The best part about this place is that everyone that works there seems genuinely happy and excited to be doing their job. The customer service is top notch- you are taken care of from the time you walk into the door until you're paying the check. They make the dining experience such a positive one! The food is fantastic and unique and the atmosphere is fun and friendly. The cocktails are delicious and you've GOT to have a donut! This place is a hidden gem. read more

VERY good wholesome food in large portions. You can see they care about their business and try hard to please. A calorie splurge type place, lots of gravy, grits, pie....... Very clean, attentive staff, creative comfort food. Even my picky husband wants to go back. Soon. read more

Best breakfast in LFK, hands down (or, hands up, waving like crazy)! Went in on a Sunday morning, and though there was a crowd waiting to get in, only took my wife and I about 10 minutes to be seated. The staff are great! The food - outstanding. The portions are incredible! I had the country fried steak with roasted peppers and it was the best I've ever had. I highly recommend the Bloody Mary, that comes with a PBR chaser! Thank you!!! read more

Was surprised at how expensive this was for how mediocre the food is and how small the portion sizes are. Could make any of this in your own kitchen. Vegans beware--nothing on their menu is for you. read more

Ok... the BEST! Simply the best! Wife had hot roast beef. Melt in your mouth delicious. The gravy was the same as my mothers that I never found a match to in decades (sorry Mom). Mashed potatoes were awesome; all served over homemade bread. I had the pork tenderloin sandwich and I am way picky on tenderloins. Since I was a kid I have held true to my favorite place to get a tenderloin is a dive bar in Paola; not anymore. Hands down this was the best pork T I have ever had. Awesome coating with seasoning that is spot on and so tender; amazingly tender. We saved room for homemade pie. I did blackberry and the wife ordered peach. Both simply off the hook delicious. I watched the owner in the kitchen at the cooktop wield two spatulas like a ninja. Her team around her from the hostess to servers to second in the kitchen are the strongest team I have ever watched work through getting slammed to turning tables... a full team machine! You will not go wrong coming to the Ladybird. Don't miss it or you are really going to miss it... Enjoy! read more

i am writing A review of the lady bird sadly its not good. Now I love the lady bird been there many timesbut the last 3 times have slowly but surely gone down in quality very badly. the first time the problem was that i had ordered a breakfast plate .Usually it is very good.So Iasked for some potatoes fried instead of hashborns.Anyway the potaoes had been fried in with they had cooked french toast so they were god awful tasted like maple and cinnamon ,really disgusting.So I told the mnager and setook it off the bill.Then the time before Iordered pankakes and usually they are very light and not soggy ,but this time they were tough and soggy .Once again the manager made it riht she is a great manager there.Now today my friend and I went there I ordred bisquits and gravy and one pankake the bisquits were so old and tough plus there were cold and just awful both of us sent them back .Now the mananger was not there today but she will be there tommorow and I plan to call her and talk to her about this .Like I said I really like this place but tis is 3 times that things and food was terrible read more

The food and environment at the Lady Bird Diner are amazing! I am so glad we have this little dinner spot! A perfect edition to downtown Lawrence! You have to try it at least one. I can promise when you do, you'll be back! read more

Great food and friendly service. We had egg salad and it was great. Order pie for dessert. Only problem is it's on the pricey side. But the food was quality. read more

It's a great place for pie and doughnuts, but their brunch menu is limited--not much to choose from if you want something light. Their 1950's refurbished decor gives the restaurant a cool vibe. The tattooed, punk-looking employees always provide great service. My favorite item on the breakfast menu is the Huevos Rancheros, followed by the French toast. At night, this place turns into a fabulous bar and grill to grab drinks and dinner with friends. read more

This diner is so good, we went 3 days in a row. MUST try the chicken fried steak and hash browns. One of the best places in Lawrence for breakfast/ brunch. read more

Warm and cozy. Great chicken pot pie. Great Huevos Bravos. Lots of other options. And pie!

