Ingredient
945 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, 66044
Ingredient Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Lawrence for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Lawrence for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Lawrence for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
945 Massachusetts St
Lawrence, KS, 66044 - Phone (785) 832-0100
- Website https://ingredientrestaurant.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:30 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
Categories
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
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Lori S.
When Ingredient first opened, I would have given them 5 stars with almost every trip. However, I have been so disappointed with my last three trips. The first let down occurred with a carry-out salad. I got back to work and discoved they had forgotten my dressing. Who wants a $10.00 salad topped with bottled Kraft? The last two trips consisted of salads about half the size they used to be. For the price, I feel like I should be satisfied, if not full, when I finish lunch. The pizza is great and a much better value then the salad. Bottom line, if you are really hungry and want a great salad, go to Jason's Deli. If you aren't that hungry and want something fresh on Mass. St,. Ingredients is a fine spot to try.
(3)Matt K.
I was really impressed with the quality and presentation of the sandwiches here. I thought the price points were reasonable too, especially considering what you got. The options are creative and interesting. I had the honey wasabi turkey burger and a cup of roasted tomato soup. Everything was delicious. I will definitely come back here when I'm in town to try some of their other offerings.
(5)A A.
The bricks pizza was ok, not worth $10.95 for sure, the sauce or the minimal amount of it was disappointing. On the hand the salmon sandwich was good, avacados were fresh, the side pasta that came with the dish was decent
(2)Jojo F.
Our freinds took my husband and I to Ingredient for dinner during our stay. The menu has a ton of combinations for you to choose from. I opted for the Philly Tofu wrap with cold roasted veggies. It was pretty good, but a little pricey. I would probably give it another try on a future visit.
(3)Sarah S.
Obviously I need to try a salad. I have given it a few chances and have never finished my dish or wanted to. I had the fish taco...so bland. The chicken sandwich...so bland, but the meat tasted icky. I guess the salmon was pretty good. But even that was not great. The atmosphere is fine. Kind of contemporary fast food style. It is nice to have it downtown. But don't go for the food.
(2)Brett P.
Ingredient is a pretty good place to grab a bite. Its a little pricier then you would think, but the food is worth it. Great pizza and great salads as well. Service could be a little bit better, but that's OK. The cool thing is that they have live music in there on the weekends which gives it a good feel.
(3)Christian S.
3.5 stars. Extensive menu. A bit pricey for the quality of food. My "honey wasabi turkey burger" was tasty, although there wasn't nearly enough meat relative to the amount of toppings and thick bread and the sauce (which looked like cheese whiz) tasted nothing like honey nor wasabi. The grilled cold vegetables were fresh, but nothing special. I will say that despite my so-so experience, there seemed to be many fresh options available and served in different, interesting ways, so I'd give it another shot when I pass through again.
(3)Mark S.
I really wanted to like it. Love the one in ft Collins co. Just didn't love or even really like this. Had the mahi tacos and they were bone dry and not very flavorful. The fish didn't need to be fried and certainly not over fried. Also got the flafel sandwich. I thought the taste was good, my gf did not. We both thought it was overly dry.
(2)Jordanne E.
The food deserves 5 stars, everything from the soups to sandwiches to salads are great. However, the service is terrible. Whether its take out or dine in. You will be waiting for 20+ for your food.
(4)Chet B.
Great food
(4)Andrea N.
When my husband and I stopped in Lawrence in the midst of a cross-country road trip, we were ready for something healthy (too much Subway and Taco Bell in truckstops...). We found Ingredient on the Web and headed over there. I thought the restaurant looked great - fun design. I ordered a "make your own" salad, which, other than the fact that they forgot my white beans, was great. My husband ordered a salad wrap off the menu, which he said was great. We also enjoyed a glass of wine, each, which was tasty and inexpensive. Overall I think this is a great restaurant, and if I lived in Lawrence, I'd come here often. It's much better than the chain salad-bar restaurants we have in Phoenix!
(4)Bill B.
Similar in many ways to the trendy, overrated Mixx in the South Plaza area of Kansas City (at 2855 Main St.). But Ingredient is better --- much better.
(5)Kelly S.
This used to be an awesome place but they have turned into a chain and their food keeps getting worse and service just plain stinks.
(2)Chris P.
I really like this place. As our gentleman from Minnesota so kindly mentions, it's expensive for Lawrence. It's not, though, expensive for Portland, or Philadelphia, or New York, or DC, or San Francisco, or wherever else. The food is pretty fantastic, too. The first time I went, I had the Asian Crispy Salad, or whatever they might call it. Very tasty. A bit too heavy on the peppers for my tastes, but it's my fault that I didn't have the place hold them. Next time I was there, I had a made-to-order pizza with basil pesto, gorgonzola, chicken, and kalamata olives. It was the perfect combination. Absolutely no objections. Now, maybe one can find similar yet better restaurants in other cities, but not in this area.
(4)Chas F.
Great place to get a build your own salad but not at a buffet type place. It's a little higher prices than I had expected but the food was fresh and the salad was pretty big. You can get pretty much anything your heart desires in your salad. Overall I like this place and if I was in the mood for a customized salad I'd def go back here!
(5)Brian M.
Hmmm, a chef owned restaurant is how they advertise themselves. Well, that may be, but they could use an interior designer with more experience than designing 16 junior high cafeterias. I am really not sure what vibe they were looking for, but the dining room comes off as Luby's with a little more light. That is great if you're here for lunch, possibly even with a larger group as Chris mentions, but beyond that, I dunno. I sat on the I Bar side, which was slightly more upscale, though still kind of confusing-do I order a glass or wine here or in the other room? That being said the bartender who did come out was very helpful and squared me away. As for the food, I had the sandwich of the day and the pasta salad of the day. While the sandwich, the capicola, was good, the bread nice, the pasta salad was average. None of this was what I expected given the advertisement and the price. I will probably give it another chance, maybe for brunch or to check out the desserts, but will probably walk on by for dinner.
(3)Alicia R.
The make-your-own salad option is great, as are the Thai pie and Caesar Pie--delicious and unique pizzas (peanut sauce and broccoli and caesar salad, respectively, on chewy, oven fired crusts). The big front windows offer a great view of Lawrence and the iBar portion offers a great place for dessert and listening to the live music that they often have on weekend evenings.
(4)Nick C.
Ingredient seems to live up to it's name. Ok, I get the general concept of "Let's just make a list of Ingredient's for our menu and let people whatever the heck they want! Oh the freedom! Won't they feel empowered?" Fine, let me pick what I want. This is America damnit, how dare you tell me what I can and can't eat! ....which is all fine and well, except that I eat like a 12-year old. Addicted to macaroni and cheese. Who's never tasted a vegetable in his life. So, while their ingredients(hey, that'd be a great name for a restaurant!) are fresh and tasty and homegrown by virgins under full moons in hemp dresses, ultimately Ingredient gives one TOO many options. I don't want to pay somebody for the privilege of stumbling through food options, I want to pay somebody to say, "Try this, it's awesome!". Dining is supposed to be a person experiencing what the chef's culinary talents whip together. If I want to create my own meal, I'll stay home and do it for a fourth of the price. The interior was interesting...the first time. It's gotten better now that they've expanded a bit and added the lounge area with booth seating and darker, organic colors. Kind of nice, either choose to people-watch the Mass St. weirdos, or sit on the lounge side for some more privacy and a chilled out atmosphere. Finally, a nice, easy option! Ingredient seems to suffer from a bit of that ying and yang though. Everything's served on white tableware, the staff is dressed in all black, the kitchen has been painstakingly crafted to look high-class, right down to the fake wood-burning pizza stove, but then common obnoxities like a soda-fountain, self-serve silverware, and numbers for your table until your food is ready take over. C'mon, is this a dining experience or a fancy cafeteria as one reviewer put it? That said, Ingredient's hidden secret seems to be their weekend breakfasts. Their breakfast pizza is simply amazing. Get in before the church rush and you'll have the joint to yourself, making it a wonderful way to wake up after sleeping in a bit from the gig the night before. Now, if I could only figure out what the hell I want to eat....
(3)Chris M.
I love Ingredient because it's perfect for how I use it: Entertaining big groups. In the summer, I take our residential Writers Workshop members here at least once a week because it's easy to find seating for large groups and has something for everyone. During the school year, I suggest Ingredient to the gang because some people arrive as much as half an hour after the first arrivals - where else can you manage that? The food is very good if not spectacular (though the desserts are to DIE for), but if you're not enjoying what you ordered, you didn't take advantage of the option of customizing your meal. Whether it's a fire-baked pizza or salad, you can pretty much choose any ingredient (noticing a theme?) to make it your own creation. Said ingredients will satisfy the culinary needs of everyone from the veggiest vegetarian all the way to the meatiest meatatarian. It's fast and fresh, too. So you want to feed a big, diverse group? This is your choice! However, if you're looking for a romantic, sit-down restaurant, Ingredient might not be for you. Its prices are lower than they appear, because it's employee-owned and the servers (who deliver your meal to the table after you order it at the counter) do not accept tips. A $10 pizza might seem pricey until you figure in the $2 tip savings. Lots of people forget this. Bottom line: If you haven't yet, check it out!
(4)Lydia A.
The very first salad I had at Ingredient (the Sweet Leaf, I mean come on, how could I *not* order that?) was great, if a tad heavy on the dressing. No problem, next time order the dressing on the side. Lesson learned. The second time I went, I shared the Wild Mushroom Pizza with a friend and we thought we would die it was so good. The next time I went, I ordered the Salmon BST sammich. It was good, although the bread was a little hard. The pasta salad was really uninspired. Then there was the experiment with the Thai Pie, which came out cold. And the broccoli? Does. Not. Work. on that pizza. I'm just sayin'. I had a few more mediocre experiences before I stopped going. I figured in this economy, if I was going to go out to eat, it was going to be somewhere I knew I'd love every single bite. The last time I went, a friend and I shared the Philly Tofu Wrap (awful) and Portabello Melt (tasty but not amazing). We both had a terrible reaction to something in one of them where we swelled up like crazy. Even my friend's fingers were bloated, and she's a tiny little skinny girl! Later that night we both had considerable G.I. problems. It look nearly two days for me to recover. I won't be eating at Ingredient again. There are too many other places that taste better, have better atmosphere, and don't make me blow up like a balloon.
(2)caitlin j.
