Restaurants 2024

by Cynthia S. Peterson

Two age-old questions: ‘What do you want for dinner?’ and ‘What are you hungry for?’ are not easily answered in Lincoln because there are many great dining options. Lincoln’s culinary scene continues to grow, and there’s more variety than ever, including Nebraska steaks, Caribbean, African, Pan-Asian, vegetarian, Mexican, American, European, or Mediterranean. If you want to support locally-owned places to eat, Lincoln has lots of those, too—from upscale dining to mom-and-pop cafés, bistros, sports bars & grills, and eateries. Whatever you choose, you’ll find a place and great food to help you relax after a long day, celebrate something special, or enjoy time with someone special.

Tradition, uniqueness, and atmosphere count nearly as much as the food quality in our list of favorite Lincoln restaurants. It includes some of the classic, most beloved restaurants in the city. This is not a definitive list of unique restaurants in Lincoln, but rather ones I’ve tried and liked.

Italian

Vincenzo’s Ristorante (www.vincenzos-ne.com) at 808 P Street is the place for authentic and delicious Italian fare. In Lincoln’s historic Haymarket, Vincenzo’s pairs its savory Italian dishes with an excellent wine list and superior service. The escargot is incredibly good, and the house Chianti is a natural choice. It’s no wonder Vincenzo’s has repeatedly been named one of the city’s best restaurants.

Villa Amore is a family-run restaurant in northeast Lincoln at 5353 N. 27th Street (www.villaamorelincoln.com). Cacciatori is a house specialty. Their pasta is hand-made.

Napoli’s
(www.napolisne.com) at 5571 S. 48th Street and 800 Q Street is known for its made-from-scratch entrees. Try one of Napoli’s specialties or my personal favorite, Shrimp Scallopini.

Casa Bovina (www.casabovina.com), 4841 N. 84th Street, features Certified Piedmontese beef, Italian dishes, and
an exceptional wine list. Reservations
are required.

Florio’s Italian Restaurant & Grille (www.floriosne.com) at 7300 S. 13th Street is another quality Italian eatery. Everything is made from scratch, and there’s an impressive wine list.

The menu at MoMo Pizzeria and Ristorante (www.momo-pizzeria.com), 7701 Pioneers Boulevard, offers wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas and farm-to-table-inspired entrées, plus specialty wines and cocktails.

Local Icons

Valentino’s (www.valentinos.com) has been a Lincoln icon since 1957. The Valentino’s Ristorante at 3535 Holdrege Street, near the site of the original Val’s, serves the quality Italian food Lincolnites have come to expect. Try Val & Zena’s Lasagna (an homage to the restaurant’s original owners), and on Sundays, the brunch buffet.

If you’re looking for cozy fine dining, I recommend Billy’s in a repurposed historic home at 1301 H Street (www.billysrestaurant.com). Chef Nadar Farahbod has a spectacular lunch or dinner menu waiting for you. Billy’s is known for some of the best steaks in town.

Another well-known venue for perfectly cooked Nebraska beef steak is Misty’s at 6235 Havelock Avenue (opened in 1963) and downtown at 200 N. 11th Street (www. mistyslincoln.com). If you are not a beef eater, try one of the seafood or vegetarian dishes. Misty’s also carries a nice selection of local microbrews.

Tico’s, at 317 S. 17th Street, has been serving incredible guacamole, a wide selection of entrées, and blue margaritas
since 1976. Food quality was great in
1976 and remains the same today.

Since opening its doors in 1992, The Green Gateau (www.greengateau.com), 330 S. 10th Street, offers European and American cuisine in a Victorian setting. The menu offers a selection of beef, chicken, and seafood entrees and rotates with the seasons. Everything is made from scratch under chef/owner Eric Lemke’s watchful eyes, and you can count on quality. Try the Green Gateau cake for dessert. Their weekend brunch is not to be missed.

Fireworks Restaurant (www.fireworksrestaurant.com), 5750 S. 86th Street, celebrates woodfired cooking and brings a new twist to classic American dishes. Empyrean Ales are on the bar menu. The building alone is worth the visit—state-of-the-art and energy-efficient with a 5,400 square foot rain garden.

Lazlo’s Brewery & Grill (www.lazlosbreweryandgrill.com) in the Haymarket at 710 P Street and at 5900 Old Cheney Road features flavorful sandwiches, salads, and made from scratch entrées that will keep you coming back for more. Each pair up magnificently with Lazlo’s own Empyrean Ales. Try one of the lahvosh (cracker bread) appetizers.

Wilderness Ridge Lodge (www.wildernessridgegolf.com/dining) at 1800 Wilderness Woods Place welcomes diners as soon as they enter through the heavy, oversized, carved front door. It has a mountain lodge look, but the food is reminiscent of big-city fine dining. Factoid: the building was built in Montana, hand-scribed, disassembled, transported to Lincoln, and reassembled.

