January 7, 2008
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Don's Steak House closes its doors
Don's Steak House has served its last beef and catfish dinners, as owner Gary Bartz recently closed the operation that opened in 1962. Enlarge video
Don’s Steak house has closed at 2176 E. 23rd St., but a new barbecue joint is set to take its place. The new eatery is expected to open by mid-March.
Don’s Steak House, a grilling institution since 1962 at the southeastern edge of Lawrence, is giving way to a new barbecue restaurant.
Gary Bartz, who has owned the place since buying out founder Don Scott in 1990, has closed the restaurant and sold off its equipment and fixtures to a group headed by a businessman from Wichita. The group intends to remodel and reopen the place as a barbecue joint.
Bartz, meanwhile, plans to rest, recuperate and remember the good times.
“I miss all my customers,” said Bartz, still recovering after heart surgery two years ago. “That’s the hard part. But not the business part. We have a slow economy here in Lawrence. It’s been no growth here for a while. Now I’m just looking to the future.”
Bartz has leased his 8,000-square-foot building and adjacent parking lot to a group headed by John Carnes, a Kansas University graduate who runs Rock Chalk Royalties Ltd., an independent oil operation based in Wichita.
Carnes, who has a son attending KU, is working with several other KU alumni to give the old Don’s place new life. Included in the ownership group are Steve Comeau, a fellow Wichita resident who is a fraternity brother of Carnes’, and John Bush, a friend who recently sold his ownership share of Lawrence Realty Associates to McGrew Real Estate.
Bush, a longtime fan of Kansas City barbecue, helped get the idea going after accepting his friend’s challenge to try some of the meats smoked in the style of Carnes’ beloved central Texas.
Bush, soon convinced that he’d never tasted anything better, suggested opening a place in Lawrence. They signed the lease for the Don’s space Dec. 29.
“It’ll be a joint,” Bush said. “We’re not looking for a fancy restaurant. It will be a lot closer to an Arthur Bryant’s experience than it will be to a KC Masterpiece experience.”
Comeau said that the new place would provide a “down home, old-world style” decor with a focus on the joint’s main attraction: smoked meats.
The group has a goal of opening by mid-March, while adding a new commercial smoker but making few cosmetic changes. A few interior walls will be removed, Comeau said, but the Don’s tables and chairs will remain.
Even the fiberglass Hereford bull on the roof will stay, welcoming diners and eyeballing hundreds of passersby from its bolted perch facing East 23rd Street.
“We’re going to use certified Angus, so we’ll have to paint him black,” Comeau said. “Why would we dare take him down?”
Comeau said that the restaurant likely would have about 20 employees, and hiring likely would begin in late February.
All while Don’s — which typically had about two dozen employees and a larger legion of steadfastly devoted fans — is added to the list of recent culinary icons to close recently in Lawrence: Joe’s Bakery, Bucky’s Drive In and now Don’s Steak House.
“We were pretty busy, but the problem is business has slowed down in the past couple of years,” said Bartz, now 60. “This $3 gas really hurt.”
7 January 2008 at 10:47 p.m.
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OTSSweeper (Anonymous) says…
Don's was always very mediocre food. Longhorn has much better steaks. Wish we'd get a Famous Daves, an Olive Garden, and a good seafood restaurant.
7 January 2008 at 11:06 p.m.
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lunacydetector (Anonymous) says…
historically, bbq joints always have a hard time making it in lawrence.
good luck.
7 January 2008 at 11:10 p.m.
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mom_of_three (Anonymous) says…
There are a couple of bbq restaurants who have been around for a few years. Who knows, this one could be really good.
7 January 2008 at 11:10 p.m.
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The_Original_Bob (Anonymous) says…
““It’ll be a joint,” Bush said. “We’re not looking for a fancy restaurant. It will be a lot closer to an Arthur Bryant’s experience than it will be to a KC Masterpiece experience.””
We are going to get mugged on the sidewalk? Well, it's worth it if I don't have to eat that KC Masterpiece garbage. AB's is all kinds of good.
I agree with OTSs first sentence. Everything after that is available within a 30 minute drive. Well, except a good seafood restaurant which come few and far between in the midwest.
7 January 2008 at 11:24 p.m.
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Sigmund (Anonymous) says…
AB's downtown is the best bbq, in the world, ever. The AB's out by the Kansas Speedway is horrible, I'd rather have MRSA.
7 January 2008 at 11:54 p.m.
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terrapin2 (Anonymous) says…
Lawrence desperately needs an Olive Garden, a Famous Dave's BBQ, and a Boston Market! :-) I miss livin' in a big city with so many more choices!
