Earl's Premier

Earl’s Premier lived up to its reputation. We waited about three months to get a reservation here. Cool vibe and great tasting seafood. The crab cakes were delicious, and the mussels we ordered were fresh, some of the best I’ve had. The crab dip appetizer was a great start to our meal. Inside was a little crowded, paired with 100+ degree weather made it a little stuffy, but that’s just being nit picky. I would definitely recommend Earl’s Premier for an intimate date night or some tasty appetizers, plan ahead and get a reservation.

Started with the oysters (2 of the first 3 listed) Acadia pearl, Cora Cressy, Chebeague which was my favorite. The NE Smoked Bluefish dip was wonderful. The roasted Maine mussels with chorizo in the sauce were great. The crab cake was just one single one. It was served with micro greens or some kind of greens not saltine, unless saltines were part of the crab cake. Dessert we opted for the chocolate mousse and it was really good. Loved the texture. Staff were working hard. Apparently I was anxious to try everything and forgot to take better pictures before devouring each dish!

Totally felt like I was back at an oyster place in Boston! The vibes and atmosphere from the wood paneling on the walls to the bar area to the decor felt like it transported me back east. Friendly and knowledgeable service. I love oysters and we tried every single one on the menu before deciding on what we’d want for our full dozen. Also tried the shrimp po’ boy and the fried oyster po’ boy. Both were great-such good bread too (the rich texture of the fried oysters were especially wonderful). Definitely more lettuce than the fried seafood so don’t expect more than five pieces of plump shrimp (felt I got a little more oysters though, or maybe the breading made them seem bigger). The fries were soooo good! The fresh oysters were definitely the highlight for me though (the mignonette that came with it was delicious!). Would return for sure. Single stall bathroom in the back of the restaurant. Might be a tight squeeze to get all the way back there past the tables; it’s a little narrow, just fyi for those who use wheelchairs or have mobility issues. Didn’t sit on the patio but I always enjoyed that space going back to when the restaurant there was Chai Shai. Looks as good in shape as ever.

Absolute stellar dinner. Our table was not ready for our 8:15 reservation due to some stubborn diners (and I get why they didn't want to leave), but they graciously put us in a smaller space and then immediately moved us to our regular table when the other diners left. The staff here is total class. Special mention to Ainsley and GM Sarah. They went out of their way to make our experience special. I will go back just for them. Had the Earl's version of an Old Fashioned called the Cold Fashioned. Hands down the best I've ever had. Just a well crafted drink. The frozen gin and tonic was also very well received at our table. Started with a selection of oysters, which were all fresh and cold. Also had the mussels as an app. So good, I almost ordered them again for my main. Shared the clam chowder, and an artichoke and crab soup along with a shredded Brussels sprouts Caesar salad. All three were excellent. Though for me, the standout was the chowder. Rich and full of flavor, accompanied by house fried crackers. A solid winner all round. Mains were fried cod and crab cakes. The fried cod was a huge two inch thick portion of perfectly battered and perfectly fried fish on a bed of excellent fries. Two crab cakes did not spare the crab and were nice to look at, and even better to consume. Oh, and try the soft serve ice cream with olive oil and Maldon salt. The comment at our table was, "how is this so good?" It was a sublime finish to a wonderful meal.

I don't want to leave a good review. I don't want them to be busier than usual, not that my experience will have everyone running to this gem of a restaurant. It started with young man opening the door for us with "we have front door service." Yes, WE know he is being funny, but I thought it was cute. Everyone who worked there was super friendly, greeting us as old friends. It was our first time there. We started off with Hemingway Daquiri, Dark and Stormy, and Clam Dip. My husband said he could order 30 of those dips. Next, we ordered a dozen oysters. The oyster that stood out was Blue Penny from Washington. We ordered half a dozen more after our entrée. Clam chowder was rich and creamy, did not taste fishy at all, or smell fishy. I had their special snowcrab lasagna. I have no words other than it was delicious. Another half a dozen oysters then ended with peanut butter chocolate tart. It was the most enjoyable meal we've had since moving to KCMO.

Earl’s Premier lived up to its reputation. We waited about three months to get a reservation here. Cool vibe and great tasting seafood. The crab cakes were delicious, and the mussels we ordered were fresh, some of the best I’ve had. The crab dip appetizer was a great start to our meal. Inside was a little crowded, paired with 100+ degree weather made it a little stuffy, but that’s just being nit picky. I would definitely recommend Earl’s Premier for an intimate date night or some tasty appetizers, plan ahead and get a reservation.

Started with the oysters (2 of the first 3 listed) Acadia pearl, Cora Cressy, Chebeague which was my favorite. The NE Smoked Bluefish dip was wonderful. The roasted Maine mussels with chorizo in the sauce were great. The crab cake was just one single one. It was served with micro greens or some kind of greens not saltine, unless saltines were part of the crab cake. Dessert we opted for the chocolate mousse and it was really good. Loved the texture. Staff were working hard. Apparently I was anxious to try everything and forgot to take better pictures before devouring each dish!