by curlygrrrl, aka sarah carkhuff...

26 * Hawver Annual Legislative Guide * 2016

Sampling Topeka's tasty local fare...by CurlyGrrrl, aka Sarah Carkhuff Fizell

Continued on Page 30...

Greasy Spoons & Chop SticksWriting this is a job that makes me very hungry and very proud. As a Topeka native who has lived other places and eaten my way through a fair share of cities as a tourist, I am always im-pressed by the options we have here in the local food department.

I always search for a theme to write about in addition to the chart – and it seems that our local greasy spoons and Asian dining options have really been shining this year, so below you will fi nd my fi ve favorite Asian restaurants and my fi ve favorite places for hash browns and eggs.

Every year this list gets longer – and better.

Please note that nearly all of these businesses can be found on Facebook – so take a minute to “like” them to fi nd out about daily specials, hours and other information.

As an appetizer, however, I have to give a shout out to two of my favorites – no category need-ed…

Monsoon Indian Grill (2040 SW Wanamaker) is probably the best restaurant in Topeka right now (for under $20/person). This exceptional Indian restaurant offers fresh and bright fl avors that will keep you coming back for more. For a taste of many dishes, try the lunch buffet offered Monday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Then you can come back and pick your favorite – because trust me, you’ll want to come back.HINT: This place is kind of hidden behind theChipolte on Wanamaker.

Pizza Pub (1418 SW Lane & south end of West Ridge Mall) is the best of the best for pizza in Topeka. Its personal-sized pizzas mean that everyone in your party gets exactly what they like and most people will have a piece to save for later. Try creating your own with any of the extensive list of ingredients – or just go with one

of the suggested combinations. The ovens at the Westridge Mall location only take three minutes, and so they will have you out of there in no time – but the College Hill location has a lovely patioand loads of character. (Both have great adultbeverage selections as well!)

CHOP STICKS: BEST OF ASIAN

Kyoto (115 SE 29th Street) is a family-owned gem of a restaurant offering some of the friendli-est and most creative sushi in town. It is a ca-sual family joint so ask the owner or one of her daughters what they think you should order and then take them up on it – the daily specials are excellent and if you choose one of the grilled op-tions, you’ll need a box.

Sai-gon (3200 SW 29th Street) is a refresh-ing change from the usual Asian fare. Its fresh summer rolls with shrimp & cilantro are perfect with plenty of peanut sauce & the stir fried rice noodles with curry (called “bun na guong”) are going to knock your socks off. It also is the only place in town that serves a traditional Vietnam-ese soup called “pho,” which will keep you warm and toasty.

Tuptim Thai (220 SW 29th Street) is the gold star of Thai food right here in Topeka. Try as you might, you will not fi nd better Thai food than right here in the capital city. Order whatever you want. It is all pretty incredible….but the black soya bean noodle is killer with lots of baby bok choi and you really don’t want to miss the warm sticky rice with coconut milk & mango. Want to keep it healthy? Order the thai chili salad with peanut dressing – cashews, pineapple, cucumber, bell pepper and more. Feeling a little daring? Go for the peppercorn beef, laced with fresh pepper-corns still on their stems. For real.

Yuki Restaurant of Japan (5632 SW 29th Street) features front row seats at the sushi bar or


2016 Legislature: EatsIf you’re wintering in Topeka, you gotta eat!

• Sampling Topeka's tasty local fare:Local restaurant enthusiast CurlyGrrrlhighlights the best greasy spoons andAsian restaurants in Topeka; both genreshave upped their game in the past year!

• CurlyGrrrl’s “I would go there for”listing: A chart of Topeka restaurants,including addresses and what to order.

• Subscribers Say: Topeka restaurant

recommendations from Hawver's Capitol Report subscribers and Hawver News Co LLC Facebook fans (some signed, some not, all real). Fun reading!

• Northeast Kansas: Our subscribers(again, some named, some not, allreal) also share good-eating tips inManhattan, Lawrence, Holton & morewhen you'd like to take a longer culinaryexcursion. Enjoy!

