I have lived in Lawrence for almost eight years now and have heard nothing but amazing things from Jeffersons. I finally got the chance to go a couple weekends ago with my family We walk into the empty restaurant and we have no idea what to do. We awkwardly stand there as the waitresses lean and sit on the back counter and stare at us. Assuming we just take a seat after about 5 minutes, we walk to the back to grab a table near the waitress counter/bar/relaxation station. We were almost immediately presented with menus: the sticky, never-been-washed, everyone touches with their grimy greasy fingers type of menu. I didn't even want to touch it. We all ordered a beer and it came out quite nice and cold but after that our waitress simply disappeared. There had to be at least 5 others just holding walls up at the bar but ours vanished. We had to flag over another waitress to place our order. When we got our food, I was really confused. I don't understand the hype over frozen food thrown in a fryer. It was bar food. I can't fathom why people are paying these prices for the same quality food you can buy in a frozen section at walmart. My order was messed up 3 times, my mother got the completely wrong sandwich, my brother did not get his fries, and our appetizer was completely forgotten until we mentioned something when our waitress finally showed up.....after the meal was completely over. The guy at the table next to me had what I am assuming to be a mushroom swiss burger, but by looking at the 3 thinly sliced mushrooms placed on top of the obviously preformed frozen patty, I think he should have probably asked for his money back. I won't be back. There are SO many other places in town that actually put effort into cooking their food and value their customers. This place just serves greasy frozen bar food and you'll be lucky to get the correct order the first time. And for the love of that is holy, will someone please give the waitresses a lesson in customer service! It was agonizing to see them struggle through greeting awaiting customers who will be paying their wages. Maybe just relieve their suffering and hire people that care about their customers and aren't a size 2 with huge boobs.
(2)
Andrew L.
A wall full of dollars. Great Lawrence original
(4)
Amy H.
For the past year or so I have been promoting how much I absolutely love Jefferson's. My Husband and I had a wonderful experience there last year and loved it. I'm not sure what has changed but last night changed our minds. Our server was rude, she screwed up our drink order and our appetizer. We asked her which oyster dish she enjoyed she scowled and said " I have no idea I don't like oysters". Then when she told us the restaurant was completely out of all oysters other than the fried ones she refused to make any substitutions. When we decide to go elsewhere (after finding a half inch of grease at the bottom of our fried pickle basket) We tried to tip her and she said no you can keep that. With the same attitude she had been giving us the entire time. The saddest part is we took our friend and his wife there for his 65th Birthday. We will not be back!
(1)
Scott G.
Just a fraction of its former self. Burger was dry and the mushrooms we're sad. Wings had no sauce, literally. Corn dogs and fries were fine. Ambience is still cool with the dollar walls building up again.
(3)
Scott R.
Jefferson's, rebooted. The previous incarnation of Jefferson's was always a favorite for watching a game, or a quick burger with family. The new Jefferson's is a successor to the departed but beloved restaurant. The new management brought in training staff from one of the other locations, but the food is as it was before. The inside still features thousands of "personalized" dollar bills that patrons have left over the years. As a condition of the acquisition of the restaurant, the new owners required that they be transferred with the property. They whole restaurants has had a face-lift, with new fixtures and tables, a new bar, and upgraded televisions. As usual, we started out with a basket of corn nuggets, and mac & cheese bites. These two little gems of the menu are some of my favorite parts of Jefferson's. Corn nuggets are like miraculous breaded and fried spheres of creamed corn, served with honey mustard - sweet, tangy, and blazing hot out of the fryer. Mac & cheese bites are the familiar boxed mac & cheese, but pressed into wedges, battered, and fried, a delicious treat. The wing sauce is a traditional vinegary-hot-sauce based concoction that will stain your hands a delightful shade of orange (as mine were on a trip to pick out wedding bands after a impromptu lunch at the old Jefferson's several years ago). Though Lawrence has now seen a Renaissance of hamburger restaurants, the Jefferson's burgers are still solid. My wife loves the mushroom and Swiss burger, but the Jefferson's burger is also quite tasty.
(4)
Alicia R.
This is the quintessential bar food place on Massachusetts. Yes, the service can be slow, and, if you arrive around the time of a KU sporting event, you are not going to get a place to sit, but if you are looking for reasonably-priced and deliciously-fried food, occasionally served in a slow and relaxed manner, this is the place for you. With $0.45 wings on Sundays and Wednesdays and $5 burger baskets on Monday and Thursdays, there are food and drink specials daily and even non-discounted food is reasonably priced. I love the corn nuggets (delicious dabs of cream corn, battered and fried, and served with honey mustard) and the fried pickles are also delicious. I think the wings are a little vinegary, but, according to my usual dining companions, they are very "meaty" and delectable.
(4)
L H.
Grilled chicken salad. Chicken pieces very small bites, maybe3oz of chicken. Teryaki sauce is tasty on it, though there is no Romaine, its an all iceburg lettuce salad with shredded taco cheese... Service is friendly though.
(3)
Gary K.
Average average. Being from Chicago i hold Yaktzes as the gold standard. These r dry and very little taste. Fries shrimp was dry. The beer was cold
(3)
Kajal G.
For what it is, Jeffersons is great. Cheap pitchers of beer, good burgers, good wings and daily specials. They let me order off the kids menu which was nice :) The fried pickles are really good and free with a "check in" offer. Everythings fried pretty much and it's a great place to go if you just need something quick and hot to eat or it's late and you want to start drinking downtown but need to eat something first. Service was quick and I like the dollar bills all over. All in all decent bar food at a decent price.
(4)
Tayler E.
Fried pickles and burger were amazing! We sat outside & enjoyed it so much! Staff was friendly and food was fresh and quick!
(5)
Holly G.
Two works: Fried Pickles! I crave them, they are SO good. The soda machines they have are also pretty tasty, best cokes in town! The rest of their food is decent bar food. I am sad the pulled pork went away, but the Hawaiian chicken sandwich is a good substitute!
(4)
Dan D.
D- all around here, sorry but when so many warning signs are present you just shouldn't eat at a place again. I was in town for the 100 year anniversary at Liberty Hall and had a bit of time to stop in and eat at Jefferson's a place I had never been to before. I had a craving for hot wings and was told Jefferson could accommodate. I showed up around 3:30 on a Saturday and sat at the bar. I was greeted and presented a menu, first warning sign came, the menu was sticky. I should have gotten up and left at that point but I was hungry and craving wings. I ordered a soda and when the bartender came back I ordered. I wanted to try the cheese fries and hot wings. I know not the healthiest of meals but I wanted it. The cheese fries came out a few minutes later, covered in luke warm nacho cheese and about a teaspoon of bacon, I was severely unimpressed by this offering. No flavor in any of it. Then the wings came out, this is when I should have just excused myself and left. I had two wings and couldn't continue the first was cooked beyond well done and hence was terribly dry. The second was frozen on the inside, I basically bit into an ice cube, I told the bartender who really wasn't concerned about what I was showing her. She asked if I wanted another order, I said no but I would like my check. I was charged for the wings, at this point I had no want or desire to argue so i paid and left. Beyond everything mentioned above, the staff was just awful. I could only imagine it was shift change because some of the staff were have drinks at the bar(alcoholic). Normally I wouldn't care but when a staff shows that little interest in making sure that a patron is pleased with their food I have to believe that everyone that works there could care less and are working for 15%. Won't be back, ever.
(1)
Nick H.
Wings are some of the biggest ones offered in town. Burgers are good, but not the best in Lawrence. You get healthy portions of fries with wings or burger from this place. Usually they have a decent drink special going on.
(4)
Jeffrey H.
Best wings in Lawrence, KS. Nothing beats the price and value. They have other good food but if you're solely looking for wings--this is the place.
(5)
Vinny D.
Someone used the word "blah" in their review. Exactly. Philly cheesesteak and fries had no flavor. How do you screw up something so simple? My wife's chicken sandwich tasted like a frozen chicken breast. We won't be back.
