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Osteria Il Centro is a locally owned neighborhood Italian bistro on the south edge of the Country Club Plaza, open at 5101 Main Street since St. Patrick’s Day 1995. Founded and still owned by Kansas City restaurateur Gregg Johnson, it is rated the #1 Italian restaurant in Kansas City by Zagat and has earned 22 consecutive Wine Spectator “Best of Award of Excellence” honors for a reserve cellar of more than 10,000 bottles.123

Description

Osteria Il Centro is an Italian bistro and wine bar in the South Plaza district of Kansas City. The name translates roughly to “meeting place at the center,” a concept drawn from the small neighborhood osterias scattered throughout the Mediterranean.1 The kitchen serves “a pleasing medley of pasta, meat, fish and vegetable dishes complimented with a blend of savory herbs and spices — and topped with their own house-made sauces.”1 The restaurant is best known for its wine program: a reserve list of more than 10,000 bottles that has repeatedly earned national recognition.14 It operates dinner-only, Monday through Saturday.4

Ownership and history

Osteria Il Centro was opened by Gregg Johnson on St. Patrick’s Day 1995.2 Johnson — founder and owner of Minsky’s Pizza and eggtc. as well — ran a busy Minsky’s location next door at the time; when the adjacent Mediterranean restaurant space became available, he signed the lease himself, having traveled to osterias in Italy and embraced the concept of a neighborhood wine bar pairing fresh, simple food with a deep cellar.2 Johnson was named Restaurateur of the Year by the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association in recognition of his ownership of Minsky’s, Osteria Il Centro, and eggtc.3 The restaurant celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2015 and its 30th in 2025, both under continuous Johnson ownership.21

[!note] Seed correction The research seed named “Domenico” as a possible chef/owner. No source supports this; the verified founder and owner is Gregg Johnson. The seed name has been discarded.

Sources

Disputes

None known.

Footnotes

  1. Osteria Il Centro — official website (Home / About Us / Signature Dishes). https://www.osteriailcentro.com/ — asserts: address 5101 Main St, KC MO 64112; established 1995; “meeting place at the center” concept; Italian menu with house-made sauces; Zagat #1 Italian; Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence; 10,000+ reserve bottles; 30th anniversary (2025). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  2. Feast Magazine, “In Celebrating 20 Years, Osteria Il Centro Honors Beloved Patrons.” https://www.feastmagazine.com/travel/kansas-city/article_679b6eac-ccf2-11e4-a834-2bf72edcb93e.html — asserts: Gregg Johnson founder/owner; opened St. Patrick’s Day 1995; signed lease himself next to his Minsky’s; concept inspired by Italian osterias; 20-year milestone. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  3. Osteria Il Centro, “Gregg Johnson Named KCRA Restaurateur of the Year.” https://www.osteriailcentro.com/gregg-johnson-named-kcra-restaurateur-of-the-year/ — asserts: Gregg Johnson is founder & owner of Osteria Il Centro, Minsky’s, and eggtc.; named Greater KC Restaurant Association Restaurateur of the Year. ↩ ↩2

  4. Yelp — Osteria Il Centro (Updated May 2026), 5101 Main St, KC MO. https://www.yelp.com/biz/osteria-il-centro-kansas-city — asserts: currently open; address; hours Mon–Thu 4–10, Fri–Sat 4–11; dinner only; recent reviews May 2026. ↩ ↩2

See also

Categories
  • Locally owned
  • Italian
  • Plaza