Votes are in: 8 Wonders of NW Kansas Cuisine announced
Published on -7/7/2009, 12:50 PM
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By MIKE CORN
In the single campaign to be the top eating establishment in northwest Kansas, two races evolved: one online and the other through printed ballots.
The push online ultimately overwhelmed the printed ballots in the 8 Wonders of Northwest Kansas Cuisine contest put together by The Hays Daily News.
While active campaigns for restaurants in Russell County, Ness City and in Hays were impossible to overcome, some smaller locations prevailed.
The top eight eating establishments in northwest Kansas are:
* Arthur's Pizza, Ellis
* Bunker Hill Cafe, Bunker Hill
* A&W Restaurant, Russell
* Professor's Steakhouse, Hays
* Chubby Pickle, Phillipsburg
* Effie's, Rush Center
* Pizza Plus, Ness City
* Big Ed's Steak House, Bird City.
Aldean Banker was pleased to learn Russell County had two of the eight finalists.
She and Kay Homewood, who served as interim directors of the Russell County Convention and Visitor's Bureau, nominated both Bunker Hill and A&W for the contest. They also nominated Meridy's in Russell and K-18 in Lucas.
Banker said the blitz of votes came about because of concerted efforts to get out the vote.
In the case of A&W, she said, owner Tim Cook talked to his employees and customers "and they put on a real blitz."
As for Bunker Hill, she said, the restaurant has been there since the 1970s.
"There are people from all over that will come to eat at Bunker Hill," Banker said.
That's the idea of the campaign, to highlight the top spots in northwest Kansas to eat. To be sure, it's not just the top eight that have great menus, as many of the others do as well.
With the voting over, reporters from The Hays Daily News now will start venturing out to talk with restaurant owners for a series of stories on the eight finalists.
w00t w00t for Chubby. We used to live in p-burg and ate there all the time. best cheese burgers ever!!!
(Posted by: Matt C)
What?: 7/9/2009
I agree there are many better restaurants offering better food and atmosphere than these that made the list. What a poor representation of what we really have to offer - including Gutch's, Gella's - and Lomatos's is as good as Arthur's. Where was Hays' people in this vote?
(Posted by: )
IN ALL FAIRNESS: 7/9/2009
VOTING MAKES SENSE FOR PROFIT BUT TO TO BE FAIR TO ALL CONCERNED, YOU MUST HAVE 3 JUDGES WITH SET CRTERIA TO CHECK EACH SELECTED CONTENDER BY APPOINTMENT.
(Posted by: good job)
: 7/8/2009
Gellas has great beer... however the food is average.. there are plenty of better resturants in hays than gellas..
(Posted by: David Hasslehoff)
Gutch's: 7/8/2009
I preface with the fact that I love Gutch's. But the problem is that everyone who would have voted for Gutch's is still waiting for their Bianca or Mama Mia to show up at their table and couldn't get to a computer on time to vote.
(Posted by: )
Best Pizza: 7/8/2009
Arthur's Pizza in Ellis and Pizza Plus in Ness City can't even come close to Gutch's in Hays. I think the voting was rigged!
(Posted by: NW Kansas Pizza Fan)
CHUBBY PICKLE!: 7/8/2009
I love the CHUBBY! My husband's family is from there so everytime we venutre into Western Kansas, we must eat at Chubby Pickle at least once! My in-laws even bought me gift-certifcates to Chubby Pickle for my birthday because I love it so much. My son and I have Chubby pickle T-shirts. They have the amazing hamburgers cooked the old fashioned way and a family-atmosphere that keeps me coming back!
(Posted by: Cortney Kinyon)
Really.: 7/8/2009
I said it when this contest was anounced; this is a transparent ripoff of a better campaign. Big Poppa is right, when a national burger chain beats out a terrific local place like Gella's - your spiteful theft becomes a hollow mockery.
(Posted by: )
Eating Places: 7/8/2009
I sure miss Cutie Burger
(Posted by: grilled onion head)
: 7/7/2009
Congratulations Tom and staff at the Bunker Hill Cafe. We always try to dine with you when we come home to KS.
(Posted by: Applegates - AZ)
voter turnout: 7/7/2009
So, how many votes were cast?
(Posted by: )
AW: 7/7/2009
Come on Why was AW even on the list. It is a chain. I really wish Vernie's made it on the list.
(Posted by: ash)
Time to get and about!: 7/7/2009
An A&W, you got to be kidding, A&W is a A&W no matter were you go.....some people need to get off their block more often!
(Posted by: deleted)
Kidding?: 7/7/2009
No Gella's? Are you kidding me?
(Posted by: Big Poppa)
: 7/7/2009
Big Ed's is wonderful! So glad they made the list!
(Posted by: )
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