4/24/2009

Votes will continue being accepted until midnight on June 15

By TIM UNRUH

Salina Journal

Steve McConnell calls himself "the new guy" at Salina's Cozy Inn, but he's just as proud that the 87-year-old restaurant is being recognized yet again.

The diner with six stools at 108 N. Seventh that's well-known for its burgers, known as "sliders," is among the 24 finalists in the Cuisine category of the 8 Wonders of Kansas.

"I think it's pretty neat. I'm glad to work here," McConnell said.

Three other north-central and northwest Kansas restaurants -- The Brookville Hotel, Abilene, Trapper's Bar & Grill, Simpson, and Crazy R's, Goodland -- are among the finalists, chosen from 124 public nominations to the Kansas Sampler Foundation, Inman.

Winners will be selected by voters on the Kansas Sampler Foundation Web site, www.8wonders.org. Votes will be accepted until midnight June 15.

To qualify for the Cuisine category, the restaurant had to originate in Kansas, be in operation for 10 years or more, not be a national franchise, "and be iconic beyond their home region," according to the foundation.

Cozy Inn's menu is simple. The palm-size hamburgers with onions, pickle, mustard and catsup sell for 85 cents each, or 24 for $18. Then there's chips and soda.

The restaurant opened in 1922, not long after the White Castle hamburger restaurant opened in Wichita, according to the story on the Sampler Foundation Web site.

Sliders originally sold for a nickel each.

The Cozy has had several owners and has a rich history. Current owner Steve Howard could not be reached Thursday for comment.

McConnell said he's slowly learning the Cozy legends as he works to serve hordes of customers, both from the Salina area and elsewhere.

"I've never seen so many burgers cooked in a day. We're busy pretty much all day," he said.

The other 8 Wonders Cuisines finalists are: Anchor Inn, Hutchinson; Bobo's Drive In, Topeka; Carolyn's Essenhaus, Arlington; Charlie's Mexican Restaurant, Leoti; Crawford County Fried Chicken; C.W. Porubsky's, Topeka; Free State Brewing Company, Lawrence; Fritz's Union Station, Kansas City; Grand Central Hotel, Cottonwood Falls; Guy & Mae's Tavern, Williamsburg; Hays House 1857 Restaurant & Tavern, Council Grove; Hibachi Hut, Manhattan; Homer's Drive Inn, Leavenworth; Josie's Ristorante, Scammon; NuWay, Wichita; Olive Tree Bistro, Wichita; Paolucci's Restaurant, Atchison; Pho Hoa, Garden City; Prairie Nut Hut, Altoona; and WheatField's Bakery, Lawrence.

The winners will be announced in late June.

n Reporter Tim Unruh can be reached at 822-1419 or by e-mail at tunruh@salina.com.

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