We arrived early, as we were on a mission to find a great burger and a cold local draft. We succeeded at Dempsey's and our waitress was phenomenal. Although I do not recall her name, I'm sure it is as beautiful as her personality. My burger was just as I ordered it - pink - and the fries were very tasty, although the "fancy pants" condiments they offer did not displace the ketchup I prefer. Her burger was medium, as she desires and she really liked a couple of the condiments served with the fries. So, go with an open mind and heart, whilst you savor a burger as you like your burger. read more

Food took more than 35 minutes with only 2 tables. Food came out overcooked (burgers not medium & egg not sunny side up). Our server never checked on us the entire meal even with the very long wait. This was our 2nd in a row of a terrible experience within the last 6 months. The overall quality has drastically been declining over the past few years. We will not be visiting again sadly since this used to be one of our favorite places to eat. read more

All as expected for casual pub fare/standard American burger menu in a college town bar.

Got promised a table and killed time for an hour (which the host told us would be 20 minutes) only for them to tell us we didn't have a table anymore. Very frustrating. read more

Dempsey's Burger Pub - Burgers Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

Back on the search for the best burger in Lawrence. The Burger Stand has been on the decline recently with the quality and taste just not what it used to be. We figured we'd give the former home of The Burger Stand another try. Dempsey's has always been....good. That's it. Not bad, but definitely not great. I ordered the Thai burger with a side of cheese curds. The curds were actually pretty tasty which is a good thing because the burger was easily the worst burger I've ever had. The quality of the meat just tasted like a frozen patty that haven't been thawed properly. My daughter ordered the same burger and ate about a 1/4 of it. Normally she'd easily eat half. Ended up pitching them instead of giving the leftovers to the dog. Edit: just saw that this review was really similar to a review I posted 10 years ago. At least they are consistent. I only gave them 1 star back then. I'll attribute the extra star to the tasty cheese curds (which I really doubt they make). read more

Ordered the salad with add on salmon within the the last week and it was absolutely amazing. Ordered the same thing today and it was miserable in comparison. Wilted lettuce, a fraction amount of the ingredients (tomatoes, bacon, blue cheese missing), no plastic ware, no dressing included. The salmon was very overcooked that the outcome was a dry and rubbery piece of fish. I guess it all depends on whether a lazy cook makes your order. read more

I thoroughly enjoy the food at this restaurant. The staff is well trained and well mannered. I enjoy the freshness of their food, their fries are so crispy and burgers taste great. I definitely recommend this restaurant. read more

I came here Sunday noon and absolutely will be back for their truffle fries! We had wonderful service and were quickly seated. Me being clumsy dumped my entire glass of water into my friend's lap by accident....and the waitress was very helpful (and I did not feel judged for being a klutz...hah!) and brought out towels to clean up my mess. The servings were ginormous and I brought half my burger home with me because I couldn't finish it. It was still delicious. We both ordered the bacon mushroom swiss burger in a pretzel bun with a regular order of truffle fries. The fries came with 4 dipping sauces and I loved all of them, especially the garlic aioli one. They were crispy and just right and so so well flavored. The bacon mushroom swiss burger ---amaaaazing. My burger was cooked just right and the melted cheese, crispy savory bacon, and buttery mushroom were a perfect combo. Best of all it's located in downtown Lawrence and we could easily go shopping afterwards to walk off some serious food coma! read more

Dempsey's Burger Pub - Bacon swiss mushroom burger - Burgers Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

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Service was good. Alcohol drinks were made well, but the food!! Was so overcooked...and I made a comment to the waitresses about how overcooked it was and they answered, "I'm glad you liked it" They were busy but that's not really a good excuse...it was bad food. Won't go back again IF it's busy read more

A truly special place for burgers and sauces! You want truffle fries you get truffle fries with a choice of whatever amazing homemade sauce to pair! You want a Mac and cheese burger with sweet potato fries or fire fries (absolutely amazing) you get that too! Dempsey's is where you go for a specialty burger and fries and enjoy a cold beer! Thank you for existing! Thank you for making some of the best sweet potato fries known to man too! read more

