Lawrence, Kansas: Not Bad, But Overpriced By $10 To $20 Per Night

Baymont by Wyndham Lawrence

740 Iowa Street

Lawrence, KS 66044

Phone number (800) 337-0400

Website: wyndhamhotels.com/baymont

Prices: $$$$

At nearly $80 per night for a motel in the seediest part of Lawrence, Kansas, I was not overly impressed. 

The front desk clerk was extremely helpful, friendly and professional - a good start. However, the room was very basic, relatively clean and the wi-fi and cable worked just fine, but because we were on the ground floor, the noise from the people upstairs was significant.

Breakfast was a bit better than your ordinary "continental" variety, but not by much. They had biscuits and gravy and scrambled eggs, but the biscuits were as hard as rocks and the eggs were left extremely dry by the Sterno-fueled warming pan. We were told that they "normally" offer bacon and sausage as well, but because they had been throwing away so much as of late, they decided to stop doing so during the week.

I would expect to pay no more than $60 to $70 max for a room of this quality in the Midwest, so I cannot in good conscience give them more than an "average" rating.

CombatCritic Gives Baymont by Wyndham Lawrence 5 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Five Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "Continue Mission"

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Title: Lawrence, Kansas: Not Bad, But Overpriced By $10 To $20 Per Night

Key Words: Baymont by Wyndham Lawrence, Baymont, Wyndham, Lawrence, Iowa, KS, Kansas, 66044, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value,  hotel, accommodation, business, review, Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook

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Lawrence, KS: No Road-Kill Here, Just Decent Food, Fair Prices, And FREE PEANUTS

Texas Roadhouse

2329 Iowa Street
Lawrence, KS 66046
Phone number (785) 312-7427
Website: texasroadhouse.com

Prices: $$$$

Not that busy for a Friday night, unlike many other restaurants, I never had a burning desire to try the Roadhouse, being a steak chain and all, until recently.

Loud country music and servers line dancing greeted us as we sat at a corner table. Our server was attentive, but not very efficient. He forgot to bring my son's salad and instead of "mashed potatoes twice", be brought me mashed potatoes and rice.

We did not order an appetizer, only because after eating free peanuts, I knew I could not possibly eat a full meal.

My better half went with the Beef Tips ($10.99), chunks o' beef sauteed with mushrooms and onion and smothered with brown gravy atop a heap o' mashed potatoes (or rice). The potatoes were her first side dish (you get two with most entrees) and fresh vegetables (steamed carrots and broccoli) the second. A generous portion, the tips were tender, succulent and savory and a very good value.

I love Prime Rib and do not splurge too often, but it sounded good and at just $15.99 for a 10 ounce cut and two sides, I could not resist. I like the end cut and the one I got was about the right size, tender as a whore's heart, but a tad overcooked even for me and a little dry. The smoked flavor was not what I was expecting either, but a dip in the aus jus and creamed horseradish sauce eliminated the dryness as well as the smokiness of the cut. But for $15.99, I have to say that although dry, it was flavorful and also an excellent value.

My only complaint is the drink menu that lacks prices, another pet peeve of mine, as I have learned NEVER to order anything unless I know the price first. I might have ordered a beer or a glass of wine or two, increasing the tab by 1/3 as well as the tip, but we stayed with water instead, only because I am neither going to ask how much a menu item is nor find out post de facto that a glass of wine cost $12.

CombatCritic Gives Texas Roadhouse 6 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Six Bombs Equates To:

"Good To Go"

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Title: Lawrence, KS: No Road-Kill Here, Just Decent Food, Fair Prices, And FREE PEANUTS

Key Words: Texas Roadhouse, texas, roadhouse, Lawrence, Kansas, KS, Iowa, steak, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, product, service, business, review, Yelp, Zomato, Tabelog

Lawrence, KS: No "Tie" Here, Thai Diner Is The Clear Winner As Best Value In Town

Thai Diner
2223 Louisiana Street, Suite E
Lawrence, KS 66046
Phone number: (785) 551-7528
Website: thaidinerks.com
Prices: $$$$

On this, our second visit, the food was just as good and the prices fair, but the service left something to be desired.

We were not greeted when we arrived, only told to find our own table. It took quite a while for our server to welcome us and bring our water even though the place was virtually empty on a Sunday night with two servers working. We ordered the Mini Steamed Buns ($5.95) with sweet pork sausage and dried shredded pork on wheat flour buns and the Crispy Spring Rolls ($4.25 - Regular/chicken). The server asked me if we wanted the chicken spring rolls even though I ordered the "regular" variety which, according to the menu, come with chicken. I said. "yes, of course".

