Best Restaurant

Free State Brewing Company

Free State Brewing Company hasn’t changed a lot in its 20-plus years, serving in-house brew and upscale pub fare at the north end of Lawrence’s downtown drag. See why Free State's won two years in a row.

Best New Restaurant

Queen Lizzy's Fish & Chips

Queen Lizzy’s mission is “Bringing a taste of Great Britain to the Great Plains.” It may have imported a new taste to Lawrence, but the local enthusiasm is homegrown. Here's why.

Best Bar

Sandbar

Every tropical drink comes with a toy. The building is lime green. There are hurricanes — if you miss the nightly 10 p.m. storm, you can buy one on command for $20. You can dance on the bar (in a mermaid costume!). We'll join you for a fruity cocktail in our write up.

Best Bartender

Dave Johanning, Sandbar

Dave Johanning, a managing partner at Sandbar, has been bartending there going on 17 years. He helped with a few things we’ve always wondered about Sandbar but were afraid to ask.

Best Pizza

Rudy’s Pizzeria

704 Mass., rudyspizzeria.com

Runners up

Papa Keno’s, 1035 Mass.

Johnny’s, 721 Wakarusa Drive; 401 N. Second St.

Best Coffee

La Prima Tazza

638 Mass., primatazza.com

Runners up

Z’s Divine Espresso, 10 E. Ninth St.; 1800 E. 23rd St.

J&S; Coffee Co Inc, 4821 W. Sixth St.

Best Happy Hour

Louise’s

1009 Mass. and 1307 W. Seventh St., louiseswest.com

Runners up

The Jayhawker Bar at the Eldridge, 701 Mass.

Free State Brewing Co., 636 Mass.

Best Liquor Store

Cork & Barrel Wine & Spirits

2000 W. 23rd St. and 901 Miss.

corkandbarrel.biz

Runners up

On the Rocks, 1818 Mass.

Jensen Retail Liquor, 620 W. Ninth St.

Best Hamburger

The Burger Stand at The Casbah

803 Mass., thecasbahburgerstand.com

Runners up

Dempsey’s, 623 Vt.

Five Guys Burgers & Fries, 2014 W. 31st St.

Best Mexican Food

El Mezcal



1819 W. 23rd St., elmezcal.com

Runners up

La Familia Café & Cantina, 733 N.H.

Cielito Lindo, 815 N.H.

Best Latin Food

La Parilla

814 Mass., laparrillaks.com

Runners up

Esquina, 801 Mass.

Mexiquisto, 712 Mass.

Best Asian Food

Encore Café

1007 Mass., encore-cafe.com

Runners up

Zen Zero, 811 Mass.

Thai Siam, 601 Kasold Drive

Best Italian Food

Paisano’s Ristorante

2112 W. 25th St., paisanoskansas.com

Runners up

Genovese, 941 Mass.

715, 715 Mass.

Best Middle Eastern Food

Aladdin Café

1021 Mass., aladdincafeoflawrence.com

Runners up

India Palace, 129 E. 10th St.

Mediterranean Market & Café, 3300 Bob Billings Pkwy.

Best Vegan or Vegetarian Food

Zen Zero

811 Mass., zen-zero.com

Runners up

Local Burger*

The Merc, 901 Iowa

India Palace, 129 E. 10th St.

*Local Burger closed in early September with the hopes of reopening soon in a new location

Best Breakfast or Brunch

Milton’s

920 Mass., lawrence.com/places/miltons

Runners up

First Watch, 2540 Iowa

The Mirth Café, 745 N.H.

Best Ice Cream

Sylas & Maddy’s Home Made Ice Cream

1014 Mass., lawrence.com/places/sylas_and_maddys

Runners up

Cold Stone Creamery, 647 Mass.

Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt, 4801 Bauer Farm Drive

Best Dessert

Sylas & Maddy’s Home Made Ice Cream

1014 Mass.

Runners up

Munchers Bakery, 925 Iowa

Cupcake Construction Company, 727 Mass.

Best Bakery

WheatFields Bakery Café

904 Vt., wheatfieldsbakery.com

Runners up

Muncher’s Bakery, 925 Iowa

Great Harvest Bread Co., 807 Vt.

Best Barbecue

Bigg’s BBQ

2429 Iowa, biggsribs.com

Runners up

Biemer’s, 2120 W. Ninth St.

Gran-Daddy’s Barbeque, 1447 W. 23rd St.

Best delivery

Jimmy John’s

922 Mass.

601 Kasold Drive

1720 W. 23rd St.

1200 Oread, jimmyjohns.com

Runners up

Pizza Shuttle, 1601 W. 23rd St.

(Tie) Try Taki, 701 W. 23rd St., 821 Iowa;

(Tie) Yello Sub, 1814 W. 23rd St.

Best meal in a hurry

Chipotle

4000 W. Sixth St.

911 Mass., chipotle.com

Runners up

Curry in a Hurry, 1111 Mass.

Jimmy John’s, multiple locations