Lincoln’s best Restaurants in 2016

It’s the end of the year, time to reflect on my favorite Lincoln restaurants in 2016. I’m going to review and rank every restaurant that earned a blue mark on my big map. Every place on the map is worthy of a visit, but these are my go-to joints. Places I could visit every day and still feel like I need more.

1. Bread & Cup

If I’m going to choose one place in Lincoln to send someone from out of town, it’s probably Bread & Cup. They have a creative menu, fun atmosphere and really good food. When I’m traveling to other cities, I generally search for the type of restaurant that’s style is very local, unique, creative and a bit off the beaten path. Bread & Cup is that place in Lincoln. It’s menu is always changing with great local farm-to-table ingredients and the decor blends the reclaimed with the modern perfectly. A perfect place for a relaxing night out that is upscale but not stuffy.
Favorite dish this year:  Tough choice with so many good entrées, but have to go with an appetizer: the meat and cheese platter (pictured above).
http://www.breadandcup.com/

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2. JTK

JTK is probably what I would call the most upscale restaurant in Lincoln. Others can try to claim that title, but of those paces, JTK also has the most creative and best food so it wins in my book. I like to say that you can tell a lot about a location by the server turnover. If it’s a fun place to work and is able to keep good servers, it’s probably going to be a fun place to visit as a patron too. JTK definitely has that, I feel like I see the same exact servers every time I go in. On top of that, we can only make it in a few times in a year, but our favorite server still recognized my wife and I and stopped to talk when we ran into him at a football game in Illinois. Given the great food, nice atmosphere and great service, JTK is absolutely deserving of a blue mark.
Favorite dish this year: American Wagyu beef filet (pictured above).
http://www.jtkrestaurant.com/

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3. The Oven Cellar

The Cellar made my list of hard to find places that you should be visiting this year. This is the only location off that list that also makes it’s way on here. A visit just to discuss wine with the sommelier, Charles, is worth the trip by itself. But you also get to drink some of the awesome and unique wine that he finds! On top of that, you can also order food from the Oven upstairs, and let’s be honest, I’m never going to say no to a great bowl of Indian food. Combine all of that with a relaxed and unique atmosphere, you have a winner. Go there for a dinner date or even head down for some wine after you’ve had dinner somewhere else and you’ll have a great time.
Favorite “dish” this year: 2012 Berger Grüner Veltliner. Yes, it’s a wine, but if you absolutely need my favorite dish, my favorite has got to be the Chicken Tikka Madras (pictured above).
http://theoven-lincoln.com/about_cellar

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4. Copal

Maybe Copal is on this list because I (and Lincoln) have been starved for creative Mexican food that isn’t just beans, rice and meat in some sort of a tortilla topped with cheese. Maybe they’re on here because I’ve had at least one thing that just makes me say “wow” every time I’ve been in. Either way, I don’t really care. I love this place, it makes me happy every time I visit. I’m fairly confident if you go there, you’ll agree.
Favorite dish this year: Again, a tough choice because they have some really good entrées, but I’m going with the Sweet Corn Soup (pictured above).
http://www.copallincoln.com/

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5. The Parthenon

As I’m writing this article, I’ve found that my criteria for this list is defined as such: consistently fantastic food that is creative and isn’t always the same (i.e., creative), an atmosphere that provides a unique experience that is hard to find and don’t screw up the service. The building & decor itself at the Parthenon does leave a bit to be desired, but past that they absolutely meet the rest of the criteria and create an experience like no other in Lincoln. Their regular menu has your typical Greek entrées, but they obviously work very very hard at providing good, creative specials every day. There are typically two to choose from plus a couple special side items and I’ve never been disappointed ordering strictly from the specials menu. But with that, it’s hard to order any of their regulars (which are also great), though I could eat the saganaki (fried cheese) all day every day so it’s a necessary appetizer with every visit. Oh, and they have a desert selection that rivals anyone in town, so needless to say I typically leave quite full but also very very happy. As if all of that isn’t enough to make you want to go there right now, they have great service and I’ll buy you a drink if George, the owner, doesn’t come out to your table at least once to deliver food or just say hi. It’s a fun place.
Favorite dish this year: I was a big fan of the Pork Stifado special (pictured above left). Opa!
http://www.theparthenon.net/

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6. Hub Cafe

The Hub Cafe is the only restaurant on this list that was also new in 2016. So I guess they get the Lincoln by Mouth “best new restaurant” award for this year. The food is very local and extra-creative, which may turn some people off because you’ll have to step out of your box a little to enjoy it. But if you are up for trying some things that are a little outside the norm it’s culinary heaven. They’re racking up the Lincoln by Mouth awards too: I’m also going to name their food the most photogenic in 2016. It’s just a work of art to look at.
Favorite dish this year: Moroccan spiced meatballs (pictured above).
http://www.hubcafelincoln.com/

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7. Yia Yia’s

I have been questioning if Yia Yia’s should really be included on this list. It’s a pizza joint, I mean how hard is it to have great pizza? But as I type this I’m sitting here in Yia Yia’s enjoying a Bell’s Traverse City Whiskey Expedition Stout, taking in the energetic, eclectic atmosphere and downing a unique (and an extremely good) pie with bacon, pepperoni, jalapenos, black olives, cranberries, pineapple, cream cheese, provolone, BBQ sauce and marinara (the Polynesian). It’s hard not to sit here and think, man I love life … and that’s all the validation I need. Yia Yia’s has great pizza and the best beer selection in town. It is somewhere the very young and old can enjoy together, picky eaters and foodies sit at the same table and each have a great time, large groups or small parties fit in, lunch, dinner, weekday, weekend, it’s all good.
Favorite dish this year: a slice of the Polynesian (pictured above).
https://www.facebook.com/yiayias/

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Honorable Mention

Ivanna Cone: they have a blue mark because they’re awesome in every way, but aren’t really a restaurant so I’m not sure I can rank them on a list that’s titled “best restaurants.” Not that I’m above having only ice cream for lunch or dinner. But make it a night out, go to one of the places above for dinner and head to Ivanna Cone for dessert … two blue marks in one night!
http://www.ivannacone.com/

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4 to watch

These four restaurants are either very close or on the rise and I’m hoping they will earn their blue mark in 2017.

Lazlo’s (north or south): One of my most frequently visited restaurants and absolutely one of my favorite places to eat. Why don’t they have a blue mark? This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but their menu isn’t overly risky or creative, just really good quality solid food. But at the same time, that probably keeps them at a green mark.

The Blue Orchid: They have all the variables needed for a blue mark, good, innovative food, a fun atmosphere and good service. I think having more specials to break out of an always-the-same menu would help get them over the hump to a blue mark.

Venue: A little while back, Venue would have been just a “pretty good” place to eat. But I’ve had some really good experiences lately and they are climbing my list. They just need to keep their rate of climb and they’ll be on my 2017 best restaurants list.

Wilderness Ridge: My like/dislike of the food at Wilderness Ridge seems to go in waves, but right now we’re at a peak. There is some seriously good food coming out of the kitchen these last few months. The service is no different: very inconsistent. Some servers are outstanding while others are almost comically bad. But if you are there on a night when food and service mesh, add in the feel of the grand lodge for atmosphere, it’s more than worthy of being called the best restaurant in Lincoln. If Wilderness Ridge can become more consistent, they’ll earn their blue mark in 2017.

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Tags: Blue Orchid, Bread & Cup, Copal, Hub Cafe, Ivanna Cone, JTK, Lazlo's, Parthenon, The Oven, Venue, Wilderness Ridge, Yia Yia's