I like Ingredient because I can add pine nuts to anything. Seriously. I know, I know. It's a soup and salad and sandwich type place, right? But I reeeally like these soups and salads and sandwiches. Every soup I've ever eaten here is a winner. Last time, the artichoke bisque. Also a recent convert to the Taos Spinach Salad. It's served in a giant tortilla bowl (which isn't necessarily a selling point for me) and has roasted pico de gallo, red peppers and pulled turkey. I like the Salmon Flats Salad mostly for the giant pieces of avocado. Also eaten the special-of-the-day sandwiches before with much happiness. They now have gluten-free pizza crusts--- (gluten-free menu available on the website, celiac kids!) which I'd love to say I've tried. Instead I had a bite of my boyfriend's normal-people pizza... So let's get to the ordering at the counter part, shall we? This service-style (or non-service, whatever) marks this place, in my mind, as a swell lunch spot. Someone mentioned something about tipping these folks 20%... Now back in the day, they had a sign up announcing to patrons-- "Hey! Don't tip us! That would be silly!" At the time I was (a) startled (b) less self-conscious about the "what should I leave these counter-people?" feelings (c) a little sad for the register workers. Can't say I noticed that sign after eating there this week, so maybe that policy no longer stands. (Oh well, so that was a helpful tangent...) Ingredient! There is one thing. Your patio is ugly. Oh, I like that it's there, sure I do. But give it some vegetation, maybe. Or umbrellas. Or something that takes the glare off that really shiny sidewalk. Ok, that is all.
(4)Shana S.
I'm glad they were open on New Year's Day (since other places were closed for breakfast). I got the bacon cheddar breakfast sandwich and husband got portabello spinach frittata. We also splurged and got donut holes with bananas and chocolate chips on them. The two first dishes came out no problem, and he explained that since they needed to make the donut batter, they would be out shortly after. That's fine, I like fresh donuts. The sandwich and frittata were pretty good. Not outstanding, but pretty good. I like my eggs on sandwiches a little yolkier, and this was pretty hard. The donuts were taking a long time coming out, and when they finally did, after we were finished with everything else, there were no chocolate chips. Still, they're donuts with powdered sugar, so I figure we'll just deal with it. On the first bite, I realize that these things are inedible. Something off-tasting about the batter or the oil they were fried in. I don't know what it was about them, but there is no way I was going to be able to eat these things even WITH the chocolate chips. Chocolate can only do so much. I try another, but same thing. We end up just leaving the donuts after waiting so long for them. Gross. So, I recommend the donut holes, just not the nasty ones that I happened to get here today. (I've only gotten the donut holes in Leawood before, but OMG.)
(2)Ivan W.
Five bar for Sunday breakfast. Oatmeal is great! Other eaters in my crew had a mixed experience.Coffee was strong and plentiful. You can have the place to yourself on a Sunday morning. Sit by the window and drink that dark coffee!
(3)JJ W.
Ingredient seems to have some pretty devout followers and a rating that needs no introduction. I'm going out on a limb here. . . overrated? The ambiance and simplicity of the place is pretty outstanding. I'm sure almost anyone would agree that Ingredient is a great place for service and experience. Upscale Cafeteria. Those are the two words a friend uttered to me after we left and I can't seem to get them out of my mind. For me, Ingredient is a place that appears like a well-planned piece of marketing with little soul. The open area and walk-up counter service is fun but rather disconnected from its modern and sophisticated vibe. The food was nothing to speak about. I rocked a Tuscan Chicken with their Pasta of The Day. I like ordering chicken because it's easily overcooked and i wanted to explore the freshness of a daily pasta. The sandwich was bland and the chicken was literally a desert. The pasta faired better, being crisp and clean. It included bits of carrot and broccoli that gave it nice color and freshness. The portions didn't feel worthy of the price tag. Another failed concept where one pays for the ride but ends up with a tummy-ache. Service at the counter was superb but once we sat down, it was a David Copperfield act. No one came again to check on us. Granted, their are a variety of options for pizzas and salads so it could of just been the day and our selection. I can see why so many people rate this place high. I've always thought Ingredient would be my kind of place. Right now, the "Upscale Cafeteria" better make sure to escape the pitfalls of real cafeterias.
(3)Mike P.
Here's a quote from New York restaurateur Kenny Shopsin: "In the early days I tried to be all things to all people. I had every sandwich ingredient known to man. Considering how particular people are about what foods they like and don't like, you would think this system would have been really popular. But it wasn't. Nobody gave a #hit. Looking back, I can see that it was a stupid idea. It was unfair of me to expect my customers, who are eaters, not cooks, to have the facility, much less the desire, to design their own sandwiches." This quote came to mind after my experience at Ingredient. First, the ordering system is clunky and very slow (see above quote). Studying the menu board is like reading the fine print of a contract. I could see Ingredient borrowing the Whole Foods sandwich ordering system where the customer circles the ingredients they choose on a sheet, gives to the cashier, pays and they bring the food to your table. Secondly, the prices are equal to that of a sit down bistro but customers get their own drinks. I feel the flow of Ingredient would work much better with wait service. This gives customers time to look over the complex menu and feel like they're getting a good value since paying sit down restaurant prices. Average tasting food, above average prices and longer than average wait are ingredients for a mediocre experience.
(3)Ed C.
Long story short, I'm on a basically vegan diet for at least a third of the year. Today is one of those days. Needless to say, that can make eating out a real pain, even in Lawrence. Vegetarian is usually pretty easy, but vegan? Notsomuch. Usually I'd just play it safe and go to Chipotle, but I walked by Ingredient and realized I'd never been there, so I might as well try it out. Surely a place like this has to have something vegan right? Notsomuch. First, I'm thinking, "What? No pasta?" Then, since I didn't really feel like eating a giant salad (especially with no eggs, meat, cheese, or good dressing) for dinner I had literally only one option: the falafel. Oh well, could be worse right? Hard to screw up falafel right? Notsomuch... So I ordered the falafel. To be fair, I had to get it without the usual sauce (re: the yogurt) which would have cooled it down and balanced the flavors somewhat, but it was spicier than I expected. In particular, there was too much garlic even for ME, and I love garlic. I use too much even on biscuits and gravy. I can't imagine an average diner trying to eat the whole thing, though I did. Still, I can't help but feel like I could have gotten the same food only better plus a side dish for less cash at Aladdin Cafe. I felt like I was paying for the building, which is really nice mind you. Everything is tasteful, bright and clean, including the rest rooms. What it comes down to is that I'll have to give the place another shot on a non-fasting day so I can get a fairer sense of the menu, but at the same time it seems counter-intuitive somehow that a place like this can't do vegan fare better. For those days, I'll just have to go to Chipotle, Aladdin, or Encore if I have to eat downtown.
(3)Helenna C.
Went in and got a chicken cobb salad and found a peanut in my salad, which is unfortunate as I am allergic to peanuts. Told the cashier and she was very unapologetic which would be fine if it wasn't an eleven dollar salad. I was just diaspoointed in the customer service.
(1)Alexis R.
The pizza crust is to die-for, so just about any toppings you choose (from over 50) can make a great lunch or dinner ($9-12). I like the make your own aspect of most menu offerings with lots of salad choices as well (~$9). Tuesday with 1/2 price wine is a great day to go and enjoy dinner in the outdoor seating. The trendy ambiance is great also. The attached iBar has music Thursday and Friday, and the delicious dessert fondue offerings are great for a late night treat. Breakfast on Saturday and Sunday is a good option. The breakfast pizza topped with a layer of eggs and then your choice of toppings is very yummy. I would avoid the donut holes though - the ones I got were burnt. They came dark brown and the toppings we got (bananas and strawberries) just slide off the hard little nuggets.
(4)Susan Y.
While the flavors on some sandwiches and pizzas tend to be bland, the salads are fabulous. Fresh, organic ingredients in a stylish setting with unpretentious staff.
(4)Igor C.
Good but nothing special. I had the Azteca salad and maybe it was my choice but no one else was praising the food. Not bad but not above average.
(3)Michael T.
This place is a very cozy spot for a casual lunch date. The food is very affordable and cooked well. You order your meal at the register and they bring it to your table, which I like.
(4)Rachael G.
I came here for a later lunch with a friend I hadn't seen in years. This place caught my eye and she suggested this place, stating they were big on local produce and sustainability. This place is really cool-looking, very big, open and bright. I was tempted to sit at their bar, which looked really nice, but my friend is pregnant. I thought that might be mean. Plus, I didn't want to get any evil glares for making a prego sit at the bar. The place has table service but is seat-yourself. From what I could tell, there only seemed to be one server for about half of the restaurant and she seemed a little frazzled; she was a little curt, but I'll give her some leeway on this. I had the build-your-own salad; it was great, TONS of options to choose from, and the salad was delicious, very large and fresh. I really liked this place and I'd like to come back here for either dinner or drinks.
(3)Ryan B.
I gotta agree with some of the other posters. This restaurant is OK at best, not great. Not even quite good. Just ok. The tough part for me is that I've eaten several things there that are ALMOST great. But invariably the food falls just short, and ends up being just ok. I can see the potential, and yet, it is still so far away. My wife and I went there over the weekend. We went for dinner and the place is clearly a lunch establishment. The place is counter service only. The decor is all modern concrete and glass, so the place is always cold and loud. The bar area is more tolerable. Service was decent, however, its counter service with serve-your-own drinks. So the bar is set pretty low. I ordered the peppercorn steak sandwich. It was prepared well. Steak was cooked to a nice medium. The flavors worked together but the dish wasn't captivating. It was a steak sandwich. Not too extraordinary. It suffered from what every steak sandwich suffers from - hard to bit through the steak. Steak is meant to be eaten with a fork and knife. I should've known better. Wife got the Taos Spinach salad. The tortilla bowl was a nice touch. The garlic chipotle dressing had the potential to be fantastic, however, it ended up being a little bland. When I tasted it, I knew there was a great dressing in there begging to get out. The recipe needs to be tweaked. Overall, ingredient is a decent restaurant. Its a bit pricey for lunch ($10-$12), and they have lots of specialty diet options like gluten free and vegan. I don't love the place, but I'll probably keep going back once in a while anyway.
(3)Jessica B.
To start of with what was good about this place: the food. The bad: the staff was rude, cold, and unwelcoming. The atmosphere was very poor. If you're looking for good food without decent service or ambiance this would be a fine place, but there are many places in Lawrence that you'll have a much better experience. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone.
(2)Jason P.
This place is fabulous. The food was great and the people watching opportunities here are endless. They really should make this a chain and make more of them closer to where I live. I had the grilled veggie hummus wrap and a custom pizza, both of which were very good. They have custom pizzas and salads on the menu that allow for just about a million combinations. Now for the best part, the people watching. While we ate, this crazy guy stumbled in and somehow grunted out an order. Also, there were many people who instead of walking into the restaurant to read the menu, felt the need to press their face against the window and try and squint out the lettering. After we ate, we did a tour of Lawrence on foot since we had to kill some time. Since this was my first time in the city, I am not sure if the weirdos just come out on the 4th or if this is just the norm for Lawrence. Either way, we ended up coming back after the mini tour and sat on the leather couches and enjoyed some wonderful loitering sessions that included getting some more food. During this session we saw a guy reach into the garbage can for a bottle of liquor, a guy with short shorts on whose legs were burnt from the knees down and as pale as can be from the knees up. We also saw about our fair share of jorts (jean shorts) as well. Awesome!
