Missouri Restaurant Association

10/09/2026

🏆 Celebrating the Best of Kansas City's Restaurant & Hospitality Industry! 🏆

This past Monday, October 5th, the Missouri Restaurant Association and Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association hosted our annual Gilbert/Robinson Awards Dinner at Johnson County Community College!

It was an incredible evening recognizing the hardworking individuals who make Kansas City's restaurant and hospitality industry so special. From the front of house to the heart of the kitchen, these individuals represent the dedication, passion, and excellence that keep our industry thriving!

🎉 Please join us in congratulating our 2026 Industry Award recipients!

🏆 Heart of House Award: Andrew Higinio – Q39

🏆 Server of the Year: Levi Saving – Martin City Brewing Company (135th Street)

🏆 Barista of the Year: Bronwynne Miller – The Roasterie Kansas City's Coffee Company

🏆 Bartender of the Year: Chelsea Ponick – DoubleTap KC

🏆 Team Impact Award: Abbey Blair – MPH Dining / Culver's

🏆 Administrator of the Year: Ann Riensin – Pad Thai Restaurant

🏆 Community Table Award: Brooke Silvey – Tannin W**e Bar & Kitchen

🏆 Apprentice of the Year: Aiden Patten - Aramark

🏆 Rising Star Award: Rolando Rosales – Garozzo's Ristorante

🏆 Manager of the Year: Waverly Watt – Third Street Social Olathe

🏆 Chef of the Year: Bryan Sparks - Wandering Vine

🏆 Hospitality Legacy Award: Alba Martinez – Kansas City Marriott Downtown

👏 Congratulations to all of our award recipients! Your commitment to hospitality, leadership, and service continues to elevate our industry and inspire the next generation of restaurant professionals.

Help us celebrate these outstanding individuals by dropping a congratulations in the comments below! 🎉

10/01/2026

Celebrating our September Member Anniversary!

This past month, Hawg Jaw Que & Brew celebrated one year as a member of the Missouri Restaurant Association!

Known for serving up Kansas City BBQ, Hawg Jaw has been a great addition to the MRA family. We’re grateful for their support of the association and our restaurant community.

One year down, and plenty more cooking. Congratulations, Hawg Jaw Que & Brew!

09/30/2026

The Missouri Restaurant Association and Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association are saddened to share the passing of Ronald D. “Ron” Regan, a longtime restaurateur, association leader, and friend to Missouri’s restaurant community.

Ron dedicated much of his life to the hospitality industry, owning and operating several restaurants throughout his career, including Westport One, Whisker Rivey’s, Sunset Grill, and MT Bullheads. His passion for hospitality extended beyond Missouri, including helping open The Last Lift, a slope-side restaurant and bar in Keystone, Colorado.

Ron’s commitment to serving his fellow restaurateurs was equally meaningful. He served as President of the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association in 1984 and President of the Missouri Restaurant Association in 1993. The MRA Inaugural Ball remained a cherished tradition for Ron and his family throughout the years.

We are incredibly grateful for Ron’s leadership, friendship, and contributions to our association and industry. His legacy will remain an important part of the MRA and GKCRA for years to come.

Our deepest condolences are with Ron’s family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Thank you, Ron, for a lifetime of service to hospitality. May he rest in peace.

View Ronald D. Regan's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

09/18/2026

Your restaurant’s brand is more than a logo, it’s the experience you create for your guests, your team, and your community.

Join us for our upcoming webinar with Hoot Design Company as they introduce the Brand Being Method and share how restaurants can align their marketing, culture, and brand strategy using one powerful document.

Whether you’re looking to strengthen your restaurant’s identity, create more consistent marketing, or make sure your team understands what your brand stands for, this session will provide practical insights you can put to work.

📣 Restaurant owners, operators, managers, and marketing professionals, you won’t want to miss this one!

Register today and start building a brand that grows with your business.

https://events.zoom.us/ev/AjXg9VSGW5TwXX7LvEbyfpAd3eMai56JhSSSf90uXzCDb3nBB7wp~AoplDUcoRz85S_4ifQjKwS0pYgVZNps-wmUGfyOetRsq81NiVvymOpMzMQ

09/11/2026

What a night! 🎉

Thank you to everyone who joined us last night for Industry Appreciation Night! It was great to see so many familiar faces from across Kansas City’s restaurant and hospitality community come together for an evening of great food, drinks, connections and celebration.

A special thank you to all of the incredible vendors who participated and helped make the night possible. Your continued support of our restaurant community and the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association means so much to us!

