Tuesday top five: Non-KU, MU, K-State Big 12 area dining establishments

OK, so everyone around here knows the great spots in Lawrence (Jefferson's, Henry T's, The Wheel, etc.), Columbia (Shakespeare's Pizza, Booches' Burgers, etc.) and Manhattan (I don't know any, but I'm sure they exist).

But after a few years of traveling around the Big 12, I have eaten at a lot of places and taken much pride in trying to figure out the MUST-GO spots around the league.

The motivation for this Tuesday top-five is that myself and Topeka Capital-Journal KU writer Tully Corcoran found a place to complete a truly worthy top five in Lubbock, Texas.

Without further ado, the five can't-miss dining establishments in the rest of the Big 12 region.

5. Hickory Park, Ames, Iowa: Nothing warms you up on a frigid January day like a trip to Hickory Park, a massive restaurant made to feel like an old train station. The place serves great hickory-smoked barbecue with massive servings and offers a soda fountain and to-die-for dessert menu. I'd go with the 1/4 chicken and rib combo and finish it off with a peanut gallery sundae.

4. Eskimo Joe's, Stillwater, Oklahoma: All you have to know is that KU coach Bill Self always makes a stop at Eskimo Joe's when he's back in the neighborhood of the ol' alma mater. According to the owner, Self always orders the "Fowl Thing" chicken sandwich, and I have to say it's one of the best poultry options around. Top it off with Eskimo Joe's famous cheese fries, and you'll be happy the rest of the day. The place also is huge and great for an afternoon of college football.

3. Chimy's, Lubbock, Texas: I've made two trips to Lubbock in the past eight months, and Chimy's Mexican food did not disappoint either time. It's right near campus and has a nice deck area and really quality food for a low price. The chips and quacamole are top notch, and the fish tacos are a treasure, fried or grilled. Plus, if you ever decide to dress up as a "fat little girlfriend" for Halloween, you'll be greeted as locals by the clientele. Not that I would know about that or anything.

2. Watering Hole, Lincoln, Nebraska: Seriously, if you love chicken wings, this is one of the places in America that you have to go. Make sure you get the grilled wings. They take a little bit longer, but they're well worth the wait. Flavor is unparalleled, even by Henry T's in Lawrence. Also, most nights they have $1 High Life bottles.

1. Junior's, Oklahoma City: Whether in Oklahoma City for the Big 12 Tournament or down the road in Norman for a football or basketball game, Junior's Supper Club is a can't-miss opportunity. That is, if you can find it. Junior's is located in the basement of a 15-or-so-story building called "The Oil Center," and what's more Big 12 than that? When you walk in, don't be intimidated by the "Proper attire is required" sign, because proper attire simply is not required. I've proven that.

Junior's is an anachronism. It is dark and overly ornate, and, if you're in your 20s like me, you walk in and think "this must be what 1978 felt like." It's no coincidence that in the bar, there is Sooners memorabilia from that era, a Billy Sims jersey and items signed by Barry Switzer. Upon chatting up some of the waitresses and bartenders at Junior's, you quickly find that this is a place that has lived and died with the oil industry. In the 1970s and early '80s, when things were booming, Junior's is the place where deals were made, where the price per barrel could have been set. The parties raged on late into the evening. These days, it's a more of somber atmosphere, but being there gives you a feeling that you are a part of something that once mattered.

All of that said, you can also get a fine, fine Kansas City strip at Junior's. But that's only a small part of the reason that you should experience an ode to a prosperous time for Big 12 country.