Café Verona

Café Verona is an Italian restaurant at 206 W Lexington Ave on Independence Square in Independence, MO, operated by McClain Restaurant Group (Ken & Cindy McClain) as one of the group’s flagship dining concepts.¹² Part of a 27-year effort by the McClains to revitalize historic Independence Square, Café Verona is consistently ranked among the top restaurants in Independence.³

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Description

Café Verona brings Italian dining to the historic Independence Square, offering what the restaurant describes as “authentic and comforting dishes that capture the essence of Italy” with bold flavors drawn from both local and non-local vendors to ensure freshness.¹ Head Chef Lilian leads the kitchen, crafting menus that balance classic Italian preparations with modern interpretations designed to appeal to both adventurous diners and those seeking comfort food.¹ The restaurant’s outdoor patio — described by reviewers as charming and old-world — is a warm-weather fixture on the Square, and is pet-friendly for leashed dogs.³

Café Verona is rated 4.4 of 5 on Tripadvisor and ranks among the top restaurants in Independence, reflecting its standing as one of the more elevated dining options available on Independence Square.³ The restaurant operates Monday–Thursday 11am–9pm, Friday–Saturday 11am–10pm, and Sunday 11am–8pm.¹

As part of the McClain Restaurant Group, Café Verona is one piece of a deliberate ecosystem of locally owned businesses Ken and Cindy McClain have assembled on Independence Square since 1998–1999. The group has grown to 18+ businesses and is widely credited with transforming the formerly blighted Square into a regional dining and cultural draw.⁴

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Ownership and history

Ownership

Period	Owner / Operator	Notes
→ present	McClain Restaurant Group (Ken & Cindy McClain)	Confirmed as one of the group’s nine food concepts.2

McClain Restaurant Group context

Ken and Cindy McClain began their Independence Square revitalization in 1998–1999 with Ophelia’s Restaurant & Inn and have since grown to 18+ local businesses.⁴ Cindy McClain serves as president of McClain Restaurant Group; Ken maintains an Independence law practice alongside the restaurant operations.² Cindy grew up in Boulder, CO, but both she and Ken have deep family ties to Independence (grandparents on both sides lived there) and the couple chose Independence as a deliberate homecoming and community investment.⁴

Other McClain Restaurant Group properties on Independence Square include clintons-soda-fountain, el-pico, square-pizza, and main-street-coffee-house.

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Menu

Last verified: 2026-07-24 · Source: official site (menu page) · URL(s): https://cafeveronarestaurant.com/menu/ · Confidence: High⁵

Italian restaurant; seasonal menus by Head Chef Lilian. Patio seating (pet-friendly for leashed dogs). Full official menu below; wine list not itemized online (happy hour wine/cocktail specials published).⁵

Antipasta⁵

• Lemon Pesto White Bean Hummus — garlic olive oil, kalamata olives, feta cheese, fresh vegetables, and grilled pita — $12.99
• Toasted Ravioli — house-made ravioli stuffed with ricotta cheese, served with pesto and arrabbiata sauce — $14
• Fried Mozzarella — hand breaded, served with marinara — $13
• Sicilian Artichoke Dip — creamy dip with melted cheeses, Scimeca’s Italian sausage, spinach, artichokes, and garlic, served with warm pita bread — $15
• Calamari Fritti — breaded calamari, pepperoncini, grated pecorino romano, with garlic aioli and marinara — $15
• Roasted Tomato Bruschetta — whipped honey ricotta cheese, roasted tomatoes, pesto, and balsamic reduction — $14
• Crispy Eggplant Parmesan Bites — breaded in Parmesan and Italian breadcrumbs, fried golden, served with marinara — $9
• Basket of Bread Sticks — four $4.99 / dozen $12.99

Zuppa / insalata⁵

• Zuppa — soup of the day — $6
• Verona’s House Salad — spring mix, roasted tomatoes, olives, red onions, Parmesan, croutons, house vinaigrette — $6.99
• Caesar — crisp romaine, shaved Parmesan, croutons, Caesar dressing — $7.99
• Chicken Caesar — romaine, grilled chicken, shaved Parmesan, croutons, Parmesan chips — entree $15.99 (add anchovies +$3)
• Grilled Salmon Panzonella — balsamic-glazed Atlantic salmon over classic Italian bread salad with marinated tomatoes, red onions, oregano, basil, roasted garlic cloves, balsamic vinaigrette — $17.99
• Beet Salad — spring mix in lemon vinaigrette, sliced beets, orange slices, candied pecans, goat cheese balsamic drizzle — $13.99
• Grilled Chicken-Spinach Pecan Salad — spinach, candied pecans, strawberries, grilled chicken, goat cheese, balsamic reduction, lemon basil dressing — $15.99