And if you’re part of the restaurant and hospitality industry but aren’t a member of the Association yet, now is the time to join! Become part of a growing community committed to strengthening, supporting and advocating for our industry across Kansas City and Missouri. To sign up visit our website at www.morestaurants.org

Thank you again to everyone who made Industry Appreciation Night one to remember. We’ll see you at the next one! 🍽️

09/03/2026

Springfield Restaurant Week gave us plenty of great food to talk about, but the people behind our restaurants are the real story.

One of those people is Mike Stennett of Steak ’n Shake, a participating restaurant in our inaugural Springfield Restaurant Week and the recipient of this year’s Golden Plate Award at the Golden Fork Awards.

Mike’s willingness to step behind the grill reflects the hands-on leadership and commitment he has brought to Springfield’s restaurant community throughout his career. His participation also helped Springfield Restaurant Week bring local restaurants together in support of Ozarks Food Harvest and hospitality education.

Please join us in congratulating Mike Stennett, his family, and his team, our 2026 Golden Plate Award recipient 🏆🍽️

09/01/2026

📣 WE’RE HIRING: Regional Executive Director – Western Missouri

The Missouri Restaurant Association is looking for an energetic, relationship-driven leader to help strengthen and grow Missouri’s restaurant and hospitality industry.

This position will serve as a key leader for Western Missouri, including oversight of the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association and Southwest Missouri Restaurant Association Chapter. The Regional Executive Director will work directly with restaurant operators, industry partners, community leaders, and elected officials to grow membership, develop partnerships, support advocacy efforts, and lead impactful programs and events.

📍 Western Missouri | Hybrid Position
💼 Full-Time
💰 $65,000–$75,000, based on experience
🚗 Regional travel required

If you’re a strong relationship builder who enjoys connecting people, developing partnerships, and making an impact on the hospitality industry, we’d love to hear from you.

Please email your resume & cover letter to [email protected]

08/31/2026

KC HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY — YOU’RE INVITED!

It’s time to clock out and enjoy a night created for you.

Join the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association for Industry Appreciation Night on September 8 at The Abbott, an evening dedicated to celebrating the owners, operators, managers, chefs and hospitality professionals who keep Kansas City’s restaurant industry moving.

FREE Admission | FREE Food | FREE Drinks

Plus, connect with industry vendors and partners, enter giveaways and raffles, and spend the evening with fellow members of KC’s hospitality community.

📅 September 8 | 4:30–7:00 PM
📍 The Abbott | Kansas City

No presentations. No formalities. Just a chance to connect, have a drink, grab some food and enjoy a night dedicated to our industry.

Grab your team, clock out and join us!

https://www.morestaurants.org/events/industry-appreciation-night--

08/27/2026

❤️ ONE LAST WEEKEND TO MAKE YOUR MEAL MATTER! 🍽️

Meals That Heal ends August 31, which means this is your final weekend to dine out and give back!

Throughout August, our participating restaurant partners have stepped up to support Children's Mercy and the Missouri Restaurant Association Education Foundation, and there’s still time for you to be part of it.

👉 Swipe through to see the participating locations and how you can support Meals That Heal this weekend. Whether it’s rounding up your check, ordering a featured menu item, or supporting another restaurant-led fundraiser, every contribution helps make an impact.

Pick a participating restaurant, grab a meal, and help us finish Meals That Heal strong! ❤️

08/24/2026

🚨 Restaurant Owners & Operators: Don’t Miss This Wednesday!

Join the Missouri Restaurant Association and the U.S. Department of Labor on Wednesday, August 26 at 2:00 PM for an important webinar covering Wage & Tip Compliance in the restaurant industry.

We’ll break down key topics including tipped employees under the FLSA, tip credits, minimum wage and overtime, service charges vs. tips, tip pooling and sharing, recordkeeping requirements, and common compliance pitfalls.

Whether you’re an owner, operator, manager, or HR professional, this is a great opportunity to hear directly from the Department of Labor and make sure your business is staying informed and compliant.

📅 Wednesday, August 26
⏰ 2:00 PM
💻 Virtual Webinar

👉 Register today and join us Wednesday!

https://events.zoom.us/ev/AjU7CvHGvd6AaN7UxQ5_BTCC3s-h9PcxcjhsV_mH9wFMIyj5yIPq~Ar05AHg31uS2SJlhnEcFmIpT5bAN48WeDDBFM5BmyLsprNZSOlkBC2toiw