The Elms - Excelsior Springs

There is street parking in front of the restaurant. There is low lighting and a vintage decor which makes for a comfortable and relaxed environment. You don't feel rushed to eat and leave. They weren't very busy when we arrived so we were able to get a table and order right away. My husband got the NY strip which was a little tough and we wouldn't order again. I loved the salmon and the whiskey glaze was perfect for the sweet potatoes. The green beans were just okay. The service was good and friendly.

Pro: no wait for Saturday afternoon. The Cajun grilled shrimp sandwich stoled the show. It was delicious. I had the open face roast beef sandwich. The roast beef was good. However, I did not like the mashed potatoes-flavorless, and the gravy was gelatinous with no flavor. The bread pudding okay. the service was really good. Our waitress was very friendly and talkative. they also have a really nice lunch menu special menu $11-17 until 3pm. My partner was bummed that no onion rings or french fries on the menu instead they serve chips.The potato salad was good. Cons:Ambience I did not like the tables/chairs, very dark space and the fans made the place way too cold for the winter; I wore my jacket the entire meal The women's bathroom needs some attention. No seat covers and it looks like they started a paint job and didn't finish it. Really drafty and cold.

We sat outside on the front patio. It's a little small, but the service outside was still prompt and considerate. I thought the Burrata-Chetta would be a slam dunk appetizer since everyone at the table loves cheese and bread, but we didn't finish all of it. It was good, but I wish we had ordered the spinach artichoke dip instead. The Burrata cheese ball's texture wasn't for me, as it was a little too rubbery. However, it is beautifully plated. The shrimp scampi's white wine garlic butter sauce is yummy. The cajun seasoning gives it an extra bite, but it's not super spicy. My sister ordered the Cajun Shrimp BLT. She's prone to picking at her food, but she ate almost the entire thing as soon as it was sat in front of her. Our friend just ate the shrimp cocktail as her meal and she was satisfied enough!

Delicious food and great atmosphere. The service was fast and friendly. It's a must eat when in town.

We had a delicious dinner at Ventana. We live out of town and we're here on a vacation, and we remembered how good it was the last time we visited here. Emma was our server and she took great care of us and made some good suggestions. We had their 16 oz. Prime rib with loaded mashed potatoes, the wedge salad, and the homemade chicken Alfredo with Cajun seasoning. Both were delicious and we left completely stuffed. We also had their white wine sangria which was tasty. We highly recommend!