The food is good, but the portions are small and the staff is pretty much indifferent to gringos - with the exception of Diego, who is super cool.
If you are going to order something to go, its best that you just show up rather than calling in. If you call, the phone will ring for at least a minute and someone who doesn't speak English might pick up the phone. Plus if you call it in they probably won't start making it until you come to pick it up anyway. Or they may have already given your food to someone else by the time you get there.
The cool thing is that they have lunch specials. The best value is the Wednesday $3.99 taco salad. Just be prepared to pay a takeout fee of $0.50.
This place is in the classic tradition of the small town diner. The breakfast is very good, better than anything else in town that I know of. Their burgers are okay. Nothing to write home about, but a great value on Wednesdays because they're half off. A burger and fries is only $3.20 total, including tax.
Half price burgers on Mondays! You can't beat it. The Shock & Awe burger is awesome, despite its obviously Neo-Con same. Its got a habanero/jalapeno sauce with pepperjack cheese on a kaiser role. And I'm talkin' a big, fat burger, dawg.
Very good. Love the pita bread. I've heard that their lentil soup is very good also. Everyone I know loves this place. One of my favorite places to eat in Lawrence.
I agree with marina005 100%. Chips and salsa are weak. I sent an email to the co-owner. Among other things, I told him I thought the food was not authentic. He said the manager/chef guy is from Mexico, and has been cooking for like 20 years. Either way, when you get salsa like that, or enchiladas with cold shredded cheese on it, I have to say not authentic. Horchata is descent but grainy; they don't filter out the rice like most places.
I also recomment Tortas Jalisco. Its completely authentic. The salsa is excellent; the food is excellent, and the horchata is the man! The only thing is you have to pay for the chips and salsa, but you get both green and red salsa with your chips.
I have eaten there twice. I guess I wasn't disgusted enough the first time. I could swear their food is frozen stuff that they throw in the oven. Their "refried" beans come straight out of the can, and their rice is like Minute Rice. Its so weak, dude.
The last time we went, I ordered a steak. It came with a side of rice and beans. The cook cut into my steak, presumably to check to see if it was cooked to my liking. Everyone knows you don't do that. For one, it drains the moisture from your steak. And from a resturant perspective, you ruin the presentation. My beans were heavily sprinkled with black pepper, and they were all crusted over like they had been sitting in the oven too long. Our waitress was nice, and she was embarrassed when I pointed it out. She politely took it back, only to bring me something slightly less disgusting.
Definitely the best Mexican food in Lawrence. Don't waste your money at Carlos O'Kelly's or La Parrilla! The only issues I have with Tortas is their small portions and the fact that you have to pay chips and salsa. I mean, come on, we have to pay for chips and salsa?! Give me a break!
On a positive note, they have the best tasting mexican rice I have ever eaten, and their orchata is very good.
Yeah, I took my family out to the Sunday buffet yesterday. The food is good, but they charged me $4.95 for my 2-year-old daughter. Come on! Do you know how much a 2-year-old eats?! At most places, kids under 3 or 4 eat for free. As much as I like this place, I'm not going back.
As to Gullah's comment about the situation of Italian cuisine in Lawrence, I concur. Teller's does it right, but they are too expensive and they have gone overboard on the "upscale" thing. They hardly have any pasta dishes anymore. Paisano's used to be pretty good, but they are super-expensive for what you get. They try to trick you by including the bread and salad in the meal price. But every place gives you free bread, anyway.
Tres Mexicanos Mexican Grill & Cantina
The food is good, but the portions are small and the staff is pretty much indifferent to gringos - with the exception of Diego, who is super cool.
If you are going to order something to go, its best that you just show up rather than calling in. If you call, the phone will ring for at least a minute and someone who doesn't speak English might pick up the phone. Plus if you call it in they probably won't start making it until you come to pick it up anyway. Or they may have already given your food to someone else by the time you get there.
