staff does their best to turn the tables quickly.

    (4)

  • Debbie K.

    nothing will disappoint. but always, ALwaYs finish your meal with a cup of coffee and a chocolate chip cookie.

    (5)

  • Bradd S.

    Great breakfast this past Sunday. The folks who run this spot clearly care about their food and service. We will definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Christine B.

    This is the best little lunch place in town! I almost don't want to review it because I want to keep it all to myself! The soups are absolutely phenomenal. They can compete with any of the fanciest restaraunt soups in town. but sometimes, I can't resist the vietnamese banh mi sandwich or the chicken curry sandwich- these are my two favorite sandwiches in town. My husband swears by the cuban though. I love to go to the farmers market on the weekend and then swing by this place for lunch. I have never been disappointed! Don't forget they are closed on Monday

    (5)

  • Mary A.

    Parking was very easy to find on the street. When you get here, you order at the counter and then find a seat. Then when your food is ready, they will find you. While we were here the place filled up and no seats were available inside or outside. But the place has quick turn-around and the staff is quick to bus the tables. There is a self-serve water station next to the self-serve coffee station. I ordered a half order of biscuits and gravy ($4) as suggested by other Yelpers and I was not disappointed. This was the best gravy! There were clumps of sausage in the gravy, too. The half order comes with one large biscuit. I chose to add bacon on the side- adding eggs is also an option. My husband also ordered the salmon/avocado toast and OMG was it amazing! Smoked salmon on essentially a guacamole creamy sauce. So much flavor! This may not have been enough for his breakfast, so plan on ordering something else if you are hungry. The granola/yogurt looked awesome at all the tables around us.

    (5)

  • Beth B.

    Four gals came here for a late breakfast on the last morning of our chick trip. It was a staycation for two of us and two are from California (transplanted from KC). I've heard so many good things about this place and it did not disappoint. We found rock star parking out front (hey - I'm from the burbs and that is always a concern when we go urban) and headed inside to a short line. At first, I was concerned that there were no mimosas to be had, but was thankful to see that on the handwritten chalkboard menu. Their mimosas are great and are a generous pour, by the way. I ordered the egg sandwich ($8), which is scrambled eggs, bacon and cheese on this amazing multigrain bread that has been toasted on the grill (with butter, I'm assuming). It was so yummy. I also had a half order of the biscuits and gravy ($4). Those were the best. I ate the whole thing (after giving everyone a taste) and saved half of my sandwich for later. I could eat those every day. I'd be 300 lbs., but it might be worth it. My friends ordered either the egg sandwich or one of the specials which was bread pudding toast with bacon and cantaloupe. Everyone said their food was great. There is free water and you can fill up your glass as much as you want - there is a canister from which you can help yourself. That's important to me because the server can rarely keep up with my water drinking. Happy Gillis supports several local farms and businesses and they have them listed in the restaurant. I wish I lived closer, but I will definitely be back. They are also opening a Ramen shop soon. That should get us down there again!

    (5)

  • Katie W.

    What a cool place! Sidewalk seating with my favorite biscuits and gravy...ever! *high five*

    (5)

  • John M.

    Being from Houston, I've been fairly disappointed with the BBQ here... But I would have to say, these were the best biscuits and gravy I've ever had!!! I plan on taking all my friends that visit me here.

    (5)

  • L B.

    Pros: good food, easy to get a table, convenient location, friendly staff, reasonable prices Cons: limited menu items

    (4)

  • Drizzy R.

    Quaint little neighborhood place where you stand in line to place your order and then get a table. Don't go claiming a table before you order and don't really stick around. It's one of those places where you eat and leave. Lingering just isn't in the playbook. Parking was fine, and we liked the overall ambiance of the place. I had the open-faced smoked salmon toast with avocado and egg and miso-y flakes of something I can't recall. It was good, but it wasn't super awesome. Maybe I just wasn't feeling it that day. But I will say that the egg was a perfectly runny poached egg and I'm jealous of the cook's egg skillz. My husband got a half order of the biscuits and gravy, as well as the breakfast sandwich. He enjoyed the sandwich and I appreciated that the biscuits didn't have hard edges and the gravy actually had chunks of sausage. I get sick of all that "sausage" gravy with no sausage to be found. So, props. You can buy your coffee mug for $10, which was cool; they're made by a local potter.

    (4)

  • Paul H.

    Stopped in based on a Yelp review and enjoyed the perfectly greasy, perfectly delicious "Breakfast Sandwich". Unique vibe with beautiful hand-made coffee mugs. Unfortunately they ran out of coffee for a while right at prime coffee time. Almost deleted the fifth star for this but gotta go the coffee's ready now!

    (5)

  • Jenny C.

    Creative and healthy food in a cute little cafe. They didn't have that many vegetarian options but I still found something I liked (the grilled pimento cheese). The staff was friendly and helpful and the service was quick. You order at the counter and then sit and they bring the food to you, and it's VERY cheap given the quality. Pleasantly surprised and happy I found this place while passing through Kansas City!

    (5)

  • Joe K.

    Looking for lunch, this was my first stop in KC. It is located in the Columbus park neighborhood. I didn't see many other restaurants around, but it gave me the vibe of STLs "the hill" if the hill had turned super hipster (it could have been the Italian flag colors on the building wall right outside the window). It wasn't super busy as other yelpers had mentioned. Workers were polite. They were only serving lunch at the time and so I tried to order an item but it was sold out. Instead I got the Asian pulled pork. It came on ciabatta bread with an Aoli sauce and kimchee. Flavors were good and complemented one another. Kimchee was sweeter than traditional so I assume they soak it in something. Came out warm and pork tasted pretty fresh and tender enough. I enjoyed the quaint hipster experience, however I will mention that it seems a little on the pricier side (I assume BC they were on diner,drive in, and dives)

    (4)

  • Amber G.

    This is a cute little breakfast/brunch spot in a quaint part of town. I have always lived in KCK but I have never been to this neighborhood. The food was wonderful. I had the biscuits and gravy, you could taste the freshness of the sausage (you can tell it came from down the road). My husband had a breakfast sandwich that was very hardy and he had nothing but wonderful things to say about the taste. They do serve some alcoholic beverages in bottles but there isn't anything on draft. This isn't a normal sit down eatery. You order your food at the counter then they bring it to you. Most drinks are self serve (which is fine). We will definitely be going back.

    (4)

  • Dago P.

    Stumbled upon a quaint diner experience that pays tribute to local farms and artists. Staff was great and offered a plethora of delicacies and sandwiches. Green eggs and ham and the smoked salmon were AMAZING. I hope future trips bring me to Kansas City more to keep exploring the menu.

    (5)

  • Sarah S.

    The down side: It's cramped, you have to really vie for seating (this sometimes means kind of hovering around until a table opens up. It is expensive for what you get. Portions are fairly small, and few side dishes are available. Also, their coffee is just so-so. The up side: The food is very tasty (my favorite is the bacon date melt). The menu changes with the seasons. Ingredients are fresh. The decor is adorable -- there's a wall of doodles and drawings, lots of natural light, very cute mismatched tables and chairs. In conclusion: I will probably go back, the food is tasty. However, it isn't an every weekend haunt as it doesn't feel worth it unless my bank account is full.

    (3)

  • Erica F.

    Thank you for bringing back the pimento cheese sandwich!! Had this for lunch yesterday & it was superb. Paired with the amazing soup offered, I was not disappointed.

    (5)

  • Jennifer M.

    I've only tried their cookie here because they stop serving breakfast at 11AM on weekdays. I've only had a few potato chip cookies, but I must say this wins. The cookie is made of oats and chocolatey goodness (and not too sweet) with crushed potato chips on top. Perfect chewiness to it! In a quaint and quiet neighborhood and friendly service!

    (4)

  • Jessica K.

    So, so good! We had the breakfast sandwich with grains galore... amazing. Parking was easy, customer service was great, and the establishment was really nice and clean. Highly recommend and will always remember this nice, little restaurant on the corner!

    (5)

  • Barbara S.

    Want to go to one of the most hipster lunch spots in town? my friend asked me once. What a ridiculous question. Of course I do. So we went. The first time, there was snow on the ground. This is a corner building in a neighborhood with no parking lot so parking was a bit dicey. Sometimes you can find nice, close spots. Sometime you'll walk for a while. Also, it is pricey. The yelp page says "under $10" which sounds nice until you realize everything is $9-12 and doesn't really come with a side. I got a grilled mushroom and cheese sandwich once with a bag of chips and a beverage and it was $15, Yikes. But all the food is locally sourced so at least your money is supporting something good. And the food is good. To be sure, it's fancy/hipster/foodie breakfast and lunch food. I probably wouldn't bring my Quick-Trip Hot-Dog loving father here, I'll say that. He probably wouldn't know what to do with chicken liver mouse or Asian pulled pork or a kale Cesar salad. He's not a foodie. As with any popular, tiny restaurant, seating can be hard to come by when it gets busy. I enjoy their tables out on the sidewalk. It's nice to sit and watch the world go by. And last but not least, my favorite part about this place: :::drum roll::: they have Broadway Cafe coffee. Brownie points from this reviewer for carrying one of her favorite coffee beans. Kudos.

    (4)

  • Gregory C.

    Not great, just okay. Had the Breakfast Sandwich and Biscuits & Gravy. Satisfying but not outstanding. And I'm not a fan of ordering at the counter and then finding a seat to be served my food. Nor am I a fan of fetching my own coffee and water. .

    (3)

  • Bonny H.

    This place is so unique. The food was amazing and the neighborhood dog made breakfast so much more fun.

    (5)

  • Shawn M.

    Hipsters make great food. Had the breakfast sandwich and coffee. It's worth the #1 ranking it has on yelp for reviews.

    (5)

  • Melissa C.

    We came for a late brunch and enjoyed the biscuits and gravy, Benedict special, salmon special and the iced coffee was amazing! The seating area was limited but by the time our food came we all had been seated (6 of us).

    (5)

  • Alannah S.

    Absolutely the best biscuits and gravy! The coffee is top notch as well! Very nice ambience over all. Friendly staff and quick service, we will be back!

    (5)

  • J S.

    Ate here during a visit to KC. Delicious food. Cute mugs. Fresh food. Cute little restaurant.

    (4)

  • R B.

    Delicious spot to grab a breakfast, lunch Or a cup of coffee. The pleasant woman behind the counter makes their breakfast sandwiches like I make mine at home, that means plenty of thick cut bacon. They also play really good music here. Like so good you could clear out the tables and have a rare 45 dance party. Another gem in this neighborhood.

    (5)

  • Vicky T.

    my friend was in love with the egg consistency and texture in the gritts we ordered. Two thumbs up for its local menu options.. I got the bacon-date sandwich, which, I personally was not a big fan of the saltiness of the bacon, however, this is articulated by one with a palette for light eating. I guess they are popular for their biscuit and gravy with a side of bacon? Oh, yes.. my friend was taken with the bacon too. thick, chewy but not soft slices. eat them up! I wish they would serve a more substantial portion for the price we pay.. that is my only set-back. Still hungry after my sandwich.. more salad would have been nice to refresh every bite too. anyway, give this place a try if you are searching for something American Cuisine-savory. take a friend, but maybe not three (limited indoor seating; packed the two hours we stuck around).

    (4)

  • Susan C.

    The food was great but overpriced with no side option. The setup of the restaurant was you walk in, order and pay...and then you have to fight for a table while you wait for your food, which can take upwards of 15-20 minutes. Sometimes, the workers will walk around and ask if other people can share a table with you. So you sit awkwardly and try not to listen to other patron's conversation going on less than 10 inches away from you. It's very homey but sometimes I felt it was TOO homey. I'd go again though...just because of the food though, obviously...

    (3)

  • Sarah T.

    This place is a hidden gem in Kansas City. I've only been for lunch but have always enjoyed my meals there. Try to go earlier as it is a small place that fills up fast!

    (5)

  • Lee P.

    What an amazing sandwich. How do you take an egg salad sandwich and kick it up. Ask happy. They pulled it off. Nothing fancy just a small place on the corner but wow was it good. I want to come back for breakfast.

    (5)

  • Courtney G.

    Very cute little cafe with a walk up counter to order. 5 things on the breakfast menu, we got two of them the breakfast sandwich with egg, cheddar and bacon on toast and the biscuits and gravy with delicious chunks of sausage in the gravy. The food is all fresh and locally sourced. The staff was friendly and I wouldn't change a thing.

    (5)

  • Christina R.

    I would love to wax poetic about how much I love happy gillis but I have been rendered speechless this morning by the glorious deliciousness of the breakfast burrito with sweet potato. Yes, breakfast burrito with sweet potato. This is the kind of yum that occurs when small business owners are passionate about delivering interesting, delicious and fresh food to this great little community. P.S. - don't forget the Valentina salsa P.S.S. - totally digging this weeks coffee offering

    (5)

  • Michael J.

    Comfy little farm to table restaurant featuring deliciously prepared entrees with a sweet bang-for-your-buck. Great neighborhood to mosey around after breakfast or lunch!

    (5)

  • Breanna N.

    We found this place on yelp while visiting KS for an arenacross race! It was great. Cute little place. I got salmon on avocado toast (I know it was called something else but I don't remember the name lol). It was delicious! Boyfriend got the breakfast sandwich. He loved the fresh bread and the bacon that was used. It was very crunchy and thick cut. We also got a half order of biscuits and gravy to share based on reviews and it was a WONDERFUL choice! By far the best we've had and we have eaten a lot of biscuits and gravy. We will definitely come agin if we find ourselves in Kansas City. :)

    (5)

  • Chay S.

    The Asian Pulled Pork sandwich was on point. Apparently all ingredients are sourced from local farmers and to my surprise the house made kimchi was spectacular. My girlfriend had the Smoked Trout on an open faced pumpernickel slice. While tasty it was forgettable but good nonetheless. Another little gem tucked away in a small neighborhood. Hopefully I'll be able to try their breakfast sometime soon.

    (4)

  • Kay M.

    Food was good. I wasn't a huge fan of the fact that I had to get my own refills since the place was packed. The decoration is cute and homey.

    (3)

  • Jimmi H.

    Recently Happy Gillis Cafe & Hangout came under new ownership and, in my opinion, got even better. The husband and I first began going to Happy Gillis when we first started dating over five years ago and he lived in Columbus Park. I love looking back to our midwinter walks over to the Cafe for lunch or sometimes just to grab a snack and coffee (ya know, hangout). One of my favorite parts of this little eatery is how intimate it is, how cozy it always feels. Now with our new owners, all of that has stayed, plus the food is better and there are some great new touches (like hand made coffee mugs). On my recent visit I tired their BLT with egg. Holy moly! Definitely on my favorite sandwiches of KC list! Their menu is chalked full of dishes and their counters are stacked high with baked goods, all of which I'm excited to try. A must have is their coconut chocolate brownies! Two of my favorite flavors shoved into one of my favorite modes of nosh ( the fist being cake, and I personally know for a fact that if there is ever cake at Happy Gillis, it will be one of the best you have ever eaten!). Everyone should know that if you go on a weekend, be prepared for a quick line. Only further proof that this hangout is a local favorite!

    (5)

  • Cass K.

    Having the internet in the palm of my hand made me very happy, because we were able to find Happy Gillis for a lunch stop during a long road trip. The food at Happy Gillis is fresh, prepared from scratch, locally sourced, and delicious! We had a pork confit sandwich, salad of the day and soup of the day. The pork confit sandwich was served on crusty, fresh made bread and the apple butter, pickled fennel and walnuts provided a great balance of flavor. The soup was fresh and balanced, and the salad was a treat of lightly dressed mixed "weeds" full of fascinating leaf shapes with distinct flavors. The service was friendly and we're now thinking of ways to get back to Kansas City, just so that we can eat here.

    (5)

  • Mary B.

    I am so glad Farmhouse had the doors locked even with the open sign on so that we went in search of our second choice (only bc it was farther away) Happy Gillis! Such a great little place! We lucked out in our timing and got ordered and found a place to seat right away. Really cute quirky place where you order at the counter and they bring the food to you. Lots of old kitchen tables and mismatched chairs, cute. I had the breakfast burrito which was by far the best breakfast burrito I have ever had such great fresh ingredients all locally grown and raised. They even list the farms they work with on a chalk board on the wall. The staff was very friendly and talkative. Food was quick, fresh and made to order. Love it wish I had time to go back! They have a fairly small menu but it all looked excellent! Go, try it!

    (5)

  • Amanda S.

    I had the privilege of trying this adorable breakfast/lunch spot last month with a long-time friend. While the restaurant and menu is small, the hospitality and delicious food make waiting for a table all worth it. I couldn't resist the biscuits and gravy with a (heaping) side of bacon. My friend tried the fruit-topped oatmeal. Delicious and filling meal. Soft, fluffy biscuits and a well-seasoned sausage gravy. Large hand-sculpted cups of coffee made the chilly November morning a warm and cozy delight.

    (4)

  • Marie F.

    pork confit sandwich with pickled fennel and applebutter was pretty delish. BGs (biscuits and gravy) were just ok at best and gave me the BGs (bubble guts). Seating could be a disaster at a busier time. Outdoor seating opens up some options during the 3 months kc isnt covered in snow. Service was a lil weak. Different sets of S/P shakers on each table. Cute place. Bathroom seemed... unusual.

    (3)

  • Greta W.

    Lunch. Heaven. This is a low-key, no-frills lunch joint. There will be no server fawning over you. There will be probably not be an open table during the peak times. There will not be super fast service. That's what Mcdonalds is for. The small menu means fresh, seasonal ingredients. Everything I've tried here (even the vegetarian options, which I am morally opposed to) has been satisfying, flavorful, and DELISHUS. I am usually sad when they change the menu and invariably get rid of my favorite sandwich, but it doesn't matter because the new stuff is just as tasty. Half a sandwich and soup/salad is $10. Portions are not massive, but I have NEVER walked away hungry.

    (5)

  • Jin K.

    Love this place!! Can't say enough about the quality food they serve. Everything I have ever tried there, breakfast or lunch has been tremendous! I just had the pulled pork sammy w/ smoked chili kimchi & wow! I was a bit skeptical being Korean, I wondered if the kimchi would be any good? The kimchi was fermented nicely & cooked a little bit to blend amazingly w/ the pork. Man, I can't wait to have it again. Also the beet salad was tasty as well! Sweet dressing w/ the tangy pickled beets is a nice mix. It's too bad they don't do dinner but why ruining a good thing? So glad this place exists, need to try everything on the menu!

    (5)

  • Lauren V.

    We stopped here on our way back home to Minnesota! We passed a few spots and wanted to drive out of Kansas City, within a couple of clicks on yelp...we were lead to this little spot. We didn't have too many expectations because we were in a hurry to choose as we were going about 75 miles an hour up 35W! We are so glad we stopped! First of all, we don't know too much about Kansas City or Missouri...but this place is in a "cute" neighborhood. We walked in, and it was about 6 tables full of people engaged in conversation and seemed to be regular-esque, hipsters-esque people who just appreciate "good" and "healthy" food. We ordered at the counter and waited for a table. A guy offered to share his table with us, as that seems to be the vibe. All the mismatched tables seat four...and people are so friendly within those four walls, we were hoping someone would ask! And they did! We got our own coffee and water, which was nice...it wasn't a cafeteria style place...just a cute hole in the wall. A table went open and the hostess/waitress/cook let us know we could take it! They had such a good sense of awareness of what was going on on those 6 tables. We ordered a south of the border inspired dish and the breakfast sandwich to split. Everything, bite after bite was fresh...delicious... my boyfriend and I went back and forth between our dishes, and there wasn't anything negative I could comment about anything. It just tasted "fresh." Which rightfully so, as everything seems to be local, organic, and made to order. Would recommend over again.

    (4)

  • Eric V.

    Pretty good place to go for lunch. I had the smoked salmon, the flavors were all there but the salmon itself was a little too fishy. Breakfast sandwich taste pretty good though.

    (3)

  • Josel B.

    OMG. This place is so cute. I love this chill hipster place! Would never have found it if it weren't for yelp! Anyway, it's close to where I live and work, so perfect location to eat at after a long night of work :) Got greeted by really nice workers there. I loved their outfits haha, the workers were so friendly and looked liked they just shopped at urban outfitters...so stylish yet casual. Anyway...the menu didn't contain too many things, which is nice. Sometimes it's better to have a small selection of quality food instead of an overwhelming menu that makes it hard for you to order within the next 2-3 minutes. I was ecstatic to see that they had the traditional breakfast of eggs, toast, and bacon! It was delicious. It was not too greasy. I hate coming out of breakfast places feeling like I ate a tub of lard. The cutest things they had there were their homemade mugs for coffee and tea. The whole ambiance there was great. They had a lot of artwork on the wall that looked like they were made by kids which gave the place a lot of personality. It was vintage meets the imagination of our youth today. I will need to come back here soon! I want to try their omelets and their different teas. Happy Eating!

    (5)

  • Travis S.

    Freaking amazing food ! Just had half soup half sandwich which was their meatloaf sandwhich (best tasting meatloaf I've had in awhile, chunks of veggies inside and a kick of spicy sauce) , and their blackbean soup. Delicious. You Say Tomato is still one of my favorites but Happy Gillis is a close second

    (5)

  • Laura H.

    This is the restaurant that others have to beat when it comes to deciding where we go. "We could go to ____." "Yeah, but Happy Gillis though." "Dammit. HG wins again." Literally never disappoints. Order anything off the menu and it will be fresh, so delicious and made with consideration. Also - the nicest people work there!

    (5)

  • Don L.

    I've said it before and I'll say it again, "Nothing beats Fresh & Delicious". This place scores high on the F&D scale. Before I get to the food, I love the vibe here. It has a part "local diner" and part "artsy" vibe. You'll have mismatched plates, cups and tables. It's somewhat similar in vibe to Gypsy Den in So Cal or Goldenwest in Baltimore. I love their "Abandoned Art" corner that has pictures drawn by children. They were blasting 80s music on a Sunday Afternoon which at first didn't seem to fit the artsy environment, but then when I looked around and saw half the people silently mouth the lyrics to the songs (including myself), I saw how it all worked together. On to the food, I had the Mushroom Panini with a small side of Chipotle Pasta Salad. High F&D marks. Fresh and Delicious! The proportion of the amount of filling to bread was perfect, grilled well. The "jam" binded all the ingredients together well. And the Chipotle Pasta Salad was AWESOME! I told them I could've ordered a whole plate full of it. At first, it seemed like a weird pairing, but it complemented the sandwich very well. The coolness and chipotle taste enhanced the savory flavors of the sandwich. The texture of the few beans added a subtle positive experience to everything. My only complaint is that the portion was so small. The last thing I love about this place is that it has a revolving menu instead of a set one, which sets it apart from places like I mentioned above. So if I came another time, there maybe something new to try. This is #48 on my quest to eat all the Diners, Drive-ins and Dives!

    (5)

  • Kate M.

    Abbie Jo, the owner is the kindest most genuine woman who cooks a mean breakfast. Absolutely stoked to have found this little corner gem for breakfast in my neighborhood. New to KC but not new to loving a good breakfast. I enjoyed the burrito with local chorizo verde (fresh and local is the way to go). It had such a unique and mouth watering flavor with poblanos and sweet potatoes inside. Plus, it was grilled so the tortilla was crispy. Seriously delish, cannot wait to be back here!

    (5)

  • Rodney F.

    Such a quirky, friendly diner with a young, dare I say 'hipster' vibe. The decor is charming and the food is a step (or two) above typical diner fare. I got the full order of biscuits and gravy - the biscuits we're golden and flaky and the gravy was rich and creamy. Not a huge portion but it filled me up. Couldn't have asked for a better diner in the KC area. Only gripe being its a bit small, but it's a diner, and it's worth it, so go!

    (4)

  • Longorious L.

    It's good. They suck at social media so you kind of never know what's going to be on the menu. But the food is always great and creative.

    (4)

  • Tyra W.

    To be honest, I don't care for the charming, hipster chic appearance and thrifty decor. On the other hand, I am in love with their sandwiches! I stumbled in one day with your common cold symptoms just wearing sweats with a messy bun on a mission to get in and get out ASAP. I couldn't decide what to order so I just asked the man behind the counter (who I assume is the new owner) what he recommended. I walked away with the bacon-date melt, butternut squash caponata & fresh mozzarella, and two potato soups. I eyed the Mexican cokes in the refrigerator and quickly tacked those on too. Out of the two, the bacon-date melt definitely out-savored any competition! It was an ideal mix of sweet and savory perfection. I usually never eat at the same establishment twice but I'm definitely making another visit here. Although I felt the price was a little steep at $35 for everything, I can still sleep at night.

    (4)

  • Kasi W.

    This is such a lovely spot. I happened upon Happy Gillis with a friend while we were trying to avoid the typical westport Sunday brunch madness. This place couldn't have been more perfect to do just that. The vibe is like going to a friends house to eat brunch except probably way better than anything your friends have ever made. They also use a lot of local products to craft their artisanal, yet not stuffy, dishes. There aren't a ton of options on the breakfast menu, but no doubt you can still find something that suits your fancy. Last, but not least, the staff was very friendly, and the owner (who happens to live right above the restaurant) himself came out to our table to chat. Love it!

    (5)

  • Brad B.

    Passing through town on a road trip. A definite must if you are coming through I-35. Grits with gravy and a soft egg were fantastic. Quaint hipster place with limited seating. Grab a Bloody Mary and wait for a table!

    (4)

  • Dan R.

    My favorite restaurant in KC. Always fresh and delicious. Glad to see the change in management hasn't effected the food.

    (5)

  • Harley C.

    The biscuit! That is all.

    (5)

  • E S.

    We went back to Happy Gillis last weekend. They have made some great changes to the menu. The food is really top-notch, but the service still leaves a lot to be desired. No one working there seems to want to acknowledge and appreciate customers. I don't need anyone fawning over me....just a simple sincere smile and a "thanks for coming in" would be great. Not complicated, folks. It makes me not want to go there, even though it's just a few blocks from where we live and, again, the food is solid. Also, I think the single "$" indicaring how pricy the place is should be raised to "$$", as Happy Gillis is actually pretty expensive. They use quality, local ingredients, which for good reason cost more, and that cost should be reflected. Please, please, please be more welcoming to your customers. We have other options where the food is just as good or better.

    (3)

  • Allen R.

    I love the location. In a tiny neighborhood. I read all about their food before going in there and had already made up my mind what I was getting, the B&G. We went around 9:30 AM on a Wednesday so there was plenty of empty tables and no rush. Wife got the smoked salmon. It took a while to get our food but that was okay because it seemed they were making it fresh. Wife's smoked salmon dish was pretty good but I only had one bite. The salmon was really tasty and I liked all the other things on there except for the chili. It was a little heavy handed for me. My B&G could be broken down in 3 parts. I thought the biscuit was very average. It was something like you could just buy out of Sam's in mass quantity. The gravy was very good. It had texture and flavor and the sausage in the gravy was pretty good. The most disappointing part for me was the side of bacon I got. It was just burned beyond all recognition and I do not like my bacon burnt. The bacon would have been great if it would not have been so overcooked and I struggled to chomp through bacon jerky instead of just bacon. I just think this place is okay and I doubt that I will make the effort to come there again.

    (3)

  • Khang T.

    Great place to grab breakfast, brunch, or lunch....They have amazing foods. Highly recommend biscuits and gravy. The asian pulled pork sandwiches is also amazing.

    (5)

  • Michelle F.

    Back today for the first time since "the change." You will all be relieved to know that it's the very same wonderful Happy Gillis that we all love, now with more seating options. I also like that the website is being updated with the daily special and there's a page for the menu as well. Good job guys! I had the bacon-date melt (half) and a half order of the butter lettuce salad. It was about $11. My sandwich was served on fresh bread, loaded with thick-cut bacon and a generous schmear of dates. The grainy mustard gave it the bright zing needed to keep the sweet dates in check. I'm not kidding about the loaded with bacon part. If you order the whole one, you might want to consult your cardiologist first! My salad was crisp and fresh. The veggies were in perfect order, love the fennel on top. My order was carry-out so the dressing was on the side. I can say without shame that I would go back right now and give them another $11 for another little cup of that buttermilk-dill dressing. I may have eaten some of it right out of the cup. The only ding I can give them is that it does take a bit of time to get your order, I waited about 20 minutes for mine. However, I was there just a few minutes before noon on a Friday. I guess I was sort of asking for it. :)

    (4)

  • Sara D.

