People who plan to use the Sprint Center as a reason to go downtown or stick around for the first time in years will find plenty of food choices already in place.

Here’s a roundup:

A city at the Crossroads

The Brick: 1727 McGee St., 816-421-1634. Great diner food (think chili, biscuits and gravy) and lots of local bands.

The Art of Pizza: 1801 Baltimore Ave., 816-421-1888. Pizzas and sandwiches and art on the walls.

JP Wine Bar & Coffee House: 1526 Walnut St., 816-842-2660. From early morning coffee to late night, wine flights, cocktails and small plates.

Christopher Elbow Artisanal Chocolate: 1819 McGee St., 816-842-1300. Exquisite handmade chocolates and 15 flavors of drinking chocolates.

Cheesehead Homemade Gourmet Grilled Sandwiches: 1616 Grand Blvd., 816-842-7333. More than just your basic grilled cheese sandwich emporium.

Kansas City Café: 1532 Grand Blvd., 816-471-7111. One of the newest eateries near the center offers different menus every day.

Grinder’s: 417 E. 18th St., 816-472-5454. Pizzas, sandwiches and tots and new outdoor music venue.

Madrigall: 1627 Oak St., 816- 472-4400. Martini bar and more. Poetry nights, best hat contests.

Souperman: 1724 Main St., 816-421-7687. Fabulous sandwiches and homemade soups. Menu changes frequently.

Pizza Bella: 1819 Baltimore Ave., 816-421-7492. Neapolitan pizza cooked in wood-fired oven.

YJ’s Snack Bar: 128 W. 18th St., 816-472-5533. One of the original tenants in the Crossroads, back in the day. Unique fare, live music, long hours on weekends.

Bulldog: 1715 Main St., 816-421-4799. Sports bar on one side, fast-casual restaurant on the other.

Nara: 1617 Main St., 816-221-6272. Sushi and other contemporary Asian fare served in stylin’ space. Be sure to check out the bathrooms.

Lidia’s: 101 W. 22nd St., 816-221-3722. James Beard award-winning chef Lidia Bastianich brings her brand of regional Italian to town

City Tavern: 101 W. 22nd St., 816-421-3696. Old-school oyster bar on one side, elegantly rustic chophouse on the other.

Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue: 101 W. 22nd St., 816-472-7427. White tablecloth, Kansas City-style barbecue, ribs, beans and pulled pork.

Hereford House: 2 E. 20th St., 816-842-1080. Original site of the locally owned steakhouse chain.

Michael Smith: 1900 Main St., 816-842-2202. James Beard award-winning chef opens a foodie haven.

Smokin Joe’s Bar-B-Q: 101 Southwest Blvd., 816-421-2282. This Crossroads ’cue joint perfumes the air. Outdoor dining added.

1924 Main: 1924 Main St., 816-472-1924. Prix fixe lunch and dinners with optional wine pairings in handsome Rieger Building.

Pierpont’s: 30 W. Pershing Road in Union Station, 816-221-5111. Elegant restaurant in renovated Union Station. Fabulous marble and wood bar, too.

Twenty 20 Restaurant: 2020 Baltimore Ave., 816-471-2020. Sleek bar and restaurant fronting the Freight House District.

Paddy O’Quigley’s Pub and Grille: 100 E. 20th St., 816-842-0400.

The Cashew: 2000 Grand Blvd., 816-221-5858. Two floors of food and fun. Al fresco dining, too.

Webster House: 1644 Wyandotte St., 816-221-4713. Lunch only in meticulously renovated 19th-century schoolhouse.

Cigar Box: 1519 Grand Blvd., 816-421-7222. Great sandwiches and homemade Italian.

Willie’s: 1501 Grand Blvd., 816-527-0122. Full-blown sports bar fronting the Sprint Center.

In the Downtown Loop

Arun Thai Place Grill: 100 E. Seventh St., 816-472-THAI. Stylish Thai, brought downtown by the owners of the Thai Place restaurants.

Seven: 613 Walnut St., 816-777-1107. Classy Italian restaurant by day, grooving nightclub and lounge by night.

Azul Latin Bistro: 1108 Grand Blvd., 816-527-0993. Latin groove comes downtown.

Drum Room: 1335 Baltimore, 816-303-1686. Food and libations in the newly renovated Hilton President Hotel.

The Studio Restaurant and Bar: 1118 McGee St., 816-214-9701. New restaurant and bar in historic building; rooftop bar in progress.

The Mango Room: 1111 Main St., 816-268-4600. Caribbean meets soul here.

Cupini’s: 25 E. 12th St., 816-842-2002. A franchise of the Cupini’s empire, specializing in Italian.

The Majestic Steakhouse: 931 Broadway, 816-471-8484. Fine steaks, stellar jazz in historic Fitzpatrick Saloon Building.

Phillips Chophouse and 12B: 106 W. 12th St., 816-221-7000. Old-school steakhouse and hip bar under the auspices of the Hotel Phillips.

Tanner’s: 1000 Broadway St., 816-471-8687. Downtown sports bar for fans of any sport.

The Quaff: 1010 Broadway St., 816-471-1918 (bar), and 816-842-4745 (grill). Where locals congregate to knock one back.

The Peanut: 418 W. Ninth St., 816-2217470. Famous BLT’s and wings.

John’s: 928 Wyandotte St., 816-474-5668. Great bar food and fabulous rooftop view looking north toward Missouri River.

Wander through the City Market

Bo Ling’s: 20 E. Fifth St., 816-841-5465. New downtown outpost for this savvy local chain.

River Market Brewery: 500 Walnut St., 816-471-6300. Brews crafted on-site. Finger-licking bar food.

Le Fou Frog: 400 E. Fifth St., 816-474-6060. One of KC’s best restaurants: fabulous French fare served by quirky, energetic staff in a funky space.

Tarantino’s Downtown Pizza: 601 McGee St., 816-421-0043. Homemade marinara, lasagna and pizzas.

Harry’s Country Club: 112 Missouri Ave., 816-421-3505. Honky-tonk jukebox, yard beers, belly-busting food.

Habashi House: 309 Main, 816-421-0414. Mediterranean fare, including falafel sandwiches.

Vivace: 529 Walnut St., 816-527-0999. Famous for its ice bar.

Garozzo’s: 526 Harrison St., 816-221-2455. Legendary Italian restaurant. Think Sinatra.

Winslow’s City Market Barbecue: 20 E. Fifth St., 816-471-RIBS. Dave Winslow’s finger-licking ’cue is a City Market institution.

Succotash: 15 E. Third St., 816-421-2807. Breakfast and lunch in funky City Market eatery.

Talk a walk on the West Side

La Bodega: 703 Southwest Blvd., 816-472-8272. Spanish tapas, sangria and paellas served in rambunctious West Side favorite.

Taqueria Mexico: 910 Southwest Blvd., 816-221-1399. One of many Mexican places on the Boulevard.

Blue Bird Café: 1700 Summit, 816-221-7559. Local, organic and seasonal fare. Brunch, too.

Meet me at 18th and Vine

Peach Tree Restaurant: 1512 E. 18th St., 816-472-8733. Upscale soul food, fried chicken, sweet potato pie and the works.

Blue Room: 1616 E. 18th St., 816-474-2929. Jazz destination is part of jazz museum.

Reproduced with permission of The Kansas City Star © Copyright 2006 The Kansas City Star. All rights reserved. Format differs from original publication. Not an endorsement.

© Kansas City Area Development Council