Thunderbirds Grille

This review is for lunch at the bar for two on a Saturday in mid-August…read more service: Elizabth B. was our waitstaff and she was great. Very professional and prompt. Place was packed, but she didn't miss a beat. bar: Outstanding beer list, including Hop Butcher (Chicago) New School Hawaii Vibes IPA. Their tap list includes a style for everyone's interest. Big emphasis here on cocktails. Elizabeth put together a stunning Cosmo ($10!) for my wife. food: My wife's half Baja Turkey and soup-of-the-day, Chicken Noodle, with chips ($12) was outstanding. My half Not Your Mama's BLT and tomato bisque with chips (also $12) was equally fantastic. details: This is a relatively small restaurant with choice of inside, outside, and bar seating. Of note, the host also seats the bar, it's not open seating at the bar. There was a 20-minute wait at 1pm on a Saturday. Street parking outside in NOTO. There is a 3% surcharge if you pay with credit card.

This is an interesting spot in Topeka. I'm not that familiar with Topeka but there's not a whole…read morelot there except the capitol of Kansas. Searching out food gets interesting. The one question I have is why is it called The Wheel Barrel? I know a wheelbarrow, a wheel of cheese, a wine barrel, but I haven't figured out the name yet. If I make it back, maybe I can ask. The Wheel Barrel serves grill cheese/sandwiches and soup. I appreciate the concept and in this situation keeping it rather simple yet with some good selection for sandwiches and soup. I got a special wild rice and chicken soup with a half Baja turkey sandwich. It's a half and half for $12. I thought both tasted very good. I didn't eat quite all of it but I'd say it is a normal meal. Not a huge serving. I think most people would eat this in one meal. I think if I'm back in Topeka, I'll have to go back and do the traditional grilled cheese and tomato bisque! It was a busy lunch time meal. A nice size crowd was there. Service was still pretty quick. They have a rustic decor which is sort of like a wheelbarrow and a barrel. It's on a block that seems to be trying to add some art and culture to Topeka and I appreciate that a lot! If I'm back over that way, I'll stop back in and if definitely recommend it in Topeka.

Dinner

Great pretzels!

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Milk and Honey

4.6(58 reviews)

1.9 mi

Local gem found down the road from our baseball tournament! Great coffee and the polish breakfast…read moreburrito is Friendly staff and fast service. I won the morning even though we lost the game.

I want to like them they're so nice but the coffee is just gross and the food is subpar.read more

Kansas creations

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Great little goodies to buy with your coffee.

Sky - Restaurant is in the FBO of a functional small airport. Sky is to the right.

Sky

4.3(20 reviews)

3.8 mi

Had brunch with my best friend and their family it is their birthday. The Ambiance in the…read morerestaurant is excellent I thought it went with the airport the lights are propellers it's very bright very lit open. Food is delicious. I gave four thumbs due to the fact that the server was a little behind time checking on refills for coffee also my best friend couldn't find the butter for pancakes. It is a great place if you are visiting Kansas in Topeka definitely go to the sky restaurant at the airport it is definitely highly recommended as one of the great places to have a great brunch in Kansas. Thank's to Damien and the kitchen staff with the service staff as well. 11/15/2025#cityofthetop

This is a neat little breakfast/brunch & lunch restaurant nestled within Billard's Airport, it's on…read morethe outskirts of Oakland. I wanted to try it out with my family as I'm always looking for something new and different. We had 5 people in our party for Sunday Breakfast. It is a buffet and the price was pretty decent. They have a few cocktails available that I saw on their menu. I ordered a Bloody Mary which was ok, a little lemony for my liking, the server told me that was the 1st Bloody Mary she ever made. The buffet was not too bad, when I read the menu online it said fried chicken, but it was chicken tenders-which weren't bad, I was just expecting fried chicken. They had scrambled eggs, bacon, b&g, pancakes, diced potatoes, salad, fruit, cottage cheese, some desserts, overall the atmosphere was neat, there were large floor to ceiling windows so that you could see the runway-it actually started to down pour as soon as I got there. The staff was friendly and kept our waters/coffee filled.

Inside photo of restaurant.

