Coast to Coast Pub: Coastal Seafood Meets Midwest Classics in Martin City

A funky new mural on the side of Martin City Brewing Company’s Original Pub in Southern Kansas City illustrates a shift in direction for this well-known Kansas City restaurant. A colorful sea turtle is shown playfully crashing through the ocean waves with iconic images of Kansas City and Martin City surfing on the turtle’s shell. 

The outdoor wall mural was commissioned to introduce the newly branded Coast to Coast Pub concept. The combination of Martin City Original Pub favorites with well-thought-out seafood items makes up the bill of fare, creating a whole new approachable, affordable pub menu with a taste of the coast right here in the middle of America.

The Coast to Coast concept has been an evolution to bring something unique to KC, mostly over beers at the bar when Martin City Brewery owner Matt Moore discussed ideas and opportunities with his friend, the talented chef Dan Uche, who’s been serving Kansas City-area customers at the Bristol for nearly a decade. The two imagined a menu that would be unpretentious, offer approachable, unique seafood items, would have something for everyone and preserve those Martin City Brewery adored menu items that we’ve all come to love over the years.

Chef Uche has decades of experience working as an executive chef throughout the country and specializing in seafood. He understands the logistics of procuring the freshest product even in land-locked Kansas City. At Coast to Coast, he’s most excited to use his culinary creativity and have some fun developing his menus. “It’s very refreshing to work on a menu like this,” said Chef Uche. “I have total creative freedom and you can’t put a price on that.”

Right from the start, the two men understood that they couldn’t change longtime favs on the Martin City Original Pub menu, as some customers were adamant that these favorites remain. So, Coast to Coast was conceived. It’s the best of both worlds. Customers can enjoy everything from oysters, tuna tartare and lobster rolls to mac ’n’ cheese, burgers and everyone’s fav: The Reuben.

“We knew we wanted a concept that was approachable, welcoming, friendly and at a price point that wasn’t traditional fine dining,” said Moore. “And, it couldn’t be a seafood-only restaurant, but instead, it’s a pub with really good food featuring delicious, unique seafood with something for everyone.”

The Martin City Pub is where the Martin City Brewing Company story began in 2011, when two friends had a vision of serving the best craft beer and some awesome food in a casual brewpub environment at the corner of 135th and Locust. This new iteration won’t change the pub ambiance even though it sports a remodeled interior and expanded patio. In addition to the name change and the new seafood menu items, there’s an expanded wine and cocktail menu.

Customers will enjoy oysters in a variety of ways, and I’d suggest sampling them all to find your favorite. Chef Uche has included classic half shell and broiled to Rockefeller and the Coast to Coast signature Angry Oysters tossed in a sweet and spicy charred chili pepper aioli with micro greens. The chef explained he wanted to keep oysters simple and easy to eat but give options so if you’re not a big fan of raw oysters or a little intimidated, the menu gives a variety. Of course, the Angry Oysters were my favorites because they’re cooked covered in sauce and served with a little salad! The menu even tells you where the oysters are from, such as Cape Cod or New Brunswick.

The Smoked Salmon Salad is a customer favorite for us ladies, and this one is extraordinary. Hickory smoked Atlantic salmon gives it tremendous flavor. Served on a bed of spinach, baby arugula, goat cheese, avocado, orange segments, tomatoes and with a spicy mango-pineapple vinaigrette, it’s great for summer. The toasted silvered almonds give it crunch and the pickled onions offer just a bit of tartness.

The Coast to Coast menu will feature seasonal items; as the weather warmed up, Chef Uche created the Shrimp and Scallop Rigatoni. This lighter pasta option features shrimp, scallops, spinach, oven-roasted tomatoes and rigatoni pasta tossed in a white wine garlic basil broth and truffle oil. It pairs perfectly with a glass of white wine on the patio for date night or girls’ night out. 

A top seller since they first opened, The Reuben is a classic and traditionally made. Why is it so good? They smoke the brisket themselves and assert, “If we mess with the recipe, people will freak out!” It’s made with thick slices of slow-smoked corned beef, Swiss cheese, red cabbage kraut and thousand island dressing on rye bread. This is exactly the type of Reuben I love!

When you come to the new Coast to Coast Pub and taste a homegrown Kansas City restaurant, you can enjoy menu items, cocktails, wines and beers from one coast through middle America across to the other coast all from the comfort of a fun, relaxing ambiance right in the heart of Martin City, Missouri. Oh, and don’t forget to check out the funky sea turtle! ■

Visit Coast to Coast Pub at 500 E. 135th Street, Kansas City, Missouri, and martincitybrewingcompany.com/coast-to-coast-pub

Written by: Megan Neher

Journalist-turned-PR-professional Megan Neher has never forgotten her true first love: writing. Today, Megan owns her own PR firm, Megan Neher Public Relations; she’s a wife, mom, marketer, student and spends a lot of time cleaning up after her four pets and two teenagers. Her dream is to live on a tropical beach somewhere where she can stroll barefoot to a nearby grass hut for a fish taco and margarita.