Business Details
37 Years
experience
Experience Authentic Italian Cuisine at Garozzo's Ristorante - Lee's Summit
Garozzo's Ristorante - Lee's Summit has been serving the Kansas City community for over 32 years, offering an authentic Italian dining experience rooted in family tradition. Founded by Michael Garozzo, a St. Louis native with a lifelong passion for hospitality, the restaurant began as a modest venture in Downtown Kansas City's historic Italian neighborhood. Our signature Chicken Spiedini, created in 1989, has become a regional staple, complemented by house-made sauces and private-label Chianti Classico wine. Recognized as Best Italian Restaurant by multiple local publications, we combine decades of culinary expertise with a commitment to quality ingredients and personalized service.Our catering division extends this tradition to weddings, corporate events, and private parties, while our family-friendly atmosphere ensures every guest feels welcome. With two locations and a thriving carryout program, Garozzo's Ristorante - Lee's Summit remains dedicated to preserving Italian heritage through food, hospitality, and community engagement.
Services
Italian Cuisine
Chicken Spiedini
Catering Services
Private Dining
Wine Sales
Signature Sauces
Carryout Meals
Event Hosting
Details
- Year established: 1989
Highlights and features
- We've perfected Italian cuisine in Kansas City for over 32 years
- Our signature Chicken Spiedini is a regional culinary icon
- Full-service catering for weddings and corporate events available
- Family-owned with deep roots in Italian culinary traditions
- Award-winning restaurant recognized by Zagat and local publications
What people say
Best Italian Restaurant
Food so good you'll taste it in your dreams
Legendary wall of fame
Signature Chicken Spiedini
Consistently excellent service
Services
Chicken Spiedini
Our iconic Chicken Spiedini features marinated chicken skewers rolled in Italian breadcrumbs and grilled to perfection. Served with house-made Maggie's sugo and pasta, this dish combines traditional Italian techniques with Kansas City flair. Available in multiple preparations including diablo sauce, alfredo, or amogio olive oil blend, it remains the restaurant's most requested item after 35 years.
Full-Service Catering
Garozzo's Ristorante - Lee's Summit catering division handles weddings, corporate events, and private parties with customized Italian menus. Our team provides staffing, rentals, and setup for events ranging from intimate gatherings to 75+ guest celebrations. Menus feature signature dishes like Chicken Spiedini, pasta stations, and carved meats, with options for formal service or buffet-style presentations.
Private Dining
We offer dedicated private dining rooms at both locations for special occasions. The Downtown KC location features three spaces including the Tony Bennett VIP Room, accommodating 20-45 guests with minimum spending requirements. Overland Park provides two connected rooms for up to 75 guests. All spaces maintain Garozzo's Ristorante - Lee's Summit signature Italian ambiance with dedicated service for birthdays, reunions, and business functions.
Wine Sales
Our private-label Chianti Classico wine, developed during Michael Garozzo's Ristorante - Lee's Summit 1991 Italian visit, remains a menu staple. Available by the glass or bottle in restaurants and through carryout, this DOCG-certified wine represents our commitment to authentic Italian pairings. Seasonal promotions include 50% off carryout wine bottles during Thanksgiving week.
Signature Sauces
House-made sauces like Maggie's Sugo, Diablo, and Amogio are bottled for retail sale. These ready-to-use Italian staples maintain the same recipes served in our restaurants, available in local grocery stores. The sauce line extension allows customers to recreate Garozzo's Ristorante - Lee's Summit flavors at home, complementing our frozen Chicken Spiedini product available since 2016.
People
Michael Garozzo
Owner
Founder Michael Garozzo opened the first Garozzo's Ristorante - Lee's Summit in 1989 after starting as a busboy. Born on St. Louis' Italian Hill neighborhood, he learned hospitality from his waiter father and uncle. This third-generation restaurateur created the Chicken Spiedini and developed private-label wines and sauces while maintaining family traditions across three decades of service.
Questions
What makes Garozzo's Ristorante - Lee's Summit Chicken Spiedini special?
Our Chicken Spiedini combines marinated chicken breast rolled in Italian breadcrumbs, grilled to perfection, and served with house-made Maggie's sugo. Created in 1989, this Kansas City staple uses a proprietary recipe that balances traditional Italian techniques with Midwestern tastes.
Do you offer catering services for large events?
Yes, our full-service catering handles weddings, corporate events, and private parties for up to 75+ guests. We provide customized Italian menus, staffing, rentals, and setup with options including carved meats, pasta stations, and signature dishes like Chicken Spiedini.
Are your private dining rooms available for weekend events?
Private dining rooms at both locations accommodate weekend events with minimum spending requirements. Downtown KC's Tony Bennett VIP Room requires $1500-$2500 minimums Friday/Saturday evenings, while Overland Park's combined rooms need $3250 for weekend bookings.
How can I purchase Garozzo's Ristorante - Lee's Summit products for home use?
Our house-made sauces (Maggie's Sugo, Diablo, Amogio) and frozen Chicken Spiedini are available at Kansas City grocery stores. Visit our website to find retailers carrying these products that let you recreate Garozzo's Ristorante - Lee's Summit flavors at home.
What awards has Garozzo's Ristorante - Lee's Summit received?
We've earned multiple accolades including Best Italian Restaurant 2021 by Ingram's Magazine, The Pitch, and Kansas City Magazine. Our Zagat rating highlights us as one of America's top Italian restaurants, with additional recognition in Taste of Home and The Knot.