Dish (www.dishdowntown.com), downtown at 1100 O Street, is an upscale restaurant with a 30-year reputation for serving amazing dishes matched with delectable sides and great desserts, all under the direction of Chef Rachel McGill. She’s the first Lincoln chef nominated for a James Beard Award.

The chic JTK Cuisine & Cocktails (www.jtkrestaurant.com) in the historic Lincoln train station, 201 N. 7th Street, is an unmatched fine dining experience offering contemporary American cuisine with something special added, all made under the watchful eye of executive chef Ben Keeler. The pan-seared salmon is a personal favorite.

Since 2005, The Venue (www.yourvenue.net), 4111 Pioneer Woods Drive, features a menu ranging from steak and seafood to great pizzas, handmade from scratch ingredients, including Nebraska farm-to-table products and seafood from all around the world.

Also under the Venue umbrella is the Piedmont Bistro, 1265 S. Cotner Boulevard, a full-service restaurant for lunch, dinner, Sunday brunch, and Friday breakfast (www. piedmontbistro.com).

Comfort Food

Under the direction of Chef Kevin Milligan, L’s Kitchen, 2785 S. 17th Street, features American comfort food made from scratch, with a continental twist in an intimate setting. If available, the wild-caught scallops are delicious! Reservations are recommended.

Not to be missed, Well and Good (www.wellandgoodnebraska.com) at The Scarlet Hotel, 2101 Transformation Drive, features refined homestyle cooking. The bar is spectacular, too.

A more recent edition to the Haymarket area is Fleetwood, 801 O Street. It’s a casual yet elegant modern American grill featuring traditional dishes made from locally sourced ingredients with Fleetwood’s own modern twist. They are open for breakfast on the weekends and open late (www. getfleetwood.com).

The same ownership group has Leadbelly just up the street at 301 N. 8th Street, a bar and grill with innovative and delicious food (www.getleaded.com). Try their signature Raspberry Beret burger.

Schillingbridge Cork & Tap House (www.schillingbridgecorkandtap.com) brings craft beer, wine, and great food together at 575 Fallbrook Boulevard. Don’t leave without sampling the beer bread. When the weather is nice, sit on the patio.

Vic’s Pizza (www.pizzavics.com ), 8340 Glynoaks Drive, is one of Lincoln’s newer pizza joints and prides itself on serving “Nebraska-style pizza.”

Open for breakfast, brunch, and lunch, Hub Café (www.hubcafelincoln.com), 250 N. 21st Street, shares the bounty of local food producers with a larger audience. The menu changes with the seasons.

It’s all about burgers at Honest Abe’s Burgers & Freedom at 126 N. 14th Street, 2226 Cornhusker Highway, 840 N. 70th Street, and 8340 Glynoaks Drive (www.grounduprestaurants.com). Juicy burgers, including a burger of the week, fries, and shakes.

Try Lila Mae’s Southern Kitchen and Lounge at 2110 Winthrop Road (www.lilamaessouthernkitchen.com) for Southern-style food. Try the Smothered Pork Chops or Hot Chicken, which some say is better than Nashville.

Yia Yia’s, 1423 O Street, and 2840 S. 70th Street (www.yiayiaspizzaandbeer.com), offer Lincoln’s best pizza and beer selections. Its famous Around the World pizza is made to order and a must-try, as is one of the 375 different bottled beers.

Enjoy an excellent lunch at The Course Restaurant, 8800 O Street, brought to you by Southeast Community College Great Plans Culinary Institute students. Visit their website to check on times of operation and menu (www.southeast.edu/course/).

Indian

For the taste of India, try The Oven (www.theovenlincoln.com) at 201 N. 8th Street or 4101 Pioneer Woods Drive. The heavenly aromas are like walking into northern India; you can count on the food to be authentic and delicious. The wine list is unsurpassed. The Lamb Masuma curry is hard to beat. The Cellar, downstairs in the Haymarket location, offers great food and wine in an intimate atmosphere.

Asian

Blue Orchid, 129 N. 10th Street, is a popular Thai fusion eatery. Exceptional dishes are served with flair in an atmosphere that begs you to enjoy every bite leisurely. They offer various dishes with meat, seafood, and tofu options. (www.facebook.com/blueorchidrestaurant).

High Peak Asian Restaurant (www.highpeakasian.wixsite.com) at 2840 S. 70th Street specializes in Burmese and Thai food that is flavorful and affordable. If you like a little spice, they aim to please.

If you’re a fan of Vietnamese food, a must-try is the new Pho and Grill at 2901 S. 8th Street. Menu offerings include spring rolls, eye-round steak, meatball pho, vegetable tofu, hot clay pot rice, and more. (www.phoandgrills84.com).

