OMAHA RESTAURANTS TO VISIT DURING THE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES
The 2024 College World Series is upon us, and whether you’re an Omaha native looking for a bite around the stadium between games or a visitor who wants to experience what Omaha’s awesome food scene has to offer, Omaha has you covered. From fine dining to grab and go, here are 16 restaurants to consider as you plan out your CWS eating. This guide will focus mainly on the downtown Omaha and Blackstone areas, as they’re closest to the stadium, but there are plenty of spots all over Omaha that are worth driving to if you’re willing to venture out.
- Breakfast
- Casual Eating
- Fine Dining
- Pizza
- Ice Cream
BREAKFAST
Kitchen Table
1415 Farnam St
Kitchen Table is obsessed with two things: 1) making everything they can (including bread, ketchup, jams, etc.) in house, and 2) utilizing whatever ingredients are local and in season.
The cozy eatery is known for its sandwiches, salads, and vegan dishes, but its calling card is its breakfast sandwiches. To find eggs this fluffy, light, and delicious is truly rare, and Kitchen Table pairs them with homemade biscuits, breads, and spreads. For arguably the best breakfast sandwich in Omaha, get the Chili Crisp Egg Breakfast Sandwich, a flavor mash-up of breakfast and Chinese takeout (I know it sounds weird, but just trust me).
Dishes to consider: Chili Crisp Egg Biscuit Sandwich; All Day Breakfast Sandwich; BLT
Fig.
345 Riverfront Dr
Connected to the Kiewit Luminarium, a fascinating museum filled with eye-opening and interactive exhibits, Fig. is a cozy cafe with gorgeous views of Omaha’s riverfront. It’s the perfect place to stop in for freshly baked pasties (either sweet or savory), breads, and baked goods. But if you’re looking for one of the best breakfast sandwiches in Omaha, this is the place to go. The soft, creamy eggs mix beautifully with sharp cheddar and crispy bacon, and the buttery, pillowy bun is the piece de resistance for this rich sandwich.
Dishes to consider: Bacon, Egg, & Cheese; Avocado Toast; Chocolate Knot
Early Bird
3824 Farnam St Suite 120
If you’re looking for an imaginative take on breakfast, Early Bird is your spot. Why settle for regular pancakes when you can have Cinnamon Roll Pancakes, Oreo Pancakes, or Fruity Pebble Pancakes? And who wants normal breakfast when you can opt for a Bacon Flight, A.M. Pot Pie, or a cinnamon roll/French toast combo?
You can find just about any breakfast item, from traditional to completely unexpected and off the wall, on Early Bird’s expansive menu. Pro tip: get the Hash Holes, deep-fried balls of hash browns, bacon, and cheese.
Dishes to consider: Cinnamon Roll Pancakes; Hash Holes; Crab Cake Benny
CASUAL EATING
Block 16
1611 Farnam St
If “fun” and “delicious” crashed head on, the resulting carnage would be Block 16. This quick-service restaurant will use seemingly any ingredient in a sandwich, burrito, or burger. The standard menu has some of Omaha’s tastiest food items, from the infant-sized Poutine Burrito to the Sloppy Nick, an elevated take on a sloppy Joe. Block 16 also has a daily special that often looks like something created while one was (ahem) under the influence.
But wild as some of the combinations seem, this isn’t stunt food. James Beard-nominated chefs Jessica & Paul Urban are veterans of the fine dining industry and expertly pair flavors and textures that would make no sense in another restaurant. But Block 16 has the rare ability to pull together disparate ingredients and create beautiful amalgamations.
Dishes to consider: Poutine Burrito; Croque Gacon Burger; Sloppy Nick
Dirty Birds
1722 St Marys Ave
When the hankering for fried chicken hits, Dirty Birds is your answer. Not only will these sandwiches satiate your tastebuds, but they’ll crush your appetite for the rest of the day.
The chicken at Dirty Birds hits that very tough fried chicken target: crunchy on the outside while remaining moist and juicy on the interior. The sandwiches are piled high with this delicious chicken, homemade pickles, and a creamy aioli. This is the type of sauce-on-your-face, juice-running-down-your-arms restaurant that hits the mark every time.
Dishes to consider: Chicken & Pancakes; The OG Sandwich; Chicken Fried Onion Rings
La Poblanita
2322 S 20th St
South Omaha has a number of great taco spots, all of which are a short drive from downtown. But none of them feature the show-stopper that La Poblanita does: the Fuego Taco.
These rich, savory birria tacos have cheese oozing out of their fried shells, and the consomme is delicious enough to drink through a straw. They alone are worth a visit, but La Poblanita serves excellent versions of many authentic dishes, including Chicken Mole, Carne Asada, and Seafood Soup.
Dishes to consider: Fuego Tacos; Chicken Mole; Birria Poblanita Fries
La Buvette
511 S 11th St
If you have some time to kill and want a beautiful patio to relax on, La Buvette is your place. Speed is not the name of the game here; this is a restaurant that beckons you to stay, have a glass of wine, and enjoy small plates from its menu, which changes daily.
An Omaha staple for more than 30 years, this French bistro will make you feel like you’re enjoying a meal on a Paris street cafe. The menu features a number of shared plates along with seafood, pastas, salads, and desserts. But coming here and not ordering the bread plate, with its variety of fantastic, carb-y options, is a borderline sin.
FINE DINING
The Boiler Room
1110 Jones St
Few restaurants in Omaha, and even the Midwest, can offer the quality of dishes that emerge from The Boiler Room kitchen.
