Are you scouting for the quirkiest places to eat in Nebraska? From the historic streets of Lincoln to the vibrant corners of Omaha, here are 12 of Nebraska’s most unique restaurants.
If you’re craving something beyond the ordinary, Nebraska’s dining scene delivers in a big way. Imagine dining in monk-inspired silence at The Cloisters on the Platte, or digging into Ethiopian platters at Lalibela in Omaha, surrounded by rich African decor. Need something quirky? Check out the Alpine Inn, where you’ll share your dinner view with curious raccoons.
These aren’t your everyday dining spots—they’re experiences you’ll still be talking about long after you leave. Whether you’re chasing bold flavors, unforgettable vibes, or that unmistakable Midwest charm, Nebraska’s got you covered. Let’s dive into the coolest food adventures in the Cornhusker State!
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Unusual places to eat in NE
Ready to uncover Nebraska’s best eateries? We’re talking about everything from monastic steakhouses to momo havens. Join me as we delve into the most unique restaurants across the Cornhusker State.
Ever imagined dining among raccoons or inside a converted firehouse right here in Nebraska? Our food scene is bursting with surprises, offering everything from Afghan delights to Wild West saloons. Let’s dig into the most unique places to eat in NE!
1. Brother Sebastian’s Steakhouse & Winery
- 📍 Location: Omaha
- 💲 Price range: $30 – $60 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Classic American Steakhouse
- 🔥 Standout Features: Monastery-style decor, cozy fireplaces, salad bar in a hayloft.
- 🎯 Perfect For: Romantic dinners, steak lovers, themed dining experiences.
Prepare for a steakhouse experience that’s truly divine at Brother Sebastian’s Steakhouse & Winery! This Omaha institution is designed like an old California monastery, with cozy, dimly lit nooks and crackling fireplaces. The air smells of sizzling steaks.
Trying one of their perfectly cooked prime rib cuts is a must. A tender filet mignon or the flavorful New York strip are also excellent choices. Don’t miss the salad bar – it’s uniquely housed in a rustic hayloft! It’s a wonderfully atmospheric place.
2. Nite Owl
- 📍 Location: Omaha
- 💲 Price range: $10 – $20 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Late-Night Diner / American Comfort Food
- 🔥 Standout Features: Retro diner, open late on weekends, classic comfort food.
- 🎯 Perfect For: Late-night eats, casual diners, post-bar snacks.
When late-night hunger pangs hit, Nite Owl in Omaha is your beacon of greasy-spoon glory! This classic diner keeps the griddle hot, serving comforting classics. The smell of coffee and frying bacon permeates the air, no matter the hour.
You can’t go wrong with a stack of their fluffy pancakes or a hearty country fried steak with gravy. Their classic cheeseburger deluxe with fries is also a popular choice. It’s where stories are shared over bottomless coffee and plates piled high.
3. Fizzy’s Fountain & Liquors
- 📍 Location: Omaha
- 💲 Price range: $15 – $30 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Retro Soda Fountain / American Comfort Food / Cocktail Bar
- 🔥 Standout Features: Vintage soda fountain, boozy shakes, playful retro vibe.
- 🎯 Perfect For: Creative cocktails, nostalgic date nights, fun group outings.
Step back in time with a modern buzz at Fizzy’s Fountain & Liquors! This Omaha spot is a delightful mashup of a vintage soda fountain and a cool cocktail bar, with a playful, retro vibe. They whip up incredible boozy phosphates and adult milkshakes.
Trying their sloppy joe on a toasted bun is a good idea. The crispy fried chicken sandwich or their loaded tater tot nachos are also fantastic. The best part? Watching “soda jerks” craft both classic and spiked fountain creations.
4. Screamers Family Restaurant
- 📍 Location: Minden
- 💲 Price range: $10 – $20 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: American / Diner / Ice Cream Parlor
- 🔥 Standout Features: Singing servers, diner menu, classic ice cream treats.
- 🎯 Perfect For: Musical lovers, family outings, and dinner with entertainment.
