3 minute read
DISH
WELCOME, ENZO!
THE NEWEST ADDITION TO CITY MARKET
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WRITTEN BY JUDY GOPPERT / PHOTO BY RAGAZZA RESTAURANT
This spring, patrons will have a unique new option to try. Enzo will be a bistro & wine bar serving Mediterranean fare. Located at the 5th and Walnut entrance to City Market, in the space recently vacated by Bo Lings, Enzo is the brainchild of sister and brother team Laura and Grant Norris, who own the popular midtown Ragazza Restaurant. The idea for Enzo comes from visits to their favorite restaurant in Trastevere, a bohemian metro of Rome, and promises to deliver a diverse Mediterranean experience leaning heavily on Sicilian and Greek dishes, including shared and small plates as well as full entrée portions. Laura tells the story.
Where did the idea of Enzo originate?
We opened Ragazza at the end of 2013 in a tiny shop at 301 Westport Road, where Pryde’s started. After five years we took the risk of a move and expansion and reopened on 43rd and Main. While we celebrated a successful year at our new location, we were closed that same weekend for COVID-19 and had to become a carryout restaurant within two days. Our loyal customers along with the PPP loans helped us through. During that first year when we had real success, we talked about opening Enzo, mainly because of my love for Greek food. We immediately stopped our plans to go to a combined space in City Market and focused on keeping Ragazza afloat. Ragazza has an incredible vibe with a kind and loyal customer base—which is definitely a huge part of our success.
What will people be able to look forward to on the menu this spring?
We are not releasing much about the menu except that it will include a few Ragazza favorites and will be primarily Italian with some Greek, French, and Spanish dishes. Menu staples will include roasted lamb, house-made tzatziki, and a meatball similar to the one Ragazza is known for.
Pictured: Laura and Grant Norris, who manage the popular midtown Ragazza Restaurant, look forward to opening their new venture together, Enzo.
Tell us about the wine list.
Ragazza’s wine list is over 80 percent Italian. Enzo will allow us to incorporate more wines from France, Spain, and a few from Greece. It’s going to be terrific! Due to storage constraints, it will be a bit smaller, but it will be strategic.
What is special about the City Market location in the old Bo Lings spot?
We have been in love with the space, but as we were looking in 2019-20 it was not available. My background is in historic preservation and neighborhood revitalization, and I have watched for years as the city of KCMO has done the good work of encouraging locally owned small businesses to locate and thrive there. I have no doubt we will thrive there too. The small business center that is the City Market, along with the growing residential, and the proximity to our historic downtown is a win-win for me personally and professionally. I couldn’t be more excited.
The main construction taking place in the space is the construction of a central bar and private customer bathrooms. It will be as warm and welcoming as Ragazza. We are not planning to change what we know works well!
That being said, it is a bit risky to open amidst substantial labor shortages. It’s even difficult to buy equipment. So many chains are expanding in 2022 and buying up whatever is out there, leaving us to scramble to find equipment. It’s not ideal, but who could pass on such a historic and suitable space in a wonderful neighborhood? We will be working harder than ever to put the pieces together.