8 January 2008 at 12:18 a.m.
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mike_blur (Mike Blur) says…
terrapin2 (Anonymous) says…
Lawrence desperately needs an Olive Garden, a Famous Dave's BBQ, and a Boston Market! :-) I miss livin' in a big city with so many more choices!
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One of the most idiotically ironic posts I've ever read. I've been to dozens of cities, hundreds of restaurants, and hope every Olive Garden, Famous Daves, and Boston Market will just go away! LIfe is short—don't let the mainstream media tell you where to eat!
8 January 2008 at 12:19 a.m.
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dialupandy (Andrew Stahmer) says…
Boston Market? Don't think so…they already tried here and failed. tin pan alley, now THAT was a unique Lawrence restruant (where Brothers is now.) I miss that place!!
8 January 2008 at 12:32 a.m.
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lawrencelifer (Anonymous) says…
Anyone calling Don's Steakhouse food mediocre didn't eat steaks there. Don's was perennially voted “Best Steaks in Town” even up into recent years. The fillet mignons that they prepared were to die for. I went to Longhorn one time this past year. The steak was filled with fat and gristle. I haven't gone back.
On a personal note, my wife and I ate at Don's right before I proposed to her. Since then, we have eaten there on every anniversary. While the decor wasn't able to keep up to the glitziness of newer chains moving in, the food was always exceptional. Thanks for the memories, Don's Steakhouse! You'll be missed!
8 January 2008 at 12:45 a.m.
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Dracul (Bill Chapman) says…
When I go to a restaurant, I go for: 1. a clean place to eat(no bugs, clean tables.etc.; 2. GOOD food. Anything else is extra.
>You can't eat the decor - why should it matter more than the food?
8 January 2008 at 12:45 a.m.
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rgreene (Ryan Greene) says…
Don's Steakhouse = Best Fried Chicken in Lawrence….no question…Great place to eat. Sad day.
8 January 2008 at 12:59 a.m.
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rgreene (Ryan Greene) says…
I wonder if there's any way Gary will hook me up with the Monday Night Football flag.
8 January 2008 at 1:09 a.m.
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Hoots (Anonymous) says…
Olive Garden and Famous Daves…LOL Why do people love that garbage? Some of the worst food I've ever had to suffer through. So many good local joints and people want that…jeeeez.
8 January 2008 at 2:06 a.m.
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sourpuss (Anonymous) says…
Chains are for mediocre people. I always loved Don's. I remember going as a kid. Such good memories. I had some special dates there too. I'll miss it. Oh, and I agree about the Longhorn - I can and do cook better at home. I never found fault in a Don's cut of meat - always top notch.
8 January 2008 at 2:16 a.m.
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faceit (Anonymous) says…
Hoot, because it better than the local fare. Famous Daves has better BBQ sauces than any place in KC or Lawrence. Pasiano's has one dish that equals Olive Garden, but the rest don't and alfredo sauce isn't consistent at Pasiano's.
Don's steaks were flavorless and never cooked to order. I'm surprised they stayed in business this long. Good riddance.
8 January 2008 at 2:27 a.m.
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trollkiller (Anonymous) says…
Thank God for Longhorn. Finally a restaurant with great cuts of meat that are properly prepared. Don's were never good cuts and I think their cooks must have been teenagers. We waited over 45 min last time an had to send them back
8 January 2008 at 3:46 a.m.
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sourpuss (Anonymous) says…
For people complaining about Don's, did you go recently, or in the 80s? When Don ran the place, it was fab. I have to admit I didn't go much after it changed hands. Still, chains ARE boring, people, but if that is what you are used to, then I guess, well, I won't say it :)
8 January 2008 at 5:18 a.m.
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trinity (Anonymous) says…
i'm with the “chains are boring” crowd. i just have never really gotten a good steak at a chain. haven't been to don's in years, but it used to be a “special” dining destination! and i never ever had a bad steak or meal there. either before or after '80; probably has been since '99 or so, since i've eaten there. still, i am saddened that don's is no more.
8 January 2008 at 6:21 a.m.
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Toto_the_great (Anonymous) says…
Famous Dave's is a joke. The food is nothing special. Ditto for Olive Garden. The only reason to eat there is their endless bowl of pasta… some friends and I like to make pigs of ourselves occasionally and that is one place to do it, but overall it nothing special.