    What a perfect little restaurant! Happy Gillis is charming, unique, quaint, adorable, and any other adjective that describes awesome. I had the Stevie sandwich which was a BLT with egg salad and was incredibly fresh and delicious. Our food came out quickly. I loved the sophisication of the fruit bowl they brought to my friend. It contained strawberries, apple slices, raspberries, and blackberries. I live pretty close and can hopefully make them a regular brunch spot. Can't wait to come back and try the biscuits and gravy!

    (5)

  • Chad N.

    Wow! I just found this cafe. Everything you could want in a cafe. Roasterie coffee. Killer menu & ingredients, great wifi. They nailed the decor in the place. From floor to ceiling.

    (5)

  • Drinky C.

    The food is amazing, and the folks running it are super sweet. The menu's simple, but eclectic. Absolutely delicious.

    (5)

  • Rick W.

    Went on a Sunday for brunch. The place was busy not packed. I ordered the special which was pulled pork and black beans with tortillas. It took longer than it should have for the food to come out considering this was surely premade. I ordered a mimosa (I think) to go along with it . Overall the group decided the food was fairly marginal especially considering how expensive the meal was. My dish was around 10 bucks and had barely any pulled pork In it. I would have been much more satisfied if everything was just a couple bucks cheaper. I really liked the interior and vibe of this place but just though it was too expensive for what it was you got. I go to Brunch pretty much every week and unfortunately I don't think I will go back here.

    (2)

  • Joanne D.

    Love a Rueben! Well Happy GILLIS HAS DONE IT again! Big chunks of slow roasted corned beef and crispy cabbage salad with garlic mustard solo on a potatoes bun! So stinkin Good! Got to try it.

    (5)

  • Dakota D.

    This was our first time eating at Happy Gillis for breakfast. We came in at 10am on a Sunday, pleasantly surprised that it was not packed full of people. Most breakfast places we go to have a long wait for a table. At Happy Gillis you order at the counter and find a table for yourself. Self serve water and coffee bar (in cute handmade mugs). I ordered the Biscuits and Gravy full order with over easy eggs on top and my bf got the burrito. It is the best B&G I've ever had! Nice and peppery, not too salty, and the biscuit was perfect and flaky. It's not the cheapest breakfast spot but it is worth it for the quality, especially since they support local farmers. We will definitely be going back.

    (5)

  • Isaac B.

    Fantastic food and service. This is one of my favorite places in Kansas City and simply another reason to love living here. The BLT and breakfast sandwich are to die for. I love that they make everything in small orders. You can tell their ingredients are fresh and it really shines with everything served on the menu. I don't what's the best thing to get on the menu in all honesty. The biscuits and gravy are a must, but so is the breakfast sandwich and the pickled pork tongue. Just do what I did and try everything in about 2-3 visits haha Cheers

    (5)

  • Stormi F.

    I'm always excited to pull up to a cool little eatery and all the tables outside are full of hipsters mowing down on some awesome looking sammies. When you walk inside it is furnished with consignment store finds from the 60's and 70's...uber cool in my book. The menu is minimal and that's also a huge win in my book, nothing more irritating than 70 choices on a menu. We ordered the Seared Steak Sandwich with Celery Slaw and Grain mustard and the BLT with egg salad. The steak was tender and juicy and the slaw had a vinegar bite to it that was perfected with the texture and pungency of the mustard. The bacon on the BLT was amazing, thick and smoky. This was an awesome find on Yelp and I will definitely visit again during my stay in KC!

    (5)

  • Thomas A.

    This fun little joint is nestled snugly in the Columbus Park Neighborhood just north of I-70 and next to to River Market. I love this Little piece of Italian-America. Happy Gills is a hip breakfast and lunch place. We had half orders of biscuits and gravy with two eggs over medium on top. Deliciouis. The S&G had plenty of sausage in it and was quite savory. The portion was generous. We sat on stools at a window. Nice atmosphere for chattting and feeling warm and content. The neighborhood is clean and charming. I could get very used to eating breakfast here.

    (4)

  • Madeline S.

    This place feels very "run-down hipster" to me. I'm not sure if that's even a thing but that's the only way I know to describe it! It's located in kind of a funky area off Troost and the chairs and tables are makeshift and thrifty. You order at the counter. There are always specials and different things to try if you're a regular. I got the granola and my friend ordered an egg sandwich on the biscuit. It was huge! Happy Gillis is pretty affordable. No complaints. I just wasn't blown away.

    (3)

  • Jacques C.

    I went here today with the family, and we had a fantastic lunch. I think that this is a great place to go and have something just a little outside of your comfort zone. The flavor combinations are well thought out and inventive. All menu items seem to make use of locally sourced ingredients. The cost is competitive with the myriad chain places, but the fi

    (5)

  • Mike G.

    Stumbled on this place based on the reviews and was very pleasantly surprised that it was exactly as described. Food was terrific, place has an eclectic vibe, service was great. What else do you need? We will certainly go back next time we are in K.C.

    (5)

  • Ben P.

    This is the best place in Kansas City for brunch. Hands down. I've been multiple times and I cannot get enough. From the B&G to the BLT I am never disappointed. If you want to have some excellent food at a great price, this is the place to do it.

    (5)

  • Michael A.

    Had a very nice brunch here with my wife. I had the breakfast sandwich and she had the date bacon sandwich with a kale Caesar salad with anchovies. Wow! I loved stealing bites from her plate. Never had a kale ceased salad but this was amazing. Not only did I feel healthier eating it but I am a huge anchovy fan. Great mix of flavors and textures. And her sandwich...wicked. The mix of dates and bacon reminded my palate of bacon wrapped dates. To top it off the owner/manager came over and asked us how everthing was. He was very genuine with a kind hand on the back...made us feel very welcome. Will definitely hit this place up again.

    (5)

  • Kimberly A.

    Great food, nostalgic ambiance. The biscuits and gravy were fantastic and just like my grandmother from the south used to make. The kimchi bloody mary was incredibly flavorful. Sunday morning breakfast brought a full crowd. The mismatch vintage tables and chairs gave the place a comforting feel, but the food is really where it's at!

    (5)

  • Charley P.

    The atmosphere and the flavor of the dishes we tried were pleasant, but the service was a little confusing. For breakfast, the Gillis Sandwich was portioned well and flavorful. The yogurt and homemade granola seemed small for the price (about four bites for $5), and tasted like anything from Panera or the like. Maybe I need to be more adventurous in my menu choice next time. We dined outdoors on the patio, but I was unsure if I needed to wait outside or inside for our meals after ordering at the counter. And then a lined formed, uncertainty among everyone set in. The order taker seemed much more confused than the gentleman behind the grill, who clarified after our order was ready that he would've brought our food outside. The strong Yelp ratings might've overhyped this place. It's a nice, little, local business I'm glad to support and give another go. On the next go around I'll explore the menu and dine indoors.

    (3)

  • Tanner C.

    I was extremely hungover this morning and got the soup which was a really good idea. Endless coffee, fresh food. Loved it !

    (5)

  • Rachel P.

    Working on a sandwich tour with a friend, and this was our most recent stop. He had the cheddar and ham, and I had the BLT. Both were so tasty, if a little expensive. The options are few, but you can tell it's so they can do them right! The atmosphere is charming, albeit small. I'm looking forward to going back to try the biscuits and gravy at breakfast. They are closed on Monday's, so plan ahead! :)

    (4)

  • Teresa S.

    Everything I tried was delicious! You definitely need the bacon though...don't forget to order bacon if you haven't already.

    (5)

  • Erin R.

    Great breakfast with a fun menu! Lunch menu looks amazing as well! Definitely grab a Bloody Mary! The Pig & Bean is amazing and unique to this cafe...homemade granola & yogurt was yummy (love the lavender!). Definitely a great, eclectic, cool spot with great food & service!

    (5)

  • Grant W.

    Amazing lunch spot. I've had the seared tuna sandwich, various versions of the chicken salad sandwich, as well as seasonal veggie sandwiches. All were excellent! Butter leaf salad was also good and the cookies are off the charts if you need to satisfy your sweet tooth with desert. Highly recommend!

    (5)

  • Jordan P.

    Excellent, local, and unique food! Also the service is perfect and friendly, and it's a neat little atmosphere. I'll be back here often guys, thanks.

    (5)

  • Jeff B.

    Finally made it in after the change in ownership, and I am absolutely blown away at just the fantastic quality. Small place, but good for food as a small group and of course hours of random conversation over coffee. You can tell the high quality of food as you're watching it being prepared, and I expected very good. But then I ate it...wow. The tomatoes on my BLT & Egg breakfast sandwich just...wow. Also got to try a scone with goat cheese in it, was definitely one of the better scones as it added a bit of density and moisture to it.

    (5)

  • K B.

    Small but nice and cozy place. The food had great style and flavor. Bathrooms were clean, best decision I made today was coming here for breakfast. Food was made quickly and service was great thanks! We will be back!

    (5)

  • Wayne F.

    Really liked this place. Had the very tasty burrito (chirizo, potato, scrambles, cheddar) and my fiance enjoyed the butternut squash sandwich -she loved the bread-. Beautiful decoration, great Boulevard coffee. Just a bit pricey, but not much.

    (4)

  • Julie R.

    An eclectic eatery off the beaten path in downtown Kansas City. I love the fact that for the most part, there isn't a standard menu, which means that the daily menu is probably based on what is fresh and available at the time. I had a wonderful brisket sandwich that included pickled onions and horseradish. Amazing! The bread was toasted, crispy on the outside, but soft and tender in the middle. It was accompanied by a potato salad that had both white and sweet potatoes in a wonderful dressing that I can't describe. Top it off with a Stiegl Radler and it was a perfect meal.

    (5)

  • Kevin B.

    There's literally no "go to" option on the menu. There's no easy out. When you go to Happy Gillis, you're going to try something that you've never had before. and if you do it a couple times, you'll learn there's no reason to be afraid. They have a talent for bringing out the best in every dish in a way that I've never experienced before. For the items on the menu that you are a little more experienced with like the Biscuits and Gravy and the breakfast sandwich, you can be sure it will be some of the best you've ever had. They prepare conventional dishes in unique ways that make you appreciate them all over again. On top of all that, the menu changes pretty frequently, so to frequently go to Happy Gillis is to constantly be expanding your palette, risk-free. Awesome place. Never gets old.

    (5)

  • Michael P.

    Finally made it to Happy Gillis after wanting to go here many times. It's small size surprised me at first, and they don't have problems keeping those seats full on weekend mornings. Our visit here on a Saturday morning around 9 am found us searching for a seat both inside and out. We were lucky enough to find a spot shortly after ordering. Coffee is one of my favorite barometers of how a meal is going to be. Rarely do you find great coffee and then a crappy meal. This is true at Happy Gillis as well. Good, strong, hot coffee paved the way for a delicious meal. The food was awesome, plain and simple. Tried the breakfast sandwich which is big enough to split. I'll definitely be back to try their biscuits and gravy soon. Can't wait to get back here and try something else - not even just breakfast, but also hopefully some lunch.

    (4)

  • Mj J.

    I have had Happy Gillis Cafe on my radar for quite some time and finally made a point to go for lunch today. I was not disappointed. PROS unique seating inside, pleasant sunny and shaded seating outside fresh ingredients classic combinations of foods with their own spin on things too very very clean very very small kitchen with fast service off the beaten path (which I enjoy) friendly staff and superb customer service not greasy cafe food.. fresh and yummy! CONS honestly.. their aren't any for this first time experience If you're craving a new place for lunch and just need to get away from "downtown" for a bit, just head a little off the beaten path to Happy Gillis Cafe. It's worth the extra few steps. Trust me... oh.. and feed the cute little black kitty outside if he's around. He's very friendly.

    (4)

  • Faith B.

    I've read so many great reviews of Happy Gillis, that I just had to try it. I stopped for lunch and got the slow-cooked broccoli sandwich with fresh mozzarella and one of their infamous cookies. The sandwich was fine - an interesting take on a vegetarian lunch. The tiny side of potato salad was excellent. The cookie was phenomenal. Melty, chocolatey greatness. The bill was surprisingly high. I liked it, but this place is not a super value, thus three stars.

    (3)

  • Teri I.

    Really good food. Had the breakfast sandwich (bacon, cheddar & scrambled eggs on wheat) & cheddar bacon soup. Both were generous with ingredients that were sourced locally. I love fresh eggs & bacon was thick & not overly salty or smoked. Nice mouth experience. Bit difficult to find & get on & off freeways.

    (5)

  • Morgan S.

    Great place for brunch, especially if you like farm to table restaurants! At first I was a little disappointed that there was not much to choose from, but further look at the menu revealed that each entree sounded delicious! I went with the Madame Vert and loved the unique mix of flavors. Who knew asparagus for breakfast could be so good?! The breakfast sandwich was also very good. It didn't not take as long as we thought to get a table and our food was out within a few minutes. The antique furniture and hand-made coffee mugs made it very homey. We didn't want to leave (but that could have also been because it was a raining)!

    (5)

  • Patrick M.

    Had biscuits and gravy. Added a side of bacon. Wow! I can't say enough good things about this place!

    (5)

  • Amanda L.

    Great little place that supports local farms!! If you are a bacon lover, they load you up!! Note though, if you have a milk allergy they do not offer alternatives such as soy milk or almond milk. Nonetheless, my family loved it here!

    (4)

  • Morgan S.

    Awesome! Had the bacon-date melt and the kale Caesar. They were both flavorful and well presented. The sandwich is done panini style. Stopped on a road trip from Seattle to St. Louis; thanks to good Yelp reviews. You will be happy you came here. We showed up close to two for a late lunch, so no crowd. Good friendly service (you order at the counter.)

    (4)

  • Thomas M.

    Urban shabby sheik, indifferent staff, dabomb food

    (4)

  • Joe K.

    Blink and you'll miss it. Tucked away in corner near River Market, Happy Giliis is a hidden KC treasure. Sandwiches are made from scratch with farm-to-table ingredients and they do not disappoint. Sure you could go to Subway for a quick bite, but when was the last time you heard somebody say: "You know what would be good? Subway!" Probably never. I moved away from KC two years ago, but when I come into town this is the first place I come to get food. Yes KC is renown for its BBQ, but Happy Gillis IS a KC staple. This review only bolsters what everyone else on Yelp has said previously. So get on your Google machines and use those pudgy fingers to type in H-A-P-P-Y G-I-L- and well it should auto fill the rest because this place is that damn good. Trust me you will not be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Thomas S.

    We went here for a beer dinner last night. HOLY COW - IT WAS AWESOME. The food, ambiance, and company everything was top notch. They did an excellent job of having everything set up and organized. If you can go for brunch it is highly recommended as well. While you are there ask them what special events they have planned. The owner/chef used to work at the American, and his wife is an amazing baker/pastry chef. I will be dreaming about our dinner and beer selections for days.

    (5)

  • Scott T.

    Brilliant. Insanely wonderful food at a reasonable price. Today: chorizo, white bean and arugula sandwich with garlic aoli on one side of the table, smoke salmon with dill sauce and lettuce on the other. Sounds so simple but delivered such a grand taste. Then the pickled veggies on the side--a surprising but wonderful addition to the meal. In and out for less than $20. Incredible. There's hardly anything left to say after close to 150 reviews for this interesting little out-of-they way corner restaurant. Intend to return as often as possible. Yelpers don't lie. This is real find.

    (5)

  • Makenzie W.

    Simple menu, cozy environment and friendly service! The breakfast sandwich is the best I've had made with whole grain bread. And they aren't shy with the bacon:) Tried a Stiegl Radler for the first time! Very cool place, reminds me of home.

    (5)

  • Daniel H.

    My teammate told me about this place. I was supposed to try it out with her and two other teammates; however, she and the other teammate bailed at the last second so it was me and one of my other teammates. We came around noon on a Friday and it was busy. There were no tables available but there was the window/counter seats that were available. Good thing we took awhile to decide what to order because a couple left their table. We sat at the coffee table and couch while we waited for somebody to leave their table. There weren't too many tables (maybe 5 with 3-4 seats at each?) but then again it was a small place. Their menu items changed about every quarter so some things weren't available. I ordered a Roast Beef sandwich ($10.97 total) and my teammate ordered the Seared Tuna sandwich ($10.97 total). Both of those were $10 on the menu. It took awhile before our food came out and it was because there was a table before us. My Roast Beef sandwich came with 3 apple slices which I thought was interesting. It looked pretty simple but it was pretty good. The pickled onions and horse radish sauce complemented the roast beef and made it really flavorful. I was still hungry after I finished my sandwich but I think I would be filled (or close to it) if I had something to drink. It was a little pricey for the amount in my opinion. My teammate's Seared Tuna sandwich looked about the same in terms of simplicity; however, my teammate didn't like how it was pretty bland. He described it as eating a piece of raw fish with a weird texture but the blandest thing he's ever eaten. I brought that up in my review since that might be something to be aware of. YMMV (your mileage may vary)! The table next to us ordered some soup and a sandwich that looked pretty good. We didn't ask but we assumed it was a turkey sandwich of some kind. Too bad I didn't bring my DSLR camera because the pictures I took on my phone were mediocre. lol I'll be back to try their other sandwiches and possibly their soup.

    (5)

  • Rob W.

    Pretty good spot for breakfast/lunch. Food is pretty good. Highlights include the breakfast sando and the soup (also available from next door). Sandos - Salmon sando was pretty good. Nice sauce, i'm sorta iffy on the hard-boiled egg on it, but overall liked it. Chicken salad sando - also pretty good. Coffee was a great. Lighter side, but great. Service was super on it. Outdoor seating available. Also like that they had full bar.

    (4)

  • James H.

    Not as good as I was expecting. I had the Auto-something or other sandwich which was an Italian cold cut sandwich. It was ok. The cheese was very bitter and the meat wasn't the best quality. My wife had the egg salad sandwich which was average but lacked a lot of flavor (very bland). Also a homeless guy sat right by us outside and eventually asked for money. I normally wouldn't judge a place based on a homeless guy coming up to us but it just added to the disappointment.

    (3)

  • Mary G.

    We stopped here while on a road trip/vacation from MN to CA and we were not disappointed! We got the Gillis Breakfast Sandwich, and the half order of Biscuits and Gravy to share so we weren't eating too much before a long drive. The sandwich was amazing, from the way the eggs were cooked (moist and soft - not over cooked or too runny) to the quality of bacon and cheddar to the fantastic bread they used! The biscuits and gravy were phenomenal, and the closest thing to homemade I've had out for a meal. The sandwich was even better when dipped in the gravy, so if you aren't sharing a couple dishes I'd strongly suggest asking for a side of gravy if you do get the breakfast sandwich. They had a couple of tasty fresh baked selections available for purchase. We thought the one was a scone, but turns out it was the thickest, fluffiest chocolate cookie we'd ever seen. Better yet, the guy behind the counter told us anybody that hasn't had one before thinks they're scones as well. Everything on the menu is very well priced when you take the quality and freshness of what you will be eating into account. Nothing is coming out of a can, and the people behind the counter are friendly and accommodating. If you're used to paying $2-4 for fast food breakfast or lunch, you won't find that here. What you will find is food that is very fairly priced, fresh, and delicious! For perspective, the huge breakfast sandwich was $6 and the half order of biscuits and gravy was $4. Plenty for two people that want to eat until comfortably full, rather than eating until they need to be rolled out the door. Next time I find myself in KC, I will definitely be visiting this place again!

    (5)

  • Kai G.

    Nice little restaurant in the Little Italy district. sandwiches are delicious. You can tell that the sandwiches were made with heart. Friendly staff. Expect to wait in line for an open table.

    (4)

  • Jen D.

    I'm not really sure there is anything I can say about Happy Gillis that hasn't already been stated. The food is excellent and the atmosphere is charming. It's the perfect place for your adorable boyfriend to doodle on the table "cloth" writing "I love you" notes. Delicious food, I can't wait to try the soup!

    (4)

  • Doug H.

    Funky and cool vibe, amazing local product based sandwiches, and great beer. It's a keeper.

    (5)

  • Tyson S.

    Truthfully, a little disappointed after the excellent Yelp reviews. The B&G was good, not amazing. We were all pleased with what we ordered but no one's mind was blown...

    (3)

  • Toly M.

    Awesome place for breakfast!! Very good fresh food! I had stopped when I was driving thru. Fresh food and made with love.

    (5)

  • Meghan M.

    3.5 Stars if I could. I've heard wonderful things about this place, and it has long been on my list of places to try. However, I was kind of disappointed by it. Likes: I love the Columbus park neighborhood. Very old-school charming, and Happy Gillis fits in nicely with its surroundings. It's a cute and charming space that suggests you stay a while. Loved the couches, vintage elements, tables covered in butcher paper with crayons, old dishware, patrons' artwork, etc. The menu is limited, but it is tailored to the season (Excellent!). They offer a few unique sandwiches, like the pimento cheese (how retro! ;), but overall, their sandwiches were just fine to good. Their soup on the other hand was delicious! Loved the cream of mushroom soup with a horseradish cream. Mmmmm! And the giant chocolate chip cookie was scrumptious. Service was great. Not so greats: The presentation of sandwiches was a little disappointing for a $9 sandwich. I liked the few slices of fruit with each sandy, but come on, a sandwich without a pickle is just blasphemy (and I bet they would make/have delicious pickles). I enjoyed my "muffaletta-style," but as a child of a New Orleanian their version is still a far cry from the Central grocery original. I appreciated the house made olive salad, but I wish they were more heavy handed on it. The meat cuts were good, but a true muffaletta is piled high with meat & thick bread that it's hard to get your mouth around it. This was not the case with theirs, but maybe that's why they call it "muffaletta-style." In short, I know I'm in the minority, but I was not over the moon like the other reviewers. I will likely not return, unless it's for soup or breakfast, but I appreciate what they are doing here.

    (3)

  • Rainbow C.

    I came to KC for BBQ, but this was the perfect antidote to BBQ-Overload! Food: 1) Curried Chicken Salad - DELICIOUS curried chicken and toasted cashews with sweet chili sauce, paired with cris bibb lettuce and served on multi-grain bread. Very fresh and high quality ingredients, light, yet satisfying. YUM! 2) Tomato and Prawn Soup - surprising pairing, that was soooo good! Impressed with their creativity and quality of ingredients. 3) Friends got the Webster City BLT ("that is some really crisp bacon") and Fresh Mozzarella Panino ("gooooooooood"). Ambiance: Adorable and quaint restaurant, with cute plates on the walls as decor. Very friendly servers, nice atmosphere. Bottom Line: Great place to eat if you've filled your BBQ quota of the day.

    (5)

  • Mark S.

    We went here for breakfast based on the Yelp reviews, which were spot on. This place is completely opposite of chain breakfast joints and is well worth navigating to for some of the most fresh, delicious offerings. Biscuits and gravy were the very best. Great service and prices, too. The 1950's to 60's tables were like art.

    (5)

  • Troy D.

    I have a confession to make. I live about 2.5 blocks from here -- have lived there for nearly 3 years now. And I'm just now getting around to visiting this place. What was I thinking? This place is retro chic and does it well; the dining room is mismatched diner furniture and tables... and that's exactly what it's supposed to be. It's small, it's intimate, it's perfect for a weekend brunch with friends or kicking back with a cup of coffee. The menu is fancy but not complicated -- you'll get the basics with little added touches, and they'll be done well. Pure and simple. Downsides: I was the first one in on a quiet weekday morning -- but -- I'm not sure how the place can handle huge crowds on a weekend. The place is pretty darn small. I'll need to go back a couple of more times -- but for a first visit? Definitely pretty awesome.

    (4)

  • Sharlene T.

    I've had four meals here so far. This place serves probably the best sammich combinations I've eaten. They leave you not feeling like you only had a sub. A sub I can finish but these babies always get me at half. Which is great cos I get to save the rest for dinner. GREAT PLACE GREAT BREAD and I heard their biscuits are delicious too.

    (5)

  • Jason R.

    Cute place with great decor. Interesting approach to a cafe. Looks like a local favorite. Food was fresh and good but menu limited, also they stop serving breakfast around 11. All in all cool place with good coffee.

    (3)

  • Andy H.

    Maybe an updated longer review later, but I am going to be dreaming about the biscuits and gravy that I ate here for the rest of my life. So good.

    (5)

  • Aimee W.

    I've heard good things and finally had a chance to stop by today for lunch. It's a tiny little place - though in good weather apparently they have tables outside which doubles their seating. We arrived around Noon and it was full with a long of people waiting to place their orders. Turn over was pretty consistent so as people placed their orders, others left and seating was available. I ordered the roasted chicken sandwich and the corn chowder. Now, I have issues with food jumping on my shirt and I knew that that was going to happen. I was wrong - but everything in the sandwich flew out the back and ended up on my plate - and that was ok. The sandwich was delicious - great flavor with cucumbers, carrots and cilantro with a sweet chili sauce. The chowder was great - creamy, corny and the queso fresco added a little something to it. My friend ordered the cheddar melt and I assume it was delicious when he licked his plate...ok he didn't but there wasn't anything left when he was done so I am guessing it was ok. Service was great, prices were reasonable and we did find a seat at the window. I'll definitely be back. okaybye.

    (4)

  • J.P. Y.

    A super cute little place with healthy, fresh, delicious food, a small menu and portions that aren't huge. I love to get a sandwich to go and drive up nearby Cliff Drive. The waitress brought my dog a bowl of water one time when I ate outside and I didn't even have to ask. The other reviewers said it all. You can't go wrong with this place.

    (5)

  • Erynne D.

    happy gillis is what every sandwich/soup/salad place wishes they were. ive been here maybe ten or so times in the past couple of years and cant recall a time i was ever disappointed with what i ordered (and seeing as the menu changes very regularly, im relatively confident ive never had the same thing twice). as far as im concerned, your best plan of attack at happy gillis is to get a 1/2 sandwich and 1/2 soup so you can sample a little of everything. er, well, a little of two different things, at least. another pro tip is to get something that you probably wouldnt otherwise order- maybe the combination of ingredients sounds kind of weird to you, like it might not work. in my opinion, those are usually my favorites, as i am always pleasantly surprised at just how tasty and harmonious it ends up being. though i have come here a few times during the winter, id have to say the best time to go is when the weather is nice enough to sit outside. the restaurant is on the corner of a very quiet street, so sitting on their little front sidewalk makes for a really pleasant dining experience. however, if youre just coming for coffee and to chat with friends, they have a nice living room-esque setup inside with couches and comfy chairs, in addition to some tables and a bar seating area. overall, just a really quality place. delicious food, fresh ingredients, a nice cozy ambiance, and friendly staff.

    (5)

  • Karen G.

    Based on the Yelp reviews, I ate at Happy Gillis for breakfast on my weekend visit to KC. I'm really glad that I Yelpers helped me find this place tucked away in a residential city neighborhood. They get 5 stars for atmosphere and friendliness. I love the old vintage decor look and the crayons/paper on the tables. I loved that they gave me a mug and later switched it to a paper cup when I was ready to leave. My only negative is that while the food was good, the bacon,egg & cheese sandwich was so huge that it was just too much. I could only each half of the sandwich...there must have been 4 eggs in it! I would have enjoyed it a lot more with a normal ratio of eggs to bread. But would I go back? Absolutely!

    (4)

  • meli l.

    This is my husband's favorite breakfast place. I love it, too, but it makes me sad that I always have to deconstruct my breakfast. I avoid breadstuffs (usually) and, breakfast-wise, pretty much everything here is in sandwich form. Still, even deconstructed, it's DELICIOUS. We've never had anything but a fantastic meal. The coffee is sublime and the mugs are adorable. It's good that this is a little far from us, or we'd probably be here every day, and be bankrupt.

    (4)

  • Ray L.

    BLT was out of this world. So much bacon making love to those roasted tomatoes. Gillis breakfast sandwich: fantastico. Perfectly scrambled and "oh-my-God" cheddar. No wimpy ass bread either: multigrain and nutritiously delicious. The only thing is that the place is small, often crowded on weekends, and the food take a bit long. But at least you know the wait is worth it

    (4)

  • Elle S.

    What a find in chainsville Kansas City! Such a cute little place filled with character, eclectic casual style and super tasty breakfast/lunch food! The casual sandwich lunch menu and atmosphere would rival of my favorite routine haunts in San Francisco, where I reside. Happy Gills had sandwich items for the vegetarian (egg salad with watercress, and radishes, curried cauliflower with cashews, apples, flatbread and riata, roasted mushroom and 3 cheese melt with,caramelized onions, etc..), meat lovers (pork loin with caprilcola, cherry peppers, asiago cheese , blackened chicken with andouille, remoulade and slaw, etc...). Excellent soups. Great to get a half and half combo. Wine and beer...coffee and tea. Seats in the sun, comfy couch or at cute Mom and Pop diner tables. I had a steak bahn mi with peanuts and dressing with a spiced butternut squash soup. Delicious! Next vsit, I'm planning for a hearty meat soup with half an interesting vegetarian sandwich. Staff said they change the menu up every 3 months or so. Perfect for me, that's about how often I come into town to see family. Planning on making it an addition to the BBQ restaurants.

