MERCURY

Hoppen Hierarchy:★★★

Creative cocktail bar

Perfect For: Casual Dining; Vegan Options; Happy Hour; Drinks

Standout Dishes: Spicy Pork Ragu; Carrot Ravioli

If Mercury‘s only selling point were its cocktails, it would still be regarded as one of the best bars in Omaha.

When you factor in the funky atmosphere and the devotion to completely changing the decor several times a year, it becomes even more memorable.

Then you consider that the kitchen is scratch making burgers, hand making pasta, and cutting fries by hand and your mind gets blown a little bit.

Peeling back each layer of Mercury makes it all the more fascinating, and its attention to detail showcases why it’s the best bar in Omaha. Let’s dive into the three elements that make Mercury a one-of-a-kind joint.

The Drinks

Few can match owner Clark Ross’ devotion to craft cocktails. The bar incorporates unique ingredients—including pumpkin creme, black spruce, egg white, and even Carolina reaper peppers—that don’t seem like they belong anywhere near a drink, and yet Mercury works them in brilliantly. This place expertly bends the rules on what a cocktail can be.

Everything down to the size and shape of the ice cube is carefully considered. In fact, Mercury owns a Clinebell machine, typically used by ice sculptors, to produce 300-pound blocks of pure ice that are broken down with saws and chisels into pristine, crystal-clear cubes. No one puts this kind of effort and attention into their drinks.

Mercury’s skill is best shown off in the most classic of cocktails: the Old Fashioned. The simplicity of this drink allows Mercury to showcase its attention to the finest of details: this sweet whiskey cocktail has the perfect balance of smoky, spicy, and bitter flavors. It’s among the best versions you’ll find in Omaha.

Several times a year, Mercury entirely turns over its cocktail menu to match the bar’s theme (more on this shortly). This is where its craft and creativity meld best. Here’s a sampling of some of what you can expect:

Bat Out of Hell: Many cocktails have spice, but not legitimate heat. Mercury pushes the boundaries with this drink, which combines bourbon, bitters, chocolate, and Carolina reaper peppers (some of the hottest known to man) for a bizarrely delicious drink. To be clear, this drink is hot. But if you enjoy your tastebuds to be slapped around, it’s a must-try.
Bring Us Some Figgy Pudding: A Christmas cocktail combining bourbon, golden fig, black walnut, pear, and candied orange, there’s a great balance of tart, sweet, and maple that warms you from the inside out on a cold day.
Tragic Kingdom: Pineapple and honey supply a sweetness to balance out the rum, and cinnamon adds the slightest touch of heat.

Stankonia: Slices of peach adorn this summery drink, giving the aged rum and amaretto a nice sweetness.
A Very Rosemary Christmas: Blackberries, fresh lemon, and rosemary combine for touches of tart, acidic, and citrus flavors to cut the aggressive vodka.

This is but a sampling of all Mercury can come up with, and its team of bartenders is constantly dreaming up new creations. And if you want a drink neat or on the rocks, Mercury has an entire wall of bottles—including over 200 whiskeys—to choose from.

The Atmosphere

But its not just the drink menu that turns over every few months; the entire theme and decor of the restaurant can transform from one visit to the next. Past motifs have included comic books, childhood cereals, and fairy tales. Each December the bar morphs into a winter wonderland, decked out in multicolored lights, Christmas trees, and Santa-themed decor.

Whenever you visit, you’ll notice Mercury just has an attitude. There’s a devil-may-care edge to everything about the restaurant, from the old cigarette machine that’s been converted in a random shot dispenser to a random buffalo head on the wall to a Santa figurine with a smoke between his fingers.

Whatever theme Mercury chooses, it leans into it 100%. The cocktail names, decor, and even the physical menu itself reflect the current style. For example, one past theme was “Monsters of Music.” Not only were the cocktails named after songs by OutKast, Alanis Morissette, and Meat Loaf, but the menu was printed on CDs presented in an old school zipper case. The nostalgia alone was worth the visit.

Regardless of theme, Mercury offers a well-lit space with a variety of seating options, from a sunny patio to cozy booths to comfortable couches.

The Food

Food is a throwaway at most bars—they just need to serve something edible to help guests soak up the booze between drinks. But Mercury’s dedication to its menu goes beyond what most restaurants, much less bars, put the effort to create.

For example, there are only a few Italian restaurants in Omaha that feature handmade pasta, yet Mercury takes on this challenge and thrives in doing so. The noodles themselves are tender and extremely well cooked, with just a bit of bite. The Spicy Pork Ragout lives up to its name with a slight kick, but not too much. And the Carrot Ravioli—plump pasta packets stuffed with ground carrot and goat cheese—is delightful, sweet and funky with a hit of herbs from the pesto.

The menu also features several sandwiches, including a Cubano, amped-up peanut butter and jelly, and a fried chicken sandwich (all of which are served on a house bun). If you’re looking for apps to share with a group, there’s a beer cheese fondue, bourbon meatballs, and brussels sprouts with hot honey and sesame seeds.

The Deviled Eggs are an excellent example of Mercury re-imagining a simple dish. This backyard classic features a tender, chewy outside with a creamy, tangy interior. But Mercury goes the extra mile to add crisp bacon, pickled onions, and ancho chile powder to take things over the top.

But I think Mercury’s dedication to food is best showcased in its signature Chzburger.

On a recent visit, my wife and I stayed until about 11:30PM. As I peaked back in the kitchen, I saw the staff hand-forming patties. This would have been impressive during peak dinner times, as most bars resort to frozen patties. But at this time of night, most guests are relatively inebriated, an average burger would’ve more than satisfied them. But Mercury refused to compromise on quality, striving to serve a stumbling college undergrad the same meal as a seasoned food critic.

And that is what makes Mercury special. The amount of attention and care that goes into every cocktail, dish, and piece of decor is spectacular, and quite frankly, unheard of for a bar.

But Mercury isn’t your typical bar.

It’s weird.

It’s driven.

It’s quirky.

It’s Mercury.