Bummed. Best burger in Lawrence for several years. They'd slipped just a fraction in the last couple of years after, I think, a management change. Will miss this place, though. iXNAY iXNAY. Dempsey's is very much in business and back to serving the great burgers that earned my first RAVE review!! read more

Food has dramatically gone downhill. The smash burgers were a close 2nd to the McDonald's cheeseburger. Our truffle fries were served in a stainless bowl full of their own grease. Gross. read more

Disappointed yet again. Burgers that were ordered with "some pink" were overcooked without any pink at all. Fries seem to be double cooked- once partially and then a final cook off which results in an oil soaked, super crunchy fry. Ick. Finally, the burger was room temp with a bun that crumbled in pieces due to staleness. No thanks. read more

Excellent eaten in and even delivered/carried out. Keep it up!!! The truffle fries alone are worth a 2nd. 3rd trip; then, the BURGERS.

The service was beyond terrible in spite of good food. The server clearly did not want to serve us and was extremely rude. In addition, I was nonchalantly told by her that although I asked for easy onions, extra onions were given bc "easy onions" to the cook means slice them thin. Then we were asked if we wanted to "share" fries as if we couldn't afford our own fries. I had to flag down another server in order to get my check. The server did NOT want to touch my hands per her laying the pen down after seeing me reach for it. I'm never going back here and I would not recommend this place bc good service is greater than good food. All guest should feel welcomed regardless of whatever is going on mentally or emotionally with the servers. read more

Dempsey's Burger Pub - Beyond burger loaded with red onions although I requested lite onions - Burgers Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

My sister and I came in for lunch today, we were greeted promptly by Charlie and brought waters. He took our order and listened carefully to our substitutions writing everything down. We got an order of fries which he brought all their signature sauces with, it was fun to try them all! The restaurant was well maintained and had a fun vibe to hang out and enjoy! Charlie consistently checked on us asking if we needed anything additional, super attentive and great with people! Will be back!! read more

They had me with the truffle fries (others would argue, "they had me with the duck fat fries, but I prefer duck fat to be on my feathered friends that are, as we speak, wintering in Miami). I know. Most of you are probably gonna ignore my review, because who wants to read a review of a burger joint by a vegetarian? Whatev! The veggie burger is delish, and the aforementioned fries are scrumptious and frites style (you can choose your type of ketchup/mayo for dipping. Mmmmm there is a spicy choice!) The atmosphere is cozy-- a fine place to spend a cold evening, eating food that is gonna stick to your ribs. Drinks are reasonably priced, too. Regarding the "real meat," I was with a group of about 10 meat eating friends and they all couldn't go on enough about how phenomenal these burgers are. So, there! read more

This is an update to my previous review which was selected "Yelp Review Of The Day". The burgers and fries are still good, maybe the best in town, but this visit was fraught with issues. I hate to replace a previous stellar review with this, but I have been left no choice. First, between the AC and the fans, it was quite a bit too chilly. Pick one or the other, you do not need both. Go with the AC. Second, my wife ordered a "root beer" and our server brought her a "Not Your Father's Root Beer" which is actually an alcoholic beer (5.9% - $4.50). Fortunately, my wife is not a recovering alcoholic or a Muslim. but she does not drink alcohol and that is a huge problem. So much for our designated driver! Third, when I explained to our server that my wife does not drink alcohol and that they should warn people about the alcohol in the root beer, she did not seem the least bit concerned ... which should be a BIG concern for management. No apology, no nothing. Finally, I was more than a bit dismayed when told that they had no dill pickles. What kind of burger joint does not have dill pickles? They have "sweet" pickles, but they just do not belong on a good burger, so I passed. So sad. CombatCritic Has No Choice But To Downgrade Dempsey' Burger Pub To 6 Bombs Out Of 10 For Their Various Faux Pas ... More Bombs Are Better! read more

