[capitalcityguy]

Originally Posted by yman97

My two cents worth:

Pizza - Pitch or Mangia Italiana
Burgers - Burger Star, Ted's or Firebird's
Pasta - Carrabba's
Mexican - Hector's
Fast Food - Bronco's
Chinese - PF Chang's
Sandwiches - Schlotsky's
BBQ - Doc and Eddy's
Breakfast - Billy's Cafe
Brewery - Rock Bottom

Seriously? Omaha doesn't have its own brewery that can top a chain as "the best"?

That is not good IMO for "city cred".

Even in Des Moines I can count two local Brewerys and a regional Brewery before I'd have to tap our Rock Bottom as "the Best". I thought I recalled a pretty good brewery in the Old Market area when I was in Omaha a couple years ago.

...and PF Chang's as your city's best ?

[yman97]

Originally Posted by capitalcityguy

Seriously? Omaha doesn't have its own brewery that can top a chain as "the best"?

That is not good IMO for "city cred".

Even in Des Moines I can count two local Brewerys and a regional Brewery before I'd have to tap our Rock Bottom as "the Best". I thought I recalled a pretty good brewery in the Old Market area when I was in Omaha a couple years ago.

...and PF Chang's as your city's best ?

I don't know of a Chinese joint that is better than PF Chang's but then again, Chinese isn't something that I eat often. As far as breweries, I'm including food and not just beer. Breweries in the area: Lazlo's, Upstream, and Nebraska Brewing Company. All have their strengths but if you ask me, Rock Bottom offers a better combination of food and beer (chain or not). You can't even offer a better alternative so...

[Mr. Creosote]

I only get to visit Omaha once or twice a year, so I always try to eat at the following places:
Pizza: Big Freds (order a red beer too!) or LaCasa
Italian: LaCasa (I love the stuffed Canneloni) or Caniglia's Venice Inn (great Veal Parmesan plus a Salad Bar with delicious Liver Pate!)
Fast Food: BRONCO'S, Best Pork Tenderloin this side of Iowa, Double Cheeseburgers or Hickory Burgers made from fresh ground beef and great french fries hand cut in the sink behind the grill! Everything is cooked fresh when you order it. RUNZA, Most people eat the namesake Runza sandwich, but they have great Cheeseburgers and Crinkle cut fries too, plus the best Onion Rings since King's Food Host closed their doors!
STELLA'S Tavern in Bellevue, Great greasy burgers and fries.
Czech: Bohemian Cafe, Liver Dumpling Soup and Boiled Beef w/ Dill Gravy and Dumplings. WOW!
Steaks: Only 3 Contenders here, 1. Gorat's (great Fried Chicken and Prime Rib too) 2. Anthony's (Tony dry ages his own beef) 3. Johnny's Cafe (historic old school style Steakhouse, right next to the old Omaha Stockyards location.)
BBQ: The Smoke Pit has been the essential late night BBQ joint since the 1950's. Ribs and a baked potato or Spaghetti with a side salad. Perfect at 2 AM after a late night of partying. The people you see there are interesting too! 8-)
Buffets: 1. Ameristar Casino (in Council Bluffs) 2. Jimmy's China Star (Chinese) 3. Valentino's (mostly Italian but lot's of variety) 4. Golden Corral (everything)
As an aside, Joe Tess Place is famous for their fried Carp dinners. The place is packed most every night. I am not a big Carp eater, so give it a try! Tens of thousands of Carp eaters can't be wrong!

[Dutch Charley]

The liver dumpling soup and a stone mug of czech beer can't be beat at the bohemian cafe

the pizza, veal, and steak are all good over at the pizza king in cb

the last time i went to the pink poodle i got robbed

[CrazyChefLady]

Will be in town at the end of the month... need to know what is good in the Old Market for a business dinner?
And, really PF Changs for Chinese? Are there any Thai places? I would love to know of a place with great pad thai.. oh and fried chicken.
How are the buffets at the casinos? Worth it? Here in the Central Valley of CA most everyone considers chains as excellent food. So the dives don't make it, except for Mexican. How IS the Mexican food in Omaha/Council Bluffs?