    (5)

  • Victor B.

    Cute little rustic homey place. Good inexpensive food with fresh local ingredients from a community garden around the corner. The coffee is pretty good and the service is very friendly.

    (4)

  • Brian H.

    love.

    (5)

  • Meg P.

    My favorite breakfast in Kansas City. The menu is simple but perfect. You will not be disappointed. Sitting outside Happy Gillis is the best as well!

    (5)

  • Adam S.

    The emperor wears no clothes. I get the appeal of this place, and was as excited to try it as any other place in town based on what I've heard. The food was fine, but it's overpriced and doesn't come with any sides. It's a cozy hangout, but if it's at all busy (which you can imagine it will be based on the reviews) it can be hard to get sat. There's better options around, and I've basically crossed it off of my list of places to go around here.

    (2)

  • Drew R.

    This place is fantastic and has such a great atmosphere. I've eaten here on two different occasions and have thoroughly enjoyed my experiences here. The biscuits and gravy are the best here and I would highly recommend them (as others have pointed out as well). They have the right amount of seasonings to make sure I eat every last bite. You really can't go wrong here. Get here early because it definitely gets busy quickly and it's no surprise why.

    (5)

  • Layne R.

    Yeah, apparently I'm not cool enough. If I were cooler I'd probably like this place. But alas, I am not cool, and as a result I thought this place was only meh. I had the Bocadillo sandwich. It was okay. The menu lists the ingredients but it failed to mention that there were green olives in the sandwich. I'm not a fan of them. If I had known that was in there, I might have gone a different route. And it is too bad cause without it, I'd probably have liked my sandwich much more. The meat and pepper portion of the sandwich were good. It was those damn olives... The price seems a little high for a mere sandwich. Okay, it's a sandwich that the hipsters would love, but does that mean I should have to pay $9 for a sandwich with no side? Honestly, I'd rather just go to Subway. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. That is stupid, but at least there I can pay half as much, get twice as much and be totally satisfied. It might not be ambitious or cool, but it's satisfying. My sandwich from Happy Gillis wasn't. Happy Gillis is a non-traditional sandwich shop. Being outside the norm isn't enough to satisfy my hunger and make my taste buds happy. If you are looking to be considered cool, go eat at Happy Gillis and tell your friends how much you like it. If you want to eat a satisfying, tasty, well priced sandwich, maybe go somewhere else.

    (2)

  • Nick K.

    Do yourself a favor and go here! Breakfast and lunch are delicious. I recommend for breakfast the Homemade granola with fruit and yogurt and biscuits and gravy with mushroom gravy are delicious. Always friendly service. Support the local establish ments.

    (5)

  • Stephen H.

    My favorite breakfast place in Kansas City. Not because there's lots of seating - there isn't. Not because they have a huge selection - everything is written on a blackboard behind the counter. Not because it's near a bunch of other stuff - it's in the hidden treasure that is the Columbus Park neighborhood. Because the food is delicious, is made virtually in front of you in an open kitchen, and because the staff is courteous. Two words: Croque Monsieur.

    (5)

  • Jenny K.

    We stopped here on our way through town. It had just what we needed: sandwiches and a place to sit for a minute. It was a little pricier than I'd expect. My squash cabonata was $9 but it was quite yummy.

    (4)

  • Ellen S.

    I adore Happy Gillis, from the little monster (if that's what it is?) on the logo to their self-serve water and coffee. But my favorite part of all is the biscuits & gravy. Even better is when you get one of the breakfast sandwiches ON a biscuit, and DIP it in gravy. It's heaven. Happy Gillis is one of our favorite places to take people. It's close to us and charming. Plus the food is excellent and unique. Food is customizable, too, and they have vegetarian options as well (I don't pay as much attention to those, but friends have always been satisfied). Keep in mind - this place is itty-bitty. Maybe five tables, a few bar stools along a window, and a living room-like area is all that's inside. When the weather is nice they have a few sidewalk tables, too. Basically, get in line before you get hangry! TL;DR - charming little place with awesome food. Try the gravy by asking for a side with a breakfast sandwich.

    (5)

  • Becca L.

    After reading all of the reviews, I thought that this place would be a cute, quaint, fun little place to try. Well, apparently people around here just don't know what "good" food is, or what "customer service" means. No smiling staff here! First off, I ordered the "yogurt and seasonal fruit" for my 2 year old. And it was pretty evident that it was ordered for a 2 year old. It would have been nice (and maybe just some common sense) for the lady/man taking my order to tell me that their "yogurt and seasonal fruit" was just a bowl of watery sour cream with some canned grapefruit on top, and some nuts sprinkled on top. What adult eats that? Therefore, WHAT TWO YEAR OLD will eat that?! But again, this chick/dude with the creepy haircut didn't even crack a smile. What a $5 waste. One bite and my kid said "this is disgusting!" And I had to agree. Who eats UNFLAVORED, PLAIN YOGURT as a meal?! Apparently hipsters lacking in personality. And the "seasonal fruit?!" Hmmm....pretty sure canned grapefruit is never in season. The egg sandwich--cooked in the same grease as some type of fish product. Tasted and smelled like fish. Not worth the $7. Waffle house is much better, and less fishy. The kale salad tasted like sand. It had bland breadcrumbs all over. Yuck. And a shriveled anchovy on top. Had I not read the menu, I would have assumed that this poor little fishy jumped to his death on top of my sand salad. Gross. The only saving grace was the date and bacon sandwich. Definitely wasn't worth the money, but bacon makes everything better. Even if it is overcooked. If it hadn't been for the bacon, I would have sent everything back and demanded my money back. What a $25 waste of money. We could have gotten twice the food for half the price (including hashbrowns!!) at Waffle House. And would have been much happier. So much for finding a cool place for my husband's birthday brunch. We should have just gone to the beignet place at City Market or to Grinder's where the quality is always great. I thought hipsters were supposed to be fun. This place was lifeless, kinda like my poor shriveled anchovy. RIP. Won't be back. Ever. What a letdown! Not a good place for kids--the menu just isn't kid friendly.

    (1)

  • John B.

    Happy Gillis is a nice and friendly place. Does that rise to the level of justifying a $10 breakfast BLT? I'm not so sure. Roasted tomatoes are certainly a step up from the pellucid discs that usually accompany this sandwich. And the bacon was pretty decent. But... I'm glad people are glad that Happy Gillis is gentrifying the neighborhood. If I lived in the neighborhood, I'd probably love my rent and loathe my dining options. But let's not overstate HG's majesty on that account. The place is fine and the people are nice.

    (3)

  • Jamison U.

    Happy Gillis was the first food we had after returning from Paris, and the only food we wanted (does that say enough?). Seriously my Saturday trips to the Hangout are religion, you cannot get a bad (insert-food-here) nor can you get crappy service. Happy Gillis is a staggering deal for your doller and as unpretentious as it gets, a true foodie paradise.

    (5)

  • Dana C.

    It all started when my boyfriend and I started throwing around the idea of moving to Columbus Park. One day, while driving through the neighborhood on a search for rental signs,we decided to try this place and see what all the hype was about. I thought the inside was adorable. Very quaint, no frills, no fuss. What you see is what you get. The giant chalk board displayed behind the counter is their entire menu. There isn't a ton of options to choose from, this threw me off. I don't really care for bacon but I settled on The Gillis Breakfast Sandwich (Scrambled Egg, Bacon, Cheddar on Toast) for $6 and my boyfriend ordered the Bocadillo w/ a Sunny-Side Up Egg for $9. It was my turn to pay for our meal on this outing, I wasn't too happy to cough up $15 for meal with no sides, coffee, etc. He loved his choice, in fact I didn't get one bite of it. I thought mine was okay, but wasn't super impressed. Again, I don't care for bacon, so why did I choose that sandwich? The staff was nothing but polite and helpful. In fact, one of the gentleman working gave us a tip on who not to rent from in the area (this came in handy later that month!) I wasn't too keen on going back right away, not because it isn't a great place but because I didn't LOVE my sandwich and the prices were a little high. Last week, we were down in Columbus Park again and we stopped at a cash only place in the River Market for breakfast, only we didn't have any cash on us. "Happy Gillis is close by", my boyfriend suggested. I sneered and agreed to go. I tell you this because I was about to regret my snottiness! We arrived at Happy Gillis and were early enough to beat the City Market crowd. This time I ordered off the lunch menu. I ordered the Bocadillo (Ground Beef & Pork w/ Chiles, Almonds, Cheddar & Garlic Mayo) for $9. My boyfriend ordered the same. Our food arrived promptly. I took my first bite. It was a pairing of flavors that I can not describe other than orgasmic. It was an explosion of awesome in my mouth. I immediately regretted all the snarky things I had said and thought before. Why had we not been coming here on a regular basis? I wanted to kick myself. I devoured my entire sandwich and then finished off the last part of my boyfriend's. It's true. I'm not embarrassed, it's that good! We are moving to Columbus Park next week. I am so ecstatic that we'll be able to walk to this little slice of heaven. My only gripe about Happy Gillis is that the prices are a bit high. I don't care though, the Bocadillo is worth every penny!

    (4)

  • Reed N.

    Man, that took me long enough! A year to get back for lunch?? Ridiculous. But I finally made it and I must say, that post TV show and local notoriety, these guys are not "mailing it in." Nope. Each sandie is a full court press of flavor or a slam dunk homage to a classic combination of flavors... Whether it be a special of the day like deviled ham and cheese with fresno peppers or a croque madam. Overall, I think the lunch offers more flavor here, but you really can't go wrong. Friendly guys behind the counter and the ever-changing table art are pluses along with other whimsical touches. With the ramps to the loop and the Kit Bond Bridge open you can get here in a snap and leave even faster. There is no reason to skip this place... I should be locked up for taking so long to get back!

    (5)

  • Raffi M.

    Yum! Everything was so flavorful and left nothing to be desired (except maybe more food!). I stopped in while driving through town and I had such a wonderful lunch with a sandwich and soup. Ordering is done at the counter and the food is brought out when it is ready. The menu offers a lot of variety for lunch and breakfast, but is still relatively simple. Don't miss the soup selection listed on a little board on the counter; you must try one of the house-made specialties. I tried the butternut squash sandwich and a cup of their spicy black bean soup. Both items were so amazing that my only regret was not ordering a full size sandwich instead of a half-half combination. The bread roll, the creamy butternut squash, the walnut tapenade... everything contributed a range of flavors to a fulfilling and warming meal. I would highly recommend this choice if it is available. The soup was so unique too; a seasoned-perfectly bowl of spicy beans, with a touch of cilantro and a few slices of plantains. I never would have though to put plantains in a black bean soup, but the plantains added little gems of texture and flavor among the rest of the soup; I finished every last drop! Prices are super fair and the atmosphere is probably best described as "cute". It was quite busy during lunch when I came and seating was extremely limited. There are only a handful of tables and a little bar by the window. This is a must-try sandwich and soup place, and if I lived in the area I would sure to be in often.

    (5)

  • Matt E.

    Okay, I seriously have a crush on this place. So much awesomeness in such a little package, and only a couple of blocks from my house! This place is an offshoot of happysoupeater.com , which i highly recommend checking out on it's own merits. Basically, it started out as a weekly soup delivery business, but grew so much in popularity they decided to open up a freestanding business. I've been for breakfast a few times, and it's always delicious. It's super convenient for carry out orders when I don't feel like making my own breakfast, but also don't want to put on real clothes and make myself look presentable. I just stumble in in my sweats, order it to go, then after a quick jaunt, i am back home enjoying biscuits and gravy or a delicious egg sandwich! Lunch is great too. Their menu is small, but everything is fresh as can be. they probably have the best BLT in the city, and their fresh mozzarella and pesto sandwich is delicious. Because I firmly believe that it is not a meal if you don't have some meat, i add bacon, and it's great. Today they also were featuring baked ziti. For me, it was the first time I had ever seen a non sandwich/soup/salad on the menu. It gives me hope of things to come..... They just got a liquor license, so i am definitely looking forward to it warming up, so that i can enjoy a bottle of wine on the sidewalk.... BTW, this place has a great sense of humor. Their website cracks me up, their logo is adorably drawn by what i assume is a 5 year old, and inside their dining room there are just too many little quirks to mention in one review. Go here now. You will NOT be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Kat A.

    What a beautiful establishment. Relaxed atmosphere, kind people behind the counter, and great artwork. And if that wasn't enough, I was fortunate enough to try their biscuits and gravy. Sweet mother of GOD they know how to throw down with biscuits and gravy. I nearly wept. No wait on a Saturday morning, and great prices. Next time I'm in KC I know exactly where I'll be going for my morning nosh. Wouldn't change a thing.

    (5)

  • Carolyn L.

    So my mom saw this place on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives and we just knew we had to stop on the way back to MCI airport. I ordered the Banh Mi sandwich with a cup of the soup of the day (chorizo, vegetables, fresh spinach). The sandwich was simply outstanding on warm soft ciabatta bread. The chicken was tender, the veggies were fresh and the sauce was out of this world peanutty good. My dad had the Cuban sandwich, and my mom had the meatloaf sandwich. We weren't even hungry when we got there! But we enjoyed every last bite of our meals. They serve locally brewed beers (yummy IPA) and change up their menu every season. I'm so glad we got to enjoy this little treasure!!!

    (5)

  • Kara K.

    Maybe it's because I'm not from KC, but this place is totally over-hyped on Yelp. It took them 30 MINUTES to make a $10 breakfast sandwich that was nothing but scrambled eggs with bacon on wheat toast. I'm sure it would have gone a little faster and we could have enjoyed the quaint atmosphere if the 1 girl apparently in charge of making all the sandwiches hadn't been eating most of the ingredients. We had to wait 10 more minutes for them to box our sandwiches so we could eat them in the car. Seriously? So, I suppose if you're not on a time crunch and want someone to carelessly make you breakfast you could easily make at home, this is the place for you. But I'm pretty sure there are better places in this town -- in fact, take your time and money to the Beer Kitchen for chicken and waffles (and better service) instead.

    (1)

  • Richard A.

    Quirky joint in cool small Little Italy neighborhood that probably gets by more on its hipster and funkiness than anything else. I had lunch here, the Autostrada sandwich, which was good, (but not $11 good) and average sized with a little bit of greens on the side. Overall, a good place with a-ok food (at least for lunch) with each sandwich probably $2-$3 more expensive than it probably should be or is worth. But sometimes, you pay extra for the hipness and saying you ate there.

    (3)

  • Andrew K.

    Lovely spot in a great neighborhood. Stopped in for lunch on a beautiful spring afternoon and tried the ham and potato soup as well as the chicken banh mi. They were both very appetizing. Looking forward to the next time!

    (4)

  • Ken B.

    Happy Gillis made me a happy man today. I love quirky things! Therefore, I love that on the outside of the men's room is the iconic painting "blue boy", but once you enter the room, it's painted in hot pink. Funny, clever and sweet. (I start with this because I used the restroom before ordering my food.) So I got the chicken salad sandwich with a bowl of yellow tomato and split pea soup, my partner got the club sandwich with the ham and potato soup. All things were excellent, fresh and extremely tasty. The service was great. We were greeted when entered, taken care of while dining and everyone working said goodbye and have a great day as we left. The service couldn't have made me happier. All things that I appreciate in a locally owned business. The decor is charming, clean and painted one of the most peaceful shades of green. I cannot wait to go back and have more happy times at Happy Gillis Cafe and Hangout.

    (5)

  • Lynn M.

    Let's just say I've been Yelping for a few months now, and this is my first 5 star review of a restaurant! We were trying to find a different breakfast place, but my navigation skills suck! And for once, I am SO glad they do!! Otherwise, we would have never stumbled across Happy Gillis (on Yelp)! From the outside it doesn't look like much...but when we opened the door I felt like I had warped back in time! The decor was vintage chic, and very cozy! I loved the open kitchen with a chalkboard menu. They even had a couch area to sit and eat if you liked! Makes me want to bring the kiddos next time so they could sit on the couch and eat since that is a big No No at home! We came at a good time, there were a couple open tables. And only one couple in front of us, the gentleman behind the counter was very friendly and helpful with the menu. My husband decided on a breakfast style BLT on sourdough and topped off with an over easy egg. I chose biscuits and gravy with a side of bacon. Oh my heavens!! I took one bite of my gravy and declared it the best biscuits and gravy besides my great grandmother's! And trust me coming from a country girl ...I've had my fair share of biscuits and gravy! Each bite tasted better than the one before! And the bacon was cooked to perfection, flat and crisp! Just the way I like it. My hubby hates it when I say "well done" or even worse send it back! He calls it 'high maintenance' I call it knowing what I like! But no need to send it back at Happy Gillis...I was a 'Happy Camper'! And that's an understatement! My husband and i traded bites, his sandwich was very good...but I think he was wishing he had orded the same as me! Oh and the coffee...A-mazing! I have to give it to them for the unique details like the different plate ware, retro salt shakers, and choice of furniture, every table was different! They also had brown butcher like paper for anyone to draw on if they'd like! And the flow of the place was wonderful, order at counter, you get your own coffee, and they bring your food. Genius!! Allows them to focus on the food, and it shows! I am SO ready to come back to Kansas City, I drive a Prius so I'm thinking it would be worth the drive for the biscuits and gravy alone! And then for lunch come back to try the Curry Chicken Salad Sandwich that everyone raves about!

    (5)

  • Kackie C.

    There's a palpable feeling in a place like Happy Gillis that can only be explained by the staff really having their hearts in what they do. Walking in, you feel like they just care about you getting a full belly of exactly what you want. What speaks just as loudly as their attitude is the cafe's respect for their ingredients. When cool weather rolls around and fresh heirloom tomatoes are hard to come by, rather than serving you mealy tomatoes shipped in from god knows where, they stew and preserve fresh tomatoes in a really lovely way so their winter BLT is a unique and refreshing change from their summer one. They tell me some people prefer one over the other, I think they each offer something distinct. It's easy to forget it's cold outside in a Happy little place like this.

    (5)

  • Tim M.

    Decent. I tried the biscuits & gravy (overpriced at $6.50, I think) and ate them on a broken-down sofa. I don't get the love for this place. It was okay. I respect hard-working people, but it's nothing spacial, and not worth going out of your way for. It was good, but I can find just as good in my own hood...

    (3)

  • Lindsey W.

    This is an absolutely adorable place. Such a great feel to this Columbus Park neighborhood dive. Order at the counter and gawk at the cuteness of the place while you wait for your food. I went there for breakfast. I had the egg scramble with arugula and salmon - it was really good. The eggs were cooked perfectly and the fresh, local arugula was delish. The staff were friendly and added to the great experience. I almost didn't give it 5 stars - there were an excessive amount of flies so eating outside was challenging. I am excited to try this place for lunch and take more friends there!

    (5)

  • Chris L.

    Happy Gillis is a staple for me and if you're anywhere close to the River Market on any day but Monday, you should give them a try. They recently changed their menu again (always updating with local, in season items) and last Friday, I had the carrot and potato soup with the Three Cheese sandwich w/caramelized onion and mushrooms. Every bite was perfection. Even the little apple slices they serve it with -- kind of a palette cleanser. TRY THIS: The chocolate chip cookie. It's ginormous and looks big enough to share, but trust me...you don't want to share it so do your dining mate a favor and just get your own.

    (5)

  • J S.

    Ate here during a visit to KC. Delicious food. Cute mugs. Fresh food. Cute little restaurant.

    (4)

  • R B.

    Delicious spot to grab a breakfast, lunch Or a cup of coffee. The pleasant woman behind the counter makes their breakfast sandwiches like I make mine at home, that means plenty of thick cut bacon. They also play really good music here. Like so good you could clear out the tables and have a rare 45 dance party. Another gem in this neighborhood.

    (5)

  • Joanne D.

    Love a Rueben! Well Happy GILLIS HAS DONE IT again! Big chunks of slow roasted corned beef and crispy cabbage salad with garlic mustard solo on a potatoes bun! So stinkin Good! Got to try it.

    (5)

  • Dakota D.

    This was our first time eating at Happy Gillis for breakfast. We came in at 10am on a Sunday, pleasantly surprised that it was not packed full of people. Most breakfast places we go to have a long wait for a table. At Happy Gillis you order at the counter and find a table for yourself. Self serve water and coffee bar (in cute handmade mugs). I ordered the Biscuits and Gravy full order with over easy eggs on top and my bf got the burrito. It is the best B&G I've ever had! Nice and peppery, not too salty, and the biscuit was perfect and flaky. It's not the cheapest breakfast spot but it is worth it for the quality, especially since they support local farmers. We will definitely be going back.

    (5)

  • Kay M.

    Food was good. I wasn't a huge fan of the fact that I had to get my own refills since the place was packed. The decoration is cute and homey.

    (3)

  • Marie F.

    pork confit sandwich with pickled fennel and applebutter was pretty delish. BGs (biscuits and gravy) were just ok at best and gave me the BGs (bubble guts). Seating could be a disaster at a busier time. Outdoor seating opens up some options during the 3 months kc isnt covered in snow. Service was a lil weak. Different sets of S/P shakers on each table. Cute place. Bathroom seemed... unusual.

    (3)

  • Mary A.

    Parking was very easy to find on the street. When you get here, you order at the counter and then find a seat. Then when your food is ready, they will find you. While we were here the place filled up and no seats were available inside or outside. But the place has quick turn-around and the staff is quick to bus the tables. There is a self-serve water station next to the self-serve coffee station. I ordered a half order of biscuits and gravy ($4) as suggested by other Yelpers and I was not disappointed. This was the best gravy! There were clumps of sausage in the gravy, too. The half order comes with one large biscuit. I chose to add bacon on the side- adding eggs is also an option. My husband also ordered the salmon/avocado toast and OMG was it amazing! Smoked salmon on essentially a guacamole creamy sauce. So much flavor! This may not have been enough for his breakfast, so plan on ordering something else if you are hungry. The granola/yogurt looked awesome at all the tables around us.

    (5)

  • Beth B.

    Four gals came here for a late breakfast on the last morning of our chick trip. It was a staycation for two of us and two are from California (transplanted from KC). I've heard so many good things about this place and it did not disappoint. We found rock star parking out front (hey - I'm from the burbs and that is always a concern when we go urban) and headed inside to a short line. At first, I was concerned that there were no mimosas to be had, but was thankful to see that on the handwritten chalkboard menu. Their mimosas are great and are a generous pour, by the way. I ordered the egg sandwich ($8), which is scrambled eggs, bacon and cheese on this amazing multigrain bread that has been toasted on the grill (with butter, I'm assuming). It was so yummy. I also had a half order of the biscuits and gravy ($4). Those were the best. I ate the whole thing (after giving everyone a taste) and saved half of my sandwich for later. I could eat those every day. I'd be 300 lbs., but it might be worth it. My friends ordered either the egg sandwich or one of the specials which was bread pudding toast with bacon and cantaloupe. Everyone said their food was great. There is free water and you can fill up your glass as much as you want - there is a canister from which you can help yourself. That's important to me because the server can rarely keep up with my water drinking. Happy Gillis supports several local farms and businesses and they have them listed in the restaurant. I wish I lived closer, but I will definitely be back. They are also opening a Ramen shop soon. That should get us down there again!

    (5)

  • Drizzy R.

    Quaint little neighborhood place where you stand in line to place your order and then get a table. Don't go claiming a table before you order and don't really stick around. It's one of those places where you eat and leave. Lingering just isn't in the playbook. Parking was fine, and we liked the overall ambiance of the place. I had the open-faced smoked salmon toast with avocado and egg and miso-y flakes of something I can't recall. It was good, but it wasn't super awesome. Maybe I just wasn't feeling it that day. But I will say that the egg was a perfectly runny poached egg and I'm jealous of the cook's egg skillz. My husband got a half order of the biscuits and gravy, as well as the breakfast sandwich. He enjoyed the sandwich and I appreciated that the biscuits didn't have hard edges and the gravy actually had chunks of sausage. I get sick of all that "sausage" gravy with no sausage to be found. So, props. You can buy your coffee mug for $10, which was cool; they're made by a local potter.

    (4)

  • Paul H.

    Stopped in based on a Yelp review and enjoyed the perfectly greasy, perfectly delicious "Breakfast Sandwich". Unique vibe with beautiful hand-made coffee mugs. Unfortunately they ran out of coffee for a while right at prime coffee time. Almost deleted the fifth star for this but gotta go the coffee's ready now!

    (5)

  • Jenny C.

    Creative and healthy food in a cute little cafe. They didn't have that many vegetarian options but I still found something I liked (the grilled pimento cheese). The staff was friendly and helpful and the service was quick. You order at the counter and then sit and they bring the food to you, and it's VERY cheap given the quality. Pleasantly surprised and happy I found this place while passing through Kansas City!

    (5)

  • Joe K.

    Looking for lunch, this was my first stop in KC. It is located in the Columbus park neighborhood. I didn't see many other restaurants around, but it gave me the vibe of STLs "the hill" if the hill had turned super hipster (it could have been the Italian flag colors on the building wall right outside the window). It wasn't super busy as other yelpers had mentioned. Workers were polite. They were only serving lunch at the time and so I tried to order an item but it was sold out. Instead I got the Asian pulled pork. It came on ciabatta bread with an Aoli sauce and kimchee. Flavors were good and complemented one another. Kimchee was sweeter than traditional so I assume they soak it in something. Came out warm and pork tasted pretty fresh and tender enough. I enjoyed the quaint hipster experience, however I will mention that it seems a little on the pricier side (I assume BC they were on diner,drive in, and dives)

    (4)

  • Amber G.

    This is a cute little breakfast/brunch spot in a quaint part of town. I have always lived in KCK but I have never been to this neighborhood. The food was wonderful. I had the biscuits and gravy, you could taste the freshness of the sausage (you can tell it came from down the road). My husband had a breakfast sandwich that was very hardy and he had nothing but wonderful things to say about the taste. They do serve some alcoholic beverages in bottles but there isn't anything on draft. This isn't a normal sit down eatery. You order your food at the counter then they bring it to you. Most drinks are self serve (which is fine). We will definitely be going back.

    (4)

  • Dago P.

    Stumbled upon a quaint diner experience that pays tribute to local farms and artists. Staff was great and offered a plethora of delicacies and sandwiches. Green eggs and ham and the smoked salmon were AMAZING. I hope future trips bring me to Kansas City more to keep exploring the menu.

    (5)

  • Sarah S.

    The down side: It's cramped, you have to really vie for seating (this sometimes means kind of hovering around until a table opens up. It is expensive for what you get. Portions are fairly small, and few side dishes are available. Also, their coffee is just so-so. The up side: The food is very tasty (my favorite is the bacon date melt). The menu changes with the seasons. Ingredients are fresh. The decor is adorable -- there's a wall of doodles and drawings, lots of natural light, very cute mismatched tables and chairs. In conclusion: I will probably go back, the food is tasty. However, it isn't an every weekend haunt as it doesn't feel worth it unless my bank account is full.

    (3)

  • Carolyn L.

    So my mom saw this place on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives and we just knew we had to stop on the way back to MCI airport. I ordered the Banh Mi sandwich with a cup of the soup of the day (chorizo, vegetables, fresh spinach). The sandwich was simply outstanding on warm soft ciabatta bread. The chicken was tender, the veggies were fresh and the sauce was out of this world peanutty good. My dad had the Cuban sandwich, and my mom had the meatloaf sandwich. We weren't even hungry when we got there! But we enjoyed every last bite of our meals. They serve locally brewed beers (yummy IPA) and change up their menu every season. I'm so glad we got to enjoy this little treasure!!!

    (5)

  • Kara K.

    Maybe it's because I'm not from KC, but this place is totally over-hyped on Yelp. It took them 30 MINUTES to make a $10 breakfast sandwich that was nothing but scrambled eggs with bacon on wheat toast. I'm sure it would have gone a little faster and we could have enjoyed the quaint atmosphere if the 1 girl apparently in charge of making all the sandwiches hadn't been eating most of the ingredients. We had to wait 10 more minutes for them to box our sandwiches so we could eat them in the car. Seriously? So, I suppose if you're not on a time crunch and want someone to carelessly make you breakfast you could easily make at home, this is the place for you. But I'm pretty sure there are better places in this town -- in fact, take your time and money to the Beer Kitchen for chicken and waffles (and better service) instead.