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On paper, this place sounds great. Truffle fries, grass-fed beef, Kobe, lots of high quality fresh ingredients, they even take the completely superfluous step of making their own ketchup and mustard. Sounds like a great place for some serious, gourmet burgers. Well, unfortunately Dempsey's doesn't live up to its potential. To start with, the meat itself is good. I don't think anyone would argue that. But it lacked that rich, hefty beefy flavor that the grass-fed stuff usually has. I don't know if this was a result of being a bit overly charred (despite it's being cooked relatively to order) or what, but behind that carbonish taste there isn't much beef taste. Politically and environmentally, I appreciate the commitment to local ingredients, but from an Epicurean perspective, I couldn't really taste the difference. Add to that the fact that my Egg Burger came with an overcooked fried egg instead of an over-easy egg, and I was a bit disappointed. For the price, I was expecting a delicious patty dripping with runny egg yolk and what I got was a pretty average burger. On the other hand, the produce of the burgers was all very fresh and top-notch. The much lauded truffle fries were a letdown as well. They were greasy to the point of being soggy and, as another reviewer points out, they did not taste anything like truffles. Instead, they were bogged down with the flavor of too much grease, too much garlic, and too much parmesan cheese. The homemade mustard and homemade ketchup they came with tasted identical to the bottled stuff (though with a slightly different texture) and the alleged truffle cream sauce tasted about as much like truffles as the burger did. That is, not at all. I'm a sucker for a good burger. Hell, I'm a sucker for a mediocre burger. But it really annoys me when I overpay for the latter just because it happens to use local ingredients. I could forgive the place if the prices were about 50% lower, but as it is, Dempsey's fails to warrant the price. read more

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I love a good burger and Depsey's always delivers. Their Bleu Burger with it's onion sauce is great. They also make a good quinoa patty for the non-carnivores out there (and their salads are great as well, with a nice vinaigrette). The truth is, I go for the fries....the sweet potato fries that you can get "salty" or "sweet," with just a hint of sugar and cinnamon. They are out of this world and you get a nice-sized portion when you order them as a side (the truth is that I always order a basket and always finish them off, even if it means eating only half the burger. They have great drink specials and a nice patio. read more

Hubs and I decided to stop by here after a KU basketball game because I was craving a burger. It was pretty busy on a Saturday afternoon but we managed to get seats at the bar. I had the Hot Hawaiian Kobe Burger and he had the Smoked Stacked Burger. We also ordered Truffle Fries. My burger was cooked perfectly and it was juicy and messy to eat but I enjoyed it. My husband liked his burger, too. The fries were a little burnt but they were salvaged by the dipping sauces. The garlic aioli sauce is bomb! read more

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Dempseys is one of my favorite restaurants in Lawrence! The burgers and fries are phenomenal! Especially the truffle fries. Make sure to order the garlic aioli and the truffle sauce on the side with your meal- you will not be disappointed!! Good prices and great drinks. They also do trivia nights on Thursday night which tends to make it a little busier than usual, but it's fun to do. read more

Or no Stars: While we were doing our errands, we thought, "where's the best burger we could call in for?" There's a few places, depending on fries, or additions to the burger, that we thought about. Wendy's, when you're in the mood for sloppy with bacon. We hadn't been to Dempsey's in a while, probably pre-pandemic. We'll probably return there after the next pandemic. My Farmer burger's egg was dry, meat was dry, bun was dry. The cheese burger was ok. The fries were good as expected. A regular and a side of truffle fries, we're good: greasy and tasty. The side of Mac and cheese, while beautifully described, was a total disappointment. It was a lumpy macaroni and butter and cheese mess in a clear container that looked like the scraping from another plate. Not again. We ordered online thru Easy Street where of course the tab was much more expensive. We were quoted our order would be ready in 25 minutes. We arrived three minutes after the time and waited another TWENTY MINUTES as our order was bagged. If we had not already (over)paid AND TIPPED, I'm not sure I would have accepted such crap food and service. Horrible. I'd much prefer Wendy's. read more

