Rock Chalk Talk - The 2015 RCT Lawrence Food BracketRock It. Chalk It. Talk It.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/51531/rct-fav.png2015-07-14T20:25:58-05:00http://www.rockchalktalk.com/rss/stream/84973822015-07-14T20:25:58-05:002015-07-14T20:25:58-05:002015 Lawrence Restaurant Bracket: The Champion
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/DOtd8BBuZGD2BpynYScI_gri_f4=/0x1:3000x2001/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46746244/GettyImages-457512148.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Noam Galai/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>And the winner is....</p> <p>The first-ever RCT Lawrence Restaurant bracket concluded yesterday and we have the winner - <a target="_blank" href="http://www.920mass.com/">The Roost</a>!</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.920mass.com/">The Roost</a> knocked off fellow finalist <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sandwichbowl.com/">Sandwich Bowl</a> 1824 to 1585, or 54% of the vote. Not the closest matchup we saw during the bracket, but still a close one. Of course the championship was a pair of restaurants I have not been to; I'll be sure to rectify that this fall during football season. Besides, I'm sure I'll need something to take my mind off the games...</p>
<p>Anyway, it was a fun way to burn a few weeks during the middle of summer. You can agree or disagree with the results as much as you like; I for one will be trying a few more restaurants on my trips back to Lawrence. Thanks to the restaurants themselves for joining in on social media and to all of you, dear readers, for following along and casting your votes.</p>
<p>And I don't care what anyone says, I'm never calling a hot dog a sandwich.</p>
<p>"Yes, I'd like to order a sandwich."</p>
<p>"What would you like, sir?"</p>
<p>"A hot dog."</p>
<p>No. That conversation will never happen.</p>
https://www.rockchalktalk.com/2015/7/14/8966633/2015-lawrence-restaurant-bracket-the-championmikevilleKS12015-07-10T16:00:02-05:002015-07-10T16:00:02-05:00RCT Restaurant Finals: Sandwich Bowl vs Roost
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-XmcWuLfm3UvCtiqmQbQCj2hTmM=/1347x682:3254x1953/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46711732/GettyImages-109326310.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Oli Scarff/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>After a long and arduous process, the two remaining survivors battle it out for the crown in the inaugural edition of the Rock Chalk Talk Lawrence Restaurant Bracket.</p> <p>This is it. The final hurdle for two restaurants that have braved the winds of social media opinion. The final chance for you, the reader, to weigh in on which restaurant deserves the title of Best Restaurant in Lawrence (as determined by RCT readers).</p>
<p>In one corner, representing the Rio Adams region, the 9th seeded <a href="http://www.sandwichbowl.com/" target="_blank">Sandwich Bowl</a> defeated a slew of restaurants on the way to the finals. They started with a walloping of 8th-seeded Genovese (74%), eeked out a victory against 16th seeded Slow Ride Roadhouse (51%), put up a solid victory against Rudy's (67%), overpowered the truffle sauce of Dempsey's (52%), and inched ahead of Pizza Shuttle in the Final Four (51%). They've shown both the ability to run roughshod over an overmatched opponent and also to hang tough in the face of adversity. The fact that they undoubtedly have the approval of <a href="http://stitchipediaalilostitch.wikia.com/wiki/Reuben_(625)" target="_blank">Reuben</a> doesn't hurt their cause either.</p>
<p>In the other corner, representing the Gilbert Brown region, the 10th seeded <a href="http://www.920mass.com/" target="_blank">The Roost</a> ran its own gauntlet of opponents to reach the finals. They started by taking down another sandwich shop, 7th seeded Yello Sub (51%), taking down a not-so-happy-to-be-included 15th-seeded Basil Leaf Cafe in the second round (51%), snuck by the 11th-seeded Wheat State Pizza in the Sweet Sixteen (52%), finally ended the run of up-start The Flamingo Club (56%) and edged out Bigg's BBQ in the Final Four (51%). They have refused to wilt under pressure, but it remains to be seen how they will handle an early deficit.</p>