I agree with the Tin Pan Alley post. My folks used to take my brother and me there all the time. It was great. I went on my first date there (and think, she wanted to go to Pizza hut… I don't think so). I love the mom and pop places. They have good, unusual food. Screw the chains. The Olive Garden in Topeka tastes like the one in KC, and the one in Wichita, and the one in Columbia, MO, and the one in Omaha, NE, and the one in (fill in the blank here).
Restaurants are like chocolate chip cookies. My mom's are the best… and they always have been and will be. Sure those Keebler elves might make a little chewier cookie with more chips, but I can only get mom's cookies in southern Jeff Co. and that's what makes them special.
8 January 2008 at 6:29 a.m.
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Toto_the_great (Anonymous) says…
OBTW, mom's secret ingredient for her cookies is love…. and the fact that they aren't made by some mindless robot. Isn't the food at chain restaurants made by mindless robots? I think they are called teenagers and college students.
8 January 2008 at 6:33 a.m.
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gbaker (Anonymous) says…
We need a good old home town BBQ like the Bum Steer was. Bigg's isn't authentic, Vermont St. is great and the Choke House Oh sorry Bob the Smoke House just plain sucks. Good luck.
8 January 2008 at 6:56 a.m.
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Solomon (Anonymous) says…
If they can duplicate the food and sauce of the Salt Lick BBQ near Dripping Springs, TX they'll have a winner.
8 January 2008 at 7 a.m.
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blue73harley (Anonymous) says…
Don's was getting by on old reputation alone. For at least the last five years their food and service totally sucked. Good riddance.
8 January 2008 at 7:16 a.m.
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kramdorf (Anonymous) says…
Long live Border Bandito!! Is there any other place that has outlasted so many in Lawrence? Yet another name for them to add to their list on the wall.
What a perfect location Don's would have been for a Lamberts - “Home of the Throw'd Rolls”. It is the only restaurant I have ever been to that is worth a two hour wait.
8 January 2008 at 7:39 a.m.
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Toto_the_great (Anonymous) says…
Lamberts is awesome too. Good ol' country cookin'… 16 oz chicken fried steak, sweet potatoes, fried okra, cucumbers and vinegar, sweet tea… crap, I just drooled on my keyboard. I think there are three locations now (two in MO and one in AL). If you are going to bring in chains, I still say Biaggi's… decent food and nice wine selection (www.biaggis.com/). It beats Olive Garden any day. My first JLW post was on food joints. I do love to eat. I can talk about food all day.
8 January 2008 at 7:45 a.m.
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zettapixel (Anonymous) says…
That's it… I'm starting up a seafood restaurant like the ones back home on the Gulf Coast. Who wants to go in on it with me?
8 January 2008 at 7:47 a.m.
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KS (Anonymous) says…
I found Don's Steakhouse to be dark, dirty and had lousy service. Sorry he didn't clean up the place and stay in business.
8 January 2008 at 8:02 a.m.
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Coach_Eric (Anonymous) says…
What a sad day. Some of my fondest meories are from Don's. The food and service had really picked up in the last couple years. Don's will be missed.
And for the _______ posting on here whining about how they want an Olive Garden, or a Famous Dave's…move to Olathe brother. You can also get a nice beige house, have your 2.4 kids, complain about the hippies in Lawrence and wear your sweater vests.
8 January 2008 at 8:04 a.m.
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blackwalnut (Anonymous) says…
Another BBQ place? zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
We must be in Kansas, or something.
8 January 2008 at 8:05 a.m.
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c_dubya (Anonymous) says…
Yeah the service was a little slow and the sides were pretty much average but the smoked prime rib was the best I've ever had that I didn't make myself. My daughter will be sorely disappointed that Don's is gone. Hopefully this new joint will do a decent prime rib.
8 January 2008 at 8:07 a.m.
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jayhawktru (Anonymous) says…
Hands down….best BBQ in Lawrence is Gran Daddy's!!!!
8 January 2008 at 8:22 a.m.
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cowboy (Anonymous) says…
Was never the same after sold by Don , he was quite a character in his day
8 January 2008 at 8:34 a.m.
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offtotheright (Anonymous) says…
I hadn't realized Don's was still open. Humph!
I hope this new place is good….Lawrence lacks in the bbq department.
8 January 2008 at 8:37 a.m.
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DanAlexander (Dan Alexander) says…
Olive Garden… seriously?
8 January 2008 at 8:41 a.m.
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akt2 (Anonymous) says…
There isn't much on that side of town. If the food is good it might make it. It will draw from Eudora too. A good place to eat over there (if you don't mind the strip mall location) is the Jin Shan Buffet. They have good food and good service.
