Wichita New & Notable: Highlands Gastropub & Cardroom

Poker happens to be one of my many little obsessions. I learned the game three years ago from my friends Richard and Tom at Kirby's Beer Store and have been playing at Kirby's and at various friends' home games ever since. I've long since accepted I don't have the mettle to play at a high level, but I still really enjoy Hold 'Em and various other poker permutations. 

Add the reuben and yam fries I remember from the early days of the Anchor, and you have an unbeatable combination. So when we heard that former Anchor chef JD Harvey had moved to this new place on north Rock (after a stint at Cibola), I was eager to check it out. 

Last Tuesday I met my friend Sarah Jane for lunch at Highlands Gastropub & Cardroom. We split an appetizer of loaded smashed potatoes, Sarah ordered shepherd's pie and I settled on the meatloaf with a side of yam fries (yay). The appetizer was enormous (and a bargain at $6). Sadly, we were only able to consume half of it between the two of us. The potatoes were topped with cheese, delicious bacon, fried shallots (never met a shallot I didn't like) and crème fraiche. Verdict: Yum. 

My "McPhail Meatloaf" cost $10.50 and clocked in at what seemed like a full two lbs. of ground beef. Traditional goodness with a more delicate flavor than usual, my entree was crowned with sweet potato hay, which it turns out I enjoy saying. The yam fries were as delicious as I remembered. 

Sarah Jane's shepherd's pie was also good (she shared a good-sized bite). It cost $9.00 and came sans sides.

We ate right before I was scheduled for what turned out to be a moderately painful medical procedure, so I was happy to have ordered a glass of Cabernet with my meal--the name escapes me now but it was decent (if a little pricey for me at $9). Highlands offers both a decent wine list and beer selection, the latter with all the usual brewery, microbrew & import suspects.

The only downside to our meal was that our entrees arrived very shortly after the appetizer, and I didn't receive the salad that was supposed to have come with my meal. Neither were a big deal, though--timing plates is often off at a new place, and frankly I'd forgotten about the salad, too. 

Brian and I returned to Highlands last night and ordered the loaded smashed potatoes again. We decided to split two entrees: The Highland Slides ($6.50) and a half rack of brazed pork ribs ($12). The slides consisted of two mini sliders with sweet onion marmalade. Now, I'm pretty sure sliders aren't supposed to come with cheese and these did, but I really can't ever object to the addition of cheese. Slider purists beware, though. I'd rate this dish as good--the patty was excellent--but I'm not aching to order it again ASAP. It came with a side and I elected for regular potato fries this time. 

The sliders probably suffered in comparison to the ribs, which were really spectacular--juicy and tender and all-around mmm. We actually were confused about whether we'd received a full order--the half rack is very generously portioned. Neither Brian nor I are delicate eaters, but we couldn't finish all the food and I think next time we might end up splitting an entree and an appetizer and calling it good. 

As it happened, our friend and fellow poker aficionado Jason crashed our romantic dinner and ordered the aforementioned reuben ($8.50 with fries). I think he gave it two thumbs up, but it was hard to understand the guy between bites. 

We had exceptional service last night--our server was friendly and good-humored, and didn't miss a beat when another diner showed up twenty minutes into the meal (a serious headache for wait staff, I know). 

Dinner was over at about 8 p.m. and Jason convinced us to stick around for the Blue Collar Poker Tournament beginning at 9. We also managed to rope our friend Kali into the enterprise. By the time we'd visited the bar and returned to our seats at our assigned tables, the tournament had ballooned to about fifty people. Entry is free for BCPT events, but you have to pay $10 to rent a chair. (All but one entrant did so, and he actually ended up in third place and in the money, winning $60 of a $500 prize pool.) Many of the tournament players clearly had experience with these events and many of them knew one another. I was interested to see that there were a lot of women playing as well as a wide range of ages. As usual at any poker event, a sizable minority were only too happy to give little poker "lessons" as play went on (to which I always mentally roll my eyes). Let's just say a handful of the people there would probably never make my Christmas card list, but plenty of others were friendly and engaging, or at least polite. 

Our little party made a pretty good showing. Brian went out right before the third-to-last table broke, Jason and I went out while two tables were still playing, and Kali made it to the final table and placed fourth (and in the money). 

Highlands also hosts a home-grown card game called Kandu, which can be legally played for money. It's very similar to Hold 'Em, except the cards are shown prior to the deal, as explained in this Eagle article. 

The great service continued throughout the evening. The tournament director (possibly one of the owners--I didn't catch his name) was friendly, calm, and evenhanded; despite the general lack of drink orders a server came around frequently to check on the players; and the bartenders were all personable. My work schedule and preference for smaller games means I likely won't play in these free tournaments often, but I thought it was certainly $10 well spent. And we will definitely be back for the food. 

Highlands Gastropub & Cardroom 

3731 N. Rock Road (just north of Braum's)

Wichita, Kansas 67226

316/260-6155

Links:

• Review of Highlands Gastropub & Cardroom from Foodies (with pictures)  
• Betting OK in 'Barely Legal' Card Game, from the Wichita Eagle    
• Highlands Gastropub & Cardroom website, which includes their menu, a schedule of tournaments, and their cardroom policies

Comments

[Makenzi]

OMG I cannot wait to try this place. Thanks for the review!

[Kyle]

I should have never read this while hungry.

[Ching]

Try the St. Augustine wings when you go. They are the best!

[Ching]

BTW, you were there the Friday night that we skipped! =( Let us know when you decide to go again so we can all play together!