After taking our order, our server indicated that "everything" would be out shortly, but if you know me, you know I detest entrees arriving before the appetisers have been finished. I asked her to please hold the entrees until we had finished our starters, to which she readily agreed. The steamed buns (3) were OK even though the steamed whole wheat buns were not even baked. They had an odd look and texture (like eating raw bread dough) and were too big for the tiny dipping cups, but the flavor was decent. Not something we would order again. The spring rolls were good and a decent value at $4.25. The dipping sauces came in teeny weeny cups, too small even for the fried spring rolls which were not that big to begin with.

As I mentioned, the entrees did not arrive until we had finished our appetisers, so once we were done with the starters we waited and waited and waited, and more than 10 minutes later our entrees were finally in front of us. 

My wife had the Yum-Tum Phad Thai ($9.95) which she raved about, a stir fry of rice noodles, egg, bean sprouts, cabbage and lemon grass with tofu. She cleaned her plate and would have likely licked it clean (I'm joking of course) if we were not in public, stating "that was absolutely delicious". I decided to try the Yellow Curry with beef ($9.25), a good size portion of potato pieces, yellow onion, sliced carrots and thinly sliced beef in a deliciously sweet, savory and spicy curry that dazzled the senses. It was an excellent curry.

The decor is simple and basic, but tasteful, but I would recommend not sitting anywhere near the double front doors on a cold and/or windy night because our napkins flew and the chill was breathtaking every time someone entered or left, some several times, including one couple who did not know the difference between Thai and sushi, having missed their mark by several hundred feet and leaving as quickly as they had entered.

Even though the service was suspect on this occasion, a plus was that I found out that you can "BYOB" (meaning wine I believe), because they advertise "no cork (corkage) fee". The minuses, they insist on "tipping your server appropriately" (better left unsaid as common sense tells you that if they provide the glasses and uncork the wine, then you should tip accordingly) and that you must leave any unconsumed alcohol behind (which is likely state law).

CombatCritic Gives Thai Diner 8 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Eight Bombs Equates To:

MENUS

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Title: Lawrence, KS: No "Tie" Here, Thai Diner Is The Clear Winner As Best Value In Town

Key Words: Thai Diner, Thai, diner, Lawrence, Kansas, KS, 23rd, curry, Phad, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, business, review, Yelp, Zomato, Tabelog

Translation for Civilians: WTFO! = "What-The-Fuck ... Over!"

Lawrence, KS: Better Ingredients, Better Pizza, Crappy Attitude ... Papa John's

Papa John’s Pizza

918 Mississippi Street

Lawrence, KS 66044

Phone number: (785) 865-5775

Website: papajohns.com

Prices: $$$$

There are no photos, sorry, you know what Papa John's and their pizzas look like and this review has nothing to do with pizza. 

If Nathan, the manager, is any indication of quality at this location, they are in deep kimchi and their far less than "stellar" 2.5/5 rating on Yelp seems to indicate that fact. If I were the owner of this location, I would be very, very concerned, but then again, they churn out pizzas for KU's famished and undiscerning student body whether or not their quality standards and customer service are terrible, which they are.

This was the second time we have ordered online for pickup at this location and it will be the last. Their website sucks. They text me their "specials" EVERY FRIDAY, but I usually delete them and wish I had this time as well. I followed the link, chose the crust, size, sauce, and toppings for each pizza, only to be told, after going through this with two pizzas, that the promo code (PJ40) they texted me was "INVALID". I tried again and received the same message, so I went to their "Specials" page where I found a two topping extra large (16") pizza at $9.99 each ... BINGO! But when I clicked on the link that came up advertising that special, I was told "this page doesn't exist", so I tried again with the same absurd outcome.

I finally ordered a couple large pizzas for pickup because by this time we were famished and went to the store with order in hand. I tried to tell Nathan, the manager, about the difficulties that I had with the website and ordering what we wanted, but he refused to listen to what I was saying, insisting that I had received the "PJ40" promo code discount when, in-fact, I had ordered the large (14") two topping pizza specials ($7.99 each). I continued to try to explain the situation and the problems I had with the website, but Nathan obviously was not listening ... "uh huh, yea, uh huh", so I said "you really don't give a shit do you?". He told me there was a Help Line I could call if I was not happy, pointing to a decal on the side of the pizza display case.

