Lincoln on a Plate The Ultimate Restaurant Roundup

by Sriyani Tidball
When it comes to dining in Lincoln, answering the age old questions, “What do you want for dinner?” and “What are you hungry for?” can be a delightful challenge. The city’s culinary landscape is thriving with an impressive array of options. Whether you’re craving Nebraska steaks, Caribbean spice, African flavors, Pan-Asian dishes, vegetarian delights, Mexican favorites, American classics, or European and Mediterranean fare, Lincoln has you covered. For those who prefer to support local businesses, the city boasts a vibrant mix of upscale restaurants, charming cafés, cozy bistros, lively sports bars, and hidden gems. No matter what you’re in the mood for, Lincoln’s dining scene promises a memorable experience, whether you’re unwinding after a busy day, celebrating a special occasion, or sharing a meal with loved ones. While this list highlights some of our personal favorites, it represents just a slice of Lincoln’s diverse and dynamic food culture.
Italian Fare
For a taste of authentic Italian cuisine in Lincoln, Vincenzo’s Ristorante is a standout choice. Located at 808 P Street in the historic Haymarket district, Vincenzo’s is renowned for its savory Italian dishes, excellent wine selection, and top-notch service. The escargot is a must-try, and the house Chianti perfectly complements the meal. It’s no surprise that Vincenzo’s consistently ranks among the city’s best restaurants.
In northeast Lincoln, Villa Amore, a family-run gem at 5353 N. 27th Street, offers a cozy atmosphere and delicious handmade pasta.
Napoli’s, with locations at 5571 S. 48th Street and 800 Q Street, is beloved for its made-from-scratch entrées. Be sure to try one of their specialties including Shrimp Scallopini.
Casa Bovina, located at 4841 N. 84th Street, offers a fine dining experience with Certified Piedmontese beef, Italian dishes, and an exceptional wine list. Reservations are required for this exclusive spot.
Another top-notch Italian eatery is Florio’s Italian Restaurant & Grille, situated at 7300 S. 13th Street. Everything on the menu is made from scratch, and their wine list is equally impressive.
MoMo Pizzeria and Ristorante, at 7701 Pioneers Blvd., is known for its wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas and farm-to-table-inspired entrées, complemented by specialty wines and cocktails.
Yia Yia’s, with locations at 1423 O Street and 2840 S. 70th Street, offers Lincoln’s best pizza and beer selection. Their famous Around the World pizza is made to order and is a must-try, along with one of the 375 different bottled beers.
Vic’s Pizza, at 8340 Glynoaks Drive, is one of Lincoln’s newer pizza joints, known for serving “Nebraska-style pizza.”
Family-owned, Da Vinci’s, has been providing quality Italian food to Lincolnites since 1978, serving pizza, pasta, and much more. For delivery, dine-in, check their multiple locations online or call (402) 475-1111.
Lastly, no list of Lincoln’s Italian restaurants would be complete without mentioning locally owned and loved Valentino’s. A local icon since 1957, Valentino’s Ristorante at 3535 Holdrege Street continues to serve the quality Italian food that Lincolnites love. Don’t miss Val & Zena’s Lasagna, a tribute to the original owners, or the popular Sunday brunch buffet.
Local Icons
If you’re looking for cozy fine dining, Billy’s, located in a repurposed historic home at 1301 H Street, is a top choice. Chef Nadar Farahbod offers a spectacular lunch or dinner menu, and Billy’s is known for some of the best steaks in town.
Another well-known venue for perfectly cooked Nebraska beef is Misty’s, with locations at 6235 Havelock Avenue (opened in 1963) and downtown at 200 N. 11th Street. If you’re not a beef eater, try one of their seafood or vegetarian dishes, paired with a nice selection of local microbrews.
The Green Gateau, located at 330 S. 10th Street, has been a favorite since 1992. Offering delicious European and American cuisine in a Victorian setting, the menu features a selection of beef, chicken, and seafood entrées that rotate with the seasons. Everything is made from scratch under the watchful eye of chef/owner Eric Lemke. Don’t miss the Green Gateau cake for dessert or their weekend brunch.
