BLOCK 16
Hoppen Hierarchy:★★★★
District: Downtown Omaha
Casual Eatery with Creative Takes on Sandwiches, Wraps, & Burritos
Perfect For: Lunch; Casual Dining; Vegan Options
Standout Dishes: Croque Garcon; Poutine Burrito; Brooke’s Chickenwich; The Jeffrey; Daily Special (check Facebook)
What makes Block 16 such a special restaurant?
Some might point to the line that billows out of the restaurant each day during lunch. You could point to the restaurant’s epic daily specials—a short rib lasagna sandwich?! Tater tot casserole burritos?—as proof.
Or you could take the word of Food Network personality Alton Brown, who called B16’s Croque Garcon burger (featured in the header photo) his favorite hamburger in America.
To me, however, Block 16’s brilliance goes into the why behind each drool-worthy dish. This restaurant truly cares about thrilling and satisfying its customers, which is why such exhausting thought goes into each dish. B16 cares about the community, so it creates opportunities for up-and-coming chefs with pop-ups and donates to local charities.
And these guys just like to have fun.
I mean, how else do you come up with a hot chicken sandwich smothered in mac & cheese? Or a tray of fries prepared elote-style with parmesan smoked paprika lime aioli, grilled sweet corn, and queso fresco?
I’ve been to Block 16 so many times, recounting all my meals would make a Harry Potter novel seem like a haiku in comparison. So here are a few of my favorites:
- Poutine Burrito: The ultimate play on a meat and potato burrito. The brisket is the most present component, but the tater tots add that spud element, only with a bit of crunch, too. The cheese curds are creamy and melty, producing gooey cheese pulls tailor-made for Instagram fame. Gravy and a malt vinegar aioli round out the burrito with saltiness and moisture. Trust me, this burrito is worth the extra 30 minutes on the treadmill. In fact, if I had to leave Omaha tomorrow and could eat one food item for my final meal, this would be it.
- Croque Garon: This burger made B16 famous for a reason. The patty is a perfectly-seasoned, medium rare burger. A slice of ham provides a nice saltiness, and the broken yolk of an over easy egg infuses creaminess into every bite. The truffle mayo ties everything together with just a bit of tang. If this isn’t Nebraska’s best burger, it’s at least in the conversation.
- Block Burger: This is the burger for people who just want a burger, not an amped-up, chef-y version. The supporting flavors are more subdued here, allowing the brilliant Jons Naturals patty to be the star. There’s elegance in this burger’s simplicity. The mayo and ketchup add some accenting creaminess and sweetness, and the pickles have nice bite.
- Sloppy Nick: The sloppy joe isn’t typically elegant enough to grace most menus… until Block 16 gets a hold of it. With ground beef seasoned with secret seasoning and cooked down in a sweet, slightly spicy sauce and griddled, buttery jalapeno cornbread slices serving as the buns, this is one of Omaha’s best sandwiches.
- Brooke’s Chickenwich: Stop me when this sandwich stops sounding delicious: plump, juicy chicken breast fried to crispy perfection. A tajin seasoning blend with a touch of heat and lime. A tart, sweet lemon aioli. Crunchy, juicy housemade pickles… this sandwich is messy, but it’s worth sacrificing napkins for. Pro tip: for a touch of heat, order the Nashville Hot version of the sandwich.
- Lobsta Roll: I’ll just say this: I’ve eaten lobster rolls just off the bay in Boston. I thought this was better.
And this is just scratching the surface.
The most amazing thing about Block 16 is there’s always something new, and it’s always inventive and delicious. Chefs/owners Paul Urban and Jessica Joyce Urban are true masters at their craft, and their creativity (and that of their staff) is unmatched. Block 16 has served over 2,000 items during their 10+ years of operation, and I would happily eat every single one of them.
Every day Block 16 releases a new special to be served during lunch that day. The sheer amount of dishes that requires is mind-boggling, and the restaurant rarely has a repeat. Rather, they draw inspiration from what they see around them, what diners request, and… well, things it seems no one could dream up in a stable mind.
How else could you describe an Italian sandwich that uses slabs of deep-fried lasagna as “buns”? Or a burrito that contains Nashville hot chicken and a waffle cone stuffed with mac & cheese?
One of Block 16’s most popular specials is the Mackrib, its take on McDonalds popular BBQ sandwich that’s superior to Mickey D’s version in every way. The pulled baby back rib patty is tender and has good smoky flavor. The sauce adds sweetness but not too much, and it’s balanced by the creamy, cooling mayo. Throw in some house pickles for crunch and acid and you have what’s close to a perfect sandwich.
Block 16’s combination of madness/creativity might be best displayed in the Moist Maker special, which basically crams everything from the Thanksgiving table into one bite. With over a pound of turkey, cranberry sauce, provolone, potato croquettes, giblets gravy, and a gravy-soaked piece of sourdough sidled between two pieces of Texas toast, this sandwich will give you plenty to be thankful for.
And any spice lover simply must try the Renegade Chickenwich, which to this palate is one of Omaha’s best version of a Nashville hot chicken sandwich. Juicy, plump chicken tenders with a light breading are dunked into a chili de arbol sauce to give this sandwich a serious kick. Even the traditional cooling elements add heat, as the habanero b&b pickles and serrano-buttermilk slaw give this sandwich more punch. It’s one of the best sandwiches in Omaha.
And yet, great as the food is, it’s far from the only thing that makes Block 16 special. Every restaurant will tells you it cares about its employees, but how many name dishes and specials after the chefs and cooks that create them?
Block 16 does.
And how many not only sell food, but bring the community together with fun, inclusive events such as Burger Fight or Wing Off, where chefs anonymously create dishes and allow diners to vote on the winner?
Block 16 does.
Block 16 truly cares about not only the people it employs, but the people it serves. I dare you to find one person who has a cross-word to say about Jess and Paul, both from a personal or culinary standpoint.
You can’t.
There are a lot of great restaurants in Nebraska.
There’s only one Block 16.
Love, love, love this place! The combinations they come up with are outstanding!