TKC EXCLUSIVE!!! MUNSOK SO AND TONIGHT'S DRUNKEN FISH GRAND OPENING HELP SAVE KANSAS CITY'S P&L DISTRICT!!!

Restaurateur Munsok So is looking quite dapper in this photo he was nice enough to let TKC take . . . But let's quickly take a look at the circumstances that predate his arrival on the local scene . . .

For more than a few years we have come to understand that Kansas City just can't go on spending more than $12 million every year for the P&L District in addition to the subsidy and bond payments this town already provides. At some point the place is going to have to pull its own weight.

Seriously, every Council Person, all of the Mayoral Candidates and just about everyone in this town with the least bit of financial acumen is hoping, wishing and praying for an eventual P&L District win.

To wit . . .

RESTAURATEUR MONSOK SO AND THE DRUNKEN FISH GRAND OPENING TONIGHT REPRESENT THE LATEST, BEST HOPE TO PUT THE P&L DISTRICT ON THE PATH TOWARD PROFITABILITY!!!

Given the District's troubled history in Kansas City it's somewhat ironic and AWESOME that a minority-owned business leads the way toward relieving so much of Kansas City's taxpayer burden.

Monsok So is a lifelong resident of St. Louis, Missouri and his restaurant empire isn't a corporate chain but the result of years of hard work that started right out of college. There are three other Drunken Fish restaurants in STL along with Ice Kitchen that's described as "Continental Fusion."

Initially, the KC location resulted as part of a negotiation for another Drunken Fish location in STL, however during those talks Cordish pitched the P&L Location as alternative. Monsok believes that his Sushi Restaurant and Lounge is the perfect fit for Kansas City and there's a possibility that he might even open another location.



"Right now there's not anybody here doing what we do," Monsok said. "Kansas City has so many wonderful restaurants but we feel like we've created a unique lounge and dining experience in a fantastic space."



He's right, the view is amazing and with the warmer weather this is certainly going to be a coveted destination. The upscale lounge atmosphere seems to have already attracted a lot more people than the old school Bice restaurant it replaced. There was a soft opening for this place on Feb. 23rd but tonight's the big night.





Let's talk about tonight's Grand Opening Party. I snagged VIP tickets so I don't mind bragging about how KICK-ASS I think this place is . . .

Tonight's bash includes:

Japanese Taiko Drummers
DJ Broz spinning
The rooftop lounge features DJ Scott Carpenter
Live music by Sean McNown
Nyotaimori - The Art of NAKED SUSHI!!!
And I hear there will be sake samples as well. 

Again, yesterday I was able to snag A LOT of samples form the menu . . .

NOW LET'S LOOK AT SOME FOOD PORN AND SHOTS FROM INSIDE THE DRUNKEN FISH FROM TKC!!!



Remember that your favorite Kansas City blogger mostly eats microwave burritos and pizza but I was still impressed that this place seemed classy yet accessible. Even better, the Drunken Fish "EAT IT RAW" tagline made me feel better about wearing my baseball cap in such a nice place.



What we're seeing here: Seared tuna sashimi over a bed of shredded daikon and carrots topped with tataki sauce and sprouts. On the left hand side, really kick-ass oysters with a description I lost in my notes. Still good.



Yellow Tail Mexicano: Yellowtail sashimi seared and topped with a freshly made jalapeno pico de gallo and ponzu sauce.



I think this is the Spicy Butterfly Roll which includes crab, spicy sauce and asparagus, topped with butterflied shrimp, scallions, masago, and spicy sesame oil



The Drunken Fish Roll: Shrimp tempura, Japanese mayo and asparagus, topped with red tuna, Japanese mayo, eel sauce, masago, tempura crumbs and sprouts



The KICK-ASS main course . . . The Miso Marinated Black Cod is kinda like a religious experience -- Black cod filet marinated in a sweet miso sauce, baked and served with white rice and asparagus.



The dessert was definitely the kicker . . . I hear people show up just for this . . . Strawberry Cheesecake Makimono - Tempura-battered New York style cheesecake and strawberries rolled in pink soy paper, topped with chocolate sauce, mixed nuts, powdered sugar and whipped cream.



Here's a look at the guys who prepared the food and the sushi bar inside The Drunken Fish . . .



My happy hour shot glass and swag that I stupidly left behind.



As far as price, most things not sold at QuikTrip are out of the range of a basement dwelling blogger . . . BUT, The Drunken Fish is definitely worth a date night excursion and is certainly the best hope to breathe new life back into the P&L District.