Omaha
Restaurant
Guide
Welcome to Omaha!
We have lovingly prepared this guide because
we are lovers of Omaha cuisine.
All of it—the classic Reuben (invented here!),
the steaks (Omaha cut, of course!) and the
ice cream. Food and Wine magazine named
Omaha one of America’s Next Great Food
Cities, and it’s no longer a secret.
Since we hope you will be spending the next
four years of your life here, we wanted to get
you started on your foodie expedition.
Whether you seek sushi, are venturing out for
vegetarian or want to treat yourself and your
family to a world-class steak, it all begins just
a couple of blocks off campus.
Bon appétit!
OLD MARKET
Block 16
home-spun street food, sandwiches,
burgers, gyros
A James Beard finalist chef,
guaranteed to knock your socks off.
Blue Sushi Sake Grill
traditional sushi with an
American attitude
Fun atmosphere, great sushi,
and frequent happy hour specials.
Café Postale
quick-serve restaurant featuring
a fresh take on café classics for
breakfast and lunch
Historic ambiance of this former
Burlington Mail Terminal, loads
of vintage charm.
Hiro 88
sushi, Asian fusion cuisine and tapas
Delicious bento boxes, tuna poke,
and sesame chicken.
Jams Old Market
American grill, cold drinks
and creative cocktails
Omaha restaurant legacy with
a melting pot of different styles
and varieties of food dishes.
Kitchen Table
inventive sandwiches made
with fresh ingredients
Check their Facebook page
for daily specials. Consistent
vegetarian options.
Omaha Tap House
gourmet burgers and other elevated
pub grub, plus craft beers on tap
More than a dozen burgers on the
menu. Enough said.
Plank Seafood Provisions
oyster bar and restaurant with
a broad seafood menu
Great if you like oysters or not.
Variety of seafood and
delicious options.
Spaghetti Works
Italian cuisine
Omaha institution for over 40 years,
offering a unique dining experience
in a restored warehouse.
Ted and Wally’s
old-fashioned, homemade ice cream
Daily specials and unique flavor
combinations. Sometimes has a
long line, but well worth the wait.
Trini’s
tex-mex chow and margaritas
by the pitcher
Locally owned restaurant nestled
in the Old Market Passageway.
Twisted Fork Bar and Grill
contemporary American food
with a cowboy twist
Try the chicken pot pie and chili
relleno dishes. Consider the white
truffle risotto as a side.
Upstream Brewing Company
local brewery featuring
American varieties
Plenty of options for everyone.
Try their homemade root beer!
V. Mertz
contemporary American restaurant
emphasizing the use of local food
Located in the Old Market
Passageway, so you can’t see it
from the street. (Dinner only)
Zio’s Pizzeria
New York-style pizza, by the slice
Great lunch specials, excellent Thai
pizza and calzones.
Alumni owned business
NORTH DOWNTOWN
Blatt Beer and Table
elevated bar food, on-tap craft
beers, and a seasonal rooftop
beer garden
Named after Rosenblatt Stadium,
where College World Series was
previously held.
DJs Dugout
Voted Omaha’s
#
1 Sports Bar
1/2-pound Angus beef burgers,
wings, steaks, sandwiches, nachos
and more.
Hook and Lime
seafood-centric, Mexican-inspired
tacos, small plates, and tequila
Fantastic carnitas and mahi
mahi tacos.
The Old Mattress Factory
Bar and Grill
American pub chow
Sports bar in an 1883 venue with
live music and special events.
Pettit’s Pastry
premier supplier of fresh-baked
donuts, pastries, cakes, and cookies
What may be lacking in flair is more
than made up for as soon as a fresh
doughnut melts in your mouth.
MIDTOWN CROSSING
Modern Love
swanky vegan comfort food made
with love and a modern twist
It’s a vegan restaurant, but there
is something for everyone.
Pickleman’s Gourmet Café
gourmet sandwich shop
Offers freshly toasted sandwiches,
chopped salads, thin-crust pizzas,
and gourmet soups.