Eating and the often associated socializing and schmoozing are a big part of the Life Under the Dome experience during a Kansas legislative session. We are happy again this year to provide you with the ever-popular “Eats” section to help you navigate your culinary journey, whether you’re from here or visiting a couple days or staying in our fair city for the entire legislative session. Here’s what we’ve got for you on pages 26 to 37:


"I would go there for..."Restaurant Address Area of Town What I'd order…Abigail's 3701 SW Plaza Dr South Pork tender sandwichAJ's New York Pizzeria 1930 SW Westport Dr Wanamaker Calzone with everythingAnnie's Place 4014 SW Gage Ctr Dr Gage Center Chicken fried chicken & lemon meringue pieArturo's 105 SE 10th Ave Downtown Enchiladas verde or tostadasBanjo's Café 5824 SW Topeka Blvd South Biscuits & gravyBillard Airport Restaurant 3600 NE Sardou North Order a burger and watch the planes come and goBill's Diner 2134 N Kansas Ave North Meatloaf specialBilly Vanilly 4036 SW Huntoon Gage Center Homemade soup & croissant!Blackbird Espresso 4025 SW 10th St Fleming Place Daily special & dirty chaiBlind Tiger 417 SW 37th St South Beer battered fish & chipsBlue Moose 3030 SW Wanamaker Southwest Braised pork belly, macaroni & cheeseBobo's 2300 SW 10th Ave Central Double steakburger w/ cheese, onion rings & apple pie a la modeBoss Hawg's 2833 SW 29th St Brookwood ‘Chairman of the Board’ ComboBradley's Corner Café 844 N Kansas Ave NOTO Arts District Pot roast & sour cream raisin pieBreak Room 911 S Kansas Ave Downtown ‘Soprano’ dog & diet Coke with 2 shots espressoBurger Stand 1601 SW Lane College Hill Holy jalapeno burger with truffle triesCafé Holliday 800 SW 12th St Central Taco saladCara's Cup 5660 SW 29th St Southwest Chicken Salad SandwichCasa 3320 SW Topeka Blvd South Mexican buffetCasa Ramos 837 SW Fairlawn Northwest Espinaca tamalesCeltic Fox 118 SW 8th Ave Downtown Shepherd's Pie & 2 SmithwicksChez Yasu 2701 SW 17th St College Hill Vichyssoise & chicken saladChic-A-Dee Café 3036 SE 6th Ave East Chicken & Noodles - or the daily specialChina Pavilion 5348 SW 17th Street Fairlawn Chinese buffet!Classic Bean 722 S Kansas Ave Downtown John Adams sandwich w.turkey addedClassic Bean 2125 SW Fairlawn Fairlawn Plaza Lox & Bagels + Bloody MaryCook's American Grill 1936 SW Gage Gage StroganoffEl Centenario 1306 S Kansas Ave Downtown Chile Colorado with beefEl Mezcal 511 SW Topeka Blvd Downtown Spicy chicken soupEl Mezcal III 5301 SW 21st St Fairlawn Plaza Tacos carne asadaField of Greens 909 S Kansas Ave Downtown Baked potato with chili and cheeseGlobe Indian Cuisine 117 SE 10th St Downtown Vegetable korma & mango ice creamGlory Days Pizza 1033 SW Gage Blvd Fleming Place The Greek PizzaGolden Dragon Chinese 1101 S Kansas Ave Downtown Egg foo young or beef with broccoliG's Custard 1301 SW 6th Ave Central Homemade brown bread custardHanover Pancake House 1034 S Kansas Ave Downtown Corned beef hash BenedictHarley Davidson 2047 SW Topeka Blvd Central BBQ sandwich & cheesy potatoesHarold's Prize Package 1420 SE 6th Ave East Call ahead for a bag of double cheeseburgersHeartland Café 5701 SW Topeka Blvd South Biscuits & gravyHenry T's 1521 SW 21st St College Hill California club & pub chipsHHB BBQ 906 S Kansas Ave Downtown Don't miss the cole slawHog Wild BBQ 5330 SW 21st Street Fairlawn Loaded Tater with pulled porkHunam 5005 SW 29th St Southwest Bok Choy & Black Mushrooms with porkIce & Olives 3627 SE 29th St Lake Shawnee Muffaletta sandwichJayhawk Corner Café 700 SW Jackson Downtown Lunch buffet (check daily specials, too!)Jersey Mike's 718 S Kansas Ave Downtown Jersey Shore's FavoriteJet Away Café 6510 SE Forbes Ave South Slab of ribs or pork tacos and a great view of the runway actionJuli's Coffee & Bistro 110 SE 8th St Downtown Daily special. It's always amazing.Kiku Steak House 5331 SW 22nd St Fairlawn Plaza Hibachi grill!!Kyoto 115 SE 29th St Southeast Sushi special rollLaRocca's Pizza 3100 SW Gage Southwest LasagnaLarry's Short Stop 3834 SW Topeka Blvd South Biscuits & gravy (best in town)!Las Fuentes 3656 SW Topeka Blvd South Queso, guacamole, chips & a large margaritaLazy Toad 5331 SW 22nd St Fairlawn Plaza Chase's pepperoni burgerLe Petit Bon Bon 835 SW Fairlawn Rd Fairlawn Hand poured coffee & pineapple empanadaLing's Café 2024 NW Topeka Blvd North Chinese buffet!Lonnie Q's BBQ 3150 SE 21st St Lake Shawnee Everything...Anything.Lupita's 732 S Kansas Ave Downtown Monster Burrito (smothered)Mad Eliza's 2839 SW 29th Brookwood Crème brulee cheesecakeMadison Street Diner 420 SE 6th Ave Downtown Chef salad or black bean chili