(5)Brian J.
There is some cause for concern when there is only two bottles of wine to choose from. Better to go a block or two down the street to get a decent wine or food. Why are they still open?
(1)Cindy F.
Been fifty times, at least. Mostly for Five Bar. Favorite bar in the state of Kansas. Love the decor, the vibe, the amazing half price martinis on Friday nights, and the live jazz. Have spent many hours here, many memories made here. Half price wine on Saturdays, decent wine selection. Love their spiked cider in the fall. Love the cutie bartender who always takes very good care of me. Was here for Restaurant Week last night, and it was on point. Had Funky Pumpkin on tap, hubby had an Imperial Stout on tap. Sweet potato bisque, had plantains and creme fraiche. Very tasty. Next up goat cheese croquettes, rolled in panko breadcrumbs and fried. Too greasy, but the wildflower honey and lavender was choice. Then had a wild mushroom creme sauce bruschetta, and a side of asparagus. Very peppery, bread was good. Hubby had the Yard Bird sandwich, a chicken sandwich with green apples and Tillamook cheddar, side of spice handmade chips. Choice, choice. Friend had the oysters. Finished off with pie from Great Harvest. Excellent fall dinner. Have had their salads and pizzas many times. Salmon flats salad is good. Love me some Five.
(5)H C.
I go here for lunch sometimes, as it's near my office. I like to get the cobb salad. It's a solid salad. i also like the flavored iced tea. But then the other night, I went for dinner and tried the pizza. Pretty mediocre. And not inexpensive. And my hands were greasy after eating it. I think this place used to be better when it first opened, but has gone pretty mainstream/average and become more and more like a chain restaurant. I will probably continue going for lunch, but will skip the dinner menu.
(3)Laurel C.
I had the Mad Max Pizza and it was so good. It had chicken, bacon and white sauce. The crust was amazing and buttery. It is wood fired but didn't taste burnt like many wood fired pizzas I've had. I also had a flourless chocolate cake. It was a little too dark for my liking but it still was very good. I will definitely go back and try more things.
(5)Maddie K.
Don't get me wrong, I love the food here, but the last few times over been here it's taking 30min minimum to receive food. Both times they weren't busy, and while I was waiting there were just dirty dishes and tables surrounding me. I work in the food industry and as a customer it's a complete turnoff to be around that. Just to add to the service, even though it is not a full service restaurant, one of the workers there put in food for after his shift several minutes after mine and still got it 10min before I got my Togo order of one Tuscan chicken sandwich and chips.
(3)Lori A.
Appears ingredient has changed. I have been coming here for years with my nieces while visiting from California and it has always been excellent. This last time we came with our children and felt very unwelcome. We were seated in the bar area and basically ignored. My 14 yr. old son had to to to the self serve area to get us refills for water and my 2 yr old grand niece's order was forgotten and part of my 15 yr old nephew's order was missed. We would have preferred to sit in the preferred to sit the self order area, but there was a gentleman that was insistent that we sit in the bar area where we could be served. So not only was the service terrible, I felt obligated to leave a tip. In addition to all of this, the food has changed. It is not quite the same quality. The sandwiches we have always ordered is now served on a basic everything bread. It is okay, but they used to use a very nice ciabatta roll. I guess it is time to find a new restaurant on our next visit to Lawrence.
(1)Leigh S.
This place has been steadily going downhill over the past few years. They used to be so great, but now skimp on portions, charge extra for additional dressing, often get the custom salad order wrong (especially when it's to go), and run out of items frequently. There is not much consistency in items between shifts. Step up the management!!
(2)Jewells P.
First off I am on tour and this is show 9 and I pretty much eat burgers everyday. I have traveled the world and this I must say is my #2 favorite burger!!! It was the complete package!!!! From the bun, meat, fresh vegetables, and fries! The quality was right on point! Thank you guys believe I will be spreading the word!!!!
(5)Alexandra O.
I stopped in here last night. This place has a diversity of simple menu offerings. I settled on the California Cobb salad. The salad was OK although I felt the greens to still be a little too watery for my taste. They could have been dried better. I thought the rest of the ingredients in the salad were decent. The staff was very friendly. I would consider coming back here in a pinch but otherwise would seek out any of the other great restaurants on Massachusetts St.
(3)Kelly L.
Defintely one of my top 5 favorite places in Lawrence! This place has something for everyone on the menu, from burgers to salads ro woodfired pizzas. In college I loves the spindip pizza. Now that I cant eat 2000 calories for every meal, I go for their salads. Sweet leaf and the cobb are two of my favorites. They also have beer on tap and cocktails in the lounge to the right. Perfect for a lunch date or girls night out!
(5)Scott T.
Another of several 3-star restaurants I'll frequent on occasion. What I like about Ingredient: - make your own salads, actually a reasonably healthy choice. - no tipping required. - reasonably fast - decent variety, quality is typically good What I don't like about Ingredient: - seems the longer they've been around the more "chain-like" they've become--high turnover, service issues and the like that effect quality. - not particularly great food, but then that's not the mission. Still... - pricey. For what you save in tip you'll spend otherwise. Basic complaint? Well, the food just isn't particularly interesting. I don't expect a salad to be interesting, but other dishes like the sandwiches and pizza are just good enough--sort of average. Still, I like the concept behind Ingredient but see a bit of a decline in where they were when they first opened. Can only surmise as they've expanded into other towns the overall quality has suffered. Not easy to expand and keep quality top-notch, and that's why I think they're a 3-star operation instead of higher.
(3)Dezeree H.
I can count on Ingredient to have something on the menu for everyone. It's a great place to bring family and friends. The sandwiches and pizzas are my favorite things to order. I think the sides are hit or miss. I usually order the side of fruit because it is really large and very fresh.
(4)Tony B.
The Menu wasn't as healthy as what I expected, however for Lawrence, KS., I give it high praise! The food was tastey, and affordable. However, the service was mediocre. We had to wait awhile for our food, and our server could not find our table. There is a need for an establishment like this on Mass Street. Kuddos for the idea, but it does need work!
(3)Brent B.
First time here. Had the Salmon BST with a side of Chicken Chili and a glass of Boulevard Tank 7. Can't say enough good things about this place. Great food. Great presentation. Great atmosphere. It will now be a MUST every time I come to Lawrence.
(5)Ryan R.
This place is great. Fresh food and good service. Live music next door at 5bar is on point too. Usually jazz...
(5)Nate S.
They're definitely out-thinking themselves at in-g---red...I***ént. It's an unnecessarily bifurcated setup all resulting in the same food. The food is reasonably tasty. My pizza had a nice crust, but the cheese didn't totally melt. It was stiffening by the first bite. I paid for an extra basil topping, but I guess you pay by the leaf, and I only bought two. I watched some other good looking offerings go by, but I'm pretty content just to imagine that they were good without going back to try them
(3)Linda S.
We stopped in this place yesterday for lunch. Both of us decided to have a burger and fries rather than a salad or pizza. The fries were great! The burgers, however, left something to be desired. I think the fire got away from the cook a bit - the buns were not toasted but charred - a burned taste that was not pleasant - and the burgers also were charred. It wasn't inedible, but disappointing. "Caramelized" onions on my burger weren't caramelized - also a disappointment - they were just sauteed. But the most disappointing thing about this experience was the marginal cleanliness of the place. Ketchup and mustard bottles were so grimy I didn't want to put my hands on them - used a napkin. NOT appetizing at all. Table was clean, but the wall next to the table wasn't too appetizing - just splattered food here and there. I don't think we'll go back. There are too many other great places in Lawrence.
(2)David G.
Great atmosphere, good food. Love this new restaurant concept.
(5)Ethan C.
This is my all time favorite place in Lawrence kansas. Every time i come to Lawrence i always convince my friends to meet met at ingredient the food is amazingly delicious. Soup 10/10 Salads 10/10 Pizzas 10/10 Sandwiches 10/10 The store is always packed with happy customers. ;-)
(5)Emily K.
Lawrence needed a restaurant that specialized in fresh salads. Ingredient is that spot.
(3)Alison M.
Ingredient also serves brunch. We almost had a bad experience here at our first morning meal, they forgot part of our order and were out of a bunch of things. When the woman behind the counter realized our dissatisfaction she had the manager come and speak with us. He explained the situation that they were in, apologized, and gave us a card for a free meal. It was some of the best customer service I've had at a Lawrence restaurant. Also, the food at brunch is delicious!! The waffle with custom toppings, the doughnut holes (like you've never had), the puff pastry, all are excellent.
(5)SE T.
YUM! Everything I have ever had here is fabulous. I am a bonafide foodie, so I would like to say that I know good food. Fresh ingredients, great menu selection, and now they have added adult beverages - a definite plus! Breakfast was pretty good, but lunch and dinner is just delightful. Oh my, getting the urge for one of their salads or unique pizzas as I write!
(5)Amanda D.
Ingredient has some of the best pizzas we've had in town. They have some great soup as well. I've heard good things about their salads but have never had one myself. If you're downtown and in the mood for a little something out of the oridinary, definitely try Ingredient. You won't be disappointed!
(5)Ruby G.
spin-dip pizza. donut holes. everything is delicious and HUGE (like literally a bowl full of donut, so many donuts, so little time). everything is fresh and it has sort of a nice airy light vibe to it. it is a tad pricey, but a lovely place full of sunshine, strawberries and bok choy.
(4)John L.
I never get tired of this place. I love Asian crispy salad, the sweet leaf salad and there are so many more wonderful items on their menu. :)
(5)Sara D.
Horrible first time experience... I won't be going back. First of all, the cash register girl seemed to be half brain-dead... and I'm not even kidding. I ordered a custom half-salad and asked how many items it came with. She looked at me blankly and said 'a half-salad?' like she'd never heard the concept, even though it's exactly what my friend ordered right before me. When it dawned on her what I was trying to order, she told me it came with 2 green and 5 toppings (exactly what the menu hanging overhead said). So I ordered my 2 greens and 5 toppings on my half-salad. The price came to more than what a full salad would have been. I brought to her attention that the price couldn't be correct. She just stood there with that blank stare before calling someone over that informed her that she had entered each ingredient as an 'extra'... which charged $1 for every item that wasn't my base 'greens'. She said 'oh, well I already entered the order'. Then tried to go to the next person in line. I told her to hold on a second, because I wasn't going to pay way more for a half-salad than I would a whole salad. She again had to find someone to come help her figure out what to do. (it took 3 workers to stand there and look at the computer to cancel the order because they didn't know how to delete items) So, we started the order over, and thought we had it all figured out. (This whole process took almost 10 minutes.) I went and sat with my friend... then our salads arrived. My salad had nice looking spinach and spring mix... but couldn't find any toppings on it. After digging around, I found the equivalent to 2 teaspoons of peas at the bottom of the bowl, and 1 piece of avocado (not a slice, it was literally like a half of a slice... one bite). My salad was also supposed to have pinenuts, which were nowhere to be found. And my friend was also missing dried cranberries on her salad. It appeared that no one there was capable to correcting the issues, because when it was brought to their attention, their response was to say 'oh', and to walk away. Customer service was absolutely horrible. I won't be going back, and wouldn't recommend this place to anyone I know.