8 January 2008 at 8:44 a.m.
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rtwngr (Anonymous) says…
Don's was the worst. Greasy, dirty, dingy, and dark. The food was sub par. Good riddance.
8 January 2008 at 8:49 a.m.
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The_Original_Bob (Anonymous) says…
“And for the _______ posting on here whining about how they want an Olive Garden, or a Famous Dave's…move to Olathe brother. You can also get a nice beige house, have your 2.4 kids, complain about the hippies in Lawrence and wear your sweater vests.” Coach Eric
Amen, brother. Don't forget to throw Red Lobster and Chili's/Applebees/similar clones in that discussion as well.
I will admit that I'm not a fan of our local “upscale” Italian joint. It'd be nice to have an authentic Italian place, but Olive Garden is most certainly not that.
8 January 2008 at 8:50 a.m.
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jkr1739 (Anonymous) says…
I'm looking forward to some new BBQ in Lawrence. The best in the area now is definitely Oklahoma Joe's in Olathe. Another good restaurant in that strip mall on the East Side by Jin Shan is Tres Mexicanos. Went there for the first time last Friday and was highly impressed.
8 January 2008 at 8:51 a.m.
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KUDB99 (Anonymous) says…
One of the great things about traveling is sampling the local cuisine. Isn't it sad that we continue to lose the local flavors for the homogeneous “Fast Food Nation” attitudes of prepared, manufactured chain foods. Olive Garden and their ilk aren't bad, but the problem is, the one in Topeka is exactly the same as the one in Atlanta, GA, or whereever else they exist.
It makes me sad when we lose something that is uniquely Lawrence. You may have thought that Don's Steakhouse wasn't the best, but you have to agree that it was uniquely ours. Here's hoping that the new BBQ place can capture some sort of unique local flavor.
8 January 2008 at 8:58 a.m.
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ForThePeople (Anonymous) says…
8 January 2008 at 8:22 a.m.
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cowboy (Anonymous) says…
Was never the same after sold by Don , he was quite a character in his day.
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I wholeheartedly agree! The food was great when Don ran the place! I indulged in more than my share of baby back ribs in those days. Don passed away a few years back and I know he'd roll over in his grave to hear the comments about how the place went downhill during Garys ownership.
8 January 2008 at 9:06 a.m.
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MattressMan (Anonymous) says…
The last several years satisfaction with either the food or service seemed to be hit or miss when dining at Don's.
Hope the new folks air the place out as it really started to become stale in there.
8 January 2008 at 9:09 a.m.
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radiohawk (Anonymous) says…
“I will admit that I'm not a fan of our local “upscale” Italian joint. It'd be nice to have an authentic Italian place, but Olive Garden is most certainly not that.”
Hear that, Garrozzo's? Olive Garden my a—.
8 January 2008 at 9:14 a.m.
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LawSW (Anonymous) says…
“…We have a slow economy here in Lawrence….” or it just could be that there was very poor presentation of the food on the plate. A steak and only a baked potato on a plate is not a “meal” nor attractive. They couldn't even get my drink right. Then, the person I was with was Muslim and the steak came wrapped in bacon without it saying it on the menu. Yikes! Only went there once and it was a sad experience!
8 January 2008 at 9:14 a.m.
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conservativepunker (Anonymous) says…
Olive Garden….jeez. It's surprising how many folks think that OG is a “real” Italian place. After living in NYC, I can tell you— it ain't! :) No chain is. Carraba's, Garozzo's……just do not cut the linguine!!
8 January 2008 at 9:18 a.m.
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Tiamak (Anonymous) says…
Please don't bring in a Olive Garden, Famous Daves or Red Lobster, they suck. Yeah endless bowl of pasta at a cheap price you can't beat that. Let's be real unless it is a chain restaurant it won't stay in business long out there on the highway, not enough business. If your going to put a BBQ spot there AB is the best. Try a good down home country soul food restaurant. or Bring back Tin Pan Alley the Whole in the Wall and that place that had the huge burger. Or get Mr. Albert Terry to start making Opp's Omelets like he did when he was cooking at Drake's.
8 January 2008 at 9:20 a.m.
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otto (Anonymous) says…
Bearded_Clam (Anonymous) says…
Too bad that freakin' car dealership that is already going out of business bought out Quick's BBQ… That place was the sh*t!!! Damn you car dealership,
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really - it's closing?
8 January 2008 at 9:21 a.m.
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akt2 (Anonymous) says…
I'm glad that they are keeping the cow.
