Sunday, September 30, 2012
The Free State Brewing Co., 636 Mass., was readers' choice for Best Restaurant in the 2012 Best of Lawrence contest.
Best Restaurant
Free State Brewing Company
Free State Brewing Company hasn’t changed a lot in its 20-plus years, serving in-house brew and upscale pub fare at the north end of Lawrence’s downtown drag. See why Free State's won two years in a row.
Best New Restaurant
Queen Lizzy's Fish & Chips
Queen Lizzy’s mission is “Bringing a taste of Great Britain to the Great Plains.” It may have imported a new taste to Lawrence, but the local enthusiasm is homegrown. Here's why.
Best Bar
Sandbar
Every tropical drink comes with a toy. The building is lime green. There are hurricanes — if you miss the nightly 10 p.m. storm, you can buy one on command for $20. You can dance on the bar (in a mermaid costume!). We'll join you for a fruity cocktail in our write up.
Best Bartender
Dave Johanning, Sandbar
Dave Johanning, a managing partner at Sandbar, has been bartending there going on 17 years. He helped with a few things we’ve always wondered about Sandbar but were afraid to ask.
Best Pizza
Rudy’s Pizzeria
704 Mass., rudyspizzeria.com
Runners up
Papa Keno’s, 1035 Mass.
Johnny’s, 721 Wakarusa Drive; 401 N. Second St.
Best Coffee
La Prima Tazza
Barista Adam Lottt, 28 sips one his his brews at LA Prima Tazza, 638 Mass. was chosen as the best place to get a cup of coffee in Lawrence.
638 Mass., primatazza.com
Runners up
Z’s Divine Espresso, 10 E. Ninth St.; 1800 E. 23rd St.
J&S; Coffee Co Inc, 4821 W. Sixth St.
Best Happy Hour
Louise’s
1009 Mass. and 1307 W. Seventh St., louiseswest.com
Runners up
The Jayhawker Bar at the Eldridge, 701 Mass.
Free State Brewing Co., 636 Mass.
Best Liquor Store
Cork & Barrel Wine & Spirits
2000 W. 23rd St. and 901 Miss.
corkandbarrel.biz
Runners up
On the Rocks, 1818 Mass.
Jensen Retail Liquor, 620 W. Ninth St.
Best Hamburger
The Burger Stand at the Casbah, 803 Mass., won Best Burger in the 2012 Best of Lawrence contest.
The Burger Stand at The Casbah
803 Mass., thecasbahburgerstand.com
Runners up
Dempsey’s, 623 Vt.
Five Guys Burgers & Fries, 2014 W. 31st St.
Best Mexican Food
El Mezcal
1819 W. 23rd St., elmezcal.com
Runners up
La Familia Café & Cantina, 733 N.H.
Cielito Lindo, 815 N.H.
Best Latin Food
La Parilla
814 Mass., laparrillaks.com
Runners up
Esquina, 801 Mass.
Mexiquisto, 712 Mass.
Best Asian Food
Encore Café
1007 Mass., encore-cafe.com
Runners up
Zen Zero, 811 Mass.
Thai Siam, 601 Kasold Drive
Best Italian Food
Paisano’s Ristorante
2112 W. 25th St., paisanoskansas.com
Runners up
Genovese, 941 Mass.
715, 715 Mass.
Best Middle Eastern Food
Aladdin Café
1021 Mass., aladdincafeoflawrence.com
Runners up
India Palace, 129 E. 10th St.
Mediterranean Market & Café, 3300 Bob Billings Pkwy.
Best Vegan or Vegetarian Food
Zen Zero
Zen Zero, 811 Mass., was voted Best Vegan or Vegetarian Food in the 2012 Best of Lawrence contest.
811 Mass., zen-zero.com
Runners up
Local Burger*
The Merc, 901 Iowa
India Palace, 129 E. 10th St.
*Local Burger closed in early September with the hopes of reopening soon in a new location
Best Breakfast or Brunch
Milton’s
920 Mass., lawrence.com/places/miltons
Runners up
First Watch, 2540 Iowa
The Mirth Café, 745 N.H.
Best Ice Cream
Sylas and Maddy's, 1014 Mass., was voted Best Ice Cream and Best Dessert in the 2012 Best of Lawrence contest.
Sylas & Maddy’s Home Made Ice Cream
1014 Mass., lawrence.com/places/sylas_and_maddys
Runners up
Cold Stone Creamery, 647 Mass.
Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt, 4801 Bauer Farm Drive
Best Dessert
Sylas & Maddy’s Home Made Ice Cream
1014 Mass.
Runners up
Munchers Bakery, 925 Iowa
Cupcake Construction Company, 727 Mass.
Best Bakery
WheatFields Bakery Café
904 Vt., wheatfieldsbakery.com
Runners up
Muncher’s Bakery, 925 Iowa
Great Harvest Bread Co., 807 Vt.
Best Barbecue
Bigg’s BBQ
2429 Iowa, biggsribs.com
Runners up
Biemer’s, 2120 W. Ninth St.
Gran-Daddy’s Barbeque, 1447 W. 23rd St.
Best delivery
Jimmy John’s
922 Mass.
601 Kasold Drive
1720 W. 23rd St.
1200 Oread, jimmyjohns.com
Runners up
Pizza Shuttle, 1601 W. 23rd St.
(Tie) Try Taki, 701 W. 23rd St., 821 Iowa;
(Tie) Yello Sub, 1814 W. 23rd St.
Best meal in a hurry
Chipotle
4000 W. Sixth St.
911 Mass., chipotle.com
Runners up
Curry in a Hurry, 1111 Mass.
Jimmy John’s, multiple locations
Comments
Eddie Muñoz 10 years, 8 months ago
It's just Munchers Bakery, there's no apostrophe. :)
Alex Keiffer 10 years, 8 months ago
Yeah, definitely Paisano's for best Italian restaurant. They're great.
Perhaps if Old Chicago was still here, it probably would've made the runners-up for best pizza...
Theprof 10 years, 8 months ago
Why does El Mezcal keep winning? Their food is bland and horrible. El Potro, a new Mexican place on 31st where Backyard Burgers use to be is awesome. Zen Zero also over rated. Try Oriental Bistro on 23rd.
spacecat6000 10 years, 8 months ago
Papa Kenos and On The Rocks should have won.
Angie Evers 10 years, 8 months ago
Someone needs to learn how to spell Mexquisito!
nicngrif 10 years, 8 months ago
I think The Basil Leaf makes the best Italian food. I'm surprised not to see them in runners up!
Will Soo 10 years, 7 months ago
Winning some of these categories seem easy enough. I'll open a Mexican restaurant and smother over cooked meat with white cheese sauce and pour 4 shots of tequila in a margarita that calls for 1. Then I'll open a Chinese joint and double the MSG and sugar. As for Italian? No problem. Boil dried pasta till it's way past al dente then pop open a #10 can of tomato sauce and sprinkle Kraft parmesan (no parmigiano reggiano here) and parsley leaves on the rims of each plate. Surprised McDonalds didnt make the list for best burger.
rockypiper 10 years, 7 months ago
Yes , I think Paisano's is best Italian restaurant . Best of all is Cork & Barrel Wine & Spirits, this bar has great collection of wine and all other kinds of liqour.
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lindahrndz 10 years, 7 months ago
BellaRoca cakes shoulda got best bakery or best delivery. they r so delicious. but muncher's is good too..
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