by Topeka food blogger CurlyGrrrl

About CurlyGrrrl...CurlyGrrrl, as Sarah Carkhuff Fizell, is the executive director of ARTSConnect, the Topeka organization that manages the First Friday Artwalks and promotes the arts across the city. She also is a food afi cionado and blogger, who has lived—and eaten well—in Washington, D.C., but loves the fare at many locally owned eateries in Topeka, her hometown. Here she shares her recommendations for the best offerings from local Topeka eateries…

Restaurant Address Area of Town What I'd order…Marco's Pizza 1401 SW Gage Blvd Midtown Supreme pizza & free movie rentalMargarita's Jalisco 1616 SW 17th St College Hill Guacamole MexicanoMcFarland's 4133 SW Gage Ctr Dr Gage Center Chicken fried steak with a gin & tonic :)Millennium Café 1515 SW 10th Ave Central Quiche of the dayMonsoon Indian Grill 2040 SW Wanamaker Wanamaker Lunch buffet (11a-2:30p)Mr. Nice Guy's Hot Box 2601 NE Sardou Oakland Philly cheese steakNibs House of Coffee 2525 NW Topeka Blvd North Cinnamon roll & iced coffeeNorth Star Blind Tiger 1100 NW 25th St North Steak of your choice w.fries & gravyNOTO Burrito 822 N Kansas Ave NOTO Arts District Planting Peace & Love BurritoOriental Express 5954 SW 29th St Southwest Pork moo shoo & anything sushiOscar's 1424 SW Lane College Hill Homemade Mexican food specialPad 1730 NW Topeka Blvd North Cheeseburger & curly-q friesPaisano's 4043 SW 10th St Fleming Place Seafood ravioliPepe & Chela's 1001 SW Tyler Downtown Chicken enchiladas w.molePig Skins 2833 SW 29th St Brookwood 2-3 Freestate Copperhead BeersPizagel's Pizza & Bakery 2830 SW Fairlawn West Turkey bagel sandwich or supreme pizzaPizza Parlor 1919 NE Seward Oakland Daily special (Hint: Usually isn't pizza!)Pizza Pub - College Hill 1418 SW Lane College Hill Buffalo chicken pizzaPizza Pub - West Ridge Mal 21st & Wanamaker Wanamaker Hawaiian Pizza w.red onionPlanet Sub 2130 SW Wanamaker Wanamaker The Original ‘Planet Sub’Porubsky's 508 NE Sardou Little Russia Chili & cold platePT's College Hill 1500 SW 17th St College Hill Greek salad & hazelnut latteQuinton's 4121 SW Huntoon Gage Center Potato soup in a bread bowlRowHouse 515 SW Van Buren Central Menu changes weekly - only open for dinnerSai-gon 3200 SW 29th St Southwest Summer rolls & curry bun na guongSkinny's Sports Bar 4016 SW Huntoon Gage Center Hot wings & cheeseburgerSpeck's 2105 SW Mission Ave Gage House burger & friesTaco Casa 1423 SW 6th Ave Central Bean tostada, ‘sanchilada’ & quesoTaco Villa 5300 SW 21st St Fairlawn Beef tostada & burrito (w.onion sauce)Tacos el Mexicano 2002 SE California East All of the tacos.Tacos el Sol 2124 SE 6th Ave East Tacos al pastor & horchata.Taquito Express 5141 SW 29th St Southwest One of each taco. Really. All of it.Tequila's 2911 SW 29th St Brookwood Black bean & chicken burritoTerry's Bar & Grill 522 SW 6th Ave Downtown Black angus burger & seasoned friesThe Bar N Grill 2121 SW Belle West Gizzards & pepperoni pizza burgerThe Shack 2842 SE 29th St Lake Shawnee Cheeseburger & onion ringsTop of the Tower 534 S Kansas Ave Downtown Garlic-crusted ribeye or lunch buffetTortilla Jack's 1618 SW Washburn College Hill Jack’s Sancho DinnerTownsite Café 120 SE 6th Ave Downtown Taco salad or homemade soupTuptim Thai 220 SW 29th St Southeast Black soya bean noodles & sticky rice w.mangoVia's Pizza 738 SW Gage Blvd Gage Brazilian Inferno PizzaWeller's Bar & Grill 222 NW Independence North Triple decker club sandwich & Green Flash IPAWheat State Pizza 1801 SW Wanamaker Wanamaker Farmer pizzaWorld Cup 1501 SW 21st Street College Hill Chicken Florentine CrepeYuki Restaurant of Japan 5632 SW 29th Street West Yuki Roll w.Steak & Shrimp from the grill


