Harvey’s at Union Station in Kansas City’s Union Station carries a rich history that intertwines with the legacy of Fred Harvey’s dining empire and the iconic 1946 film The Harvey Girls, starring Judy Garland.
Fred Harvey, a freight agent turned restaurateur, revolutionized railroad dining in the late 19th century by establishing the Harvey House chain. These establishments offered travelers quality meals, a significant improvement over the typical station fare of canned beans and cold coffee. The Harvey House at Union Station opened in 1914, seating 300 diners and featuring a remodeled dining room known as the Westport Room by 1936. This location operated until December 31, 1968, marking the end of an era when the Fred Harvey Company was sold to Amfac Inc.
When dining car service on the Santa Fe line was initiated in 1883, the menu featured Blue Points oysters on shell, duck, stuffed turkey, and Kansas City fillet.
“Meals by Fred Harvey” became part of the railway’s marketing, which meant Harvey needed to maintain high standards. He realized that running a chain (his Harvey Houses were hundreds of miles of rail track apart) meant staying on top of all that was going on. This included dropping in unannounced, to check on things.
A typical breakfast consisted of steak with eggs, hash brown potatoes, a stack of six pan-sized wheat cakes with maple syrup, and apple pie with coffee for dessert.
The surprise visit was a device brought to perfection by Harvey. In 1881, while on one of his whirlwind tours, he devastated the staffs of several Houses, firing managers that didn’t meet his expectations in dramatic fashion. There is a legend that had Harvey tossing the manager and dining room equipment of the Las Vegas Harvey House out onto the platform during one such visit.
While the Harvey House was celebrated for its food, it would also become famous for its “Harvey Girls,” the white-uniformed waitresses staffing the restaurants, all trained to follow precise rules on how to fill a glass and place silverware on the table.
The Harvey Girls were young women employed at Harvey House restaurants, renowned for their impeccable service and distinctive uniforms. In the 1946 film The Harvey Girls, Judy Garland portrayed a waitress who joins this group, bringing the Harvey Girls’ story to a broader audience. The film featured the Oscar-winning song “On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe,” which became a major hit and a signature tune of the era.
Harvey’s Today
In 2011, a new restaurant named Harvey’s opened in Union Station’s Grand Hall, paying homage to the original Harvey House. Operated by a local Kansas City family, Harvey’s offers a menu with a variety of selections, including soups, starters, burgers, sandwiches, salads, and desserts. The restaurant serves an award-winning brunch buffet exclusively on Sundays.
The brunch menu includes:
Cold Station: Peel + Eat Shrimp, Smoked Salmon, Caprese Salad, Roasted Vegetable Salad, assorted desserts, and breakfast breads.
Hot Station: Scrambled Eggs, Egg Strada, Bacon, Chef’s Vegetables, Brancato’s Famous Fried Chicken, Buttermilk Biscuits + Gravy, Chef’s Fish Feature, Gourmet Mac + Cheese, and Cheddar Grits.
Carving Station: Prime Rib of Beef, Glazed Ham, Fresh Baked Rolls.
Tableside Orders: Traditional Egg Benedict and Made-to-Order Omelets.
While the original Harvey House is no longer in operation, its legacy endures through the continued presence of Harvey’s in Union Station, serving as a reminder of the golden age of railroad dining and its cultural impact. History of the rails and the beautiful stations that hosted them were all part of this amazing history that was the beginning of graceful travel.