Dinner menu

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Art in building

Glory Days Pizza

3.4(29 reviews)

0.4 mi

Good pizza, good service and clean. Thin crust works was good, Mediterranean salad was loaded with…read moretoppings!

Great pizza Great customer service Great Ingredients I always get the thin crust you always get…read moreyour money worth

Meatball sandwich.

BBQ chicken baby

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This is the works it soooo good

Juli's Coffee and Bistro

4.3(96 reviews)

4.1 mi

Local diner spot that serves coffee and breakfast. Plenty of seating inside with no frills. Nice to…read moresee something local in the middle of downtown.

This was ok coffee in a dark coffee shop. We chose a table in the front so we could at least get…read moresome natural light. There was art on the walls but it was randomly put up and if it was for sale, it was unclear what the prices might be as they were not labeled. Also the tables were oddly organized, I'm not sure why there were booths in the middle of the store. There were some antiques there but they were not well organized.

Cute menu!

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Hard to see that this place is there from the street.

Ling's Express

3.1(21 reviews)

0.0 mi

I have little to have arrived in Topeka and I was looking for a similar place of my favorite…read morerestaurant in Nashville Tennessee and after 15 days I found this restaurant and the Chinese food is very delicious

Love the generals chicken…read more Don't make the mistake of going into the drive-through if anybody is in front of you

Brand new!

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The Pennant

3.9(245 reviews)

4.1 mi

Mighty Mushroom burger. 1/2 pound patty. Remarkable…read more Garlic Parmesan fries. Some of the best in the industry'. Milkshake. Showstopper. So smooth. Simple but so good. Such a gem in a small city.

We came to the Pennant after dinner for dessert. They have a pretty long list of sweet treats and…read moredrinks. Our server wasn't sure what items were gluten free but took the time to check, which we appreciated. We ended up splitting a PB Chocolate Madness, which was plenty of sugar for both of us. The Pennant had TVs tuned to hockey and basketball playoff games, arcade games, and a bar area. It was a bit loud, but we enjoyed dessert and checking out the playoffs games.

Entrance

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785 Beer Company

3.7(33 reviews)

4.1 mi

This was the spot that we chose for our closing fellowship at the end of our family reunion on this…read morepast Sunday. They had a really nice area for all of the family. They also extended brunch for us, which was very kind. It was Father's Day, so it was very busy. They also had a pickle ball court and clean bathrooms. We were greeted by our servers, however they only assigned two servers for 40+people. Needless to say our orders took a long time, my daughter-in-law's and mine, being the longest. We ordered the chicken and waffles, but for some reason ours came out about 30 minutes if not more after everyone else's. It was pretty strange. I had to keep asking and we weren't the only ones who ordered that dish. When it finally came, my appetite was actually gone. The waffles were super sweet (I have to watch my sugar intake) and the chicken pieces were small, salty and very dry pieces so I asked for a reimbursement because I didn't like my meal. My niece said hers was just OK. She wasn't impressed. My daughter-in-law did eat hers. The pasta picture attached was my sister's meal. She didn't like the pasta that's why it's still there. She only ate the chicken that was included. Also two of my nieces did not like the Monte Cristo and asked for reimbursement. They said it was the worst day I've ever tasted. Oh I did have a slice of my cousins Mom Pizza and it was different, but delicious. I never had pizza that included potato and honey. In conclusion, it was a great atmosphere and all of the employees were friendly, but many of us did not enjoy our meal. I gave it a four because I don't think it's always like that. I think it was they didn't have enough staff or chefs maybe to take care of us.

It's been a while since we have eaten out , but me and my wife went to the 785 beer company for…read morelunch, it was fantastic!! We had 2 beers I had the cantina driveway was a light beer similar to a corona with a bit more kick and tasted much better and my wife had the glower moon, which was very good, we had sandwiches , I had the pork tenderloin which was really delicious, and my wife had the brisket which was equally as good. Friendly service and we already are planning our next get together here to play pickle ball with friends and have pizza and beer.