(1)
Brenda R.
Although I partied in Lawrence with my KU friends when I was in college, I somehow never set foot inside Jefferson's. Weird. I can't compare it to the "old Jefferson's", but I can say that my first experience there yesterday was pretty good. I took my seven year old niece and my cousins in for a bite after swimming and the Sunday afternoon crowd was just fine for a casual family outing. My cousins ordered chicken sandwiches and they looked delicious. Nothing fancy going on there, just a good looking regular bar food chicken sandwich. I took advantage of their 60 cent wing special on Sundays and ordered ten bad boys to share with my niece. Half were mild, half teriyaki. I thought the teriyaki ones were just okay... too much sesame flavor and too sweet. The mild wings hit the spot! My niece got to draw on a dollar for them to tack onto the wall and she thought that defacing currency was pretty freakin cool. Who's the best aunt ever? This girl. I wasn't blown out of the water by this place, but it was a solid good bar food joint and the four of us ate plenty for $25 before tip. Not bad.
(3)
Alexis R.
They are back! and with a venegeneance. The spicy wings are the same great quality as before, making them some of the best in town ($0.50 on Wednesdays). Meaty with a vinegar bite, they are more of a classic wing style. Closed due to IRS back taxes, Jefferson's just reopened under new management. All the furniture is new, the bathrooms remodeled, the bar a bit swakier and they even took down all the dollar bills on the wall and placed them back up (neatly) to give the place a more put-together feel. The burgers ($7.25) are just as tasty with a veggie burger ($5.99) also offered. They have a wide range of toppings as well from the Hawaiian with pineapple to the Mushroom and Swiss. The oysters are back as well along with the favorite starters of corn nuggets and mac and cheese bites. The mac and cheese bites though aren't listed on the menu, so you have to ask for them! They have a range of sandwiches like chicken breast and BLTs along with a now extended salad selection. This is a great place to catch a game, chill with friends or grab a beer. Cheap pitchers at $8 domestic, $9 premium.
(4)
Amy C.
Is this place fine dining? Absolutely not, but it beats the hell out of BWW (the Applebee's of wings) any day. As college students my husband and I were regulars at Jefferson's in the early-to-mid 2000s, often feasting on wings with the ferocity of wild animals. We got our JoCo friends hooked on the juice, er, wings, and now as full-fledged adults we and our compatriots load up the mini-vans and make the trek to Larryville about once a month for the good stuff. And good stuff is exactly what Jefferson's offers. The new owners have restored the place to its original glory - between the founding owner and the current owner was a guy who kinda let the cleanliness/quality slide. Jefferson's offers great hamburgers, some yummy southern dishes like fried pickles, crawfish and peanut butter pie. But the best item on the menu is their wings. And on Sundays the wings are only 50 cents/wing. Our experience on Sunday, January 29 was above par as we started with corn nuggets - delightful little pieces of creamed corn somehow breaded and fried. Subsequent to the nuggets we snacked on wings and chips and downed those with cold brew. We noticed that the wings seemed larger than we remembered - the portions were quite ample. Our server was attentive and kept our beverages full. For us, the perfect cure for a hangover has become the perfect cure for a lazy Sunday afternoon. It's always fun to dine among the college kids, to people watch and enjoy great food. Jefferson's provides all that. Oh, and don't forget to order peanut butter pie. Although on this visit our pie was still a bit frozen in the middle - but the peanut butter pie-cicle still tasted delicious.
(4)
Chris L.
Best wings place in Lawrence. Not the greatest wings but still the best available. Also a great place to watch games and eat!
(4)
Haylie S.
I usually come here for just a night out with a few friends. It's a basic sports bar with bar food. Hamburgers, chicken strips, tons of appetizers, and beer. The food is pretty good. I've gotten a hamburger, which was a bit dry. Their chef salad is really great and tided me over for a good portion of the day. It's a really college restaurant. Students and patrons watching games, having a beer, basically just enjoying the atmosphere.
(3)
Jonny P.
Average burgers = average people
(2)
Tarah K.
Outstanding Bloody Mary (on special, Sunday). Run of the mill bar food.
(3)
Sunthud P.
The wings with hot sauce is very good (better than buffalo wild wings)! The wings with other flavors, however, are not delicious for me. I ate hamburger and it was just okay. I would go to other restaurants to eat hamburgers (the burger stand or local burger). The service is good. Well, hot wings are four to five stars for me. Other food are one or two stars. Speaking of global rating, I will give three stars.
(3)
Nicole M.
This place sicked me out before it came under new ownership. Now everything is new and you don't smell like you bathed in the fryer when you leave. It's a perfect game day spot for grabbing wings and beer. They also make a good BLT.
(4)
Pete G.
This place is filthy. Just disgustingly dirty. It looks like it hasn't been cleaned since it opened. Ripped booths, dirty tables, a disgusting floor that defies words. If this is how the dining room is, I shudder to think what their kitchen is like. If Jefferson's food were good and/or cheap, I could shrug all of this off. But unfortunately, it is neither. Their turbo wing sauce is phenomenal, but anything else is just Frank's Red Hot and butter. The rest of the menu is standard foodservice snack bar food - and horribly overpriced. No good drink specials, no good food specials, no good food. What a terrible combination. I would mention the service, but it appears to be nonexistent.
(1)
Mike P.
The service at this establishment is terrible. Expect to wait 5 min for a waiter to even acknowledge that you sat down. 15 minutes to take an order. 20-30 minutes to get your food. I've been to Jefferson 3 times, all 3 times the service took absolutely forever. Secondly - the food is nothing you couldn't find in the freezer section of your local supermarket. This is classic line cook food. There is no culinary twist in anything. Boring. I'm pretty sure all the food is defrosted and reheated, including patties, fries, etc. Overall - this place is a waste of your time unless you have a lot of it.
(1)
Tony B.
Great Burgers, and very good service. Due to my very busy schedule I can't eat here weekly, but I still make an attempt to stop by every other month. The sweet potato fries, and the Jefferson Burger are amazing. It's a great place to bring your family or meet your friends before you go to a football or basketball game.
(5)
Jenn M.
I love their Chili Dogs, they are great. The fried pickles are as well. The food is decent and the atmosphere is great.
(4)
Rock H.
The wings are really, really great. And overall the menu is tasty stuff. The sweet tea is a gamble, and a losing one more times than not. I would go there all the time for the wings alone, but, as many others have and will no doubt post, the service is SLOW, and sometimes unfriendly. It's a shame that this is so widely known and yet it doesn't change. If you have the time and want to take a chance it's worth it.
(3)
Mike H.
Since I started working in Lawrence 2 months ago I have eaten at Jefferson's a good 5-6 times already. I've been going solely for their hamburgers (more specifically the Jefferson burger) which seem to be on a perpetual special for $5. For this very reasonable price you get a better burger than most bars offer with a good portion of fries. I think I'd eat here 1-3 times a week if it wasn't for the the slow service. I work less than 5 minutes from here which gives me a good 50 minutes to order and eat. It should be a pretty easy task considering I'm getting a hamburger which I can consume in 5-10 minutes. But, I find I constantly have to ask for the check while I am shoving fries in my mouth, prepping for a mad dash back to work. It seems this way whether there are 5 or 50 people in the restaurant. Bottom line is, if want a good burger cheap and have and hour and fifteen minutes for lunch, Jefferson's is the place for you.
(4)
Chris P.