Sampling Topeka's tasty local fare......Continued from Page 26

hibachi grills – along with an authentic “zashiki” seating areas where you’re essentially sitting on the fl oor. The food is impeccable, delicious and served by an exceedingly friendly wait staff. A great place for a date night or special occasion meal.

Can you make a list of Asian food without talk-ing about the ever-present Chinese Buffet? Nope. My favorite is Golden Dragon (1101 S Kansas Ave). Although Chinese buffets usually don’t get high marks for quality – this place is different. Lots of interesting selections and always fresh and hot. Don’t miss the jalapeno chicken – a dish that is not on the menu but is one of my favorite meals in town…plus, it’s just a few blocks from the Statehouse.

GREASY SPOONS: BEST HOME COOKING

Banjo’s (5824 SW Topeka Blvd) is Topeka’s favorite pick for biscuits and gravy. An informal

poll on Facebook quickly identifi ed this little hole in the wall as the winner, and I believe them. You won’t fi nd anything but made from scratch, home-cooked goodness and you’ll be glad you made the drive.

Bill’s Diner (2134 N Kansas Ave) is a little out of the way from the usual spots, but totally worth it if you’re in the mood for a perfect chicken fried steak or what many claim to be the best burger in town. What may look like a tater tot to the uninitiated are actually cheese bites….and you’ll regret the decision to not put some chili on that burger.

Bradley’s Corner Cafe (844 N Kansas Ave) is a North Topeka standby – for many years before North Kansas Avenue became the city’s NOTO Arts District, this cozy little spot has been serving up meatloaf sandwiches, biscuits & gravy, and remarkable cinnamon rolls. The daily specials are always great but do not forget that you’re going to need to save room for pie, because not a single one of the galaxy of options will disappoint.

Cook’s American Grill (1936 SW Gage) does a mean omelet, but I’d walk fi ve miles in the snow for its grilled ham & cheese sandwich. The burg-ers are darn good, and with specials like stroga-noff, bierocks and goulash, you really can’t go wrong.

Hanover Pancake House (1034 S Kansas) is as good as it gets. The folks there like to get creative, and you shouldn’t miss the delicious re-sults. (When you get a taste of the pumpkin spice pancakes, you’ll know what I mean.) Don’t miss the gigantic burrito-type monstrosities created by rolling enough eggs, cheese and sausage for three people into a huge pancake (and if you’re smart, you’ll just go ahead and order a side of gravy with that). Corned beef hash benedict, anyone? Yes, please. Only open for breakfast and lunch, so I’m sorry to say that you can’t just stay there all day and drink syrup out of melamine from 1959.


Subscribers say...Topeka tasty tidbits...by Folks in the Know!

[Suggestions from our subscribers; some folks focus on one place, others several. Some restaurants are named in multiple recommendations. Details including addresses for many of these restaurants are found in the chart on pages 28-29.]


My favorite place to eat AND shop: Millennium Café inside the Topeka Shawnee County Public Library; offers delightful treats, salads and sand-wiches, 8:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday; and the library’s Booktique for a wonderful selection of gently sued books, magazines, movies and music, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

My newest old recommendation involves being civilized at McFarland's Restaurant in Gage Shopping Center just off Huntoon. Oak tables, wait service, still good food, tradition in Topeka for three generations, great Portuguese green soup, real butter, full meals if you wish, and whiskey for sale in a low key way. Walt is still there, asking if everything is all right and how ya doin' style. He IS the place and the Place is He. Or is it him? Whatever. But for great pie go to Brad's real quick over Topeka or Kansas Ave. bridges. No booze. Also still great is Spec's Tav-ern right off 21st near Gage, southwest corner behind the new CVS drug store. Real fries from real potatoes and lots of booze. I don't drink but don't care if you do. —Jimmy Suber

Harold’s Prize Package 1420 S.E. 6th Street: The fi nest greasy cheeseburgers in Topeka! Call in your order, (785) 232-5764, pick it up, and head back to the Capitol for a taste of heaven. One of the best things about Topeka.

