Food is about more than taste, it is about bringing people together. As soon as you walk into Bamboo Penny’s in Leawood, you breathe deeper and instantly begin to relax. While the atmosphere bodes of upscale excellence, it exudes the comfort and ambiance of knowing you have walked into a family establishment.
Penny and her husband Doug have done an amazing job not just with food, but with the atmosphere. They had the vision for creating a wonderful restaurant that didn’t just have great food with ties to Penny’s upbringing in Thailand, but an opportunity for customers to sit, relax and reconnect over food. In Thailand Penny and her mom would cook and sell their creations from the family food cart, so from the beginning, Penny has seen and known about the influence good food can have on a person.
When asked why she does what she does, Penny explains that she recognized the power and voice of food, and the connection she feels to her past and family while getting to live out her dream here in the United States. Although they had the vision and the passion, they needed to add a member to the restaurant family, so they found Michael Werner, director of hospitality & operations for Leap Hospitality. This leadership team could bring the vision to life.
One thing that was crucial to the design was to ensure that not only was the food connected to Penny’s history in Thailand but the ambiance and culture had to be present as well. This can be noticed through all the little details throughout the restaurant. The flowers, statues and plants were all hand-picked and placed by Penny herself. This acknowledgment of details is reflected in the food and placement of tables. You know that great conversations are going to happen here because they made the time and space for people to come and sit awhile.
With its perfect placement in Park Place in Leawood, it is located right next to Barkley Square/The Ice, the green space where concerts are held in the summer and the ice rink is opened in the winter. You’re welcomed with their retractable windows so you can sit on their patio and have a glass of wine while listening to music. You can also make memories on their rooftop bar, The Bamboo Room, which has a retractable ceiling, beautiful fire pits and a full menu service up top.
After taking the private elevator to the Bamboo Room, it’s easy to imagine making memories there, to envision what it would be like to sit there with friends for hours, enjoying the slower pace, laughing and trying one of their signature cocktails that alternate through the seasons. They really do believe that community is important and food is the key to ensuring that people connect. You can always get behind good food, but you can also get nervous when spice is involved. This is why Bamboo Penny’s is great because you can request whatever spice level you want, so no one in your party has to compromise! Plus, they have many gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options, so no one should feel left out.
Penny wanted to create a space for people to eat good food, gather around and stay awhile, and she accomplished that by sharing what she had, a love of cooking and community. You won’t want to miss this restaurant where you can take your loved ones and make some memories of your own!