Smokin’ Oak Wood-Fired
Pizza and Taproom
Texas-style barbeque restaurant
and bar with Texas roots
High-quality smoked meats,
craft cocktails, beers and wines.
BLACKSTONE
Artemis Tea and Botanical
hand-crafted, small-batch
tea blends
Teas arouse the senses, stimulate
imagination, and promote total
wellness.
The Blackstone Meatball
industrial bar/eatery with
creative meatball dishes and
handmade sides
A menu that revolves around
meatballs. Yes, please.
Cheeseburgers
guess their specialty?
Burgers—hot dogs—chicken fingers
rounded off with fries and a shake
or malt.
Coneflower Creamery
handmade ice cream from
local ingredients
Tour guide favorite and staple
for local ice cream.
Corkscrew Wine and Cheese
wine shop and wine bar under
one roof
Choose from 700 wine options
and order a cheese board, flatbread,
salad or panini to go with it.
Crescent Moon Alehouse
burgers, wings, local and
regional beers
Order the Reuben just blocks
from where it originated
(Blackstone Hotel.)
Early Bird
elevated breakfast, brunch,
and cocktails 7 days a week
Get brunch every day of the week.
Recommended to call ahead.
eCreamery
ice cream, gelato, and sorbet shop
Featured on the TV show
“Shark Tank.” They do 80% of their
business online!
Good Lookin’
“Best part of your day café”
Great breakfast sandwiches and
homemade pastries. Breakfast,
brunch, and lunch on Wed-Sun.
Pitch Pizzeria
coal-fired pizza, and Italian cuisine
From pizza to pasta to brunch,
you can’t go wrong; reservations
recommended.
AKSARBEN
Herbe Sainte
Cajun and Creole fare and drinks
Delicious jambalaya, etouffee,
and grits. Weekend Brunch.
Inner Rail Food Hall
the place to go when no one can
make up their mind on what to have.
The food hall includes nine vendors
with a variety of cuisines, all
surrounding a central bar. Good spot
for vegan options and indoor and
outdoor seating.
Le Peep
voted Omaha’s best breakfast
year after year
Features a menu that reads like
a cookbook with line after line
of intriguing food options.
Ponzu Sushi and Grill
a trendy spot for contemporary
takes on sushi, Asian Fusion grilled
plates and stylish cocktails.
Located in the heart of Aksarben
and will please every palate.
Voodoo Taco
wicked good tacos with exotic,
fresh ingredients
The smoked brisket taco is to
die for! If you like it “spicy,” try the
Habanera Lightning sauce.
Mula
street-style Mexican cuisine,
handmade tortillas
A fresh, updated twist on
Mexican tapas.
Noli’s Pizzeria
combining traditional and artisan
into a New York-style slice
Great. Authentic Italian ingredients.
Get the garlic knots!
Stirnella Bar and Kitchen
stylish gastropub with exposed
brick and communal tables,
serving elevated American and
global cuisine
The menu is designed to be
ordered family-style but can be
eaten separately.
DUNDEE
Amsterdam Falafel and Kabob
snug sandwich counter serving
Middle Eastern specialties
You can’t go wrong with anything
from here, but make sure to get
curry fries too.
Avoli Osteria
simple, thoughtful dishes indigenous
to Northern Italy
Outstanding cuisine—moderate to
high-end. Great special date night
or special occasion.
Alumni owned business
OTHER SPOTS
AROUND OMAHA
Don Carmelo’s Pizzeria
award-winning NY Style Pizza,
authentic Stromboli and Calzones.
3rd generation (and Creighton grad)
still cooking up their Sicilian family
recipes at 2 locations around Omaha.
Greek Islands
you know you want to shout it. OPA!
An Omaha favorite for over 30 years,
this is THE place for Greek cuisine.
La Casa Pizzeria
legendary pizza and pasta since 1953
Run by the third generation of
Patane family members, still at the
original location.