I've been here maybe ten times or so, both pre- and post-fire, and I feel like both versions of the restaurant could use some work. I'm going to get the biggest issue out of the way -- cleanliness. Nearly every time I've been here, I have been served food on a plate that has not been properly cleaned. I ran my finger around the rim of the plate on the top-side and the underside and felt dried, crusty food on both sides of the plate. Once, I was served coffee with a previous customer's lipstick on the mug. That sort of thing is a bit too much for me to notice and be able to enjoy my meal. My tables have rarely been wiped down, (usually by the windows) because I find crumbs on the table and on my chair as I sit down. The decor is like stepping back in time to your grandmother's kitchen that has not changed its look since the space race, lead paint and all (I can assure you, there is no lead paint at Ladybird Diner, but you get the idea). The music choice is very period-focused, which I appreciate. So is the wait staff, which have always been incredibly courteous. The food -- it's mediocre. Pre-fire the issue was that it was too bland, unbalanced, and every time I went pre-fire there was little consistency with how well the food was made. I felt that as it was still a fairly new business pre-fire, it was still very busy most days of the week (at least the days I went) that they fried to push as much food out as possible. Kind of backfired. Each meal, if I recall correctly, came with two sides, like a potato and, what i chose to get, the cheesy grits casserole. Now, the menu has been paired down. The emphasis on breakfast food is lessened, but it still makes up a respectable amount of the menu. A few nights ago, i ordered biscuits and gravy. It was almost sickeningly sweet, with the amount of buttermilk used in both the biscuits and the gravy. The pies, though, are fantastic. read more

Great service, wonderful atmosphere, fantastic food. There are options available so that if you don't want a big breakfast, you can order things individually and they are just as fulfilling. I like to get cheesy grits and hash browns from their side menu. The cheesy grits are the best! read more

Don't understand the hype for this place. I've eaten here maybe 5 times and each time it was because I was like.. I must be getting the wrong stuff. But after reading discussion about Ladybird elsewhere, I've found I'm not alone. I honestly don't think I'd place the food quality any higher than Perkins. I haven't eaten at Perkins in almost 15 years but I remember the bland mediocrity of everything you ate. That's what you get here for the most part. But at Perkins you get way more food at like half the price. The 2nd star is just because the pie can be pretty good sometimes. But it's exorbitantly priced. Everything in the place needs to be taken down a good $2-5 in price. Just because it's 'homemade' doesn't mean you can charge an arm and a leg. And if it's indeed 'homemade'.. why is it so mediocre? read more

The food is always great. Heuvos Bravo is my favorite. My mom loves the fried chicken sandwich. I've also had their pancakes, eggs, and sausage. They make their own sausage and it's delicious! And the pie.... Coconut cream is wonderful. I also really like the peanut butter pie, but I always order that to go and put chocolate chips on it at home. I think it's the missing ingredient. read more