Silly me, forgetting to read the reviews about the historically slow service. I went to Jefferson's yesterday. My best friend had leave from the Navy, and was up visiting me. We had gone to Jefferson's several times, but that was quite a few years ago. I remembered that the food was okay (and since he lives off fried foods, a good choice for him), so I suggested that we go there. I had only thirty minutes to sit down, eat, and jet before I had to leave for work. Jefferson's was nearly empty when I arrived. I sat down, my friend came in a few minutes later. We ordered. Time went by. Other people came in. Other people ordered. More people came in. More people ordered. Other people got their food. More people got their food. Now, I ordered a cheesesteak. I hadn't had one since I moved back from Philadelphia, and I was in the move. Ordering a steak in a non-Philly location is generally dangerous, but I was in that mood. I've ordered plenty of steaks in Philly, and I know how long it takes to make them. (That is, it doesn't take a long time. At all. Even if the beef is raw.) So, when I see crab legs (no, really), wings, burgers, and what not funnel past me to other tables, I have to wonder. I'm surprised I didn't see an order of lobster thermidor mosey on by. Finally, twenty minutes after ordering, our food arrives. I tell the waitress, "Look, you've failed. I have to leave for work, and since it took you so long to get my food out here, you need to go get me a box." She seemed startled, as if service should be prompt. Go figure. I should have penny tipped. I was nice to give 11%.
(1)
Peter C.
Jefferson's is one of my top three burger spots in Larryville, no question. The burgers are great, fries are great, beers are great, and most importantly, the prices are awesome! Any college student can get great bang-for-the-buck here and enjoy the atmosphere as well. Part of me wishes that the Mizzou/KSU/etc. dollar bills would be taken off the walls and ritualistically burned, but I suppose they add character. Can't go wrong with Jefferson's!
(4)
Kelly S.
Fried pickles are awesome but everything else is just blah.
(3)
Kyle R.
Forever my favorite Mass Street bar, I miss the days of beer and corn nuggets at Jefferson's while checking out the almost-always gorgeous waitresses. College was fun..... Seriously though, its got some of the best bar food around. Seems like everybody has their favorite Jefferson's thing and they get it every time. That was confirmed last weekend when I went with a friend from college and found out he'd never had corn nuggets because he always gets the wings. Well I always get the corn nuggets so I've never had most of the other stuff on the menu. But its all delicious and its a great, fun place to hang out when you're in Lawrence.
(4)
Sara Z.
I come here for the memories! I never even TRIED to watch a game here. Usually my crowd either came here on a non sports-related whim, just for the fun atmosphere, good greasy food, and the signature dollar bills everywhere, or we came here after watching a game at Allen Field House, when people were leaving, and the wait wasn't generally too long. The fried pickles and corn nuggets are my favorite greasy appetizer, and I usually get the chicken strips with ranch and other sauces. It annoys me a bit that they charge for each additional sauce, but not enough to stop me from ordering them. I've had different sandwiches and the wings at times, but the chicken strips are my favorite. Mostly, when I think of Jefferson's, I think of some of the most hilarious conversations with friends, and the best times post-basketball wins that I can recall. Yes, the service is on the slow side, but I've never experienced the sluggish pace noted in some of these reviews. I guess it's all relative, but I've never felt like I had to wait extraordinarily long for my orders.
(3)
Nick K.
I have to say that after the experience I had here I will not be returning. After a game day I went with my girlfriend and her family to Jeffersons and was extremely disappointed in the whole experience. A fight broke out between a group of people in the bar that caused for a huge backup in orders. It took nearly 90 minutes for our food to come out causing for it to be cold and soggy. The management did not apologize or compensate for the delay, and honestly it left a terrible memory. Take your chances if you want but there are much better and safer places to grab a burger in Lawrence
(1)
Katherine R.
Peace Love and Wings!! Love this place! My brother went to KU and every time I visited him this was my hang over heaven. Clearly, they have good wings here but the chicken tenders are among the best I have ever had! I have no problem saying that I am a know-it-all when it comes to chicken fingers and honey mustard. I have searched America high and low for the perfect combo and Jefferson's makes the top three. They have a ton of other great food and I think most can agree that this place hits the spot after a long night out on Mass....
(5)
Eddie M.
I try to get to Jefferson's at least once a month on a Sunday for the cheap wings because if there's anything better than Jefferson's wings, it's Jefferson's wings on sale! Their burgers are good, as is pretty much anything else on the menu. They also have my favorite honey mustard ever. The service is sometimes hit and miss, but overall I enjoy myself every time I'm there. If I had one wish it would be that they buy one of the businesses next to them and expand their seating - it gets crowded very quickly and is often confusing since it's a seat yourself kind of thing.
(5)
Tommy S.
I was in Lawrence for the Brew to Brew Run with some coworkers. After the run we were starving! We weren't to familiar with the area and came across Jefferson's. Jefferson's has a very relaxed atmosphere. There are a lot of TVs with sports for viewing. There were a lot of college kids there. It IS a college town. Lol. The service was attentive and fairly fast for a busy Sunday. I really enjoyed reading the dollar bills posted on the walls. They are everywhere. We shared corn fritters and fried pickles. They were yummy. I ordered the Jefferson Burger which came with fries and a pickle. The burger was huge. Tasted great. The fries were definitely fresh and plentiful. Draft Beer was only $1.75!!! For first impressions, the first time eating in Lawrence, and probably the last, I am impressed. I would definitely recommend Jefferson's for some casual eating. Nice portions to satisfy your hunger.
(4)
Michael T.
This is a special Lawrence original that is known for mounting Dollar Bills on the wall with people's added artwork on it, also known as defacing Federal Currency (Oh well)! They have excellent dinner specials for Burgers, Wings and Chicken Fingers! Also highly recommend their Fried Mushrooms, Fried pickles and Corn Nuggets for appetizers!
(4)
Derek P.
Some people would say that you shouldn't take food advice from the type of person that spends their free time writing reviews about restaurants but I write this review because I really, really want this place to be better. It's got a nice vibe, friendly staff, cheap drinks, plenty of TVs and for that type of setup.. it does well. But the food.. the food is SO. BAD. Now full disclosure, I've never gotten the wings which a lot of people say they're good at doing so maybe that's what I'm missing out on but the things I've ordered over the last handful of trips have been so bad that I felt compelled to sign up for a Yelp acct to write a review. Why I've gone back more than once is because my friends like the cheap drinks and a place to watch a game. I ordered an appetizer of cheese fries for our table and not only did they come out partially cold, but the cheese was somehow worse than the nacho cheese you get at movies and sporting events. It was as though they'd liquefied that kind of cheese you spray out of a can and heated it up. I don't know how you mess this up. Just go buy some cheddar cheese in a bag from a grocery store and melt it on top of the fries. Would have been a hundred times better. The burger I got was a mockery of a burger. Again, how do you screw these things up? No joke, I'd have been pissed if this was a dollar burger from McDonalds. It tasted as though it'd been sitting out to dry in the sun for an hour and that in turn made the flavor of everything just bleh. I'm not a foodie or one to get off on putting people down but my hope is that this place turns itself around and just has decent bar food. I'm not asking for much here. I haven't eaten at any of these places in years but if you went to Applebees or Chilis or whatever generic place like that.. that's the kind of food you should find at Jeffersons. But the food I got served here would seem poorly served out of a concession stand at a highschool football game in Podunk Town, TX. Jefferson's is a chain so chances are, they can't change anything about quality but man.. I hope they step it up. As I type this, a commenter to the right brings up the crucial point that just 10, 20, 50 yards in different directions you have exponentially better food at the same price. The Burger Stand at The Casbah. Rudy's. Ladybird Diner. La Parilla. Zen Zero. Granted these are food places of varying types so if you want bar food to watch a game.. some of those restaurants aren't qualifiers but I'd really, really just stick to drinking here. Quickly eat at one of the dozens of places on Mass and then head over for some cheap Coors but man.. Jefferson's.. at least try a little.
(1)
Joanna D.
Good stuff. On our way from IL to CO we stopped here for lunch. It was nice to get out of the car and walk around this cute downtown area. I ordered a fried chicken salad with the addition of chopped boiled egg. The waitress was very nice to work out my special egg request and they didn't charge an arm and a leg for it, either. The salad was good. My husband ordered a philly cheesesteak with fries and it was delicious. Great service.
(3)
Brian V.
