10
10. 2000
TOP OF THE HILL 2008
BEST OVERALL RESTAURANT
BY HALLIE MANN editor@kansan.com
Every now and then we all get to the point where we can't take another package of Ramen for dinner. Or maybe Mrs. E's gets too monotonous. For those of us who also can't cook well, or really just don't want to, Lawrence has several restaurants that offer a variety of choices for students. KU students voted in the University Daily Kansan's Top of the Hill awards and chose Free State Brewing Company, Ingredient and Zen Zero as the best overall restaurants in Lawrence. Free State Brewing Company was voted first place while Zen Zero and Ingredient tied for second.
Free State Brewing Company is located at 636 Massachusetts St. in downtown Lawrence. It opened in 1989 as the first legal brewery in Kansas in 100 years and brews a variety of beers in-house.
Debbie Fey, manager at Free State, said students chose the restaurant for its affordability and selection.
"Free State allows a person to get lunch or dinner and a beer or two for a good price." Fey said.
Fey said the consistency of taste and the price of the beer keep customers coming back for more. Some of the more popular
menu items are the Black Bean Quesadilla, Fish and Chips,and the Onion Rings,she said.
Nick Kirkman, Overland Park junior has enjoyed meals at Free State.
"I've had some of their oatmeal beers and they have a good taste," Kirkman said, "It's just something different."
The first runners up, Ingredient and Zen Zero, also bring a different flavor to Lawrence and KU students. Ingredient is located at 947 Massachusetts St., and is populated with KU students on a regular basis. Ingredient offers an American menu and is known for its salads and custom pizzas. The corner location offers a casual location to study and grab a bite to eat in downtown Lawrence. Ingredient also has locations in Leawood and Columbia, Mo.
Adam Warneck, manager at Ingredient, said the restaurant had been successful since opening last summer.
Warneck said Ingredient's success was due to its uniqueness in Lawrence.
"There isn't really anything that close to what Ingredient offers," Warneck said.
Elise Behrens, Omaha, Neb., sophomore said she, too, enjoyed the atmosphere at Ingredient.
"It's kind of like an upscale version of Panera Bread," She said.
Behrens said prices at Ingredient were reasonable and servile was fast and friendly.
The third finalist for best overall restaurant is Zen Zero, an Asian restaurant that offers dishes from Tibet, Japan, Nepal, and Thailand on its menu.
Zen Zero is located downtown at 811 Massachusetts St. Subarna Bhattachan, owner of Zen Zero, owns two other Lawrence restaurants, Genovese and La Parilla, also located downtown.
"We make everything from scratch and it's all really fresh," Bhattachan said. Some of the more popular menu items are the drunken noodles and the Singapore noodles.
Bhattachan said Zen Zero's menu offered reasonable prices for KU students. Most of the menu items cost between $8 to $10.
"We try to offer some items that are familiar in the American palate," Bhattachan said.
Christine Ashburn, Lawrence freshman, said Zen Zero had the "Lawrence feel," and that's why students chose it as one of the best restaurants.
"What I really like is that it can be a formal place to go eat or you can show up in ratty jeans and a T-shirt," she said.
1st Free State Brewing Co.
636 Massachusetts St.
Jessica Sain-Baird/KANSAN
Jessica Sain-Baird/KANSAN
2nd — Ingredient (tie) 947 Massachusetts St.
Jessica Sain-Baird/KANSAN
Thanks for voting Body Boutique as one of the top three workout facilities in Lawrence!
AWESOME CLASSES! AFFORDABLE RATES! FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT! AND MORE!
COME ON BY! WE'D LOVE TO MAKE BODY BOUTIQUE YOUR FITNESS FACILITY TODAY!
HURRY IN FOR THIS LIMITED TIME OFFER:
3 months
ONLY $145
(Makes a great gift!)
BODYboutique
women's fitness·health spa
785. 749.2424
9th & Iowa
Gift cards available at www.bodybofitness.com