When You Care Enough to Eat the Very Best
A couple weeks ago KFOR’s annual Best of Lincoln survey results came out. The results generated a lot of chatter, especially in regard to its restaurant results. And deservedly so. KFOR’s Best of Lincoln publication is a great service to the city, but the results of its survey point not to the “best” Lincoln restaurants, but rather to the most popular and the most heavily marketed. There can be quite a gulf between good food and food that is merely the most familiar to the average Lincolnite.
The Missus and I discussed this issue on our most recent weekly Date Night. I was surprised by how quickly I came to my conclusions. I made two lists of five restaurants each: my favorite restaurants, and Lincoln’s best restaurants. Here is what I came up with:
Brent’s Favorite Restaurants
5. Lazlo’s Brewery & Grill (Downtown location) - I could eat at Lazlo’s every week. Of all the times I’ve been to Lazlo’s—which is dozens of times—I’ve had exactly one bad meal. I typically alternate between the chicken and ribs (with beans and mashed potatoes) and the shrimp brochette (with the shrimp blackened). The service is almo
st always stellar; at worst, the service is merely above average. The atmosphere of the Downtown location is first rate. (I avoid the south location whenever possible. The experience is simply inferior.) All in all, I’m certain to leave Lazlo’s happy every time.
4. Oso Burrito - My father and I eat at Oso every Tuesday to enjoy the jerk chicken burrito special. But every day could be Oso day as far as I’m concerned. Oso offers a much bigger variety than its McDonald’s-owned competitor Chipotle. The atmosphere is lighthearted and friendly, if a little chilly on cold winter days. If Oso offered a breakfast menu I could eat there every meal for a week and not get bored.
3. The Oven - The Missus nearly fainted when I put The Oven on my list of favorites. Only a few years ago I hated Indian food. Wouldn’t touch the stuff. The first time The Missus dragged me to The Oven I went along only because I wanted to get her to stop bugging me about it. I was unimpressed. We went back once, twice, three more times over the course of a couple years. By my fifth visit I had a Grinch-like epiphany—this stuff is really, really good! Plus there’s the cozy atmosphere and the excellent service. Now I’m the one bugging The Missus to go to The Oven more often.
2. Crawdaddy’s - Crawdaddy’s is nothing like The Oven. Where The Oven is refined and sophisticated, Crawdaddy’s is rough and crude. And that’s one of the reasons I love it. Crawdaddy’s somehow manages to excel at cajun, barbeque, and tex-Mex, all at the same time. It’s the type of place where I could order just about anything off the (huge!) menu and enjoy it. The atmosphere perfectly complements the restaurant’s intended character. Even the location—under a viaduct, adjacent to a set of railroad tracks—is spot on. The $.25 tacos on Sundays don’t hurt either.
1. Skeeter Barnes - I love this place. Skeeter Barnes is so wonderfully Nebraskan, and yet it manages to be truly unique at the same time. The chicken is unbelievably moist, the steaks impressively tender, and the pork incredibly flavorful. The prices are very reasonable, and the atmosphere is family-friendly. In fact, The Missus and I happened to be eating at Skeeter Barnes when I came up with this list. Not a coincidence, I tell you.
Lincoln’s Best Restaurants
5. Crawdaddy’s - I don’t think many people would put Crawdaddy’s anywhere near a top-5 list of Lincoln’s best restaurants. And yet here it is on mine. Like I said earlier, Crawdaddy’s is so good in so many ways. Lincoln is lucky to have it.
4. Ivanna Cone - What’s this? An ice cream shop on a list of Lincoln’s best restaurants? I admit, I’m fudging the definition of “restaurant” a little bit, but stick with me a moment. Ivanna Cone serves up incredible homemade ice cream from a cozy little shop in the Haymarket. What better way to top off a meal from the other places on this list than with a couple scoops of Ivanna Cone’s super premium ice cream? If you’re crafting a list of places that a hungry person needs to visit in Lincoln, Ivanna Cone should be on that list.
3. Lazlo’s (Downtown location) - Just about every Lincolnite loves Lazlo’s. Its reputation in Lincoln is unmatched. That’s not an accident. Lazlo’s is one of Lincoln’s best restaurants, without question.