I am a big fan of locally owned eateries. My favorites are: Glory Days Pizza; Ice and Ol-ives, great sandwich shop at SE 29th and Croco Road—might be a bit out of the way, but they do cater and have great box lunches; Café Holli-day, great Mexican food and they cater; Tuptim Thai. And all the great locally owned eateries in downtown Topeka. —Bob Williams

New favorites:• College Hill Pizza Pub and its new second

location at West Ridge Mall. I LOVE it.Since the pizza is made to my specifi c in-structions, I feel like I am cooking with NOMESS.

• And, soft steak tacos with lime at Taco ElSol.

• And, Sai-gon Restaurant. I get somethingwith chicken and peanuts and rice noodlesand fi sh sauce and cilantro (in place of lemongrass) and think I am in heaven. I neverremember the name of the dish, but the staffknows even when I call on the phone to tellthem I am coming for lunch in a hurry.—Helen Crow; here are her other restaurant fa-vorites listed in the Topeka Realtor's booklet


Subscribers say...Topeka tasty tidbits......Continued from Page 31

on a variety of Topeka services, aptly called “Helen’s Favorites,” where there are details on each of these restaurants (for a copy, e-mail [email protected]): Annie’sPlace, Tuptim Thai, RowHouse, NorthStart Steak House, Millennium Café,Oriental Express, Bobo’s Drive-in, ChezYasu, The Pad, Pepe and Chela’s, TortillaJack, Monsoon Grill.

The Bar N Grill is just south of 21st on Belle. Lunches are usually quiet so patrons can carry on conversations easily in addition to receiving friendly service. The menu is as you would ex-pect and beers are both domestic and imported. I've been told they have great mac and cheese.

Downtown: • I still like the Globe for Indian food, espe-

cially the lunch buffet where I get to try lotsof different dishes as I continue my effort tofi gure out my favorites.

• Pepe and Chela's is a great Mexican res-

taurant. I especially like the super nachos or fajitas as a full order of either fi lls up two people easily with no leftovers. I've never had anything I didn't like there; oh, my daughter loves their tamales.

• Juli's on 8th is another favorite...I followedher from previous location. I like her saladsand wraps and soups and her baked goodsare amazing.

• Field of Greens is a good place to meet fora quick lunch from the salad bar or soups.There's also a sandwich menu but can't vouchfor any as I always go for the salad bar and/or soups but the sandwiches look good.

Elsewhere:• Across the bridge in North Topeka I recom-

mend Noto Burrito. Try it, you'll love it,especially if you take the time then to walkaround the North Topeka Arts District. I usu-ally get the bowl rather than an actual burri-to. But then I don't save any calories becauseI like corn chips with my bowl. Wanderdown the street for dessert of homemade pieat Brad's...or go there for a meal reminiscentof a good 50's diner. Walking around helpsme justify the sturdy meals.

• Also in North Topeka, out past highway 24at 2525 N. Topeka Blvd (near Yingling autoparts), is an out-of-the way coffee shop,Nibs, serving breakfast and lunch plus pas-tries, tea and good coffee.

• Greg wants me to mention El Mezcal be-cause he loves its carnitas. We go to the oneat 21st and Fairlawn but there are severallocations. The food is plentiful and leftoversmake it a real bargain. Service is fast but canbe crowded on cheap margarita nights, Tues-days and Saturdays.

• Have to add Taco Villa, now a third genera-tion family favorite. Located within walkingdistance of Topeka West, it is very crowdedfor lunch on school days. Could be fun ifadolescent joie de vivre appeals but wemostly go with grandkids for dinner.

• Tuptim Thai remains a favorite and, for aspecial night, my favorite is still the Row-House.



• Oh, want to mention Pizagel's at 29th andFairlawn. Only had the pizza once and it wasfi ne but I go for the bagels. —Sue McKenna

In Topeka I like:• RowHouse Restaurant, http://www.row-

houserestaurant.net/, 785.235.1700 for reser-vations. Fine dining - haute cuisine.

• Lonnie Q's BBQ, http://lonnieqsbbq.com/.Great lunchtime destination - best BBQ inKansas!