    (1)

  • Richard A.

    Quirky joint in cool small Little Italy neighborhood that probably gets by more on its hipster and funkiness than anything else. I had lunch here, the Autostrada sandwich, which was good, (but not $11 good) and average sized with a little bit of greens on the side. Overall, a good place with a-ok food (at least for lunch) with each sandwich probably $2-$3 more expensive than it probably should be or is worth. But sometimes, you pay extra for the hipness and saying you ate there.

    (3)

  • Andrew K.

    Lovely spot in a great neighborhood. Stopped in for lunch on a beautiful spring afternoon and tried the ham and potato soup as well as the chicken banh mi. They were both very appetizing. Looking forward to the next time!

    (4)

  • Ken B.

    Happy Gillis made me a happy man today. I love quirky things! Therefore, I love that on the outside of the men's room is the iconic painting "blue boy", but once you enter the room, it's painted in hot pink. Funny, clever and sweet. (I start with this because I used the restroom before ordering my food.) So I got the chicken salad sandwich with a bowl of yellow tomato and split pea soup, my partner got the club sandwich with the ham and potato soup. All things were excellent, fresh and extremely tasty. The service was great. We were greeted when entered, taken care of while dining and everyone working said goodbye and have a great day as we left. The service couldn't have made me happier. All things that I appreciate in a locally owned business. The decor is charming, clean and painted one of the most peaceful shades of green. I cannot wait to go back and have more happy times at Happy Gillis Cafe and Hangout.

    (5)

  • Lynn M.

    Let's just say I've been Yelping for a few months now, and this is my first 5 star review of a restaurant! We were trying to find a different breakfast place, but my navigation skills suck! And for once, I am SO glad they do!! Otherwise, we would have never stumbled across Happy Gillis (on Yelp)! From the outside it doesn't look like much...but when we opened the door I felt like I had warped back in time! The decor was vintage chic, and very cozy! I loved the open kitchen with a chalkboard menu. They even had a couch area to sit and eat if you liked! Makes me want to bring the kiddos next time so they could sit on the couch and eat since that is a big No No at home! We came at a good time, there were a couple open tables. And only one couple in front of us, the gentleman behind the counter was very friendly and helpful with the menu. My husband decided on a breakfast style BLT on sourdough and topped off with an over easy egg. I chose biscuits and gravy with a side of bacon. Oh my heavens!! I took one bite of my gravy and declared it the best biscuits and gravy besides my great grandmother's! And trust me coming from a country girl ...I've had my fair share of biscuits and gravy! Each bite tasted better than the one before! And the bacon was cooked to perfection, flat and crisp! Just the way I like it. My hubby hates it when I say "well done" or even worse send it back! He calls it 'high maintenance' I call it knowing what I like! But no need to send it back at Happy Gillis...I was a 'Happy Camper'! And that's an understatement! My husband and i traded bites, his sandwich was very good...but I think he was wishing he had orded the same as me! Oh and the coffee...A-mazing! I have to give it to them for the unique details like the different plate ware, retro salt shakers, and choice of furniture, every table was different! They also had brown butcher like paper for anyone to draw on if they'd like! And the flow of the place was wonderful, order at counter, you get your own coffee, and they bring your food. Genius!! Allows them to focus on the food, and it shows! I am SO ready to come back to Kansas City, I drive a Prius so I'm thinking it would be worth the drive for the biscuits and gravy alone! And then for lunch come back to try the Curry Chicken Salad Sandwich that everyone raves about!

    (5)

  • Kackie C.

    There's a palpable feeling in a place like Happy Gillis that can only be explained by the staff really having their hearts in what they do. Walking in, you feel like they just care about you getting a full belly of exactly what you want. What speaks just as loudly as their attitude is the cafe's respect for their ingredients. When cool weather rolls around and fresh heirloom tomatoes are hard to come by, rather than serving you mealy tomatoes shipped in from god knows where, they stew and preserve fresh tomatoes in a really lovely way so their winter BLT is a unique and refreshing change from their summer one. They tell me some people prefer one over the other, I think they each offer something distinct. It's easy to forget it's cold outside in a Happy little place like this.

    (5)

  • Tim M.

    Decent. I tried the biscuits & gravy (overpriced at $6.50, I think) and ate them on a broken-down sofa. I don't get the love for this place. It was okay. I respect hard-working people, but it's nothing spacial, and not worth going out of your way for. It was good, but I can find just as good in my own hood...

    (3)

  • Erin M.

    Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord: It is the Happy Gillis Tartine...Glory, glory hallelujah! It was a hungry day. A low on sleep/slight headache from the night before day. I was in Westport and decided to pop into Sunfresh to check out their sushi selection. No veggie kind made that day. BLAST. I hopped over to Goodcents, my one true weakness in fast food subs. CLOSED. (what?!) I was reaching the point of delirium where one thinks their forearm would make a good snack. And then, I remembered this lovely, lovely place. I'd trekked here a few weeks ago and treated myself to their quaint decor, lovely orange couches and a sammie with fresh ricotta, arugula (they were out of the arugula/pistachio pistou), asparagus and pea sprouts. Lovelylovely, but a little too heavy on the ricotta for my tastes. Something told me I wanted to make the trip from the 'port to Columbus Part...and I thank sweet tiny infant Jesus that I did. An open-faced delight of toasty, crunchy wheat bread (with all the grains and nuts and great stuff about good bread) smothered in creamy hummus, topped with AMPLE amounts of arugula, feta and an assortment of olives (warning!: with pits...don't hurt your chompers) all sprinkled with Za'atar. *breathe* I love Happy Gillis. It's so sunshiney and bright (and I have a major crush on one of the employees there to boot.) and I want to go there again and again and again. And because sandwiches are by far my most favorite food group...I will!

    (5)

  • Sarah C.

    Doesn't get any better than this in KC - or anywhere! Consistently high quality food and certainly one of my main go-to's for breakfast sandwiches. Menu rotates seasonally so there's always something new to try. For breakfast try the Cello-esque BLT - ridiculously good!! Thanks Happy Gillis for making my life a little... happer! :)

    (5)

  • Nicole B.

    I love a place where I can get a freshly made breakfast sandwich to go because sometimes I just have things to do and need to eat on the go. The staff is friendly and courteous and the food is delicious. Happy Gillis Cafe is a cute little cafe tucked into the Columbus Park neighborhood. Everything is made to order so you will have to wait for you food but it is completely worth it. The vibe is laid back and relaxed. There are a few tables lining the sidewalk outside and some tables inside as well as a couch and coffee table. Whether you are dining in or getting your order to go, the food is always consistent and reasonably priced.

    (5)

  • Sharon K.

    The food here is FANTASTIC. We eat here most weekends, and I have never had anything I didn't like. Simple things like egg and tuna salad sandwiches taste wonderful and fresh, and the soup is always amazing! Last time I ordered a roasted mushroom sandwich, which I was a little hesitant about but it was lovely...a grilled-cheese mushroomy piece of heaven! The menu is mostly sandwiches, plus soup and some breakfast stuff. There is a soup (or salad, I believe) and sandwich combo. They have beer, plus mimosas and bloody marys- guilt free before noon drinking! You order at the counter and seating is limited so sometimes there is a line/wait. I have found that it usually moves at a decent pace, and by the time you have your food there is usually somewhere to plant yourself, although it may be the couch...but I immediately forget any awkwardness when I start eating. There is some outdoor seating.

    (5)

  • Brandi C.

    I admit it, when my husband first told me about this place I turned my nose up and didn't want to go. It just didn't sound real exciting. BUT I was wrong. Totally, completely wrong. I'm sorry for doubting you, husband, and you, Happy Gillis. Ok, now that the fervent apology is out of the way, let me say that this place is pretty cool, and has some GREAT sandwiches. We've been here 3 times now, and I'm a huge fan of the Curried Chicken Salad. The lettuce wraps are also super tasty (and light, yet filling), as are the cookies (which are humongous)...and my husband is a fan of the Plain Jane sandwich, too. So basically we've enjoyed everything we've had here. The first time we came in I also had some blended veggie soup that had some Indian spices in it - can't remember what it was called for the life of me, but I was ready to lick my bowl clean. Now that it's freaking hot outside I haven't had any more of the soups, but the sandwiches have me sold, hands down. One other thing that can't be beat - fresh organic mimosas. Um, yum!! We haven't had breakfast here yet, but I'm sure it's just as good. This is a great place to visit on a relaxing weekend, especially if you plan on hitting up the City Market too. Seating can be a little difficult to come by at times, as it's not a huge place but it is popular, but that's the only complaint I have, and it's not a deal breaker. And now I'm craving Curried Chicken Salad.

    (4)

  • Joi B.

    I think I have found the best sandwich of my life at Happy Gillis. And I have been known to have a good sandwich or two in my life time. I never would have thought to put winter squash in a sandwich, but oh, how it works when combined with a bit of ricotta (just the right amount, otherwise I imagine it could get messy!), peppery soft arugula and a walnut/caramelized onion tapanade caught in the embrace of fresh, chewy ciabatta. Holy freaking mole and there ain't no mole involved but damn is this a sublime sandwich. I also had a few bites of my boy's ginormous "cookie" that appeared to be a volcanic mountain of batter (soft and chewy, crispy on the edges) with chocolate lava and walnut chunks erupting at each stab of the fork (yes, it was *that* big). The goddamned Pompeii of cookies and I mean this in a good way.

    (5)

  • Nicole K.

    Happy Gillis feels like eating at the home of a friend who is a particularly good cook. It is comfortable in a familiar, welcoming way, and the quality of the menu, the ingredients and the presentation is unusually high-caliber. I love to get their homemade granola for breakfast. Served with yogurt and fresh berries, it's so beautiful I just had to take a picture the first time I ordered it. The taste is just as good. I've had sandwiches and soups here as well, depending on the season, and the results are always impressive. Nice people behind the counter top off the experience. One of the best places in town.

    (5)

  • Chris L.

    Happy Gillis is a staple for me and if you're anywhere close to the River Market on any day but Monday, you should give them a try. They recently changed their menu again (always updating with local, in season items) and last Friday, I had the carrot and potato soup with the Three Cheese sandwich w/caramelized onion and mushrooms. Every bite was perfection. Even the little apple slices they serve it with -- kind of a palette cleanser. TRY THIS: The chocolate chip cookie. It's ginormous and looks big enough to share, but trust me...you don't want to share it so do your dining mate a favor and just get your own.

    (5)

  • Lindsey W.

    This is an absolutely adorable place. Such a great feel to this Columbus Park neighborhood dive. Order at the counter and gawk at the cuteness of the place while you wait for your food. I went there for breakfast. I had the egg scramble with arugula and salmon - it was really good. The eggs were cooked perfectly and the fresh, local arugula was delish. The staff were friendly and added to the great experience. I almost didn't give it 5 stars - there were an excessive amount of flies so eating outside was challenging. I am excited to try this place for lunch and take more friends there!

    (5)

  • Chad C.

    Absolutely loved this little dive just outside downtown before my trip to the airport. Tried their Italian sandwich and the grilled cheese and both were absolutely superb. Tons of flavor and quality of ingredients. You'll also love the charm of this place.

    (5)

  • Nancy T.

    Oh how I love this incredible restaurant. It's got everything -- friendly staff, great service, amazing food with the best ingredients, creative menu, a relaxed and charming atmosphere. There is nothing not to love about this place. They do everything right. Lots of other places around town could learn a thing or two about running a restaurant from this place. A+++++ Do not miss the BLT (best I've ever had) or the potato leek soup. I can't wait to go back and try everything on the menu.

    (5)

  • Arvind ..

    This little brunch haven's only brush with nondescriptness is with where it's located. With fresh ingredients and inspired cooking, Happy Gillis brings simple and beautiful food to the table. Everything from the horseradish sauce in the roast beef sandwich and the almonds in the mulligatawny soup was made just right - in perfectly complementing fashion. Along with cozy interiors, and friendly staff the dining experience at Happy Gillis is nothing short of sublime. This is one place I would definitely revisit time after time.

    (3)

  • krysztof n.

    Walking into Happy Gillis is reassuring to someone like me. One step in the doorway of the once neighborhood-market, a glance around the room to check out the people, the decor, the menu, the smiles behind the counter, and I know instinctively, "They get it here." This is the kind of place that looks like it may have been plucked out of a hip neighborhood in Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, Brooklyn...but KCMO has it, and we're richer for it. They want you to hang out here, and most people there on the day we showed up were doing just that. Groups of folks from large to small, all taking advantage of the comfort of the space, the boho decor, the big windows, the generous plates of food...the absence of any need to rush. I just had a sandwich while I was there; which sounds simple enough, but the flavors of it, the combination of ingredients that were obviously combined with skill and care were mouth-wateringly appreciated. Nothing like a delicious mouthful of an expertly crafted sandwich while enjoying a sunny afternoon with friends. Ultimately, though, I just remember being in a space where the smiles, talking, laughter, tinkling of glasses, and artful yet unpretentious decor felt just as comfortable for my coolest friends, guests from out of town, or taking my young kids for an afternoon treat (they would LOVE those cookies!). It's cool without being snobby, it's fresh without feeling pretentious or that it's trying to be anything other than what it is: a neighborhood joint that's as happy to be there as you are.

    (5)

  • Eva J.

    Is it possible for this place to make anything that isn't completely delicious? I haven't had one bad meal here, ever. And I've told the servers that take my food away that my meal was "delicious" so many times that I think they're beginning to suspect I'm a bit chemically imbalanced. I usually order one of the pesto-sandwiches -- in the winter, it has fantastic roasted root vegetables, and in the summer I believe it's mozz, tomato and basil -- but since swearing off cheese I've been ordering a side salad and the soup of the day, which has been nothing but excellent. (Cuddling up to one of their lumpy hand-thrown mugs and a steaming bowl of soup on a winter's day is one delight I will never tire of.) Pro tip: arrive at 11:30 on weekdays, and you'll have your pick of tables. This place fills up fast around noon, and it's just not as much fun when you're trying to eat your sandwich in one of the fuzzy, bottomed-out chairs rather than one of the cafe tables.

    (5)

  • Amanda S.

    I have been looking forward to trying Happy Gillis for quite awhile. I really enjoyed the atmosphere, mismatched tables and chairs and the excellent service. I had the meatloaf sandwich which was really good. I liked the Dijon as the condiment. The meatloaf itself was loaded with flavor and thankfully not greasy. Now that I have been, I can't wait to go back. Especially to try their breakfast.

    (4)

  • Amanda G.

    I've never had anything that wasn't absolutely delicious here. Arrive early or expect to stand for a bit - there isn't much seating available - but the atmosphere is friendly and food is ready quickly, so the tables turn over frequently. The menu changes on a regular basis, but the soup is really what keeps me coming back. It's on the expensive side, but worth every penny and if you like what you have, they are happy to pack up more of it to go. Everything is fresh and while there are a lot of options with meat, the vegetarian options can be equally or more enticing and soups are often meat-free. A recent offering? Potato-thyme with goat cheese and roasted caraway - absolutely delicious.

    (5)

  • Joanna J.

    What a wonderful little hideaway! I walked through the door and took a step back in time. The feel was vintage in a comfortable and unpretentious way. Also, the curried chicken salad that I ordered was uber delicious!

    (4)

  • Matthew S.

    Perfect. This is the kind of unique place that highlights the joy of living in a vibrant city and having one-of-a-kind options. Sitting in a quirky little corner spot in the insanely underrated Columbus Park neighborhood, this is the kind of place that would be the city lover's little secret before the Internet created buzz, and it is a place you won't forget or confuse with some other boring cafe. Happy Gillis started after chef Todd Schulte made a good business about making soup for delivery, and I'm glad he's branched out. The food at Gillis is hearty, usually pretty simple, and executed perfectly. The ingredients are fresh and flavorful, and they've always got some great choices for vegetarians. The space itself is quite small, but that's a key part of the charm. Take a seat in a worn out couch, color on a paper tablecloth or, better yet, grab a spot on the sidewalk in the summer and enjoy the ambiance of a dense low-rise neighborhood. However you do it, you'll be happy you did.

    (5)

  • Jonathan H.

    I've been amazed by every sandwich I've tried here. Great place to bring a friend for a unique Kansas City experience.

    (4)

  • Zee A.

    Only had breakfast. "The biscuit" which is a sausage egg ham sandwhich on a biscuit in a plate of gravy. Unreal. Only biscuits and gravy I've ever had that I thought were actually delicious. Then the gillies breakfast sandwhich. Good sandwhich on grain bread. Something about it just made it taste better than a normal sandwhich

    (5)

  • James J.

    I love this place. Great atmosphere, unpretentious, unique sandwiches, good service. Over the past year or so have been here 4-5 times and everytime I have had something different and have never been disappointed. It IS a bit pricey for a sandwich, but once I bite into whatever I have ordered I forgot all about paying $10 for it. They rotate the menu every few months...which is nice as to have new options. However, I am dying for them to bring back the blackened chicken breast & Andouille sandwich that I had late last summer. It was nothing short of amazing. Limited seating inside - get there early for lunch, unless it is a nice day and you want to sit outside.

    (5)

  • Amy C.

    Happy Gillis Cafe is where the cool kids like to eat - that was apparent to me and my three girlfriends when we dined at the restaurant on 2/4/12. The outdoor signage and flooring inside the space hint that Gillis occupies a former corner shop/cafe from the 50s and 60s - it's been in a bit of a time capsuel. The sea green walls are decorated with kitchy art. A small hang-out area decorated with 1950s furniture looks comfy and inviting, although a little beat-up, but if you're a beatnik you don't care. And the pink in the ladies restroom is almost assaulting, but just on the right side of the line. The tables and chairs, all mis-matchy, may remind you of eating at your grandma's house when you were a kid. Tables are covered with butcher paper and guests are invited to create their own Crayola art as they await their meals. As a matter-of-fact, if your art is nice enough the staff may choose to display it in the "Abandoned Art" corner. Gillis has a small but refined selection of sodas including the standard Coke products, several Izze products and Pellegrino. At lunch they offer about eight sandwich choices and two soup choices. As we were there to enjoy lunch, the four of us ordered sandwiches and chips. Following the advice of the gentleman behind the counter, I opted for the seared tuna roasted red peppers, basil with olive-caper aioli. My tuna was cooked and seasoned perfectly. I thought the amount of basil on the sandwich was a little overpowering, but I easily solved that problem by pulling out a few of the leaves. The aioli nicely complimented the fish. While the flavors were quite good, I found eating the sandwich a bit awkward; trying to eat the slivers of tuna kept slipping out of the bun despite my best efforts. My sandwich, a bag of chips and an Izze soda was $15. Two of my friends ordered the meatloaf sandwiches and one ordered the ham and cheese. All very enjoyed their dishes and the meatloaf was bragged upon. Incidentally, our group decided to try this restaurant after having a very good experience at Genessee Royale Bistro, as the two share the same owner. At Gillis the food was very good, but not mind-blowing. I had a nice sandwich in a nice atmosphere and I enjoyed my company. Would I go back? Sure, if someone else suggested Happy Gillis I would go with bells on, but if I were choosing I would probably pick the Royale.

    (3)

  • Jocelyn R.

    Supporting local business is important, and Happy Gillis definitely qualifies. I love a Sunday morning breakfast date and the bacon, egg and cheese sandwich I had was awesome - my husband loved his biscuits and gravy too. Prices are more than reasonable and it's a cute place. I don't mind having to share a table with strangers when a place like this is crowded, although my husband is not a fan, other than that, we liked it and I'll certainly be back to try lunch sometime soon.

    (4)

  • Jenny M.

    Happy Gillis Cafe and Hangout made me feel so happy! It was a great experience with delightful staff, a fantastic sandwich and terrific location. I really can't add anything to the reviews here that have not been said before, I will definitely return again. Oh, my husband could not stop raving about the stewed tomatoes on his BLT. He kept going on and on about them through the entire meal with a crazy little smile on his face as he ate. See, it makes you happy.

    (5)

  • Jeff P.

    There isn't much to say that hasn't already been said; Happy Gillis is awesome. It tends to be a very mixed crowd so this is refreshingly both hipster and non-hipster friendly. It can get crowded on weekend mornings, sometimes to the point where people are just standing around waiting for a table to clear. Fortunately, it still doesn't get as maddeningly crowded as You Say Tomato does...but I expect it'll get there eventually thanks to Yelp exposure. I love the fact that the staff is always quick to answer when you can't decide for yourself and you ask them what their favorite is. Somehow they're always in a good mood and they seem to remember repeat customers so that you don't feel like just another face in the crowd. Go here!!!!

    (5)

  • Ali A.

    I love writing reviews on Yelp because it gives me a reason to try new places. I have heard so much about Happy Gillis I needed to finally try it. Today was the day. I order the albacore tuna sandwich with pickled red onions and a side of mushroom soup with barley, my friend got their special corned beef sandwich. I tried both and I definitely think mine was the best :) It is a small quaint cafe not much seating is available but some tables came open while we waited for our food to be prepared. They offer chips with the sandwiches for extra money and they have various bottles and canned refreshments. I also tried their brownie they had on display, delish. They had two menus displayed on for breakfast one for lunch. I think I am going to make another trip down to try the breakfast foods. My friend used the ladies room while we were there and she loved it, she said it was pink and it had a little chandelier in it that gave the room a beautiful glow. I am obsessed with awesome bathrooms so if you are check it out too. One complaint, the guy preparing the food was not wearing gloves. That is a health code no no. The place was clean but that bothers me a little.

    (3)

  • Jessica C.

    One of the most important qualities in local business is that feel of authenticity. It is what make me shun most all chain restaurants and seek out locally owned businesses even if it inconvenient or even a little more expensive. Happy Gillis gets this and capitalizes on authenticity while turning out absolutely amazing sandwiches among other delights. Being a complete cheese freak, the ham, cheese, and tomato sandwich was calling my name. And conveniently enough, tomato soup with zucchini was the soup of the day! Voila! Grilled cheese and tomato soup on a blustery fall day. Heaven. The soup was expertly seasoned and hearty. The sandwich was full of creamy Boulevard beer cheese that was perfectly melted. The tomato actually did its genus proud and was treated as a star by the chefs at Happy Gillis. No flimsy, flavorless, translucent and slimy slice here rather a zesty and colorful accent to the sandwich. The smokey ham was delicious on the sandwich, but a vegetarian could have easily left the ham off and been extremely satisfied. The shabby chic decor, quirky flower arrangements, and interesting neighborhood are all huge perks that make Happy Gillis a true neighborhood hangout that I look forward to getting to know better.

    (5)

  • Susan N.

    I know everyone's raving about this place and when I walked in, I really wanted to like it. We walked in starved one day and it is a pretty cute place. We both ordered sandwiches - me, a curried chicken salad sandwich and the boy, a banh mi. While it was good, there was nothing that made the sandwich really memorable. There wasn't a kick or a flavor that made the sandwich scream "EAT ME NOW!" I think my own version of this salad has more flavor. I had a couple bites of the boy's banh mi and did like the spice but overall wasn't blown away by the sandwich. It's a cute place, for sure. Would I go back? I guess. But it wouldn't be a place that stands out in my mind and I'd probably only go if I'm literally passing by while hungry.

    (3)

  • Callie E.

    If you can serve me pesto which rivals that of what my grandmother made growing up, then you're pretty good in my book. Upon my first visit to Gillis I was happily charmed by the quaint setting and somewhat remote location. Moreover, impressed with it's refined menu - as in, this is all we serve and we're damn good at it. I like that. Being a vegetarian, I steered clear of the meat options and instead opted for the pesto, mozzarella and red pepper sandwich. Personally, I don't think the prices are that high (in response to some reviews), but then again, it is a la carte - so I could see where some might think differently. The sandwich was delicious and like I stated above the pesto was superb. If you're a pesto fanatic like myself, then you know a lot of places seem to mess it up - not the case here. Plus, the ciabatta was perfect - crispy on the outside and soft/chewy on the inside - I couldn't get over how delicious it was. In regards to the atmosphere, well, I appreciated the eclectic decor - however, I wasn't a huge fan of the lack of seating. Just a few more seats and it would be perfect! So, if you do go, I'd recommend going a bit earlier than usual or a bit later - we went around 11:45 and made a seat at the bar against the window (all full). Also, the staff is super friendly - which is obviously a huge plus as well. Sadly, I'm moving this Friday, but if I ever come back to KC, I'll definitely have to consider popping in for another delicious sandwich!

    (4)

  • Emily S.

    My husband and I are regulars here because the food is outstanding, the price is right, and the staff is amazing. My favorite dish for breakfast is a staple, the biscuits and gravy (small=$3, large=$5). I love anything with the flank steak for lunch as well as the classic curried chicken salad sandwich. Everyday there are specials, and I usually ask the staff for a recommendation as they create and try it every morning. So fun! Also, many of the sandwiches are big enough to split! My only complaint is that they don't serve dinner :)

    (5)

  • Josh S.

    oh my! I am so glad the red wine braised flank steak recipe is on the website! I can't wait to give it a shot on my own. This is easily my favorite at Happy Gillis. I practically drank a bowl of carrot curry soup today with it, wonderFULL. While I don't see myself doing a lot of hanging out at Happy Gillis, I normally eat my sandwich within five minutes of receiving it. The guys and gals at this cafe are really genuine and are happy to just ham it up.

    (4)

  • Kimberly C.

    How do they do it? Make sandwiches so seemingly simple so utterly delicious? I don't know but I am very glad. Happy Gillis makes some of my favorite sandwiches in the country. Consistently fantastic, made with fresh seasonal ingredients done in a modern way. I'm amazed at how much they can do with a simple small sandwich press, no stove here!. Lots of choices for meat & veggie lovers alike. My meat-eating friends love the chicken salad (the phrase "it's the best I've ever tasted" has been thrown around quite a few times) & the cello (BLT+egg) is legendary. My usual fave is the seasonal veg + cheese which usually has a pesto or romesco on it (i.e. asparagus/ricotta/pesto or zucchini/arugula/romesco/queso fresco). I also like the shrimp salad & egg salad. Soup & or sandwich specials of the day are frequently posted on their website so check that out. Yummy cookies too. Prices are a little steeper than some would like but I think the deliciousness is worth it, so am happy to pay fork over my dough to this great local biz. The staff is always friendly, the owners rock & the setting is downright charming. extra points for: (1) brown paper & crayons to amuse yourself w/ drawings while dining & (2) cutie patootie salt & pepper shakers Happy Gillis makes tastebuds happy

    (5)

  • Montoya J.

    This would go down as one of the top 5 breakfasts I've ever had...and I've been to many breakfast places in the US. I had a baked ham biscuit sandwich. The biscuit was simple but homemade and DELICIOUS. It also came with whole grain mustard and another kind of jam for a deer and savory combo. Price is right, we didn't wait too long, and the food was delicious! If I lived here I'd be here all the time.

    (5)

  • Tyler M.

    The Biscuit, Gravy, Bacon, Brisket, Egg and Sausage breakfast may be the manliest meal in the history of the world. I was a child until I finished that meal. I was also extremely hung over and cured instantly. It also cured my cancer.

    (5)

  • Matt C.

    Love this place! Very small and quaint with a retro feel. The food is always changing and always fresh. They use local ingredients and always create fantastic dishes. Very friendly people and very quick to get food. This time around I had The Stevie, which is a BLT and egg salad sandwich combined! Delicious! With a homemade black bean soup. They primarily do sandwiches and soup it seems with rotating breakfast dishes as well (want to try the biscuits and gravy ones of these days!). Love little KC shops like Happy Gillis!

    (5)

  • Gretchen P.

    If you're confused about which item to get for breakfast, get the Biscuit. It's a fantastic compilation of their various breakfast meats and flavors. The sausage gravy was the best I've had at a restaurant in KC.

    (4)

  • Kyle L.