(1)Chelsea B.
I haven't lived in Lawrence for a while, but lately I've been craving a good salad. Florida has gone above and beyond my expectations for Cuban/Latin food, but I still haven't found a great salad. Granted, my roommate is an amazing chef, and he's made some damn good salad creations, but Gainesville, FL is definitely lacking a restaurant with the quality of food and ambience that defines Ingredient. Actually, the one "bad" experience I had here actually might be the truest testament to Ingredient's quality and freshness of food. I ordered a salad, and halfway through I found a happy, thriving caterpillar. It seemed so right at home that I actually felt guilty for disturbing its habitat... Honestly, at the time I was disgusted, but at least it wasn't a maggot. And the lettuce was obviously fresh, not store bought from a bag. The meal was free and the manager, after apologizing profusely, gave me a gift card. The next time I went back I ordered a pizza.
(4)Stephen H.
Not impressed. I think the problem was that I judged the restaurant by its exterior and by some indirect word-of-mouth. Let down. Yeah, sure, sustainable menu. Decent decor. Essentially a remix of "The Mixx" in KC. The at-the-counter service wasn't that helpful that day and a few tables were not-bussed. Given, it was a gloomy Sunday, and the reason for my visit was an uncomfortable post-breakup dinner with an ex, but I still wasn't that excited. Will need a good reason to come back for just, as Joi B. calls it, a "satisfactory" experience.
(3)Clarice W.
FYI for all you Yelpers who are looking to try the Ingredient breakfast - they don't offer it in the summer. We only found out about this after entering and searching around confusedly for the breakfast menu. I wish the restaurant would advertise this instead of making their customers walk in and then awkwardly out again.
(2)Tom K.
I'm wrong a lot. It happens. So I decided to give Ingredient one more try. With so many positives written about it-- it can't be that bad. But if there's one thing in life that I've been SOOOO correct about-- it's that Ingredient pretty much sucks (how you like THAT display of verbiage!). I came into Ingredient on one of the nicest days imaginable in Lawrence. It was so uncomfortably hot inside. Sweltering heat not just from the kitchen-- but all over. The sun hits the place just right, but there was no effort to cool it off. If the 20,000 word menu I'm staring at wasn't enough to make me sweat, than the heat from the pizza oven and lack of circulation inside would. I like the idea of fast casual in theory. But who want to stare at some gargantuan menu board for 10 minutes while a bored employee stares right back at you. A lot of people evidently. And further, why should I pay $13 to eat at a place that feels eerily similar to an upscale cafeteria at an office farm? After I place my pizza order (they have a legit pizza oven with flames coming out of it) I went and sat down. DE-PRESS-ING. The place wasn't very clean-- not gross, but probably not the look they're going for. Looked like a typical fast food restaurant with management that doesn't try to make the place look top notch. As I moved my heavy, clanky chair to sit down the noise echoed through the front room. I don't necessitate music when I dine, but it was just creepy in there, at an odd time of day with only a small trickle of customers. It felt very big and empty and sad. The pizza was decent. I wasn't impressed. It's all about the crust and this crust didn't do it. Nice ingredients on top (olives, moz?, banana peppers) but a lame crust that had a frozen/out-of-the-boxiness to it. It just didn't do it for me-- especially when I'm paying $12 for it. Is Ingredient management aware I can probably get a better pizza, better service, and much better ambiance for roughly the same price @ 715 or a handful of real restaurants & not feel like I'm an office building cafeteria. I'm really clueless and apparently out of touch about the popularity of this place... You know a restaurant is poor when you pity first-time customers walking in & staring at the 20,000 word menu...
(1)Zach G.
My opinion of Ingredient has been a real roller coaster since it first opened a few years back...at first, it was great. I thought they nailed everything. Then, as time went on and they expanded very, very quickly, I felt that quality and taste, at least at the Lawrence location, suffered. I stopped going for about a year or a year-and-a-half. However, I had a craving for a big salad after a late day at work, so I decided to give Ingredient another shot. I am glad that I did. I ordered a create your own salad with napa/bok choy and spring mix, topped with goat cheese, smoked bacon, artichoke hearts, mushrooms and one other veggie I forget. I chose the raspberry vinaigrette and drizzled a bit on...not a lot. Everything was fantastic. It all tasted fresh and full of flavor. The goat cheese has always been my favorite salad topping here...it's uber-creamy and full of awesome flavor. Service was what you would expect - friendly enough. It was $9 for the salad, but I was fine because I had skimped on lunch and really got filled up, so I considered $9 a fair price. It also comes with bread, which is delicious. I am glad Ingredient is back on a high point, and I'll make sure to not wait so long before going back again.
(4)Kajal G.
My boyfriend got the Smokin Joe Burger, I got the Daily 1/2 Sandwich and Sop (Chicken Caesar wrap and Asparagus Parmesan soup) and a side pasta salad and 2 cups for water. Total was almost $30 which is pretty ridiculous to me but if the foods good then it's worth it- well, it wasn't. HIs burger was a normal burger- the fresh jalapenos were definitely a plus cause he's loves spice. My wrap was pathetic and mostly lettuce and dressing. The chicken was really small pieces and very stringy/ chewy. Pasta salad was bland and tasted like they forgot to dress it or something. The soup was really really good and considering it was starting to get chilly outside it definitely warmed me right up. Considering they weren't too busy I was surprised by how long it took to get our food. Nearly 20 minutes for those 4 items. Crazy. I expected a lot from this place and maybe I just ordered the wrong stuff but it was definitely not worth the money. However, the people that worked here were really really nice and helpful.
(2)Teresa P.
Hm. Wanted to like this place for the cool mix-and-match super customizable menu; sure, it's awesome if you have a large group like us, cause it caters to all special diets and picky eaters, but I had quite a few dislikes. Why yes, I felt like I was in a cafeteria... I know this is Lawrence and it's a college town, but really? Sigh #1. Also, they happened to get quite a few orders wrong. My burger took about an hour to come out... and it's a thursday night! Sigh #2. Hungry Teresa having to eat dinner at 8:30p = unhappy super grouch. How was the food, you ask? Errr... 50% good. My turkey burger was a bit dry, but I loved the roasted red bell peppers and grilled onions in it and the chipotle aioli wasn't bad. But oh... the fries. I love me some fries, but fries should never be cold or soggy!!! Sigh #3. 3 Sighs = minus 3 stars. Ingredient, you have the potential to be awesome, but I kinda felt like I was back being an undergrad for the night.
(2)Teresa G.
I've been here a few times with friends who seem to like it. But -- one time they messed up 2/3 orders, came to the table after realizing they were out of something, and then messed up an order the second time around. Service was fine, but it was a horribly inefficient way to eat a meal. I've had salads and fries here, but what I really want (here or elsewhere in Lawrence) is an entree kale salad to be on the menu. Maybe I'm in the wrong place for that, because even the random bodega/deli in National City, San Diego, I stopped in at had a decent kale salad.
(3)Hestia S.
Food Poisoning!
(1)H T.
Stopped in at Ingredient to get a quick to-go order for lunch. There wasn't too much of a line and their menu includes everything from sandwiches (warm or cold), pizzas, salads, soups, etc. I opted for the warm portobello sandwich with a side of the homemade pasta salad. I was really disappointed at how slow the kitchen was at getting my order together. Granted it was during lunch hour but still, I would not return here again if I was in a hurry. The sandwich itself was simply meh. I know a lot of people complain about the high prices at Ingredient but you have to admit, the portions are huge. (They should really cut these sandwiches if they're going to opt to serve them this size). The pasta salad was spicy and gross. I would never order that again as a side. In sum, Ingredient was simply meh, I would opt for Quinton's down the street instead as they have better sandwiches and are much faster with takeout at lunchtime.
(3)Gaz H.
Fancy Noodles and Company-type setup (line up to order and later someone brings your food to your table) attached to a bar leads to interesting combinations ("I'll have a chicken breast off the children's menu and a glass of Malbec, please.") and some creative and good food. Not cheap. But everything we ate was tasty.
(4)Ashley R.
had the "Salad Pizza" which is a Caeser Salad on top of a pizza...so delicious. The rest of the menu looked really good as well! Tons of pizza and salad options made with fresh and local ingredients.
(4)Kim K.
As a business traveler, it's frequently difficult to find healthy options. After some Yelp research, this seemed like the perfect spot! The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. The decor was nice. The food I actually wasn't crazy about. I had ordered the turkey reuben. It just didn't really have much flavor and tasted a bit soggy. With this said, I'd be willing to come back once more to make sure my first experience wasn't a fluke. And if it was, I'd just head the the delicious Greek restaurant down the street. (;
(3)Whitney S.
Good salads, but don't order to-go inside unless you have 45 minutes to burn. Extraordinarily slow take out service every time I've been here.
(3)Meg L.
I really like it here. The selections are varied, the food is quality, and its a quick stop in line and you go sit down. I had the Chopped Salad and it hit the spot. Served with a nice, warm, wheat roll. I tried the ranch, since their house is some sort of mustard honey thing. Not a fan of that, so it came pre-tossed in the ranch. Perfect amount of dressing. My man had a salmon club of some sort and Im trying that next. looked perfect, and I had a great little bite! Ill be back!
(4)Joi B.
I ate at Ingredient for the first time a few weeks ago. I would rate it "satisfactory." Nothing special about it, nothing egregiously wrong, either. The menu has a fair amount of items for vegetarians. I had the Philly Tofu wrap which was tasty but overpriced at 7.95. You get one side, but the three choices weren't that interesting-salad, macaroni salad or chips-standard lunch sides, but not quite what I'm looking for as a dinner side. That said the entire vibe of the place feels more lunch than dinner and I don't think many people would be too keen on a 10 dollar lunch. Atmosphere of the dining area is a bit of an acquired taste. The bar area feels less cafeteria-esque and that is where we sat. Bar prices are a bit high for the area, too. You would be just as well eating your food and drinking across the street at the Replay afterward. The service is really quite good, although you DO order at the counter and they bring the food to your table after you seat yourself. This is kind of the trend in Lawrence and one that I have to say I am not too fond of. If I am tipping 20 percent, I'd like my order to be taken at my table otherwise it DOES feel like a glorified cafeteria. So, the question is would I go back? Considering the other options in town, I am not sure.