• Monsoon Grill, http://www.monsoonin-diangrill.com/, 785.783.7776. An amazingsample of Indian cuisine!

• Tuptim Thai, http://tuptimthaitopeka.com,785.266.2299. Authentic and delicious Thaifood in an elegant environment.

• Paisano's Ristorante, http://www.paisanos-kansas.com/, 785.273.0100. Best of Topeka- Best Italian cuisine - most romantic diningexperience.

• The Blind Tiger Brewery & Restaurant,https://www.facebook.com/TheBlindTiger-BreweryandRestaurant/, 785.267.6759. Fea-tures Steak - Pasta - Seafood - Barbeque andAward Winning Hand Crafted Beer.

• AJ's NY Pizzeria, http://www.ajsnypizza.com/, 785.861.7000. An authentic New YorkItalian recipe that has been used in a Brook-lyn Pizzeria for more than 50 years!

• Bradley's Corner Café, http://food.topeka.net/food/bradleys-corner-cafe, 785.235.0086.Features popular, made-from-scratch rolls,buns, fries and 25 different kinds of pies.Its turkey and dressing meals, meatloaf, andbiscuits and gravy are popular with diners.

• Chez Yasu, http://www.chezyasufrenchres-taurant.com/, 785.357.1003. Chez YasuFrench Restaurant offers classic French cui-sine. Owner Chef Yasushi Hatasawa invitesyou to enjoy his cuisine in the casual andrelaxed atmosphere of this fi ne neighborhoodrestaurant.

• Pizza Pub, https://www.facebook.com/Col-legeHillPizzaPub, Two locations: CollegeHill (1418 SW Lane) and West Ridge Mall(21st and Wanamaker). With more than 2.7billion topping combinations, Pizza Pub hassomething for everyone! Offers beer, wineand cocktails - open late!

Our favorites:• The Pad, 1730 NW Topeka Blvd., 234-3596.

Family-owned and operated local favor-ite just a bit north of the bridge on TopekaBlvd. Great burgers, best salad bar in town,soup, fries, onion rings…everything is freshand good. Try a pork tender! Buy a T-shirt!You’ll be back!

• Blind Tiger, 417 SW 37th Street, 267-2739.Award-winning craft beers (also a goodwine pour)! If you don’t know which beer toorder, ask for a couple of samples. Talented,experienced bar staff as well as attentive andpersonable wait staff. Food is great—try thedaily specials or rib tips; Cobb salad is great(with Ranch dressing).

• Juli’s Coffee & Bistro, 110 SW 8th Street,228-2001. Cozy downtown spot with a greatview of the Capitol. Juli’s on hand and runs atight ship with a fun, creative menu. Full cof-fee selections (with a barista) or get a cup onthe run. Great breakfast and lunch selections(closed for dinner) with daily specials. (Thestairs are steep but there’s an elevator.)

• North Star, 1100 NW 25th Street, 354-8880.


Subscribers say...Topeka tasty tidbits......Continued from Page 33

Really? You must go! At one time a speak-easy, this joint serves THE BEST STEAK you may ever have! Whatever cut you choose, you’ll be pleased (unless you have them cook the life out of it). Make sure someone in your group gets fries and gravy so you can share. (They also have non-beef choices, but why?) Enjoy! You can add your name to the other Been There’s—every gov-ernor in the past 50 years as well as notable and dignitaries from everywhere! (Free steak dinner on your birthday—bring your ID!)

The Classic Bean opened Oct. 18, 1993, in downtown Topeka—the fi rst espresso cafe and the fi rst to start roasting fresh coffee daily. Clas-sic Bean is "more than just coffee" with made-to-order gourmet sandwiches, soups, salads, pizza and so much more. The downtown store on 7th & Kansas Avenue is open only during the day but the 21st & Fairlawn location is open late of-fering a full bar plus entertainment on weekends. There’s also a drive-thru at SW 29th & Urish Road. Details at www.classicbean.com

My two favorites:• Juli’s Café and Bistro is a great place for

breakfast, lunch, or coffee. I especially love thevariety of salads and breakfast items. Every-thing I’ve had is delicious. For handicap acces-sibility (due to the main entry’s stairway), checkahead of time with the staff about being met atthe locked door on the street level to be taken tothe interior elevator.

