Our favorite place to eat from a food truck -
Restaurant count:
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Apple Barrel Restaurant
We'd tried the Apple Barrel in the west Omaha Sapp Bros. and were less than impressed (as in 'never again!'). This Apple Barrel is in the Sapp Bros. Council Bluffs and is much more edible. We had the breakfast and it was of the comfort food variety. Won't win awards but worth coming back to if the need is there.
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Backlot Pizza + Kitchen
This Backlot is a restaurant attached to the ACX Cinema in Elkhorn. The pizza it serves are Detroit style. I thought the pizza was fine but Mary wasn't impressed. It didn't help when she asked for hot honey and was given a cup of... honey. There might have been some heat in it but it was well hidden. Overall the staff was good and we didn't get a chance to try anything else since we'd just gotten out of a movie and weren't terribly hungry. We'll have to give it a second chance whenever we've driven out to the far reaches of Omaha in the future.
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Beau Jo's
Home of the Colorado Mountain Pie... which means a pizza with a thick crust around the outside in order to hold in all the ingredients. Got a small combo Mountain Pie and still ended up with a piece left over. After starting with the baked stuff mushrooms there just wasn't room to eat and nowhere to put the leftovers. This felt so very wrong leaving behind anything.
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Benson's Bar & Grill
We used to call this place "The Purple Door" back when we were kids but now it's Benson's Bar & Grill. It looks like a small town bar with a grill added but man - the food is yummy. The walleye bites are worth the trip alone - tasty and not greasy plus the sauce that goes with is delicious. The Hometowner burger would've been great if I were 30 years younger but now, as a geezer, it's an uncomfortable day ahead. Still worth it though.
Update: while the hotdog sounds like it should be good perhaps stick with the burger or walleye. -
Billy's Gretna Cafe
Time for a roadtrip to Gretna for breakfast. I tried the western homestyle platter and Mary nad the french toast. We were both expecting something bigger for the platter but it did taste good and with the pancake did fill me up. Mary liked the french toast as wel. One thing to remember is that it's a cash or local check only place but there is an ATM on premises if you didn't bring enough. Its a good place to go if you're in the area but not so much to drive out of your way to get there.
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Black Bear Diner
You know those places that you go that look like they'll be great and then turn in to a huge let down? Yeah, that was our visit to the Black Bear Diner. After an 8 hour drive and just wanting to get something decent to eat before heading off to dream land this looked like it had potential. But... no. Well done cheeseburger after getting asked how I'd like it dond and fries that were mediocre at best. Mary's Chicken and Waffles were worse. The chicken was either rubbery or the coating was bad. Maybe they just had a bad day but when you add up all the minuses... one and done.
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Bo Bo China
The word was they've got some great egg foo young here... which is Mary's favorite. So off we went and the combo egg foo young was given an enthusiastic two thumbs up. I had the Mongolian beef which was also delicious. I tried the egg roll with the house mustard... which attacked but didn't destroy my sinuses. That's three out of three - we'll be back if we're anywhere near.
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Boyd & Charles BBQ
This was next to Jukes Aleworks so we figured we'd give it a try. Started with the onion petals with the house made ranch dressing. The dressing alone is worth an extra star (or whatever it is I use here). I had the smoked turkey sandwich with turkey soup and Mary had the pork tenderloin and Ms. Terry's Corn Pie but that turned out to be on the arid side so she asked for the soup as well. While both were okay they weren't anything terribly special. We'll have to give it another shot and get actual BBQ type items before a final verdict is rendered.
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The Buttered Tin
Went looking for a new place to have breakfast on our way out of town and Mary found this online. Mary got the Pierogis, eggs & sausage and was thoroughly impressed with the eggs being cooked just right. I had two pancakes but due to the size I probably could've gotten by with just one. The maple bacon butter was an unexpected nice touch as well.
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Breakfast Club
We were in Phoenix to take our (current) favorite college student out to breakfast before hitting the road and she decided on going to this restaurant. Kind of an upscale experience. We both ordered the ham and cheese omelet and while the fruit was a nice touch and the jam seemed home made the omelet itself was kind of rubbery. The potatoes were good... or I imagine they would be if they were covered in a layer of salt. Oh, and for the three breakfast's and drinks that were order the bill came to about $80. Ouch.
