Downtown Dining News

By: Mr. Wilson on July 22, 2009
Matt Olson reports that Panera Bread opened up today in the Arbor Day Foundation building at 12th & P Downtown. I imagine it will do well in that location. A few blocks away, I've noticed on my past couple noontime visits to Downtown that the Centennial Mall & O Street D'Leon's is turning into a bit of a lunchtime deadzone. Have I just had bad timing, or is it really that empty all the time? When that place first opened you couldn't find a seat. Now you can't find a customer! What's the deal? Bad service? Bad food? Is Lincoln just plain D'Leon'd out? Oh, and one just for fun: I took this photograph yesterday. Can you identify the location?

Comments

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Karin Dalziel
July 22, 2009 at 3:26PM

I can’t believe how many D’Leon’s there are now. I can’t help but wonder if they’re overstretching. I’ve eaten at D’Leon’s a few times and have never been overly impressed. Maybe I’m just not ordering the right things?

Peter
July 22, 2009 at 5:51PM

Thanks for the heads up.  Just came back from having an Asiago Roast Beef sandwich and fruit cup.

avabee
July 22, 2009 at 6:07PM

Color me unimpressed by Panera, and pretty much every other chain restaurant out there.  IMHO, Lincoln doesn’t need more prepackaged chain crap. 

While you can’t swing a dead cat in this town without hitting a D’Leon’s, I’d rather give them my money any day.  I wonder if their bubble is bursting a little, though, with their freakishly fast expansion.

foxspit
July 22, 2009 at 9:07PM

I came the realization recently that I just don’t like D’Leon’s that much. I tried to like it, but it just doesn’t do it for me. It’s not bad. It’s just not that good either. Too salty, too messy, poor service. It seems like there is always something every time I’ve gone.

Anybody know if the Biz Buzz blog went away now that the Journal Star has a new Web site?

Mr. Wilson
July 22, 2009 at 9:13PM

No, Biz Buzz is still around (I think). The ol’ journalstar.com is just having some growing pains. For a comedic perspective, follow @NewLJSdotcom.

Andrew
July 23, 2009 at 2:34PM

I think D’Leons (especially the downtown one) do most of their business in the evenings/middle of the night. Even with 7 or 8 stores, they are always still crowded at 2am.

Moses
July 23, 2009 at 6:02PM

I am with you on this.  I work just up the street from one of the D’Leon’s and it is the most convenient drive thru location but the food and service aren’t good enough to make me stop.

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