I've lived in Lawrence for several years, but have just recently experienced Jefferson's for the first time. I mean, when you've got Dempsey's and The Burger Stand, who needs another burger joint? But, Jefferson's is touted as a Lawrence classic, so I gave it a shot. Long story short, I was neither impressed nor pleased. Upon entering, I awkwardly stood about not knowing if I should wait to be seated. Of course, several servers pass, none of which said a word, so I assumed it was a seat yourself situation. After posting up in a booth, I waited about five minutes before a server noticed my existence. At this point I am only mildly annoyed, but I give the staff the benefit of the doubt. Now that I have the attention of a server, who was very nice and helpful I might add, despite her sometimes annoyed expressions, I order the corn nuggets and the Red Dog Days Double Cheeseburger with sweet potato fries. I receive the corn nuggets, some of which turn out to be quite cold on the inside. Now, I am annoyed, but assuming it is just a fluke. Then comes the burger and fries. The burger looks like pretty standard bar food fare, which is exactly what I wanted. But, the quality of the meat in the burger was appalling. There were rather large chunks of gristle in almost every bite. The largest was nearly the size of a dime. I was disgusted. Then, to top it off, I found something strange nestled in my fries. At first I thought it was a dead spider, but upon closer examination, it looked like a small feather (like a down feather) that was in the oil and stuck to a fry. I've never sent anything back in a restaurant, and I didn't then, but I vow to never again eat at this establishment. I've never been so disgusted at a restaurant. I mean, how hard is it to cook when literally everything is fried and most likely came frozen in a bag? I didn't expect much going into Jefferson's, but I expected much better than what I received, especially for being a "Lawrence classic." My advice? Stick with Dempsey's and The Burger Stand.
(1)
Jason Y.
Give these girls a shot of espresso or Red Bull. Jeezus!...........This is how I feel everytime I visit Jefferson's. Has a place on Mass street ever garnered more hype than Jefferson's? I mean hell, the University of Kansas Athletic Department for years wined & dined prospective athlete's in Jefferson's. Maybe I'm in the minority, but what is all the fuss about? Frozen burger patties, frozen wings, frozen appetizers, and just about everything else on the menu sits in the deep freeze upon ordering. Different strokes for different folks. Not nasty by any stretch of the imagination. Nothing more than your typical bar type food. Biggest beef is with the lackluster attitude of the staff. The Hookah bar is across the street and I'd expect this type of demeanor from their patrons (just kidding). But give me a freaking break already. The waitresses in particular move with no urgency and rarely crack a smile. Is life really that bad at Jefferson's? Cheer up girls. Are your customers really that bad? Overall, not a terrible place to visit at least once for newbies on Mass Street. Jefferson's has a long history in Lawrence and I'll cut them some slack for surviving the ever changing restaurant scene on Mass. Maybe try to mix in a few more fresh items on the menu and update the place a little.
(3)
Bobby D.
Took 40 min to get food......after we asked for it. 2/5 orders were wrong. Many tables that came in after is got their food before us. We even ordered kids food early so they could eat first. Guess it take 40 min for kids corn dog & burger. Food came & it was not hot, obviously it had been ready. Next time guess I need to ask or go get it myself. Might try it again, but really lost hope after the reopen!
(1)
Carol R.
This my favorite restaurant. It is a fun casual place with fantastic wings. Our family goes there a couple times per month and I go with my girl friends for lunch often. They have great servers. Chelsey is the best server in town. Seriously. And we eat out all the time. Our boys drink gallons of lemonade and she must have refilled our drinks five times. Makes me happy when our drinks are constantly full and ice cold. My husband and I always get the medium buffalo wings. Our boys love the Mac and cheese bites and the hot dog basket. Saturday special is two hot dogs or corn dogs with fries for $5. Great deal for hungry boys. Love the fried pickles too. We use the front flip app to get free appetizers. When we have out of town guests this is the place we go. Fun to decorate a dollar and pin on the wall. Great college town atmosphere and big screen tv's all over. Get there early for lunch if you don't want to wait.
(5)
Rose L.
We came here to eat before a concert. It was packed inside and out, but we were able to grab two seats at the bar. That is always a good thing, in my opinion. They had some televisions up, and we were able to watch the Royals game and the Chiefs preseason game simultaneously. They have a great tap selection for a dive joint, with two Sam Adams, a few Boulevards, a Goose Island, and a couple of others. Their cooler was full of a variety of bottles, too. The menu? Pretty good! If you are a wings fan, I would guess you'll be in heaven here. They are huge, and they kept bringing plate after plate of them, so this is probably what they are known for. I ordered a steak philly with provolone and my usual jalapenos and mushrooms. The jalapenos were freshly sliced, as were the shrooms. No canned goods! The hoagie roll was perfectly fresh and soft without being mushy. Crinkle fries were cooked perfectly. BF got his usual grilled chicken and sweet potato fries, and everything disappeared from his plate with no complaints. Service was stellar! The guy behind the bar was slammed, but as cool, calm, and attentive as he was, you never would've known it. I will be in Lawrence again next month and plan to return here.
(5)
Erin W.
Jefferson's has been a staple for me when I went to college here and I was SO happy to hear it was back open. Got in (on a game day) and got a seat early. There were lots of people here for lunch, but we had GREAT service the entire time. I wish I remembered her name, cause this chick rocked! Food was great (their fried pickles are my ultimate favorite), beer was cold, atmosphere was fantastic. Made me miss my favorite little town even more than I already do!
(5)
Christie F.
The food is great, but the hygiene is bad. It's your typical greasy American food. If you can accept a lot of grease and a bit of a wait then this is the place for you! Definitely try the fried pickles and corn nuggets!
(4)
Steve B.
Awesome little dive bar/restaurant right smack in the middle of downtown Lawrence. For all the years I lived in Lawrence this was pretty much my favorite place to eat, I was there the night they opened with the original owners (July 2000 I think, does that sound right?) and these days I make a trek every time I'm in back in town. The signature items are the wings, but some other nice choices would be the fried pickles, the corn dog basket, oysters, and spicy chicken sandwich. A lot of these are foods you don't find on a lot of menus in Kansas. I've never been a huge fan of the burgers personally, but they're nowhere close to terrible. The place went through a down period a few years ago followed by some IRS uh..."tax problems." But with current management and owners the place is back to the old days. The dollar bills on the wall are a fun feature, and the servers are always cute and friendly, even if the service isn't crazy fast. Take note, though: Don't even THINK about trying to get a seat in this place if there is a KU baskeball game going on. Jefferson's has no hostess (no room for a stand anyway) so trying to get a seat on busy days is about as easy as playing pick up sticks with your buttcheeks.
(5)
Diana L.
I'm torn on how to rate Jefferson's. The wings are great, the burgers are terrible. But the atmosphere is fun & it's a great place to gather after a b-ball game, especially to celebrate a big win. Just don't order a burger. Avoid at all costs.
(3)
Austin F.
Jefferson's is the first place I ate as a new student in Lawrence. It holds a special place in my heart for that reason. It's the first place I think of when deciding where to take out-of-towners. The environment is unlike any other restaurant on Mass. The beer and burger specials are unparalleled, too. Overall: a great place to dine. My one complaint: They hire the dumbest and slowest girls possible as their wait staff. It's kind of a give and take. Most of them are really hot, but the service is pretty terrible. On a busy night, the hotness doesn't really outshine their ineptitude. I'm being harsh, but I've never had good a good waitress at Jefferson's. Luckily, the environment, specials and food is awesome enough to keep me coming back for more.
(4)
Mike W.
Best wings in Lawrence and the fried macaroni bites are outstanding. If you're in a hurry make sure you order everything you want when you order your first round of drinks - otherwise sit back and relax. Hate to say I've never had the corn nuggets, but will fix that the next time I go.
(4)
Jack C.
Decent place if you want to have wings and beer and watch a game. The seating is kind of awkward and the service sometimes is terrible. The food isn't disappointing if you aren't expecting much.
(3)
Karl A.
Pretty good bar food, but I have had a couple experiences with bad service that really turned me off to this place. Perhaps the servers were a little cranky because the place was busy for a KU game, but still a basic level of courtesy must be kept up.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Very Loud Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Jesi G.