Lighthouse Pizza
contemporary pizza joint known
for its oversized slices
Ridiculously large pizza slices, fries
piled high, unique topping creations,
and late-night hours.
Lisa’s Radial Café
classic breakfast and lunch
diner close to campus
Great breakfast place. Open early
morning to 2 pm every day.
Salween Thai
some like it hot—go for a level
5 or above.
A favorite of students for the great
food at fair prices and generous
portions. Choose your spice level,
1-10. The Pad Thai is always a winner.
Stella’s Bar and Grill
down-to-earth staple known for
hand-pressed burgers served
on napkins
Frequently listed as Omaha’s
best burger.
Sweet Magnolias Bake Shop
made-from-scratch bakery
Order the scones. Baked fresh
daily—and they sell out quickly,
so don’t wait!
Taco Co
las recitas son de su abuela.
On the main street in the Benson
neighborhood. Puffy shell tacos and
sides that you can order family style.
OMAHA STEAKS
801 Chophouse
sharp, white-tablecloth spot serving
a menu of upscale steakhouse
classics including fresh seafood
Yes, you can find an 801 Chophouse
in cities other than Omaha, but only
in five, so we’ve included it on the
list as it is a recurring favorite in the
Big O.
Brother Sebastian’s Steakhouse
choice cuts delivered by staff
dressed as monks in cozy digs
Early California mission décor
with great steaks. Perfect spot
for a special dinner. Reservations
recommended.
Cascio’s Steakhouse
storied family-owned bar and grill
offering steaks, pizza and Italian fare
Old-school place that never fails to
deliver. Generations of the Cascio
family have kept this steakhouse a
perennial favorite in Omaha. Open
Wednesday—Sunday.
The Committee Chophouse
A return to the art of the chophouse
High-end, contemporary dining in
historical digs. Reservations are
recommended.
The Drover
landmark chophouse specializing
in steaks marinated in whiskey and
then grilled to order
Well-known old-school salad bar, it’s
worth the short drive from campus
to find The Drover. Reservations
recommended.
Gorat’s Steakhouse
local fixture offering steaks, salads
and sandwiches in an old-school
environment
Warren Buffet’s choice for steaks
in Omaha—do you need more than
that? Some gluten-free options are
available.
J. Gilberts
wood-fired steaks and seafood
Serves Midwestern raised, USDA
Prime Black Angus beef cooked over
an open wood-fire grill. Delivers a
fine-dining meal in a down-to-earth
atmosphere.
Johnny’s Café
1922 chophouse highlighting
Midwest beef, including steaks
aged on-site
Local, family-run steakhouse.
The décor is a treat.
Mahogany Prime Steakhouse
upscale chophouse chain branch
presenting prime beef and seafood
in a white-tablecloth dining room
Often listed as one of the top fine
dining experiences in Omaha.
Dinner hours only, closed Sunday.
Reservations recommended.
Monarch Restaurant
upscale New American kitchen with
weekend brunch and tasting menus
in a stylish high-ceilinged space
Classically inspired cocktails,
exclusive theatre menu, and
charming dining room and lounge
are sure to please.
COFFEE, PLEASE!
13th Street Coffee and Tea
espresso beverages, baked goods
and gelato in an airy café setup
featuring rotating art on the walls
Like Central Perk, this hang-out
spot right off Old Market is a favorite.
Try the cannolis.
Archetype Coffee
craft coffee shop with an industrial
feel, emphasizing natural flavors
Serving small batch roasted coffee,
lattes, cappuccinos, macchiatos
or in-house brewed chai.
Hardy Coffee Co.
Small-batch coffee roaster
and bakery
Sweets galore and scrumptious
coffee; four locations around Omaha.
Rally Coffee Co.
coffees, teas, and assorted
menu items
This coffee classic makes their
flavorings in-house. Stop by
for terrific seasonal options all
year round.
Stories Coffee Company
local, fresh roasted coffee
Each quarter a portion of the
sales are given to a local,
non-profit organization that is
doing great things.
Alumni owned business