(3)H T.
Stopped in at Ingredient to get a quick to-go order for lunch. There wasn't too much of a line and their menu includes everything from sandwiches (warm or cold), pizzas, salads, soups, etc. I opted for the warm portobello sandwich with a side of the homemade pasta salad. I was really disappointed at how slow the kitchen was at getting my order together. Granted it was during lunch hour but still, I would not return here again if I was in a hurry. The sandwich itself was simply meh. I know a lot of people complain about the high prices at Ingredient but you have to admit, the portions are huge. (They should really cut these sandwiches if they're going to opt to serve them this size). The pasta salad was spicy and gross. I would never order that again as a side. In sum, Ingredient was simply meh, I would opt for Quinton's down the street instead as they have better sandwiches and are much faster with takeout at lunchtime.
(3)Gaz H.
Fancy Noodles and Company-type setup (line up to order and later someone brings your food to your table) attached to a bar leads to interesting combinations ("I'll have a chicken breast off the children's menu and a glass of Malbec, please.") and some creative and good food. Not cheap. But everything we ate was tasty.
(4)Ashley R.
had the "Salad Pizza" which is a Caeser Salad on top of a pizza...so delicious. The rest of the menu looked really good as well! Tons of pizza and salad options made with fresh and local ingredients.
(4)Kim K.
As a business traveler, it's frequently difficult to find healthy options. After some Yelp research, this seemed like the perfect spot! The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. The decor was nice. The food I actually wasn't crazy about. I had ordered the turkey reuben. It just didn't really have much flavor and tasted a bit soggy. With this said, I'd be willing to come back once more to make sure my first experience wasn't a fluke. And if it was, I'd just head the the delicious Greek restaurant down the street. (;
(3)Whitney S.
Good salads, but don't order to-go inside unless you have 45 minutes to burn. Extraordinarily slow take out service every time I've been here.
(3)Michael T.
This place is a very cozy spot for a casual lunch date. The food is very affordable and cooked well. You order your meal at the register and they bring it to your table, which I like.
(4)Rachael G.
I came here for a later lunch with a friend I hadn't seen in years. This place caught my eye and she suggested this place, stating they were big on local produce and sustainability. This place is really cool-looking, very big, open and bright. I was tempted to sit at their bar, which looked really nice, but my friend is pregnant. I thought that might be mean. Plus, I didn't want to get any evil glares for making a prego sit at the bar. The place has table service but is seat-yourself. From what I could tell, there only seemed to be one server for about half of the restaurant and she seemed a little frazzled; she was a little curt, but I'll give her some leeway on this. I had the build-your-own salad; it was great, TONS of options to choose from, and the salad was delicious, very large and fresh. I really liked this place and I'd like to come back here for either dinner or drinks.
(3)Mike P.
Here's a quote from New York restaurateur Kenny Shopsin: "In the early days I tried to be all things to all people. I had every sandwich ingredient known to man. Considering how particular people are about what foods they like and don't like, you would think this system would have been really popular. But it wasn't. Nobody gave a #hit. Looking back, I can see that it was a stupid idea. It was unfair of me to expect my customers, who are eaters, not cooks, to have the facility, much less the desire, to design their own sandwiches." This quote came to mind after my experience at Ingredient. First, the ordering system is clunky and very slow (see above quote). Studying the menu board is like reading the fine print of a contract. I could see Ingredient borrowing the Whole Foods sandwich ordering system where the customer circles the ingredients they choose on a sheet, gives to the cashier, pays and they bring the food to your table. Secondly, the prices are equal to that of a sit down bistro but customers get their own drinks. I feel the flow of Ingredient would work much better with wait service. This gives customers time to look over the complex menu and feel like they're getting a good value since paying sit down restaurant prices. Average tasting food, above average prices and longer than average wait are ingredients for a mediocre experience.
(3)Ed C.
Long story short, I'm on a basically vegan diet for at least a third of the year. Today is one of those days. Needless to say, that can make eating out a real pain, even in Lawrence. Vegetarian is usually pretty easy, but vegan? Notsomuch. Usually I'd just play it safe and go to Chipotle, but I walked by Ingredient and realized I'd never been there, so I might as well try it out. Surely a place like this has to have something vegan right? Notsomuch. First, I'm thinking, "What? No pasta?" Then, since I didn't really feel like eating a giant salad (especially with no eggs, meat, cheese, or good dressing) for dinner I had literally only one option: the falafel. Oh well, could be worse right? Hard to screw up falafel right? Notsomuch... So I ordered the falafel. To be fair, I had to get it without the usual sauce (re: the yogurt) which would have cooled it down and balanced the flavors somewhat, but it was spicier than I expected. In particular, there was too much garlic even for ME, and I love garlic. I use too much even on biscuits and gravy. I can't imagine an average diner trying to eat the whole thing, though I did. Still, I can't help but feel like I could have gotten the same food only better plus a side dish for less cash at Aladdin Cafe. I felt like I was paying for the building, which is really nice mind you. Everything is tasteful, bright and clean, including the rest rooms. What it comes down to is that I'll have to give the place another shot on a non-fasting day so I can get a fairer sense of the menu, but at the same time it seems counter-intuitive somehow that a place like this can't do vegan fare better. For those days, I'll just have to go to Chipotle, Aladdin, or Encore if I have to eat downtown.
(3)Helenna C.
Went in and got a chicken cobb salad and found a peanut in my salad, which is unfortunate as I am allergic to peanuts. Told the cashier and she was very unapologetic which would be fine if it wasn't an eleven dollar salad. I was just diaspoointed in the customer service.
(1)Igor C.
Good but nothing special. I had the Azteca salad and maybe it was my choice but no one else was praising the food. Not bad but not above average.
(3)Alexis R.
The pizza crust is to die-for, so just about any toppings you choose (from over 50) can make a great lunch or dinner ($9-12). I like the make your own aspect of most menu offerings with lots of salad choices as well (~$9). Tuesday with 1/2 price wine is a great day to go and enjoy dinner in the outdoor seating. The trendy ambiance is great also. The attached iBar has music Thursday and Friday, and the delicious dessert fondue offerings are great for a late night treat. Breakfast on Saturday and Sunday is a good option. The breakfast pizza topped with a layer of eggs and then your choice of toppings is very yummy. I would avoid the donut holes though - the ones I got were burnt. They came dark brown and the toppings we got (bananas and strawberries) just slide off the hard little nuggets.
(4)Zach G.
My opinion of Ingredient has been a real roller coaster since it first opened a few years back...at first, it was great. I thought they nailed everything. Then, as time went on and they expanded very, very quickly, I felt that quality and taste, at least at the Lawrence location, suffered. I stopped going for about a year or a year-and-a-half. However, I had a craving for a big salad after a late day at work, so I decided to give Ingredient another shot. I am glad that I did. I ordered a create your own salad with napa/bok choy and spring mix, topped with goat cheese, smoked bacon, artichoke hearts, mushrooms and one other veggie I forget. I chose the raspberry vinaigrette and drizzled a bit on...not a lot. Everything was fantastic. It all tasted fresh and full of flavor. The goat cheese has always been my favorite salad topping here...it's uber-creamy and full of awesome flavor. Service was what you would expect - friendly enough. It was $9 for the salad, but I was fine because I had skimped on lunch and really got filled up, so I considered $9 a fair price. It also comes with bread, which is delicious. I am glad Ingredient is back on a high point, and I'll make sure to not wait so long before going back again.
(4)Kajal G.
My boyfriend got the Smokin Joe Burger, I got the Daily 1/2 Sandwich and Sop (Chicken Caesar wrap and Asparagus Parmesan soup) and a side pasta salad and 2 cups for water. Total was almost $30 which is pretty ridiculous to me but if the foods good then it's worth it- well, it wasn't. HIs burger was a normal burger- the fresh jalapenos were definitely a plus cause he's loves spice. My wrap was pathetic and mostly lettuce and dressing. The chicken was really small pieces and very stringy/ chewy. Pasta salad was bland and tasted like they forgot to dress it or something. The soup was really really good and considering it was starting to get chilly outside it definitely warmed me right up. Considering they weren't too busy I was surprised by how long it took to get our food. Nearly 20 minutes for those 4 items. Crazy. I expected a lot from this place and maybe I just ordered the wrong stuff but it was definitely not worth the money. However, the people that worked here were really really nice and helpful.
(2)Teresa P.
Hm. Wanted to like this place for the cool mix-and-match super customizable menu; sure, it's awesome if you have a large group like us, cause it caters to all special diets and picky eaters, but I had quite a few dislikes. Why yes, I felt like I was in a cafeteria... I know this is Lawrence and it's a college town, but really? Sigh #1. Also, they happened to get quite a few orders wrong. My burger took about an hour to come out... and it's a thursday night! Sigh #2. Hungry Teresa having to eat dinner at 8:30p = unhappy super grouch. How was the food, you ask? Errr... 50% good. My turkey burger was a bit dry, but I loved the roasted red bell peppers and grilled onions in it and the chipotle aioli wasn't bad. But oh... the fries. I love me some fries, but fries should never be cold or soggy!!! Sigh #3. 3 Sighs = minus 3 stars. Ingredient, you have the potential to be awesome, but I kinda felt like I was back being an undergrad for the night.
(2)Stephen H.
Not impressed. I think the problem was that I judged the restaurant by its exterior and by some indirect word-of-mouth. Let down. Yeah, sure, sustainable menu. Decent decor. Essentially a remix of "The Mixx" in KC. The at-the-counter service wasn't that helpful that day and a few tables were not-bussed. Given, it was a gloomy Sunday, and the reason for my visit was an uncomfortable post-breakup dinner with an ex, but I still wasn't that excited. Will need a good reason to come back for just, as Joi B. calls it, a "satisfactory" experience.
(3)Clarice W.
FYI for all you Yelpers who are looking to try the Ingredient breakfast - they don't offer it in the summer. We only found out about this after entering and searching around confusedly for the breakfast menu. I wish the restaurant would advertise this instead of making their customers walk in and then awkwardly out again.
(2)Tom K.