<p>The voting period runs for an extra day, so make you sure get out the word and make this the highest vote total of the bracket.</p>
https://www.rockchalktalk.com/2015/7/10/8928243/2015-rct-lawrence-restaurant-bracket-championship-sandwich-bowl-vsAndy Mitts2015-07-06T16:00:02-05:002015-07-06T16:00:02-05:00Final 4: Bigg's BBQ vs The Roost
<figure>
<img alt="Is this for BBQ or breakfast? Either way you can't go wrong." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/exqlJLhZTeXAOP0N3EpTXUlWIf8=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46678324/GettyImages-474285082.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Is this for BBQ or breakfast? Either way you can't go wrong. | Joe Raedle/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The 4 seed from the Anthony Collins region takes on the 10 seed from the Gilbert Brown region.</p> <p style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; line-height: normal;">Bigg's BBQ (4)</p>
<p style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; line-height: normal;">College basketball equivalent: 1995 Oklahoma St.</p>
<p style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; line-height: normal;">1997 Arizona works here too, but those memories still hurt too much, so let's go with another comparison. '95 Okie St. was a talented 4 seed, with their two-headed monster of Bryant Reeves and Randy Rutherford. The Cowboys got better as the tournament went on, taking out Tim Duncan and 1-seed Wake Forest in the Sweet Sixteen, then rolling 2-seed UMASS and Marcus Camby by 14 in the Elite Eight. Similarly, Bigg's, no slouch going into the tournament, dusted off Mad Greek and Six Mile early, and impressively dismissed tourney favorite Burger Stand in the Elite Eight. Plus, is there any doubt that Big Country's favorite restaurant in Lawrence would be Bigg's?</p>
<p style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; line-height: normal;"> </p>
<p style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; line-height: normal;"> </p>
<p style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; line-height: normal;">The Roost (10)</p>
<p style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; line-height: normal;">College basketball equivalent: 2010 Michigan State</p>
<p style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; line-height: normal;">Both The Roost and the Spartans had eerily similar tournament runs. The Roost squeaked by in every round, winning their matchups with 51%, 51%, 52%, and 56% of the vote, respectively. In 2010, Sparty advanced by 3 points, 2 points, 7 points, and 1 point on their way to Indianapolis.</p>
<p style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; line-height: normal;">On top of that, neither participant had to travel anywhere close to the toughest possible path, as each of their respective regions were littered with upsets. The Roost only had to play the 7 seed, 15 seed, 11 seed and 16 seed. Michigan State just had to get by the 12 seed, 4 seed, 9 seed (ugh, thanks Farokhmanesh), and 6 seed.</p>
<div><br></div>
https://www.rockchalktalk.com/2015/7/6/8899459/2015-rct-lawrence-restaurant-bracket-final-four-biggs-bbq-vs-the-roostHammen2015-07-06T14:00:02-05:002015-07-06T14:00:02-05:00Final 4: The Sandwich Bowl vs Pizza Shuttle
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/40_Vt6wcM1e-v5ugIKVwpvHF9-A=/6x0:2994x1992/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46678310/GettyImages-81403125.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The 9 seed from the Rio Adams region takes on the 15 seed from the Jeff Graves region.</p> <p style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; line-height: normal;">Sandwich Bowl (9)</p>
<p style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; line-height: normal;">College basketball equivalent: 1985 Villanova</p>