These burgers and fries are among the best in town and the price is right. The sliders were 4 for $8 and my standard burger with cheddar was 8. Fries are 2 for a side and 4 for a basket. A side is a lot of fries. We had regular fries and sweet potato fries. They give you the option on sweet potato to have them sweet or salty. They make their own sauces and ketchup. Both the garlic aoli (which I put on my burger) and the ketchup were so delicious. Our burgers were perfectly medium well. The bun is very soft and slightly buttery. We've been in Lawrence 8 months and finally tried this place. Should have done it sooner. We'll be back. (This place and Burger Stand could be twins food wise.) Dempsey's is smaller and a little harder to find when you drive by. The trees are blocking the sign and front.) read more

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Multiple reasons not to go here: - On Monday, my family and I tried to go here, when we walked in, 50% of their tables were visibly open and they said "We are ONLY seating people who have made reservations through the month of December." No explanation why. Or apology not posted on their door or on a sign outside. - On Tuesday, stupidly, I called to make a reservation for Wednesday night. They said "You can ONLY MAKE RESERVATIONS ON THE RESY APP." They would NOT take it over the phone. - After all this work on my end, we went there on Wednesday at my reservation time, 4:30. And at 5:56 the host came over to us and said "Our next reservation will be here at 6:00 and we need this table." That's right, we were being KICKED OUT OF OUR SEATS FOR OTHER GUESTS! They started spraying down the table while we were in the restroom with our stuff still at the table. UNPROFESSIONAL. - NASTY BATHROOMS, water all over the floor in both bathrooms, floors were so slippery people were actually warning each other in line. - Food was okay, not worth all this damn work, that's for sure. DON'T WASTE YOUR ENERGY on okay bar food, rude hostesses and nasty bathrooms. read more

Terrible night, which is becoming the norm here. I let the server know that my burger should have bacon, and that apparently insulted her because, she never brought my husband the sauce he requested, it took her 17 minutes to refill my entry cup, that was set on the edge of the table. Also she never asked how the food was. She dropped the check off without so much of a word. The icing on this disaster cake, was that when taking payment, she didn't say thank you, or anything... She didn't even earn the 5% tip I left her, but my husband insisted we leave her something. read more

Dempsey's Burger Pub - Food is great, service has been lacking, and growing worse. - Burgers Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

Solid burger, good drinks. I liked getting a nice pour of really delicious Irish whiskey for just $5. My friends and I enjoyed the patio immensely. Our large group was well taken care of. It's easy to see why this place is an institution. I'd have to visit again to make more of an informed pronouncement on the place, but our experience was positive. If you're in the mood for burgers & drinks and you're wondering if you should go here, the answer is almost certainly yes. read more

Glad we tried Dempsey's again. Burger with perfectly cooked with some pink bacon was crisp. the thickness of the burger was just so that you could bite into it without it being a challenge the brioche bun adds a lot to the flavor. Their fries were perfect they were delicious. We got the Truffle cream sauce that goes with it end wow it was as close to having truffle fries without getting truffle fries. The onion rings were crispy and the ranch went really well with them. The size of the burger and bun were matched. When you took a bite, you didn't have everything fall out of the sides. The juice from the burger got on your hands but nothing else. This is our go to for a great hamburger. read more

Love Love Love the burgers here. Don't come if you're a burger sissy that doesn't like to have a little juice running down your forearms. You aren't worthy of coming here. The wait staff are super friendly and quick to attend to anything you need. The wait times are short once you've ordered too. The truffle fries come with a little Parmesan and some seasonings that make them so delicious that you eat long past full. The pineapple wings are yummy too if you aren't feeling a burger. There are lots of beers to choose from to compliment your meal. read more

Dempsey's Burger Pub - The great mixture of pub and KU! - Burgers Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

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I have lived in Lawrence for 3.5 years and ate here for the first time, this summer (18'). We went on a God forsaken June day, when the temperature at 7:00pm feels like death. I was pleased at how cool, temperature wise the place way, it was great. I ordered a Jack and Coke per the usual, and was disappointed--not because the soda was not Coke, but I think they forgot the Jack part...I ordered a burger to be cooked medium rare and it was perfect! My fries were a little under cooked, but nothing some ranch dressing can't fix. I can say that I did not like their house ketchup, but that is just me. I will probably go back! read more

