One of the best ways Lawrence shows off its charm and its character is in its restaurants. From The Wheel down the hill from campus, to the sports bars on Massachusetts Street, Lawrence provides a variety of great places to grab a bite to eat, get a drink and bask in the congeniality of this mid-western college town.

No one will go through four years at the University and make to every restaurant in town, but if nothing else do not miss Jefferson’s, 743 Massachusetts St.

Jefferson’s has great wings, chicken fingers and burgers. With an “everybody knows your name” environment and a great location, Jefferson’s is the fundamental college sports bar. And don’t forget to bring markers because at Jefferson’s, patrons can decorate a dollar any way they want, and have it added to collage of dollar bills that covers the walls.

“Jefferson’s is the perfect college town restaurant and bar,” Bob Sherrets, Lincoln, Neb., senior, said. “Its location and school spirit make it perfect for hanging out and enjoying college.”

Other great spots in the Jefferson’s category, which should not be missed, are The Yacht Club, 530 Wisconsin St., and Johnny’s Tavern, 401 N. Second St.

The Yacht Club is not the snobby boating community its name refers to, but actually a rabid sports bar that has a standing room only crowd on football and basketball games days. Plus the food is excellent.

Johnny’s Tavern, another classic Lawrence sports bar, has served Jayhawk fans since 1957 and offers great burgers and fantastic pizza. It sits just north of the Kansas River, but if there ever was a reason to travel to north Lawrence, Johnny’s was the reason.

To partake in a Lawrence tradition and to experience the University’s most famous bar head to the Wagon Wheel, 507 14th St., on weekday afternoons between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The Wheel serves great burgers, chicken sandwiches and fries during the afternoon, and is home to the famous, thanks to SportsCenter anchor Scott Van Pelt, Wang Burger.

“The Wheel is like KU’s version of The Max from Saved By the Bell,” said P.J. Owings Kansas City, MO., 2007 graduate. “If you don’t go at least once you are missing out on a special Kansas tradition.”

The last can’t miss sports bar in town is Bigg’s Barbeque. The best place for ribs and pulled pork sandwiches in town, Bigg’ss also is also equipped with HDTVs in plain view from every seat in the house and it accepts Beak ‘Em Bucks.

From an ethnic standpoint, Lawrence provides some great locally-owned options. Jade Mongolian Barbeque, 1511 W. 23rd St., is a terrific blend of Mongolian grill and Chinese buffet. With an all you can eat buffet, soft serve ice cream, and a free soft drink with a KUID, students can stuff their faces for less than $10 at Jade Mongolian.

The former nightclub EightOneFive turned into the authentic Mexican restaurant Cielito Lindo, 815 New Hampshire St., two years ago this October. Cielito Lindo offers quality Mexican food at reasonable prices and a classic Mexican atmosphere. The restaurant’s large patio makes it a perfect place to eat and drink outside on a nice day.

For students looking to class it up, two fine dinning options are Ten at the Eldridge Hotel, 701 Massachusetts St. and Yokohama, 811 New Hampshire St.

Ten serves great steaks, pastas and seafood and it might be Lawrence’s finest restaurant. It also might be a little out of the price range for typical college students. Save Ten for special occasions or maybe parents weekend. The atmosphere is as elegant as elegant gets in a college town and makes for a great date restaurant or celebration spot. Plan on spending $20 to $35 in order to truly enjoy Ten.

“Ten is the best place to go to on a date, I love the intimate setting and the food is awesome,” said Liz Grosspietsch, Barrington, Ill., senior.

Yokohama makes customers feel like they walked out of Lawrence into a cozy bistro in Tokyo. The best place to go for sushi in Lawrence, Yokohama recently moved to its current location and created a fashion forward and stylish restaurant that complements the quality of the food. Yokohama is neither overly lavish nor overpriced, but it will definitely cost more than an average meal in Lawrence.

This is by no means a comprehensive survey of the Lawrence restaurant scene, but it marks the highlights, and each of the aforementioned establishments deserves a visit from anyone new to Lawrence.

— — Edited by Matt Hirschfeld