topeka, ks....need advice

[domesticgodess]

on my way to topeka for a business trip..would like a reccomendation for a coffee shop, and a restaurant. Would love to hear from fellow chowhounds in kansas.
thanks.

[craigl14]

pt's coffee shop is the best in town. what kind of food do you like? good local grub would be porubsky's for chili and sandwiches or bobo's drive in for burgers and rings (recently featured on food network). more upscale would be brick oven, chez yazu or new city - all are good, although i haven't been to new city in some time.

[shopgirl26]

Bobo's is sooo good. I like Cook's American Grill. It's super down home. I remember New City being really good, but it seemed like a cafeteria if I remember right.It's nice to know there are nice restaurants there. I'm there every month it seems and I've never seen one! We usually go to Lawrence for a nice restaurant, since it's only 25 minutes away. Other that, lots of chains, but they have good local fast food Mexican for some reason. Taco Villa is the best.

[Katie Nell]

My recs would pretty much be the same, although I prefer Buddy's for burgers (it's called Reed's now, but I can't bring myself to call it that)! However, I prefer the onions rings at BoBo's... do both! If you do go to BoBo's, you must get the apple pie too... it was my first solid food when I was a baby! :-) I love Taco Villa and Taco Casa for Americanized fast food Mexican, but I'm not sure out-of-towners would have the same appreciation. Taco Casa's bean burritos were another of my first real foods!

[megans]

If in Topeka on Wed night try the Row House - Van Buren and 5th ot 6th downtown. Wed nights are tasting menu of everything being served on the menu for the week. Really great staff, nice wine list and nice enough to impress a client. Enjoy. Menu changes weekly - my staple for Topeka

[KansasTravel]

Welcome to the forums, Megans!

The inquiry you replied to was from 2007, but I would love to hear about your favorite unique locally owned Topeka restaurants.

[amy_rc]

We went to Row House about a month ago with some friends who live in T-town and I've been craving it ever since. Loved the chilled tomato soup and the lemon and basil (I can't think of the word for it, but for lack of better term) flaked ice. Our dinner was excellent, our server was fantastic. We had an excellent, and affordable, bottle of wine. Well worth the drive and a great value.

[amy_rc]

The word is granita. Ahhh, that was bothering me for the last 24 hours.

[sara722003]

While this is a post of almost 1.5 year old, Chez Yazu is heads and tails above any other restaurant in Topeka. It's where all the legislature eat!! The Gov (Sebelius, before she left for HHS head in Washington,) actually had her photo taken with the proprietress and her young son. This place is excellent, and they really cater to whatever you need.

[KansasTravel]

Can you tell us more about Chez Yazu? Style, price, favorite dishes?

[Katie Nell]

I'm sure Sara will respond, but I will say that I agree with her- it's far and away the best restaurant in Topeka. It's French, pricey for Topeka, but not bad for KC. The scallops are always amazing when I've been there. And dessert is a must.

[sara722003]

In full disclosure, the owner is my S-I-L, so ok, I'm a tad jaded. Mako was trained by Tatsu, an oriental French chef here in KC. She worked for Tatsu for many, many years and he was kind enough to help her get this place started (maybe over 5 years ago) in Topeka. Yes, it's more expensive than almost anywhere else in Topeka, but only a few dollars more, and the chef there is incredible. I love his sauces, his seafood is always perfect, and it's a small, quaint, charming environment where they like to spoil their clients. I strongly recommend this place. ;-)

[emu48]

Good northern Indian, though it's a buffet at lunch, downtown. Globe, it's called. I drive 60 miles for this every time I'm in Kansas. Beer license.