Ladybird Diner

The food was decent, but I was involved in a disappointing incident while there. In walking to the bathroom, I thought I felt a slick spot on the floor. Upon returning, I definitely hit the spot wrong, & fell, bruising my knees, & unable to catch myself, hit my forehead on the floor. A busboy witnessed the incident, asked if I was ok, but didn’t offer assistance. When I said, «that floor is slick» he said, «I know.» I replied, «you’d better get a mop out.» The proof of the greasy floor was on my oil stained jeans. I didn’t want to make a fuss since I was there with friends celebrating a birthday. I was shocked when my fall was never acknowledged. I finally asked our waitress for an ice pack for my head. She apologized, but management was never called to the table. Very disappointing experience. I definitely won’t be back. I still have a lump on my forehead 5 hours later.

This is one of those places where I can see why someone might like it but I just don’t. I feel like the staff is friendly– IF they like you. If they don’t, you’ll notice.
I once ordered biscuits and gravy (nothing else) and it took at least 20 minutes to get it. Sorry, but that is not the kind of thing that a diner cooks from scratch to order. There’s no reason for it to take that long. They were busy, but not so busy that they couldn’t just hand me a plate. I felt like I just wasn’t a priority because I was alone and I didn’t order much.
And the food isn’t exactly awful, it just is NOT worth the price. I’ve yet to eat anything there that I couldn’t have made better myself.

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 décor 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.

LadyBird is a great part of the Lawrence restaurant scene – Lawrence does not have enough local places that serve delicious breakfast and brunch, so LadyBird is a jewel. You can get breakfast and lunch during open hours, a boon when you need a chicken fried steak bigger than your head at 8am or when you need delicious latin-​inspired eggs at 3pm.
I have never had a bad meal here – the pot pie has the flakiest crust you have ever imagined, the grits casserole (when you can get it) is one of the most amazing casseroles I have ever had, the chicken fried stead is big enough for 2 (or maybe 3) people, the donuts are plentiful and always changing.
This diner, featuring interesting cocktails, delicious takes on classic fare, and well-​known for their amazing pies, is a go to for anyone who loves good food. The space is comfortable, but often packed for weekend brunch… go early and go often.

Great breakfast! The huevos brava wasn’t much to look at but had great flavor. The Dakota was more food than I could even think about eating. And the pancakes were amongst the best I’ve ever had! I could have done without the bad cowboy music, but will definitely be back for the food!

Adorable little place right in the heart of Lawrence. This restaurant is so cute that if it was a person, you would want to pinch it’s cheeks. Come here for breakfast, brunch or pie and a milkshake and you won’t be disappointed. A fun throwback to the 1950’s.

Staff was very pleasant and accommodating. Biscuits and gravy tasted sour and they gave us a new dish sand were very understanding. French fries and bacon were great. Food overall is pretty average, but not terribly expensive. The atmosphere is cool though!

This is a really cool place on Mass Street in Lawrence! Although I can’t remember the name, I had the meal with black beans and a cheese quesadilla, covered with an egg, onions, radishes, cilantro, avocado, etc. Very good! Everything my friends got looked good too. We didn’t have any pie (because it was 11AM after a final), but I’ve heard they’re delicious.
They’ve got a donut counter toward the front of the store. I’m definitely going back, because their flavors looked so good! Birthday cake, maple bacon, apple cider, and, the one I’m looking forward to trying, PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE. I’ll eat anything with peanut butter. Can’t wait to go back and get one!

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

Delicious, creative diner menu. Great pies! The menu may have changed since previous posts, as I did not see sweet potato hash, but I did enjoy the roasted potato hash and the cheesy grits were a bowl of warm creamy goodness!

Oh my, what good food! We each had the same thing — the Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich. I don’t wanna know the number of calories in this dish, but it doesn’t matter — they’re worth it. The chicken was crisp and hot and the corn and jalapeño relish was a perfect tart and spicey touch. My daughter and I could have shared one sandwich but ended up taking home hefty leftovers. We also had a side of cornbread and honey butter that was absolutely delicious. Our server was very attentive and funny. We bought an apple/​blueberry pie and brought it home. I can tell you that was the best pie I’ve ever eaten. Now it’s time to hit the treadmill — again, totally worth it.

Pie!
This is a pie-​only review, but golly! What pie! Second time here. We had a blueberry-​peach-​rhubarb and a blackberry-​apple. A la mode. That is good pie. The crust begs to be eaten. The fruits sing in harmony.
Take my advice. Fall in love with the pie first. Give them some slack on the 50’s grill offerings. Back in the 50’s/60’s, grill food was what it was (is) – we just didn’t know any better. Buy enough of their pie and, with time, they’ll adjust the rest of the menu.