    This place has charm for days and overall the food was pretty tasty but the size of the establishment (or lack thereof) and the price kept me from falling in love like many of the other yelpers that have reviewed it. Happy Gillis is located in the charming Columbus Park area and it's cozy and charming on the inside. The staff seemed to all be very friendly and helpful and I certainly appreciate that. Avoid it during the lunch hour at all cost. We showed up right at noon and the place was already packed. Luckily as our order was being taken a table came open and we were able to snatch it up but they go fast. I'd suggest coming at a different time of the day (which is really kind of a shame) I was unsure of what I wanted but after seeing a bowl of the black bean chili, which happened to be the special of the day, I decided to go that direction. That bowl of chili and a Boulevard Wheat cost me nine dollars and some change. Pretty steep for what I received but it was quite tasty all the same. A few of the folks I was with got sandwiches and they all looked amazing and everyone did remark on how tasty it was. Overall I'm not head over heals like some of the other reviewers are but I can't mind much to fault it on other than the size of the place (There are seriously about four tables, two couches with a coffee table between them, and some bar seating by the window) and the price (Nine bucks for a bowl of chili and a beer is kind of outlandish for a small little place if you ask me). Will I go again? I'm not sure. I'd like to think so because charming little local spots like this are right up my alley but I don't think this one is amongst my favorites... That much I can be certain of.

    (3)

  • Kent A.

    Found this place on Yelp and Urbanspoon while looking for lunch. I was very impressed with the food. Sandwiches were great. Atmosphere was great. Quirky and fun little local place. Glad we found it and will be going here again on our next trip to KC.

    (4)

  • Payton H.

    Two words: Ham Salad. No matter what they have paired with it, David's Ham Salad is the best thing ever. Seriously. When I see via Twitter that it's the special, I usually have a Pavlovian response: find keys, get in car, drive to Columbus Park, get in line, pay for Ham Salad and a beer and jalapeño chips. It has never done me wrong. If you're not in the mood for a ham salad sandwich for breakfast (..yes I said for breakfast..) get the biscuits and gravy. John has perfected the art of the most delicious gravy ever. EVER. Happy Gillis is great. It's cozy, the people are friendly (and attractive!), the food is above reproach. Everything is seasonal and fresh. I also really appreciate curing my hangover with food in a restaurant in a comfortable chair that looks like it belongs in my grandma's house (in the best way possible). Yes, sometimes it's crowded, and yes Guy Fieri has been there, but it's still worth whatever your qualm for the amazing food and even better service.

    (5)

  • Lorena M.

    Sunday brunch this was the choice. It has very limited seating but you can order to go which we almost had to do but a couple got up right before we ordered (you order at the counter) so I snagged the table and then went back up to order. I decided on the 1/2 sandwich 1/2 soup combo and my choices were the Stevi, which is their BLT with egg salad on it, sooo good! My soup was curried cilantro, chicken and lentil soup and it was perfect with a bit of kick and the fresh taste of cilantro, very good! My friend ordered the meatloaf sandwich which came with a side of pasta salad which was ok, nothing great. He loved the meatloaf sandwich although he's kind of picky so he pulled off the roasted tomatoes, which I thought we perfect on the sandwich. I would find my way here and give it a try, plus it's nice to explore Columbus Park.

    (4)

  • Michael W.

    Sweet Cuban Goodness. I am a Cuban sandwich fan. This interesting little place happen to have one on the menu the day I was there. It was meant to be! Crispy hard roll, tender juicy pork and homemade pickle spears all pressed into a beautiful sandwich. This place is very cool. Very casual. You can just see how much the staff cares about you and the food they serve you. It is a great place to bring a book and hang out on the couch and spend part of your day. Parking is on the street but it manageable and there is definitely a relaxed atmosphere inside.

    (4)

  • Maggie L.

    This would be a 5-star establishment if we hadn't gone on such a busy weekend (Big 12 and St. Pattys Day). Very kitschy and small with a team of all-women. The food was DELICIOUS! Biscuits w/ sausage, cheese, and gravy hits the spot. Good filling food. My friends had the ham biscuit and said the flavors complemented one another and was possibly the best they ever had. Definitely give Gillis a try, just be cautious of your timing, or you'll end up waiting an hour.

    (4)

  • Andrew W.

    serve yourself coffee - out egg sandwich - eff yogurt with granola - ing staff - stand ambiance - ing! can't wait to try this place for lunch!

    (5)

  • Krystal P.

    After hearing about this place on tv and great reviews on yelp we finally made it. What a great place for Sunday brunch. The restaurant is small, unique, and comfortable. Shabby chic decor and exceptional food. I was torn on what to get. This is a place where nothing is standard but everything looks good. I settled on the shrimp salad sandwich, my husband got the gills turkey. We were both very happy my shrimp salad could take on the best lobster roll sandwiches. Great seasoning. The turkey was far from ordinary. I will be back many times!

    (5)

  • Linda M.

    The food was outstanding!! It was fresh and inventive and seemingly organic!! This place was hard to find bc the yelp directions took us on a wild goose chase. When we pulled up we were abit worried bc the area look run down. It is in Little Italy. The atmosphere was extremely simple. However, it was clean. An awesome surprise considering the exterior! We were so pleased w our breakfast!!!

    (5)

  • Scott J.

    You don't get on the Food Network by being typical. Normally, I hear "steak sandwich" from this great little sandwich place and I'm like "Oh geez, sounds like a pound of dry bread and hard to chew steak, neato." At Happy Gillis (which we spotted on the Food Network before visiting Kansas City) the steak was slow-cooked, stewed to make it tender and marinated in red wine. We ate another sandwich too, maybe a BLT or something with fish. I forget, that was back in September - I just thought to write this as the menu where I work today is from some takeout sandwich place that made me WISH it was Happy Gillis back in Kansas City. All the food was fresh and seasonal, like it's supposed to be. The decor's like a vintage store hangout. The staff was friendly and they had fancy sodas in bottles and a bright pink bathroom. They had local beers, they had wine. And it's all in a neighborhood I had never even noticed when I lived there. Great experience.

    (5)

  • Nathan S.

    My wife and I absolutely love this place! Their menu changes regularly but everything is awesome! Our new staple is the curry chicken salad sandwich which is amazing! The chef at Happy Gillis is wonderful and has a true passion for food. This is a place where the people remember you if you are a regular and the customers range from young hipsters to elderly couples out for a Sunday lunch. It appeals to everyone with a passion for good food and life. If this is you, you won't be disappointed. You must go!

    (5)

  • Marie D.

    I've never had anything mediocre here. It has all been amazing. I usually have a half sandwich and soup and I can't ever decide which I like better. The banh mi, cuban, ricotta/butternut squash, and turkey sandwiches are great and if you like soup, this is your place. I'm always looking for good homemade soups and this is the best I've found in at least the Kansas City area, but probably anywhere. I love soup, but the preservative filled, over-creamed, made from a frozen block soups (think Panera) do nothing for me. Here, they are made from scratch and have enough of a twist to make things exciting, but still fill the role of comfort food. If I'm in town on a Saturday, I'm usually having lunch here.

    (5)

  • Robert J.

    Great food, well priced but the staff seemed almost annoyed that we bothered them by ordering food. The location is quaint and unique, sandwiches and soup were fresh and tasty. The decor reminds me of my grandparents house which was always neat, organized and cute. Even though we annoyed them by coming to eat there the food was good enough I will go back - everyone has a bad day so I hope it was just their day :)

    (4)

  • Aimee A.

    Very long time coming, but hey, it's been busy. Long short story: February - Mike and I were exhausted after a gut-wrenching journey back to see fam in Olathe. On our way to the airport, and loving my new Windows phone, I check Yelp for a fab place to eat. They say Happy Gillis is the place. I did not know they had done 3D on Food Network, but now I know why. I had an amazing sandwich (pumpkin or some type of squash?) with an AMAZING soup (I love soup) with bacon, corn chowder, something. Wished I could have tried any ANY of the other dishes too. And a root beer to wash it down. It HIT THE SPOT. And then we flew home.

    (5)

  • Stephanie L.

    I like that it's a really quaint place to have breakfast. The decor is just reminds me of someone like Dharma (from Dharma & Greg tv series) who tried to make it homey but a lot of the furniture/decor is mix-matched. LIke having an old couch in a restaurant (more like a mini living room in the entrance of the restaurant) - who would have taught of that?? Anyway, if you like unique/interesting/quaint places, this is definitely a place to check out. As for breakfast goes, I only had the huevos something something on the menu: 2 sunny side up eggs, carmalized onions, goat cheese, meat with spicy sauce, and corn tortilla. It was the weirdest combination and i'd have to say that the food texture and taste do not go together at all. But it didn't taste horrible. They could have put more carmalized onion to offset the spicy taste. Other than that, I like that it's in a corner of a quite street, perfect for a Sunday morning lazy breakfast. ;) I know if I have visitors, I'll be taking them here for breakfast/lunch.

    (4)

  • Erika D.

    It's a sin to visit Happy Gillis and not order a massive sandwich. The short, sweet menu is ruled by innovate (and mammoth!) sandwiches. If your taste buds want a jolt, order the Banh Mi Marinated Chicken Sandwich, made with cucumbers, scallions, cilantro and chili sauce. If you are craving a steadfast classic, try the BLT made with roasted tomatoes or the Cuban with savory pickles. One of the more interesting creations is the Tracy's Meatloaf sandwich with "aged white cheddar, caramelized onions, Dijon mustard and Fresno chilies." Being a meat-in-moderation kind of gal, I could not bring myself to order something with meatloaf in the title. However, I think that the combination of ingredients sounds intriguing. The regulars at Happy Gillis Café & Hangout are intriguing as well. It is the kind of place where everyone seems to have story. The atmosphere is cozy and laid back. Even the name of the establishment invites you to settle in and "hangout." A mix of café tables, homey armchairs, and vintage sofas make up the intimate seating area. If the restaurant has a fault, it's that too many patrons settle in for an extended stay. The small number of tables can drive you crazy during a busy breakfast or lunch rush. I have to say that Happy Gillis has not been a hit with my son. He doesn't eat salad, and the sandwich offerings are far too artisan for his 4-year old tastes. He will purloin bacon from my BLT, but that's about it. The staff was nice enough to slice up an apple for him the last time we were there. Unless your kids are adventurous eaters, it's probably better to go without them (or feed them first). Read more on my Tumblr blog, The Family Unit (see Profile for link)

    (4)

  • Lacey M.

    Everything about my experience here made me happy. :) -Great service -Super cute interior -Crayon drawings on paper tablecloth -Bright hot pink restrooms -Bahn Mi Meatball Sandwich -Biscuits and Gravy -Lettuce Wraps -Walking distance of City Market You bet I'll be taking my happy little ass back there when in KC again!

    (4)

  • Mark S.

    Checked this place out for breakfast one Saturday. I got the biscuits and gravy and they were outstanding. Great homemade biscuits and the gravy had plenty of sausage. I'm not much of a bloody mary fan but if I had to have one, it would be here. I'd definitely recommend this place to anyone. Looking forward to going back soon!

    (5)

  • Uncle Grannon L.

    Part of me wants to write a one-star review... You know, spin some fanciful yarn about finding a poisoned sparrow bone in my curried chicken salad. This would probably be because instinctually, I want to dislike something that others so heavily covet. I hate the Yankees and the Patriots. The Lakers can suck it. Telling tales about H. Gillis, though, would be a lie. And we know what those do to baby Jesuses. I went here on a Saturday with my fiance and my stomach. I'm not a big fan of lunch by nature, but I'd heard and read good things, and I love me a sandwich now and again. So I hopped right in. I had the meatloaf sandwich. It was crunchy and tasty in all the right spots. Dulaney had the asparagus contraption and I sampled that as well. It was surprisingly good, even though asparagus makes your urine stink. Everyone has already written about the neighborhood (old-world charm) and the decor (alt-country threw up in your grandmother's parlor) so I won't. It wasn't busy at all, which would normally induce worry about the future of a place that I'm just learning to enjoy, but it's been there for awhile and everyone seems to rave, so I'm not too concerned. I want to go back soon and try the Bah Mien, which is made out of Vietnamese people, and the curried chicken salad sandwich, which is probably made out of what you think it is... sparrow meat. Mr. Gillis, I'm glad I found you.

    (4)

  • Kris D.

    This place has some seriously excellent sandwiches. the menu changes pretty frequently, but we gave both the pork torta style and curried chicken a try. I have to say, the curried chicken was the best that day. Im excited for my next visit, which will have to be very soon.

    (5)

  • Jose C.

    I haven't been to many neighborhood cafés in KCMO yet, but so far, this is my fav. The atmosphere is rustic and comfortable, the people are fairly friendly, and the food is simple and done very well. I had the BLT (their twist was using sun-dried tomatoes, and the choice of bread--thick toasted sour dough), made the the meal perfect for my "not-so-hungry" brunch appetite. If they only served breakfast past 10:30AM, I probably would have given them another star.

    (4)

  • Benjamin B.

    Loved every single thing I ordered. 1.) Chicken salad sandwich: high quality, very tasty. 2.) White bean soup: uhm god that was so good. 3.) Brownie: light, great chocolate flavors. Count me as a happy patron of Happy Gillis.

    (5)

  • David A.

    I'm not sure why this place got such high ratings. I do have some ideas though: It's not a chain. It's in the Columbus Park neighborhood and kind of off to itself in a residential neighborhood. It seems like it has a lot of regulars that eat inside or outside on the patio. It has a very homey/comfortable feel to it. I had a banh mi (which is a vietnamese meat sandwich), but this one had chicken and was a little different than typical ones I get. It was fine. It wasn't exciting or anything. Would I order it again? Probably not. The staff was very friendly and warm. Prices were decent. Street parking was adequate. They had a couch there that was cool, but you sink right into it :( It was rather busy for a Saturday lunch and people looked pretty happy and talkative there.

    (3)

  • Brent K.

    driving around looking for a new place to try, my wife said this place got good reviews, so i thought, meh, why not. located in the columbus park neighborhood, it was fairly easy to find. looking over their menu however, the options were severly limited. we were kinda looking for breakfast, and this place had a few breakfast sandwiches, biscuits and gravy, and that was about it. the sandwiches for what they were were severely over priced. i had a ham & cheese sandwich that was supposed to come with an egg, which they forgot. my wife's egg, bacon and cheese sandwich was pretty big, but not 10 dollars big. and no sides? i think we'll skip this next time, for what we spent here, we could have gotten a whole lot more food from somewhere else. I'm guessing the people who give this place such high and glowing reviews are rich and don't mind dropping 10 bucks on a breakfast sandwich, but not me, sorry.

    (2)

  • Tj P.

    I love this place.If you like good food you will too. Eclectic, homey, unique, tuna salad is one the best in town. Good bread and flavors are perfect. It is simple, nice and easy. A yes, yes.

    (5)

  • Mina N.

    Happy Gillis always makes for a Happy Mina. I only wish I worked closer, so I could come here for lunch every day. Atmosphere: Reminds of Portland (and oh, man, I heart Portland, Oregon!). The vibe in the place is so ecletic and chill. Need a frame of reference? It reminds me of hanging out anywhere in Lawrence! (I heart Larryville too.) Completely just a great hangout. Unfortunately it can get so comfortable that you might not be able to get a seat (it's not a big place). But the vibe is so "community-friendly" that you would feel completely comfortable sharing a table with complete strangers. The furniture reflects the vibe of the place... they don't match, but they go together harmoniously. Anybody from any walk of life can belong in this place, so goes the decor. Service: The guys behind the counter are completely welcoming and are extremely eager to have you try their food. You can tell there's a passion there. Food: Ah, "delicious" doesn't do it for me. "Sublime" perhaps? Maybe it's the freshness in their product that boosts my endorphine levels, but the flavors and the textures are nothing short of amazing every time. I always get a soup/sandwich combo. And for $8, it's a steal. Their soups are soooo good -- handcrafted soups, with fresh herbs and vegetables -- one of my happiest moments in life was trying Happy Gillis for the first time with their beet gazpacho. I literally have never been happier in my life. Their sandwiches are the perfect partners for their soups. They know how to layer flavors and textures in each of their sandwiches. You'll get a crunch from the crusty bread, shortly followed by the creaminess from the cheese, a little crisp and bitterness from arugula, then saltiness with prosciutto, then a little salt, pepper and olive oil tie it all together before bringing you back to the crusty bread...Wow, excuse me. I need a moment... Seriously, that sensation happens with every trip to Happy Gillis. There is no bad choice on the menu. Every sandwich and every soup will get you to that euphoria described above. It's so simple but so incredibly perfect.

    (5)

  • Anne W.

    Yummmmm. Great lunch spot.

    (4)

  • jennifer j.

    **They now have a liquor license**!!!!!! Can you say mimosa?

    (4)

  • Danielle R.

    Unique sandwiches, good atmosphere , really friendly help. My sandwich was great because it was loaded with new tastes and favors.

    (4)

  • Bryan M.

    Loved the Biscuits and Gravy (thanks FourSquare tip!). Wife got the Bahn Mi, friend got the lettuce wraps and mom got the Nutty Green salad. Everyone was super happy with their choices (fresh and delicious), we got great service and the pink bathrooms are a trip. Highly recommended.

    (4)

  • Deana W.

    This is the kind of place that invites you to come in and help yourself to a cup of coffee. Grab a magazine and relax on the couch, maybe prop your feet up, and have a great conversation. This breed of watering hole draws regulars. People that just keep comin' back to hang out. Kind of a home away from home. The bill of fare is written on a chalk board, divided into breakfast/lunch options. The selections are all familiar, but with some clever twist or ingredient to elevate your experience. You place your order and pay at the front, then find a comfy seat, and your meal will find you. My dining companion chose a turkey club sandwich, made with thick slices of country white bread, lightly toasted, and piled high with ham, juicy turkey, bacon, arugula, tomatoes, and pepper aioli. A steaming hot bowl of Chorizo and black bean soup was added for a mere $4. The soup was the highlight of the meal. Thankfully, he shared so that I did not need to become unduly violent. My brunch of choice was a Croque Madam with a soft egg, made with thick slices of country white bread, ham, Swiss cheese, and coarse, grainy mustard. Unfortunately, the egg was almost completely solid. No beautiful golden runny yolk to dip bites of sandwich into. There was also a lamentable amount of gristle left on my ham. In an effort to placate myself, I decided to obliterate my sorrow in a house made chocolate chip cookie. These chocolate treats were leviathans, packed with walnuts and partially melted chocolate chips. Huge mounds of cookie dough, baked to golden brown and delightful. I can't wait to come back again and try another bowl of soup, or an interesting salad. This unique, homey restaurant is a must try. Come and relax away an afternoon.

    (4)

  • Jen B.

    This is the type of restaurant every neighborhood needs and deserves. The menu was fresh and delicious, appearing to change each day. The servers were great, the decor is comfy (with couches and small tables), and you got the feel that half the people in there knew each other. Appropriately named, this is a true neighborhood hangout. I had half a club sandwich and a bowl of the french onion soup. Both nailed it. My significant other had a chicken salad sandwich and the butternut squash soup. We happily devoured every bite and left as members of the clean plate club. After seeing so many positive reviews of this joint on Yelp, I'm only sorry it took us this long to drag ourselves down to the Columbus Park area to give them a go. We'll definitely be back. The breakfast menu looked entirely too tempting and I watched them make a bloody mary that looked out of this world. We are already looking forward to our next visit.

    (4)

  • Lannette G.

    I ordered the Thai Chicken Lettuce Wrap, it was very tasty. I would of loved to sit outside if it were scorching hot, but def, will try in the fall. I loved the chilax factor inside. It reminded me in a weird way of Central Perk from Friends, but in a much grungier matter. I guess since I'm practically done making it down the list of burgers at Blanc, I need a new project and might just start making it down the list of sandwiches at Happy Gillis. They all look very interesting and inventive. One down...hmmmm not to much to go.

    (4)

  • Farah A.

    I went to Happy Gillis for breakfast club today with all the expectations in the world of greatness from the high marks on Yelp and they were all happily met. Yummy food = YES (Pictures to come) Casual, relaxed atmosphere = YES (bright, cheery!) Friendly service = YES (My clumsy self spilled coffee all over the place, of course. The staff was happy to absolve me of blame and mellow some of my embarrassment). Everyone enjoyed their breakfast including myself. The fresh juice and coffee were also good. The virgin bloody mary (which I still haven't made fun of my friend Kara for getting) and salmon breakfast plate were crowd pleasers. Plates were cleaned off. I was pretty sure Erin was close to licking her place of biscuits & gravy. She raved about them. I didn't try them because of the meat issue, but I was secretly envious. I guess now on Yelp, not so secretly envious. My Happy Gillis breakfast sandwich had awesome bread. I'm not that into bread, but I was definitely into this. This could turn into my regular breakfast spot, ESPECIALLY with the paper table cloths complete with crayons. I love embrace-your-childhood coloring and my friends and I spent the time waiting for our food drawing lovely pictures of turtles in loving memory of my late pet box turtle, Donatello. P.S. Ladies, there is some nice eye candy behind the counter. ;)

    (5)

  • Craig M.

    Its an out of the way quaint neighborhood but a very short drive from downtown. By the looks of the place you would never guess that this is a gourmet eatery. Had an excellent bocadillo there and the soup was wonderful. There's not much room to hangout but if you do you'll find out that the people working there couldnt be nicer. I will definitely go back.

    (4)

  • Lisa K.

    What's not to love about fresh ingredients, ever changing menu and a locally owned establishment off the beaten trail? LOVE their egg salad sandwich (big chunks of egg, not too much mayo or relish on a multi grain bread) and fresh soups! If you're going for lunch get there early as they don't have a lot of inside seating (and with the recent temps in KC being over 100+.. sittting outside is not an option). The menu changes daily and usually includes a fresh soup, sandwich and salad. Order at the counter and they'll bring your lunch to your table. Need more water? Fill up your glass with the pitchers of ice water. Headed there for lunch today and have my fingers crossed they have egg salad. BEST egg salad. Did I mention I love their egg salad?

    (5)

  • Emily H.

    This snazzy little joint has five-star quality, five-star service, and a five-star location. My four-star rating is the result of the annoying and ever-present fact that I am vegan, and I try to reserve my fifth star for those places that threaten my hips with many options. It is tough to stick to my rule with these guys, though... I can easily get by on the hummus tartine, the hummus appetizer, and the vegan soups that come and go, and I have to acknowledge the satisfaction of my omnivorous companions. The attention to details here -- the herbs, the dressings, the greens, the bialies, and the fresh everything -- they are really second to none. Every plate is so freshly prepared, so bursting with flavor, and so photo-quality beautiful. The menu offers such treats as a curried chicken salad sandwich featuring toasted cashews, a banh-mi with grilled chicken, and classics like the BLT (with bacon from Webster City Custom Meats), biscuits and gravy, and homemade granola with yogurt and berries. The happy, delicious all-natural soups are fantastic and a perfect combo of authentic traditional recipes and very creative twists. They serve one at a time there, I think, but they make and sell multiple soups to deliver to your door on Saturdays, offering several items each week, sometimes all soups, sometimes a salad, etc... this service will be intermittent in the summer, which is a shame, since they make some really incredible chilled soups. If you don't know the spot, you will love it on sight. The old Gillis Sundries on Gillis (on honorary Chee-Bay Way) in lovely Columbus Park! It is right under the "Little Italy" on top of Columbus Park Lofts, and you can spot it in a snap by the original Gillis Sundries Coca-Cola sign, if not by the crowd of happy folks on the sidewalk. It is really convenient to drop right in off of Independence Ave. onto Troost, if you aren't coming from the City Market. I like their coffee (which says a lot, if you haven't suffered through me complaining about 95% of the coffee in the world), and I especially enjoy sipping it at a bistro table on the sidewalk and chatting with the neighbors, despite the great music they are always playing inside. So the food and drinks and ambiance are fabulous and all, but the best part of Happy Gillis, by far, is the people. ____________ 7/25/08 update -- I love this place more every time I go.

    (4)

  • Joe M.

    I've been on Yelp for a bit now and up until now have not been inspired yet to write a reveiew. Well that has changed. My good friends and I were on a weekend getaway this past weekend in K.C. Our last stop as we started our journey back to Minneapolis brought us to Happy Giillis for breakfast. I highly suggest "The Biscuit". It was the perfect blend of so many wonderful things. Biscuits and Gravy with three types of meet and a fried egg. WONDERFUL! It put me in a very good mood for the long 7 hour ride home and I will for sure go back the next time I'm in K.C.

    (5)

  • Michael M.

    Great place with great, fresh food with their own twist. Bravo

    (4)

  • Cory K.

    One of my favorite places in Kansas City. The food is amazing and always fresh. I would highly suggest this place to anyone. Love the BLT.

    (5)

  • Kelly A.

    Yum! Went to Happy Gillis for the first time today and it was delicious. Had some beet and chicken soup that was flavorful and hearty, then my husband and I split the chorizo and white bean sandwich and the chicken salad sandwich. Just like Genessee Royale that is owned by the same people, Happy Gillis has delicious food and a fun atmosphere, decorated with antiques and other fun vintage finds. Highly recommend this gem!

    (5)

  • Lung T.

    Very good sandwiches....relax vibe....very local...hidden gem in the Columbus park area

    (4)

  • Scott D.

    Never been disappointed by Happy Gillis. Love their egg salad sandwich. Most recently, at 2 in the afternoon, I had a turkey club and it was incredible! Thick slab of fresh turkey, with ham, cheese, bacon (?!), and what seemed to be sun-dried tomatos! The mushroom soup was good too, with little dumplings in it. My wife had a tasty butternut squash soup with a chicken salad sandwich, -woo-ooo. We tried a day earlier at lunchtime and it was too crowded for me, with a lengthy queue, so that day we went to the Farmhouse instead.

    (5)

  • Dawn K.

    I'm still drooling over my first sandwich from Happy Gillis Cafe and it's been 6 hours! I ordered the Mozzarella, red pepper, pesto sandwich on ciabatta bread. OMG! The flavor and freshness was amazing! My boyfriend ordered the curry chicken sandwich and I can tell you it was divine! I had to have a bite. I wasn't as pleased with my soup but it was still good. It was a squash and lemongrass and that was the only choice. It was on the bland side. The salad my boyfriend got was delicious as well. We decided to share a brownie with walnuts to go. I am also going to have to forget about the brownie because I literally basked in the glorious flavor of my half. I am not a sweets fan, but wished I had my own! I loved the are and the general feel of the staff and patrons. This will be a place we see again!

    (5)

  • Laura R.

    OMG sandwich heaven!! First off, this place is absolutely adorable and charming. I'm a sucker for places with this kind of quirky decor and atmosphere. Loves it. The sandwiches were awesome- I had the torta (I think that's what it was called- it had chicken, avacado, cheese, pico, red kidney beans, cilantro...) and my sweetie had the club. I tried both and they were soooooooooo good. They were a great balance of creativity and comfort food-y feel. Absolutely delicious. I am dying to try the breakfast food at Happy Gillis, which is also supposed to be great. Next time!

    (5)

  • Dallas N.

    We had breakfast here, and while the food quality is delicious, preparation left a little to be desired. Bacon was greasy and undercooked and felt as though it was microwaved. I would stick to their sandwiches. Solid, not great.

    (3)

  • Meredith S.

    Yummy lunch at HG yesterday. The chicken salad sandwich with bacon was outstanding. Adding to the yumminess was the bread. The soup was curried "something" with coconut topped with fresh cilantro. It was very tasty. I loved the way they decorated this old building with so much history. It was relaxing and while it was busy it wasn't noisey. Love the old wood floors! After we ate we took a drive around the "Little Italy" area and really enjoyed seeing all the renovations that are being done in the area. Great place for breakfast or lunch and I will be back next time I'm in the downtown/River Market area. The guy taking orders seemed to not be so happy yesterday but everyone has a bad day once in awhile so I'm not taking any stars off for it. We probably took a little too much time trying to figure out what to order anyway.

    (5)

  • Taylor S.

    You can enjoy the innovative/artsy aura blowing over from the market, but mind you Happy Gillis is on a corner in KC's "little Italy", so the edge of the city is quickly dampered by a warm, homey vibe. So you walk in and think, "oh sandwiches". Common for deli's and after a while they can all start to blend. But this place makes you say, "OH sandwiches". I got the torta which was chicken, their chunky salsa, avocado, cilantro, and queso fresco. I'm a sucker for anything with a latin flavor, and for some reason I usually enjoy a white man's spin on the whole texy, mexy deal. My mom ordered the winter squash sandwich with ricotta cheese and that, too, was amazing. These people are making bad ass meals and sticking it between two pieces of bread and I love it. And so do a lot of other people judging by their line to the door that lasted for an hour. Save room for their jumbo chocolate chip cookie, it is the best cookie I have ever had. Seriously. No, seriously.

    (5)

  • Stephen P.

    Best breakfast place in town. The staff is always wonderful, the ambience is outstanding, and it's a gem of the Columbus Park neighborhood. The menu is focused on about a dozen dishes each for breakfast & lunch, with dishes occasionally changing. It's hard to pin down any specific culinary influences or vibes, but from the biscuits & gravy to croque madame to homemade granola, nothing has disappointed.