Flatbreads⁵

• Garlic / Cheese Flatbread — $12
• Sausage & Peppers — caramelized bell peppers and onions, Verona’s marinara, mozzarella and Parmesan, pesto — $15
• Butternut Squash and Bacon — whipped ricotta, peppered bacon, shaved Brussels, basil-infused hot honey — $15.99
• Chicken Alfredo — creamy Parmesan sauce, chicken, crispy peppered bacon bits, mozzarella, baby spinach — $16.99

Sandwiches⁵

Served with Parmesan fries or house salad.

• Parmigiano — Parmesan, crispy chicken, marinara, fresh mozzarella on rosemary focaccia — $14.99
• Italian Grilled Cheese — roasted tomatoes, pesto, blend of Italian cheeses on rosemary focaccia — $13.29
• Meatball & Mozzarella — signature meatballs, mozzarella, spicy arrabbiata and marinara on a toasted Italian roll — $13.99

Pasta⁵

Sub zucchini noodles +$2.

• Chicken Orecchiette — orecchiette, chicken, red pepper flakes in creamy vodka rosa sauce — half $13.99 / full $17.99
• Rigatoni Sausage Rosa — Scimeca’s Italian sausage, mushrooms, sweet peas in peppered rosa sauce — half $13.99 / full $17.99
• Rigatoni Carbonara — crispy pancetta, sweet peas in Parmesan cream sauce, topped with a crispy 6-minute egg — $16.99
• Fettuccine Alfredo — creamy garlic Parmesan sauce, pecorino romano — $16.99 (add chicken/sausage $4.99, shrimp $7.99)
• Spaghetti & Meatballs — house-made Italian meat sauce with signature meatballs — half $12.99 / full $18.99
• Baked Mac N Cheese — orecchiette, melted Italian cheeses, topped with mozzarella and Italian breadcrumbs — $16.99
• Lasagna — layered with Scimeca’s Italian sausage, ground beef, ricotta, marinara, mozzarella, Parmesan — $17.99
• Pesto Primavera — penne, seasonal vegetables, roasted tomatoes, garlic in pesto sauce — $16.99
• Lemon Basil Shrimp — capellini with shrimp and spinach in preserved lemon cream sauce and fresh basil — $20.59
• Design Your Own Pasta — pick pasta (spaghetti, fettuccine, rigatoni, orecchiette, capellini, gnocchi, zoodles) + sauce (marinara, bolognese, basil pesto cream, Parmesan cream, vodka rosa, spicy arrabbiata, lemon butter) — $13.29; add meatball $4.99, Scimeca’s sausage $3.99, chicken $3.99, shrimp $4.99, salmon $6.99

Secondo⁵

• Gorgonzola Ribeye — 12 oz grilled ribeye, gorgonzola, mushrooms, caramelized onions, bacon, marsala sauce, with rosemary potatoes and Brussels sprouts — $37.99
• Italian Sausage & Peppers — Italian sausage, Parmesan-crusted roasted potatoes, red peppers, onions, garlic butter, melted mozzarella — $17.99
• Salmon Portofino — breadcrumb-crusted pan-fried salmon over house-made potato gnocchi in lemon caper piccata sauce with spinach, mushrooms, pine nuts, Parmesan — $28.99
• Chicken Piccata — seared chicken breast, lemon cream sauce, capers, spinach, fettuccine, grilled lemon — $23.99
• Chicken Marsala — pan-seared chicken over fettuccine in mushroom marsala sauce — $24.99
• Chicken Parmesan — pan-fried marinated chicken, marinara, melted mozzarella, with spaghetti — $24.99 (sub fettuccine alfredo +$2)
• Chicken Carciofi — two pan-fried chicken breasts, artichoke hearts, olives, capers, roasted tomatoes, lemon, red pepper flakes, side of spaghetti in rosa sauce — half $17.99 / full $28.99
• Eggplant Parmesan — fried eggplant with mozzarella and marinara over spaghetti — $18.99

Sides⁵

• Garlic Parmesan Fries — $5.49 · Mac N Cheese — $7.99 · Zucchini e Olio — $5.99 · Meatballs (2) — $5.99 · Sautéed Garlic Spinach — $3.99