2. Yia Yia’s - This entry will surprise a lot of people, but it shouldn’t. Nobody else in Lincoln matches their pizza. Yia Yia’s merges great food, a quality atmosphere, and a large selection of beers and other beverages into one tight package.
1. The Oven - The Oven is the total package. Superb food, service, and atmosphere unite to create Lincoln’s best restaurant. In fact, I’m told by those who would know that The Oven competes very well some of the best Indian restaurants around the country. For example, I’ve dined at Monsoon, San Diego’s top Indian restaurant, and in any comparison The Oven comes out on top. Lincoln is very blessed to have such a restaurant in our midst. Too bad so many Lincolnites, raised on a traditional midwestern diet, are hesitant to give The Oven a try.
There you have it boys and girls, Brent’s favorites and Lincoln’s best. But as long as I’m in the list-making mood, I feel like throwing in one more…
Lincoln’s Most Overrated Restaurants
5. Misty’s - I don’t understand all the praise heaped upon Misty’s. It’s a fine restaurant, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying it’s a bad restaurant. But Misty’s is often hyped as one of Lincoln’s best restaurants. I just don’t see it. My Misty’s experiences have been rather ordinary, and in my opinion the prices are too high.
4. Runza - I can’t believe I have to put this on here. I used to love Runza. There was nothing better than a cheese Runza and a chocolate shake (using real ice cream!) from the Runza on 33rd and Highway 2. But now? Now Runza is just so ordinary. Maybe I’m just getting old and cynical, but Runzas taste fast food-y these days, the “premium” shakes are squeezed out of a machine, and the marketing does nothing for me. On the plus side, I had an awesome Runza from a location up in Omaha a couple weeks ago, so there’s still hope. But most of the time...meh.
3. Valentino’s Grand Italian Buffet - People flock to this place like it’s Mecca. I don’t get it. Most of the food tastes like it is straight out of the back of the Sysco truck. The pizza is, well, Valentino’s pizza. I like Val’s pizza, but let’s be honest with each other: Val’s pizza is pretty mediocre. There’s hardly any service, you have to wait in a line (!!!) to get in, and then only to pay shockingly high prices.
2. Applebee’s - Lincolnites rate Applebee’s highly on KFOR’s Best of Lincoln survey every year. Every. Damn. Year. It’s Applebee’s, people. The mere thought of Applebee’s being the Best of Lincoln in any category makes me want to poke at my brain with a Q-Tip to try to kill the neurons generating the thought. Applebee’s does what it does very well. I applaud them for it. But that makes them business-savvy. It does not mean Applebee’s is the best restaurant in town. Please, please, people, learn the distinction.
1. Applebee’s - I mean, seriously, what the hell?
The Comments
Cedric October 27, 2005 at 2:35pm
being newish to Lincoln ( lived in Airpark, which may as well not be Lincoln) I look forward to eating at many of the places mentioned. Oso is a favorite from when I worked tech support at Alltel-grab an Oso, have lunch at my desk for two days. Ive never tried yia yais, and I was suprised with Ivanna cone. I have never been there, either, but Coldstone has been a favorite of my wife and I for some time.
Thanks for the heads up!
Mr. T October 27, 2005 at 3:36pm
Can I get some love for La Mexicana, China Inn and Nha Trang too?
By the way, I’ve found it strange that two places I really liked a lot both recently closed. One was that Vietnamese place across from UNL City Campus near the Juice Stop. I can’t remember the name, but I went there religiously for their beef noodle pho. Although not as good as other pho joints, its proximity to where I live and work made it a very nice, casual and inexpensive place. It was also nice because, besides Nha Trang, most of the other East Asian cuisine in downtown is very mediocre in my opinion *cough* Thai Garden *cough*.
On 27th north of O Street there was a place called Mama D’s Pizza. I actually preferred it to Yia Yia’s. The crust was wheat, and their was a selection of toppings you couldn’t find elsewhere (spinach, basil, etc.). Unfortunately, that place folded just a few weeks ago I think.
Steve October 27, 2005 at 10:12pm
I might have to give Skeeter Barnes another chance. The only time I’ve eaten there was a week when Sarah’s grandmother was in town and she wanted to eat out every night. Problem is she doesn’t like any non-American food and Skeeter was the fourth night in a row of steaks, chicken and ribs.
