The best in Lincoln: Wine
Haymarket
The Oven Cellar
I would assume (almost) everybody in Lincoln knows about The Oven. It’s a great place to get Indian in Lincoln. But I’m not sure everybody knows about the Cellar below The Oven. It’s a wine bar with a fantastic selection. Their sommelier obviously knows their stuff between the wine selection on hand and individual wine … Continue reading "The Oven Cellar"
JTK
JTK has the best steak in town, a Nebraska Wagyu Filet that is just wonderful. JTK itself has one of the most upscale vibes in town and is pretty darn good even without the steak. Bonus JTK probably might just have the best overall whiskey selection in Lincoln. So if you want steak and whiskey, JTK should … Continue reading "JTK"
The Oven
The Oven serves traditional Indian comfort food, and they do it very well. But to me, the Oven stands out by combining some very solid Indian food with a great wine list and really nice atmosphere. You can get a good Chicken Tikka Masala in a lot of places, but you can’t get it in … Continue reading "The Oven"
Vincenzo’s Ristorante
Vincenzo’s is Lincoln’s best pure Italian restaurant. But you may be taking more of a trip to St. Louis than Italy when visiting. The Lou hints are subtle, with dishes like toasted ravioli and one that’s called “The Hill” after St. Louis’s most famous food and their Italian district respectively. But the dead giveaway is … Continue reading "Vincenzo’s Ristorante"
North East
Casa Bovina
It’s almost unfair, Casa Bovina/the Mercato clearly has a lot of backing and they do a lot with it, including a really, really fantastic dining experience. While it might be unfair relative to the small operation and silly blog lists like this one, it’s to the benefit of you, the patron. The entire complex reminds … Continue reading "Casa Bovina"
South East
Venue Restaurant & Lounge
The Venue is one of the more upscale restaurants in Lincoln and with that, they have one of the better menus. I enjoy their creativity and specials. On a selection & price perspective, the Venue might be the best place in Lincoln to get a good Whiskey. They are also no slouch with their wine … Continue reading "Venue Restaurant & Lounge"
The Oven
The Oven serves traditional Indian comfort food, and they do it very well. But to me, the Oven stands out by combining some very solid Indian food with a great wine list and really nice atmosphere. You can get a good Chicken Tikka Masala in a lot of places, but you can’t get it in … Continue reading "The Oven"
MoMo Pizzeria & Ristorante
MoMo calls itself a pizzeria, but it’s so much more than a pizza joint. If I am looking for a nice night out, MoMo always comes up in the discussion. When going for dinner, I’ll snag a spot at their bar if I’m lucky enough to find one. In my humble opinion, the bar is … Continue reading "MoMo Pizzeria & Ristorante"
Carmela’s Bistro & Wine Bar
Go to Carmela’s for a nice dinner out. Get a good steak and nice glass of wine to take in the fun atmosphere and you’ll have a very good evening. Not feeling like a steak? Don’t worry, the rest of their menu offers plenty of other creative and good items too.
Downtown
Green Gateau
The Green Gateau has been a favorite of mine for quite some time. The start the day with one of my go-to spots for breakfast. Have a really nice lunch vibe, but manage to wrap it all together and are one of the better dinner spots in town. The interior vibe is reminds me of … Continue reading "Green Gateau"
Billy’s
Billy’s has a great location in an old house close to the Capitol. It is named after William Jennings Bryan and the decor and atmosphere fits the namesake. I think the history and the building is worth the visit alone, but the food isn’t a slouch either.
South West
L’s Kitchen
L’s takes over where the Normandy left off, and I’m pretty happy about it. L’s offers what I look for, chef inspired, creative and most importantly really good food. They describe themselves as “Unpretentious, cozy & Sophisticated,” and I would agree with that. L’s is an all-around nice place for an evening out.