The Lenten season is upon us, which means a lot of people won’t be eating meat on Fridays until Easter (April 12). If you want to enjoy a fish fry, Sarah Baker Hansen has you covered with this comprehensive Omaha list. If you want to avoid the long lines or another plate of fried fish, there are plenty of Omaha with seafood or meatless options to satisfy your spiritual desires.
***I highly recommend following restaurants like Block 16, Virtuoso Pizzeria, Forno, Herbe Sainte, and others to stay up on their daily specials. Many local restaurants recognize the need for non-meat options on Fridays and are creating seafood-forward specials on Fridays.
Seafood Restaurants
Restaurants with Meat-free Entrees
Yoshitomo
Yoshitomo is one of the best restaurants around, period, so you don’t need any special reason to visit it. But if you need seafood or sushi and are curious why chef/owner Dave Utterback was just honored as a semifinalist for the James Beard award, get down out to Benson and taste for yourself what sushi tastes like when taken to another level. You won’t be able to look at sushi the same way again.
Plank
An oyster bar that serves some of the city’s best seafood, stop by Plank for Blackened Mahi Mahi Tacos, Smoked Salmon Carbonara, the Southern Fried Seafood Platter, a Lobster Roll, and so much more. As a bonus, Plank has a cozy patio perfect for people watching and enjoying a beautiful spring evening.
Shucks Fish House
With locations in the Downtown, Legacy, and Pacific St areas, Shucks Fish House is convenient for just about any Omahan. And as a partner with Absolutely Fresh Seafood, it serves some of the freshest shrimp, crab legs, and fish in the city! Stop in for Cajun favorites like Po Boys, Blackened Cod, and a Catfish Filet, or stay classic with Shrimp Scampi, Fish & Chips, or a New England Lobster Roll.
Butterfish
Butterfish is best known for its sushi, which I highly recommend. With 26 rolls and 6 sushi plates, this Blackstone hotspot has sushi for every palate (go for the Firefly Roll, thank me later). If you’re not feeling rolls, Butterfish also offers Pad Thai, Lo Mein, and Fried Rice (which is among the best I’ve had in Omaha), all of which can be ordered as is or with shrimp added on.
Bonefish Grill
You really can’t go wrong at Bonefish Grill, from the grilled fish (including Ahi Tuna Steak, Atlantic Salmon, and Chilean Sea Bass) to the Lobster Tails, Crab-Crusted Cod, Blackened Baja Fish Tacos, and Spicy Tuna Bowl. But no visit is complete without an order (or 7) of the delectable Bang Bang Shrimp, an appetizer of plump, fried crustaceans bathed in a sweet, spicy sauce. They make up one of the best appetizers in Omaha and are worth a trip to Bonefish alone.
Modern Love
If there’s one restaurant in Omaha you can absolutely feel confident visiting during Lent, it’s one with no meat whatsoever. Welcome to Modern Love, Omaha’s premier vegan restaurant, that can make even meat lovers forget they’re eating tofu and seitan, not beef and chicken. The Modern Cheeseburger and Mac & Shrews are popular favorites at this Omaha institution, as are the shakes.
Kitchen Table
Though I highly recommend visiting Kitchen Table during the week to enjoy the whole menu (especially the fantastic Whole Bird sandwich), you can feel free to visit on a Lenten Friday as well. Co-owner Jess Duggan infuses KT’s vegetarian side of the menu with delicious options such as the Veggie Dog, PB&J, and Molly Grilled Cheese. Kitchen Table also posts daily specials (both meat-friendly and not) on Instagram.
Dante
Many of my favorite dishes at Dante contain meat, but I still think it would be my preference for Omaha pizza even without protein. The quality of the crust, sauce, and cheese (not to mention the deliciously spicy Calabrian chiles) make plenty good pies on their own, and Dante offers several meat-free pizzas. The menu also contains fresh-made pastas with shrimp and clams. To top it all off, Dante has some of the best after-dinner treats you’ll find, including various flavors of gelato and the delicious Butterscotch Budino.
Acadian Grille
Between the po boys with catfish or shrimp, blackened catfish, pecan-crusted snapper, and gumbo, Acadian Grille has a number of seafood-forward Cajun dishes to please the palate. The restaurant even offers a Plant-Based Cajun Burger. And with locations in Miracle Hills and Dundee, it’s easily accessible for diners in many Omaha neighborhoods.
These are but a few of the Omaha restaurants that are great to visit during Lent. Check out Restaurant Hoppen’s Best Places to Eat page to find even more!