"Banksia is an absolute gem in downtown KC and a must-visit for anyone who appreciates fresh, flavorful food with a unique Australian twist. We had a fantastic experience from start to finish, made even better by the fact that we sat outside on their patio. It was a beautiful day, and the relaxed outdoor setting added so much to the overall vibe—perfect for soaking in the sunshine and people-watching while enjoying a leisurely meal. We started with the avocado toast, which was as delicious as it was photogenic—crisp bread topped with perfectly ripe avocado, tomatoes, and a beautiful fried egg on top. The jerk chicken salad was light but packed with bold, spicy flavor, balanced out by crisp greens and a refreshing dressing. But the real showstoppers were the meat pies. We tried three: Beef & Red Wine, Beef & Potato, and Greek Lamb. Each was wrapped in a flaky, golden crust and filled with deeply savory, comforting flavors. They were rich, satisfying, and absolutely unforgettable. Seriously—the meat pies are to die for. To round things out, we shared a Lamington for dessert—a classic Australian sponge cake coated in chocolate and coconut. It was soft, sweet, and the perfect ending to an already stellar meal. Delicious food, great service, and a perfect patio setting—Banksia nailed it. We’ll definitely be back!"

"I have never had worse service in my life. My friend made reservations here for restaurant week for my birthday and it was the worst service experience I have ever had. I was super stoked to try Australian food and the menu was stacked! We ordered appetizers (one each) and 2/3 of us received our appetizers while our friend waited. She had ordered the calamari….our waitress Mercedes walked by our table several times but refused to make eye contact or check in on us….but after several (20+ minutes) I finally flagged her down to inquire about my friends appetizer. (Myself and our other guest had visibly empty plates in front of us, as we had finished our apps already) She apologized and said she would check on it. Another 20 minutes went by and we literally received our entrees before my friend ever got her appetizer! We asked the woman who dropped off our entrees (not Mercedes) about the calamari….to which she responded she would check. She did return about 15 minutes later to tell us that they were OUT of the calamari and could she get my friend something else. Friend ordered the octopus and received it once we were finished with our entrees. Pretty sure that’s not how that should have gone. We all ordered for dessert and I received the wrong order - I had asked for the caramel chocolate shortbread but received a slice of chocolate cake instead. I eventually had to flag Mercedes down again to ask about the wrong order. She returned with an unfinished piece of the chocolate caramel shortbread….it did not have the finishing layer of chocolate that the gentleman next to me received on his dessert. The kangaroo was practically inedible because of the wine reduction and strong clove taste, the lamb shanks were literally one bite of lamb the size of a half dollar a piece. I had to share my entree with my friend because he was left hungry from the skimpy portions on the lamb. Also on the lamb, the sauce was bitter tasting and overbearing in my opinion. I ordered the chili prawn linguine and while the flavor was great, it looked like they had taken a single prawn and chopped it into a dozen pieces and served that. The prawn were not even identifiable. The pavlova was good and my friends entree - the Portuguese chicken dish was absolutely delicious!! However the lack of professionalism and courtesy shown by the waitress was enough to ruin the whole dinner. I will not be returning."

"Banksia is a bright, modern minimalist take on an old fashioned canteen. The staff was friendly, helpful, and so genuinely nice that I briefly wondered if I’d wandered into a parallel universe where customer service is still a thing. I came for brunch and ordered eggs Benedict—except plot twist: no poached eggs here. Scrambled instead and it worked. Light, balanced, and paired with a crisp green salad dressed in balsamic that whispered, “You’re making good life choices.” Then came the beef and red wine pie. Oh, this was no ordinary pie—it was a glorious Australian homage to its British gaatronomic ancestor, only better dressed and more flavorful. The sesame seeds on top were a cheeky flourish. Banksia is unique yet familiar—a culinary hug with an Aussie accent. If you’re in the mood for hearty comfort food that doesn’t feel like a cholesterol bomb, this is your spot. Just be prepared to fight for a seat during peak hours."

"I always order my food in here cuz I love it , I can’t eat meat so I order avocado as a protein on my breakfast burrito and it was nothing on it at the first bite notice so I opened, and I was correct my orden wasn’t make it right, I call and Marshals just goes like email the manager and he can hook you up with avocado!! Hahah like what!! Literally so disappointing with the customer service today!! Most of the time they know me and they are really nice"

"I’d say the food is pretty good, the sausage rolls were great. Didn’t try the pies but looked amazing and everyone around had ordered one so I’d say they are quite popular as well. The cappuccino wasn’t bad but the bean had a very acidic aftertaste so not my flavor but perhaps some people quite like that Lamingtons were nice just wish they had more jam inside and the sponge was a bit grainy for my taste but again a matter of taste."