Ladybird Diner — Restaurant in Lawrence

"Ladybird", by the way, is the British term for what we know as a "ladybug", the cute little red dome shaped things, and member of the beetle family, with black dots that will crawl up your finger and onto your hand, tagging along until they get bored and fly away to find another unsuspecting human being or facsimile thereof.

Anyway, Ladybird Diner is a busy place and got great reviews from respected colleagues, but was underwhelming in my eyes. I somehow expected more and have yet to find a great breakfast place (or lunch and dinner for that matter) in LFK. Big sigh. We stopped by about a month ago on a Sunday around 1pm and they were packed with a 15-20 minute wait, so we went up the street and ate.

My spouse had a medical procedure and had not eaten for 33 hours, and I fasted along with her for moral support. So by the time we arrived at 9:30 this morning, we were FAMISHED, STARVING, HUNGRY AS A HORSE if you catch my drift.

My wife loves their pancakes and hashbrowns, but went for a couple of doughnuts (and one to take home for tomorrow - $2.09/ea) and a side of hashbrowns ($2.49). She was happy as a lark, indulging her sweet tooth and getting a massive sugar and carb rush all for just $6.67. Such a deal!

I, on the other hand, went the more traditional route. I rarely eat a big breakfast, opting instead for a cup or two of joe and some wheat bread with natural peanut butter and sliced bananas. However, 4-6 times a year a get a hankerin' for a full-on breakfast with eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, and biscuits and gravy (B&G), so that was what I did. I ordered the Diner Breakfast ($9.99) and a half order of B&G ($5.49). The Diner was decent, nothing special, coming with wheat toast, and the eggs were cooked over-medium as I had asked. The three slices of bacon were lukewarm and petrified, obviously pre-cooked and sitting in a warming tray or nuked because they were difficult to cut with a knife and very chewy if you know what I mean. The hashbrowns were somewhat sparse, but crispy and savory just the way I like them.

The biscuits and gravy were another story altogether. A buttermilk biscuit and a ladle of country gravy cost no more than a $1 max to produce, so I have difficulty understanding a 549% markup. Ladybird is not the only culprit, all the breakfast places on Mass Street do it as do many others around the nation. $2.99, even $3.49, would be a fair price for a single biscuit and gravy for a $2 to $2.50 profit on less than a buck's worth of flour and fat. Enough about price.

The order of B&G looked appetizing enough, but there was an odd taste to the gravy I could not quite put my finger on. Did they add honey mustard to the gravy? It sure tasted like it, so I asked to cook as I came back from the loo and was told that it was not honey mustard, but nutmeg. I was wrong, but the taste of the gravy was even wronger (look that up in your Funk and Wagnalls). Why can't I get some good ol' fashioned overpriced biscuits and gravy on Mass Street? This place adds nutmeg, another tops it with watery green chili sauce ... give me a damn biscuit and some freakin' normal salty and peppery country gravy for cryin' out loud!

Sorry, the country gravy has me talkin' like a country boy, so let me digress y'all. The service was "OK", not bad, but not very good. Maybe they were shorthanded because I only saw two servers running around to the 15 or so tables, but I sat and waited for a coffee refill for a good 10 minutes while our server ran back and forth avoiding eye contact the entire time. I know servers somehow expect that they deserve a 20% tip nowadays (there I go again, dammit!) no matter how well they perform, but I put myself through college waiting tables and am a bit picky when it comes to service. This young lady got a 15% tip, generous in my eyes, but I am sure she cursed me as we walked out the door.

CombatCritic Gives Ladybird Diner 6 Bombs Out Of 10 With Deductions For Exotic and Overpriced B&G, Cold and Chewy Bacon, And So-So Service... More...

This fun filled place with consistently excellent food never fails to impress! The chili with onion and jalapeño cheese topping was superb! Onion rings cooked to perfection. My niece, daughter and I had a drink each (margarita, mimosas) and they were very well prepared! 👌

After a hiatus, bff and I strolled in for lunch. This place is always busy which is a telling tale. We were immediately seated despite the entire place occupado. I opt for the tomato basil soup and a piece of chery pie. Bff orders a chicken salad and initially agrees to share my pie. Read that? INITIALLY AGREES. 🤣 we both order a bloody Mary and reply, "SPICY" when our server asks how we'd like it. Our SPICY bloody Mary's arrive and I'm struggling to keep the tears from flowing. It's uber, uber fire and I am LOVING it! Sip it because if you take a normal swallow, you'll do the Looney Toons cartoon steam coming out of your ears. My tomato basil soup is served PIPING HOT! HOORAY! the only thing this soup is missing is a shovel so I can eat faster. Thick and no acidic tomato taste with the basil balancing out the blandness with a sweet bite. I'm sated but the slice of cherry pie comes and I give bff a side eye. She orders her own. ☺️👍 this crust is as good as my mom's. Flaky and dense with butter flavors dancing all throughout the tart yet sweet cherry filling. A 10 in the Olympic Games! I looked at my plate and the pie was gone and I had high hopes to take half home and share with hubby. There's always next time! service is fabulous! Atmosphere is fabulous! Be fabulous and come enjoy a...

I have been exploring local restaurants in Lawrence for years, but I haven't found one that truly captivates me. Some are decent but overly expensive, while others are budget-friendly college hangouts with mediocre food. That's not the case here! Ladybird Diner was recommended by several locals, but I was hesitant to try it based on my previous experiences. However, I can confidently say that Ladybird is a place you can't miss!

My first visit was exactly what I needed; the waitress, Becca, was an absolute gem. Despite the restaurant being busy, she treated me like family! She recommended mixing pomegranate juice with their lemonade, and now that I've tried that combination, it's going to be one of my go-to orders. Their Classic Diner Double Cheeseburger was fantastic! It had the perfect blend of a diner burger with gourmet ingredients.

Since my first visit just a week ago, I've gone back twice and tried to visit a few other times, but unfortunately, it was closed. I didn’t check the hours on Google Maps. Sadly, I didn’t have Becca as my waitress during my second visit, but the waitress I did have was still good. However, my initial experience was truly special. Their Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich was excellent! Now that I’ve tried Ladybird, I’m planning to return. There’s a strong possibility I might become a regular. Thank you for providing me with an experience I’ll remember for...