First Watch
Located at
2540 Iowa St.
Lawrence, KS 66046
Food Type: Breakfast
Menu items: Omelets, bacon, pancakes and even oatmeal if you so choose.
Price Range: $6-$ 12
Price Range. $0-$ 12 Attire Requirement: Don't come in your boxers, but feel free to dress casually.
Date-Worthiness: If you consider the morning after a date, then it's perfect. Just make sure you brush your teeth before you go. Booze Availability: None, but you probably won't want beer with brunch so it shouldn't be a problem.
Seating: They're usually pretty full on the weekends, but seats open up fast and you won't wait long.
— Jennifer Voldness
Odessa's Cafe
Food type: Home-style cooking/American
Price range:$4-$ 12
It's easy to miss Odessa's Cafe as you are driving along Connecticut Street. The exterior looks just like a Laundromat, because that is what it was until late 2001. The only exterior appearance change is the name on the sign. The interior, on the other hand, has been cleaned up, but remains very plain. Only the ornate ceiling of this tall building draws your attention.
Menu Items: Fried chicken, meatloaf, catfish and casseroles are the stars of Odessa's Cafe. The limited menu allows Odessa's to focus on quality preparations. Plus, the side dishes — mashed potatoes, green beans, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, cole slaw and potato salad — made me feel as if my grandma had been cooking.
409 E. 12th St.
11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sun.-Fri.
8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sat.
With portions that match the reasonable prices every college student needs to try Odessa's. Take the time to go just off Massachusetts Street to a restaurant that truly tries to make Lawrence home.
Date worthiness: Odessa's is not the place to bring a date for a romantic dinner, but if you both love home-cooking come on in and join the locals for a great lunch or early dinner. The restaurant's booths and decoration will remind of you of a small-town cafe.
Dress code: Casual. You'll feel out of place here if you wear anything dressy with the noontime hard-working crowd.
Booze availability: None. Seating: Most of the tables and booths accommodate four to six people. The restaurant could easily accommodate a bigger group, but reservations are not accepted.
—Andrew Vaupel