8 January 2008 at 9:22 a.m.
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srj (Anonymous) says…
Let's face it, if you want to drive 30-40 minutes, the best stuff is in KC, no matter what you like due to pure numbers in places.
8 January 2008 at 9:29 a.m.
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LogicMan (Anonymous) says…
“I hope that we get a Sambo's soon. Their pancakes were the best!”
Ain't going to happen — a place themed after a highly criticized children's book (Little Black Sambo) wouldn't last for long these days.
8 January 2008 at 9:30 a.m.
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blue73harley (Anonymous) says…
A Rosedale BBQ West would be nice.
8 January 2008 at 9:31 a.m.
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The_Original_Bob (Anonymous) says…
Since we are dreaming… Paradise would be nice.
8 January 2008 at 9:31 a.m.
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The_Original_Bob (Anonymous) says…
Since we are dreaming… Paradise would be nice.
8 January 2008 at 9:31 a.m.
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Bleufer (Anonymous) says…
I agree with the anti-Olive Garden statements. Even though I don't live in L-town any more, I visit it when seeing the fam and I would love to see a good Italian joint there. Thankfully, there is one near me in the Champaign, IL, area (Filippos Pizza & Italian Food). It is a real Italian restaurant ran for the past 30 years by two generations of a hard-working Italian family. A lot of the items are homemade or imported from Italy, and it competes with authentic big-city Italian.
I agree with Toto's statement about Biaggi's… if you bring in a chain, then Biaggi's wouldn't be bad. Lambert's isn't bad either but I don't think it fits well in Lawrence (think smaller big town, like Ottawa, Emporia, or the Manhatten).
8 January 2008 at 9:44 a.m.
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Souki (Anonymous) says…
I've been served better meals on airplanes (in economy) than they can muster at Olive Garden.
8 January 2008 at 9:51 a.m.
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cobaltblue (Anonymous) says…
In hopes that the new owners will be reading this post…
Most bbq places fail because they have crappy side dishes. All effort goes into smoking the meat but then they
turn around and serve half cooked frozen fries, watery cole
slaw and baked beans from a can. Take a trip to Oklahoma Joes, LC's and AB's and do some research. I don't care how good the meat is, if you serve frozen fries, I am out the door. Spend as much care on the sides as you do on the meat and you will succeed.
8 January 2008 at 9:58 a.m.
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HW (Anonymous) says…
blue73harley (Anonymous) says…
A Rosedale BBQ West would be nice.
I went to Rosedale's once. I asked for burnt ends. I ended up with a bunch of cubed chunks of beef roast. That's a far cry from burnt ends. The waiter/waitress should have to ask the cook if there are any burnt ends left.
Oklahoma Joes is the best around these parts. Not the one in Olathe either. The original one. Gas station and all.
Memphis BBQ is still the best there is. Beale Street, baby backs, shrimp gumbo, and a beer. That is good stuff.
8 January 2008 at 10:05 a.m.
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Toto_the_great (Anonymous) says…
What's the BBQ joint south of town near Ottawa (maybe Williamsburg)? Are they still around?
8 January 2008 at 10:14 a.m.
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blue73harley (Anonymous) says…
Toto - yep, Guy and Mae's is still open in Williamsburg.
8 January 2008 at 10:15 a.m.
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funkdog1 (Anonymous) says…
Law SW said:
“Then, the person I was with was Muslim and the steak came wrapped in bacon without it saying it on the menu.”
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Um, if you ordered a filet mignon, 99.9999% of restaurants you go to will wrap it in bacon.
8 January 2008 at 10:27 a.m.
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trinity (Anonymous) says…
guy&mae's is still around&still yummmmmmalicious! makes an awesome destination on the scooters! :)
8 January 2008 at 10:33 a.m.
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kneejerkreaction (Anonymous) says…
Don's, Bucky's and Joe's all had one thing in common. A decrease in quality.
Consumers select, and they selected to not frequent these businesses.
8 January 2008 at 10:45 a.m.
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biggunz (Anonymous) says…
went to don's once too see what all the hubbub was about. left dissappointed and never returned. it was overrated and if the place was so great, it wouldn't have folded.
8 January 2008 at 10:49 a.m.
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hawkperchedatriverfront (Anonymous) says…
These new guys will be paying rent and I bet it isn't cheap. The guy who ran Bucky's paid rent. When you pay rent on commercial property, you better have a fast moving product. I would give these guys two years or less unless the daddy has lots of money and wants to throw it away.