I have lived in Lawrence for almost eight years now and have heard nothing but amazing things from Jeffersons. I finally got the chance to go a couple weekends ago with my family We walk into the empty restaurant and we have no idea what to do. We awkwardly stand there as the waitresses lean and sit on the back counter and stare at us. Assuming we just take a seat after about 5 minutes, we walk to the back to grab a table near the waitress counter/bar/relaxation station. We were almost immediately presented with menus: the sticky, never-been-washed, everyone touches with their grimy greasy fingers type of menu. I didn't even want to touch it. We all ordered a beer and it came out quite nice and cold but after that our waitress simply disappeared. There had to be at least 5 others just holding walls up at the bar but ours vanished. We had to flag over another waitress to place our order. When we got our food, I was really confused. I don't understand the hype over frozen food thrown in a fryer. It was bar food. I can't fathom why people are paying these prices for the same quality food you can buy in a frozen section at walmart. My order was messed up 3 times, my mother got the completely wrong sandwich, my brother did not get his fries, and our appetizer was completely forgotten until we mentioned something when our waitress finally showed up.....after the meal was completely over. The guy at the table next to me had what I am assuming to be a mushroom swiss burger, but by looking at the 3 thinly sliced mushrooms placed on top of the obviously preformed frozen patty, I think he should have probably asked for his money back. I won't be back. There are SO many other places in town that actually put effort into cooking their food and value their customers. This place just serves greasy frozen bar food and you'll be lucky to get the correct order the first time. And for the love of that is holy, will someone please give the waitresses a lesson in customer service! It was agonizing to see them struggle through greeting awaiting customers who will be paying their wages. Maybe just relieve their suffering and hire people that care about their customers and aren't a size 2 with huge boobs.
(2)Andrew L.
A wall full of dollars. Great Lawrence original
(4)Amy H.
For the past year or so I have been promoting how much I absolutely love Jefferson's. My Husband and I had a wonderful experience there last year and loved it. I'm not sure what has changed but last night changed our minds. Our server was rude, she screwed up our drink order and our appetizer. We asked her which oyster dish she enjoyed she scowled and said " I have no idea I don't like oysters". Then when she told us the restaurant was completely out of all oysters other than the fried ones she refused to make any substitutions. When we decide to go elsewhere (after finding a half inch of grease at the bottom of our fried pickle basket) We tried to tip her and she said no you can keep that. With the same attitude she had been giving us the entire time. The saddest part is we took our friend and his wife there for his 65th Birthday. We will not be back!
(1)Scott G.
Just a fraction of its former self. Burger was dry and the mushrooms we're sad. Wings had no sauce, literally. Corn dogs and fries were fine. Ambience is still cool with the dollar walls building up again.
(3)Scott R.
Jefferson's, rebooted. The previous incarnation of Jefferson's was always a favorite for watching a game, or a quick burger with family. The new Jefferson's is a successor to the departed but beloved restaurant. The new management brought in training staff from one of the other locations, but the food is as it was before. The inside still features thousands of "personalized" dollar bills that patrons have left over the years. As a condition of the acquisition of the restaurant, the new owners required that they be transferred with the property. They whole restaurants has had a face-lift, with new fixtures and tables, a new bar, and upgraded televisions. As usual, we started out with a basket of corn nuggets, and mac & cheese bites. These two little gems of the menu are some of my favorite parts of Jefferson's. Corn nuggets are like miraculous breaded and fried spheres of creamed corn, served with honey mustard - sweet, tangy, and blazing hot out of the fryer. Mac & cheese bites are the familiar boxed mac & cheese, but pressed into wedges, battered, and fried, a delicious treat. The wing sauce is a traditional vinegary-hot-sauce based concoction that will stain your hands a delightful shade of orange (as mine were on a trip to pick out wedding bands after a impromptu lunch at the old Jefferson's several years ago). Though Lawrence has now seen a Renaissance of hamburger restaurants, the Jefferson's burgers are still solid. My wife loves the mushroom and Swiss burger, but the Jefferson's burger is also quite tasty.
(4)Alicia R.
This is the quintessential bar food place on Massachusetts. Yes, the service can be slow, and, if you arrive around the time of a KU sporting event, you are not going to get a place to sit, but if you are looking for reasonably-priced and deliciously-fried food, occasionally served in a slow and relaxed manner, this is the place for you. With $0.45 wings on Sundays and Wednesdays and $5 burger baskets on Monday and Thursdays, there are food and drink specials daily and even non-discounted food is reasonably priced. I love the corn nuggets (delicious dabs of cream corn, battered and fried, and served with honey mustard) and the fried pickles are also delicious. I think the wings are a little vinegary, but, according to my usual dining companions, they are very "meaty" and delectable.
(4)L H.
Grilled chicken salad. Chicken pieces very small bites, maybe3oz of chicken. Teryaki sauce is tasty on it, though there is no Romaine, its an all iceburg lettuce salad with shredded taco cheese... Service is friendly though.
(3)Gary K.
Average average. Being from Chicago i hold Yaktzes as the gold standard. These r dry and very little taste. Fries shrimp was dry. The beer was cold
(3)Kajal G.
For what it is, Jeffersons is great. Cheap pitchers of beer, good burgers, good wings and daily specials. They let me order off the kids menu which was nice :) The fried pickles are really good and free with a "check in" offer. Everythings fried pretty much and it's a great place to go if you just need something quick and hot to eat or it's late and you want to start drinking downtown but need to eat something first. Service was quick and I like the dollar bills all over. All in all decent bar food at a decent price.
(4)Tayler E.
Fried pickles and burger were amazing! We sat outside & enjoyed it so much! Staff was friendly and food was fresh and quick!
(5)Holly G.
Two works: Fried Pickles! I crave them, they are SO good. The soda machines they have are also pretty tasty, best cokes in town! The rest of their food is decent bar food. I am sad the pulled pork went away, but the Hawaiian chicken sandwich is a good substitute!
(4)Dan D.
D- all around here, sorry but when so many warning signs are present you just shouldn't eat at a place again. I was in town for the 100 year anniversary at Liberty Hall and had a bit of time to stop in and eat at Jefferson's a place I had never been to before. I had a craving for hot wings and was told Jefferson could accommodate. I showed up around 3:30 on a Saturday and sat at the bar. I was greeted and presented a menu, first warning sign came, the menu was sticky. I should have gotten up and left at that point but I was hungry and craving wings. I ordered a soda and when the bartender came back I ordered. I wanted to try the cheese fries and hot wings. I know not the healthiest of meals but I wanted it. The cheese fries came out a few minutes later, covered in luke warm nacho cheese and about a teaspoon of bacon, I was severely unimpressed by this offering. No flavor in any of it. Then the wings came out, this is when I should have just excused myself and left. I had two wings and couldn't continue the first was cooked beyond well done and hence was terribly dry. The second was frozen on the inside, I basically bit into an ice cube, I told the bartender who really wasn't concerned about what I was showing her. She asked if I wanted another order, I said no but I would like my check. I was charged for the wings, at this point I had no want or desire to argue so i paid and left. Beyond everything mentioned above, the staff was just awful. I could only imagine it was shift change because some of the staff were have drinks at the bar(alcoholic). Normally I wouldn't care but when a staff shows that little interest in making sure that a patron is pleased with their food I have to believe that everyone that works there could care less and are working for 15%. Won't be back, ever.
(1)Nick H.
Wings are some of the biggest ones offered in town. Burgers are good, but not the best in Lawrence. You get healthy portions of fries with wings or burger from this place. Usually they have a decent drink special going on.
(4)Jeffrey H.
Best wings in Lawrence, KS. Nothing beats the price and value. They have other good food but if you're solely looking for wings--this is the place.
(5)Vinny D.
Someone used the word "blah" in their review. Exactly. Philly cheesesteak and fries had no flavor. How do you screw up something so simple? My wife's chicken sandwich tasted like a frozen chicken breast. We won't be back.
