Restaurant · Council Grove, Kansas, United States

Hays House 1857

A restaurant founded by Seth Hays in 1857, serving American cooking in a building tied to the Santa Fe Trail.

About Hays House 1857

Hays House 1857 connects a restaurant meal with one of Council Grove’s established historical addresses. Seth Hays founded the business in 1857 as a restaurant and trading post on the Santa Fe Trail. That origin gives the building its context, while the current kitchen gives travelers a reason to experience it as a working restaurant rather than only a historical landmark.

The ownership history published by the business records its purchase in 2019 by rancher Frankie Greco and chef Randy Dickson. The food advertised today follows an American comfort-food tradition. Country-fried steak features prominently, fried chicken dinners appear on designated days, and prime rib is advertised for Friday and Saturday. These are useful indications of the kitchen’s direction, although a weekly special should not be assumed available at every service.

Chef Dickson’s weekend specials are introduced on Thursday and continue while supplies last, with current details shared through the restaurant’s social channels. That changing element rewards checking the menu close to the visit. The regular schedule excludes Monday, and Sunday service ends earlier than the evening services offered on other opening days. Hays House is a good fit for travelers who want a sit-down meal with a meaningful connection to the town’s commercial past. Its historic identity supplies context; the choice of service and the current kitchen offering should guide the reservation.

Verified: 2026-09-26 · Official website · Address: 112 W Main Street, Council Grove, KS 66846 · Phone: +1 620-767-5911 · Email: hhouserrd@gmail.com · Facebook · Instagram · Official logo

Sources: Hays House Restaurant | Council Grove, KS · ABOUT | Hays House 1857 · MENU | Hays House 1857