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Bucks Bar & Grill
Out in the middle of nowhere you'll find Bucks Bar & Grill. We went for the Hot Roast Beef Sandwich but it's only on Wednesdays. I had a cheeseburger and Mary had the meatloaf dinner. My burger was pretty good and the meatloaf was a huge portion and tasty as well. Too bad this place is so very far, far away as this is not your normal dive bar food...
Update: Resist ordering the fish, shrimp, mash potatoes. They are not the taste sensation you were hoping for. -
Burning Bridges Food Truck
I tried the hamburger and while it was good it seemed a little... pricey. But it looks like the real way to go with this food truck is the chicken sandwich route. Those are much tastier. Mary's not so thrilled with the sauce they put on but I find it delicious. She's just confused.
Update: they now have a brick and mortar at 145th & West Center. Fries are cooked in beef tallow and are delicious!
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Buzzard Billy's
We were in Lincoln and wanted to try something different so in we went. Weren't very hungry so just did a couple of appetizers and there were pretty good. Shrimp was a bit overcooked but the seasoning was yummy and the bread that came with it was the size of Mary's fist. Will need to go back for a meal.
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BW's Pub & Grill
It was a a little bit of a drive but well worth it. The flour chips for the chips 'n queso had an extra something going on, the fish 'n chips were scratch made, and Mary gave a big thumbs up. About the only miss was that the cheese curds that came with the french dip were frozen. Other than that the food was all kinds of delicious. Mary ordered the pork tenderloin and found it was pretty freakin' awesome.
Note: try the loaded tots next time - smelled delicious
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Caddyshack Bar & Grill
Mary tried the chili and sweet corn nuggets and I gave the chef salad a try. They were both... okay. Not horrible but not in the go-out-of-your-way for category. But the thing that struck us as dropping this particular place out of the running for returning to (supposedly the chicken wings are good) is the music that's playing. It's loud enough that we had to get our heads within a foot just to hear each other. Granted, it's a bar... but for somebody going out to eat and not drink it's a deal breaker.
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Catfish Lake at the Lodge
I'd read online that this place was great so time to give it a try. It turns out... not so much. Mary ordered the escargot and thought it tasted like they were out of a can. We split the combo plate and while the catfish, walleye, and chicken were good they should've left the popcorn shrimp off. Also, the place smelled like it was a long time smoker hangout but isn't any longer. Or maybe our fellow patrons were chain smokers?
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Chances R Restaurant and Lounge
Maybe we went in to this expecting more than would be given from the hype online. Mary had the lobster tail which was okay after the first one went back due to being the equivalent of Lobster Jerky... I had the chicken fried steak which was also okay. The salad dressings are made in house so those were good. The breaded mushrooms with the cheese or ranch for dipping was good as well. Our waitress was also a treat but that's probably the last time for here.
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Charlestons
Went here for a birthday dinner since it seemed like a nice place and hadn't been before. Food seemed overpriced from other similar places but the waiter is really in need of some training... bad enough that I really don't have a desire to go back. Only thing that might make me give it another try is the chicken fried steak - that was tasty with a good-sized portion for a reasonable price.
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Cheddars
Gave them another try after a year or so because other places were closed. The food was good but they bring out croissants with a honey butter drizzle that may or may not have an addictive drug in it. We'll probably try them again due to that. hey use whitefish for their fish & chips and the fish just sort of melts away. It's not bad but it's different; it's a different texture.
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Cheeseburgers - A Take-out Joint
We went to try the hot dogs here and it was a bit of a letdown. The chili dog didn't use hot dog type chili (i.e. had beans in it) and wasn't warm enough to melt the shredded cheese. Mary tried the Chicago dog and it didn't have relish but did have a large pickle spear. The onion rings were okay and I thought the ranch dressing was tasty but Mary wasn't impressed with it.
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Chop Stick House
Went to go try another new restaurant since we were in this part of town. It was off hours so it wasn't busy but we got in, sat down, and got service right away. Mary started with and liked the egg drop soup. I had an egg roll with the house mustard (which was enough to wake up the sinuses but not enough to make you wish for a quick death). Then on to the entree round - green pepper steak for me, garlic chicken for Mary. We liked them both and I ended up making a happy plate. If we're in the nearby area and are hungry for oriental then this is the place... but not worth driving far out of the way for.
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Coney Island Lunch Room
Second place for trying a coney island hot dog (hot dog, hot dog chili, mustard, onion) on the off chance the first place was no bueno... neither was this hot dog. The dog itself tasted like what I could afford in college rather than a good hot dog. Mary had the beef stew and liked it alot so that saves the final tally for here. The fries were on the wimpy and barely done side as well.
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Cornbred
I screwed up not finding this place sooner. After all the times we've driven past Ames, Iowa and not found it is a crime. This is some tasty, slightly fancy BBQ. I normally take pictures when the food arrives but this time I missed an entire plate for Mary. She had the cornbread with corn along with the brisket (which was very moist) and I had the burnt ends, house made potato chips (with garlic aoli dipping sauce), and cuke & tomato salad. The only real downside is that Ames is too far from either location we go to and eating too much will put us in a food coma.
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Crunch Factor
Food truck day before the temperature outdoors hits 200F. Went to Trucks & Taps for Crunch Factor and their Franskh Hot Dog. That's a hot dog in a french baguette with a franske sauce. Actually somewhat bland. The tater tots were good 'n crunchy and the cheese curds got a big grin out of my dining partner in crime.
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Culver's
Known for their burgers and ice cream... don't do much for us. We used to eagerly anticipate Easter because they'd have some great walleye. Well, they still have walleye but it's much more expensive and not quite the quality we remembered. There's one that's about a half mile from home and I can't remember the last time we went there for a quick bite. That says something.
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Dirty Birds
Saw it on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives the other night so figured to give it a shot. We split an order of Onion Rings. I got the Big Fish sandwich, Mary got the Chicken and pancakes. The onion rings were hand made with a remoulade sauce. The fish sandwich I got was pretty tasty but Mary said her pancakes were so dense she couldn't cut with a fork. And she needed something to cut all the sweet of the chicken. Biggest thing was the sticker shock - with two sodas came to just shy of $60.
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Doozies
Doozies is a combo ice cream/hamburger place. The ice cream side of the house is better than the hot food side, though. None of us had a hamburger so maybe that would've saved the day but what we got was just... bland. The fries are limp and mostly cooked but the onion rings use just the minimum amount of an actual onion to legally get away with the name. Even the chicken strips, while looking home made, were bland.
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El Muchacho Alegre
This place has a couple of different kinds of nachos but went with more traditional choices off the plentiful menu. They bring out chips & salsa for free so that's a win. Between the flautus and the chimicahnga the beef was on the dry side. The street corn wasn't on the cob but in a bowl so that was unexpected. It's not that the meal was bad but it also didn't really stand out from other places. If in the area it'd be good to try a second time but expectations aren't there.
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Everett's
I'd heard about the place online as being pretty darn tasty so we happened to be in the area today. It was... okay. Awe inspiring or mind altering? Not really. It was good but it wasn't a special, go-out-of-your-way good. The cheeseburger was $12. I'd rather to go Charred for a (less) pricey burger.
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FarmHouse Cafe
It pains me to say it but FarmHouse used to be better than it is these days. Not sure what's been lost but it just seems like in the past th efood was really good. Now it's only mostly good. The bakery still has delicious waist expanding treats though. The fish & chips aren't much to write home about though.
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Fernando's on Pacific
It's been a minute since we were at the Fernando's up in Blair but I'd heard good things about the nachos at the store on Pacific street so why not give it a try. Mary's pork al pastor tacos were tasty and my El Kitchen Sinko nachos were a work of construction art. Not just a pile of chips with stuff tossed on top but actually built and the cheese was melted in an oven. The leftover should be at least one (if not two) delicious meals. Even the guac was tastier than I usually have... and I'm not a big fan of guac.