Then, when he went to retrieve my order, even though I had arrived 30 minutes after ordering (the email I received said they would be ready in 15-25 minutes), our pizzas had not even been made yet. He lied, telling me they were in the oven, then ignored me other than telling me to "get out of the way" when the next customer arrived. Seriously? Get out of the way? Is that any way to talk to a customer? You know the answer to that question. After another 10-12 minutes, our pizzas were finally ready and I departed, giving Nathan my card and telling him to read my review on my popular blog and on Yelp.

The taste or quality of the pizza is irrelevant at this point, being the same mass produced pies you can get at any Papa John's in the U.S.A. It is the nerve and unprofessionalism I have now experienced on two occasions at this same location and from the same person if I am not mistaken. Nathan should be counseled and put on double secret probation if not fired. He gives this location specifically and Papa John's in general a bad name, leaving a bad taste in my mouth ... literally.

CombatCritic Gives Papa John's And Nathan The Manager 1 Bomb Out Of 10 And A Spot On My "WALL OF SHAME" ... More Bombs Are Better!

One Bomb Equates To:

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Title: Lawrence, KS: Better Ingredients, Better Pizza, Crappy Attitude ... Papa John's

Key Words: Lawrence, KS, Better Ingredients, Better Pizza, Papa John's, papa, John's, John, pizza, Mississippi, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato

Translation for Civilians: FUBAR = "Fucked Up Beyond All Repair"

Lawrence, KS: Taco Taco, Just Give Me A Taco!

Taco Zone 
13 E. 8th Street
Lawrence, KS 66044
Phone number: (785) 424-7123
Website: thetacozone.com
Prices: $$$$

I was not extremely impressed the first time we ate here and am not overly so after the second. I hear many in Lawrence raving about Taco Zone, but have yet to see what all the fuss is about other than it may be the best of many mediocre Mexican food options in a city of nearly 100,000.

The food is pretty good, hence my rating (in comparison only to Lawrence, Kansas and the lack of decent retail food establishments), but in Los Angeles, San Antonio, New York City or other food havens, they would deserve 3-stars at best.

I am acquainted with one of the owners (through the American Legion where they do most of their preparation), a very nice man and well trained at the infamous Le Cordon Bleu in Paris on a scholarship from Julia Child no less, but think Taco Zone is trying too hard to be a "trendy", Mexican-fusion outlet when they should focus a bit more on the basics. There has not been a traditional Mexican taco filling option on the menu in my two visits ... "chorizo and potato", "chicken mole", "chile rojo beef and sweet potato", and "braised lamb and green olive" for example. They should stop trying to be quite so trendy and eclectic and stick more to the basics (carnitas, adobada, carne asada, al pastor, etc.), offering at least a couple traditional Mexican taco fillings.

Then there are the tortillas. I have rarely seen such tiny corn tortillas used for serving "street tacos" and when I have (which is rarely), there are traditionally two. The fillings appear generous when compared to the teeny weeny tortillas, but when you can eat an entire taco in three (not so large) bites, something ain't right. Their "Taco Plate" consists of three tacos for $7 or $2.33333333 per taco with no rice or beans, only some pickled carrots. On "Taco Tuesday" you can get the Taco Plate for $5, a much better deal, but the tortillas are still ridiculously small.

Their guacamole is decent, but also small for the price, coming with chips that are better than many places, but fried a little too long and a tad too salty. The strangest thing being the fact that they scrutinize the number of chips they put in each paper bag order, weighing them on an electronic scale to ensure you do not get one chip more than they have deemed necessary.

I really do want to like this place more because I encourage creativity, thinking outside the box, and the entrepreneurial spirit. If you are familiar with my blog or reviews, you know that I am also brutally honest and rarely give 5-stars (9-10 Bombs) and 4-stars (7-8 Bombs) is reserved for those who go above-and-beyond the call to duty. Taco Zone is average in my book, not a bad thing at all, no matter how many reviewers in general and LFK brethren in particular bestow the highest rating far too frequently in my eyes.

CombatCritic Gives Taco Zone 6 Bombs Out Of 10 ... A Slightly Above Average Rating In My Book And A One Bomb Downgrade From My Previous Review Because My Recommendations Were Ignored ... More Bombs Are Better!

Six Bombs Equates To:

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Title: Lawrence, KS: Taco Taco, Just Give Me A Taco!

Key Words: Taco Zone, taco, zone, Lawrence, Kansas, KS, University of Kansas, KU, university, Mexico, Mexican, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato

Translation for Civilians: G2G = "Good To Go"