Get ready for dinner AND a show at Screamers Family Restaurant in Minden! This isn’t your average diner; here, your food is served with a song! Talented local high school and college students belt out show tunes while delivering your burgers and shakes.
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The ice cream sundaes, like a classic hot fudge or banana split, are as impressive as the vocal talent. For a savory bite, their classic patty melt or a simple cheeseburger are crowd-pleasers. You’ll be tapping your toes between bites.
5. Alpine Inn
- 📍 Location: Omaha
- 💲 Price range: $10 – $20 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: American / Fried Chicken
- 🔥 Standout Features: Famous fried chicken, raccoon feeding show, casual setting.
- 🎯 Perfect For: Fried chicken fans, quirky local experiences, and roadside stops.
Okay, this one’s a wild card! Alpine Inn in Omaha is legendary for two things: its delicious, crispy fried chicken and the nightly gathering of raccoons outside who eagerly await leftover scraps! Yes, you read that right. The chicken is genuinely fantastic.
After you’ve devoured your broasted potatoes and chicken, you can watch dozens of furry bandits feast. The chicken dinner itself, served with those potatoes and a side of coleslaw, is some of the best around. The raccoon show makes this place an absolute Nebraska original.
6. Lalibela Restaurant
- 📍 Location: Lincoln
- 💲 Price range: $15 – $30 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Ethiopian
- 🔥 Standout Features: Traditional Ethiopian dishes, communal platters, rich spices.
- 🎯 Perfect For: Shared meals, adventurous eaters, and Ethiopian cuisine lovers.
Embark on a culinary journey to Ethiopia at Lalibela Restaurant in Lincoln! This gem serves authentic, richly spiced Ethiopian dishes, where you use soft, tangy injera bread instead of utensils to scoop up flavorful stews called wots. The aroma of berbere fills the cozy space.
Trying their doro wat (spicy chicken stew) is a must. The vegetarian combination platter, a colorful array of lentil and vegetable dishes like misir wot and gomen, or the savory beef tibs, are also excellent choices. Sharing is encouraged here.
7. Ole’s Big Game Steakhouse & Lounge
- 📍 Location: Paxton
- 💲 Price range: $20 – $40+ per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: American Steakhouse / Wild Game
- 🔥 Standout Features: Over 200 taxidermy mounts, Wild West decor, hearty steaks.
- 🎯 Perfect For: Hunters, roadside travelers, and a steakhouse with a twist.
Step into a hunter’s paradise at Ole’s Big Game Steakhouse & Lounge in Paxton! This iconic spot is famous for its incredible collection of over 200 full-body taxidermy mounts. The vibe is pure Old West saloon.
Grabbing a hearty steak, like their hand-cut ribeye or sirloin, is a good plan. One of their famous burgers, or the unique Rocky Mountain Oysters (if you dare!), are also part of the experience. Soak in the truly unique atmosphere.
8. Front Street Steakhouse & Crystal Palace Saloon
- 📍 Location: Ogallala
- 💲 Price range: $25 – $50 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: American Steakhouse / Old West Saloon
- 🔥 Standout Features: Old West replica town, seasonal live shows, classic steaks.
- 🎯 Perfect For: History buffs, families, and Wild West-themed dinners.
Take a trip back to the Wild West at Front Street Steakhouse & Crystal Palace Saloon in Ogallala! This place is a full-on replica of an 1880s frontier street, complete with a saloon that looks straight out of a cowboy movie. They have live “gunfight” reenactments.
Chow down on a juicy ribeye steak or some tender barbecue ribs. Their classic chicken fried steak is also a popular choice while soaking in the historic ambiance. It’s a fun, immersive experience that brings Nebraska’s pioneer history to life.
9. Fattoush Restaurant
- 📍 Location: Lincoln
- 💲 Price range: $15 – $30 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Middle Eastern / Mediterranean
- 🔥 Standout Features: Middle Eastern classics, generous portions, casual setting.
- 🎯 Perfect For: Mediterranean food lovers, casual lunch or dinner, and flavorful eats.
