Section B · Page 2
The University Daily Kansan
Thursday, September 16, 1999
Entertainment
Local eateries provide atmospheres for amor
Restaurant Guide
By Phil Cauthon
Special to the Kansan
Lovers and lovers of food alike are sure to find solace in Lawrence's eclectic mixture of culinary customs.
However, it is imperative that one select a restaurant with the appropriate attributes, for the fate of a date is largely shaped by the choice of environment. While a perusal of the phonebook or one's coupon collection may spark the date that yields a lifelong relationship, a less flippant approach has produced the following tastes of the town's menu.
G. WILLIKER'S DELI & BAR
733 Massachusetts St.
EL MATADOR
446 Locust St.
and salads
food: all-American sandwiches, soups and salads
service: witty
atmosphere: laid-back
food: light Mexican
service: polite
atmosphere: humble
conducive to: shedding pretension
price: $12 - $20
cost for two: $8 - $18
conductive to: a beer and a smoke
Translated "the killer," this harmless environment includes an affordable jukebox with mariachi classics and '80s favorites. The owner sings by request on Fridays accompanied by his friend's piano. The food is not greasy and is served in small portions, allowing you and your date to explore the menu.
The retro accessories and knickknack eye candy provide brain props for fascinating conversation of dreams and Pluto. Reubens, roast beef and au jus, and BLTs are among G's best. Erik Frederickson, kitchen manager, said that bar lent itself to an unassuming, Cheeresque environment.
"A lot of our clients met at KU and still return here, some with their grand kids," said third generation owner Raquel McLean. "I think people come because everybody's comfortable here. There's not a lot of hype."
PACHAMAMA'S
2161 Quail Creek Dr
food: eclectic and uncommon
service: unimposing
atmosphere: sophisticated
conducive to: intelligent conversa
tion
tion
price: $25 - $50
PANINI GRILL
Whisk your date away to faraway worlds. Modern and spacious architecture, with fish tanks and room to entertain your eye. Menu rotates every first Tuesday of the month. But hold onto to your charge cards — Pachamama's is pricey.
"We're a full service restaurant," said owner Dana Duellman. "We want you to come in and enjoy all aspects of the restaurant — not just the food."
317 N. Second St.
food: take-out/delivery grilled sandwiches and lasagna
witches and lasagna
service: N/A
service. N/A
atmoenborg. N/A
conducive to: spontaneity
price: $7 - $15
The best recipes going, very portable and good hot or cold. Ideal for picnics, country drives or back-to-the-pad meals.
"Our new menu will have 28 sandwiches, and where else can you get homemade take-out lasagna?" said owner Janice Weneck. Weneck said that her restaurant could offer lower prices because they left the dining environment up to the customer.
PARADISE CAFE
728 Massachusetts St.
704 Massachusetts St.
food: regional American
RUDY'S PIZZERIA
atmosphere: casual and friendly,but
service: varied
food: crondo pizzas, pocket zas and winter soups
BREAKFAST at Paradise is incredible, but dinner is equally satisfying. Creole, Southwestern, Southern home cooking and classy seafood dishes are prepared the cafe's chef of 10 years.
service: quick and hip
"Everything down to the buns on the hamburgers is made from scratch," said owner Steve McCoy.
experienced
price: $10 - $30
price: $5 - $15
atmosphere: relaxed
conducive to: good vibes
conducive to: habit
Relax in the coziness, sip some wine, get a salad, bread sticks, dessert — and still take home some cash. Quaint and hip, like good background music for your date. Quite possibly the best crust in the business.
conduce to
volat: none
"It's out of the way and it's quiet, inexpensive and if nothing else we've got good food," said Rudy's assistant manager Cate Donohue.
TELLER'S
746 Massachusetts St
food: French/Mediterranean seafood and pasta
and pasta
service: proper
atmosphere: elegant and refined conducive to; monetarily-Faustian impressions, being a spendthrift
"The restaurant sells itself," chef John Beasley said. "And we have a classier bar, not just a Budweiser party bar." Drinks range from more than 100 wine selections
Towering ceilings, exquisite lighting and unique fans create a striking atmosphere within this renovated downtown bank. Fresh seafood is flown in daily from around the world — including white salmon. John Dory and skate wings.
valet: none
price: $30 - $100
"It is a beautiful thing. We do everything with a mind of quality and offer things that aren't available anywhere else."