    (5)

  • Shana M.

    After reading the rave reviews we decided to make the 45 minute drive to try this quiant little place. I wanted to puke when we arrived @ 1:30 on a Saturday to be told they'd run out of bread AND soup. I am glad they had a great business day but dear God! A sandwich shop running out of bread is like McDonald's running out of hamburgers. I would love to have been writing a review about how great the food was. Instead, I am disappointed.

    (1)

  • Let It B.

    If you're in the mood for some fresh sandwiches for lunch, this is the place. I"m usually not a big fan of sandwiches but I have to say this little hidden gem is very fresh and the people there are very nice. I had the egg salad sandwich, which was served on toast that was toasted perfectly. The egg salad was good, and the serving was perfect sized. My husband had capicola with mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, basil, red pepper and mayo on panini bread. I took a bite and it was DELICOUS. SO delicious we headed over to Costco afterwards and bought all the ingredients to make it. Customers in there were eating soup which looked so good, I'm going to definitely try it next time. Heard the biscuits and gravy is good too! Great find, thanks Yelpers!

    (4)

  • Mike K.

    Ummmm... delicious... Happy Gillis is one of my favorite lunchtime spots. I first discovered Happy Gillis back in the fall of 2008 when I started working downtown. I needed to explore the local culinary scene and found at gem at Happy Gillis, I've been back no less than 20 times. Happy Gillis is tucked away in the northwest corner of Columbus Park - which is just east of the City Market. If you know where Garozzo's is located... this place is just a few blocks away. Happy Gillis is located on the corner of 6th & Gillis - look for the sign that says "Gillis Sundries". And don't go on Monday, they are closed. Happy Gillis is not fancy, the décor is a hodgepodge of mixed chairs and tables and fairly small - I would imagine it seats about 20-25 people. Pictures on the HG website show the place accurately. The menu is excellent - always two daily soup options, one sandwich of the day and of course their normal menu. The food always takes a few minutes to come out (good food almost always does) so take a seat and enjoy the crowd. The menu is pretty diverse, but limited - about a dozen sandwiches, a few salads and the soups. I highly recommend the curried chicken salad with cashews and green salad - excellent. The soups are always excellent as well - even if the flavor is out of your 'comfort zone' I suggest giving it a shot I had the roasted cauliflower soup one day it was incredible (and I'm not a huge cauliflower fan). Whatever you order, you will most likely be Happy Gillis! PS... they also have a good to-go soup business... check out their website for details. The flavors change weekly.

    (5)

  • Wes M.

    A picture is worth 1000 words (unless it's a picture *of* words--so this one is really only worth about 40): static.px.yelp.com/photo… With any luck, they'll immortalize it on their "Wall of Abandoned Art".

    (5)

  • Catherine M.

    My husband and I loved the breakfast here, and the informal atmosphere was very comfortable. Reminded me of a fifties diner only more home-spun. Fun place to go!

    (4)

  • Lindsay H.

    Happy Gillis is everything I want it to be. The food is brilliant, the atmosphere is unique and at the moment I walk out the door I start considering when I can come back. The food is not too stuffy but extremely artful and creative. Picky eaters and hard core foodies can co-exist here. This restaurant is the cream of Kansas City.

    (5)

  • Mary R.

    Awesome place!! Went there for Sunday brunch recently with a friend. Was pleasantly surprised when I walked in to see this place was very laid back and casual. We ordered the homemade granola with fruit and yogurt. The granola was great. Very flavorful. And there was plenty of fruit with good seasonal variety. I ordered the Keller-esque (sp) breakfast sandwich while my friend got the egg sandwich on a bagel along with a half order of biscuits and gravy. The two of us split the sandwiches, which was perfect. The Keller was delicious. I don't know what type of seasoned bacon was on the sandwich, but the bacon made the whole thing come together. The biscuits and gravy was awesome too. They used Italian sausage which made it a very unique flavor. The bagel sandwich was excellent. They put a Vermont White Cheddar on there which was out of this world. Would highly recommend this restaurant. Cute atmosphere. Very nicely decorated; partly by patrons' art work that you can work on while you eat. The only minor draw back, was that we had a hard time finding it. That could have just been our fault though. It's in a wonderfully small, Italian neighborhood that neither was of us was familiar with, so there ya go.

    (5)

  • Carolyn W.

    My husband I arrived at Happy Gillis around 11:30am on a Saturday. The cafe is unusually furnished with unmatching chairs & tables. The feel is very warm and welcoming. You order at the counter off a blackboard of different items. My hubby had the cuban and LOVED it. I had a small taste of the pork & ham and they were outstanding. I had the banh mi sandwich which was marinated chicken, cilantro, greens, etc., on a ciabata roll. It was delicious - the flavors jumped out. The only reason I am not giving Happy Gillis five stars is the young man that took our order was obviously in a hurry and did not ask what we would like for drinks or offer a side (like chips) with the sandwich. I got the impression they were very busy so maybe short staffed? By the time we left, all the seats were filled and people waiting to order. Definitely a happenin' corner hangout. I look forward to a trip back and trying another sandwich or maybe experience their breakfast.

    (4)

  • Jared H.

    Great sandwich spot for lunch! Delicious filling sandwiches. Original menu. Fast friendly service.

    (5)

  • L L.

    This is one of the best little spots in Kansas City. Really! I have filed it right in my list of favorites. If they have Butternut Squash with Chorizo soup when you visit, try it. It's unexpectedly delicious! The staff is as welcoming and helpful as you can get, and cute to boot. :]

    (5)

  • Rhonda N.

    We heard such great things about Happy Gillis we decided to drop in one Saturday morning a few weeks ago. LOVE the neighborhood. LOVE the atmosphere. Food? Our entrees were not quite so/so. The eggs were overdone and greasy and delivered hours of indigestion. I've had worse, once, at a Huddle House in Wetumpka Alabama. 'nuff said. Service? Lovely, if you enjoy being barked at when you ask if there's more coffee (the self-serve air pot was empty). Friendly? Not at all. All in all, an "OTO" (one time only) in our book.

    (1)

  • Kurrer B.

    Oh, I wanted to love this place. Being from Portland, the uncontested hipster sandwich joint incubator, I longed for a piece of my former home. But, alas, I was very, very, very disappointed. First off, how do KC hipsters afford this fare on their meager coffee shop wages? Ten dollars for something the size of a KFC snacker sandwich (a steal at 1.29) is not my ideal of a bargain and I don't care how much free-range protein is stuffed between the craft buns (there isn't much, so don't get your hopes up). I also found a straight, red hair in my sandwich box today, but didn't speak up because I had zero desire to fight with a hipster about how it couldn't have been mine. My biggest complaint, however, is with the flavors. They were not delicious or innovative or bold or anything that I would want to pay 38 dollars for three people to revisit again. If the food was good, I would be back. We are in the neighborhood often because of the seriously good Vietnamese food around the corner. But, this little shop is a like a crazy poser in high school. And, I'm not buying it. I wish I hadn't today. Boo.

    (1)

  • melissa e.

    I LOVE Happy Gillis! I do happen to know one of the chefs, so it might look as if my opinion is a bit biased, but I truely do!! Infact, I even played hookey from work on a snow day just so I could go eat there with my husband! My fav is the cuban, which I am sad to say is only a seasonal item. Although, if you ask nicely they might be able to make you a pretty close version of it. This has become our new Sunday ritual. We meet up with friends for brunch, and it's the highlight of my week!!

    (5)

  • Kevin K.

    Happy Gillis Cafe has one of the best vibes in all of Kansas City. Located in the Columbus Park Neighbourhood, which looks and feels more like an ethnic enclave in Boston than Kansas City - this locally owned place is wonderful. I have never had a bad meal and I am constantly impressed with the variety in the menu. The soups are definitely stand outs, constantly changing, but always amazing. The curried butternut squash soup is the second best soup I have enjoyed in my entire life. I highlight recommend this place. The vibe is warm and you feel like you are dining in an old friend's living room. The one drawback is the limited seating which can lead to awkward situations hovering over 2 people sitting at a table for 4.

    (4)

  • Greg N.

    An absolutely perfect place for lunch. Everything is outstanding, service is great, the guys running this place know exactly what they are doing...the soups are always perfect, the meatloaf sandwich is outstanding. I could eat here once a week, and usually do in the summer!

    (5)

  • Laura M.

    happy gillis is a tasty sandwich shop. i had half a sandwich with asparagus and goat cheese and a salad. it was a good light lunch. the atmosphere at happy gillis is really nice, if a bit hipstered out, with nice tables and cool art.

    (4)

  • James C.

    Yes, I finally not only got a first review, but actually added a place to the site! Father, I have become a man. So anyway, I heard about this place on the web and decided to give it a visit. It's kinda like "You Say Tomato", and oddly enough the week I went they mentioned that fact in the new review by the Pitch. It's small and quaint, and run by a friendly guy and a team of hip dudes with beards and Weezer glasses, at least when I went. Allegedly they are known for their soups, of which that is a food category I am not a huge fan of. Just don't care for them. I can talk about their excellent, if small portioned apple cake, and their huge variety of sandwiches. The BLT is pretty damn dynamite, and as much as I wanted to try the meatloaf, I went with the cuban. While tasty, it didn't quite have a ton in it, so maybe I just caught them on a miserly day or something. Why the four stars? Well, they have a nice variety, very cool interior, friendly service, and plus they're local and independent, which you always have to support. Don't be fooled by Subway people! Sure, they're five dollars... but they're also full of people. Subway sandwiches are peeeeooopppllleee!!! RIP, Chuck Heston.

    (4)

  • Lisa S.

    This place is so great on a few levels. Personally, I lived in this area as a very small child, and the building itself used to be called Chee Bays. My father first saw my mother there and proclaimed that "he would marry that girl someday" He usually did what he said he would:) and did. Now, its Happy Gillis, and oh what a treat. I want to try EVERYTHING! I have been 3 times, and wow, I am more impressed each time I go. Even if you don't have room after the generous sandwiches, get a chocolate cookie to go. They are in a class all their own. Two thumbs up, and thanks guys for giving a historical place more history!!

    (5)

  • Eric N.

    Went here for breakfast after reading all of the reviews. We were in KC for a BBQ tour, and this offered a nice break in the action. I'm from Baltimore, and am not familiar with the Columbus Park area. It seems like a quirky neighborhood, just on the verge of maybe being iffy. That being said, it was in no way unsafe, and the location of this place was pretty cool. Placed on the corner of a serene block, with outdoor seating, it was just the ticket for a quiet breakfast. Service is provided inside, where you place your order, and the food is brought to you after being prepared. I ordered the croque monsieur, which is prepared with ham, swiss, toast, and an egg on top. The twist to this classic was whole grain mustard and cracked black pepper inside the sandwich. The egg on top was a nice touch as well. It was the best I've ever had. The coffee was unlimited, and very good. The staff was very friendly and attentive. The entire experience was simply excellent.

    (5)

  • C C.

    We loved every part of this place. The atmosphere made my wife and I reconsider our life trajectory and we nearly convinced ourselves to open a knock off in our hometown by the end of the meal. Comfortable, interesting, and simple menu done well. Kudos!

    (5)

  • Mark W.

    Trusting the reviews of some respected Yelpers, we had to give the place a shot. I had the half sandwich, which was more like a whole, and a bowl of roasted tomato soup ($8). I tried the "Not your Mom's Meatloaf" sandwich with white cheddar and a slice of tomato. It was excellent. The soup was a very good, thick soup. Overall very pleased with our experience. It is quaint and off the beaten path, and oozes with small-town charm. I get a little leery of restaurants that border along ladies-only sandwich shops with fufu, weird sandwiches, but this place is every bit coed. The three men behind the counter know how to serve up interesting food. We'll definitely be back to try more of the menu offerings. Exciting news!.....They have another restaurant in the works on Gennessee St. across from The Livestock Exchange building. Bring it on. We desperately need more choices in the West Bottoms.

    (4)

  • John N.

    Happy Gillis is one of those quaint neighborhood eateries that serves delicious homemade breakfast foods and notably tasty soups, salads and sandwiches. Hearty and high quality with few to no processed ingredients or fast food shortcuts taken. It's run by Todd and Tracy Schulte (I am making the assumption Tracy's last name is Schulte). Todd's a full-blown chef (culinary school grad) with restaurant kitchen experience, but who has apparently figured out that running his own little soup service and neighborhood restaurant is far more fulfilling than fighting through the chefs' rat race. I hear chefs claim, often, that they put a lot of love in their food, but I've never truly experienced that any more than I do in what Todd dishes out at Happy G (he's been there, cheerily cooking and chatting with guests, every time I've gone). The restaurant has a homey quality few places could ever hope to achieve. Upon entering, diners find themselves standing beside comfortable old (but tasteful) couches, chairs and a coffee table covered with reading material, perfect for a pleasant wait if the tables are all full once you've placed your order. The dining room is unfortunately small, but I've never been served my food before I was able to snatch an open seat. There is also a shallow counter near the entrance looking out onto the street that's a bit cramped, but fun if you're alone or with just one other person. The walls are a funky green color, the furniture is vintage/second-hand, the menu boards are chalk board. It's got a great, unique vibe to it. And now that the weather is nicer, you can even choose to sit at one of three sidewalk tables. Reading through the menus is an exciting foray itself. Everything sounds good. On past trips, I've had the egg salad, curried chicken salad with cashews, and Plain Jane (turkey) sandwiches. All were delicious. On one of my recent trips, it was a rainy day in the budding spring and I felt like one last wintry meal was in order, so I had Tracy's Meatloaf. I rate this high on my life's list of best decisions. "Tracy's Meatloaf" is a meatloaf panini with a kick. I was thrilled with the fact that the bread, after having been pressed and grilled, was thinner than the weighty cuts of hot meatloaf inside. Tells you something about HG's philosophy of serving the best-possible-tasting sandwich, not cutting corners for the sake of cost. So despite few other toppings, this is still quite a substantial and filling meal. What toppings it does have are unique but perfectly suited to my tastes: the white cheddar cheese had a delightful stretchy quality to it and nice sharp saltiness. For a little kick, thinly sliced rings of fresno peppers (think red jalapeno) were layered on top. Sweet, a little crunchy and a little spicy, they were an ingenious addition. And for moisture and a more classic sandwich taste, good dijon mustard was detectable through its slight tartness. Recently, I've also enjoyed the banh mi, which is a Vietnamese-style baguette sandwich. The stars of this sandwich are two huge pork meatballs which, in a traditional baguette, would tend to get squeezed out, or just wouldn't fit inside, period. These meatballs are deliciously flavored (great call using all pork), sweet/savory protein spheres. Chomping down on one fulfills a primordial, inborn human desire like few other foods can. Offsetting the rich meat are sweet-marinated carrots, sliced cucumber, radish and brightly flavored cilantro. And the bread picks up a little of the gooey, spicy hoisin from the meatballs for added moisture. You just can't find a sandwich like this hardly anywhere else in town, so you've got to go try it. We also ordered a bowl of HG's Italian lentil soup with sausage. This hearty bowl was a great match for my meatloaf sandwich, thick, deeply flavored and satisfying. The soups at HG are a little on the pricey side, but take it from a cheapskate - they're worth it. They're all truly delicious. Happy Gillis actually hangs their hat on their soups, above all. Their website, happysoupeater.com , allows visitors to register and sign up for weekly soup deliveries. I'm not yet a member but can only imagine the euphoria of finding my new gift of soup waiting on my doorstep... especially when it tastes as good as theirs. The only knocks on Happy Gillis are the slightly high price/portion ratio and the occasional lackluster salad. (they could do slightly better on their salads, given relatively high prices for them). On service and atmosphere, it gets top marks. Make your stomach and your soul happy soon with a trip to Happy Gillis.

    (4)

  • Briana O.

    Cute little homemade coffee cup in hand, sitting on an antique orange crushed velvet chair, I enjoyed a delicious Croque Madame this morning at brunch at Happy Gillis Cafe. I've read about this little place on Yelp a bunch (thanks guys!) so when a friend was in from out of town and wanted to meet for Sunday brunch I decided to try it out! She had the Gillis Breakfast sandwich, which also looked amazing! I'm excited to go back and try this place again, and again. There were a couple of ladies sipping bloody marys that looked pretty good! Their baked goods looked scrumptious too....I wish tomorrow as another Sunday so I could go back! The staff was also very friendly, which always makes me happier to go back and visit again!

    (5)

  • Mad C.

    I love this joint- makes me want to move to the Columbus Park hood. I love the way it looks. I love their beet soup and Vietnamese chicken sandwich (can't remember the proper name). I love Izze soda and I'm sure I would love their dessert if I'd had any. I want to go back for breakfast tomorrow. Love it.

    (5)

  • Timothy G.

    Oh my word, this is such a quaint, eclectic and urban place all in one. Love the meatloaf sandwich as well as the cuban pork sandwich. Yummy! I'll be back to try some breakfast items!

    (4)

  • Edward L.

    great fresh food. But bring your credit card cause it will cost ya.

    (4)

  • Philip A.

    Happy Gillis is great for lunch or breakfast on the weekends. The food is always creative without being contrived, and rich and delicious without being overwhelming. The service is great, the atmosphere is laid back, and you feel like you're eating in a friend's dining room. The rotating menus are always good, but if you find something you love, you may be disappointed to come back a few months later and have it be off the menu for the season. Overall a great lunch spot, and I will continue to come back

    (5)

  • Betts C.

    I have to add on to my previous review, because we did go back to Happy Gillis. Yes, about four days later. For lunch. And it was so not a letdown. It's like a perfect relationship, where each thing I try, I worry it will be a disappointment, and instead, I only love it more. And frightened as I am to just keep trying, I'm pretty positive I will have to move through the entire menu in order to be fully satisfied. But we made good progress on that today, as we tried the Beet Gazpacho, which absolutely blew my mind. I have to keep remembering that beets and I are only celebrating our year anniversary, as prior to that, I thought I hated the poor, beautifully pink vegetable. Now I regularly sacrifice the skin on my hands to their dye in order to make myself beety things. But it's even better when that sacrifice is someone else's, and it's near perfection when that is a soup that tastes lightly beet-y. It's not like cold borscht; it's sort of cucumber and bell peppery alongside the beets, and it's phenomenally tasty. We also had to try multiple sandwiches, so we shared the seemingly famous meatloaf sandwich. This really isn't you mama's meatloaf, as it's got some crunch to it through carrots, and is sliced thinly with some cooked tomato and wedged onto really good ciabatta bread. We also sampled the curry chicken salad, which is just mayo-y enough without being overwhelming, and the Thai hot sauce that's added makes for a mouthwatering good sweet and spicy combination. Let's just put it this way: I'm convinced. I will no longer get lost on the way to Happy Gillis; I will instead wear that path down. Ernest Hemingway the Jetta will be able to get there without my assistance pretty soon, because I'm ready to just keep coming back for more. And once again, the service was flawless. I mean, there isn't waiter service, but the gentlemen today did an excellent job and making sure we had what we needed without being overbearing, and never once were we lacking in anything. And again, the coffee is serve-yourself in the cutest bloody mugs in the world. This was a day when I needed a lot of coffee, so... Again, silly as it sounds, finding new places like Happy Gillis is like starting a new relationship. But it's like discovering your childhood connections with someone when you've only known them minutes. It's that magic thing that comes when everything is just going so right. I'm really hoping Happy Gillis continues to please. The hot pink bathroom has me pretty convinced it will.

    (5)

  • Katherine J.

    This place is really cute and fun. We really enjoyed our meal here. The people were very nice and helpful and the food was delicious. They stop serving breakfast rather early on weekends which kinda narrows the choices. It's a small menu but I'd rather go to a place that does a few things really well than a lot of things not so great. I definitely will come back!

    (5)

  • Alicia J.

    My sister the elite yelper told me about this place. Which you will now find me almost every weekend. I love, this place. They are friendly and their food is always amazing! No matter what i have ordered it has always been wonderful and the staff and owners really care about making you happy. You can find hip urban couples old and young and family's, (but the hip kind not the annoying loud ones you would find at a chain restaurants that throw food all over the floor).

    (4)

  • Kasey G.

    This place was pretty darn good. I had the granola with fresh strawberries, blue berries, yougurt, walnuts, and almonds. It was a very good light breakfast and was just $5. The coffee they charged $2.36 for but you could fill up your cup as many times as you want. So my whole breakfast was like $7.85 which is pretty cheap. They don't have any waiters just one guy behind the counter who takes your order. My friend had their bisquits and gravy which were also just $5 and he thought they were good as well. They have about 8 breakfast items to choose from and about 10 items on the lunch menu. I want to try the breakfast sandwich next time. It reminds me of a cozy coffee shop I would recommend it.

    (4)

  • Tracey H.

    Great breakfast place for a LIGHT yet satisfying breakfast! They also provide a little hair of the dog via GREAT Bloody Mary's and local Boulevards brews.

    (4)

  • Mark H.

    Best breakfast ever!

    (5)

  • victoria l.

    We are always looking for little one of a kind jewels----this is definitely one! Though small, the menu is so awesome it is difficult to choose!! Very fresh, very good. Friendly and inviting,but almost like eating at home..Only BETTER!!!

    (5)

  • Ben W.

    I loved this place. We were looking for a good breakfast on our way through KC. Stopped and met some friends here. I had the Biscuits and Gravy - amazing!!! My friend had the breakfast BLT. It looked like one of the best (with an egg to boot) and he raved about it. Serve yourself coffee. Nice place all around and the neighborhood is great.

    (4)

  • Cris M.

    Have eaten here for lunch several times. I have tried several sandwiches. The meatloaf- the bread makes this sandwich (I'm a bread lover). If you eat the meatloaf by itself it's just ok but with all the components, the sandwich is really good. Have also had the curried chicken sandwich, which was also good. The ricotta, asparagus sandwich surprised me. The buttery richness of the ricotta with the other components was really quite good. Fresh and different. The breads on all the sandwiches are awesome. Again, I am a big bread person. The soups I've had are wonderful and what really makes them are the garnishes. Last time was a tomato with a goat cheese garnish. The time before that was a curried tomato with a cilantro, pistachio, pesto. Delish. The cookies were good also. Would definitely recommend.

    (4)

  • Andria N.

    Yum! Happy Gillis makes me feel like I am back home in Portland.....meaning good local and sustainable food. I get their soup delivery and have not received anything that I regretted ordering. It's worth the price and they use quality and local ingredients. Their sandwiches are also amazing! You cannot go wrong with anything you order!

    (4)

  • Tom G.

    Hands down the best BLT, best chicken salad and soup in the metropolitan area!

    (5)

  • Chuck F.

    I really enjoyed this place. Which is why I'm writing the review. I had the fresh mozzarella sandwich. Very good. And some lemonade. I'll definitely be going back.

    (4)

  • Kelli S.

    This is a cute little restaurant in a very unique neighborhood. The menu isn't extensive, but it has great variety. The meatloaf sandwich and potato soup were pretty darn good and the ricotta and roasted butternut squash sandwich was refreshing. I'm told the menu changes every 3-4 months so there's a reason to keep going back! Seating is hard to come by during prime eating hours, but the staff does their best to turn the tables quickly.

    (4)

  • Debbie K.

    nothing will disappoint. but always, ALwaYs finish your meal with a cup of coffee and a chocolate chip cookie.

    (5)

  • Bradd S.

    Great breakfast this past Sunday. The folks who run this spot clearly care about their food and service. We will definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Christine B.

    This is the best little lunch place in town! I almost don't want to review it because I want to keep it all to myself! The soups are absolutely phenomenal. They can compete with any of the fanciest restaraunt soups in town. but sometimes, I can't resist the vietnamese banh mi sandwich or the chicken curry sandwich- these are my two favorite sandwiches in town. My husband swears by the cuban though. I love to go to the farmers market on the weekend and then swing by this place for lunch. I have never been disappointed! Don't forget they are closed on Monday

    (5)

  • Breanna N.

    We found this place on yelp while visiting KS for an arenacross race! It was great. Cute little place. I got salmon on avocado toast (I know it was called something else but I don't remember the name lol). It was delicious! Boyfriend got the breakfast sandwich. He loved the fresh bread and the bacon that was used. It was very crunchy and thick cut. We also got a half order of biscuits and gravy to share based on reviews and it was a WONDERFUL choice! By far the best we've had and we have eaten a lot of biscuits and gravy. We will definitely come agin if we find ourselves in Kansas City. :)

    (5)

  • Chay S.

    The Asian Pulled Pork sandwich was on point. Apparently all ingredients are sourced from local farmers and to my surprise the house made kimchi was spectacular. My girlfriend had the Smoked Trout on an open faced pumpernickel slice. While tasty it was forgettable but good nonetheless. Another little gem tucked away in a small neighborhood. Hopefully I'll be able to try their breakfast sometime soon.

    (4)

  • Michael A.

    Had a very nice brunch here with my wife. I had the breakfast sandwich and she had the date bacon sandwich with a kale Caesar salad with anchovies. Wow! I loved stealing bites from her plate. Never had a kale ceased salad but this was amazing. Not only did I feel healthier eating it but I am a huge anchovy fan. Great mix of flavors and textures. And her sandwich...wicked. The mix of dates and bacon reminded my palate of bacon wrapped dates. To top it off the owner/manager came over and asked us how everthing was. He was very genuine with a kind hand on the back...made us feel very welcome. Will definitely hit this place up again.

    (5)

  • Isaac B.

    Fantastic food and service. This is one of my favorite places in Kansas City and simply another reason to love living here. The BLT and breakfast sandwich are to die for. I love that they make everything in small orders. You can tell their ingredients are fresh and it really shines with everything served on the menu. I don't what's the best thing to get on the menu in all honesty. The biscuits and gravy are a must, but so is the breakfast sandwich and the pickled pork tongue. Just do what I did and try everything in about 2-3 visits haha Cheers

    (5)

  • Erica F.

    Thank you for bringing back the pimento cheese sandwich!! Had this for lunch yesterday & it was superb. Paired with the amazing soup offered, I was not disappointed.

    (5)

  • Jennifer M.

    I've only tried their cookie here because they stop serving breakfast at 11AM on weekdays. I've only had a few potato chip cookies, but I must say this wins. The cookie is made of oats and chocolatey goodness (and not too sweet) with crushed potato chips on top. Perfect chewiness to it! In a quaint and quiet neighborhood and friendly service!

    (4)

  • Jessica K.

    So, so good! We had the breakfast sandwich with grains galore... amazing. Parking was easy, customer service was great, and the establishment was really nice and clean. Highly recommend and will always remember this nice, little restaurant on the corner!

    (5)

  • Barbara S.

    Want to go to one of the most hipster lunch spots in town? my friend asked me once. What a ridiculous question. Of course I do. So we went. The first time, there was snow on the ground. This is a corner building in a neighborhood with no parking lot so parking was a bit dicey. Sometimes you can find nice, close spots. Sometime you'll walk for a while. Also, it is pricey. The yelp page says "under $10" which sounds nice until you realize everything is $9-12 and doesn't really come with a side. I got a grilled mushroom and cheese sandwich once with a bag of chips and a beverage and it was $15, Yikes. But all the food is locally sourced so at least your money is supporting something good. And the food is good. To be sure, it's fancy/hipster/foodie breakfast and lunch food. I probably wouldn't bring my Quick-Trip Hot-Dog loving father here, I'll say that. He probably wouldn't know what to do with chicken liver mouse or Asian pulled pork or a kale Cesar salad. He's not a foodie. As with any popular, tiny restaurant, seating can be hard to come by when it gets busy. I enjoy their tables out on the sidewalk. It's nice to sit and watch the world go by. And last but not least, my favorite part about this place: :::drum roll::: they have Broadway Cafe coffee. Brownie points from this reviewer for carrying one of her favorite coffee beans. Kudos.

    (4)

  • Gregory C.

    Not great, just okay. Had the Breakfast Sandwich and Biscuits & Gravy. Satisfying but not outstanding. And I'm not a fan of ordering at the counter and then finding a seat to be served my food. Nor am I a fan of fetching my own coffee and water. .

    (3)

  • Bonny H.

    This place is so unique. The food was amazing and the neighborhood dog made breakfast so much more fun.

    (5)

  • Shawn M.

    Hipsters make great food. Had the breakfast sandwich and coffee. It's worth the #1 ranking it has on yelp for reviews.

    (5)

  • Melissa C.

    We came for a late brunch and enjoyed the biscuits and gravy, Benedict special, salmon special and the iced coffee was amazing! The seating area was limited but by the time our food came we all had been seated (6 of us).