Dinning hall

Beer flight w/ a sample of the Hummdinger which

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Halloween specials - sangria

El Dorado Mexican Grille & Cantina

3.4(38 reviews)

0.1 mi

Food came fast hot and sooo good. Cant remember having a bad meal here.. I can't see how they stay…read morein business with the portions you get for the $!! Well done!

Not really memorable, but not bad either. Just kinda basic Mexican/TexMex food & drinks. Our server…read morewas decent and fairly attentive. The whole place just seemed kinda old and dirty. The floors were sticky and our menus needed a good wiping down. Great complimentary chips and salsa!

The place

1/2 portion Fajita Nachos. The chicken tasted a bit off

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1/2 portion Nachos

The Shack Bar & Grill

4.2(71 reviews)

1.0 mi

Great place to eat and have a beer. Cristy is the best. Food is always great. After golf stop…read moreevery week..

Good food, very good service. In my area of town. Good place to take the kids after a ballgame.read more

Inside of Restaurant

Burgers were fantastic and staff was super friendly. Awesome family atmosphere and will for sure come back. Highly recommend!!

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Outside

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3 reviews that are not currently recommended

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John R.

2 years ago

Booked the party room for our son and his best friends 16th birthday party. We had about 30+ people, including small children, attend. Our server, Travis, busted his hump to ensure the everyone had drinks. No one complained. everyone had plenty of drinks. He also took several various food orders and delivered the food and drinks to the people that ordered them. Nothing was missed. Travis was awesome. read more

Brian J.

1 year ago

Friendly staff, great atmosphere and awesome pizza! Music wasn't so loud that you couldn't have a conversation. The taco pizza was amazing! Seems like they have really cleaned up the place all around. We haven't been in for awhile but we're definitely glad we gave it another try. We will be back again very soon! read more

Not M.

2 years ago

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Thunderbirds Grille - salad - Updated September 2026

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3.2

(48 reviews)

I love this place The food is super good (I'm basic I…read morealways get the Philly cheesesteak)((so so good) people are nice and place is clean Probably my favorite restaurant in Topeka

I came to Wings Etc for a birthday event. I don't know why this restaurant has such average reviews…read morebecause I loved it. The wings were crispy and delicious. We decided to get sauces on the side which I think was a good decision. The sauces were mild at best. None of them was considered spicy. I did not see mango habanero, which has always been my favorite. Our server was great. She was attentive and took care of all our needs. Wings Etc is similar to Buffalo Wild Wings. I like the inside of the restaurant better than Buffalo Wild Wings though. It's more spacious and less busy.

Deano's at Deer Creek

4.0

(3 reviews)

Stopped in for breakfast. I had biscuits and gravy. Biscuits are homemade. Gravy was…read moreoutstanding. Not your usual wall paper glue you get at most breakfast places. I had two slices of red eye bacon that we were told is smoked by the owner. It was delicious as well. The decor has not changed much from its previous owner. But that's not an issue. The service was outstanding and very friendly. The hours are a little different. Breakfast from 7-10 am Wednesday through Saturday. Lunch 11-2 on the same days. It's worth the drive for breakfast. I will be back to try lunch.