The cool thing is that they have lunch specials. The best value is the Wednesday $3.99 taco salad. Just be prepared to pay a takeout fee of $0.50.
July 12, 2010 at 11:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Haskell Diner
This place is in the classic tradition of the small town diner. The breakfast is very good, better than anything else in town that I know of. Their burgers are okay. Nothing to write home about, but a great value on Wednesdays because they're half off. A burger and fries is only $3.20 total, including tax.
January 24, 2008 at 11:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Set'em Up Jacks
Half price burgers on Mondays! You can't beat it. The Shock & Awe burger is awesome, despite its obviously Neo-Con same. Its got a habanero/jalapeno sauce with pepperjack cheese on a kaiser role. And I'm talkin' a big, fat burger, dawg.
February 13, 2007 at 11:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Annabelle's Restaurant
Pretty good for a chain. You always know what to expect, and you get pretty decent service.
February 13, 2007 at 11:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Aladdin's Cafe
Very good. Love the pita bread. I've heard that their lentil soup is very good also. Everyone I know loves this place. One of my favorite places to eat in Lawrence.
February 13, 2007 at 11:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
La Parrilla
I think people just eat here because its on Mass, and frankly most white people don't know any better; that's why they go to Carlos O'Kelly's.
Their slogan should be La Parrilla - the anti-Mexican food!
February 13, 2007 at 10:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
La Parrilla
I agree with marina005 100%. Chips and salsa are weak. I sent an email to the co-owner. Among other things, I told him I thought the food was not authentic. He said the manager/chef guy is from Mexico, and has been cooking for like 20 years. Either way, when you get salsa like that, or enchiladas with cold shredded cheese on it, I have to say not authentic. Horchata is descent but grainy; they don't filter out the rice like most places.
I also recomment Tortas Jalisco. Its completely authentic. The salsa is excellent; the food is excellent, and the horchata is the man! The only thing is you have to pay for the chips and salsa, but you get both green and red salsa with your chips.
February 13, 2007 at 10:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Carlos O'Kelly's Mexican Cafe
I have eaten there twice. I guess I wasn't disgusted enough the first time. I could swear their food is frozen stuff that they throw in the oven. Their "refried" beans come straight out of the can, and their rice is like Minute Rice. Its so weak, dude.
The last time we went, I ordered a steak. It came with a side of rice and beans. The cook cut into my steak, presumably to check to see if it was cooked to my liking. Everyone knows you don't do that. For one, it drains the moisture from your steak. And from a resturant perspective, you ruin the presentation. My beans were heavily sprinkled with black pepper, and they were all crusted over like they had been sitting in the oven too long. Our waitress was nice, and she was embarrassed when I pointed it out. She politely took it back, only to bring me something slightly less disgusting.
February 12, 2007 at 1:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tortas Jalisco
Definitely the best Mexican food in Lawrence. Don't waste your money at Carlos O'Kelly's or La Parrilla! The only issues I have with Tortas is their small portions and the fact that you have to pay chips and salsa. I mean, come on, we have to pay for chips and salsa?! Give me a break!
On a positive note, they have the best tasting mexican rice I have ever eaten, and their orchata is very good.
February 12, 2007 at 1:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Mad Greek Restaurant
Yeah, I took my family out to the Sunday buffet yesterday. The food is good, but they charged me $4.95 for my 2-year-old daughter. Come on! Do you know how much a 2-year-old eats?! At most places, kids under 3 or 4 eat for free. As much as I like this place, I'm not going back.
As to Gullah's comment about the situation of Italian cuisine in Lawrence, I concur. Teller's does it right, but they are too expensive and they have gone overboard on the "upscale" thing. They hardly have any pasta dishes anymore. Paisano's used to be pretty good, but they are super-expensive for what you get. They try to trick you by including the bread and salad in the meal price. But every place gives you free bread, anyway.
February 12, 2007 at 12:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )