OSCAR'S PIZZA & SPORTS GRILLE
Hoppen Hierarchy:★★⭑
District: Southwest Omaha
Bar Wings & Pizza
Perfect For: Casual Dining; Happy Hour; Drinks; Takeout
Standout Dishes: Buffalo Wings; Garlic Parmesan Wings; The Big “O” Pizza
Oscar’s is, in many ways, the ideal sports bar. There are high-quality TVs everywhere, the bar is fully stocked, and it has a laid-back, friendly atmosphere. There are a decent number of options on the menu and, while none are five-star dining quality, they’re all more than serviceable.
But there’s one thing that makes Oscar’s stand head and shoulders above other sports bars: the char-buffed wings.
Any bar can throw some chicken wings in the deep fryer and slather them in sauce. And to be clear, Oscar’s version of that wing is still very, very good. But the restaurant steps things up a notch by allowing diners the char-buffed option, upon which the wings are finished on the grill.
Game. Changer.
The sheer heft of the wings is impressive enough to begin with. These aren’t skimpy little wings. They look like they come off of condors, not chickens.
And the wings find a new level with the char buff. Adding that grilled texture just introduces a whole new flavor to the chicken wing, and it works perfectly. And since these wings hit the grill after the sauce, they’re not dripping with gunk.
My personal ranking of the flavors (all char-buffed):
- Buffalo: a pretty good amount of heat for a traditional buffalo wing. Can be a bit spicy for some, but I find it to be an excellent.
- Garlic Parmesan: the garlic and cheese are both present, but aren’t overwhelming, which allows the grill flavor to really sing.
- Teriyaki: slightly sweet, but not cloying. A nice Asian twist.
- BBQ: solid, but unspectacular. Sauce would be much better with just a bit more heat.
- Kujo: billed as Oscar’s hottest wings, these are disappointingly mild. I thought the buffalo option was hotter.
The wings may be the highlight, but don’t sleep on the pizza. The crust is crispy and has good flavor, and while there’s some juice present, this pizza has about as little grease as any you’ll find.
I highly recommend the Maui Special, Oscar’s take on the Hawaiian pizza. The pizza has big chunks of both pineapple and ham that deliver some serious flavor, but the sauce is the MVP here. It’s got that familiar Italian taste, but then a sweet hint sneaks in and kicks it up a notch. This was an excellent pizza.
Oscar’s is as steady as they come. I can’t recall having a subpar experience in my many visits, most of which have been extraordinary. Oscar’s is the pinnacle sports bar experience, for Omaha at least.