A well-known Kansas City building will soon be home to a high-end restaurant — courtesy of a former Houston’s chef.
The restaurant, called District 800, is opening at 800 Southwest Blvd. in June. The space was previously home to beloved Mexican restaurant La Fonda El Taquito for 37 years.
La Fonda El Taquito at 800 SW. Blvd. seen in 2024 in Kansas City. The Mexican restaurant closed earlier this year after nearly four decades in business. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Executive chef Steve Pemberton, who crafted dishes at Houston’s on the Plaza for 15 years, will be serving upscale plates like wagyu beef carpaccio ($36), pappardelle short rib ragu ($32) and crispy Atlantic salmon ($38).
The restaurant is inspired by owner Shannon Moore’s travels. He’s the president of sales at Shaman Botanicals, the manufacturer for CBD American Shaman, and has spent much of his time in Miami. There, he’s visited higher-end places like Papi Steak, which advertises quality dishes and bold, Miami energy.
He’s aiming to bring a similarly classy but vibrant option to the metro’s food scene.
“It’s more upbeat,” Moore said. “We’re gonna have DJs playing music, not loud … It’s gonna be very, very elegant.”
District 800 is opening in the former La Fonda El Taquito space. District 800
One of the elements he’s most excited about: a tableside Parmesan wheel pasta.
District 800’s classic Cacio e Pepe will be served inside a 24-month aged Parmesan wheel with toasted black peppercorns and Pecorino Romano ($28).
A few months after the opening of District 800, a small, reservation-only cocktail bar will open upstairs. Moore is still working out the details on that, but he hopes to open that portion in November.
“The service is gonna be over the top,” Moore said. “It’s gonna be kind of a show. A lot of presentation involved.”
District 800 will offer weekend brunch and tableside cocktails, too.
Moore is taking on a massive project, turning the longtime Mexican restaurant into a swanky spot. But he’s hopeful Kansas Citians will be pleased with the results.
“It’ll look like a completely different building,” he said.
American restaurant Houston’s had a space on the Plaza for 30 years until it closed in 2017.
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Jenna Thompson covers retail news for The Kansas City Star. A native of Lincoln, Nebraska, she previously reported for the Lincoln Journal Star and graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she studied journalism and English.