Fireworks Restaurant, at 5750 S. 86th Street, celebrates wood-fired cooking and offers a unique twist on classic American dishes. The building itself is worth a visit — state-of-the-art and energy-efficient, featuring a 5,400-square-foot rain garden.
Lazlo’s Brewery & Grill, located in the Haymarket at 710 P Street and at 5900 Old Cheney Road, is known for its flavorful sandwiches, salads, and made-from-scratch entrées, perfectly paired with Lazlo’s own Empyrean Ales. Be sure to try their pork ribs, some of the best in town.
Wilderness Ridge Lodge, at 1800 Wilderness Woods Place, welcomes diners with its mountain lodge look, but the food is reminiscent of big-city fine dining. Fun fact: The building was built in Montana, hand-scribed, disassembled, transported to Lincoln, and reassembled.
The Dish, located downtown at 1100 O Street, is an upscale restaurant with a 30-year reputation for serving amazing dishes paired with delectable sides and great desserts. Chef Rachel McGill, Chopped contender and the first Lincoln chef nominated for a James Beard Award, leads the kitchen.
JTK Cuisine & Cocktails, in the historic Lincoln train station at 201 N. 7th Street, offers an unmatched fine dining experience with contemporary American cuisine. The pan-seared salmon is a personal favorite.
Since 2005, The Venue, located at 4111 Pioneer Woods Drive, has featured a menu ranging from steak and seafood to great pizzas, all made from scratch using Nebraska farm-to-table products and seafood from around the world.
Also under The Venue umbrella is the Piedmont Bistro at 1265 S. Cotner Boulevard, a full-service restaurant for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch.
L’s Kitchen, at 2785 S. 17th Street, offers American comfort food made from scratch with a continental twist, all under the direction of Chef Kevin Milligan. If available, the wild-caught scallops are delicious. Reservations are recommended.
Well and Good, located at The Scarlet Hotel, 2101 Transformation Drive, features refined homestyle cooking with a spectacular bar.
A recent addition to the Haymarket area is Fleetwood, at 801 O Street. It’s a casual yet elegant modern American grill featuring traditional dishes made from locally sourced ingredients with a modern twist. They are open for breakfast on weekends and open late.
Up the street is Leadbelly, at 301 N. 8th Street, a bar and grill with innovative and delicious food. Try their signature Raspberry Beret burger.
Open for breakfast, brunch, and lunch, Hub Café at 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, with locations at 126 N. 14th Street, 2226 Cornhusker Highway, 840 N. 70th Street, and 8340 Glynoaks Drive. Juicy burgers, including a burger of the week, fries, and shakes.
For Southern-style food, try Lila Mae’s Southern Kitchen and Lounge at 2110 Winthrop Road. The Smothered Pork Chops or Hot Chicken are must-tries, and some say they’re better than Nashville’s.
Finally, enjoy an excellent lunch at The Course Restaurant at 8800 O Street, brought to you by students from Southeast Community College’s Great Plains Culinary Institute. Be sure to check their hours of operation and menu in advance.
Asian
For a taste of India, try The Oven at 201 N. 8th Street or 4101 Pioneer Woods Drive. The heavenly aromas transport you to northern India, and the food is authentic and delicious. The Lamb Masuma curry is hard to beat, and the wine list is unmatched. The Cellar, downstairs in the Haymarket’s Oven location, also offers great food and wine in an intimate atmosphere.
Blue Orchid at 129 N. 10th Street is a popular Thai fusion eatery where exceptional dishes are served with flair in a relaxed atmosphere. They offer a variety of meat, seafood, and tofu options, and a great Pad Thai.
High Peak Asian Restaurant at 2840 S. 70th Street specializes in flavorful and affordable Burmese and Thai food. If you like a little spice, they aim to please.
For Vietnamese cuisine, try the new Pho and Grill at 2901 S. 84th Street. The menu includes spring rolls, eye-round steak, meatball pho, vegetable tofu, hot clay pot rice, and more.