    (5)

  • Alannah S.

    Absolutely the best biscuits and gravy! The coffee is top notch as well! Very nice ambience over all. Friendly staff and quick service, we will be back!

    (5)

  • Katie W.

    What a cool place! Sidewalk seating with my favorite biscuits and gravy...ever! *high five*

    (5)

  • John M.

    Being from Houston, I've been fairly disappointed with the BBQ here... But I would have to say, these were the best biscuits and gravy I've ever had!!! I plan on taking all my friends that visit me here.

    (5)

  • L B.

    Pros: good food, easy to get a table, convenient location, friendly staff, reasonable prices Cons: limited menu items

    (4)

  • Vicky T.

    my friend was in love with the egg consistency and texture in the gritts we ordered. Two thumbs up for its local menu options.. I got the bacon-date sandwich, which, I personally was not a big fan of the saltiness of the bacon, however, this is articulated by one with a palette for light eating. I guess they are popular for their biscuit and gravy with a side of bacon? Oh, yes.. my friend was taken with the bacon too. thick, chewy but not soft slices. eat them up! I wish they would serve a more substantial portion for the price we pay.. that is my only set-back. Still hungry after my sandwich.. more salad would have been nice to refresh every bite too. anyway, give this place a try if you are searching for something American Cuisine-savory. take a friend, but maybe not three (limited indoor seating; packed the two hours we stuck around).

    (4)

  • Susan C.

    The food was great but overpriced with no side option. The setup of the restaurant was you walk in, order and pay...and then you have to fight for a table while you wait for your food, which can take upwards of 15-20 minutes. Sometimes, the workers will walk around and ask if other people can share a table with you. So you sit awkwardly and try not to listen to other patron's conversation going on less than 10 inches away from you. It's very homey but sometimes I felt it was TOO homey. I'd go again though...just because of the food though, obviously...

    (3)

  • Sarah T.

    This place is a hidden gem in Kansas City. I've only been for lunch but have always enjoyed my meals there. Try to go earlier as it is a small place that fills up fast!

    (5)

  • Lee P.

    What an amazing sandwich. How do you take an egg salad sandwich and kick it up. Ask happy. They pulled it off. Nothing fancy just a small place on the corner but wow was it good. I want to come back for breakfast.

    (5)

  • Courtney G.

    Very cute little cafe with a walk up counter to order. 5 things on the breakfast menu, we got two of them the breakfast sandwich with egg, cheddar and bacon on toast and the biscuits and gravy with delicious chunks of sausage in the gravy. The food is all fresh and locally sourced. The staff was friendly and I wouldn't change a thing.

    (5)

  • Christina R.

    I would love to wax poetic about how much I love happy gillis but I have been rendered speechless this morning by the glorious deliciousness of the breakfast burrito with sweet potato. Yes, breakfast burrito with sweet potato. This is the kind of yum that occurs when small business owners are passionate about delivering interesting, delicious and fresh food to this great little community. P.S. - don't forget the Valentina salsa P.S.S. - totally digging this weeks coffee offering

    (5)

  • Michael J.

    Comfy little farm to table restaurant featuring deliciously prepared entrees with a sweet bang-for-your-buck. Great neighborhood to mosey around after breakfast or lunch!

    (5)

  • Jimmi H.

    Recently Happy Gillis Cafe & Hangout came under new ownership and, in my opinion, got even better. The husband and I first began going to Happy Gillis when we first started dating over five years ago and he lived in Columbus Park. I love looking back to our midwinter walks over to the Cafe for lunch or sometimes just to grab a snack and coffee (ya know, hangout). One of my favorite parts of this little eatery is how intimate it is, how cozy it always feels. Now with our new owners, all of that has stayed, plus the food is better and there are some great new touches (like hand made coffee mugs). On my recent visit I tired their BLT with egg. Holy moly! Definitely on my favorite sandwiches of KC list! Their menu is chalked full of dishes and their counters are stacked high with baked goods, all of which I'm excited to try. A must have is their coconut chocolate brownies! Two of my favorite flavors shoved into one of my favorite modes of nosh ( the fist being cake, and I personally know for a fact that if there is ever cake at Happy Gillis, it will be one of the best you have ever eaten!). Everyone should know that if you go on a weekend, be prepared for a quick line. Only further proof that this hangout is a local favorite!

    (5)

  • Cass K.

    Having the internet in the palm of my hand made me very happy, because we were able to find Happy Gillis for a lunch stop during a long road trip. The food at Happy Gillis is fresh, prepared from scratch, locally sourced, and delicious! We had a pork confit sandwich, salad of the day and soup of the day. The pork confit sandwich was served on crusty, fresh made bread and the apple butter, pickled fennel and walnuts provided a great balance of flavor. The soup was fresh and balanced, and the salad was a treat of lightly dressed mixed "weeds" full of fascinating leaf shapes with distinct flavors. The service was friendly and we're now thinking of ways to get back to Kansas City, just so that we can eat here.

    (5)

  • Mary B.

    I am so glad Farmhouse had the doors locked even with the open sign on so that we went in search of our second choice (only bc it was farther away) Happy Gillis! Such a great little place! We lucked out in our timing and got ordered and found a place to seat right away. Really cute quirky place where you order at the counter and they bring the food to you. Lots of old kitchen tables and mismatched chairs, cute. I had the breakfast burrito which was by far the best breakfast burrito I have ever had such great fresh ingredients all locally grown and raised. They even list the farms they work with on a chalk board on the wall. The staff was very friendly and talkative. Food was quick, fresh and made to order. Love it wish I had time to go back! They have a fairly small menu but it all looked excellent! Go, try it!

    (5)

  • Amanda S.

    I had the privilege of trying this adorable breakfast/lunch spot last month with a long-time friend. While the restaurant and menu is small, the hospitality and delicious food make waiting for a table all worth it. I couldn't resist the biscuits and gravy with a (heaping) side of bacon. My friend tried the fruit-topped oatmeal. Delicious and filling meal. Soft, fluffy biscuits and a well-seasoned sausage gravy. Large hand-sculpted cups of coffee made the chilly November morning a warm and cozy delight.

    (4)

  • Greta W.

    Lunch. Heaven. This is a low-key, no-frills lunch joint. There will be no server fawning over you. There will be probably not be an open table during the peak times. There will not be super fast service. That's what Mcdonalds is for. The small menu means fresh, seasonal ingredients. Everything I've tried here (even the vegetarian options, which I am morally opposed to) has been satisfying, flavorful, and DELISHUS. I am usually sad when they change the menu and invariably get rid of my favorite sandwich, but it doesn't matter because the new stuff is just as tasty. Half a sandwich and soup/salad is $10. Portions are not massive, but I have NEVER walked away hungry.

    (5)

  • Jin K.

    Love this place!! Can't say enough about the quality food they serve. Everything I have ever tried there, breakfast or lunch has been tremendous! I just had the pulled pork sammy w/ smoked chili kimchi & wow! I was a bit skeptical being Korean, I wondered if the kimchi would be any good? The kimchi was fermented nicely & cooked a little bit to blend amazingly w/ the pork. Man, I can't wait to have it again. Also the beet salad was tasty as well! Sweet dressing w/ the tangy pickled beets is a nice mix. It's too bad they don't do dinner but why ruining a good thing? So glad this place exists, need to try everything on the menu!

    (5)

  • Lauren V.

    We stopped here on our way back home to Minnesota! We passed a few spots and wanted to drive out of Kansas City, within a couple of clicks on yelp...we were lead to this little spot. We didn't have too many expectations because we were in a hurry to choose as we were going about 75 miles an hour up 35W! We are so glad we stopped! First of all, we don't know too much about Kansas City or Missouri...but this place is in a "cute" neighborhood. We walked in, and it was about 6 tables full of people engaged in conversation and seemed to be regular-esque, hipsters-esque people who just appreciate "good" and "healthy" food. We ordered at the counter and waited for a table. A guy offered to share his table with us, as that seems to be the vibe. All the mismatched tables seat four...and people are so friendly within those four walls, we were hoping someone would ask! And they did! We got our own coffee and water, which was nice...it wasn't a cafeteria style place...just a cute hole in the wall. A table went open and the hostess/waitress/cook let us know we could take it! They had such a good sense of awareness of what was going on on those 6 tables. We ordered a south of the border inspired dish and the breakfast sandwich to split. Everything, bite after bite was fresh...delicious... my boyfriend and I went back and forth between our dishes, and there wasn't anything negative I could comment about anything. It just tasted "fresh." Which rightfully so, as everything seems to be local, organic, and made to order. Would recommend over again.

    (4)

  • Eric V.

    Pretty good place to go for lunch. I had the smoked salmon, the flavors were all there but the salmon itself was a little too fishy. Breakfast sandwich taste pretty good though.

    (3)

  • Josel B.

    OMG. This place is so cute. I love this chill hipster place! Would never have found it if it weren't for yelp! Anyway, it's close to where I live and work, so perfect location to eat at after a long night of work :) Got greeted by really nice workers there. I loved their outfits haha, the workers were so friendly and looked liked they just shopped at urban outfitters...so stylish yet casual. Anyway...the menu didn't contain too many things, which is nice. Sometimes it's better to have a small selection of quality food instead of an overwhelming menu that makes it hard for you to order within the next 2-3 minutes. I was ecstatic to see that they had the traditional breakfast of eggs, toast, and bacon! It was delicious. It was not too greasy. I hate coming out of breakfast places feeling like I ate a tub of lard. The cutest things they had there were their homemade mugs for coffee and tea. The whole ambiance there was great. They had a lot of artwork on the wall that looked like they were made by kids which gave the place a lot of personality. It was vintage meets the imagination of our youth today. I will need to come back here soon! I want to try their omelets and their different teas. Happy Eating!

    (5)

  • Travis S.

    Freaking amazing food ! Just had half soup half sandwich which was their meatloaf sandwhich (best tasting meatloaf I've had in awhile, chunks of veggies inside and a kick of spicy sauce) , and their blackbean soup. Delicious. You Say Tomato is still one of my favorites but Happy Gillis is a close second

    (5)

  • Laura H.

    This is the restaurant that others have to beat when it comes to deciding where we go. "We could go to ____." "Yeah, but Happy Gillis though." "Dammit. HG wins again." Literally never disappoints. Order anything off the menu and it will be fresh, so delicious and made with consideration. Also - the nicest people work there!

    (5)

  • Chad N.

    Wow! I just found this cafe. Everything you could want in a cafe. Roasterie coffee. Killer menu & ingredients, great wifi. They nailed the decor in the place. From floor to ceiling.

    (5)

  • Drinky C.

    The food is amazing, and the folks running it are super sweet. The menu's simple, but eclectic. Absolutely delicious.

    (5)

  • Rick W.

    Went on a Sunday for brunch. The place was busy not packed. I ordered the special which was pulled pork and black beans with tortillas. It took longer than it should have for the food to come out considering this was surely premade. I ordered a mimosa (I think) to go along with it . Overall the group decided the food was fairly marginal especially considering how expensive the meal was. My dish was around 10 bucks and had barely any pulled pork In it. I would have been much more satisfied if everything was just a couple bucks cheaper. I really liked the interior and vibe of this place but just though it was too expensive for what it was you got. I go to Brunch pretty much every week and unfortunately I don't think I will go back here.

    (2)

  • Don L.

    I've said it before and I'll say it again, "Nothing beats Fresh & Delicious". This place scores high on the F&D scale. Before I get to the food, I love the vibe here. It has a part "local diner" and part "artsy" vibe. You'll have mismatched plates, cups and tables. It's somewhat similar in vibe to Gypsy Den in So Cal or Goldenwest in Baltimore. I love their "Abandoned Art" corner that has pictures drawn by children. They were blasting 80s music on a Sunday Afternoon which at first didn't seem to fit the artsy environment, but then when I looked around and saw half the people silently mouth the lyrics to the songs (including myself), I saw how it all worked together. On to the food, I had the Mushroom Panini with a small side of Chipotle Pasta Salad. High F&D marks. Fresh and Delicious! The proportion of the amount of filling to bread was perfect, grilled well. The "jam" binded all the ingredients together well. And the Chipotle Pasta Salad was AWESOME! I told them I could've ordered a whole plate full of it. At first, it seemed like a weird pairing, but it complemented the sandwich very well. The coolness and chipotle taste enhanced the savory flavors of the sandwich. The texture of the few beans added a subtle positive experience to everything. My only complaint is that the portion was so small. The last thing I love about this place is that it has a revolving menu instead of a set one, which sets it apart from places like I mentioned above. So if I came another time, there maybe something new to try. This is #48 on my quest to eat all the Diners, Drive-ins and Dives!

    (5)

  • Kate M.

    Abbie Jo, the owner is the kindest most genuine woman who cooks a mean breakfast. Absolutely stoked to have found this little corner gem for breakfast in my neighborhood. New to KC but not new to loving a good breakfast. I enjoyed the burrito with local chorizo verde (fresh and local is the way to go). It had such a unique and mouth watering flavor with poblanos and sweet potatoes inside. Plus, it was grilled so the tortilla was crispy. Seriously delish, cannot wait to be back here!

    (5)

  • Rodney F.

    Such a quirky, friendly diner with a young, dare I say 'hipster' vibe. The decor is charming and the food is a step (or two) above typical diner fare. I got the full order of biscuits and gravy - the biscuits we're golden and flaky and the gravy was rich and creamy. Not a huge portion but it filled me up. Couldn't have asked for a better diner in the KC area. Only gripe being its a bit small, but it's a diner, and it's worth it, so go!

    (4)

  • Longorious L.

    It's good. They suck at social media so you kind of never know what's going to be on the menu. But the food is always great and creative.

    (4)

  • Tyra W.

    To be honest, I don't care for the charming, hipster chic appearance and thrifty decor. On the other hand, I am in love with their sandwiches! I stumbled in one day with your common cold symptoms just wearing sweats with a messy bun on a mission to get in and get out ASAP. I couldn't decide what to order so I just asked the man behind the counter (who I assume is the new owner) what he recommended. I walked away with the bacon-date melt, butternut squash caponata & fresh mozzarella, and two potato soups. I eyed the Mexican cokes in the refrigerator and quickly tacked those on too. Out of the two, the bacon-date melt definitely out-savored any competition! It was an ideal mix of sweet and savory perfection. I usually never eat at the same establishment twice but I'm definitely making another visit here. Although I felt the price was a little steep at $35 for everything, I can still sleep at night.

    (4)

  • Kasi W.

    This is such a lovely spot. I happened upon Happy Gillis with a friend while we were trying to avoid the typical westport Sunday brunch madness. This place couldn't have been more perfect to do just that. The vibe is like going to a friends house to eat brunch except probably way better than anything your friends have ever made. They also use a lot of local products to craft their artisanal, yet not stuffy, dishes. There aren't a ton of options on the breakfast menu, but no doubt you can still find something that suits your fancy. Last, but not least, the staff was very friendly, and the owner (who happens to live right above the restaurant) himself came out to our table to chat. Love it!

    (5)

  • Brad B.

    Passing through town on a road trip. A definite must if you are coming through I-35. Grits with gravy and a soft egg were fantastic. Quaint hipster place with limited seating. Grab a Bloody Mary and wait for a table!

    (4)

  • Dan R.

    My favorite restaurant in KC. Always fresh and delicious. Glad to see the change in management hasn't effected the food.

    (5)

  • Harley C.

    The biscuit! That is all.

    (5)

  • E S.

    We went back to Happy Gillis last weekend. They have made some great changes to the menu. The food is really top-notch, but the service still leaves a lot to be desired. No one working there seems to want to acknowledge and appreciate customers. I don't need anyone fawning over me....just a simple sincere smile and a "thanks for coming in" would be great. Not complicated, folks. It makes me not want to go there, even though it's just a few blocks from where we live and, again, the food is solid. Also, I think the single "$" indicaring how pricy the place is should be raised to "$$", as Happy Gillis is actually pretty expensive. They use quality, local ingredients, which for good reason cost more, and that cost should be reflected. Please, please, please be more welcoming to your customers. We have other options where the food is just as good or better.

    (3)

  • Allen R.

    I love the location. In a tiny neighborhood. I read all about their food before going in there and had already made up my mind what I was getting, the B&G. We went around 9:30 AM on a Wednesday so there was plenty of empty tables and no rush. Wife got the smoked salmon. It took a while to get our food but that was okay because it seemed they were making it fresh. Wife's smoked salmon dish was pretty good but I only had one bite. The salmon was really tasty and I liked all the other things on there except for the chili. It was a little heavy handed for me. My B&G could be broken down in 3 parts. I thought the biscuit was very average. It was something like you could just buy out of Sam's in mass quantity. The gravy was very good. It had texture and flavor and the sausage in the gravy was pretty good. The most disappointing part for me was the side of bacon I got. It was just burned beyond all recognition and I do not like my bacon burnt. The bacon would have been great if it would not have been so overcooked and I struggled to chomp through bacon jerky instead of just bacon. I just think this place is okay and I doubt that I will make the effort to come there again.

    (3)

  • Khang T.

    Great place to grab breakfast, brunch, or lunch....They have amazing foods. Highly recommend biscuits and gravy. The asian pulled pork sandwiches is also amazing.

    (5)

  • Michelle F.

    Back today for the first time since "the change." You will all be relieved to know that it's the very same wonderful Happy Gillis that we all love, now with more seating options. I also like that the website is being updated with the daily special and there's a page for the menu as well. Good job guys! I had the bacon-date melt (half) and a half order of the butter lettuce salad. It was about $11. My sandwich was served on fresh bread, loaded with thick-cut bacon and a generous schmear of dates. The grainy mustard gave it the bright zing needed to keep the sweet dates in check. I'm not kidding about the loaded with bacon part. If you order the whole one, you might want to consult your cardiologist first! My salad was crisp and fresh. The veggies were in perfect order, love the fennel on top. My order was carry-out so the dressing was on the side. I can say without shame that I would go back right now and give them another $11 for another little cup of that buttermilk-dill dressing. I may have eaten some of it right out of the cup. The only ding I can give them is that it does take a bit of time to get your order, I waited about 20 minutes for mine. However, I was there just a few minutes before noon on a Friday. I guess I was sort of asking for it. :)

    (4)

  • Sara D.

    What a perfect little restaurant! Happy Gillis is charming, unique, quaint, adorable, and any other adjective that describes awesome. I had the Stevie sandwich which was a BLT with egg salad and was incredibly fresh and delicious. Our food came out quickly. I loved the sophisication of the fruit bowl they brought to my friend. It contained strawberries, apple slices, raspberries, and blackberries. I live pretty close and can hopefully make them a regular brunch spot. Can't wait to come back and try the biscuits and gravy!

    (5)

  • Stormi F.

    I'm always excited to pull up to a cool little eatery and all the tables outside are full of hipsters mowing down on some awesome looking sammies. When you walk inside it is furnished with consignment store finds from the 60's and 70's...uber cool in my book. The menu is minimal and that's also a huge win in my book, nothing more irritating than 70 choices on a menu. We ordered the Seared Steak Sandwich with Celery Slaw and Grain mustard and the BLT with egg salad. The steak was tender and juicy and the slaw had a vinegar bite to it that was perfected with the texture and pungency of the mustard. The bacon on the BLT was amazing, thick and smoky. This was an awesome find on Yelp and I will definitely visit again during my stay in KC!

    (5)

  • Thomas A.

    This fun little joint is nestled snugly in the Columbus Park Neighborhood just north of I-70 and next to to River Market. I love this Little piece of Italian-America. Happy Gills is a hip breakfast and lunch place. We had half orders of biscuits and gravy with two eggs over medium on top. Deliciouis. The S&G had plenty of sausage in it and was quite savory. The portion was generous. We sat on stools at a window. Nice atmosphere for chattting and feeling warm and content. The neighborhood is clean and charming. I could get very used to eating breakfast here.

    (4)

  • Madeline S.

    This place feels very "run-down hipster" to me. I'm not sure if that's even a thing but that's the only way I know to describe it! It's located in kind of a funky area off Troost and the chairs and tables are makeshift and thrifty. You order at the counter. There are always specials and different things to try if you're a regular. I got the granola and my friend ordered an egg sandwich on the biscuit. It was huge! Happy Gillis is pretty affordable. No complaints. I just wasn't blown away.

    (3)

  • Jacques C.

    I went here today with the family, and we had a fantastic lunch. I think that this is a great place to go and have something just a little outside of your comfort zone. The flavor combinations are well thought out and inventive. All menu items seem to make use of locally sourced ingredients. The cost is competitive with the myriad chain places, but the fi

    (5)

  • Mike G.

    Stumbled on this place based on the reviews and was very pleasantly surprised that it was exactly as described. Food was terrific, place has an eclectic vibe, service was great. What else do you need? We will certainly go back next time we are in K.C.

    (5)

  • Ben P.

    This is the best place in Kansas City for brunch. Hands down. I've been multiple times and I cannot get enough. From the B&G to the BLT I am never disappointed. If you want to have some excellent food at a great price, this is the place to do it.

    (5)

  • Kimberly A.

    Great food, nostalgic ambiance. The biscuits and gravy were fantastic and just like my grandmother from the south used to make. The kimchi bloody mary was incredibly flavorful. Sunday morning breakfast brought a full crowd. The mismatch vintage tables and chairs gave the place a comforting feel, but the food is really where it's at!

    (5)

  • Charley P.

    The atmosphere and the flavor of the dishes we tried were pleasant, but the service was a little confusing. For breakfast, the Gillis Sandwich was portioned well and flavorful. The yogurt and homemade granola seemed small for the price (about four bites for $5), and tasted like anything from Panera or the like. Maybe I need to be more adventurous in my menu choice next time. We dined outdoors on the patio, but I was unsure if I needed to wait outside or inside for our meals after ordering at the counter. And then a lined formed, uncertainty among everyone set in. The order taker seemed much more confused than the gentleman behind the grill, who clarified after our order was ready that he would've brought our food outside. The strong Yelp ratings might've overhyped this place. It's a nice, little, local business I'm glad to support and give another go. On the next go around I'll explore the menu and dine indoors.

    (3)

  • Tanner C.

    I was extremely hungover this morning and got the soup which was a really good idea. Endless coffee, fresh food. Loved it !

    (5)

  • Rachel P.

    Working on a sandwich tour with a friend, and this was our most recent stop. He had the cheddar and ham, and I had the BLT. Both were so tasty, if a little expensive. The options are few, but you can tell it's so they can do them right! The atmosphere is charming, albeit small. I'm looking forward to going back to try the biscuits and gravy at breakfast. They are closed on Monday's, so plan ahead! :)

    (4)

  • Teresa S.

    Everything I tried was delicious! You definitely need the bacon though...don't forget to order bacon if you haven't already.

    (5)

  • Erin R.

    Great breakfast with a fun menu! Lunch menu looks amazing as well! Definitely grab a Bloody Mary! The Pig & Bean is amazing and unique to this cafe...homemade granola & yogurt was yummy (love the lavender!). Definitely a great, eclectic, cool spot with great food & service!

    (5)

  • Grant W.

    Amazing lunch spot. I've had the seared tuna sandwich, various versions of the chicken salad sandwich, as well as seasonal veggie sandwiches. All were excellent! Butter leaf salad was also good and the cookies are off the charts if you need to satisfy your sweet tooth with desert. Highly recommend!

    (5)

  • Jordan P.

    Excellent, local, and unique food! Also the service is perfect and friendly, and it's a neat little atmosphere. I'll be back here often guys, thanks.

    (5)

  • Jeff B.

    Finally made it in after the change in ownership, and I am absolutely blown away at just the fantastic quality. Small place, but good for food as a small group and of course hours of random conversation over coffee. You can tell the high quality of food as you're watching it being prepared, and I expected very good. But then I ate it...wow. The tomatoes on my BLT & Egg breakfast sandwich just...wow. Also got to try a scone with goat cheese in it, was definitely one of the better scones as it added a bit of density and moisture to it.

    (5)

  • K B.

    Small but nice and cozy place. The food had great style and flavor. Bathrooms were clean, best decision I made today was coming here for breakfast. Food was made quickly and service was great thanks! We will be back!

    (5)

  • Wayne F.

    Really liked this place. Had the very tasty burrito (chirizo, potato, scrambles, cheddar) and my fiance enjoyed the butternut squash sandwich -she loved the bread-. Beautiful decoration, great Boulevard coffee. Just a bit pricey, but not much.

    (4)

  • Julie R.

    An eclectic eatery off the beaten path in downtown Kansas City. I love the fact that for the most part, there isn't a standard menu, which means that the daily menu is probably based on what is fresh and available at the time. I had a wonderful brisket sandwich that included pickled onions and horseradish. Amazing! The bread was toasted, crispy on the outside, but soft and tender in the middle. It was accompanied by a potato salad that had both white and sweet potatoes in a wonderful dressing that I can't describe. Top it off with a Stiegl Radler and it was a perfect meal.

    (5)

  • Kevin B.

    There's literally no "go to" option on the menu. There's no easy out. When you go to Happy Gillis, you're going to try something that you've never had before. and if you do it a couple times, you'll learn there's no reason to be afraid. They have a talent for bringing out the best in every dish in a way that I've never experienced before. For the items on the menu that you are a little more experienced with like the Biscuits and Gravy and the breakfast sandwich, you can be sure it will be some of the best you've ever had. They prepare conventional dishes in unique ways that make you appreciate them all over again. On top of all that, the menu changes pretty frequently, so to frequently go to Happy Gillis is to constantly be expanding your palette, risk-free. Awesome place. Never gets old.

    (5)

  • Patrick M.

    Had biscuits and gravy. Added a side of bacon. Wow! I can't say enough good things about this place!

    (5)

  • Amanda L.

    Great little place that supports local farms!! If you are a bacon lover, they load you up!! Note though, if you have a milk allergy they do not offer alternatives such as soy milk or almond milk. Nonetheless, my family loved it here!

    (4)

  • Michael P.

    Finally made it to Happy Gillis after wanting to go here many times. It's small size surprised me at first, and they don't have problems keeping those seats full on weekend mornings. Our visit here on a Saturday morning around 9 am found us searching for a seat both inside and out. We were lucky enough to find a spot shortly after ordering. Coffee is one of my favorite barometers of how a meal is going to be. Rarely do you find great coffee and then a crappy meal. This is true at Happy Gillis as well. Good, strong, hot coffee paved the way for a delicious meal. The food was awesome, plain and simple. Tried the breakfast sandwich which is big enough to split. I'll definitely be back to try their biscuits and gravy soon. Can't wait to get back here and try something else - not even just breakfast, but also hopefully some lunch.

    (4)

  • Mj J.

    I have had Happy Gillis Cafe on my radar for quite some time and finally made a point to go for lunch today. I was not disappointed. PROS unique seating inside, pleasant sunny and shaded seating outside fresh ingredients classic combinations of foods with their own spin on things too very very clean very very small kitchen with fast service off the beaten path (which I enjoy) friendly staff and superb customer service not greasy cafe food.. fresh and yummy! CONS honestly.. their aren't any for this first time experience If you're craving a new place for lunch and just need to get away from "downtown" for a bit, just head a little off the beaten path to Happy Gillis Cafe. It's worth the extra few steps. Trust me... oh.. and feed the cute little black kitty outside if he's around. He's very friendly.

    (4)

  • Faith B.

    I've read so many great reviews of Happy Gillis, that I just had to try it. I stopped for lunch and got the slow-cooked broccoli sandwich with fresh mozzarella and one of their infamous cookies. The sandwich was fine - an interesting take on a vegetarian lunch. The tiny side of potato salad was excellent. The cookie was phenomenal. Melty, chocolatey greatness. The bill was surprisingly high. I liked it, but this place is not a super value, thus three stars.

    (3)

  • Teri I.

    Really good food. Had the breakfast sandwich (bacon, cheddar & scrambled eggs on wheat) & cheddar bacon soup. Both were generous with ingredients that were sourced locally. I love fresh eggs & bacon was thick & not overly salty or smoked. Nice mouth experience. Bit difficult to find & get on & off freeways.

    (5)

  • Morgan S.

    Great place for brunch, especially if you like farm to table restaurants! At first I was a little disappointed that there was not much to choose from, but further look at the menu revealed that each entree sounded delicious! I went with the Madame Vert and loved the unique mix of flavors. Who knew asparagus for breakfast could be so good?! The breakfast sandwich was also very good. It didn't not take as long as we thought to get a table and our food was out within a few minutes. The antique furniture and hand-made coffee mugs made it very homey. We didn't want to leave (but that could have also been because it was a raining)!