I have been here several times because I want to like the food. I really do. I kept going back…read morebefore writing this because I wanted to be fair to the owner and make sure, I wasn't just catching them on an off day. Unfortunately, after multiple visits, I can confirm: it was not a fluke. It was a pattern. A very salty pattern. The good first: Every single time, the staff has been fantastic. Friendly, helpful, and honestly carrying this place on their backs. The food also comes out hot, and the restaurant is clean, which I genuinely appreciate. Breakfast The sandwich with egg, bacon, garlic aioli, and brioche bun was actually good. The egg and aioli did their best to negotiate peace with the sodium levels, and somehow it worked. The cozy rolls, when served warm, are excellent. Emphasis on warm. Once they cool off, the magic leaves the building. The sides were overall solid and pretty consistent. Lunch The meats are always well-cooked, both in texture and flavor. The burger was also cooked perfectly every time, which makes what happened next even more confusing. The sides were generally great, though the cheesy potatoes seem to spin a flavor wheel before service. One visit they were rich and creamy, the next they seemed to have lost the will to live. Now for the rough part Breakfast The breakfast is, without exaggeration, wildly salty. Not "a little heavy-handed." Not "seasoned generously." I mean "did someone drop this directly into the Dead Sea?" salty. It was the only meal I had that day because I could still taste it hours later. I wasn't digesting breakfast so much as preserving it. The redeye bacon had a good texture, but any trace of pork or coffee flavor had apparently been arrested and removed from the premises. No syrup was served to balance it out, so what you get is not that classic redeye flavor -- just a full-force sodium uppercut. I don't know if it's the brine or the cure, but wow. The biscuits and gravy were a real struggle. I usually love biscuits and gravy, but this felt less like breakfast and more like a personal challenge. I couldn't taste the sausage, there was no hot sauce available on any visit, and the only real notes coming through were salt and grease. It had visibly separated to the point that it looked like the gravy had given up. My only suggestion there would be less salt, less grease, maybe unsalted butter, and a better stir before it hits the table. Lunch The burger was cooked well, but it mostly tasted like meat wearing a tiny decorative amount of coleslaw and sauce as an accessory. It needed more flavor and more of everything on it. One extra note For those of us who used to come for the Cup of Heaven back in the day: it's not on the menu unless you Frankenstein it together yourself. I understand there's an effort to move on from the past, and I'm not trying to compare the old place to the new one. But when something was that beloved, it might be worth keeping around. Some ghosts deserve to haunt the menu. Overall, I really wanted this place to win me over. The staff is wonderful, the restaurant is clean, and there's clearly potential here. But right now, too much of the food tastes like someone in the kitchen is being paid by the grain of salt. -

Shopper's Kitchen

3.7

(6 reviews)

I visited Shopper's Kitchen with a group of coworkers after work around noon. We had received a…read morefew recommendations from others in the area and were excited to try a good soul food restaurant. I hate to say that I was disappointed. I was really looking forward to some good cooking. There was one waitress who was very kind and was great assisting us. she left after our food was delivered so we didn't get a chance to interact with her after that but the owner came out and helped us once the waitress left. She said they were short staffed and she just came in to help with the lunch rush. I got the catfish, mac and cheese, and greens. The catfish was perfectly seasoned, crisp and golden like I like it-no complaints there. The greens and mac and cheese though, left much to be desired. The mac and cheese was gummy and tasted boxed along with the greens that were not seasoned well. Amongst my coworkers, the meal that seemed to be the best was the protein bowl. It arrived smoking of heat, was full of flavor, neatly arranged, and flavorful. It seems like that may be the go to for future visits. I was excited about the desserts since this seemed to be a top selling point but was disappointed when we found out that they weren't serving the majority of the items on the menu. They did have sweet potato cupcakes which were amazing.

Let me give you the bullet points of this new restaurant:…read more Great customer service Homemade desserts Best seller - protein bowls. They essentially do healthy here. Various desserts that range from $2 - $5 Can ask them to make desserts for you. They cater. They do taxes here. Other businesses here as well which includes cleaning services. The protein bowl is something you can eat daily. This is a food item made from the Auntie that cares about your health. This isn't heavily spiced and it let's the ingredients make the meal. They are not skimpy on any portions including the protein. The cheesecake is extra smooth. You can tell it is not store bought. The same can be said for the chocolate version I ate. My frugal meter showed up when I was told $5 a slice, but homemade goods always make me spend a little more. All in all, you should stop here and see what you like.

Pizza Parlor

3.8

(23 reviews)

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First time in. Ordered a medium Bobby pizza and fried mushrooms. The mushrooms has a crunchy…read morecoating, came out hot with a good ranch. The pizza looked amazing, had a great crust but it would've been better if it came out hot. Waitress was also the bartender, table cleaner and seemed like everything else and she was nice, efficient and provided great service.

Set'em Up Jacks

3.6

(75 reviews)

Jacks is a non-pretentious restaurant which is locally owned. They offer simple fare. Burgers,…read moresalads, tenders, wings. Nothing fancy here. The food is very good. They have ample portions, too. The care for the customer is high on their list, too. I had an incorrect order once and staff did their best to accommodate me. There was one time my order was very slow getting to the table and the manager came over and spoke to me directly about the delay. There is plenty of parking and the restaurant is easy to access. They have carside delivery which makes things super handy. This is also a great place to watch sports. They have so many televisions and it's a nice way to see sports. A friend and I come here often to watch games. Prices are reasonable and in line with product. No complaints. This is the type of restaurant where you immediately feel at home.