Brunch (Saturday 11am–2pm)⁵

• Bacon & Cheese Frittata — peppered bacon bits, roasted tomatoes, baked potato bites, Parmesan and mozzarella, fresh spinach and marinara — $14.99
• Avocado & Pancetta Toast — country wheat toast, spinach, Parmesan, crispy pancetta, sunny-side-up egg — $14.99
• Spinach & Goat Cheese Frittata — roasted Roma tomatoes and fresh basil with country wheat toast — $14.29
• Brunch Gnocchi — caramelized onions, bell peppers, peppered bacon, roasted tomatoes, crispy 6-minute egg and basil — $17.99

Dessert⁵

• Tiramisu — espresso-liqueur-soaked ladyfingers, whipped mascarpone, fresh cocoa — $8.99
• Limoncello Ricotta Cheesecake — made in house, fresh berries and cream — $10.99
• Seasonal Cannolis — two house-made classic cannolis — $7.99
• Dessert Trio — tiramisu, gelato, and cannoli — $12.99
• Gelato — two scoops of spumoni, vanilla, or limone with whipped cream and berries — $10
• Affogato — espresso over vanilla gelato and white chocolate chips — $7

Kids (12 and under)⁵

• Verona’s Salad $3 · Hummus with Pita Points $4 · Chicken Strips (2) and Fries $8 · Fettuccine Alfredo $7 · Spaghetti Marinara $6 · Buttery Noodles with Parmesan $5 · Italian Mac-n-Cheese $7.50 · French Fries $3.50 · Broccolini $3.50

Aperitivo (bar and patio only)⁵

• Drinks: sangria $6 · house wine $6 · domestic beers $4
• Tapas: Sicilian Dip $5 · Hummus $5 · Cheese Flatbread (6”) $6 · Parmesan Fries $5 · Brussels Sprouts $5 · Bruschetta $4 · Pepperoni Flatbread (6”) $7 (arrabbiata +$1)

Happy hour (Mon–Fri 4–6pm)⁵

• $2 off all wine by the glass · $4 beer · $6 sangria · $2 off all specialty cocktails

Catering menu (shareables, salads, flatbreads, pastas by family/half/full pan, desserts) also published on the official menu page.⁵

Full current menu: https://cafeveronarestaurant.com/menu/

Hours: Mon–Thu 11am–9pm · Fri–Sat 11am–10pm · Sun 11am–8pm

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Links

• Official site: https://cafeveronarestaurant.com/
• Visit Independence listing: https://visitindependence.com/directory/café-verona/

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Sources

• Status verified active 2026-06-23 via Yelp — Café Verona (accessed 2026-06-23). Listing updated June 2026 with current hours and reviews; no closure flag. Address 206 W Lexington Ave, Independence, MO 64050 confirmed.

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Disputes

None at this time.

Footnotes

1. Café Verona official website — About. https://cafeveronarestaurant.com/about/ — Asserts: 206 W Lexington Ave, Independence, MO 64050; Italian cuisine; Head Chef Lilian; hours Mon–Thu 11am–9pm, Fri–Sat 11am–10pm, Sun 11am–8pm; outdoor patio; McClain Restaurant Group hospitality. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

2. The Independent — “Palatable Pursuits: Trailblazer Cindy McClain.” https://kcindependent.com/palatable-pursuits-trailblazer-cindy-mcclain/ — Asserts: Café Verona is one of nine food concepts under McClain Restaurant Group; Cindy McClain is president; 18+ businesses on Independence Square. ↩ ↩² ↩³

3. Yelp — Café Verona, Independence. https://www.yelp.com/biz/cafe-verona-independence — Asserts: active as of May 2026; 206 W Lexington Ave; 4.4 stars; pet-friendly patio. ↩ ↩² ↩³

4. Ophelia’s Restaurant — About Us. https://opheliasrestaurant.com/about-us/ — Asserts: McClains purchased first Independence Square building in 1999; intention to revive Independence Square; 18+ businesses. ↩ ↩² ↩³

5. Café Verona official website — Menu page. https://cafeveronarestaurant.com/menu/ (accessed 2026-07-24) — Asserts: full current menu with dish descriptions and prices — antipasta, zuppa/insalata, flatbreads, sandwiches, pasta + design-your-own pasta, secondo, sides, Saturday brunch (11am–2pm), dessert, kids, aperitivo, catering, happy hour (Mon–Fri 4–6pm); ordering via Toast and DoorDash; reservations via OpenTable. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