I'm wrong a lot. It happens. So I decided to give Ingredient one more try. With so many positives written about it-- it can't be that bad. But if there's one thing in life that I've been SOOOO correct about-- it's that Ingredient pretty much sucks (how you like THAT display of verbiage!). I came into Ingredient on one of the nicest days imaginable in Lawrence. It was so uncomfortably hot inside. Sweltering heat not just from the kitchen-- but all over. The sun hits the place just right, but there was no effort to cool it off. If the 20,000 word menu I'm staring at wasn't enough to make me sweat, than the heat from the pizza oven and lack of circulation inside would. I like the idea of fast casual in theory. But who want to stare at some gargantuan menu board for 10 minutes while a bored employee stares right back at you. A lot of people evidently. And further, why should I pay $13 to eat at a place that feels eerily similar to an upscale cafeteria at an office farm? After I place my pizza order (they have a legit pizza oven with flames coming out of it) I went and sat down. DE-PRESS-ING. The place wasn't very clean-- not gross, but probably not the look they're going for. Looked like a typical fast food restaurant with management that doesn't try to make the place look top notch. As I moved my heavy, clanky chair to sit down the noise echoed through the front room. I don't necessitate music when I dine, but it was just creepy in there, at an odd time of day with only a small trickle of customers. It felt very big and empty and sad. The pizza was decent. I wasn't impressed. It's all about the crust and this crust didn't do it. Nice ingredients on top (olives, moz?, banana peppers) but a lame crust that had a frozen/out-of-the-boxiness to it. It just didn't do it for me-- especially when I'm paying $12 for it. Is Ingredient management aware I can probably get a better pizza, better service, and much better ambiance for roughly the same price @ 715 or a handful of real restaurants & not feel like I'm an office building cafeteria. I'm really clueless and apparently out of touch about the popularity of this place... You know a restaurant is poor when you pity first-time customers walking in & staring at the 20,000 word menu...
(1)Andrea N.
When my husband and I stopped in Lawrence in the midst of a cross-country road trip, we were ready for something healthy (too much Subway and Taco Bell in truckstops...). We found Ingredient on the Web and headed over there. I thought the restaurant looked great - fun design. I ordered a "make your own" salad, which, other than the fact that they forgot my white beans, was great. My husband ordered a salad wrap off the menu, which he said was great. We also enjoyed a glass of wine, each, which was tasty and inexpensive. Overall I think this is a great restaurant, and if I lived in Lawrence, I'd come here often. It's much better than the chain salad-bar restaurants we have in Phoenix!
(4)Bill B.
Similar in many ways to the trendy, overrated Mixx in the South Plaza area of Kansas City (at 2855 Main St.). But Ingredient is better --- much better.
(5)Kelly S.
This used to be an awesome place but they have turned into a chain and their food keeps getting worse and service just plain stinks.
(2)Sara D.
Horrible first time experience... I won't be going back. First of all, the cash register girl seemed to be half brain-dead... and I'm not even kidding. I ordered a custom half-salad and asked how many items it came with. She looked at me blankly and said 'a half-salad?' like she'd never heard the concept, even though it's exactly what my friend ordered right before me. When it dawned on her what I was trying to order, she told me it came with 2 green and 5 toppings (exactly what the menu hanging overhead said). So I ordered my 2 greens and 5 toppings on my half-salad. The price came to more than what a full salad would have been. I brought to her attention that the price couldn't be correct. She just stood there with that blank stare before calling someone over that informed her that she had entered each ingredient as an 'extra'... which charged $1 for every item that wasn't my base 'greens'. She said 'oh, well I already entered the order'. Then tried to go to the next person in line. I told her to hold on a second, because I wasn't going to pay way more for a half-salad than I would a whole salad. She again had to find someone to come help her figure out what to do. (it took 3 workers to stand there and look at the computer to cancel the order because they didn't know how to delete items) So, we started the order over, and thought we had it all figured out. (This whole process took almost 10 minutes.) I went and sat with my friend... then our salads arrived. My salad had nice looking spinach and spring mix... but couldn't find any toppings on it. After digging around, I found the equivalent to 2 teaspoons of peas at the bottom of the bowl, and 1 piece of avocado (not a slice, it was literally like a half of a slice... one bite). My salad was also supposed to have pinenuts, which were nowhere to be found. And my friend was also missing dried cranberries on her salad. It appeared that no one there was capable to correcting the issues, because when it was brought to their attention, their response was to say 'oh', and to walk away. Customer service was absolutely horrible. I won't be going back, and wouldn't recommend this place to anyone I know.
(1)Chelsea B.
I haven't lived in Lawrence for a while, but lately I've been craving a good salad. Florida has gone above and beyond my expectations for Cuban/Latin food, but I still haven't found a great salad. Granted, my roommate is an amazing chef, and he's made some damn good salad creations, but Gainesville, FL is definitely lacking a restaurant with the quality of food and ambience that defines Ingredient. Actually, the one "bad" experience I had here actually might be the truest testament to Ingredient's quality and freshness of food. I ordered a salad, and halfway through I found a happy, thriving caterpillar. It seemed so right at home that I actually felt guilty for disturbing its habitat... Honestly, at the time I was disgusted, but at least it wasn't a maggot. And the lettuce was obviously fresh, not store bought from a bag. The meal was free and the manager, after apologizing profusely, gave me a gift card. The next time I went back I ordered a pizza.
(4)Meg L.
I really like it here. The selections are varied, the food is quality, and its a quick stop in line and you go sit down. I had the Chopped Salad and it hit the spot. Served with a nice, warm, wheat roll. I tried the ranch, since their house is some sort of mustard honey thing. Not a fan of that, so it came pre-tossed in the ranch. Perfect amount of dressing. My man had a salmon club of some sort and Im trying that next. looked perfect, and I had a great little bite! Ill be back!
(4)Brian M.
Hmmm, a chef owned restaurant is how they advertise themselves. Well, that may be, but they could use an interior designer with more experience than designing 16 junior high cafeterias. I am really not sure what vibe they were looking for, but the dining room comes off as Luby's with a little more light. That is great if you're here for lunch, possibly even with a larger group as Chris mentions, but beyond that, I dunno. I sat on the I Bar side, which was slightly more upscale, though still kind of confusing-do I order a glass or wine here or in the other room? That being said the bartender who did come out was very helpful and squared me away. As for the food, I had the sandwich of the day and the pasta salad of the day. While the sandwich, the capicola, was good, the bread nice, the pasta salad was average. None of this was what I expected given the advertisement and the price. I will probably give it another chance, maybe for brunch or to check out the desserts, but will probably walk on by for dinner.
(3)Alicia R.
The make-your-own salad option is great, as are the Thai pie and Caesar Pie--delicious and unique pizzas (peanut sauce and broccoli and caesar salad, respectively, on chewy, oven fired crusts). The big front windows offer a great view of Lawrence and the iBar portion offers a great place for dessert and listening to the live music that they often have on weekend evenings.
(4)Nick C.
Ingredient seems to live up to it's name. Ok, I get the general concept of "Let's just make a list of Ingredient's for our menu and let people whatever the heck they want! Oh the freedom! Won't they feel empowered?" Fine, let me pick what I want. This is America damnit, how dare you tell me what I can and can't eat! ....which is all fine and well, except that I eat like a 12-year old. Addicted to macaroni and cheese. Who's never tasted a vegetable in his life. So, while their ingredients(hey, that'd be a great name for a restaurant!) are fresh and tasty and homegrown by virgins under full moons in hemp dresses, ultimately Ingredient gives one TOO many options. I don't want to pay somebody for the privilege of stumbling through food options, I want to pay somebody to say, "Try this, it's awesome!". Dining is supposed to be a person experiencing what the chef's culinary talents whip together. If I want to create my own meal, I'll stay home and do it for a fourth of the price. The interior was interesting...the first time. It's gotten better now that they've expanded a bit and added the lounge area with booth seating and darker, organic colors. Kind of nice, either choose to people-watch the Mass St. weirdos, or sit on the lounge side for some more privacy and a chilled out atmosphere. Finally, a nice, easy option! Ingredient seems to suffer from a bit of that ying and yang though. Everything's served on white tableware, the staff is dressed in all black, the kitchen has been painstakingly crafted to look high-class, right down to the fake wood-burning pizza stove, but then common obnoxities like a soda-fountain, self-serve silverware, and numbers for your table until your food is ready take over. C'mon, is this a dining experience or a fancy cafeteria as one reviewer put it? That said, Ingredient's hidden secret seems to be their weekend breakfasts. Their breakfast pizza is simply amazing. Get in before the church rush and you'll have the joint to yourself, making it a wonderful way to wake up after sleeping in a bit from the gig the night before. Now, if I could only figure out what the hell I want to eat....
(3)Chris M.
I love Ingredient because it's perfect for how I use it: Entertaining big groups. In the summer, I take our residential Writers Workshop members here at least once a week because it's easy to find seating for large groups and has something for everyone. During the school year, I suggest Ingredient to the gang because some people arrive as much as half an hour after the first arrivals - where else can you manage that? The food is very good if not spectacular (though the desserts are to DIE for), but if you're not enjoying what you ordered, you didn't take advantage of the option of customizing your meal. Whether it's a fire-baked pizza or salad, you can pretty much choose any ingredient (noticing a theme?) to make it your own creation. Said ingredients will satisfy the culinary needs of everyone from the veggiest vegetarian all the way to the meatiest meatatarian. It's fast and fresh, too. So you want to feed a big, diverse group? This is your choice! However, if you're looking for a romantic, sit-down restaurant, Ingredient might not be for you. Its prices are lower than they appear, because it's employee-owned and the servers (who deliver your meal to the table after you order it at the counter) do not accept tips. A $10 pizza might seem pricey until you figure in the $2 tip savings. Lots of people forget this. Bottom line: If you haven't yet, check it out!
(4)Lydia A.
The very first salad I had at Ingredient (the Sweet Leaf, I mean come on, how could I *not* order that?) was great, if a tad heavy on the dressing. No problem, next time order the dressing on the side. Lesson learned. The second time I went, I shared the Wild Mushroom Pizza with a friend and we thought we would die it was so good. The next time I went, I ordered the Salmon BST sammich. It was good, although the bread was a little hard. The pasta salad was really uninspired. Then there was the experiment with the Thai Pie, which came out cold. And the broccoli? Does. Not. Work. on that pizza. I'm just sayin'. I had a few more mediocre experiences before I stopped going. I figured in this economy, if I was going to go out to eat, it was going to be somewhere I knew I'd love every single bite. The last time I went, a friend and I shared the Philly Tofu Wrap (awful) and Portabello Melt (tasty but not amazing). We both had a terrible reaction to something in one of them where we swelled up like crazy. Even my friend's fingers were bloated, and she's a tiny little skinny girl! Later that night we both had considerable G.I. problems. It look nearly two days for me to recover. I won't be eating at Ingredient again. There are too many other places that taste better, have better atmosphere, and don't make me blow up like a balloon.
(2)Mark S.
I really wanted to like it. Love the one in ft Collins co. Just didn't love or even really like this. Had the mahi tacos and they were bone dry and not very flavorful. The fish didn't need to be fried and certainly not over fried. Also got the flafel sandwich. I thought the taste was good, my gf did not. We both thought it was overly dry.
(2)Jordanne E.