Another great choice is Pho Factory at 940 N. 26th Street, where the Banh Mi (authentic Vietnamese sandwiches) comes highly recommended. And if you love banh mi, a few doors down is the Banhwich Café which offers a dazzling variety of bubble tea and banh mi sandwiches.
Ms. Chen 56, located at 5601 S. 56th Street, is a new home for American Chinese food. Diner favorites include Beef with String Beans, Seafood Delight, Sweet and Sour Shrimp, and Moo Goo Gai Pan.
For Japanese cuisine, Hiro 88 at 601 R Street and 5730 Hidcote Drive, Blue Sushi Sake Grill at 808 R Street, and Kinja at 4141 Pioneer Woods Boulevard are all excellent choices. Not to be overlooked is Asian Fusion at 2840 Jamie Lane, featuring modern Pan-Asian fare and all-you-can-eat sushi on Sundays.
Middle Eastern and Mediterranean
For a good chicken shawarma or lamb gyro, try Sultan’s Kite at 1309 O Street and 14th & Pine Lake Road, offering Mediterranean and Middle Eastern fast food.
Ali Baba Gyros at 112 N 14th Street and George’s Gourmet Grill at 6891 A Street, 1400 O Street, and 2801 Pine Lake Drive also offer great gyros.
Daffodil Mediterranean Cuisine & Catering at 5500 Old Cheney Road, run by Narges Montazer, is an informal, comfortable restaurant where you can sample dishes before deciding what to order.
Pita & Naan at 1434 O Street is a fast-casual restaurant specializing in Mediterranean and Eastern cuisine, offering signature curry dishes, chicken shawarma, gyros, and falafels.
Fattoush Restaurant at 313 N 27th Street serves a mouth-watering variety of middle eastern lamb, chicken and beef dishes as well as vegetarian.
Mexican
Copal Progressive Mexican Cuisine at 4747 Pioneers Boulevard is unique among local Mexican restaurants, featuring upscale Mexican dishes and a variety of high-quality tequilas and mezcals.
El Potrero, with locations at 247 N. 8th Street and 3930 Village Drive, is a family-run eatery serving authentic and delicious dishes accompanied by great margaritas.
Tico’s, at 317 S. 17th Street, has been serving incredible guacamole, a wide selection of entrées, and blue margaritas since 1976. The food quality was great back then and remains the same today.
For Mexican BBQ fusion, try Muchachos at 416 S. 11th Street, easily spotted by its turquoise façade. They also have a food truck, and Hatch Mac is a fan favorite.
El Toro at 2600 S. 48th Street is a truly authentic Mexican restaurant. Family-owned and operated, the food is delicious, and the atmosphere is enjoyable. The same family also owns Mazatlán, Mazatlán II, Agave Mexican Grill (fast casual), and Los Margaritas, all offering similar but not identical menus.
Hacienda Real at 3130 Pine Lake Road has become a popular destination for Mexican cuisine, offering vegetarian options and grilling a delicious steak as well. The poblano enchiladas are a standout.
Mi Tierra Family Mexican Restaurant, with locations at 5500 Old Cheney Road and 8320 Northwoods Drive, features beautiful murals, handmade wooden booths, and great food. The shrimp dishes, like Camarones Mojo de Ajo (garlic shrimp), are a special treat.
Other Cuisine
Canyon Joe’s Barbecue at 200 S. 18th Street, a new addition to the Telegraph District, has received rave reviews for its Texas barbecue.
For New American cuisine, try Carmela’s Bistro & Wine Bar at 4141 Pioneer Woods Drive. The Ahi Salad and Walleye Picatta are both excellent choices, and the wine list and desserts are dreamy.
Art & Soul Kitchen & Wine Bar at 5740 Hidcote Drive has a great patio and often features live music. The menu includes hand-crafted cocktails, specialty salads, handhelds, and shareables. Their tomato basil soup is a customer favorite, available by the pint or quart to take home.
Now it’s up to you — go discover your own favorite place to eat in Lincoln. Multiple favorites are allowed. Enjoy!
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