The Home Cafe, Emporia, Ks

For those who spent time enjoying Emporia, Kansas nightlife previous to 2010 you may remember a small greasy spoon out on Highway 50 called the S&S Cafe.  It was sort of a staple for a long time and filled in after country kitchen closed and before Village Inn opened, then again after Village Inn stopped serving all night, that little greasy spoon was there.  In fact, it was a 24 hour dining establishment next to the S&S gas and Weigh station.  There were many people that enjoyed the greasy fare in that small cozy little space that had great tasting food.  Sadly this establishment closed down  a few years ago but a a new place has opened in the space- and it is pretty tasty!

"The Home Cafe" is only open from 6 am to 2 pm and are shooting for more of the old diner feel than a greasy spoon.  The new owners put in a lot of work to lift a long existing layer of grease and grime from the interior floors and walls.  The booths have been removed and new tales with a light maple wood top and mauve cushioned chars now fill the small dining area. Additionally they did not try extra seating in by placing tables uncomfortably close together.  In fact it is one of the few time when I have sat in a chair in a restaurant that when I pulled it out it didn't slam into another chair or wall.   

The service is friendly and quick without an hovering, which I appreciate.  My coffee was refilled promptly and often without interruption to the conversation.  (Always a sign of an experienced wait staff).  The menu was pretty basic, covering your usual diner breakfast staples.  They also have a limited lunch menu but there is often a lunch special like meatloaf.  There is also a small selection of home made pies available- yum!  

On this visit I went with my standard order of a ham and cheese omelet, hashbrowns, and toast.  The omelet was cooked well with a good sizable portion of diced ham and a heavy handed portion of blended cheese.  This made for a really great ratio of egg to ham and cheese throughout the entire omelet, not just the center.  The hashbrowns were a perfect golden crunchy exterior with the light buttery perfectly cooked texture underneath.  Hashbrwons can often be the make or break indicator of a god breakfast diner and the Home Cafe does not let you down.

Generally the price range was $5-8 per meal so it is comparable to other diners and chain restaurants. This is a place that is definitely worth stop to try out if you are looking for a new place to try in the morning.

Address: 4601 U.S. 50, Emporia, KS 66801

Phone: 620-343-3338

Prices:

$$$$

Hours: 6:00 AM- 2:00 PM Tue- Sun

China Buffet Emporia, Ks

Well after a very full fall it is time to start a new year.  In the spirit of starting over I had my first meal out at a restaurant that is also starting over with an interior make over.  Hopefully there will be people who are willing to give it another chance in the new year, and based on the crowds on New Year's Day, I would say that it has a chance.

The China Buffet located on Industrial Road and Highway 50 in Emporia, Ks has undergone a little transformation.  The interior remodel inspired confidence in the quality and improvement in the food as well.  This is a typical buffet of Chinese food that offers a little bit for everyone.  Lunch price was $6.99 and the dinner price is $9.99.  The tables were sparkling (they are glitter infused Formica table tops) and clean.  The food was hot, fresh, and generally well seasoned.  

The nice part for families is that there is a selection of American cuisine for those picky eaters in your family.  There were chicken nuggets, fries, and even pizza available.  The buffet is well organized and grouped in ways that make sense and make it easy to find the food you are craving.  Highly recommend the Crab Rangoon, Garlic Chicken Dish, and the Cucumber Salad.  

The wait staff was pleasant, friendly and for the most part efficient.  Dirty plates were taken from the table quickly and politely.  Everyone who was working seemed to generally be smiling which indicates a good environment.

Overall, I would recommend that if you like Chinese buffets in general to give this one a shot or a second chance (as the case may be).  You might be surprised by what you find.

Address: 2804 U.S. 50, Emporia, KS 66801

Phone:(620) 343-6688

Prices:

$$$$

Hours:

 

Thursday 11:00 am – 9:00 pm