Don Fortel
Wheatfield's Bakery chef
to a range of French and Polish vodkas, single malt scotches to small-batch bourbons and a fabled martini menu.
WHEATFIELD'S BAKERY
904 Vermont
service: N/A
food; sandwiches, soups, focaccia, keesh
atmosphere: experienced but casual
conducive to: quick meetings
price: $5 - $20
valet: none
An eminently casual and relaxed environment, but with quick and quality food for those planner-style dates. Old World artisan breads are naturally leavened for two days and cooked on a wood fire - a process unique to only five bakeries in the nation, said Head Chef Don Fortel.
"It's a beautiful thing," Fortel said. "We do everything with a mind of quality and offer things that aren't available anywhere else."
Massachusetts Street offers places to chat on a date, or not
Coffee and ciabattina — Italian bread with the topping of the day — is a great alternative to the albeit highly acclaimed bagel breakfast.
Edited by Chris Hopkins
Special to the Kansan
By Stephanie Jones Special to the Kansas
After a week immersed in books, most students are ready to plunge into the weekend. Working and studying have consumed practically all of your time, leaving socializing, even dating, at the bottom of your priority list.
But once the weekend rolls around, priorities can change, making dating one of the weekend's most important activities. But students new to the Lawrence area may be lost when it comes to finding entertaining and worthwhile places to spend the weekend. Lawrence offers many unique spots that attract those looking for a good place to take a date.
Restaurants are probably one of the most common places to start a date. Lawrence offers a plethora of upscale and casual dining restaurants.
There are also places to go if you are looking for a more casual atmosphere.
"Teller's on Mass. Street is the best because it's so unique," said Devon Villalopando, Minneapolis junior. "If you're looking for a nice place to go, Tellers would be it."
Free State Brewing Company is at 636 Massachusetts St., and Teller's is at 746 Massachusetts St.
Because of its concentration of restaurants and clubs, Massachusetts Street is a very popular place to take dates.
"Free State Brewery is great because it's friendly and casual, and they serve really good food," said Erika Zimmerman, Ulysses junior.
"Walking down Mass. Street is the most fun because there's a lot to do and
see, and you can talk to your date," Zimmerman said.
For students interested in music and dancing, Massachusetts Street is home to several clubs that offer live music.
"You can pretty much find a concert every night in Lawrence at The Bottleneck or the Granada," said Kevin Pike. Lawrence freshman.
The Bottleneck is at 737 New Hampshire St., and the Granada is at 1020 Massachusetts St.
Pike said he thought that going to concerts or dancing was sometimes a needed change from the regular dinner and movie dates.
"It's not very expensive for a whole night of entertainment," he said.
Many students agreed that restaurants or coffee houses were great places to take dates because it gave them a chance to talk with their companions. However, some students said that movies were a good place to take a date because there wasn't a lot of conversation involved.
Lawrence has four main movie theaters that show first-run movies, but other venues offer independent and international films.
Liberty Hall Cinema, 642 Massachusetts, shows all three types of films.
"Movies are good, especially on first dates because you don't have to force conversation," said Jaymie Pinkelman, Overland Park freshman. "Plus, you and your date can talk about the movie afterward if you can't think of anything else to chat about."
—Edited by Allan Davis
Alysse Graffagna, Elgin, Ill., sophomore, sits outside Milton's Coffeehouse, Massachusetts St., with Kevin Kilroy, Kansas City, Kan., junior. Massachusetts St. provides many places for students to eat or drink outside. Eric Sahmann/KANSAN
(Student Rush $5.00,
one hour prior to curtain, with ID)
www.kc-opera.org
Tickets $10-$55
Call 816.471.7344
This production has been made possible by a generous donation from the Sprint Foundation.
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Check Out The
ARENSBERG'S SHOES
825 MASSACHUSETTS in Downtown Lawrence 785-843-3470
Check us out on line @ http://idir.net/ -arensrb
The University of Kansas School of Fine Arts Lied Center New Directions Series presents
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Bell/Bush/Marshall/Meyer
Friday, September 17, 1999 8:00 p.m.
An UNFORGETTABLE CONCERT EVENT, featuring selections from their new recording, Short Trip Home.
All tickets half price for students
Tickets on sale at the Lied Center
Box Office (753) 864-4K15 or call
master at (785) 234-4515
or (816) 931-3330
www.ukans.edu/~lied
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