Another good choice is Pho Factory (www.phofactorylincoln. com), 940 N. 26th Street. I recommend Banh Mi (authentic Vietnamese sandwiches).

Ms. Chen 56 is a new home for American Chinese food at 5601 S. 56th Street (www.mschen56lincoln.com). Diner favorites include Beef with String Beans, Seafood Delight, Sweet and Sour Shrimp, Small Steamed Bun, and Moo Goo Gai Pan.

Japanese restaurants include Hiro 88 (www.hiro88. com) at 601 R Street and 5730 Hidcote Drive. Blue Sushi Sake Grill (www.bluesushisakegrill. com) at 808 R Street, the new Oishii Japanese Steakhouse (www.oishiijapanesesteakhouse.com) at 2949 N. 27th Street, and Kinja (ww.kinjalincoln. com) at 4141 Pioneer Woods Boulevard are all good choices.

Not to be overlooked is Asian Fusion, featuring modern Pan-Asian fare at 2840 Jamie Lane (www. asianfusionlincoln.com), featuring all-you-can-eat sushi on Sundays. For authentic Chinese dishes, I recommend Lan House at 1226 P Street (www. lanhouselincolnne.com).

Middle Eastern and Mediterranean

Looking for a good chicken shawarma or a lamb gyro? Try Sultan’s Kite (www.sultanskite.com) at 1309 O Street and 14th & Pine Lake Road, offering Mediterranean and Middle Eastern fast food.

Ali Baba Gyros, 112 N 14th Street, also offers great gyros, as does George’s Gourmet Grill at 6891 A Street, 1400 O Street, and 2801 Pine Lake Drive.

Narges Montazer will greet you warmly when you come into her informal, comfortable restaurant with a long name—Daffodil Mediterranean Cuisine & Catering at 5500 Old Cheney Road (www.facebook.com/DaffodilMediterranean)—and she’ll offer samples to help you decide what to order.

Pita & Naan is a fast-casual restaurant specializing in Mediterranean and Eastern cuisine at 1434 O Street (www.pitanaan.com). They offer signature curry dishes, chicken shwarma, gyros, and falafels.

Mexican

Copal Progressive Mexican Cuisine (www. copallnk.com), 4747 Pioneers Boulevard, is unique among local Mexican restaurants, including its understated décor. Copal is considered upscale Mexican. The restaurant also features a variety of high-quality tequilas and mezcals.

El Potrero, 247 N. 8th Street, and 3930 Village Drive (www.elpotrerorestaurant.com) are family-run eateries where you can savor authentic and delicious dishes. Great margaritas accompany this south-of-the-border experience.

For Mexican BBQ fusion, try Muchachos at 416 S. 11th Street (www.yomuchacho.com). The building façade is painted turquoise—you can’t miss it. They have a food truck, too. Hatch Mac is a fan favorite.

El Toro, 2600 S. 48th Street, is a truly authentic Mexican restaurant. Family-owned and operated, the food is delicious, and the atmosphere enjoyable. The same family also owns Mazatlán, Mazatlán II, Agave Mexican Grill (fast casual), and Los Margaritas with similar, but not identical, menus (www. lincolnsbestmexican.com).

Hacienda Real, 3130 Pine Lake Road (www. haciendarealnebraska.com), has become a popular destination for Mexican cuisine. They offer vegetarian options and grill a delicious steak as well. I enjoy their poblano enchiladas.

Mi Tierra Family Mexican Restaurant, 5500 Old Cheney Road, and 8320 Northwoods Drive (www. mitierralincoln.com) have beautiful murals on the walls, handmade wooden booths, and great food from the kitchen. Try one of the shrimp dishes like Camarones Mojo de Ajo (garlic shrimp) for something special.

Not to be missed

Canyon Joe’s Barbecue, 200 S. 18th Street, is a new addition to the Telegraph District with rave reviews. If you want Texas barbeque, this place is for you (www.canyonjoesbarbecue.com).

Try New American cuisine at Carmela’s Bistro & Wine Bar at 4141 Pioneer Woods Drive (www.carmelasbistroandwinebar.com). Try the Ahi Salad or the Walleye Picatta. Check out their wine list and dreamy desserts.

Art & Soul Kitchen & Wine Bar (www.lincolnartandsoul.com), at 5740 Hidcote Drive, has a great patio and often has live music. Hand-crafted cocktails, specialty salads, hand-helds, and shareables are on the menu. Cooking classes are available too. Their tomato basil soup is a customer favorite; you can take it home by the pint or quart.

It’s all up to you now—go discover your own favorite place to eat in Lincoln—multiple favorites are allowed. Enjoy!