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First Watch
Tried it one Sunday morning to give it a shot. Service was slow and food was slow to arrive. Mary had to send back the waffle as it wasn't warm enough to melt butter. The omelet was okay and the potatoes were good but a bit fancy schmancy for my tastes. Might have to try again to see if it was a fluke.
Update: second time around was a much better experience. Now can say we'd be willing to go back (as long as it's not busy).
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Fizzy's
I figured it was a high end burger place but turns out they do more. Mary had the Duck Pot Pie and she really liked it. I did the Waygu bhamburger and it was good but it was more of a smash burger so the burger itself was wafer thin. That's probably why they offer a double. It was pretty tasty though. And a basket of fries that was way more than we could finish. The place itself was also kinda funky.
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Glazed 'n Raised
Kind of a roadtrip from home but was willing to give it a shot. Shelves were becoming bare by the time we arrived around 10am but a few interesting selections were left. They were... okay. Not bad but not really worth the roadtrip all the way out for them. I'm guessing this is more of a Gretna thing.
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Gobble Ganger Foods
We'd been trying to get there on a Thursday to try the Chicago Dog but it turns out the star of the show is the Chicago style Italian Beef. Mary gives it an enthusiastic thumbs up. The Chicago Dog was kind of a let down. Not a very big dog and it disappeared after four bites. The onion rings can be safely bypassed. The owner would seem to be a one woman show so she's got alot going at one time. It turns out she's born and raised in Chicago (the phone number is even a Chicago number) so she knows what the Chicago style food should be. Next time maybe try the Polish Dog
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Goodcents
Another sub sandwich shop... but we liked it as much as Subway (if not more). The small sandwich is 8" and they make it in front of you - *including* cutting the deli meat. And they use real roast beef. The bread was also soft and tasty. About the only negative is that there's no drive through and they don't have a diet mountain dew in the soda machine but those are just tiny nits to pick.
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Good Day Cafe
This was close to where we were staying so off we went. It turns out the place was kinda of a fancy upscale/elevated breakfast place. They do lunch and dinner but we were there for breakfast so that makes it a breakfast place. The bacon was thick cut and kinda on the dry side. It reminded us more of ham than bacon. I liked the potatoes more than anything. Mary thoroughly enjoyed the crepes and I have to admit I screwed up not getting them.
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Good Lookin'
I heard they had good pancake so figured time to give a try. We went to the Dundee location since it was the original. Mary had the pancakes but the top pancake got carpet bombed with cinnamon so that's all that she could taste on it. The hand made sausage patty was almost flavorless. I had the breakfast burrito and while it was okay it was just... okay. I didn't even take a picture of it. The older building the restaurant is in was kinda cool though.
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Hartland Bar-B-Que
Google and Yelp both had raving reviews so it was time to give it a try. We were both... underwhelmed with what we were served. The brisket was bland (smoked? Um...) and the sides weren't great (the cuke salad has been sitting around for awhile as the cuke slices had that ring around them when the cuke is old). The cornbred was good so that's one redeeming quality. This is a one-and-done sort of place for us.
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Hawaiian Bros Island Grill
It's not bad food... but it isn't worth going out of your way for either. The Huli Huli Chicken was... fine. Mary got the Kilauea chicken after finding out that the Molokai chicken didn't have that much spicy. The Spam Musubi didn't impress much as well (was it cooked/warmed in a microwave?). But it wasn't bad food... just... okay.The staff was very helpful and friendly though... especially for what's basically a fast food restaurant.
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Home Team Cookout
For a Saturday afternoon it was pretty empty. That works out good for us though. We had the pork tenderloin which comes with two plates and an extra hamburger bun because this thing is pretty big. Even cutting it in half left tenderloin hanging over the edges. Mary thought it tasted too salty but it seemed normal to me. She's got the refined tastes; I'm a caveman. Overall it wasn't bad but it wasn't a place to go out of our way to go eat at.