I can't say that I am surprised that I found one of the most hospitable places to eat in the friendly town of Lawrence, Kansas. With mid-range prices, staff that feels like family, and an oh-so-delicious potpie, I will definitely be going back for another visit in the near future. As soon as I walked into Ladybird diner, I noticed a plastic bin of sidewalk chalk. My first assumption was that it would be used for advertising on the sidewalk. Then, as I peeked inside the other bins, I realized that there were coloring books, huge crayons of all colors, and brightly colored toys for kids to entertain themselves with. Having been a former nanny, I immediately appreciated the thoughtfulness that Ladybird Diner had regarding the tiny busy bodies that families have to keep occupied in a small area. The stress of a long wait to be seated with antsy kids could easily be lifted off of parents' shoulders. They also had bright red and turquoise benches outside for those waiting, which is important to have due to the lack of seating on bustling Massachusetts Street. Because I went to Ladybird Diner on a Thursday afternoon, I was seated immediately at the front of the diner by a big, open window. I took a sip of ice cold water and decided to order a coffee, no cream. My waiter swiftly brought back a mug and slid it gracefully onto the table. Being a former barista and coffee connoisseur, I can say with confidence that it was by far one of the most nutty, almost buttery, tasteful cups of black coffee that I have ever been served at a restaurant for $2.19. I decided to order the Chicken Pot Pie for $12.99. I took a bit of a chance considering all that they had on the menu for the description was, "Pie is kind of our thing here. This is a solid choice". I trusted their comment and took a leap. I was in high hopes, but tried not to get them too high due to the fact that I have grown up eating my mom's homemade pot pie and had yet to try one that was better than hers. I figured that I must have made the right decision because I saw freshly baked potpies flying out of the kitchen and onto the tables of fellow customers. As I was waiting for my food, I realized that the majority of people that were eating at Ladybird Diner were families that looked as happy as can be and laughing over probably a funny dad joke or something maybe a little too honest that the toddler had just said. I also saw several older couples that had most likely been married for years and still looked into each other's eyes as if they had just fallen in love. The waiters and waitresses served all of the customers as if they had known them for years, although I knew this wasn't the case because I heard the servers introduce themselves to the customers. I had never been to a diner with more of a hometown vibe with such welcoming personalities. My potpie arrived in a timely matter and as it's flaky crust was placed in front of me, I couldn't help my mouth from watering, anticipating my first bite, as the waiter asked if I needed anything else. I found myself staring down a massive potpie with buttery, savory, golden, crust with fresh dandelion leaves as a garnish. Carefully picking up my spoon, I began to break away the top layer of crust. Steam rose in the air filling my nose, taking me to a wonderland of gravy, chicken and vegetables. The thick, creamy gravy broke to the top as I scooped my first bite into my mouth. I was in awe with how rich and buttery a single bite could be. This definitely exceeded expectations and put my mom's potpie in second place. Sorry mom. This was the kind of hardy, home cooked meal that I had been searching for in a diner. The chicken was cooked to perfection, tender and delectable. The diced potatoes were the perfect texture, smooth and boiled to perfection. I am normally not a fan of carrots, but this dish changed my perspective. They were a combination of soft and sweet, leaving my taste buds wanting more. The celery and onions were a nice addition to the potpie when it comes to texture, but I do wish that the celery wasn't so sparse and that I could have tasted a bit more of the onion. After my homey, stomach filling experience, I can with confidence give Ladybird Diner 4 out of 5 stars. The atmosphere, service, and food were everything that I want in a diner. I will be returning bringing along everyone that I know with me to discover the great hospitality and flavors that Ladybird Diner has to offer. read more

Ladybird Diner is a restaurant that gives a glimpse back to an older time of vintage diners, while still seamlessly incorporating a modern twist. This homey restaurant is located in the heart of downtown Lawrence, Kansas on Massachusetts Street. Dozens of people walked by with each passing minute, trying to decide where they wanted to delight themselves with lunch. I, along with many others, fortunately chose the Ladybird Diner to silence my hunger. I can personally say that I was not disappointed. Within the restaurant, polished wooden floors flowed throughout the diner. Low hanging lights with covers of different shades of blue, red, and orange dangled from the ceiling. The ceiling was a rustic white with old square carved designs. The chestnut brick walls were decorated with a few stone busts in a straight line near the ceiling. A chalkboard menu rested in the center of the brick wall and listed the specials of the day in neon chalk handwriting. The chrome bar was warmly lit with Christmas lights dripping from the cabinets. The countertops behind the bar were littered with old fashioned milk shake mixers and shake glassware. Across from the bar were two display cases. One of the display cases was a glass counter in an L shape. The other display case was a tall glass showcase with bright white lights inside. These cases were home to some of Ladybird Diner's famous pies as well as their cakes. A combination of Indie and Folk music hovered in the background of everyone's conversation. The wait staff scurried about, attending to their many designated tables. They kept a smile on their face and seemed very involved in their customers. My waiter was very inviting and well informed of the menu. After careful consideration and a good fifteen minutes of mental debate, I decided to order a chocolate shake for $5.49 and the huevos bravos for $9.99. The milk shake was delivered to my table within about 5 minutes. The shakes at Ladybird are hand dipped and hand mixed, given that I previously used to hand mix shakes myself at a previous job, I greatly appreciated their precious time and effort. Personally, I prefer my chocolate shakes to be made of a decadent and rich chocolate ice cream, but the one Ladybird offered was a close runner up. The chocolate shake was made with rich vanilla ice cream mixed with chocolate syrup. It was decorated with whipped cream and topped off with a rose red maraschino cherry. It had a nice, creamy consistency. The shake was not too thin and not too thick, the perfect amount of milk to ice cream ratio was present. Shortly after receiving my shake, my entrée had arrived. There it was, a cotija cheese quesadilla surrounded with black refried beans and topped with a sunny side up egg. The egg was garnished with fluorescent purple pickled onions and cilantro. Two slices of avocado were delicately placed next to four slices of radishes atop the black refried beans on the edge of the plate. I had no idea how to approach this piece of art, so I decided to just dig right in. The flavors blended seamlessly with each other in each bite. The cotija cheese was very creamy inside of the buttery tortilla. The radishes added a crunch to the smooth texture to counter the smoothness of the refried black beans. The pickled onions added a subtle and appreciated sweetness to whole dish as well as accentuate the savoriness of the avocado. The huevos bravos was marvelous as well as colorful. I finished as much as I could handle, it would have been a sin not to. The waiter kept up with the water and checked on my table frequently. For the Ladybird Diner, I have decided to give it a rating of four out of five stars. The food honestly surpassed my expectations and the atmosphere was so much more than just enjoyable. read more

