Review of HDN's 8 Wonders of Northwest Kansas Cuisine coming up
By MIKE CORN
The food was unparalleled, the service excellent.
But what else would you expect from the eight restaurants that were selected as the best by readers of The Hays Daily News? They are, after all, the 8 Wonders of Northwest Kansas Cuisine.
The top eight eating establishments 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.
Yes, voters online and on ballots printed in the HDN made their selections after nearly 30 days of balloting. They had a range of outstanding places to choose from.
When the voting was complete, HDN reporters -- Gayle Weber, Ryan Christner, Kaley Conner and Diane Gasper-O'Brien -- joined me in going afield to sit down with owners, managers and operators to see why they were successful, and why northwest Kansas residents keep coming back for more.
In at least one case, that was a bit difficult.
Effie Crowell has closed her well-known restaurant, Effie's in Rush Center, for the summer.
Sure, she's got air conditioning, but it still gets quite hot, especially next to the grill that she's operated since 1965.
Besides, Crowell's got a garden and a yard to attend to. She might have turned 85 on July 10, but she's not slowing down, visiting the Kansas State Fair for the full 10 days.
All the other spots are up and running and ready to serve a meal.
While the campaign narrowed the list of 40 down to eight, it was a difficult task. That's because all of them were deserving of the recognition, but for one reason or another, didn't quite make it into the final eight.
While stories about the top eight are coming your way beginning Monday and continuing through Aug. 11, don't be surprised if we don't make some regular stops at some of the others in the near future.
They all have a story to tell, and we hope to do just that.
In the meantime, take the list of the top eight or the entire 40 and head out for a meal. If you live in Hays, it's not a far drive to Ellis, or for that matter Russell or Bunker Hill for a bite to eat.
Visit them all. You'll be glad you did.
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The following are the 40 eating establishments in northwest Kansas, including the eight that were voted the top eight.
* Vernie's, Hays
* Chubby Pickle, Phillipsburg
* Big Ed's Steak House, Bird City
* Bunker Hill Cafe, Bunker Hill
* Arthur's Pizza, Ellis
*Triple C, Glade
* Crazy R's Bar and Grill, Goodland
* Don's Drive Inn, Oakley
* Duffy's, Smith Center
* Western Kansas Saloon & Grill, WaKeeney
* Al's Chickenette, Hays
* JD's Chicken, Hays
* Jalisco's, Hays
* Taco Shop, Hays
* Trish's Steakhouse, Hoxie
* Ladow's Market, Lebanon
* El Ranchito, Monument
* Palco Grocery and Deli, Palco
* A&W, Russell
* Meridys, Russell
* Jiffy Burger, Smith Center
* Park Hill, St. Francis
* Aberdeen Steak House and Pub, Atwood
* City Limits, Colby
* Gella's Diner & Lb. Brewing Co., Hays
* Gutch's, Hays
* Guiterrez, Hays
* Professor's Steakhouse & Saloon, Hays
* K-18 Cafe, Lucas
* Effie's, Rush Center
* Midway Cafe, Selden
* Second Cup Cafe & Pastries, Smith Center
* Duck Blind, Stockton
* County Seat Cafe, Gove
* Stephens Restaurant, Sharon Springs
* Sub Station, Hill City
* Stonehouse Restaurant, Norton
* Frontier Restaurant, Oberlin
* Pizza Plus, Ness City
* The Circle Inn, Osborne