Lincoln’s Best Restaurants in 2019

December 31, 2019

2019 is in the books. Lets take a look back at some of the happenings on the food scene in 2019. First, lets start with the rankings.

1. The Oven Cellar

The Oven Cellar keeps the number 1 spot in 2019. The combination of atmosphere, wine selection, service (and awesome sommelier, thanks Charles!) access to the full oven menu and their own snacky items keep them at the top.

Favorite dish this year:  It’s a wine, I love the Indian food, but the wine cellar is what makes the place. But I wish I was versed enough in wine to remember. I also wish I would have wrote some of it down. But I know I loved what I had … I’ll do better next year.
http://theoven-lincoln.com/about_cellar

2. Dish

Dish keeps bringing the creative, different and good items. I’m impressed and satisfied every time I go in.

Favorite dish this year:  Duck confit salad (pictured above).
http://www.dishdowntown.com/

3. Venue + Piedmont Bistro

I’m still impressed by what Venue and the Piedmont Bistro are doing. Both are different in their own way. The Venue itself has the specials and different items I love to see when going out to eat. They get the majority of the props, but between both, it’s a great 1-2 punch.

Favorite dish this year: Pime dry-aged ribeye at Venue (pictured above).
https://www.yourvenue.net/

4. JTK

JTK, still good. A worthy destination for the most high-end night out in Lincoln.

Favorite dish this year:  Steak & egg pommes frites (pictured above).
http://www.jtkrestaurant.com/

5. Copal

Copal has never disappointed. Such a good place and one you should know well.

Favorite dish this year: Fish Tacos, Baja style (pictured above).
http://www.copallincoln.com/

6. The Parthenon

The Parthenon is still cranking out new, different and creative specials. The specials are what keep me coming back. But as I write this, I’m craving some Saganaki, it’s been too long and I think I’m going to need to make a trip to get some next week.

Favorite dish this year: I might be letting my stomach think for me in this situation, but Saganaki wins. You can’t beat fried cheese.
http://www.theparthenon.net/

7. Sebastian’s Table

Sebastian’s Table was an awesome downtown restaurant that left us. I was sad, and I know I wasn’t alone. But they brought it back in south east Lincoln and did a fantastic job. The building is a cool place to eat. Combine that with a perfect place to venture over to extend the evening just a bit longer, their lounge, Eleanora, the two together make a really good night out.

Favorite dish this year: So many to choose from, but I’m a sucker for goat cheese stuffed peppadew peppers (pictured above).
https://sebastianstable.com/

7. Yia Yia’s

At least my favorite O street pizza joint isn’t closing — Yia Yia’s is still serving great pizza with an awesome curated beer selection. Can’t say the same for their across the street friend Lazzari’s. Sad to see Lazzari’s go, but now your O street pizza decision is easier.

Favorite dish this year: Same as every year, a slice of the Polynesian (what else?). On the beer side, I was very happy to have a Kwak on tap in it’s real glass (pictured above).
https://www.facebook.com/yiayias/

ice cream

8. Ivanna Cone

I’ve been only giving Ivanna Cone honorable mention in years past since they’re not a full restaurant. Ivanna cone has what I love, new, creative and really good food (ice cream) every time I’m in. So why not let them be part of the big list?

Favorite ice cream this year: Bourbon pear cake (pictured above).
http://www.ivannacone.com/

Honrable Mention

My honorable mention list has stayed the same. None of these places changed much, which is a good thing because they are here because I love them all in their own way.

Lazlo’s (north or south)
Favorite Lazlo’s dish this year: Bourbon BBQ burger & clam chowder.

Hub Cafe
Favorite dish from the Hub Cafe this year: Grits with pulled pork special.

Prairie Plate
Favorite dish from Prairie Plate this year: Pastured pork with rhubarb sauce.

MoMo
Favorite dish from MoMo this year: Butternut squash fusilli.

Goodbyes are always hard

Blue Blood Brewing: Blue blood brewing left us abruptly this year. It was definitely a surprise, but at the same time not a huge surprise when I think back on it. Blue Blood had some flashes of being really good in a lot of different areas, but could never really get over the hump. I would have a good beer from them and then three average beers. We would go eat there and have a great experience only to have the next one be almost laughably bad. They leave behind a great space, so I hope to be reporting a new awesome brewery opening in their spot this time next year.

Green Flash Brewing: I don’t think Green Flash’s heart was ever in Lincoln. This loss wouldn’t sting so much if they put out a product like Blue Blood where I sort of stopped caring about making visits. But they didn’t, they put out a fantastic product, both with their beer and their food. I craved (and still crave) the fried chicken sandwich. For whatever reason they couldn’t make a go of it — from my perspective, it doesn’t look like they tried very hard to make it work, but yeah, that’s a little bit of a bitter perspective for bringing something good my way and then taking it away so quickly.

Ichiban Sichuan: Ichiban started with a lot of promise. It’s a large dining room, but the first time I went, there was a wait to be seated and all sorts of people. But they had some liquor licence issues. I’m not sure if that was the turning point or not, but it seemed to me that after that, the excitement around it faded. I am sad to see them go because they offered an experience that was different than any other restaurant in town.

Lazzari’s Pizza downtown: Started in 1993, Lazzari’s on O street has sort of been a Lincoln institution. I’m not sure why they’re closing now, but O street really won’t be the same without them. The south location is staying open, so I can still get my Lazzari’s. But it just won’t be the same.

Favorite new places this year

Shokunin Sushi and Japanese Cuisine: Two of my favorite new places this year have a Japanese spin. Shokunin is more traditional and occupies the former Bread and Cup space. I have many happy food memories in that space, so they have a good start there. I’ve tried a few things, but the Spicy Seafood Ramen is so good it will be hard to go away from that every time I’m in.

Koen Japanese BBQ & Sushi: Koen brings a concept to our city that I’ve experienced a couple times outside of Lincoln. Now having it here, I’m happy that we have this experience. From what I’ve been able to gather, Koen’s grill at your own table experience is usually reserved for more high-end dining. Koen has done a great job of re-creating that here and it’s great to have them in Lincoln.

HF Crave: Not really a new restaurant, HF Crave re-located and re-imagined their business a little bit. My son and I called it “Dad and Logan’s place,” so we’re both happy to have our place back.

AmuManu: AmuManu did the same thing as HF Crave, they closed for renovations for a bit, depriving me of my fix. AmuManu’s menu didn’t change much, but the way the made the items on their menu did. They took a nice step up in taste and quality. I’ve only been twice since they have re-opened, but I have left craving more each time.

Sebastian’s table. Back and better than ever. See above.

Imagine that …

Wilderness Ridge is still inconsistent. But they did announce that they are going private in 2021. As of now it looks like the restaurant will stay open to the public, but if that goes private too, it would be a big loss to the Lincoln community. I give Wilderness Ridge some flack, but they still offer one of top experiences in Lincoln with an atmosphere that is unlike any other.

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