(1)Brenda R.
Although I partied in Lawrence with my KU friends when I was in college, I somehow never set foot inside Jefferson's. Weird. I can't compare it to the "old Jefferson's", but I can say that my first experience there yesterday was pretty good. I took my seven year old niece and my cousins in for a bite after swimming and the Sunday afternoon crowd was just fine for a casual family outing. My cousins ordered chicken sandwiches and they looked delicious. Nothing fancy going on there, just a good looking regular bar food chicken sandwich. I took advantage of their 60 cent wing special on Sundays and ordered ten bad boys to share with my niece. Half were mild, half teriyaki. I thought the teriyaki ones were just okay... too much sesame flavor and too sweet. The mild wings hit the spot! My niece got to draw on a dollar for them to tack onto the wall and she thought that defacing currency was pretty freakin cool. Who's the best aunt ever? This girl. I wasn't blown out of the water by this place, but it was a solid good bar food joint and the four of us ate plenty for $25 before tip. Not bad.
(3)Alexis R.
They are back! and with a venegeneance. The spicy wings are the same great quality as before, making them some of the best in town ($0.50 on Wednesdays). Meaty with a vinegar bite, they are more of a classic wing style. Closed due to IRS back taxes, Jefferson's just reopened under new management. All the furniture is new, the bathrooms remodeled, the bar a bit swakier and they even took down all the dollar bills on the wall and placed them back up (neatly) to give the place a more put-together feel. The burgers ($7.25) are just as tasty with a veggie burger ($5.99) also offered. They have a wide range of toppings as well from the Hawaiian with pineapple to the Mushroom and Swiss. The oysters are back as well along with the favorite starters of corn nuggets and mac and cheese bites. The mac and cheese bites though aren't listed on the menu, so you have to ask for them! They have a range of sandwiches like chicken breast and BLTs along with a now extended salad selection. This is a great place to catch a game, chill with friends or grab a beer. Cheap pitchers at $8 domestic, $9 premium.
(4)Amy C.
Is this place fine dining? Absolutely not, but it beats the hell out of BWW (the Applebee's of wings) any day. As college students my husband and I were regulars at Jefferson's in the early-to-mid 2000s, often feasting on wings with the ferocity of wild animals. We got our JoCo friends hooked on the juice, er, wings, and now as full-fledged adults we and our compatriots load up the mini-vans and make the trek to Larryville about once a month for the good stuff. And good stuff is exactly what Jefferson's offers. The new owners have restored the place to its original glory - between the founding owner and the current owner was a guy who kinda let the cleanliness/quality slide. Jefferson's offers great hamburgers, some yummy southern dishes like fried pickles, crawfish and peanut butter pie. But the best item on the menu is their wings. And on Sundays the wings are only 50 cents/wing. Our experience on Sunday, January 29 was above par as we started with corn nuggets - delightful little pieces of creamed corn somehow breaded and fried. Subsequent to the nuggets we snacked on wings and chips and downed those with cold brew. We noticed that the wings seemed larger than we remembered - the portions were quite ample. Our server was attentive and kept our beverages full. For us, the perfect cure for a hangover has become the perfect cure for a lazy Sunday afternoon. It's always fun to dine among the college kids, to people watch and enjoy great food. Jefferson's provides all that. Oh, and don't forget to order peanut butter pie. Although on this visit our pie was still a bit frozen in the middle - but the peanut butter pie-cicle still tasted delicious.
(4)Chris L.
Best wings place in Lawrence. Not the greatest wings but still the best available. Also a great place to watch games and eat!
(4)Haylie S.
I usually come here for just a night out with a few friends. It's a basic sports bar with bar food. Hamburgers, chicken strips, tons of appetizers, and beer. The food is pretty good. I've gotten a hamburger, which was a bit dry. Their chef salad is really great and tided me over for a good portion of the day. It's a really college restaurant. Students and patrons watching games, having a beer, basically just enjoying the atmosphere.
(3)Jonny P.
Average burgers = average people
(2)Tarah K.
Outstanding Bloody Mary (on special, Sunday). Run of the mill bar food.
(3)Sunthud P.
The wings with hot sauce is very good (better than buffalo wild wings)! The wings with other flavors, however, are not delicious for me. I ate hamburger and it was just okay. I would go to other restaurants to eat hamburgers (the burger stand or local burger). The service is good. Well, hot wings are four to five stars for me. Other food are one or two stars. Speaking of global rating, I will give three stars.
(3)Nicole M.
This place sicked me out before it came under new ownership. Now everything is new and you don't smell like you bathed in the fryer when you leave. It's a perfect game day spot for grabbing wings and beer. They also make a good BLT.
(4)Pete G.
This place is filthy. Just disgustingly dirty. It looks like it hasn't been cleaned since it opened. Ripped booths, dirty tables, a disgusting floor that defies words. If this is how the dining room is, I shudder to think what their kitchen is like. If Jefferson's food were good and/or cheap, I could shrug all of this off. But unfortunately, it is neither. Their turbo wing sauce is phenomenal, but anything else is just Frank's Red Hot and butter. The rest of the menu is standard foodservice snack bar food - and horribly overpriced. No good drink specials, no good food specials, no good food. What a terrible combination. I would mention the service, but it appears to be nonexistent.
(1)Mike P.
The service at this establishment is terrible. Expect to wait 5 min for a waiter to even acknowledge that you sat down. 15 minutes to take an order. 20-30 minutes to get your food. I've been to Jefferson 3 times, all 3 times the service took absolutely forever. Secondly - the food is nothing you couldn't find in the freezer section of your local supermarket. This is classic line cook food. There is no culinary twist in anything. Boring. I'm pretty sure all the food is defrosted and reheated, including patties, fries, etc. Overall - this place is a waste of your time unless you have a lot of it.
(1)Tony B.
Great Burgers, and very good service. Due to my very busy schedule I can't eat here weekly, but I still make an attempt to stop by every other month. The sweet potato fries, and the Jefferson Burger are amazing. It's a great place to bring your family or meet your friends before you go to a football or basketball game.
(5)Jenn M.
I love their Chili Dogs, they are great. The fried pickles are as well. The food is decent and the atmosphere is great.
(4)Rock H.
The wings are really, really great. And overall the menu is tasty stuff. The sweet tea is a gamble, and a losing one more times than not. I would go there all the time for the wings alone, but, as many others have and will no doubt post, the service is SLOW, and sometimes unfriendly. It's a shame that this is so widely known and yet it doesn't change. If you have the time and want to take a chance it's worth it.
(3)Mike H.
Since I started working in Lawrence 2 months ago I have eaten at Jefferson's a good 5-6 times already. I've been going solely for their hamburgers (more specifically the Jefferson burger) which seem to be on a perpetual special for $5. For this very reasonable price you get a better burger than most bars offer with a good portion of fries. I think I'd eat here 1-3 times a week if it wasn't for the the slow service. I work less than 5 minutes from here which gives me a good 50 minutes to order and eat. It should be a pretty easy task considering I'm getting a hamburger which I can consume in 5-10 minutes. But, I find I constantly have to ask for the check while I am shoving fries in my mouth, prepping for a mad dash back to work. It seems this way whether there are 5 or 50 people in the restaurant. Bottom line is, if want a good burger cheap and have and hour and fifteen minutes for lunch, Jefferson's is the place for you.
(4)Chris P.
