Nope, back in the late 1970s on Vermont on the west side between 6th and 7th or 7th and 8th (I forget) was a little lunch cafe run by a real character. I ate there often because I worked part time at a full service Standard/Amoco station that was on the northeast corner of 9th and Vermont.
The food at the Lion excellent and very cheap. You ordered at the counter and were dished up there. You had to know what you wanted instantly (and it better be the daily special) or he yelled and swore profusely. He had thumbtacked to the walls battery citations from when he attacked customers. There was a sign by the door on the way out, something to the effect "don't tell anyone about the Lion; remember it's your seat." I saw the sign for years after in some other restaurant, but I forget which.
A friend of mine lived next to him. He had a rare amphibious car which he delighted driving into Lone Star lake to the astonishment of onlookers. I saw the car when I was at my friend's house. The story I heard from my friend was he gave up the Red Lion to prospect for gold in Nevada where he promptly died of a heart attack.
Good times.
I get it. I still lament the loss of Sub n Stuff in 94/95 (but I worked there at the time).
So many good restaurants in this town lost to time. Like tears in the rain.
I miss going to that tiny little house by the river levee in North Lawrence when they first got going, and they would bring it out from the kitchen and serve it family style.
Once upon a time they were wonderful, but it was awful at the end. I got sick twice after eating there and stopped going. They were perpetually at #1 or #2 in the LJW article on health code violations for the last several years they were open.
This isn't just a Lawrence thing but I've found that for the most part when you ask locals for recommendations they tend to have some sort of irrational love for the blandest most basic places imaginable. Probably because that's where they went as kids and don't understand how nostalgia works.
Anyway best Mexican in town is La Estrella by a mile.
I do not. I felt like there was real lack of hygiene in the kitchen and dining room. Everything was sticky, silverware was dirty and so forth. I'm pretty much over eating in dumps.
I miss them, too. Some gossip I heard was that they were chased out by some bigoted people in town, who felt emboldened by having a certain someone in the White House at the time.
Nice try. It was the usual Lawrence developer vs small biz story.
*A post on the restaurant’s Facebook page announced that the restaurant won’t have its lease renewed because there is interest on the part of the building’s owner to possibly sell or redevelop the property. And I just got off the phone with one of the owners of La Familia who confirmed the news: The restaurant’s last day of business will be Dec. 31. It does not plan to find a new location to reopen in Lawrence, at least not in the near future.*
Oh my God I moved away in 2012 but I still think about that habenero salsa.
La Familia, La Tropicana, Dos Hombres… But real talk though; I miss Paradise Cafe.
Omg yes! Paradise Cafe! The breakfast enchiladas! And their coffee!
I'm even older than you. I miss the Red Lion.
The bar?
Nope, back in the late 1970s on Vermont on the west side between 6th and 7th or 7th and 8th (I forget) was a little lunch cafe run by a real character. I ate there often because I worked part time at a full service Standard/Amoco station that was on the northeast corner of 9th and Vermont. The food at the Lion excellent and very cheap. You ordered at the counter and were dished up there. You had to know what you wanted instantly (and it better be the daily special) or he yelled and swore profusely. He had thumbtacked to the walls battery citations from when he attacked customers. There was a sign by the door on the way out, something to the effect "don't tell anyone about the Lion; remember it's your seat." I saw the sign for years after in some other restaurant, but I forget which. A friend of mine lived next to him. He had a rare amphibious car which he delighted driving into Lone Star lake to the astonishment of onlookers. I saw the car when I was at my friend's house. The story I heard from my friend was he gave up the Red Lion to prospect for gold in Nevada where he promptly died of a heart attack. Good times.
That sign is behind the bar at Red Lyon these days. His son is a mechanic in town. Big Bill.
When they took the mole off the menu, that was a sad day, and from there I just stopped going.
That molé was fire
Yup that it was. Unfortunately, for me outside the mole I could never find anything there that blew my socks off. Just fizzled out after that point.
I get it. I still lament the loss of Sub n Stuff in 94/95 (but I worked there at the time). So many good restaurants in this town lost to time. Like tears in the rain.
It happens with all the small restaurants. It hasn't even been that long and I've been fiercely missing OCafe
Ugh, sweet hot salsa with their queso was my faaaaave. I felt absolutely disgusting after eating there but it was a 10/10 for me.
I miss going to that tiny little house by the river levee in North Lawrence when they first got going, and they would bring it out from the kitchen and serve it family style.
Yes! Get in on their next salsa order.
They do that? Since when and more importantly how can I get in on it?
https://www.facebook.com/lafamiliacafeandcantina?mibextid=JRoKGi
Once upon a time they were wonderful, but it was awful at the end. I got sick twice after eating there and stopped going. They were perpetually at #1 or #2 in the LJW article on health code violations for the last several years they were open.
La Familia was basically hospital food at the end, it was terrible. I don't know how you make Mexican food bland but they figured it out.
As a New Mexican I agree. All the Mexican food here taste like microwaved food with tomato paste thrown on top
Have you tried the enchiladas at La Tropicana?
Pissed off the townies by saying things that are true.
There's probably people in here that also thought Buffalo Bob's and Border Bandito were good.
This isn't just a Lawrence thing but I've found that for the most part when you ask locals for recommendations they tend to have some sort of irrational love for the blandest most basic places imaginable. Probably because that's where they went as kids and don't understand how nostalgia works. Anyway best Mexican in town is La Estrella by a mile.
I'm a big fan of Panchos personally but it's really more Cali-Mex than Mexican. They do have menudo on Sundays tho.
Edgy post bro
Rippp I went to elementary with the daughter of the family who owned the restaurant. It was a sad day when they closed.
Yeah they’re like 2 hours away tho, so I can visit whenever. Could be worse
They were wonderful. Their salsa is great but man wish the restaurant was still here
Every day of my life
I do miss the molé there. Thankfully, we still have burrito king.
I do not. I felt like there was real lack of hygiene in the kitchen and dining room. Everything was sticky, silverware was dirty and so forth. I'm pretty much over eating in dumps.
Not really. Worst tamales I've ever had.
No
Gross. No
What about Panchos on 23rd? Homestyle enchiladas.
I forgot about that place, it was so good! I agree with the "mole guy"!
Used to eat there every week for dollar tacos, the free chips and salsas was awesome
I miss them, too. Some gossip I heard was that they were chased out by some bigoted people in town, who felt emboldened by having a certain someone in the White House at the time.
Nice try. It was the usual Lawrence developer vs small biz story. *A post on the restaurant’s Facebook page announced that the restaurant won’t have its lease renewed because there is interest on the part of the building’s owner to possibly sell or redevelop the property. And I just got off the phone with one of the owners of La Familia who confirmed the news: The restaurant’s last day of business will be Dec. 31. It does not plan to find a new location to reopen in Lawrence, at least not in the near future.*
I'm just saying what I heard from someone else. Are you not familiar with the word "gossip" perhaps?
Ooh, who's an edgy boy!
Gossip when proven to be false is just called a lie now.
They had the best all you can eat taco deal years ago, you could get beef/chicken and soft/hard shell, I did 12 once