52
MONDAY, AUGUST 18,2008
AROUND TOWN
Restaurants spring up during summer
New venues offer good eats ranging from Coney Island cuisine to burgers with tons of toppings.
BY ASHER FUSCO afusco.kansan.com
While students left Lawrence for internships and vacations, several restaurants sprung up in Lawrence over the summer.
Five Guys Burgers and Fries, 2040 W. 31st Street, opened in late June adjacent to Best Buy and Longhorn Steakhouse.
The Virginia-based chain, which started in 1986 and now claims 292 franchises, offers a "straightforward menu with great hot dogs and burgers,"
according to co-owner Mike Richev.
Richey said Five Guys Burgers
and Fries was a no-frills restaurant that stuck to grilling burgers, fries and hot dogs instead of dabbling in salads and desserts. The restaurant offers 15 free toppings on burgers and hot dogs — Richey said bacon was the most popular topping.
by restaurants such as Backyard Burgers and Steak *n* Shake, Richey
"We feel like the response has been good and people seem to enjoy the product. Now we're just anxious to see some of the students coming back to town."
Despite competition from near-
MIKE RICHEY Co-owner of Five Guys Burgers and Fries
said Five Guys Burgers and Fries' business has been robust in its first few weeks.
some of the students coming back to town"
"We feel like the response has been good and people seem to enjoy the product," Richey said. "Now we're just anxious to see
Holiday Plaza shopping center is home to Paisano's Ristorante, one of Lawrence's top date-night destinations. As of early July, the strip mall also has a more laid-back dining option: The Hut, 2116 W. 25th St..
The Hut is just what it sounds like: A small hut that wouldn't seem out of place at the state fair. But its small size belies its fairly diverse menu.
The restaurant serves a variety of simple foods, including open-faced roast beef sandwiches, frito pies and sloppy joes. Owner Barry Rogers
said The Hut's specialty was Coney Island-style hot dogs miniature hot dogs served with onions and hot sauce.
"The Coney Island hot dog obviously comes from the region in New York, but it has become more popular in the South," said The Hut owner Barry Rogers. "We're hoping it'll catch on here."
Rogers said Coney Island-style food was particularly popular in Tulsa, Okla., where he previously owned a restaurant.
The Hut's most expensive item costs less than $5.
— Edited by Matt Hirschfeld
RESTAURANTS (CONTINUED FROM 51)
St., and Johnny's Tavern, 401 N. Second St.
The Yacht Club is not the snobly boating community its name refers to, but actually a rabid sports bar that has a standing room only crowd on football and basketball games days. Plus the food is excellent.
Johnny's Tavern, another classic Lawrence sports bar, has served Jayhawk fans since 1957 and offers great burgers and fantastic pizza. It sits just north of the Kansas River, but if there ever was a reason to travel to north Lawrence, Johnny's was the reason.
Between 7pm and 10pm buy one ice cream creation, get another at the same or lesser value free!
"The Wheel is like KU's version of the Max from Saved By the Bell," said P.J. Owings Kansas
To partake in a Lawrence tradition and to experience the University's most famous bar head to the Wagon Wheel, 507 14th St., on weekday afternoons between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The Wheel serves great burgers, chicken sandwiches and fries
during the afternoon, and is home to the famous, thanks to SportsCenter anchor Scott Van Pelt, Wang Burger.
from every seat in the house and it accepts Beak 'Em Bucks.
"Ten is the best place to go to on a date. I love the intimate setting and the food is awesome."
City, MO., 2007 graduate. "If you don't go at least once you are missing out on a special Kansas tradition."
From an ethnic standpoint, Lawrence provides some great locally-owned options. Jade Mongolian Barbeque, 1511 W. 23rd St., is a terrific blend of Mongolian grill and
LIZ GROSSSPIETSCH Barrington, Ill., senior
The last can't miss sports bar in town is Bigg's Barbeque. The best place for ribs and pulled pork sandwiches in town, Biggsss also is also equipped with HDTVs in plain view
Chinese buffet.
With an all you can eat buffet,
soft serve ice cream, and a free soft drink with a KUID, students can stuff their faces for less than $10 at Jade Mongolian.
The former nclubclub EightOneFive
turned into the authentic Mexican restaurant Cielito Lindo, 815 New Hampshire St., two years ago this October. Cielito Lindo offers quality Mexican food at reasonable prices and a classic Mexican atmosphere. The restaurant's large patio makes it a perfect place to eat and drink
842-3232 FOR CARRYOUT/DELIVER &DINE-IN
701C W. 9TH
"WE PILE IT ON!"
THURSDAY, FRIDAY
& SATURDAY
OPEN TIL
3AM
TRY OUR WINGS!
$6.50 WALK-IN SPECIAL SMALL 1-TOPPING PIZZA &
20OZ. DRINK
DINE-IN/CARRY-OUT ONLY
"Ten is the best place to go to on a date, I love the intimate setting and the food is awesome," said Liz Grosspietsch, Barrington, Ill. senior.
DINE-IN/CARRYOUT/DELIVERY
outside on a nice day.
LARGE 16"
ONE TOPPING PIZZA
$8.99
For students looking to class it up, two fine dinning options are Ten at the Eldridge Hotel, 701 Massachusetts St. and Yokohama, 811 New Hampshire St.
Ten serves great steaks, pastas and seafood and it might be Lawrence's finest restaurant. It also might be a little out of the price range for typical college students. Save Ten for special occasions or maybe parents weekend. The atmosphere is as elegant as elegant gets in a college town and makes for a great date restaurant or celebration spot. Plan on spending $20 to $35 in order to truly enjoy Ten.
Yokohama makes customers feel like they walked out of Lawrence into a cozy bistro in Tokyo. The best place to go for sushi in Lawrence, Yokohama recently moved to its current location and created a fashion forward and stylish restaurant that complements the quality of the food. Yokohama is neither overly lavish nor overpriced, but it will definitely cost more than an average meal in Lawrence.
This is by no means a comprehensive survey of the Lawrence restaurant scene, but it marks the highlights, and each of the aforementioned establishments deserves a visit from anyone new to Lawrence.
Edited by Matt Hirschfeld
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