<p style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; line-height: normal;">I almost went with 2000 North Carolina here, but ultimately they were too talented and popular, having made the Final Four five times in the 90's. When they stumbled into the final weekend again as an 8-seed in 2000, it was met with an eye-roll from every college basketball fan outside of Chapel Hill. There was no Cinderella about it. A blue blood, no matter their seed, is always a threat to make a tournament run. On the other hand, at that point in 1985, Villanova had only made one Final Four since World War II. '85 Nova took down 1-seed Michigan and the 2-seed Tar Heels out of absolutely nowhere. Likewise, Sandwich Bowl, behind its social media army, upset heavy favorites Rudy's and Dempsey's on its way to the Final Four.</p>
<p style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; line-height: normal;"> </p>
<p style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; line-height: normal;">Pizza Shuttle (15)</p>
<p style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; line-height: normal;">College basketball equivalent: 2006 George Mason</p>
<p style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; line-height: normal;">Both Pizza Shuttle and George Mason started the tournament with an eye-opening upset. Mason knocked off tournament guru Tom Izzo and Michigan State; Shuttle ruined the tournament hopes of Lawrence stalwart Free State Brewery. Both basketball team and restaurant kept on advancing in the middle rounds, to the delight of the nation. When both Cinderella squads were supposed to have met their match in the Elite Eight (#1 seed UCONN, massive favorite Zen Zero), they turned in their most exciting performances yet, and unexpectedly found themselves in the Final Four.</p>
https://www.rockchalktalk.com/2015/7/6/8899425/2015-rct-lawrence-restaurant-bracket-final-four-sandwich-bowl-vsHammen2015-07-04T15:00:02-05:002015-07-04T15:00:02-05:002015 Lawrence Restaurant Bracket: Final Four Set
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/QX3jm4kc7Av6oQfWU_S8YSjKeM8=/0x0:4732x3155/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46668568/GettyImages-163779875.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jamie Squire/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>You'll be surprised to see who made the final four, I bet!</p> <p>The first-ever RCT Lawrence Restaurant Bracket is nearing its grand finalé, and we have eliminated all contenders except for four. Dear readers, I offer up to you the best of the best in Lawrence KS, in no particular order:</p>
<p><b>Rio Adams Regional Champion - Sandwich Bowl</b></p>
<p>Social media darling Sandwich Bowl burned through Genovese, Slow Ride Roadhouse, Rudy's Pizza, and Dempsey's to claim their spot in the semifinals.</p>
<p><b>Jeff Graves Regional Champion - Pizza Shuttle</b></p>
<p>College student favorite Pizza Shuttle knocked out Free State Brewery, Merchants, Big Biscuit, and Zen Zero for their stake in the semifinals.</p>
<p><b>Anthony Collins Regional Champion - Bigg's BBQ</b></p>
<p>Bigg's BBQ overcame Quinton's, The Mad Greek, Six Mile Chophouse, and Burger Stand. It's amazing what burnt ends can do.</p>
<p><b>Gilbert Brown Regional Champion - The Roost</b></p>
<p>The Roost beat out Yello Sub, Basil Leaf Cafe, Wheat State Pizza, and The Flamingo Club.</p>
<p>(If you're just now joining us and are wondering about the regional names,<a target="_blank" href="http://www.rockchalktalk.com/2015/6/3/8683375/2015-rct-lawrence-food-bracket/in/8497382"> click here</a>.)</p>
<p><a href="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3844976/2015_Restaurant_Bracket_Final_4.0.pdf">2015 Lawrence Restaurant Bracket Final Four</a>
</p>
<p class="caption">2015 Lawrence Restaurant Bracket Final Four</p>
<p>Congratulations to these four establishments and good luck to them in the tournament semifinals!</p>
https://www.rockchalktalk.com/2015/7/4/8890449/2015-lawrence-restaurant-bracket-final-four-setmikevilleKS12015-06-30T20:01:01-05:002015-06-30T20:01:01-05:00Elite 8: Dempsey's vs The Sandwich Bowl
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/qxAHeb_NMw4X284pJzwKVmVqpAE=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46648664/GettyImages-467039194.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Spencer Platt/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>(3) Dempsey's vs (9) The Sandwich Bowl</p> <p>(3) Dempsey's</p>