The food deserves 5 stars, everything from the soups to sandwiches to salads are great. However, the service is terrible. Whether its take out or dine in. You will be waiting for 20+ for your food.
(4)caitlin j.
I like Ingredient because I can add pine nuts to anything. Seriously. I know, I know. It's a soup and salad and sandwich type place, right? But I reeeally like these soups and salads and sandwiches. Every soup I've ever eaten here is a winner. Last time, the artichoke bisque. Also a recent convert to the Taos Spinach Salad. It's served in a giant tortilla bowl (which isn't necessarily a selling point for me) and has roasted pico de gallo, red peppers and pulled turkey. I like the Salmon Flats Salad mostly for the giant pieces of avocado. Also eaten the special-of-the-day sandwiches before with much happiness. They now have gluten-free pizza crusts--- (gluten-free menu available on the website, celiac kids!) which I'd love to say I've tried. Instead I had a bite of my boyfriend's normal-people pizza... So let's get to the ordering at the counter part, shall we? This service-style (or non-service, whatever) marks this place, in my mind, as a swell lunch spot. Someone mentioned something about tipping these folks 20%... Now back in the day, they had a sign up announcing to patrons-- "Hey! Don't tip us! That would be silly!" At the time I was (a) startled (b) less self-conscious about the "what should I leave these counter-people?" feelings (c) a little sad for the register workers. Can't say I noticed that sign after eating there this week, so maybe that policy no longer stands. (Oh well, so that was a helpful tangent...) Ingredient! There is one thing. Your patio is ugly. Oh, I like that it's there, sure I do. But give it some vegetation, maybe. Or umbrellas. Or something that takes the glare off that really shiny sidewalk. Ok, that is all.
(4)Shana S.
I'm glad they were open on New Year's Day (since other places were closed for breakfast). I got the bacon cheddar breakfast sandwich and husband got portabello spinach frittata. We also splurged and got donut holes with bananas and chocolate chips on them. The two first dishes came out no problem, and he explained that since they needed to make the donut batter, they would be out shortly after. That's fine, I like fresh donuts. The sandwich and frittata were pretty good. Not outstanding, but pretty good. I like my eggs on sandwiches a little yolkier, and this was pretty hard. The donuts were taking a long time coming out, and when they finally did, after we were finished with everything else, there were no chocolate chips. Still, they're donuts with powdered sugar, so I figure we'll just deal with it. On the first bite, I realize that these things are inedible. Something off-tasting about the batter or the oil they were fried in. I don't know what it was about them, but there is no way I was going to be able to eat these things even WITH the chocolate chips. Chocolate can only do so much. I try another, but same thing. We end up just leaving the donuts after waiting so long for them. Gross. So, I recommend the donut holes, just not the nasty ones that I happened to get here today. (I've only gotten the donut holes in Leawood before, but OMG.)
(2)Lori S.
When Ingredient first opened, I would have given them 5 stars with almost every trip. However, I have been so disappointed with my last three trips. The first let down occurred with a carry-out salad. I got back to work and discoved they had forgotten my dressing. Who wants a $10.00 salad topped with bottled Kraft? The last two trips consisted of salads about half the size they used to be. For the price, I feel like I should be satisfied, if not full, when I finish lunch. The pizza is great and a much better value then the salad. Bottom line, if you are really hungry and want a great salad, go to Jason's Deli. If you aren't that hungry and want something fresh on Mass. St,. Ingredients is a fine spot to try.
(3)Matt K.
I was really impressed with the quality and presentation of the sandwiches here. I thought the price points were reasonable too, especially considering what you got. The options are creative and interesting. I had the honey wasabi turkey burger and a cup of roasted tomato soup. Everything was delicious. I will definitely come back here when I'm in town to try some of their other offerings.
(5)A A.
The bricks pizza was ok, not worth $10.95 for sure, the sauce or the minimal amount of it was disappointing. On the hand the salmon sandwich was good, avacados were fresh, the side pasta that came with the dish was decent
(2)Jojo F.
Our freinds took my husband and I to Ingredient for dinner during our stay. The menu has a ton of combinations for you to choose from. I opted for the Philly Tofu wrap with cold roasted veggies. It was pretty good, but a little pricey. I would probably give it another try on a future visit.
(3)Hestia S.
Food Poisoning!
(1)Sarah S.
Obviously I need to try a salad. I have given it a few chances and have never finished my dish or wanted to. I had the fish taco...so bland. The chicken sandwich...so bland, but the meat tasted icky. I guess the salmon was pretty good. But even that was not great. The atmosphere is fine. Kind of contemporary fast food style. It is nice to have it downtown. But don't go for the food.
(2)Amanda D.
Ingredient has some of the best pizzas we've had in town. They have some great soup as well. I've heard good things about their salads but have never had one myself. If you're downtown and in the mood for a little something out of the oridinary, definitely try Ingredient. You won't be disappointed!
(5)Ruby G.
spin-dip pizza. donut holes. everything is delicious and HUGE (like literally a bowl full of donut, so many donuts, so little time). everything is fresh and it has sort of a nice airy light vibe to it. it is a tad pricey, but a lovely place full of sunshine, strawberries and bok choy.
(4)Cindy F.
Been fifty times, at least. Mostly for Five Bar. Favorite bar in the state of Kansas. Love the decor, the vibe, the amazing half price martinis on Friday nights, and the live jazz. Have spent many hours here, many memories made here. Half price wine on Saturdays, decent wine selection. Love their spiked cider in the fall. Love the cutie bartender who always takes very good care of me. Was here for Restaurant Week last night, and it was on point. Had Funky Pumpkin on tap, hubby had an Imperial Stout on tap. Sweet potato bisque, had plantains and creme fraiche. Very tasty. Next up goat cheese croquettes, rolled in panko breadcrumbs and fried. Too greasy, but the wildflower honey and lavender was choice. Then had a wild mushroom creme sauce bruschetta, and a side of asparagus. Very peppery, bread was good. Hubby had the Yard Bird sandwich, a chicken sandwich with green apples and Tillamook cheddar, side of spice handmade chips. Choice, choice. Friend had the oysters. Finished off with pie from Great Harvest. Excellent fall dinner. Have had their salads and pizzas many times. Salmon flats salad is good. Love me some Five.
(5)H C.
I go here for lunch sometimes, as it's near my office. I like to get the cobb salad. It's a solid salad. i also like the flavored iced tea. But then the other night, I went for dinner and tried the pizza. Pretty mediocre. And not inexpensive. And my hands were greasy after eating it. I think this place used to be better when it first opened, but has gone pretty mainstream/average and become more and more like a chain restaurant. I will probably continue going for lunch, but will skip the dinner menu.
(3)Laurel C.
I had the Mad Max Pizza and it was so good. It had chicken, bacon and white sauce. The crust was amazing and buttery. It is wood fired but didn't taste burnt like many wood fired pizzas I've had. I also had a flourless chocolate cake. It was a little too dark for my liking but it still was very good. I will definitely go back and try more things.
(5)Maddie K.
Don't get me wrong, I love the food here, but the last few times over been here it's taking 30min minimum to receive food. Both times they weren't busy, and while I was waiting there were just dirty dishes and tables surrounding me. I work in the food industry and as a customer it's a complete turnoff to be around that. Just to add to the service, even though it is not a full service restaurant, one of the workers there put in food for after his shift several minutes after mine and still got it 10min before I got my Togo order of one Tuscan chicken sandwich and chips.
(3)Joi B.
I ate at Ingredient for the first time a few weeks ago. I would rate it "satisfactory." Nothing special about it, nothing egregiously wrong, either. The menu has a fair amount of items for vegetarians. I had the Philly Tofu wrap which was tasty but overpriced at 7.95. You get one side, but the three choices weren't that interesting-salad, macaroni salad or chips-standard lunch sides, but not quite what I'm looking for as a dinner side. That said the entire vibe of the place feels more lunch than dinner and I don't think many people would be too keen on a 10 dollar lunch. Atmosphere of the dining area is a bit of an acquired taste. The bar area feels less cafeteria-esque and that is where we sat. Bar prices are a bit high for the area, too. You would be just as well eating your food and drinking across the street at the Replay afterward. The service is really quite good, although you DO order at the counter and they bring the food to your table after you seat yourself. This is kind of the trend in Lawrence and one that I have to say I am not too fond of. If I am tipping 20 percent, I'd like my order to be taken at my table otherwise it DOES feel like a glorified cafeteria. So, the question is would I go back? Considering the other options in town, I am not sure.
(3)Ivan W.
Five bar for Sunday breakfast. Oatmeal is great! Other eaters in my crew had a mixed experience.Coffee was strong and plentiful. You can have the place to yourself on a Sunday morning. Sit by the window and drink that dark coffee!
(3)JJ W.
Ingredient seems to have some pretty devout followers and a rating that needs no introduction. I'm going out on a limb here. . . overrated? The ambiance and simplicity of the place is pretty outstanding. I'm sure almost anyone would agree that Ingredient is a great place for service and experience. Upscale Cafeteria. Those are the two words a friend uttered to me after we left and I can't seem to get them out of my mind. For me, Ingredient is a place that appears like a well-planned piece of marketing with little soul. The open area and walk-up counter service is fun but rather disconnected from its modern and sophisticated vibe. The food was nothing to speak about. I rocked a Tuscan Chicken with their Pasta of The Day. I like ordering chicken because it's easily overcooked and i wanted to explore the freshness of a daily pasta. The sandwich was bland and the chicken was literally a desert. The pasta faired better, being crisp and clean. It included bits of carrot and broccoli that gave it nice color and freshness. The portions didn't feel worthy of the price tag. Another failed concept where one pays for the ride but ends up with a tummy-ache. Service at the counter was superb but once we sat down, it was a David Copperfield act. No one came again to check on us. Granted, their are a variety of options for pizzas and salads so it could of just been the day and our selection. I can see why so many people rate this place high. I've always thought Ingredient would be my kind of place. Right now, the "Upscale Cafeteria" better make sure to escape the pitfalls of real cafeterias.
(3)Alison M.
Ingredient also serves brunch. We almost had a bad experience here at our first morning meal, they forgot part of our order and were out of a bunch of things. When the woman behind the counter realized our dissatisfaction she had the manager come and speak with us. He explained the situation that they were in, apologized, and gave us a card for a free meal. It was some of the best customer service I've had at a Lawrence restaurant. Also, the food at brunch is delicious!! The waffle with custom toppings, the doughnut holes (like you've never had), the puff pastry, all are excellent.
(5)SE T.
YUM! Everything I have ever had here is fabulous. I am a bonafide foodie, so I would like to say that I know good food. Fresh ingredients, great menu selection, and now they have added adult beverages - a definite plus! Breakfast was pretty good, but lunch and dinner is just delightful. Oh my, getting the urge for one of their salads or unique pizzas as I write!