[yman97]

Originally Posted by CrazyChefLady

Will be in town at the end of the month... need to know what is good in the Old Market for a business dinner?
And, really PF Changs for Chinese? Are there any Thai places? I would love to know of a place with great pad thai.. oh and fried chicken.
How are the buffets at the casinos? Worth it? Here in the Central Valley of CA most everyone considers chains as excellent food. So the dives don't make it, except for Mexican. How IS the Mexican food in Omaha/Council Bluffs?

I've been to Upstream and Omaha Prime both in the Old Market for business lunches/dinners in the past. I think you will find both to your liking.

I don't eat Chinese often because I find that I'm hungry two hours later. I will say that for taste and atmosphere, I enjoy PF Changes. If you want a local Chinese joint, you can try Great Wall, Jade Garen, or some of the others. Just because its a chain doesn't make it bad (nor does it make good). I don't eat Thai so I can't offer any recommendations but I'm sure others can.

I haven't had the buffet at the casinos in years but from what I hear, they're pretty decent. Generally, I'm not big into buffets but if you want an Italian buffet, Valentino's isn't too bad.

For Mexican food, I recommend Hector's. To me, it's by far the best place in town. A lot of people like Maria's in Ralston but I thought it was terrible. I guess it depends on how much you like a ton of cheese and sauce. Other favs include Fernando's, Eat The Worm (also downtown but not a work place), Azteca.

Enjoy!

[GMinSWO]

Best Thai (in my order):
Taste of Thailand
Thai Spice
Siam Cuisine
Tas's Thai Pepper
Thai Pepper

Best Chinese
Grand Fortune
Golden Mountain
O Casual Dining
Wave Bistro (it is fusion)

Vietnamese
Saigon Cafe
Kim Som

Sushi
Hiro
Sakura Bana
Matsu Sushi
Sushi Japan

Mexican
Rivera's (the best by far!)

Korean
Korea House (Bellevue)
Korea King

Best Brewery
Lazlo's
Upstream

Best "New American"
Boiler Room (most unique place in town)

Best Pizza (no order but just by style)
Pudgy's (Chicago Style)
Dante (Naples Style)
La Casa (really good crust uses Romano cheese)
Pitch (Naples Style)
Big Fred's (old style Omaha)

Italian
Nicola
Malara's
Lo Sole Mio
Vivace

Tapas
Espana

[omahayum]

WOW
I have really enjoyed reading everyone's favorites

Here are some of mine

Steakhoues - Piccolo Pete's, Anthony's and the Chop House at the Paxton

Burger - Stellas, Louie M's and Dinkers

Ice Cream - Zesto's, Ted and Wallys, and Goodrich

Italian - LeSole Mio, Grisanti's and Sgt Peffers

Chicken - Richie's, Jack and Mary's

Fish - Joe Tess

Seafood - Charlies

Mexican - Maria's, El Aguila and El Bee's

Breakfast - Amato's, Louie M's and the Downtown Cafe Bellevue

Greek - Greek Islands

Pizza - I have a ton I like here are a few, Sortinos, LaCasa, Pudgys, Franks, Orsi's, Pizza King

Pub Grub - Barleys, Dorts, Kennedys, DJ's

and I have ton more, but Have to get to the office
Post more later

[McBain II]

Omahayum, whats the deal with Goodrich? Do they not have any standalone stores these days? When I lived in Omaha I used to go to the one on Saddle Creek and the one in Council Bluffs pretty regularly, but it looks like they're both gone now.

I asked Omababe about it but she didn't seem to know.

[Kenneth T.]

Originally Posted by Happygolucky

Hy Vee Buffet,
Good price, and you can get anything you like, Pizza, Asain, American. Free refills on pop.

Really? Hy-Vee is where I eat before I shop so I'm not shopping hungry and don't want to make multiple stops, not somewhere I'd go to impress anyone. If you've never tried Runza, you need to - King Kong is not so much an eatery as an experience, all of their stuff is great for Greek - and I'd be denying my Irish roots if I didn't recommend Clancy's East, they don't give you as much as a restaurant but their food is delicious, their prime rib on Thursdays shames their neighbor the Venice Inn IMO.