Such a cool place! Delightful space, super friendly staff, small but hearty menu, and INCREDIBLE food. I recomment their Brussel sprout hash, buttermilk fried chicken sandwich, and their donuts! So many fresh, yummy ingredients and really interesting flavor combinations. I had a lavender donut! What?! Delish. Such a unique place, if you want a true taste of Lawrence, you've gotta check out Ladybird! read more

Awesome food, wait staff, and environment! Food didn't take long at all and tasted incredible. I will definitely be coming back whenever I'm in Lawrence. read more

I had the brisket sandwich and mashed potatoes and gravy. Both were excellent! The service was also excellent. Shannon was our server and was extremely friendly and attentive. Can't wait to go back and try something else, although it might be difficult to stray from the brisket sandwich. read more

Not happy when politics are brought into dinning.. won't go back..sat at counter and was amazed how filthy the kitchen was.. Lawrence must not have health inspector.. couldn't drag me back..no thanks Fred read more

Brunch at Ladybird is delicious, and the service is always friendly. I wish I could save room for a donut, but I'm unable to stop myself from finishing all of my meal. This is a problem I'm willing to live with. For now. read more

The Ladybird diner has atmosphere unlike any other breakfast spot in Lawrence and the portions never disappoint. I always leave feeling full and satisfied. I enjoy their vegetarian option which changes with the season. Their sausage is patty style and is seasoned nicely. I have been here more than 10 times and can say 5 stars is accurate. My only advice to customers is to arrive early! If school is in session, Saturdays and Sundays will likely have a wait. read more

My wife and I had dinner there last night. I had the worst Gyros I've ever eaten. It tasted more like a microwave wrap that had been sitting around a 7/11 for a couple of days. The flatbread--not pita--was stale and tasted like cardboard. The portion of meat was small and bland. Instead of tzatziki, the sauce was a runny mess. This overpriced travesty does not belong on anyone's menu. Ladybird is a very good breakfast spot--stick to what they do best. read more

I went for an early lunch and sat at the bar. Service was great; very friendly, attentive and quick. The food was also great- I had the chicken sandwich which was cooked extremely well and had an interesting variety of toppings on it. I would definitely return to this spot! read more

Fun decor and okay staff. I've tried them before and not impressed the first time. So I decided to try them again. Again, not impressed. I ordered a hamburger and fries and my burger was the size of a slider. If I had known that, I would have ordered something else. Next time you want a burger, please go somewhere else. read more

Ladybird has been open for a month or two now and I've eaten there 437 times (give or take). I love the burgers, the breakfasts, the shakes, the pies, the atmosphere, etc. Best addition to downtown we've had in a long time. read more

All I have to say is: Sweet tea pork chops. Amazing. For a diner concept restaurant they do an excellent job! By the way, they sell shakes and have a full bar! Ask for a chocolate milkshake with a couple of shots of Amaretto :) read more

Doesn't matter what you order, the food is fresh, made to order and scrumptious. But if you need a recommendation- order the chicken fried steak, it's simply the best! Definitely one of our favorites. And the staff is so friendly! read more

