Kate J. wrote: >I'm interested in hearing about cool/interesting/unique novelties in >particular restaurants that give them character, what makes such and such >place stand out in your mind, or keeps you coming back. Hmm. authentic 50s style diner in Manhattan KS, called The Chef (I'm not sure its still there folks, I'm talking about 20 yrs ago..) where the waitresses would yell the order back to the chef in the kitchen. me: "uh, I'll have the chicken fried steak" waitress turns toward the kitchen: "CHICKEN FRYYYYYYY" :-) I loved it, great food too, real diner down home cookin'. came with gravy on the curly fries ;-) 13 Coins in Seattle. Can be quite entertaining depending on your waiter. Food in interesting arrangements, like fries stacked like a log cabin, or a pack of smokes brought to your table on a plate, propped up with a matchbook, with one lit one sticking out of the pack. very entertaining also to have a seat where you can look into the kitchen. A bar in Estes Park CO where you could pour your own shots ;-) There used to be a theme restaurant in KC that was medieval~ you were given sticks and you had to bang on your table for service. only heard reports, never went there. Beppo's: I suspect this is a chain, italian, rowdy, food served family style. not a place for dinner for two. the servings are too big. wine brought to you in plain juice glasses. A bit gimmicky, but can be fun. There used to be a place in Lawrence KS that was called (I believe) the Red Lion. No sign, no advertisements, and open very irregular hours. "open" indicator was a red plaster-cast lion in the window, in front of the heavy drapes, which were always closed. Owner had a reputation, had diamonds in his teeth: would get cranky with anyone who was indecisive about what they wanted (it was cafeteria style, you went thru the line and ordered) the first time I went there, my friend told me "just order the special" very unusual and highly entertaining. oh I could go on.....
Kansas
THE RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE. that which is cool
>13 Coins in Seattle. Can be quite entertaining depending on your waiter. >Food in interesting arrangements, like fries stacked like a log cabin, or a >pack of smokes brought to your table on a plate, propped up with a >matchbook, with one lit one sticking out of the pack. very entertaining also >to have a seat where you can look into the kitchen. > On a recent trip to Seattle my girlfriend and I went to 13 Coins. The front desk of the hotel described it as an upscale Denny's. Although I hate Denny's we went to 13 Coins because it was late and the front desk couldn't think of anything else that was open 24hrs nearby. This restaurant had to be the most overpriced, darkest, dirtiest, most smoke filled place I have ever been into. We sat in one of those huge booths near the counter. The place was packed for being 2 in the morning. The service was slow and boring. I think I paid $14 for a steak sandwich which really wasn't all that special. The meal was the lowlight of our trip to the northwest, but I should put most of the blame on the front desk of the hotel for not knowing of anything else in the area open that late. Joshua