Best bar & grille on the east side of Lawrence, hands down. Here's what's good:…read more The food is always fresh. Great selections, great specials. Family friendly, good kids' menu. Big bar, great service. And big - like, really big - screens for sportsball. What's not to like? It's a bar & grille, so you're not rolling into something with Michelin stars or Zagat's mentions. But the food is really good and the atmosphere is always relaxed (unless the local sportsballers are in peril). I'd suggest a plate of wings, with sauce varieties ranging from the dry rubs & mild to the hottest, which is a habanero blend. Insider tip: ask for your wings to be done 'Danza style', which is where they cook the wings, sauce the wings, then throw them on the grill for that extra char. Spectacular! Specials run every day, and some of them are better than others. For instance, kids eat free on Wednesdays with the purchase of a regular menu entree, Mondays are burger specials, and Saturdays are a KC strip special, which hits you with the salad, steak, & baked potato for $16 - that's a steal. Bar specials are also daily, whether happy hours or featured pints. There is something for everyone and you will get ample portions. It's THE place in east Lawrence to catch the Jayhawks, Chiefs, or, uh, even the Royals with a ginormous 22' screen adorning the east wall. Great spot!

Spangles

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I always enjoy eating here. The food is so yummy. The fries are the best! The atmosphere is fun and…read moretakes you back in time. Lots of great memories coming here with friends.

I'm giving two stars because I'm not a mean person, but my experience tonight was really…read moredisappointing. I ordered two adult meals and one child's meal. The ordering process took about 15 minutes because the system was having issues, but I was patient and told the employee it was fine since I wasn't in a rush. When the food came out, the system completely shut down, so they couldn't process any payments. I handed my card to the employee and told him he could either bring it back once the system was working or I'd settle up at the end. About 25 minutes into our meal, he came to the table, returned my card, and told us, "Your meals are on us tonight," which I thought was a really kind gesture. I even planned to leave a cash tip before leaving. But as my son was finishing his meal, the same employee came back and said, "The systems are back up," and stood there waiting for us to pay. It made things awkward, especially after being told the meal was complimentary due to the inconvenience. I completely understand that things happen and that businesses need to be paid, but the way it was handled came across as unprofessional and confusing.

Jeremiah Bullfrogs Bar & Grille

3.2

(74 reviews)

I go there because of Mr Blood. Great food , alot of TV's…read moreto watch any game , great patio seating , service here is too notch

We like to meet friends for drinks. Great service!! There can sometimes be a large number of us…read morebut always love our servers!!

First Watch

3.7

(48 reviews)

Great food for healthy eaters. The staff is very friendly and the restaurant was clean and nicely…read moredecorated. I am from out of town and it is hard to find healthy food when tra so this was a nice surprise.

First watch is relatively small with too few booths and very uncomfortable tables…read more The average breakfast dish is 14.00 Which is absurd for the quality of the food. The coffee is adequate though they do not provide cream in pitchers but rather only pitiful plastic creamers and artificial creamers. I had the Power wrap, a small wrap with turkey, spinach mushrooms and an egg white omelette. The wrap was accompanied by pico de gallon which really didn't go well with fish. The fruit cup was an uninspired collection of half a strawberry, pineapple and grapes. The pineapple was ripe, the rest could have been from a supermarket fresh food section. Service attentive and accommodating. Extra coffee was provided quickly. All in all First Watch is an overpriced chain providing mediocre food with service better than the slop on the plate.

Los Charros

3.2

(42 reviews)

Meet my sister and friends here about once a month. We like the food, great service and nice decor…read more Easy access on site parking

Food was delivered lukewarm and we did not get the utensils we requested, not even a napkin!!…read moreUnacceptable. We were barely even able to eat anything except a taco. A waste of food and money. Very disappointed. Quality of the food was not good.

El Ranchito

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