I left Kansas too soon! I moved from Topeka to NYC two years ago, there were no restaurants like the Rowhouse when I lived in Topeka. I certainly would have been a regular! Now we have something to look forward to when we come back for a visit. Dining with friends last weekends for the first time at the Rowhouse I must provide a rare review:

Food: fresh, perfectly prepared and such an adventure with the tasting option. we love that the menu changes each week - how fun! also, great wine selection and "mixologist" provided the perfect martinis.

Service: warm service, not over-bearing nor missing-in-action. with two floors (three to come) I can see how easy it would be for servers to get overwhelmed, but I believe that good service is a two-way street - sometimes as the customer you just have to speak up if you need something. we had no issues and our every need was attended to in a timely manner.

Atmosphere: I can see how this would be a great romantic spot for couples (especially the private 'closet' table), but it is also perfect for a group. it really felt like we were dining at home (but better food and service) with friends - a lot of eating, drinking, debating, and just great conversation in a warm, friendly setting. We even took a peak around the restaurant, including the kitchen.

The Rowhouse reminds me of NYC dining but BETTER! I don't say that lightly. Even the best NYC restaurants usually end up having two flaws in my book: lack of kind/polite service and too cramped seating making for loud dining. The Rowhouse has neither of those issues. I really wish we had a restaurant like this in NY/NJ area.

We can't wait to return to Topeka for another great menu adventure!

I’ve been here twice and had completely different experiences. The first time it was wonderful, great service, delicious food and lovely atmosphere. The food was truly above and beyond anything else in Topeka. I loved the small space and support for local artists. I told everyone I know how great it was and planned to bring my family when they visit Topeka. The second time I wondered if we’d gone in the wrong place. We had a server that spent as short a time with us as humanly possible. One of our entrées, a beef dish, was lukewarm. The other entrée was the wrong dish, but the server dropped the food on the table and took off so fast that we had to sit stare at it for 10 minutes before we could let anyone know. We were also brought the wrong desserts and no silverware to eat them with, again, the server ran off before we could let him know or ask for forks. Normally, I’d chalk it up to a busy night and go back again, but for the expense I don’t want to risk it, and definitely don’t want to risk bringing my family. There were no apologies or explanations from the server so I’m left to conclude it’s not out of the ordinary. Too bad since it was so wonderful the first time.

Ok, there is no doubt that Greg Fox is Topeka's own culinary genius. One taste of the food at RowHouse would tell you that. But, the incredible cuisine, impeccable decor and one-of-a-kind dining experience is only equalled by a wait staff that is unmatched. Our favorite —Shawna — is in a league all her own. Keep up the great work RowHouse, Topeka is fortunate to have such an outstanding place to dine with as good a staff as any in the country.

Any locally owned restaurant located in a unique setting with a gourmet menu is deserving of a visit. I really wanted to like this place but, after sitting on a hard wooden chair for over and hour while only having a salad and a drink, I was beginning to feel like the woman who stayed in her bathroom for a year. Maybe it was an off night, but the atmosphere and food weren't enough to compensate for the slow service.