OMAHA RESTAURANTS TO VISIT DURING THE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES
The 2026 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 best restaurants have to offer, Omaha has you covered. From fine dining to grab and go, here are 21 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 one of 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
Harold's Koffee House
8327 N 30th St
Want a classic diner experience that transports you back to the 1960s? Harold’s Koffee House is your spot. From the exceedingly friendly service to the massive portions and cozy, classic interior, Harold’s makes you feel at home even if you’re visiting for the first time. This spot specializes in classic breakfast dishes cooked extremely well, and the pancakes are about as good as any you’ll find in Omaha.
Dishes to consider: Fluffy Cakes; BYO Omelet; Susie Special
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
Clio
1202 Howard St
Not only is Clio one of the most beautiful restaurants in Omaha, but it’s one of the most delicious. This downtown Omaha restaurant captures the best dishes the Mediterranean has to offer, from the humble pita (which involves a 3-day preparation/cooking process) to Chicken Kabobs and Lamb Tajine.
But one of Clio’s greatest attributes is its shared plates, which allow you to split several smaller options amongst a group of friends. Along with Clio’s extensive wine list and craft cocktails, these mezze plates make Clio the perfect Omaha restaurant to spend a happy hour or sunny afternoon at.
Dishes to consider: All 4 Spreads w/ Pita; Merguez Sausage Stuffed Dates; Chicken Kabob
All In Thyme Bakery & Cafe
1233 Millwork Ave
All In Thyme Bakery & Cafe, located inside Millwork Commons just across the street from Charles Schwab Field, is a perfect spot to grab breakfast or lunch. The chef is obsessed with bread and bakes everything in house, then crafts incredible sandwiches with them. He has a fine dining background and applies that same craft to sandwiches. The grilled cheese here is immaculate, especially when you add braised beef; it’s one of my favorite sandwiches in Omaha.
Dishes to Consider: Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich; Grilled Cheese (add braised beef); Ham & Bacon Breakfast Sandwich
Barrett's Barleycorn Pub & Grill
4322 Leavenworth St
No bar in Omaha throws a party quite like Barrett’s Barleycorn Pub & Grill, an Irish bar that has established itself as Omaha’s unofficial CWS headquarters. But as fun as the atmosphere is, this joint has become just as beloved for its food as its spirits. The Reuben is spectacular, the cheesesteaks are widely regarded as Omaha’s best, and the menu consists of familiar bar classics cooked nearly to perfection. It’s a comforting watering hole that’ll serve you a fantastic sandwich.
Dishes to Consider: Reuben; One-Eyed Mick; Philly Cheesesteak
Lazy Buffalo BBQ
4329 Farnam St
If you’re looking for BBQ during the CWS, take a quick trip to Blackstone for Lazy Buffalo BBQ. It’s not a traditional BBQ restaurant where you order brisket and pulled pork by the pound. These chefs take brilliantly smoked meats and insert them into sandwiches. Plus, it’s attached to Scriptown Brewing, so you can catch up on all the games and have a drink while you smashed a delicious sandwich or incredible ribs.
Dishes to Consider: Banh Mi; Ribs; Fowl Intentions
All American Burger
1421 Farnam St
If you want a quick burger and fries without sacrificing any flavor, All American Burger is calling your name. This fast casual downtown Omaha restaurant specializes in smash burgers, giving each patty a crispy, lacy edge and wonderful caramelized flavor. Throw the patties with some ketchup and mustard inside a pillowy potato bun and you have one of Omaha’s better burgers. Crinkle cut fries and enormous, creamy milkshakes round out the nostalgic diner experience.
Dishes to Consider: Nebraska Smash; Smokin’ Hot Smash; All American Fries
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 5-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.
The Committee Chophouse
302 S 36th St
Located inside Omaha’s historic Cottonwood Hotel, The Committee Chophouse gets my vote for Omaha’s best steakhouse. Each steak is cooked with exquisite perfection, from the classics like ribeye and filet mignon to some elevated dishes like beef wellington and chateaubriand. The atmosphere is absolutely stunning and, if you have any room at the end of the meal, the Baked Alaska is a wonderful finish.
Dishes to consider: Beef Wellington; Cowboy Ribeye; Lamb Rack
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: Parmesan Potato Puffs; Charcoal Chicken; Rigatoni Alla Vodka
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.
Cattle Call
300 S 16th St
Cattle Call combines late night vibes with fine dining. You might expect standard bar fare from this cocktail lounge, but you’ll find chef-crafted creations that rival those in many of Omaha’s most beloved restaurants.
Momos, the tender, pliable Nepalese dumplings that are downright addictive, are available all day, but Cattle Call’s kitchen really kicks into gear from dinner service into the late night. From fantastic and creative entrees to delectable desserts, Cattle Call delivers incredible eats one wouldn’t expect from a late night destination.
Dishes to consider: Chicken Momos; Pochinki
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 Panuozo
Izzy's Pizza
522 S 24th St
You’ll be hard-pressed to find Detroit-style pizza this good 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