The only thing Misty’s has going for it is they improved Crane River’s beer when they took over the downtown location.
I’ll give all three of those places love, Mr. T. I didn’t know Dat’s closed. That’s too bad. Were you around here when Vien Dong was in that location? I worked downtown then and ate Pho three times a week.
Too bad about Mama D’s, too. Probably not the best location for a pizza place since most of the neighborhood population comes from non-pizza eating cultures.
Mr. T October 28, 2005 at 12:23pm
Yes – it was Vien Dong I was referring to. I used to go there every Saturday for the beef noodle pho. It was really quite good, and I have eaten pho hundreds and hundreds of times mainly in Northeast Thailand but also in Vietnam. That Dat’s place doesn’t seem to have the same pho. I went there once and had chicken curry – which I should add was done Southern Thai/Malay style – with potatoes and coconut milk curry base, which was a nice surprise, except it was extremely tepid in comparison to the real thing and not to mention over priced.
beerorkid November 18, 2005 at 6:14pm
ha ha
The only thing Misty’s has going for it is they improved Crane River’s beer when they took over the downtown location.
same brewer, same recipies. oh well
I think it is worse actually, we hardly sell any cuz our usual husker fan bone head customers want bud light. “got any thing domestic?” idiots it is made right here, can’t more domestic than that:)
I did change some of the recipies though, we also switched out the yeast. were using a special one cultured up by wyeast, it was close co american ale/chico. now I go to the home brew store and pick up some brittish ale yeast.
Steve November 18, 2005 at 6:26pm
I knew you were going to find this comment.
I always got a distinctive Crane River taste that overpowered any other flavors. Now I only drink it at Duffy’s so maybe it’s just the filth inside the Duffy’s tap lines that makes it taste better to me.
How long have you been the brewer at Crane/Misty’s?
beerorkid November 18, 2005 at 6:30pm
7 years or so. I hardly do anything there now. just oversee and guide my assistant. George rocks.
I stopped caring about it about 3 years ago, it became a job instead of a passion. George does not have much experience brewing, but his love for brewing shows. It is getting better cuz of him.
i actually homebrew again now, so I am starting to love beer again.
reese January 7, 2006 at 12:07pm
I don’t understand your criteria for overated restaurants. just because you don,t agree with the majority of lincoln’s patrons doesn’t affirm your opinions.why should anyone accept your judgements? what are your qualifications?
Mr. Wilson January 8, 2006 at 8:16pm
why should anyone accept your judgements? what are your qualifications?
Qualifications? I have none, except as a life-long eater, nor have I claimed any. That’s (arguably) what gives these lists some of their value. Who needs qualifications to talk about his favorite places to eat in his hometown?
Glyn February 22, 2006 at 10:44pm
I just found your website. sorry for the delay. Absolutely agree with your Favorites.
Interesting that your Favorites are not the Best in Lincoln. Why the disparity?
Amy Green March 1, 2006 at 9:39pm
Thank you for your lovely comments about Ivanna Cone. We are a small, family owned ice cream parlor and have a small advertising budget (I’d rather spend the money on the ingredients, staff, and all of the necessities of life). Your “word of mouth” advertising is exactly how we have survived. I also would love to mention another restaurant for your consideration, it is “The Blue Orchid” in the old Federal building. It has wonderful food, reasonable prices, and a beautiful atmosphere. Thank You again!
Karin April 22, 2006 at 2:34pm
I’m going to add some love for Golden Wok at 27th and Y as well. While a lot of the food is pretty ordinary, their sizzling rice soup and spring rolls are to die for. Plus the service (especially in the evening) is always excellent- My husband and I rarely eat out, but are always recognised when we go there for dinner. Also, across the street is a bubble tea house, which I have not tried but have heard is yummy.
Shari September 6, 2007 at 10:48pm
La Paz rocks my socks! It’s the only place in Lincoln I will eat Mexican. Their salsa doesn’t taste like marinara sause with cilantro, either, like the rest of those other chain Mexi places got going on. Now, if I could just find a nice Chinese Buffet I’d be set. I really miss Panda Buffet. I could use a good Chinese buffet suggestion.