Silly me, forgetting to read the reviews about the historically slow service. I went to Jefferson's yesterday. My best friend had leave from the Navy, and was up visiting me. We had gone to Jefferson's several times, but that was quite a few years ago. I remembered that the food was okay (and since he lives off fried foods, a good choice for him), so I suggested that we go there. I had only thirty minutes to sit down, eat, and jet before I had to leave for work. Jefferson's was nearly empty when I arrived. I sat down, my friend came in a few minutes later. We ordered. Time went by. Other people came in. Other people ordered. More people came in. More people ordered. Other people got their food. More people got their food. Now, I ordered a cheesesteak. I hadn't had one since I moved back from Philadelphia, and I was in the move. Ordering a steak in a non-Philly location is generally dangerous, but I was in that mood. I've ordered plenty of steaks in Philly, and I know how long it takes to make them. (That is, it doesn't take a long time. At all. Even if the beef is raw.) So, when I see crab legs (no, really), wings, burgers, and what not funnel past me to other tables, I have to wonder. I'm surprised I didn't see an order of lobster thermidor mosey on by. Finally, twenty minutes after ordering, our food arrives. I tell the waitress, "Look, you've failed. I have to leave for work, and since it took you so long to get my food out here, you need to go get me a box." She seemed startled, as if service should be prompt. Go figure. I should have penny tipped. I was nice to give 11%.
(1)Peter C.
Jefferson's is one of my top three burger spots in Larryville, no question. The burgers are great, fries are great, beers are great, and most importantly, the prices are awesome! Any college student can get great bang-for-the-buck here and enjoy the atmosphere as well. Part of me wishes that the Mizzou/KSU/etc. dollar bills would be taken off the walls and ritualistically burned, but I suppose they add character. Can't go wrong with Jefferson's!
(4)Kelly S.
Fried pickles are awesome but everything else is just blah.
(3)Kyle R.
Forever my favorite Mass Street bar, I miss the days of beer and corn nuggets at Jefferson's while checking out the almost-always gorgeous waitresses. College was fun..... Seriously though, its got some of the best bar food around. Seems like everybody has their favorite Jefferson's thing and they get it every time. That was confirmed last weekend when I went with a friend from college and found out he'd never had corn nuggets because he always gets the wings. Well I always get the corn nuggets so I've never had most of the other stuff on the menu. But its all delicious and its a great, fun place to hang out when you're in Lawrence.
(4)Sara Z.
I come here for the memories! I never even TRIED to watch a game here. Usually my crowd either came here on a non sports-related whim, just for the fun atmosphere, good greasy food, and the signature dollar bills everywhere, or we came here after watching a game at Allen Field House, when people were leaving, and the wait wasn't generally too long. The fried pickles and corn nuggets are my favorite greasy appetizer, and I usually get the chicken strips with ranch and other sauces. It annoys me a bit that they charge for each additional sauce, but not enough to stop me from ordering them. I've had different sandwiches and the wings at times, but the chicken strips are my favorite. Mostly, when I think of Jefferson's, I think of some of the most hilarious conversations with friends, and the best times post-basketball wins that I can recall. Yes, the service is on the slow side, but I've never experienced the sluggish pace noted in some of these reviews. I guess it's all relative, but I've never felt like I had to wait extraordinarily long for my orders.
(3)Nick K.
I have to say that after the experience I had here I will not be returning. After a game day I went with my girlfriend and her family to Jeffersons and was extremely disappointed in the whole experience. A fight broke out between a group of people in the bar that caused for a huge backup in orders. It took nearly 90 minutes for our food to come out causing for it to be cold and soggy. The management did not apologize or compensate for the delay, and honestly it left a terrible memory. Take your chances if you want but there are much better and safer places to grab a burger in Lawrence
(1)Katherine R.
Peace Love and Wings!! Love this place! My brother went to KU and every time I visited him this was my hang over heaven. Clearly, they have good wings here but the chicken tenders are among the best I have ever had! I have no problem saying that I am a know-it-all when it comes to chicken fingers and honey mustard. I have searched America high and low for the perfect combo and Jefferson's makes the top three. They have a ton of other great food and I think most can agree that this place hits the spot after a long night out on Mass....
(5)Eddie M.
I try to get to Jefferson's at least once a month on a Sunday for the cheap wings because if there's anything better than Jefferson's wings, it's Jefferson's wings on sale! Their burgers are good, as is pretty much anything else on the menu. They also have my favorite honey mustard ever. The service is sometimes hit and miss, but overall I enjoy myself every time I'm there. If I had one wish it would be that they buy one of the businesses next to them and expand their seating - it gets crowded very quickly and is often confusing since it's a seat yourself kind of thing.
(5)Tommy S.
I was in Lawrence for the Brew to Brew Run with some coworkers. After the run we were starving! We weren't to familiar with the area and came across Jefferson's. Jefferson's has a very relaxed atmosphere. There are a lot of TVs with sports for viewing. There were a lot of college kids there. It IS a college town. Lol. The service was attentive and fairly fast for a busy Sunday. I really enjoyed reading the dollar bills posted on the walls. They are everywhere. We shared corn fritters and fried pickles. They were yummy. I ordered the Jefferson Burger which came with fries and a pickle. The burger was huge. Tasted great. The fries were definitely fresh and plentiful. Draft Beer was only $1.75!!! For first impressions, the first time eating in Lawrence, and probably the last, I am impressed. I would definitely recommend Jefferson's for some casual eating. Nice portions to satisfy your hunger.
(4)Michael T.
This is a special Lawrence original that is known for mounting Dollar Bills on the wall with people's added artwork on it, also known as defacing Federal Currency (Oh well)! They have excellent dinner specials for Burgers, Wings and Chicken Fingers! Also highly recommend their Fried Mushrooms, Fried pickles and Corn Nuggets for appetizers!
(4)Derek P.
Some people would say that you shouldn't take food advice from the type of person that spends their free time writing reviews about restaurants but I write this review because I really, really want this place to be better. It's got a nice vibe, friendly staff, cheap drinks, plenty of TVs and for that type of setup.. it does well. But the food.. the food is SO. BAD. Now full disclosure, I've never gotten the wings which a lot of people say they're good at doing so maybe that's what I'm missing out on but the things I've ordered over the last handful of trips have been so bad that I felt compelled to sign up for a Yelp acct to write a review. Why I've gone back more than once is because my friends like the cheap drinks and a place to watch a game. I ordered an appetizer of cheese fries for our table and not only did they come out partially cold, but the cheese was somehow worse than the nacho cheese you get at movies and sporting events. It was as though they'd liquefied that kind of cheese you spray out of a can and heated it up. I don't know how you mess this up. Just go buy some cheddar cheese in a bag from a grocery store and melt it on top of the fries. Would have been a hundred times better. The burger I got was a mockery of a burger. Again, how do you screw these things up? No joke, I'd have been pissed if this was a dollar burger from McDonalds. It tasted as though it'd been sitting out to dry in the sun for an hour and that in turn made the flavor of everything just bleh. I'm not a foodie or one to get off on putting people down but my hope is that this place turns itself around and just has decent bar food. I'm not asking for much here. I haven't eaten at any of these places in years but if you went to Applebees or Chilis or whatever generic place like that.. that's the kind of food you should find at Jeffersons. But the food I got served here would seem poorly served out of a concession stand at a highschool football game in Podunk Town, TX. Jefferson's is a chain so chances are, they can't change anything about quality but man.. I hope they step it up. As I type this, a commenter to the right brings up the crucial point that just 10, 20, 50 yards in different directions you have exponentially better food at the same price. The Burger Stand at The Casbah. Rudy's. Ladybird Diner. La Parilla. Zen Zero. Granted these are food places of varying types so if you want bar food to watch a game.. some of those restaurants aren't qualifiers but I'd really, really just stick to drinking here. Quickly eat at one of the dozens of places on Mass and then head over for some cheap Coors but man.. Jefferson's.. at least try a little.
(1)Joanna D.
Good stuff. On our way from IL to CO we stopped here for lunch. It was nice to get out of the car and walk around this cute downtown area. I ordered a fried chicken salad with the addition of chopped boiled egg. The waitress was very nice to work out my special egg request and they didn't charge an arm and a leg for it, either. The salad was good. My husband ordered a philly cheesesteak with fries and it was delicious. Great service.
(3)Brian V.