<p>In a Sweet Sixteen clash of titans, Dempsey's edged out a win against 715, saving RCT from yet another story about tuna spaghetti. Collecting 54% of the vote, they were able to take over the role of favorite in this bracket. Truffle sauce is some powerful stuff.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>(9) Sandwich Bowl</p>
<p>Despite their preposterous idea that a hot dog is a sandwich, the Sandwich Bowl flexed their social media muscle against Rudy's in the last round, pulling in an impressive 67% of the vote. And despite their overdeveloped sense of inclusiveness, they do make a mighty fine sandwich.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Which restaurant gets the upper hand here? Does the sandwich subset known as hamburgers have the ability to overpower the entire category from which it was spawned? If it was an egg burger versus a non-existent hot dog sandwich, then this would be an easy choice. Either way, the winner of this matchup can make a damn fine sandwich.</p>
https://www.rockchalktalk.com/2015/6/30/8873933/2015-lawrence-restaurant-bracket-elite-8-dempseys-vs-sandwich-bowlAndy Mitts2015-06-30T18:00:02-05:002015-06-30T18:00:02-05:00Elite 8: The Roost vs Flamingo
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/lKdI9ZUcQRaVrhrACjHIXmLqSnE=/0x0:200x133/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46637608/rockchalktalk.0.gif" />
</figure>
<p>(10) The Roost vs. (16) Flamingo</p> <p></p>
<p>(16) The Flamingo Club</p>
<p>In the Sweet Sixteen, both these restaurants kept on doing exactly what they've been doing thus far in the tournament. The Flamingo pulled another upset, knocking off another highly-respected Lawrence eatery with 62% of the vote. The notches in their belt now read Johnny's, Marisco's, and Papa Keno's.</p>
<p>vs (10) The Roost</p>
<p>And once again, The Roost pulled out just enough to win, adding a 52% win over Wheat State to a pair of 51% victories in the first two rounds. Living dangerously obviously suits this downtown breakfast joint. Speaking of living dangerously, a couple years ago we went to The Roost for breakfast before the Oklahoma basketball game, and I convinced my buddies to go ‘Sex and the City' style with me while we talked basketball. Drinking mimosas is like riding a moped or making out with the weird girl in class—it's a ton of fun, as long as your friends don't catch you doing it.</p>
<p></p>
https://www.rockchalktalk.com/2015/6/30/8864933/2015-lawrence-restaurant-bracket-elite-8-the-roost-vs-flamingoHammen2015-06-30T16:00:02-05:002015-06-30T16:00:02-05:00Elite 8: Bigg's BBQ vs Burger Stand
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/P_VRY6ABu4UZKT6Y6S_QDQVp4Mw=/0x142:3000x2142/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46637568/GettyImages-106490999.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Tom Pennington/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>(4) Bigg's BBQ vs (2) Burger Stand</p> <p></p>
<p>(4) Bigg's BBQ</p>
<p>Bigg's is getting stronger with every round, increasing its share of the vote in each round so far, including a fairly eye-opening 80% of the vote against Six Mile Chophouse. Last summer my parents came down from North Dakota to visit, and my wife and I debated on bringing them into Kansas City to get some serious bbq, maybe Oklahama Joe's, or Arthur Bryant's or something. We decided to avoid the drive and just go to Bigg's, and it was an enormous hit. I don't think it would be possible for them to have enjoyed the meal any more, and we were thrilled that we didn't have to drive to KC in order to get them bbq that they get excited about. The point: native Kansans, never take your bbq options for granted. This kind of quality and depth doesn't exist in many places in the country.</p>
<p>vs (2) Burger Stand</p>
<p>In the other half of the bracket, the Burger Stand-Terrebonne matchup lived up to the hype, as Burger Stand advanced with just 51% in a hotly contested vote the whole way. Truly a shame that one of these places had to go home before the Final Four. To console myself, I'm going to order an alligator po' boy and a Barnyard Bash and eat them at the same time. Could be fun.</p>
<p></p>
https://www.rockchalktalk.com/2015/6/30/8864915/2015-lawrence-restaurant-bracket-elite-8-biggs-bbq-vs-burger-standHammen