The restaurant space at 4971 W. 135th St. in Leawood has lived a lot of lives.
Before COVID-19, it was home to local diner chain Winstead’s, which closed during the pandemic. It later took on new life as Rakar Dumpling House, an Asian restaurant and antique shop, which operated there for three years before closing at the end of last year.
Now something new is being cooked up inside the Leawood space.
Dick’s Steak & Oyster, under the same ownership as local eatery Nick and Jake’s, hopes to open there this summer — pending city approvals and renovations to the space.
Dick’s Steak & Oyster is coming to 4971 W. 135th St.
- The restaurant is coming to a space just off 135th Street and Briar Drive in Leawood, about a block east of Nall Avenue.
- There, it will operate near strength training studio Discover Strength at the Cornerstone of Leawood shopping center.
- Though regular hours for the restaurant have not yet been finalized, owner Kevin Timmons said it will be open for dinner service only.
The restaurant will specialize in steak and seafood
The menu at Dick’s will offer prime and wagyu steaks cooked on “New York-style” broilers and charcoal grills. Dan Larson, a longtime regional executive chef for 801 Chophouse, will serve as the restaurant’s executive chef.
On the seafood side, Dick’s will also feature a raw bar with fresh oysters from either coast, as well as dishes like shrimp cocktail and lobster salads.
In addition to steak and seafood, Timmons said the menu will offer other pasta, lamb and chicken dishes. A bar program is in the works, with a lengthy wine list and craft cocktails.
The name of the restaurant is a nod to Kevin Timmons’ father, Richard (“Dick”) Timmons — and his business partner’s father, Dick Watkins.
Timmons’ father was born in 1938, and that’s the time that Timmons said will inspire the restaurant’s decor.
“We want it to feel like, when you walk into the place, that it was built in 1938,” he said.
Dick’s is not the first concept for its owners
Timmons and his business partner, Doug Watkins, opened Nick and Jake’s in Overland Park roughly 25 years ago.
The name of that restaurant has a familial tie, too. It’s named after Timmons’ son, Nick, and Watkins’ son, Jake.
Today, Nick and Jake’s has two Johnson County locations in Overland Park and Shawnee, as well as one across the state line in Parkville. Its Overland Park location is just down the street from where Dick’s steakhouse will be.
But Timmons said the two won’t compete with each other. The new venture, he said, will serve as a higher-end sister concept to Nick and Jake’s.
“This is a concept that we’ve always wanted to do,” Timmons said. “We’re really excited that we are going to be able to bring the flavors of prime and wagyu to south Johnson County.”
Want more food and drink news? Shaved ice shack makes Johnson County debut in Overland Park
