New Topeka restaurant Ichabod's Grille kept what Henry T's customers loved and added more

Keishera Lately, Topeka Capital-Journal
·3 min read

A new Topeka restaurant opened last week, but it offered a familiar feel for the college neighborhood.

Ichabod's Grille, 1521 S.W. 21st St., opened April 19, two months after predecessor Henry T's closed its door for the last time after a 16-year run.

Danny Burnison, Ichabod's Grille general manager, said the atmosphere has been exciting.

"It's a great vibe and just in these last four days, the amount of Ichabod shirts, Ichabod jerseys and Ichabod staff — Henry T's always had a following with Ichabods and always had professors come to lunch — but now it's every other table has an Ichabod shirt on," Burnison said. "So, it's nice to see everybody supporting Washburn. It's a nice college feeling."

Ichabod's Grille, 1521 S.W. 21st St., is now open after a rebrand from Henry T's.
Ichabod's Grille, 1521 S.W. 21st St., is now open after a rebrand from Henry T's.

What's new on the Ichabod's Grille Menu?

Scott Huston, owner of Ichabod's Grille, said he chose to keep all of the former gluten-free options on the new Ichabod's menu. Handbreaded items also remain, as well as the wing sauce recipes.

New items include such options as the Philly steak or chicken sandwiches, priced at $19.99 for a whole or $12.99 for half. A hulk smash burger with a ground beef patty, topped with pepper jack cheese, jalapeno and more is $14.99.

"We do have homemade chicken noodles and chili that are different things Henry T's didn't have as well," Huston said.

A homemade chicken and noodles dinner over mashed potatoes with a side of green beans and toast can be purchased at Ichabod's for $12.99. It offers a gluten-free option.

The hulk smash burger at Ichabod's Grille features a ground beef patty topped with pepper jack cheese, jalapeno, green chilies, sautéed onion and served with jalapeno mayo and choice of sides.
The hulk smash burger at Ichabod's Grille features a ground beef patty topped with pepper jack cheese, jalapeno, green chilies, sautéed onion and served with jalapeno mayo and choice of sides.

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Huston said the new items are the top sellers at the Vikings Grille, 4731 N.W. Hunters Ridge Circle, Suite G, and Thunderbirds Grille, 2920 S.E. Croco Road. Both locations are also owned by Huston.

Burnison said Ichabod's Grille has a big advantage over frozen food.

"It's the breading that makes the difference," he said. "It's the hand-breading. It's crispier than a frozen product. When you freeze something, you lose the crispiness off of the breading.

"When you're hand-breading it, you're frying it and taking it right out of the fryer so it's nice and crisp."

Ichabod's Grille general manager Danny Burnison brings out an order of the hulk smash burger with onion rings Wednesday during lunch hour. The newly renovated restaurant takes elements of Henry T's, while updating elements from the menu selection to interior seating and televisions.
Ichabod's Grille general manager Danny Burnison brings out an order of the hulk smash burger with onion rings Wednesday during lunch hour. The newly renovated restaurant takes elements of Henry T's, while updating elements from the menu selection to interior seating and televisions.

What does the inside of the new grille look like?

New televisions have been installed, along with carpet replacements, paint jobs, ceiling fans, wall breakdown and more.

Brady Barnes, regional manager, said they may put in fenced-off pickleball courts behind the building.

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"That would obviously be huge for the school and the staff to come over and be able to have a place to play pickleball," Barnes said. "It'll be one of their own. Right now, they don't have that at Washburn, so that could be an extension for them."

An open patio in the front of the building will soon be available for customers to enjoy outdoor dining.

Huston said to keep all three of his grilles successful, he focuses on "the three pillars of success," which include facility cleanliness, quality of food and service.

A renovated interior features a more open floor plan at Ichabod's Grille, 1521 S.W. 21st St., as patrons come in to eat lunch Wednesday.
A renovated interior features a more open floor plan at Ichabod's Grille, 1521 S.W. 21st St., as patrons come in to eat lunch Wednesday.

What are the business hours at Ichabod's Grille?

Ichabod's Grille is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Wednesday. From Thursday to Saturday, the kitchen closes at 11 p.m. while the bar closes at midnight.

Keishera Lately is the business reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. She can be reached at klately@cjonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @Lately_KT.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Ichabod's Grille kept what Henry T's customers loved and added more