(5)Lori A.
Appears ingredient has changed. I have been coming here for years with my nieces while visiting from California and it has always been excellent. This last time we came with our children and felt very unwelcome. We were seated in the bar area and basically ignored. My 14 yr. old son had to to to the self serve area to get us refills for water and my 2 yr old grand niece's order was forgotten and part of my 15 yr old nephew's order was missed. We would have preferred to sit in the preferred to sit the self order area, but there was a gentleman that was insistent that we sit in the bar area where we could be served. So not only was the service terrible, I felt obligated to leave a tip. In addition to all of this, the food has changed. It is not quite the same quality. The sandwiches we have always ordered is now served on a basic everything bread. It is okay, but they used to use a very nice ciabatta roll. I guess it is time to find a new restaurant on our next visit to Lawrence.
(1)Leigh S.
This place has been steadily going downhill over the past few years. They used to be so great, but now skimp on portions, charge extra for additional dressing, often get the custom salad order wrong (especially when it's to go), and run out of items frequently. There is not much consistency in items between shifts. Step up the management!!
(2)Jewells P.
First off I am on tour and this is show 9 and I pretty much eat burgers everyday. I have traveled the world and this I must say is my #2 favorite burger!!! It was the complete package!!!! From the bun, meat, fresh vegetables, and fries! The quality was right on point! Thank you guys believe I will be spreading the word!!!!
(5)Alexandra O.
I stopped in here last night. This place has a diversity of simple menu offerings. I settled on the California Cobb salad. The salad was OK although I felt the greens to still be a little too watery for my taste. They could have been dried better. I thought the rest of the ingredients in the salad were decent. The staff was very friendly. I would consider coming back here in a pinch but otherwise would seek out any of the other great restaurants on Massachusetts St.
(3)Kelly L.
Defintely one of my top 5 favorite places in Lawrence! This place has something for everyone on the menu, from burgers to salads ro woodfired pizzas. In college I loves the spindip pizza. Now that I cant eat 2000 calories for every meal, I go for their salads. Sweet leaf and the cobb are two of my favorites. They also have beer on tap and cocktails in the lounge to the right. Perfect for a lunch date or girls night out!
(5)John L.
I never get tired of this place. I love Asian crispy salad, the sweet leaf salad and there are so many more wonderful items on their menu. :)
(5)Scott T.
Another of several 3-star restaurants I'll frequent on occasion. What I like about Ingredient: - make your own salads, actually a reasonably healthy choice. - no tipping required. - reasonably fast - decent variety, quality is typically good What I don't like about Ingredient: - seems the longer they've been around the more "chain-like" they've become--high turnover, service issues and the like that effect quality. - not particularly great food, but then that's not the mission. Still... - pricey. For what you save in tip you'll spend otherwise. Basic complaint? Well, the food just isn't particularly interesting. I don't expect a salad to be interesting, but other dishes like the sandwiches and pizza are just good enough--sort of average. Still, I like the concept behind Ingredient but see a bit of a decline in where they were when they first opened. Can only surmise as they've expanded into other towns the overall quality has suffered. Not easy to expand and keep quality top-notch, and that's why I think they're a 3-star operation instead of higher.
(3)Dezeree H.
I can count on Ingredient to have something on the menu for everyone. It's a great place to bring family and friends. The sandwiches and pizzas are my favorite things to order. I think the sides are hit or miss. I usually order the side of fruit because it is really large and very fresh.
(4)Tony B.
The Menu wasn't as healthy as what I expected, however for Lawrence, KS., I give it high praise! The food was tastey, and affordable. However, the service was mediocre. We had to wait awhile for our food, and our server could not find our table. There is a need for an establishment like this on Mass Street. Kuddos for the idea, but it does need work!
(3)Brent B.
First time here. Had the Salmon BST with a side of Chicken Chili and a glass of Boulevard Tank 7. Can't say enough good things about this place. Great food. Great presentation. Great atmosphere. It will now be a MUST every time I come to Lawrence.
(5)Ryan R.
This place is great. Fresh food and good service. Live music next door at 5bar is on point too. Usually jazz...
(5)Nate S.
They're definitely out-thinking themselves at in-g---red...I***ént. It's an unnecessarily bifurcated setup all resulting in the same food. The food is reasonably tasty. My pizza had a nice crust, but the cheese didn't totally melt. It was stiffening by the first bite. I paid for an extra basil topping, but I guess you pay by the leaf, and I only bought two. I watched some other good looking offerings go by, but I'm pretty content just to imagine that they were good without going back to try them
(3)Teresa G.
I've been here a few times with friends who seem to like it. But -- one time they messed up 2/3 orders, came to the table after realizing they were out of something, and then messed up an order the second time around. Service was fine, but it was a horribly inefficient way to eat a meal. I've had salads and fries here, but what I really want (here or elsewhere in Lawrence) is an entree kale salad to be on the menu. Maybe I'm in the wrong place for that, because even the random bodega/deli in National City, San Diego, I stopped in at had a decent kale salad.
(3)Brett P.
Ingredient is a pretty good place to grab a bite. Its a little pricier then you would think, but the food is worth it. Great pizza and great salads as well. Service could be a little bit better, but that's OK. The cool thing is that they have live music in there on the weekends which gives it a good feel.
(3)Christian S.
3.5 stars. Extensive menu. A bit pricey for the quality of food. My "honey wasabi turkey burger" was tasty, although there wasn't nearly enough meat relative to the amount of toppings and thick bread and the sauce (which looked like cheese whiz) tasted nothing like honey nor wasabi. The grilled cold vegetables were fresh, but nothing special. I will say that despite my so-so experience, there seemed to be many fresh options available and served in different, interesting ways, so I'd give it another shot when I pass through again.
(3)Chris P.
I really like this place. As our gentleman from Minnesota so kindly mentions, it's expensive for Lawrence. It's not, though, expensive for Portland, or Philadelphia, or New York, or DC, or San Francisco, or wherever else. The food is pretty fantastic, too. The first time I went, I had the Asian Crispy Salad, or whatever they might call it. Very tasty. A bit too heavy on the peppers for my tastes, but it's my fault that I didn't have the place hold them. Next time I was there, I had a made-to-order pizza with basil pesto, gorgonzola, chicken, and kalamata olives. It was the perfect combination. Absolutely no objections. Now, maybe one can find similar yet better restaurants in other cities, but not in this area.
(4)Chas F.
Great place to get a build your own salad but not at a buffet type place. It's a little higher prices than I had expected but the food was fresh and the salad was pretty big. You can get pretty much anything your heart desires in your salad. Overall I like this place and if I was in the mood for a customized salad I'd def go back here!
(5)Chet B.
Great food
(4)Ryan B.
I gotta agree with some of the other posters. This restaurant is OK at best, not great. Not even quite good. Just ok. The tough part for me is that I've eaten several things there that are ALMOST great. But invariably the food falls just short, and ends up being just ok. I can see the potential, and yet, it is still so far away. My wife and I went there over the weekend. We went for dinner and the place is clearly a lunch establishment. The place is counter service only. The decor is all modern concrete and glass, so the place is always cold and loud. The bar area is more tolerable. Service was decent, however, its counter service with serve-your-own drinks. So the bar is set pretty low. I ordered the peppercorn steak sandwich. It was prepared well. Steak was cooked to a nice medium. The flavors worked together but the dish wasn't captivating. It was a steak sandwich. Not too extraordinary. It suffered from what every steak sandwich suffers from - hard to bit through the steak. Steak is meant to be eaten with a fork and knife. I should've known better. Wife got the Taos Spinach salad. The tortilla bowl was a nice touch. The garlic chipotle dressing had the potential to be fantastic, however, it ended up being a little bland. When I tasted it, I knew there was a great dressing in there begging to get out. The recipe needs to be tweaked. Overall, ingredient is a decent restaurant. Its a bit pricey for lunch ($10-$12), and they have lots of specialty diet options like gluten free and vegan. I don't love the place, but I'll probably keep going back once in a while anyway.
(3)Jessica B.
To start of with what was good about this place: the food. The bad: the staff was rude, cold, and unwelcoming. The atmosphere was very poor. If you're looking for good food without decent service or ambiance this would be a fine place, but there are many places in Lawrence that you'll have a much better experience. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone.
(2)Jason P.
This place is fabulous. The food was great and the people watching opportunities here are endless. They really should make this a chain and make more of them closer to where I live. I had the grilled veggie hummus wrap and a custom pizza, both of which were very good. They have custom pizzas and salads on the menu that allow for just about a million combinations. Now for the best part, the people watching. While we ate, this crazy guy stumbled in and somehow grunted out an order. Also, there were many people who instead of walking into the restaurant to read the menu, felt the need to press their face against the window and try and squint out the lettering. After we ate, we did a tour of Lawrence on foot since we had to kill some time. Since this was my first time in the city, I am not sure if the weirdos just come out on the 4th or if this is just the norm for Lawrence. Either way, we ended up coming back after the mini tour and sat on the leather couches and enjoyed some wonderful loitering sessions that included getting some more food. During this session we saw a guy reach into the garbage can for a bottle of liquor, a guy with short shorts on whose legs were burnt from the knees down and as pale as can be from the knees up. We also saw about our fair share of jorts (jean shorts) as well. Awesome!
(5)Brian J.
There is some cause for concern when there is only two bottles of wine to choose from. Better to go a block or two down the street to get a decent wine or food. Why are they still open?
(1)Susan Y.
While the flavors on some sandwiches and pizzas tend to be bland, the salads are fabulous. Fresh, organic ingredients in a stylish setting with unpretentious staff.
(4)Linda S.
We stopped in this place yesterday for lunch. Both of us decided to have a burger and fries rather than a salad or pizza. The fries were great! The burgers, however, left something to be desired. I think the fire got away from the cook a bit - the buns were not toasted but charred - a burned taste that was not pleasant - and the burgers also were charred. It wasn't inedible, but disappointing. "Caramelized" onions on my burger weren't caramelized - also a disappointment - they were just sauteed. But the most disappointing thing about this experience was the marginal cleanliness of the place. Ketchup and mustard bottles were so grimy I didn't want to put my hands on them - used a napkin. NOT appetizing at all. Table was clean, but the wall next to the table wasn't too appetizing - just splattered food here and there. I don't think we'll go back. There are too many other great places in Lawrence.
(2)David G.
Great atmosphere, good food. Love this new restaurant concept.
(5)Ethan C.
This is my all time favorite place in Lawrence kansas. Every time i come to Lawrence i always convince my friends to meet met at ingredient the food is amazingly delicious. Soup 10/10 Salads 10/10 Pizzas 10/10 Sandwiches 10/10 The store is always packed with happy customers. ;-)
(5)Emily K.
Lawrence needed a restaurant that specialized in fresh salads. Ingredient is that spot.
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