    (5)

  • Morgan S.

    Awesome! Had the bacon-date melt and the kale Caesar. They were both flavorful and well presented. The sandwich is done panini style. Stopped on a road trip from Seattle to St. Louis; thanks to good Yelp reviews. You will be happy you came here. We showed up close to two for a late lunch, so no crowd. Good friendly service (you order at the counter.)

    (4)

  • Thomas M.

    Urban shabby sheik, indifferent staff, dabomb food

    (4)

  • Joe K.

    Blink and you'll miss it. Tucked away in corner near River Market, Happy Giliis is a hidden KC treasure. Sandwiches are made from scratch with farm-to-table ingredients and they do not disappoint. Sure you could go to Subway for a quick bite, but when was the last time you heard somebody say: "You know what would be good? Subway!" Probably never. I moved away from KC two years ago, but when I come into town this is the first place I come to get food. Yes KC is renown for its BBQ, but Happy Gillis IS a KC staple. This review only bolsters what everyone else on Yelp has said previously. So get on your Google machines and use those pudgy fingers to type in H-A-P-P-Y G-I-L- and well it should auto fill the rest because this place is that damn good. Trust me you will not be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Thomas S.

    We went here for a beer dinner last night. HOLY COW - IT WAS AWESOME. The food, ambiance, and company everything was top notch. They did an excellent job of having everything set up and organized. If you can go for brunch it is highly recommended as well. While you are there ask them what special events they have planned. The owner/chef used to work at the American, and his wife is an amazing baker/pastry chef. I will be dreaming about our dinner and beer selections for days.

    (5)

  • Scott T.

    Brilliant. Insanely wonderful food at a reasonable price. Today: chorizo, white bean and arugula sandwich with garlic aoli on one side of the table, smoke salmon with dill sauce and lettuce on the other. Sounds so simple but delivered such a grand taste. Then the pickled veggies on the side--a surprising but wonderful addition to the meal. In and out for less than $20. Incredible. There's hardly anything left to say after close to 150 reviews for this interesting little out-of-they way corner restaurant. Intend to return as often as possible. Yelpers don't lie. This is real find.

    (5)

  • Makenzie W.

    Simple menu, cozy environment and friendly service! The breakfast sandwich is the best I've had made with whole grain bread. And they aren't shy with the bacon:) Tried a Stiegl Radler for the first time! Very cool place, reminds me of home.

    (5)

  • Daniel H.

    My teammate told me about this place. I was supposed to try it out with her and two other teammates; however, she and the other teammate bailed at the last second so it was me and one of my other teammates. We came around noon on a Friday and it was busy. There were no tables available but there was the window/counter seats that were available. Good thing we took awhile to decide what to order because a couple left their table. We sat at the coffee table and couch while we waited for somebody to leave their table. There weren't too many tables (maybe 5 with 3-4 seats at each?) but then again it was a small place. Their menu items changed about every quarter so some things weren't available. I ordered a Roast Beef sandwich ($10.97 total) and my teammate ordered the Seared Tuna sandwich ($10.97 total). Both of those were $10 on the menu. It took awhile before our food came out and it was because there was a table before us. My Roast Beef sandwich came with 3 apple slices which I thought was interesting. It looked pretty simple but it was pretty good. The pickled onions and horse radish sauce complemented the roast beef and made it really flavorful. I was still hungry after I finished my sandwich but I think I would be filled (or close to it) if I had something to drink. It was a little pricey for the amount in my opinion. My teammate's Seared Tuna sandwich looked about the same in terms of simplicity; however, my teammate didn't like how it was pretty bland. He described it as eating a piece of raw fish with a weird texture but the blandest thing he's ever eaten. I brought that up in my review since that might be something to be aware of. YMMV (your mileage may vary)! The table next to us ordered some soup and a sandwich that looked pretty good. We didn't ask but we assumed it was a turkey sandwich of some kind. Too bad I didn't bring my DSLR camera because the pictures I took on my phone were mediocre. lol I'll be back to try their other sandwiches and possibly their soup.

    (5)

  • Rob W.

    Pretty good spot for breakfast/lunch. Food is pretty good. Highlights include the breakfast sando and the soup (also available from next door). Sandos - Salmon sando was pretty good. Nice sauce, i'm sorta iffy on the hard-boiled egg on it, but overall liked it. Chicken salad sando - also pretty good. Coffee was a great. Lighter side, but great. Service was super on it. Outdoor seating available. Also like that they had full bar.

    (4)

  • Toly M.

    Awesome place for breakfast!! Very good fresh food! I had stopped when I was driving thru. Fresh food and made with love.

    (5)

  • Stephen H.

    My favorite breakfast place in Kansas City. Not because there's lots of seating - there isn't. Not because they have a huge selection - everything is written on a blackboard behind the counter. Not because it's near a bunch of other stuff - it's in the hidden treasure that is the Columbus Park neighborhood. Because the food is delicious, is made virtually in front of you in an open kitchen, and because the staff is courteous. Two words: Croque Monsieur.

    (5)

  • Jenny K.

    We stopped here on our way through town. It had just what we needed: sandwiches and a place to sit for a minute. It was a little pricier than I'd expect. My squash cabonata was $9 but it was quite yummy.

    (4)

  • Mary G.

    We stopped here while on a road trip/vacation from MN to CA and we were not disappointed! We got the Gillis Breakfast Sandwich, and the half order of Biscuits and Gravy to share so we weren't eating too much before a long drive. The sandwich was amazing, from the way the eggs were cooked (moist and soft - not over cooked or too runny) to the quality of bacon and cheddar to the fantastic bread they used! The biscuits and gravy were phenomenal, and the closest thing to homemade I've had out for a meal. The sandwich was even better when dipped in the gravy, so if you aren't sharing a couple dishes I'd strongly suggest asking for a side of gravy if you do get the breakfast sandwich. They had a couple of tasty fresh baked selections available for purchase. We thought the one was a scone, but turns out it was the thickest, fluffiest chocolate cookie we'd ever seen. Better yet, the guy behind the counter told us anybody that hasn't had one before thinks they're scones as well. Everything on the menu is very well priced when you take the quality and freshness of what you will be eating into account. Nothing is coming out of a can, and the people behind the counter are friendly and accommodating. If you're used to paying $2-4 for fast food breakfast or lunch, you won't find that here. What you will find is food that is very fairly priced, fresh, and delicious! For perspective, the huge breakfast sandwich was $6 and the half order of biscuits and gravy was $4. Plenty for two people that want to eat until comfortably full, rather than eating until they need to be rolled out the door. Next time I find myself in KC, I will definitely be visiting this place again!

    (5)

  • Kai G.

    Nice little restaurant in the Little Italy district. sandwiches are delicious. You can tell that the sandwiches were made with heart. Friendly staff. Expect to wait in line for an open table.

    (4)

  • Jen D.

    I'm not really sure there is anything I can say about Happy Gillis that hasn't already been stated. The food is excellent and the atmosphere is charming. It's the perfect place for your adorable boyfriend to doodle on the table "cloth" writing "I love you" notes. Delicious food, I can't wait to try the soup!

    (4)

  • Doug H.

    Funky and cool vibe, amazing local product based sandwiches, and great beer. It's a keeper.

    (5)

  • Tyson S.

    Truthfully, a little disappointed after the excellent Yelp reviews. The B&G was good, not amazing. We were all pleased with what we ordered but no one's mind was blown...

    (3)

  • Meghan M.

    3.5 Stars if I could. I've heard wonderful things about this place, and it has long been on my list of places to try. However, I was kind of disappointed by it. Likes: I love the Columbus park neighborhood. Very old-school charming, and Happy Gillis fits in nicely with its surroundings. It's a cute and charming space that suggests you stay a while. Loved the couches, vintage elements, tables covered in butcher paper with crayons, old dishware, patrons' artwork, etc. The menu is limited, but it is tailored to the season (Excellent!). They offer a few unique sandwiches, like the pimento cheese (how retro! ;), but overall, their sandwiches were just fine to good. Their soup on the other hand was delicious! Loved the cream of mushroom soup with a horseradish cream. Mmmmm! And the giant chocolate chip cookie was scrumptious. Service was great. Not so greats: The presentation of sandwiches was a little disappointing for a $9 sandwich. I liked the few slices of fruit with each sandy, but come on, a sandwich without a pickle is just blasphemy (and I bet they would make/have delicious pickles). I enjoyed my "muffaletta-style," but as a child of a New Orleanian their version is still a far cry from the Central grocery original. I appreciated the house made olive salad, but I wish they were more heavy handed on it. The meat cuts were good, but a true muffaletta is piled high with meat & thick bread that it's hard to get your mouth around it. This was not the case with theirs, but maybe that's why they call it "muffaletta-style." In short, I know I'm in the minority, but I was not over the moon like the other reviewers. I will likely not return, unless it's for soup or breakfast, but I appreciate what they are doing here.

    (3)

  • Rainbow C.

    I came to KC for BBQ, but this was the perfect antidote to BBQ-Overload! Food: 1) Curried Chicken Salad - DELICIOUS curried chicken and toasted cashews with sweet chili sauce, paired with cris bibb lettuce and served on multi-grain bread. Very fresh and high quality ingredients, light, yet satisfying. YUM! 2) Tomato and Prawn Soup - surprising pairing, that was soooo good! Impressed with their creativity and quality of ingredients. 3) Friends got the Webster City BLT ("that is some really crisp bacon") and Fresh Mozzarella Panino ("gooooooooood"). Ambiance: Adorable and quaint restaurant, with cute plates on the walls as decor. Very friendly servers, nice atmosphere. Bottom Line: Great place to eat if you've filled your BBQ quota of the day.

    (5)

  • Mark S.

    We went here for breakfast based on the Yelp reviews, which were spot on. This place is completely opposite of chain breakfast joints and is well worth navigating to for some of the most fresh, delicious offerings. Biscuits and gravy were the very best. Great service and prices, too. The 1950's to 60's tables were like art.

    (5)

  • Troy D.

    I have a confession to make. I live about 2.5 blocks from here -- have lived there for nearly 3 years now. And I'm just now getting around to visiting this place. What was I thinking? This place is retro chic and does it well; the dining room is mismatched diner furniture and tables... and that's exactly what it's supposed to be. It's small, it's intimate, it's perfect for a weekend brunch with friends or kicking back with a cup of coffee. The menu is fancy but not complicated -- you'll get the basics with little added touches, and they'll be done well. Pure and simple. Downsides: I was the first one in on a quiet weekday morning -- but -- I'm not sure how the place can handle huge crowds on a weekend. The place is pretty darn small. I'll need to go back a couple of more times -- but for a first visit? Definitely pretty awesome.

    (4)

  • Sharlene T.

    I've had four meals here so far. This place serves probably the best sammich combinations I've eaten. They leave you not feeling like you only had a sub. A sub I can finish but these babies always get me at half. Which is great cos I get to save the rest for dinner. GREAT PLACE GREAT BREAD and I heard their biscuits are delicious too.

    (5)

  • Jason R.

    Cute place with great decor. Interesting approach to a cafe. Looks like a local favorite. Food was fresh and good but menu limited, also they stop serving breakfast around 11. All in all cool place with good coffee.

    (3)

  • Andy H.

    Maybe an updated longer review later, but I am going to be dreaming about the biscuits and gravy that I ate here for the rest of my life. So good.

    (5)

  • Aimee W.

    I've heard good things and finally had a chance to stop by today for lunch. It's a tiny little place - though in good weather apparently they have tables outside which doubles their seating. We arrived around Noon and it was full with a long of people waiting to place their orders. Turn over was pretty consistent so as people placed their orders, others left and seating was available. I ordered the roasted chicken sandwich and the corn chowder. Now, I have issues with food jumping on my shirt and I knew that that was going to happen. I was wrong - but everything in the sandwich flew out the back and ended up on my plate - and that was ok. The sandwich was delicious - great flavor with cucumbers, carrots and cilantro with a sweet chili sauce. The chowder was great - creamy, corny and the queso fresco added a little something to it. My friend ordered the cheddar melt and I assume it was delicious when he licked his plate...ok he didn't but there wasn't anything left when he was done so I am guessing it was ok. Service was great, prices were reasonable and we did find a seat at the window. I'll definitely be back. okaybye.

    (4)

  • J.P. Y.

    A super cute little place with healthy, fresh, delicious food, a small menu and portions that aren't huge. I love to get a sandwich to go and drive up nearby Cliff Drive. The waitress brought my dog a bowl of water one time when I ate outside and I didn't even have to ask. The other reviewers said it all. You can't go wrong with this place.

    (5)

  • Erynne D.

    happy gillis is what every sandwich/soup/salad place wishes they were. ive been here maybe ten or so times in the past couple of years and cant recall a time i was ever disappointed with what i ordered (and seeing as the menu changes very regularly, im relatively confident ive never had the same thing twice). as far as im concerned, your best plan of attack at happy gillis is to get a 1/2 sandwich and 1/2 soup so you can sample a little of everything. er, well, a little of two different things, at least. another pro tip is to get something that you probably wouldnt otherwise order- maybe the combination of ingredients sounds kind of weird to you, like it might not work. in my opinion, those are usually my favorites, as i am always pleasantly surprised at just how tasty and harmonious it ends up being. though i have come here a few times during the winter, id have to say the best time to go is when the weather is nice enough to sit outside. the restaurant is on the corner of a very quiet street, so sitting on their little front sidewalk makes for a really pleasant dining experience. however, if youre just coming for coffee and to chat with friends, they have a nice living room-esque setup inside with couches and comfy chairs, in addition to some tables and a bar seating area. overall, just a really quality place. delicious food, fresh ingredients, a nice cozy ambiance, and friendly staff.

    (5)

  • Karen G.

    Based on the Yelp reviews, I ate at Happy Gillis for breakfast on my weekend visit to KC. I'm really glad that I Yelpers helped me find this place tucked away in a residential city neighborhood. They get 5 stars for atmosphere and friendliness. I love the old vintage decor look and the crayons/paper on the tables. I loved that they gave me a mug and later switched it to a paper cup when I was ready to leave. My only negative is that while the food was good, the bacon,egg & cheese sandwich was so huge that it was just too much. I could only each half of the sandwich...there must have been 4 eggs in it! I would have enjoyed it a lot more with a normal ratio of eggs to bread. But would I go back? Absolutely!

    (4)

  • meli l.

    This is my husband's favorite breakfast place. I love it, too, but it makes me sad that I always have to deconstruct my breakfast. I avoid breadstuffs (usually) and, breakfast-wise, pretty much everything here is in sandwich form. Still, even deconstructed, it's DELICIOUS. We've never had anything but a fantastic meal. The coffee is sublime and the mugs are adorable. It's good that this is a little far from us, or we'd probably be here every day, and be bankrupt.

    (4)

  • Ray L.

    BLT was out of this world. So much bacon making love to those roasted tomatoes. Gillis breakfast sandwich: fantastico. Perfectly scrambled and "oh-my-God" cheddar. No wimpy ass bread either: multigrain and nutritiously delicious. The only thing is that the place is small, often crowded on weekends, and the food take a bit long. But at least you know the wait is worth it

    (4)

  • Elle S.

    What a find in chainsville Kansas City! Such a cute little place filled with character, eclectic casual style and super tasty breakfast/lunch food! The casual sandwich lunch menu and atmosphere would rival of my favorite routine haunts in San Francisco, where I reside. Happy Gills had sandwich items for the vegetarian (egg salad with watercress, and radishes, curried cauliflower with cashews, apples, flatbread and riata, roasted mushroom and 3 cheese melt with,caramelized onions, etc..), meat lovers (pork loin with caprilcola, cherry peppers, asiago cheese , blackened chicken with andouille, remoulade and slaw, etc...). Excellent soups. Great to get a half and half combo. Wine and beer...coffee and tea. Seats in the sun, comfy couch or at cute Mom and Pop diner tables. I had a steak bahn mi with peanuts and dressing with a spiced butternut squash soup. Delicious! Next vsit, I'm planning for a hearty meat soup with half an interesting vegetarian sandwich. Staff said they change the menu up every 3 months or so. Perfect for me, that's about how often I come into town to see family. Planning on making it an addition to the BBQ restaurants.

    (5)

  • Victor B.

    Cute little rustic homey place. Good inexpensive food with fresh local ingredients from a community garden around the corner. The coffee is pretty good and the service is very friendly.

    (4)

  • Brian H.

    love.

    (5)

  • Meg P.

    My favorite breakfast in Kansas City. The menu is simple but perfect. You will not be disappointed. Sitting outside Happy Gillis is the best as well!

    (5)

  • Adam S.

    The emperor wears no clothes. I get the appeal of this place, and was as excited to try it as any other place in town based on what I've heard. The food was fine, but it's overpriced and doesn't come with any sides. It's a cozy hangout, but if it's at all busy (which you can imagine it will be based on the reviews) it can be hard to get sat. There's better options around, and I've basically crossed it off of my list of places to go around here.

    (2)

  • Drew R.

    This place is fantastic and has such a great atmosphere. I've eaten here on two different occasions and have thoroughly enjoyed my experiences here. The biscuits and gravy are the best here and I would highly recommend them (as others have pointed out as well). They have the right amount of seasonings to make sure I eat every last bite. You really can't go wrong here. Get here early because it definitely gets busy quickly and it's no surprise why.

    (5)

  • Layne R.

    Yeah, apparently I'm not cool enough. If I were cooler I'd probably like this place. But alas, I am not cool, and as a result I thought this place was only meh. I had the Bocadillo sandwich. It was okay. The menu lists the ingredients but it failed to mention that there were green olives in the sandwich. I'm not a fan of them. If I had known that was in there, I might have gone a different route. And it is too bad cause without it, I'd probably have liked my sandwich much more. The meat and pepper portion of the sandwich were good. It was those damn olives... The price seems a little high for a mere sandwich. Okay, it's a sandwich that the hipsters would love, but does that mean I should have to pay $9 for a sandwich with no side? Honestly, I'd rather just go to Subway. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. That is stupid, but at least there I can pay half as much, get twice as much and be totally satisfied. It might not be ambitious or cool, but it's satisfying. My sandwich from Happy Gillis wasn't. Happy Gillis is a non-traditional sandwich shop. Being outside the norm isn't enough to satisfy my hunger and make my taste buds happy. If you are looking to be considered cool, go eat at Happy Gillis and tell your friends how much you like it. If you want to eat a satisfying, tasty, well priced sandwich, maybe go somewhere else.

    (2)

  • Nick K.

    Do yourself a favor and go here! Breakfast and lunch are delicious. I recommend for breakfast the Homemade granola with fruit and yogurt and biscuits and gravy with mushroom gravy are delicious. Always friendly service. Support the local establish ments.

    (5)

  • Ellen S.

    I adore Happy Gillis, from the little monster (if that's what it is?) on the logo to their self-serve water and coffee. But my favorite part of all is the biscuits & gravy. Even better is when you get one of the breakfast sandwiches ON a biscuit, and DIP it in gravy. It's heaven. Happy Gillis is one of our favorite places to take people. It's close to us and charming. Plus the food is excellent and unique. Food is customizable, too, and they have vegetarian options as well (I don't pay as much attention to those, but friends have always been satisfied). Keep in mind - this place is itty-bitty. Maybe five tables, a few bar stools along a window, and a living room-like area is all that's inside. When the weather is nice they have a few sidewalk tables, too. Basically, get in line before you get hangry! TL;DR - charming little place with awesome food. Try the gravy by asking for a side with a breakfast sandwich.

    (5)

  • James H.

    Not as good as I was expecting. I had the Auto-something or other sandwich which was an Italian cold cut sandwich. It was ok. The cheese was very bitter and the meat wasn't the best quality. My wife had the egg salad sandwich which was average but lacked a lot of flavor (very bland). Also a homeless guy sat right by us outside and eventually asked for money. I normally wouldn't judge a place based on a homeless guy coming up to us but it just added to the disappointment.

    (3)

  • Becca L.

    After reading all of the reviews, I thought that this place would be a cute, quaint, fun little place to try. Well, apparently people around here just don't know what "good" food is, or what "customer service" means. No smiling staff here! First off, I ordered the "yogurt and seasonal fruit" for my 2 year old. And it was pretty evident that it was ordered for a 2 year old. It would have been nice (and maybe just some common sense) for the lady/man taking my order to tell me that their "yogurt and seasonal fruit" was just a bowl of watery sour cream with some canned grapefruit on top, and some nuts sprinkled on top. What adult eats that? Therefore, WHAT TWO YEAR OLD will eat that?! But again, this chick/dude with the creepy haircut didn't even crack a smile. What a $5 waste. One bite and my kid said "this is disgusting!" And I had to agree. Who eats UNFLAVORED, PLAIN YOGURT as a meal?! Apparently hipsters lacking in personality. And the "seasonal fruit?!" Hmmm....pretty sure canned grapefruit is never in season. The egg sandwich--cooked in the same grease as some type of fish product. Tasted and smelled like fish. Not worth the $7. Waffle house is much better, and less fishy. The kale salad tasted like sand. It had bland breadcrumbs all over. Yuck. And a shriveled anchovy on top. Had I not read the menu, I would have assumed that this poor little fishy jumped to his death on top of my sand salad. Gross. The only saving grace was the date and bacon sandwich. Definitely wasn't worth the money, but bacon makes everything better. Even if it is overcooked. If it hadn't been for the bacon, I would have sent everything back and demanded my money back. What a $25 waste of money. We could have gotten twice the food for half the price (including hashbrowns!!) at Waffle House. And would have been much happier. So much for finding a cool place for my husband's birthday brunch. We should have just gone to the beignet place at City Market or to Grinder's where the quality is always great. I thought hipsters were supposed to be fun. This place was lifeless, kinda like my poor shriveled anchovy. RIP. Won't be back. Ever. What a letdown! Not a good place for kids--the menu just isn't kid friendly.

    (1)

  • John B.

    Happy Gillis is a nice and friendly place. Does that rise to the level of justifying a $10 breakfast BLT? I'm not so sure. Roasted tomatoes are certainly a step up from the pellucid discs that usually accompany this sandwich. And the bacon was pretty decent. But... I'm glad people are glad that Happy Gillis is gentrifying the neighborhood. If I lived in the neighborhood, I'd probably love my rent and loathe my dining options. But let's not overstate HG's majesty on that account. The place is fine and the people are nice.

    (3)

  • Jamison U.

    Happy Gillis was the first food we had after returning from Paris, and the only food we wanted (does that say enough?). Seriously my Saturday trips to the Hangout are religion, you cannot get a bad (insert-food-here) nor can you get crappy service. Happy Gillis is a staggering deal for your doller and as unpretentious as it gets, a true foodie paradise.

    (5)

  • Dana C.

    It all started when my boyfriend and I started throwing around the idea of moving to Columbus Park. One day, while driving through the neighborhood on a search for rental signs,we decided to try this place and see what all the hype was about. I thought the inside was adorable. Very quaint, no frills, no fuss. What you see is what you get. The giant chalk board displayed behind the counter is their entire menu. There isn't a ton of options to choose from, this threw me off. I don't really care for bacon but I settled on The Gillis Breakfast Sandwich (Scrambled Egg, Bacon, Cheddar on Toast) for $6 and my boyfriend ordered the Bocadillo w/ a Sunny-Side Up Egg for $9. It was my turn to pay for our meal on this outing, I wasn't too happy to cough up $15 for meal with no sides, coffee, etc. He loved his choice, in fact I didn't get one bite of it. I thought mine was okay, but wasn't super impressed. Again, I don't care for bacon, so why did I choose that sandwich? The staff was nothing but polite and helpful. In fact, one of the gentleman working gave us a tip on who not to rent from in the area (this came in handy later that month!) I wasn't too keen on going back right away, not because it isn't a great place but because I didn't LOVE my sandwich and the prices were a little high. Last week, we were down in Columbus Park again and we stopped at a cash only place in the River Market for breakfast, only we didn't have any cash on us. "Happy Gillis is close by", my boyfriend suggested. I sneered and agreed to go. I tell you this because I was about to regret my snottiness! We arrived at Happy Gillis and were early enough to beat the City Market crowd. This time I ordered off the lunch menu. I ordered the Bocadillo (Ground Beef & Pork w/ Chiles, Almonds, Cheddar & Garlic Mayo) for $9. My boyfriend ordered the same. Our food arrived promptly. I took my first bite. It was a pairing of flavors that I can not describe other than orgasmic. It was an explosion of awesome in my mouth. I immediately regretted all the snarky things I had said and thought before. Why had we not been coming here on a regular basis? I wanted to kick myself. I devoured my entire sandwich and then finished off the last part of my boyfriend's. It's true. I'm not embarrassed, it's that good! We are moving to Columbus Park next week. I am so ecstatic that we'll be able to walk to this little slice of heaven. My only gripe about Happy Gillis is that the prices are a bit high. I don't care though, the Bocadillo is worth every penny!

    (4)

  • Reed N.

    Man, that took me long enough! A year to get back for lunch?? Ridiculous. But I finally made it and I must say, that post TV show and local notoriety, these guys are not "mailing it in." Nope. Each sandie is a full court press of flavor or a slam dunk homage to a classic combination of flavors... Whether it be a special of the day like deviled ham and cheese with fresno peppers or a croque madam. Overall, I think the lunch offers more flavor here, but you really can't go wrong. Friendly guys behind the counter and the ever-changing table art are pluses along with other whimsical touches. With the ramps to the loop and the Kit Bond Bridge open you can get here in a snap and leave even faster. There is no reason to skip this place... I should be locked up for taking so long to get back!

    (5)

  • Raffi M.

    Yum! Everything was so flavorful and left nothing to be desired (except maybe more food!). I stopped in while driving through town and I had such a wonderful lunch with a sandwich and soup. Ordering is done at the counter and the food is brought out when it is ready. The menu offers a lot of variety for lunch and breakfast, but is still relatively simple. Don't miss the soup selection listed on a little board on the counter; you must try one of the house-made specialties. I tried the butternut squash sandwich and a cup of their spicy black bean soup. Both items were so amazing that my only regret was not ordering a full size sandwich instead of a half-half combination. The bread roll, the creamy butternut squash, the walnut tapenade... everything contributed a range of flavors to a fulfilling and warming meal. I would highly recommend this choice if it is available. The soup was so unique too; a seasoned-perfectly bowl of spicy beans, with a touch of cilantro and a few slices of plantains. I never would have though to put plantains in a black bean soup, but the plantains added little gems of texture and flavor among the rest of the soup; I finished every last drop! Prices are super fair and the atmosphere is probably best described as "cute". It was quite busy during lunch when I came and seating was extremely limited. There are only a handful of tables and a little bar by the window. This is a must-try sandwich and soup place, and if I lived in the area I would sure to be in often.

    (5)

  • Matt E.

    Okay, I seriously have a crush on this place. So much awesomeness in such a little package, and only a couple of blocks from my house! This place is an offshoot of happysoupeater.com , which i highly recommend checking out on it's own merits. Basically, it started out as a weekly soup delivery business, but grew so much in popularity they decided to open up a freestanding business. I've been for breakfast a few times, and it's always delicious. It's super convenient for carry out orders when I don't feel like making my own breakfast, but also don't want to put on real clothes and make myself look presentable. I just stumble in in my sweats, order it to go, then after a quick jaunt, i am back home enjoying biscuits and gravy or a delicious egg sandwich! Lunch is great too. Their menu is small, but everything is fresh as can be. they probably have the best BLT in the city, and their fresh mozzarella and pesto sandwich is delicious. Because I firmly believe that it is not a meal if you don't have some meat, i add bacon, and it's great. Today they also were featuring baked ziti. For me, it was the first time I had ever seen a non sandwich/soup/salad on the menu. It gives me hope of things to come..... They just got a liquor license, so i am definitely looking forward to it warming up, so that i can enjoy a bottle of wine on the sidewalk.... BTW, this place has a great sense of humor. Their website cracks me up, their logo is adorably drawn by what i assume is a 5 year old, and inside their dining room there are just too many little quirks to mention in one review. Go here now. You will NOT be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Kat A.

    What a beautiful establishment. Relaxed atmosphere, kind people behind the counter, and great artwork. And if that wasn't enough, I was fortunate enough to try their biscuits and gravy. Sweet mother of GOD they know how to throw down with biscuits and gravy. I nearly wept. No wait on a Saturday morning, and great prices. Next time I'm in KC I know exactly where I'll be going for my morning nosh. Wouldn't change a thing.

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Tue

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : No
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : No
    Caters : No

Happy Gillis Cafe & Hangout

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