Verbena an American Restaurant

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

East Coast Sensibility, Midwest Roots

Set within The Inn at Meadowbrook in the heart of Prairie Village's 80-acre Meadowbrook Park, Verbena an American Restaurant draws a clear line between where it comes from and where it stands. The restaurant's guiding philosophy — "East Coast Tradition, Midwest Flavor" — isn't a tagline so much as a working description of how the kitchen and the room actually operate. Guests have described the experience as feeling transported: "like being in wine country or Europe," as one regular put it.

Verbena opened in 2020 and has built a loyal following across the Kansas City metro for its seasonally inspired American cuisine, its covered lakeside patio framed by flowers and landscaping, and a level of service that reads as genuinely attentive rather than performative.

The Team Behind the Table

Executive Chef Mike DeStefano is a Kansas City native who trained at Johnson and Wales University before earning a hospitality degree from the University of Missouri. His résumé reads like a map of serious American kitchens: time with Chef Todd Gray at Equinox in Washington, D.C.; years under Chef Andrew Brochu in Chicago at Kith & Kin, Graham Elliot, and El Ideas; and a pivotal role with The Alinea Group, where he helped build and then led Roister as Chef de Cuisine from its 2016 opening through 2019. That depth of experience shapes a menu grounded in craft without being showy about it.

The beverage program is equally considered. Wine & Bar Director Tara Curtis — a Court of Master Sommeliers scholarship recipient currently pursuing her Sommelier certification — curates the wine list and leads a bar team producing seasonal cocktails and mocktails. The wine list earned Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence in 2022, a recognition that reflects the program's breadth and selection quality. General Manager Joe Follett, with over two decades in hospitality, ties the room together, bringing a career that spans Fiorella's Jack Stack Barbecue, Cooper's Hawk, and the launch of Strang Hall in downtown Overland Park.

What to Expect

The American menu moves with the seasons, supported by sourcing from local partners including Woodland City Farm, Salt Creek Meats, 2 Birds Farm, Treehouse Urban Farm, and bread from Ibis Bakery. The kitchen's commitment to fresh, local ingredients is structural, not incidental.

Whether the visit is a weekday lunch on the patio, a Friday dinner, or a private event in one of the dining spaces, the experience at Verbena is consistent: thoughtful American cooking, a wine list worth exploring, and a room that earns the compliments guests keep leaving behind.