thursday, august 21, 2003
jayplay.5
Courtney Kuhlen/Kansan
Josh Reese, Rudy's Pizza manager, measures out cheese to make a Pocket Za, one of the featured items on the restaurant's menu.
making and a Beatle's song unite at the Lawrence mainstay.
The atmosphere at Yello Sub is laid back, and surreal paintings of seascapes cover the walls.
Smells of freshly baking bread are strong and mingle with the music that fills the store.
In town for more than 20 years, and at two locations, 624 W.12th St. and 1814 W.23rd St., Yello Sub creates several signature sandwiches.
Its signature sandwich, aptly named the Yello Sub, is a meat-eater's fantasy. It contains ham, turkey, bacon, lettuce, tomato, Dijon and mayo.
Yello Sub also ventures south of the border with the "Tijauna Taxi," a roast beef sandwich with American cheese, jalapenos, lettuce, tomato and mayo. It also offers a wide array of vegetarian sandwiches. Prices for the sandwiches at range from $3.19 to $4.29 for a six-inch, and from $6.19 to $7.69 for a foot-long.
For a Daily Grind
Nestled behind The Crossing, 618 W. 12th St., lies Café Luna, 12th and Oread. Its spacious, checkered floors give it a timeless, your-grandparents-mayhave-hung-out-here-but-it'sstill-cool type of look.
Multiple chessboards and board games are scattered throughout the store for those inclined to play. Café Luna also has concerts from time to time, both inside and out on the large porch.
The overall atmosphere is relaxed; the shop lends itself
nicely for studying. The drinks, however, lend themselves to vast amounts of caffeine and bad puns.
The signature drink, the "Lunabomber," is composed of brewed coffee and several shots of espresso. Another signature drink, the "Wired Russian," was created by part owner Brian Kalar.
"It is a coffee version of the white Russian, except instead of putting in alcohol we use four shots of espresso," Kalar says.
The price of a 16-ounce "Lunabomber" is $2.75, and the price of a similarly sized "Wired Russian" is $4.25.
A prime example of Lawrence's lush ethnic food scene is The Orient, 1006
Orientation
The Orient specializes in Vietnamese cuisine, which tends to rely on vegetables and soups more heavily than other ethnic Asian foods.
Massachusetts St.
The restaurant itself is cozy: it is well lit, yet booths are spaced well enough that any conversation could still be intimate. It has a wide variety of both Northern and Southern Vietnamese cuisine, which can be spicy but not as much as other Asian foods.
One of the specialties of the house is the Phat Tai, which is flavorful rice noodles that can be mixed with vegetables or meat. It also makes excellent spring rolls.
chicken in a spicy sauce, which is then charbroiled and served on top of rice.
For an authentic taste of Southern Vietnam, as the menu states, one can try the Bun or rice dishes. Bun Ga Nuong, for instance, consists of marinated
The Orient also has a wide selection of vegetarian dishes.
Nancy Nguyen, owner, says the food is not too heavy. "When you leave you feel full but not weighed down," she says.
Prices for most entrees range from $5.99 to $6.99
Stay Tuned to the Tea Station
The Pochi Tea Station is a bright store with lime green walls and two levels. At first visit it may seem somewhat strange, similar to the set of a variety TV show or a music video.
But the atmosphere is pleasant and helps accentuate that the experience is unlike most American dining.
One example is the signature drink, Bubble Tea. Originated in Taiwan, Bubble Tea is basically a tea, fruit or milk drink that has either soft tapioca pearl coconut jelly or lychee, a nutlike fruit of the Chinese lychee tree, added to it.
Apart from the Bubble Tea, Pochi also serves several Indonesian dishes.
Erlinda Tjhai, owner, says the food is influenced by both Indian and Chinese foods.
"We use different spices than them, also more coconut milk so it's sweeter," she says.
Tjhai says some of the most popular dishes are the curried chicken, or Chicken Kari, and Chicken Satay. Another tasty dish is the Bakmi, made with homemade noodles and served
with a chicken meatball soup.
Pochi brings together a wide range of people and offers an easy out to end boredom.
Price of all entrees: $4.85.
The drinks range from $2.95 to
$3.95.
India for a Treat
The meals at India Palace are fit for a king, or perhaps just someone in a curry. Known as one of the top Indian restaurants in the country, India Palace brings more exotic food to Lawrence.
Walking into the restaurant, one first notices the arched doorways and the haunting Arabic music playing in the speakers. The aroma of exotic spices also floats through the air, and the lighting is dim, which helps set the mood.
The menu is diverse, offering many meat and vegetarian dishes along with a wide selection of breads.
One way to experiment with the menu is to go to a lunch buffet. The buffet offers most of the menu at one price. One can fill up on basmati rice or attack the fiery Chicken Vindalu.
Gurdey Choong, owner of India Palace, says Kansas City has the restaurant as well, but that this one is in tune to Lawrence.
"We have a similar menu," Choong says. "But our price is better for the students and the community."
Price for the lunch buffet is $6.95. It runs from 11:30 a.m.to 2:15 p.m.Monday through Friday and from 11:30 a.m.to 2:45 p.m.Saturday and Sunday.