With a kitchen headed by 4-time James Beard Award semifinalist Tim Nicholson, The Boiler Room puts out some of the most beautiful and delicious plates in the Midwest. From supple filled pastas to perfectly-cooked seafood and gorgeous steaks, The Boiler Room pairs its dishes with thoughtful sauces, vegetables, and starches to complement the main dish. Simply put, you won’t find much better food anywhere in the surrounding zip codes.
Memoir
930 Harney St
It’s difficult to find a restaurant more beautiful than Memoir, which sports a cozy patio, welcoming bar, and open kitchen that allows you to watch your masterpiece be cooked.
With a creative, wide-ranging menu with everything from pasta to seafood, steak, and sushi, there’s something for every palate on this menu. Or you can simply stop in for a drink, enjoy a local beer or craft cocktail, and bask in the captivating ambience.
Dishes to consider: Potato Puffs; Pasta Amatricana; Roasted Chicken
V. Mertz
1022 Howard St
At V. Mertz, you’ll experience a litany of flavors, textures, and techniques in masterful and surprising dishes. One of the restaurant’s strongest traits is its ability to subvert diner expectations; you read the menu and think you know what to expect, but when the dish arrives and you dig in, you find yourself simultaneously astonished and thrilled.
The ever-changing menu includes pastas, seafood, duck, pork, and its famous steaks. If you want the full experience, opt for the five-course tasting menu and take your taste buds on an adventure.
PIZZA
Dolomiti
1105 N 13th St
No Omaha pizza shop has crust quite like Dolomiti, which combines the crispy texture of New York-style pizza with the wonderfully chewy, bubbly nature of Neapolitan pizza. The dough itself is light and digestible, and Dolomiti tops its pies with interesting combinations like potatoes, caramelized onions, and pancetta (Patata) and Italian sausage, hot honey, and garlic confit (Rustica.)
Dolomiti also creates sandwiches out of its dough, folding that delightfully chewy, slightly charred disc and stuffing it with ingredients. Located right across the street from the stadium, this is a must-visit spot.
Dishes to consider: Margherita Pizza; Patata Pizza; Ham & Eggs Panino
Izzy's Pizza
522 S 24th St
You’ll be hard-pressed to find Detroit-style pizza anywhere. Every pie at Izzy’s Pizza features a cow’s worth of cheese, an airy, chewy dough (think focaccia bread), and a caramelized cheese crust that adds texture and produces an audible crunch.
Each pizza is liberally topped with ingredients, from the humble pepperoni to more creative creations like the Miss Mona (the pizza version of chicken, bacon, ranch). The Honeypeno, with pepperoni, jalapenos, and Mike’s Hot Honey, is one of the best pizzas you’ll find in Omaha.
Dishes to consider: Honeypeno Pizza; Miss Mona Pizza; Red Harvest Pizza
Via Farina
1108 S 10th St
Pizza magic happens in the giant wood-fired oven at the center of Via Farina. The dough, a combination of natural Italian flour and wild yeast, takes at least three days to create before its trip into the fiery belly of the oven. All the work shows in the final product—the inner crust is a bit loose, but it folds perfectly. It gains structure the closer you get to the pie’s edge, where the outer crust has pleasant air bubbles and pockets of char for added flavor. It’s near perfection.
Via Farina also offers several pasta dishes and some wonderful shared appetizers.
Dishes to consider: Fratello Pizza; Egg Yolk Raviolo; Salsiccia Pizza
ICE CREAM
Coneflower Creamery
1241 Millwork Ave
With Omaha’s summer temps often in the 90s and 100s, you need to find ways to cool off, and what better to do the job than ice cream? Then again, the options at Coneflower Creamery are so craveable that they’re just as enjoyable in subartic temperatures as they are in the heat.
The ice cream is so smooth and creamy that it almost has a velvety mouthfeel. It’s sweet, but not overly so, and balances well with whatever flavor the chefs choose to pair it with. With its “farm-to-cone” approach, Coneflower dishes up the freshest-tasting ice cream in the city. And with its location in Millwork Commons, Coneflower is within walking distance of the ballpark.
Flavors to consider: Blackstone Butterbrickle; Vanilla Bean; Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Centi
501 S 11th St
This pleasant shop has a variety of frozen treats, but not in the flavors you expect. Forget rocky road and mint chocolate chip; Centi‘s menu includes Taro, Horchata, Chocolate Absolute, and Black Sesame. They may sound wild on paper, but chef Erick Landa makes masterpieces out of each.
The gelato itself has a soft texture and a slow-to-melt milkiness, and the flavors aren’t overly sweet. And with flavors that change every day, there’s constantly new things to try. You can even get sweet crepes, made to order and stuffed with fruit, chocolate, and other sweet treats.
Flavors to consider: Bourbon Vanilla; Hardy Chip; Horchata
Ted & Wally's
1120 Jackson St
The folks at Ted & Wally’s are unfailingly creative. In addition to standard flavors like chocolate and vanilla, you can find chocolate cake, egg nog, sweet corn, apple pie, and even cheese in the flavors on this ever-changing menu. More than 3,000 varieties of ice cream have graced the menu since Ted & Wally’s opened in 1984.
This old-school shop specializes in ultra premium ice cream with 20% butterfat, creating a rich, coat-your-lips product sure to cool you down during a scorching Nebraska afternoon.
Flavors to consider: Dutch Chocolate; Cinnamon; Cookie Dough