Ingredient Review
By Jesse
B.
Once I came
upon the oval-shaped patch of turf decorated with chairs painted rainbow
colors, I knew this place would appeal to me.
Into Ingredient I went—along with
companions Mr. Guldin, David, and Matthew—and a sign in giant silver letters within
close proximity to the ceiling promised that the restaurant would “formulate
satisfaction.” From the ceiling itself, I noticed chandeliers that resembled golden
fish elegantly swimming down to the ground. Clean and organized, unique and
stylish, the restaurant brought a smile to my face.
I looked down at the menu and
scanned for something adventurous, as highly recommended by Mr. Guldin. I
checked for reasonable prices, and I’m happy to announce that they covered the
paper.
The Dim Sum Wrap with a side of
pasta salad caught my eye, and it continued to hold my interest when I ordered
at the counter. Since David ordered from the kids’ menu, I turned to see it,
and looking at the divided menu with two halves, one for “kinda hungry kids”
and “really hungry kids,” I chuckled.
My
cronies all ordered soft drinks, but I decided to go with water. As I
approached the fountain, however, the woman before me watched for a full three
seconds as the water wouldn’t stop rushing out. It finally did stop, but the
result was a waste of liquid.
We
sat down at a clean table adjacent to a window, and as we still looked around,
a waiter brought us the chips and dip we unanimously ordered as an appetizer. The
chips tasted like normal chips to me, and I much preferred the salsa over the
melted cheese dip, but my friend Matthew commented it was “really good,” and my
other friend David seemed to show an abundant amount of enthusiasm when he
repeatedly hollered a “Pow!” in reaction to the red-colored chips.
Not
long after we finished our starter did our main course arrive, leading us to compliment
the fast service.
I love food, but I can’t habituate
and savor spicy cuisine, which is what the Dim Sum Wrap was. I started to sweat
and even tear up at the forceful heat the food brought to me, but besides that,
it was ambrosial. To compare it with something, I would have to say the Dim Sum
Wrap tasted like a chicken wrap but juicer (flowing down my fingers and
dripping on the plate), and with spice that made my taste buds jump.
The pasta salad looked appealing at
first, but it actually tasted quite bland. I didn’t like it as much, but the
wrap made up for the entire meal.
Through bites and talk of the
National Basketball Association at the table, I thought about how Ingredient
related to Panera Bread, in that at Panera Bread, you order at a counter, the
cashier assigns you a specific number, but servers bring the food to you at
your table. I liked that structure of service, and I’m glad Ingredient followed
it.
With crumpled-up napkins next to my
plate, I was satisfied with my meal. It filled me up, and I leaned back to let
myself get some air. The sunlight unraveled through the windows, letting me get
a sense of the outside world without blinds or curtains. The restaurant wasn’t crowded
or busy, maintaining a moderate volume level, and it felt so open that only the
roof reminded me I was still inside. Overall, Ingredient’s a family-friendly,
contemporary-styled restaurant with high-class, great food, and a chairs right
outside to relax. If you visit Town Center Plaza in Leawood, you definitely
must go to ingredient; you’ll have a fantastic experience.
Food Rating:
Four-and-a-half Knights (out of five)
Price:
$$