What a great little spot in downtown LFK! While the food and pies are delicious, it's the fun staff that really set the Ladybird apart. We've been there on several occasions and always have a great time. The burgers and fries are great and the chicken fried steak, biscuits and gravy, home made donuts and and other menu items are delicious. Beer, wine and festive cocktails are also available. Don't miss it! read more

Terrible food! The meatloaf was 90% corn meal and the mashed potatoes tasted like they had just been run through the dishwasher. When we told the management about our food they took forever to get us our ticket and they gave us no discount or coupons. We left still starving and with terrible stomach aches. They don't even deserve one star. read more

Visiting from San Diego. After waiting for 30 minutes, we sere seated in the front by the window. The flys were so bad we were constantly shooing them away. Sausage was spoiled, I could smell it from across the table. The scrambled eggs were runny. We left without Eating. Won't be back. read more

Love Ladybird, my kids could eat the donuts errrrday, Bloody Mary comes with a side of "lake beer". I would love if they'd toss an omelette on the menu (please?). I will also stand behind any business/owner who fights injustice without hesitation read more

Best. Pie. Ever. Try the Salted Honey or the Coconut Cream. Amazing pie.

When I read the initial introduction of what the Ladybird was going to entail I was SO excited to finally have a "comfort food" kinda place in Lawrence. They were going to have hearty soups and chicken fried steak and food you would get at your Aunt's house. I've been to the Diner twice now. The first time they were just opening and were not serving their full menu. The second time, I was sad that the menu had changed all together and there is no comfort food. Only lifeless, cold sandwiches and dinky burgers. The only chicken dish was for the kids but we were told they only serve chicken on Sunday. What? My friend's hamburger patty was just a bit larger than the pickle slice. The cherry phosphate sounded exotic but tasted like flat watered down sprite. We also were seated in the back and I agree, it isn't an ideal place to be seated especially if you have an issue with food prep cleanliness. To be fair, the pie is amazing but it's a bit pricy at $4 for a small slice. I want this place to do well because I think the concept is a good one. They just need to find a menu that is truly diner worthy and get some good kitchen and wait staff to make it happen. read more

Really nice place for breakfast or lunch. Stopped by as it was just a few doors down from The Eldridge. Surprising to see such a big boozy morning drink menu. Will plan on trying one next time I'm there. Cozy retro feel &I the service was nice. I never felt in danger of my water or coffee going dry. Tried the short stack pancakes. Short, but very wide & nearly filled up the plate. Felt like it got my money's worth. Added some chocolate chips. I swear the base batter tastes the same as the batter used to make your sweet donuts...which I loved. It had a creamy richness that is just crisp around the edges. I brought home my leftovers & look forward to finishing it in the morning. My husband had the biscuits & gravy, those were some big biscuits. He ran out of gravy & the waitress offered to bring more so he could finish them out, very nice service. We declined that for a slice of coconut cream pie & glad we did. Loved it. I will plan to stop in again when we go back through town. A great stop for breakfast anytime! Just a couple notes: get a bigger sign outside (we walked by twice before seeing it) & maybe put up a sign inside to "seat yourselves". I think that would cut down of the five groups that came in asking the same question. My husband noticed the cook tasting & seasoning while cooking, a sign of professionalism in the kitchen in our book. Keep up the great food! read more

Great food, great service. The service staff are all very nice and attentive. The food is fresh and taste and the atmosphere is playful and pleasant. Our waiter Luis was super friendly, helpful and overall this has been one of the best dinning experiences in Kansas I've ever had. read more

I went there a couple of times (for breakfast and dinner) now and it is really really good. Everything semez homemade, and the chicken pot pie is to die for! The biscuits are also very good. Prices are reasonable, definitely one of je best places to go for food in Lawrence if not the best. They also offer homemade pies and donuts. read more

Best breakfast in Lawrence. Cheese grits to die for, yea War Eagle Mill. Too full for pie, next time it will be the appetizer!

I feel like this place would be a wonderful diner if it had more menu items to choose from (I'm a vegetarian, so perhaps that's my own fault), and if it served a decent amount of whatever food you order for the price. I've always left still feeling really hungry, but not willing to spend any more than I already have. Might just be due to my plate choices. The pie's pretty good though! I think I'd only be back for a quick dessert. read more