Kansas City’s food scene can celebrate the end to an exciting year. The city was named among Zagat’s “30 Most Exciting Food Cities in America 2017” in December.

Zagat, a restaurant-rating site, ranked Kansas City at No. 28 on the list. The listing noted the density of James Beard award semifinalists and called out some impressive new eateries.

“The oft-overlooked Missouri metropolis was home to no less than five 2017 James Beard semifinalists,” Zagat wrote. Those semifinalists include:

• Manifesto, a speakeasy below The Rieger in the Crossroads Arts District, for Outstanding Bar Program.
• Bluestem in Westport, named as an Outstanding Restaurant. Owners Colby and Megan Garrelts also are award-winning chefs: Colby as 2013 James Beard Foundation Best Chef: Midwest, and Megan as semifinalist for Outstanding Pastry Chef.
• Port Fonda‘s Patrick Ryan as Best Chef: Midwest. Port Fonda has locations in Westport and Lawrence.

The “noteworthy newcomers” listed by Zagat include the “epically swank” Monarch Cocktail Bar & Lounge at Country Club Plaza, speakeasy Swordfish Tom’s in the Crossroads, EJ’s Urban Eatery in the West Bottoms, and the new Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room in the Crossroads.

Across the state, St. Louis came in at No. 17 on the list. Los Angeles was dubbed No. 1.