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Hurrdat Sports Bar & Grill
I'd read online that they had good chicken wings so figured we'd give this place a shot. Mary had the wings and a bowl of short rib chili. I had a cheeseburger and a side salad. Then we had chips and queso for an appetizer. The chips were good, the queso was pretty bland. I ordered the burger medium rare but it came out medium well at best (but was still juicy). The salad was pretty darn good and the wings were good. But overall we decided it wasn't really worth driving out of our way to eat there. It's a sports bar but we were there for the food. It earned a solid "meh" for a score.
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Hyde's Slydes Burger and Fries
Went to the 168th & Q location but I assume it's the same as the 42nd & Grover. The burgers are the smash burger style... meaning that they start with a 4oz hamburger patty and smash it down to a 2oz piece of meat that's about as thick as a McDonald's cheeseburger patty and well done as well. They have a variety but we weren't too enamored with the whole smashburger concept to start with. The fries weren't too bad though.
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Izzy's Pizza Bus
All they serve is Detroit style pizza... but man, that is some noticeably delicious pizza. When the urge for pizza hits hopefully they're still located at Truck & Taps, Patio because, well, they're literally in a bus.
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Javi's Tacos
They cook everything right in front of you at Javi's. I ended up with the Birria Tacos and Mary got the Enchilada. Both tasted fine but the cheese somehow made them... heavy. Good chips (queso a little runnier than is preferred) but they have a small salsa with pickled carrots and radishes. To me even the mild salsa had a bit of a zing to it. Maybe I should've gotten the pico. From this trip it's not worth making a special drive for but seems to be worth it if you're in the area and needing Mexican food.
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Jellybean and Julias
On recommendation from several young 'uns we gave this place a try and for once the kids were right - this is tasty food. Mary got her wings and these were some huge wings. I had the pulled pork and screwed up getting the buffalo sauce rather than a real BBQ type sauce. This unfortunately means we'll just have to go back so I can try again. Darn the luck.
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Jim & Jennie's Greek Village
I got the basic gyro, Mary got the stuffed eggplant papoutsakia because it sounded good. The gyro was tasty and the fries that came with it were good as well. The stuffed eggplant? Turns out it was on the bland side. Not sure if that was by design or if the cook had a bad day. Oh - the chicken lemon soup was excellent though.
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Jimbo's Diner
Connected to the La Vista Kino, but still makes a tasty breakfast for a reasonable amount of money. We'd tried a lunch or dinner there and didn't have a good experience but that might've been a fluke. Update: yup, it was a fluke. Went back for another shot and the food is worth it (i.e. wings, nachos, burgers, and much more). Feel free to pass on the Cod basket; it's nothing to write home about.
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Jukes Aleworks
It turns out that Elkhorn is more than 204th street... who knew? Anyway, gave Jukes Ale Works a try for lunch and was very pleased. Mary tried the salted caramel chicken wings and she may never go back. I tried the fish and chips. The fish was not of the 'frozen for the last decade' variety but tasted like it was just breaded and cooked. And it was a substantial piece of fish. I don't know how they made the fries but there was something different about them that made me want to eat more than I should. This first visit definitely vaulted it up to the top of the rotation.
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Legends Cafe
Gave it a try for the $6 all you can eat pancakes and while my dining partners weren't all that impressed with the pancakes I took a different route and tried the Kitchen Sink Omelet. Any omelet that uses five eggs can't be bad, right? This thing was a monster and was delicious. I'm thinking a return trip is definitely on the table.
Update: Mary tried the pancakes again and this time around they were better. -
Ling's Asian Cuisine
We ended up here just by luck because I got my addresses confused. Started out with the egg roll and dumplings. While the egg roll didn't impress the dumplings were a hit. I got the mongolian beef (which came with a metric ton of rice) and Mary got the Vermicelli rice noodle bowl that appeared from my perspective to come up a small bucket. There's little chance of walking away hungry. Both of the entres were very delicious so now there's a new oriental restaurant in town to hit up.
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LPL's Restaurant & Pub
It's definitely a neighborhood bar & grill but it was... homey. As always tried the rings first (hi, Robyn!) and they were tasty but frozen and shipped in. I tried the nachos and Mary had the fried chicken because that's our test of a new restaurant. Fried chicken was good but the green beans were bland... even with bacon in them. The nachos were good and the chips stayed crisp. They weren't the greatest but I can't say why they were slightly off.
