Omaha is a town of people who like to eat out. Almost any type of food—and lots of it fine—is available somewhere in the city. Nebraska is a state steeped in agriculture, and this bounty translates to the tables of thousands of Omaha restaurants. The wide variety of cuisine represented in this chapter offers food at every price level, every level of dining—fine to casual—and all around, the restaurants on this list offer great food.
Omaha’s culinary offerings have grown immensely in the past five years, with restaurants like The Boiler Room, Grey Plume, and others opening their doors to captive audiences who love to eat.
There’s a special spotlight on something quintessentially Omaha: the old-school steak house. If you’ve been to one, you know what it’s about, and, if not, get thee to a steak house when you arrive in the city. At least one was featured in a major motion picture, another is a favorite of the Oracle of Omaha. Beef is at the heart of what these places do, and, though it’s secondary, the atmosphere at all of them is memorable and fun.
Overview
The restaurants in this chapter are presented by type of cuisine and in alphabetical order. The styles of cuisine are loosely categorized; some are rather difficult to categorize. A price code has been incorporated so you can find what you’re looking for.
Omaha has a strict smoking ban and smoking is not allowed in any workplaces, restaurants, or bars. No restaurants have smoking sections, but some have opened their patios or gardens to smokers.
There are thousands of restaurants in Omaha, and this is just a small sampling of the types of cuisine and places diners can get it. Everyone has his or her own favorites when it comes to restaurants and food; many of the listings here are my favorites. You are encouraged to use this guide as a jumping-off point and explore the city’s foodie offerings for yourself.