Lawrence’s restaurant offerings increased in 2002, with a number of new establishments opening in the city.

Here are profiles of some of the businesses that joined the already crowded marketplace last year:

• Pochi Tea Station, 125 E. 10th St., 843-2402: One of the specialties at Pochi is bubble tea, one of the most popular drink trends on the West Coast. It’s a mixture of black and green teas, with a twist: tapioca pearls added to the drinks. The owner is Erlinda Tjhai, a 2001 graduate of Kansas University with a degree in engineering. Pochi has a menu featuring several dishes from Tjhai’s native country, Indonesia, and a selection of crepes. Prices for the teas and other drinks range from $2.80 to $3.35. Food prices for most items are about $5. Hours are: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday; and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday.
• Skeeters Bar & Grill, 3300 W. 15th St.: Tricia Higgins, the 21-year-old owner of Skeeters, opened the restaurant in early March, offering a combination of rustic, Western decor; limestone walls and bar; and high-tech features such as an Internet-access jukebox and a wireless network so patrons could surf the Web while they dine and drink. Caters to sports fans, with nine televisions places throughout the restaurant. The fare is a variety of Mexican and American dishes, including seafood and steaks. Prices will range from $7 for sandwiches to $30 for some steaks. Hours are: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday, and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

l Vermont Street BBQ, 805 Vt., 856-4227: Owners Yale Baker and Shad Woodworth ¢ ened their restaurant in August 2002, making it the place in town specializing in barbecue. The menu features pulled pork, beef brisket, sliced smoked turkey breast, pork sausage and St. Louis-style spareribs. Sides include homemade cole slaw, baked beans and potato salad, plus fresh cornbread. Delivery is available in the Lawrence area, with a $5 minimum order. The business has a Web site, with the menu and information about catering, at www.vermontstreetbbq.com. Hours are: 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day.

• Zen Zero, 811 Mass., 832-0001: Subarna Bhattachan and Alejandro Lule, co-owners of La Parrilla, 814 Mass., opened this Southeast Asian noodle shop and satay bar with a menu featuring dishes from Tibet, Nepal, Vietnam, Thailand and Japan. There are Chinese- and Indian-influenced dishes, too. Aside from noodles, there’s a variety of curry-spiced entrees and momos, steamed dumplings stuffed with meat or vegetables and served with dipping sauces. Hours are: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday and Sunday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
• Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar, 1012 Mass., 838-9464: Part of a chain of restaurants boasting more than 180 locations nationwide, including several in the Olathe-Kansas City area. The restaurant and sports bar, popular with Kansas University students, features 28 television sets, four satellites and NTN trivia boxes. It’s well-known for its buffalo wings and 12 signature sauces, raging from a sweet Teriyaki to Blazin’. Hours are: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday.

Zen Zero co-owners Alejandro Lule, left, and Subarna Bhattachan feature dishes from Tibet, Nepal, Vietnam, Thailand and Japan.