Tastes of Lawrence: 1856 Bar and Grill

He may have been born in Nepal, but 1856 Bar and Grill co-owner Subarna Bhattachan might know the cuisine of Lawrence better than anybody. Since coming to America for college in 1988, Bhattachan has opened three restaurants in Lawrence, two of which are still open: Zen Zero, which serves Asian cuisine including food from Bhattachan’s native Nepal, and Genovese — an Italian-American restaurant that...

Having inherited his mother’s natural touch for creating incredible flavors, executive chef Armando Paniagua displays his talent every day while cooking authentic Italian-American dishes at 1856 Bar and Grill. He has never received formal education for how to cook, nor has anyone shown him the perfect way to mix and match flavors; Paniagua’s position was earned through his natural ability to produce ...

The shrimp pizza at 1856 Bar and Grill, recommended by restaurant co-owner Subarna Bhattachan, doesn't sound like the most appealing dish. As any hater of anchovies would know, seafood and pizza do not typically mix well. Despite the dish's inherent awkwardness, the unique and tasty mix of spices and seasoning is tasty enough to almost completely mask the odd texture of the shrimp. To me, a pi...

The 1856 Bar and Grill street tacos, recommended by executive chef Armando Paniagua as a crowd favorite, are one of the few exceptions to my mild distaste for most Mexican cuisine. Specifically, the beef tacos have an agreeable combination of flavors and presentation that made me want to go back for more. From the moment the aesthetically pleasing dish was set on our table, I knew it would be a...