In Hays, get off at the east exit and head south on Vine to almost the south edge of town. Al's Chickenette has been a local institution for over half a century. The menu is fairly limited (fried chicken & shrimp), the parking isn't very good, and they've sort of heard of non- smoking areas in other restaurants (but maybe you'll get lucky). But the chicken is cooked to order, arrives hot, and you'll never confuse it with the Colonel's! The fries are terrific, too! Get the ice tea to go with it. Also, in Hays if you don't want to go quite that far south (or if Al's is closed at the time), you might try the restaurant at the Vagabond Motel (Best Western chain) on the East side of Vine, about a mile or so south of I-70. They have some suprisingly good ethnic dishes. If you're really adventurous, you might try to find the Red Coat (if it hasn't closed). It's on the east edge of Ft. Hays St. U., and has some pretty good hamburger variations, and bierrocks (seasoned ground beef and cabbage baked inside a roll). Another "take" on fried chicken is at the Brookville Hotel, in Brookville west of Salina. Not a real hotel anymore, it has developed a national reputation for its family-style fried chicken dinners. Not a lunch place, serving starts at 5 pm, and you'll likely need an advance reservation. The menu is fixed, but they'll keep on bringing platters of everything to your table until you tell them to stop. And don't plan to go too far after you leave, because you'll be too full. (BTW, the Holiday Inn on the west side of Salina has a steam room hot enough to cook even a user with skin made of asbestos.) ======================================================================== Brian S. wrote: >Can anyone suggest a place to eat lunch along I-70, between Salt Lake City and >Kansas City? > >For example, perhaps in Colby or Oakley, or someplace like that. > >We'd prefer just good old American type food, but better than hamburgers. >Regional type stuff in nice suroundings. > >Thanks, > >Brian
Kansas