Get your Middle Eastern food fix at Fattoush Restaurant in Lincoln! This spot serves incredibly flavorful and authentic dishes that will transport your taste buds. The aroma of grilling meats and exotic spices is divine.
Trying their chicken shawarma plate, loaded with tender, seasoned chicken, rice, and salad, is a must. Their crispy falafel sandwich or the savory beef kebabs are also fantastic choices. It’s a welcoming place with generous portions for a satisfying meal.
10. Engine House Cafe
- 📍 Location: Lincoln
- 💲 Price range: $10 – $20 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: American Diner / Breakfast & Lunch
- 🔥 Standout Features: Former firehouse setting, firefighter decor, hearty breakfasts.
- 🎯 Perfect For: Families, breakfast lovers, and casual diners seeking local charm.
Sound the alarm for a delicious meal at Engine House Cafe, in a historic former fire station in Lincoln! This charming spot is decked out with firefighter memorabilia and has a fun, family-friendly vibe. They serve hearty, classic American diner fare.
You can’t go wrong with their massive pancakes (try the “Dalmatian” with chocolate chips). A classic Reuben sandwich or their popular Fireman’s Skillet for breakfast are also great choices. The kids will love the fire truck theme!
11. Au Courant Regional Cuisine
- 📍 Location: Benson, Omaha
- 💲 Price range: $60 – $100+ per person (Tasting Menu focus)
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Modern American / Progressive / Tasting Menus
- 🔥 Standout Features: Chef-driven tasting menus, seasonal and local ingredients, artistic plating.
- 🎯 Perfect For: Special occasion splurges, adventurous palates, tasting menu enthusiasts, and experiencing Omaha’s fine dining scene.
Experience culinary artistry at Au Courant Regional Cuisine in the Benson neighborhood. This intimate restaurant focuses on sophisticated, chef-driven tasting menus that showcase seasonal ingredients with modern American and progressive techniques. It’s a place for a truly special and memorable meal.
Find inventive preparations of local game, delicate seafood courses, or creative vegetable-forward dishes that highlight the season’s bounty. Au Courant offers a refined and adventurous dining journey.
12. Kathmandu Momo Station
- 📍 Location: Omaha
- 💲 Price range: $10 – $20 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Nepalese / Himalayan / Dumplings
- 🔥 Standout Features: Nepalese dumplings, street food style.
- 🎯 Perfect For: Dumpling lovers, fast casual meals, and Himalayan street food fans.
Get ready to fall in love with momos at Kathmandu Momo Station! This Omaha spot is all about those delicious Nepalese dumplings, steamed or fried and served with amazing dipping sauces. It’s a fantastic place for a quick, affordable, and incredibly tasty meal.
The chicken momos are a classic and a must-try. The vegetable momos, packed with flavorful veggies, or their spicy chili momos tossed in a tangy sauce, are also excellent choices. One bite of these dumplings, and you’ll be hooked!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the quirkiest restaurants in Nebraska
Are you searching for more information about where to eat in Nebraska? Here are some common questions (and answers) I get asked a lot about Nebraska’s most unique restaurants.
What food is Nebraska famous for?
Nebraska’s famous for its amazing steaks. Thanks to all the corn here, the beef is super tasty. And don’t forget about the corn itself – it’s super sweet and delicious.
What is the Nebraska State sandwich?
The Nebraska State sandwich is the bierock. It’s filled with beef, cabbage, onions, and seasonings, all wrapped up in dough. It’s hearty and flavorful.
Is Omaha a foodie city?
Yes, Omaha loves food. It’s got everything from old-school steakhouses to cool new spots. It’s a great place for anyone who loves to eat.
What is a fun weird fact about Nebraska?
Here’s a fun weird fact: Nebraska is home to Carhenge, a replica of England’s Stonehenge made entirely from vintage cars. It’s as quirky as it gets, blending art, history, and a bit of roadside Americana in the most unexpected way, making it one of the top places to live and visit in the Midwest.
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