And most important is labor. Will there be good customer service not at the beginning but the whole time the place is open. Good service is not walking around pouring more water! In a Bar BQ, a good wait staff would make certain that the customers have fresh napkins for starters.
It will start off big, because it is new but then it is wait and see.
Another business bought for “blue sky” in a town with a grey cloud overhanging.
good luck. better be priced for families and working blue collar folks.
8 January 2008 at 10:55 a.m.
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tvf2k (Anonymous) says…
“Lawrence desperately needs an Olive Garden, a Famous Dave's BBQ, and a Boston Market! :-) I miss livin' in a big city with so many more choices!”
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This is the same kind of thinking that allowed long john silver's to win “Best Seafood Restaurant” awards from the UDK and LJW. Just can't see how Lawrence “desparately needs” such haute cuisine like Olive Garden (and I don't mind OG or Famous Dave's) - I'd just rather have something that I can't get in 750 cities across the U.S. Whoever mentioned Tin Pan Alley, I wanna party with you cowboy! (or cowgirl)
8 January 2008 at 11:07 a.m.
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StirrrThePot (Anonymous) says…
I don't want Lawrence to be just another town full of chains. If I wanted to live in a town like that I would move to Topeka or Johnson County. OTOH, I may not have to move since it appears the local places are closing one by one.
8 January 2008 at 11:08 a.m.
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kneejerkreaction (Anonymous) says…
One thing about Famous Dave's, it's one of the few BBQ places where you can get a dry rub rib dish.
But, BBQ is made out to be a lot more than is. It's good, but it's just smoked meat. Not a big mystery or even approaching haute cuisine.
It's popular to make 'cause anyone with a reasonable culinary ability can make it.
8 January 2008 at 11:08 a.m.
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blackwalnut (Anonymous) says…
Giovanni's on Mass is better than anything I've ever eaten at any Olive Garden chain restaurant.
They have the best creme brulee I've ever had in my life.
8 January 2008 at 11:13 a.m.
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kneejerkreaction (Anonymous) says…
Where is Giovanni's on Mass St.?
8 January 2008 at 11:14 a.m.
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kneejerkreaction (Anonymous) says…
You must mean Genevose? They actually have some good Italian dishes there. And some not so good, but they have a few winners.
8 January 2008 at 11:15 a.m.
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kneejerkreaction (Anonymous) says…
Genovese (sp).
8 January 2008 at 11:45 a.m.
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del888 (Anonymous) says…
terrapin2 (Anonymous) says…
Lawrence desperately needs an Olive Garden, a Famous Dave's BBQ, and a Boston Market! :-) I miss livin' in a big city with so many more choices!
For those of us who have lived here longer that a few years, there used to be a Boston Market at 23rd and Louisana (where Panera Bread is now??). Didn't work.
8 January 2008 at 11:50 a.m.
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KSChick1 (Anonymous) says…
I beg to differ on Jin Shan being a good buffet-I have eaten there 2-3 times just to try it and retry it because my kid thinks it's wonderful. I was never impressed and am surprised they are still in business. The most people I have ever seen in there eating was 5 including me and my kid, and the food is terrible. I call it WoofWoof buffet because it's like dog food in my opinion. Not even sure dogs would eat it. I have watched the sushi chef make fresh sushi and tried it eat it-it was gross. Self-serve freezer burnt ice cream in a tub, yuck. Frog legs that have been sitting on the buffet for hours, Disgusting with a capital D.
8 January 2008 at 12:10 p.m.
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freeordie (Anonymous) says…
Too bad about Don's. I liked the atmosphere and so did my kids. Service was sometimes poor but I find service is regularly poor in Lawrence pretty much everywhere but the brewery on Mass. Grandad's is damn good BBQ and the people are nice. Texas BBQ sucks. FINE, tear down this whole damn town and make it into one big strip mall. Better yet, tear down downtown and build a Wal Mart with a home depot on top of it crowned with a McDonald's. It would be like a huge screw you birthday cake. Ring it with a huge parking lot embossed with a Nike symbol you can see from outerspace so you have somewhere to park a limo Hummer. Damn, that'd be sweeter than Twinkie filling.
8 January 2008 at 12:10 p.m.
Suggest removal
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hawkperchedatriverfront (Anonymous) says…
No business coming though. Just a different type of restaurant in existing building. Lawrence is not business friendly. Read my beak: No new business, just another business in an already existing building. If the building is occupied or vacant , the taxes are stil paid. What is being gained with all this hype about Don's beco