Where else in Lawrence can you get a slice of homemade pie, a cocktail, and watch the Hawks play on a Saturday afternoon? What a place!

We just ate at the Ladybird Dinner it was excellent! Service very good. Everything is made from scratch. You can tell with quality ingredients. Limited menu but definitely recommend eating here. Pie is fantastic

I went here with a friend tonight. It took a while for a host to notice us, but once she did we were seated immediately at a window table with a great view. The server was very nice and aided me in choosing an item — the sweet potato hash. The entrees were served in less than ten minutes and the presentation was surprisingly nice for a diner setting. The meal itself was pieces of sweet potato, regular potato, chickpeas, kale, and what seemed to be jalapeño. Next to it was a delicious bit of green harissa sauce and a very gross dollop of sesame yogurt. All in all, the hash didn’t really seem to come together. The kale seemed out of place and the chickpeas tasted like they came from a can. The hash needed more spices and the serving size could have been easily cut in half. Afterwards we had a piece of spiced peach pie. The crust was a little burnt, but it was overall very tasty.
That being said Ladybird Diner is wonderfully decorated and feels very homey. The staff is great, if not a bit overworked.
Unfortunately, the menu isn’t great for vegetarians. I really wish I could’ve had a sweet breakfast item, like pancakes. I’ll have to go back sometime in the morning.

Great little place. Only had to wait 15 minutes, but they have the crucial coffee for the wait. Very friendly staff. The atmosphere is a funky/​college town vibe. A bit loud with music and people competing with it.
I had the huevos bueno which is their take on a Mexican tradition, but better. The wife and daughter had the pancakes, eggs & bacon. My boy had biscuits and gravy with a side of hash browns.
If I’m ever back in town I’ll be back.

I’ve been hearing a lot about this place since the great fire of whatever year it was. As lovers of breakfast food and sweets, we were looking forward to this place reopening… and my 16 year old brother in law was really excited when the announcement (on facebook?) was made that it would be open for business «in a few weeks».
So we’d stroll downtown… closed still. Okay, I get it. It takes time.
Then it was REALLY open this time (again, per facebook)… so we went for dinner on a random Monday. Closed, with a sign taped to the front door. How annoying.
So two days ago, we were like… okay THIS IS IT! Let’s go! We get seated… and are promptly told by the server that they were «not serving the breakfast items» — which included the three columns on the front of the menu and two on the back.
Oh okay. So. 2/3^rd’s of the menu was not being served at 6 oclock. WHY. We said thanks and got up and left to eat somewhere else. Who is running this place? Go hire the best PR firm lil’ ol’ Lawrence has to offer, man. Yall need it.

«Ladybird is as Lawrency as Lawrence gets» quoth my friend. True words. A new storied Lawrence tradition that I hope never changes and never closes. Donuts (I had the Lawrence Special) was awesome. Fluffy, crunch, frosted & sprinkled. Friend’s mom did not order a donut, waitress asks, «are you going to be OK without a donut?» Are we all ever OK without donut, really? Their cheesy grits were the best I ever had. Boozy breakfast drinks were very good, I had the hibiscus mimosa. Served in a mason jar, which now I believe all breakfast drinks should be. Friend had a Bloody Mary, comes with a side of PBR, as God intended. Brought hubby a slice home of the bourbon peach pie made from scratch, was inhaled the second I got home. Cannot wait to go back. The chicken fried steak and coconut cream pie are calling my name…

I can sum this up in just a few words: Go here for pie. And coffee. The coffee is actually pretty good (and I’m picky about coffee!) and their home-​made pies are delicious. Everything else, as far as I can tell, is pretty much meh.
Service was fast and friendly.
We’ll stop in again and again for pie. But won’t bother with a meal here the next time around.

Hell yea!
Finally, someone has found a way to bring back to downtown what’s been sorely missing since legendary haunts like Paradise Café and Tin Pan Alley closed long ago: a no-​nonsense diner kind of joint that’s casual, has not an ounce of pretense and is serving up solid food your granny or great granny would love. Looking for pot roast with mashed potatoes and gravy? A solid single, double or triple burger? Some home crafted hash with a couple of runny eggs or biscuits and gravy? Yep, got ‘em. –Applause–
And pie. Really GOOD pie. The carmel apple was sold out when we arrived late but the coconut cream was stupidly good. This is the kind of place someone is walking around with the coffee pot looking for caffeine addic… er, coffee lovers. Thank you.
I won’t name the previous tenant that occupied this space but when I heard a new restaurant was going in here the first thought was — toxic location — they’d better bring their A game or they’re in trouble. When you’re cramming every table full a few weeks into being open in this space you know something good is happening.
I see myself returning here. Often.
Downtown casual dining just moved up a notch.