The buzz around 1587 Prime has been driven as much by star power as by steak, but Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes are now confronting a far less flattering spotlight after a scathing new review questioned whether their high profile restaurant can justify its hype.
In a withering critique published by Defector, veteran Kansas City food critic Liz Cook described the downtown steakhouse as a place built on spectacle rather than substance, arguing that the concept leans heavily on a “child like idea of luxury” while failing at the fundamentals.
Cook visited the restaurant twice before delivering her verdict, later summarising her disappointment with a blunt social media post: “I regret to announce that I have visited 1587 Prime.”
The restaurant, which opened in September and is named after the jersey numbers of Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes, has quickly become one of the hardest reservations in Kansas City.
Part of that demand, Cook acknowledged, is fuelled by curiosity and celebrity, including the added intrigue surrounding Taylor Swift, Kelce‘s fiancée, whose fans routinely document their attempts to snag a table.
The restaurant, named after Kelce‘s No. 87 and Mahomes‘ No. 15 jerseys, opened in September and quickly became one of the hardest reservations in town.
Cook noted that part of that demand is fueled by the presence of Taylor Swift, whose fans have flooded social media with posts documenting their efforts to secure a reservation in hopes of spotting the global superstar.
Cook did credit the atmosphere. The marble staircase, dramatic lighting, and sharply dressed servers all fit the image of a high end steakhouse. But once seated, she wrote, the experience began to unravel.
When showmanship outweighs substance
Cook‘s most pointed criticism centered on the food, particularly the steaks.
“The main trouble with 1587 Prime isn’t its child like idea of luxury,” she wrote. “It’s that it’s a steakhouse that doesn’t nail the steaks.”
She described cuts that were thin or inconsistently cooked, including one served without a steak knife, a glaring misstep in a city with deep beef roots.
The theatrics did little to help. Cook noted that several staff members appeared dedicated solely to tableside flambé and fire based presentations, including a signature cocktail known as The Alchemy, a nod to Swift.
The drink, she wrote, tasted “like a Cosmo someone had strained through a French Vanilla Yankee Candle.”
Prices were predictably steep. Cook reported paying $78 for her most expensive steak, $22 for the cocktail, and $15 for a trio of ketchup ramekins, one of which was plain Heinz.
While she acknowledged that high prices are expected at celebrity steakhouses, she argued the cost only magnified the disappointment. “There is no need for anything this mediocre to cost this much,” she wrote.
Cook also criticized the restaurant for relying on recycled menu ideas from its hospitality partner rather than showcasing original concepts or stronger local influence.
Her conclusion was blunt, calling the restaurant a “parched vision of luxury” propped up by branding more than execution.
Still, the criticism may do little to slow momentum. Reservations remain booked weeks in advance, teammates and their families continue to frequent the space, and curiosity alone keeps tables full.
For now, 1587 Prime appears positioned to succeed regardless, even as questions linger about whether Kelce and Mahomes will look to refine the product behind the flash.
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