I've lived in Lawrence for several years, but have just recently experienced Jefferson's for the first time. I mean, when you've got Dempsey's and The Burger Stand, who needs another burger joint? But, Jefferson's is touted as a Lawrence classic, so I gave it a shot. Long story short, I was neither impressed nor pleased. Upon entering, I awkwardly stood about not knowing if I should wait to be seated. Of course, several servers pass, none of which said a word, so I assumed it was a seat yourself situation. After posting up in a booth, I waited about five minutes before a server noticed my existence. At this point I am only mildly annoyed, but I give the staff the benefit of the doubt. Now that I have the attention of a server, who was very nice and helpful I might add, despite her sometimes annoyed expressions, I order the corn nuggets and the Red Dog Days Double Cheeseburger with sweet potato fries. I receive the corn nuggets, some of which turn out to be quite cold on the inside. Now, I am annoyed, but assuming it is just a fluke. Then comes the burger and fries. The burger looks like pretty standard bar food fare, which is exactly what I wanted. But, the quality of the meat in the burger was appalling. There were rather large chunks of gristle in almost every bite. The largest was nearly the size of a dime. I was disgusted. Then, to top it off, I found something strange nestled in my fries. At first I thought it was a dead spider, but upon closer examination, it looked like a small feather (like a down feather) that was in the oil and stuck to a fry. I've never sent anything back in a restaurant, and I didn't then, but I vow to never again eat at this establishment. I've never been so disgusted at a restaurant. I mean, how hard is it to cook when literally everything is fried and most likely came frozen in a bag? I didn't expect much going into Jefferson's, but I expected much better than what I received, especially for being a "Lawrence classic." My advice? Stick with Dempsey's and The Burger Stand.
(1)Jason Y.
Give these girls a shot of espresso or Red Bull. Jeezus!...........This is how I feel everytime I visit Jefferson's. Has a place on Mass street ever garnered more hype than Jefferson's? I mean hell, the University of Kansas Athletic Department for years wined & dined prospective athlete's in Jefferson's. Maybe I'm in the minority, but what is all the fuss about? Frozen burger patties, frozen wings, frozen appetizers, and just about everything else on the menu sits in the deep freeze upon ordering. Different strokes for different folks. Not nasty by any stretch of the imagination. Nothing more than your typical bar type food. Biggest beef is with the lackluster attitude of the staff. The Hookah bar is across the street and I'd expect this type of demeanor from their patrons (just kidding). But give me a freaking break already. The waitresses in particular move with no urgency and rarely crack a smile. Is life really that bad at Jefferson's? Cheer up girls. Are your customers really that bad? Overall, not a terrible place to visit at least once for newbies on Mass Street. Jefferson's has a long history in Lawrence and I'll cut them some slack for surviving the ever changing restaurant scene on Mass. Maybe try to mix in a few more fresh items on the menu and update the place a little.
(3)Bobby D.
Took 40 min to get food......after we asked for it. 2/5 orders were wrong. Many tables that came in after is got their food before us. We even ordered kids food early so they could eat first. Guess it take 40 min for kids corn dog & burger. Food came & it was not hot, obviously it had been ready. Next time guess I need to ask or go get it myself. Might try it again, but really lost hope after the reopen!
(1)Carol R.
This my favorite restaurant. It is a fun casual place with fantastic wings. Our family goes there a couple times per month and I go with my girl friends for lunch often. They have great servers. Chelsey is the best server in town. Seriously. And we eat out all the time. Our boys drink gallons of lemonade and she must have refilled our drinks five times. Makes me happy when our drinks are constantly full and ice cold. My husband and I always get the medium buffalo wings. Our boys love the Mac and cheese bites and the hot dog basket. Saturday special is two hot dogs or corn dogs with fries for $5. Great deal for hungry boys. Love the fried pickles too. We use the front flip app to get free appetizers. When we have out of town guests this is the place we go. Fun to decorate a dollar and pin on the wall. Great college town atmosphere and big screen tv's all over. Get there early for lunch if you don't want to wait.
(5)Rose L.
We came here to eat before a concert. It was packed inside and out, but we were able to grab two seats at the bar. That is always a good thing, in my opinion. They had some televisions up, and we were able to watch the Royals game and the Chiefs preseason game simultaneously. They have a great tap selection for a dive joint, with two Sam Adams, a few Boulevards, a Goose Island, and a couple of others. Their cooler was full of a variety of bottles, too. The menu? Pretty good! If you are a wings fan, I would guess you'll be in heaven here. They are huge, and they kept bringing plate after plate of them, so this is probably what they are known for. I ordered a steak philly with provolone and my usual jalapenos and mushrooms. The jalapenos were freshly sliced, as were the shrooms. No canned goods! The hoagie roll was perfectly fresh and soft without being mushy. Crinkle fries were cooked perfectly. BF got his usual grilled chicken and sweet potato fries, and everything disappeared from his plate with no complaints. Service was stellar! The guy behind the bar was slammed, but as cool, calm, and attentive as he was, you never would've known it. I will be in Lawrence again next month and plan to return here.
(5)Erin W.
Jefferson's has been a staple for me when I went to college here and I was SO happy to hear it was back open. Got in (on a game day) and got a seat early. There were lots of people here for lunch, but we had GREAT service the entire time. I wish I remembered her name, cause this chick rocked! Food was great (their fried pickles are my ultimate favorite), beer was cold, atmosphere was fantastic. Made me miss my favorite little town even more than I already do!
(5)Christie F.
The food is great, but the hygiene is bad. It's your typical greasy American food. If you can accept a lot of grease and a bit of a wait then this is the place for you! Definitely try the fried pickles and corn nuggets!
(4)Steve B.
Awesome little dive bar/restaurant right smack in the middle of downtown Lawrence. For all the years I lived in Lawrence this was pretty much my favorite place to eat, I was there the night they opened with the original owners (July 2000 I think, does that sound right?) and these days I make a trek every time I'm in back in town. The signature items are the wings, but some other nice choices would be the fried pickles, the corn dog basket, oysters, and spicy chicken sandwich. A lot of these are foods you don't find on a lot of menus in Kansas. I've never been a huge fan of the burgers personally, but they're nowhere close to terrible. The place went through a down period a few years ago followed by some IRS uh..."tax problems." But with current management and owners the place is back to the old days. The dollar bills on the wall are a fun feature, and the servers are always cute and friendly, even if the service isn't crazy fast. Take note, though: Don't even THINK about trying to get a seat in this place if there is a KU baskeball game going on. Jefferson's has no hostess (no room for a stand anyway) so trying to get a seat on busy days is about as easy as playing pick up sticks with your buttcheeks.
(5)Diana L.
I'm torn on how to rate Jefferson's. The wings are great, the burgers are terrible. But the atmosphere is fun & it's a great place to gather after a b-ball game, especially to celebrate a big win. Just don't order a burger. Avoid at all costs.
(3)Austin F.
Jefferson's is the first place I ate as a new student in Lawrence. It holds a special place in my heart for that reason. It's the first place I think of when deciding where to take out-of-towners. The environment is unlike any other restaurant on Mass. The beer and burger specials are unparalleled, too. Overall: a great place to dine. My one complaint: They hire the dumbest and slowest girls possible as their wait staff. It's kind of a give and take. Most of them are really hot, but the service is pretty terrible. On a busy night, the hotness doesn't really outshine their ineptitude. I'm being harsh, but I've never had good a good waitress at Jefferson's. Luckily, the environment, specials and food is awesome enough to keep me coming back for more.
(4)Mike W.
Best wings in Lawrence and the fried macaroni bites are outstanding. If you're in a hurry make sure you order everything you want when you order your first round of drinks - otherwise sit back and relax. Hate to say I've never had the corn nuggets, but will fix that the next time I go.
(4)Jack C.
Decent place if you want to have wings and beer and watch a game. The seating is kind of awkward and the service sometimes is terrible. The food isn't disappointing if you aren't expecting much.
(3)Karl A.
Pretty good bar food, but I have had a couple experiences with bad service that really turned me off to this place. Perhaps the servers were a little cranky because the place was busy for a KU game, but still a basic level of courtesy must be kept up.
(3)