• The premier place to have dinner in Topeka isRowHouse Restaurant. Owner and Chef GregFox uses fresh and unique ingredients to craftthe most amazing appetizers, entrees and des-serts. The menu includes wine pairing recom-mendations so you can try something new orstick with your favorites. The menu changeseach week and you can check out what’s beingserved by visiting http://rowhouserestaurant.net/. The fi rst fl oor is handicap accessible (fromthe rear entrance), but you should call ahead,which you should do for reservations anyway,at (785) 235-1700 to make sure there is a tableavailable. RowHouse is a little on the priceyside for Topeka, but well worth the money.


Subscribers say...here's tasty fare......at nearby northeast Kansas eateries


My Manhattan favorites:• Della Voce (dV) is a cozy spot at 405 Poyntz

Avenue with big appeal and rocking food.Sundays feature a brunch which includes a"Build Your Bloody Mary" bar, then later inafternoon/early evening live jazz and oven-grilled pizzas. dV features unusual tapassuch as goat-cheese infused, bacon-wrappeddates and the dinner menu covers a delightfulSeared Sea Scallops to Bistro (Angus) Steak,overseen by executive chef, Mariel Edwards.Six nights a week, it is open for dinner, andcatering of its delectables is available as well.

• Rise and shine! If "It's time for sum'nyummy in your tummy!" get to the TheChef Cafe in Manhattan! This spot wasfeatured on the Food Network and caters tothe breakfast and lunch crowd from its ac-commodating spot at 111 South 4th Street.Crab Cake Bennie, which includes two crabcakes, spinach, tomato, two poached eggsand hollandaise on toasted English muffi nwith home-style potatoes, accompanied bylocally roast and custom-blended coffee, isa favorite. Lunch? Try the Chicken Pot Piewith a chicken breast, veggies, mushroombroth somewhat contained in a fl aky puffpastry rising 5" above the plate! Reasonableprices for the portions and people keep com-ing back for more!

• How can you go to Manhattan and not havea Vistaburger? The restaurant, foundedand still owned by the Streeter family since1964, is the iconic burger place, located at1911 Tuttle Creek Blvd. Whether it's burg-ers, pork tenderloins, fries, corn dogs or hotfudge brownies (they have more, but theseare my favorites), all are hand-pattied, hand-dipped or home-made. Before KSU gamesor other local events, the place is packed withcustomers who fi nd a friendly atmosphereand speedy service. You can never go wronghere. If in a rush, use the drive-through foryour purchase, or the new ORANGE foodtruck might be coming to a place near you!

Houlihan’s in Manhattan: Dining and bar. Diverse selection, and amazing stuffed mush-room appetizers ...great service and taste. An-derson Avenue and 17th across from KSU. Also: Wamego’s The Friendship House: One block east of Lincoln (main street) ...across from city park. Breakfast and lunch to order. Amazing bierocks and cookies—suggest you take a dozen to impress the folks when you get home. Pies are a daily special (call ahead to have pies ready for your next event). Catering available.

Please do not forget those just up the road (US 75 Highway) to the north in Holton. Boomers Bar & Grill has great steaks and wonderful Greek salads, full menu and great deserts. Off the Square Grill has the best burgers in the region and the 5th Street Sandwich Shop has unique and excellent sandwiches and soups. Chinese at the Holton China Restaurant is also


Subscribers say...here's tasty fare......Continued from Page 35

excellent and for Mexican fare, The El Milagro is authentic and great as well. Finally, for pizza Jhett’s Pizza is wonderful, locally owned and has a fabulous chicken parmesan. —Tom Bishop

Here are two restaurants that hold special charm for us:• One is the Sommerset Hall Café in Dover.

(The town is named after the British city memo-rialized as the “white cliffs of Dover.”) It is onlyopen from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday throughThursday, but is open from 5 to 8 p.m. Fridayand Saturday. The food is down-home good andreminds us of a typical small-town restaurantwhere farmers and town folks gather to catchup on the local news. The food is good and thestaff are friendly. It specializes in home-bakedpies done on-site. Friday Florence had a verylarge slice of sour-cream raisin and I pecan,both excellent.

