Blue Moose Bar & Grill: Light Spring Plates Packed with Flavor
As the temperatures rise and the days become longer, Kansas Citians can’t help but feel the excitement of a long-awaited spring. It’s the season of new beginnings, shedding winter layers and the perfect time to visit Blue Moose Bar & Grill for something light in calories but big on flavor.
“Blue Moose has a little bit of something for everyone,” said executive chef Ryan Sneed. “You can bring families here; you can enjoy a night out with your friends at the bar and have great food. It’s approachable food, but made with really high-quality ingredients.”
This isn’t your average bar and grill. In place of your typical bar burger and BLT, Blue Moose offers dishes such as Red Miso Glazed Salmon and Chipotle Braised Short Ribs. “There’s a lot of thought that goes into our menu,” Chef Sneed said. “Think of it as the upper tier of upscale casual.” The seasonal spring menu was created to be “identifiable and wholesome at its core. Going into summer, people are trying to eat a little lighter. It has to be delicious and appealing in both flavor and appearance.”
Four new spring salads steal the spotlight this season. Each dish is on the lighter side but packs a powerful punch of flavor; all are less than 700 calories.
I started my meal with the Instagram-worthy Seared Tuna Salad. It tasted like a bowl of summer—fresh, crisp and fun. Peppered with a sashimi chili pepper blend and Furikake rice seasoning, high-quality yellowfin tuna is seared rare, showcasing a perfect pink hue. It sits on a bed of fresh Asian greens drizzled in a sesame-ginger vinaigrette, seaweed salad and a cool cucumber salad.
Up next, a comforting bowl of Brussels and Burrata. Full-flavored spring greens encase juicy heirloom tomatoes, shaved Brussels sprouts and a sherry-truffle vinaigrette. A buttery smooth ball of creamy Burrata cheese is the star of this salad, basking in a tangy balsamic glaze.
Seeking something slightly heavier? Chef Sneed created a low-carb/high-protein Keto bowl that is both filling and flavorful, allowing the body to maintain ketosis. Kale, fresh wild mushrooms, braised broccoli and local microgreens set the foundation for this bowl. Grilled sirloin steak, soft as butter, is sprinkled with a dusting of toasted pistachios. My favorite element is the cauliflower rice prepared in a pesto vinaigrette that takes the carb substitute from bland to bold.
The Smoked Salmon Spinach Salad is the final, and my personal favorite, plate. Lush spinach is accented by a champagne vinaigrette, queso fresco and pickled red onions. The protein, house-smoked Atlantic salmon, emits a mildly charred flavor that Kansas City BBQ fans should be proud of. Candied walnuts top it all off, adding a much-appreciated hint of sweetness.
I rarely dine out with the intention and excited anticipation of ordering salad, until now. Blue Moose’s spring menu offers a variety of fresh plates created with your palate and diet in mind. While some people use the early spring season to prep for summer, many are in the midst of weddings, spring breaks, graduations and much more. The Blue Moose Red Bridge location recently opened the Red Bridge Room, cozy, chic and inviting, the perfect venue for any upcoming gathering!
Front and center, the brightly lit bar is just waiting to set the scene for your next girls’ night out. Brand manager Jodi Blackburn introduced me to a lineup of party-starting cocktails. Discuss honeymoon plans or dream of warmer temperatures and tropical islands while sipping on a Vacation Martini: Malibu Red, rum, tequila, pineapple and strawberry puree.
The Moose Island Iced Tea, featuring Blue Curaçao, is a fun play on the restaurant’s name. The aptly named Crime & Passion, created with Red Bull, prosecco and Ruby Red vodka, is equal parts energizing and sinfully sweet. My go-to, the invigorating Blueberry Lemondrop, is a citrusy blend of lemon, sour, Skyy Blueberry vodka and Patron Citronage. The Aloe Liqueur Martini is an appropriate option for those dining light; tequila and cucumber combine to make a delicately refreshing cocktail. Want to end on a high(ly sweet) note? Drink your dessert! Order the creamy Chocolate Ecstasy.
Blue Moose Bar & Grill has it all, an inviting venue, a lineup of vibrant cocktails and a fresh take on a seasonal spring menu. Dine without the guilt (and inevitable food baby) of heavy plates by choosing one of the new spring salads or protein bowls! Date night, girls’ night or a casual Tuesday evening, this is a dining experience you don’t want to moose. ■
Visit thebluemoosebarandgrill.com for all things Blue Moose: locations, menus, specials, reservations and delivery.
Cravings writer Meg Kraft is a Kansas City transplant from Cleveland, Ohio. In addition to wining, dining and writing, she is a social media specialist and wedding blogger. Meg and her fiancé love exploring their new home and experiencing every flavor that the KC food scene has to offer. She is a pet parent to three French Bulldogs and an avid Kansas City Chiefs fan. Her life motto: count the memories, not the calories.