I love this place, they have a good amount of choices! The cooking was excellent and I suggest the salmon sandwich! Are Server Charlie was so good and nice to us! read more

If you want some great burgers in lawrence, check 'em out. They switch up the menu and also have specials (yesterday the foie fries and free-range veal burger--- free-range veal?? --hitherto thought of as an oxymoron). The Smoke burger with applewood smoked bacon, melted gouda and a savory cocoa-ketchup is fairly fabulous. With fall here, I'd say go for the sweet potato fries. You have to go to the counter to order and they call your name to pick it up but if you're cool enough they'll serve it to you at your seat. Uh-huh... read more

Trivia nights fun specials for apps are pretty good try the fries go on the trivia night it's definitely worth the Droppin

Hands down, the best burger I've ever had. I typically hate reviews that start this way but this place was fantastic. Got to visit this fine establishment for a weekday, rainy day lunch. I ordered the #5 Smoke Burger with smoked gouda, applewood smoked bacon and chipotle-cocoa ketchup. Ordered it medium rare and actually got it medium rare. The perfection of the cooking is probably my biggest compliment for Dempsey's. The smoke burger paired perfectly with an ice-cold 1554. My co-eater ordered the falafel burger topped with pickled cauliflower and other delicious bits and claims it was amazing. It wasn't until afterward that we learned of the Truffle Fries, kinda wish one of us had ordered some. Both of us went with the sweet potato fries, which were good but paled in comparison to the burger. Service was extremely friendly and the lunch crowd was well-behaved. The Kobe burger is still calling my name, but I couldn't talk my friend into going back for dinner, so it will have to wait till' another day. read more

Dempsey's Burger Pub - Smoke Burger - Burgers Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

Great food. We went for brunch and there were lots of great options. Staff was very friendly and there wasn't a huge wait time.

The battered fish is excellent! The hot wings were fine, but were a bit dry and lacked flavor. Brining/marinating them would help. Very friendly service. read more

My brother and I have tradition to meet up here on Tuesdays whenever I'm going to be in town! I really enjoy this pub. Ambience is relaxed, volume is the right level, and there are always new burger combinations on special! My favorite is the Thai PB burger. You have to try the truffle fries as well; they come with various sauces that are excellent. Good choice of beers on tap and reasonable pricing. Tuesday is Student Night - half off select burgers and drink specials! Service is great as well. read more

Best burgers I have found in town, by far. Fries are kinda hit and miss, really good when they're good, had em kinda limp and wimpy on last visit....is a must hit when in town though. read more

Dempsey's Burger Pub - Bacon cheese burger,,,,,,how they must be made in heaven,,, - Burgers Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

Yeah....not sure what to do about this one. I had this as a four or five star before. Its been sliding downhill since my first visit about two years ago. I went last night...simple order between the two of us. A bacon, mushroom, swiss burger (no aioli/mayo), a basket of fries a slider and a couple of drinks. The food eventually made its way to us. The restaurant was not at all busy. My fries had been sitting for a while. My burger was cooked like shoe leather. The bun was stale. The cheese had not been melted. And there was mayo slathered all over it. The beer selection is plentiful but homogeneous. You can get 8 different IPAs a couple of ales and that is about as fancy as it gets. The floor there is super gross. I felt like I was wearing ice skates three sizes too big. It was so slick with grease. This was not just one spot...this was the entire restaurant. To be brutally honest - I would have had a better burger and fries and experience at Dennys than what I got last night. Lawrence has enough burger joints and other places that serve burgers. If you are really wanting a burger, skip this well known burger joint and go to Free State or Merchants or change your mind and get Thai food. I really hope this was a bad night kinda thing but my gut says that is not the case. Not sure I am going to go back to try it again and update my review. read more

Burgers are so good! The truffle fries are the best! I loved that the dipping sauce was included and not extra. On Tuesday they do student night so the burgers were half priced which was really cool read more