• Today (Sunday) we had lunch at the LadybirdDiner, 700 block of Massachusetts in Law-

rence. The food is very good (not excellent, but above average); however, it’s the wait staff who are exceptional. They are all competent, but it’s their sense of joy or exuberance that makes the place a great eating experience. It’s fun to watch them work. Oh, and the diner is known for its great and creative pies. Florence had a cranberry/pear pie with walnut crumbles on top. Besides the standard pies, today they also featured a blueberry/rhubarb pie. The owner and manager is Meg, a mother with four chil-dren under 16, and sporting a tattoo on her left arm. She’s a delight to watch. Her attitude must be contagious, because the staff seem to have caught it. Staff are allowed to express some of their individual creativity. We saw a couple fe-male servers with tattoos. Our server, Wade, had a nose ring and wore a Bernie Sanders T-shirt. The acoustics (brick walls, tin ceiling) make it a fairly raucous place to eat, so don’t expect an intimate, quiet meal. —Gary & Florence Deeter

For Lawrence: Do you have the Mediterranean Market & Café—lunch, dinner, prepared selec-tions such as the best humus, eat in or take out. Located in Orchard strip mall off Billings. What about 715 on Massachusetts? Wheatfi eld’s on Vermont at 9th? Salty Iguana? Great places to eat in Lawrence!

For Lawrence: Limestone Pizza on Mass is wonderful. Fresh ingredients. On the west side around 6th and Wakarusa is 6 Mile Chophouse that was there last year but has now expanded into the former Hereford House space next door. 6 Mile Tavern is next door for more informal bar atmosphere. The Roost and Lady Bird Diner on Mass for breakfast.

Leeway Franks (http://leewayfranks.com/), 935 Iowa Street, Lawrence. I've eaten at Leeway Franks a few times and have never been disap-pointed! It's pretty straightforward: hot dogs, fries, tater tots and a few other items. And don't worry, these aren't concession stand dogs we're talking about. These are handcrafted sausages. They also have a good selection of bottle beers. It's conveniently located on Iowa street, just a


...at nearby northeast Kansas eateriesfew miles from the I-70 exit. Port Fonda (http://www.portfonda.com/), 900 New Hampshire, Lawrence. This is one of Lawrence's newest Mexican restaurants. The menu features lots of unique, bold fl avors and isn't your typical Mexi-can restaurants. I love the chicharróns (pork rinds)—they’re freshly made to order and come to the table crackling. Great selection of margari-tas and other tequila cocktails.

Lawrence favorites:• Port Fonda. Lawrence foodies are hitting their

mark these days. This upscale Mexican-fresh food palace is addictive. The restaurant started in Westport, but opened a Lawrence branch in October. It has it all—top-shelf tequila, fresh chips, tapas from heaven above & deserts that inspire. Love this place. There was one week where I found myself at Port Fonda three times. That's when I knew it was serious.

• 715. It's been around for a few years, but this downtown Lawrence spot has really upped its game. Open during the week for dinner & for brunch & dinner on weekends, 715 gives you great specials & menu mainstays. It specializes in amazing meats & pasta offerings. These are complemented by a fantastic wine menu. It's a nice atmosphere & because it's so great, call ahead for reservations.

• Hanks. This spot is one of the newish east Lawrence offerings. At 19 & Mass, Hanks offers great butcher shop meats. But wait. They also have gourmet menu selections? And brunch? Devine for whatever you're craving. Fun to eat there & great fresh meats to take home & grill.

• 1900 Baker. If you love great coffee & bread products, this is your jam. The small Lawrence venue is changing how people relate to gluten. Try anything they bake & you'll be smitten. And their hot chocolate is the stuff good food porn is made of. Toasted marshmallow meets artisan chocolate.

• Decade. This is another Lawrence spot that serves everything from great coffee to artisan cocktails at night. Go there for nice atmo-sphere & way above average food & beverage.—Kathy Damron

Lawrence - on Mass street between 6th and 9th: Free State Brewery; TEN at the Eldridge Hotel; 715 at 715 Mass; Ladybird Diner 721 Mass; Merchants; and RND Corner Grill—8th and Mass. The old Round Corner Drug Store is the newest fi ne dining--$20 trout, $30 steaks and great wine and drinks; Limestone Pizza at 820 Mass is a favorite; Port Fonda at 8th and New Hampshire—special Mexican fl are. Fun but noise. LaTropicana 3 blocks East of Johnny's, which is north of Kaw River bridge. First and third Wednesday from 6-9 p.m. is Cajun Shrimp Night at Johnny's at 4th and Vermont North, side of Kaw River Bridge. All are favorites of Judy Krueger and husband Nelson of 48 years, formerly of the Graves and Dole Staffs. We love seeing you all in Lawrence.—Nelson Krueger

A short drive to Historic Lecompton fi nds you at Aunt Netter's Cafe, 336 Elmore, for home-style food, gourmet cupcakes and homemade pies. The cafe is open Wednesday to Sunday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. plus Friday evenings from 5 to 7p.m.

by curlygrrrl, aka sarah carkhuff...

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