Free State Brewing Company — Restaurant in Lawrence

I first came across FSB in 1992 when working in Kansas as an agronomist. In 1998 I bought a great bottomland farm a few kilometres east of Lawrence.and have been a regular customer ever since. Over the years I sold vegetables to them, and in 2010 we hosted an on-farm local dinner featuring our farm's production and 7 special beer pairings. FSB buy from local producers whenever there's enough to make it work.

Over the decades there have been a few of their beers I didn't like,, but that's a preference issue. If you're new to FSB, you can easily get a taste before you buy. Some are fully the equal of the very best I've had when working in northern Europe.

The food ? Let's remember that it's PUB food and rate accordingly. Overall, it's too salty. I can add salt, but I can't remove it. Much of their food is on the oily/greasy side. Here I specifically exclude the Fish & Chips which is just right for what it is.

Yet the Lox and Chips (not fries) and the Filipino Egg Rolls are just dreadful for all the grease. Seems like they might be running the fryer too cold. It tastes like they use peanut oil for all frying, which is not a complaint, merely an observation.

And every so often they'll hork up some disastrous hairball of an entrée, just like nearly all affordable places do. The current one, which has been on the menu for over a year (!), is Hungarian Mushroom Goulash. It does have mushrooms, but is neither Hungarian nor even an imitation of Gulyaš.

I've spent a lot of time in Hungary, to the extent of being comfortable in the language, and regularly cook Hungarian at home. I could give them some wonderful recipes for great Hungarian pub food, hearty or light. Sadly no Gypsy band. In fact, at the on-farm dinner the transition-course between entrées and dessert was a cold sour-cherry/red wine soup with sour cream and paired with kriek-style beer using the same Hungarian cherries as the soup.

So for over a generation I've been a passionate supporter of FSB, yet I wish that for food they'd be more open to feedback from supportive customers like me.

I'll leave you with strong encouragement not to miss their Balsamic Beet Salad. Worth driving 100 km to enjoy. Pairs fantastically well with Oatmeal Stout, and if you pay a couple of bucks for a nice side of more bread ... it's a wonderful...

Ate here for a family Birthday on a Monday evening, and it was crazy busy; so loud none of us could carry a conversation. We were a party of 10, and seated at a table that was fairly cramped in the atrium area. My husband and I joined after everyone else was seated and had already been served an Appetizer dip for the table and drinks. We sat waiting for the server about 10 minutes before she came through take our order, then We were quickly served our only beverages for the evening, and Proceeded to wait over an hour and thirty minutes for our food to arrive. It was also freezing in there, and there were vents pointed directly at us… we flagged down our server and asked if she could get a broom handle or something to change the angle of the vent, and never heard back… I understand they were busy, but I saw at least 4 servers in our section as well as several bussers scurrying around, so I think it’s fair to assume they were not shorthanded. The waitress never asked if we needed refills on anything, and when asked about how long it might be after about 45 minutes waiting for food, she couldn’t give a guess… when our food did arrive, it was only ok. I can make a better burger at home. We also missed out on going the the lounge up the street for mini golf, because dinner took so long. Then, they tacked on a 20% gratuity „service charge“… my husband and I paid $70 for a burger, sweet potato fries, a fish and chips, a coke, a ginger beer, and a pretzel Appetizer with mustard and cheese … I think that’s rather insane, with the service we received. The fish was a bit dry, and the burger didn’t taste like much… But we paid our bill without saying anything, and left. I won’t be back, this was a subpar experience, not a fan of the atmosphere, very poor service, and frankly I...

You'd be doing yourself a great disservice if you don't order the onion rings! THE BEST! I had a cup of broccoli cheddar soup and swooned! A yakamaniac beer topped off a divine meal! Service was attentive and quick! Definitely should be on everyone's bucket list!

UPDATE! came with brother and sis in law for supper! Christian was server extraordinaire! Once again, onion rings! OMGOSH ONION RINGS! Turkey club phenomenal and bro loved his bison burger! I switched beer from a yakamaniac to a stormchaser. PERFECT!

Went with parents for some lunch. I had (of course) onion rings only this time I requested horseradish sauce (like I had at Ted's in bozeman). I urge you to do the same! It was heavenly! Crunchy rings with a bite of heat. I think I may have blacked out with happiness. Dad had the goulash, and he pronounced it. "Very, very good!" I tried it and seconded that! This restaurant never fails to be consistent in Flavor, presentation, great service, and overall quality!

Today, January 15th, 2025 at 1130am, we meet my bff and her hubby for lunch. Food was not as good as it has been. The beloved onion rings were undercooked. The burger was TEPID. What has happened? Is there a new chef? The server seemed overwhelmed, and unfortunately, a credit card situation and a follow-up call to the restaurant didn't go well. My credit card was double charged as well as another charge for my bffs lunch. The woman that answered the call talked over me, was brusque and rude. She absolutely schooled me on how credit cards work. Jeeminy. I'm sorry. Go for the food. Be cautious of...