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Luigi's Italian Restaurant
Not a fancy restaurant but they win best-of prizes year after year and there's a reason for it. I had the Chicken Marsala and Mary had the Spaghetti Works (nothing to do with the other restaurant in town by that name). Each meal was very good. We tried the beef ravioli but didn't do anything for us. It wasn't bad but... the garlic cheese bread was very good and the dinner rolls were soft and warm. Definitel deserves a return visit.
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Margarita's
This is our new favorite place to go for mexican food that's close to home (in West Omaha it's Isla Del Mar). It may or may not be authentic but who cares - it's delicious. And that's the important thing. Will be coming back for more.
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Milwaukee Wiener House
You'd think a place that advertises itself as selling nothing but hot dogs would have some pretty good hot dogs... but you'd be wrong. Scrawny little things, no snap when you bite in to them, and not a whole lot of flavor. Maybe that's what a real 'Coney Island Hot Dog' tastes like? The toppings weren't so bad though; that's about all that make them edible. Disappointing to be sure.
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Monster Dogs
For it being a small trailer they sure pack in some big flavor. The buns are soft and the ingredients are plentiful. The Chicago dog could perhaps use slightly smaller cuts but that's a somewhat minor nit. And they seem to be pretty diligent with posting where they'll be in the upcoming week. Will be coming back for round two.
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Mr. Rice
It pains me to say it but Brittany... was... right. We were looking for someplace to go out to eat at and she said good food was at the Oak View Mall. Um, sh-yeah, right. We went to Mr. Rice and it was delicious. Huge portions, friendly staff, reasonable price. It seems there's a good place to go eat after seeing a movie out at the B&B Theater
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Muggs of Mille Lacs
We stopped in for some lunch and got a bonus with an appetizer - the Walleye Fingers. Considering there's a lake full o' walleye a few dozen feet from the place I'm guessing the fish is local. I could make a meal of these alone. The hot dog would probably have been better on it's own as the chili wasn't hot dog chili but soup-type chili. Speaking of which... the chili was tasty but was more tomato-y than usual - definitely not Texas Roadhouse.
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The Murray Bar
Small town bar & grill at it's finest. The food was delicious, the service was fast and friendly, and Mira approved all of it (although she didn't pick up the bill). They don't salt items so be ready to add your preferred amount. Not shown are the onion strings... kinda greasy but very tasty. Also, if you like ranch dressing this is the place to take it intravenously. We need to come back for round two.
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Nate's Stumble Inn
First time trying and definitely won't be the last. I had the ribeye cooked medium rare and it was all kinds of delicious. You know it's good when you can smell it when the waitress shows up and you haven't gotten a taste yet. Mary had the three piece chicken and she raved about how moist and tasty it was. The only thing that'll keep us from going more often is the distance... and even that might not do it.
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Omaha Kebabs
Imagine a tender piece of meat. Then double that... that's what the beef loin kebab was. Mary's platter was a bit on the dry side but I was amazed at how tender the meat was. The peta bread with the eggplant dip was also delicious. Definitely more to try on the menu.
Update: They don't do shrimp kebabs all the time but when they do you should stop what you're doing and go get them. It's rare when I don't feel the need to have cocktail sauce with my shrimp. -
Omaha Tap House
Another restaurant that we've been missing out on. Great service and even greater food. This solves our where to go dilemma for the west Dodge street problem. The breading on the onion rings didn't stick on the onion part as much as would be preferred but the coating was thin (and just right) so that makes sense. That's about the only part that I can think of that was a problem.
Update: The Smashburger has some sort of 'taphouse sauce' and carmelized beer glazed onions that did not agree with Mary's refined palate. The Philly sandwich was a solid 'meh' but the ranch dressing continues to be delicious.
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Penn Station
First time here so we got two difference sandwiches. Mary tried the cheesesteak but found it lacking in 'kick'. I had the classic italian and was quite pleased with it. We split a side of fries and liked them alot. This earned the place a return visit to try something different on the menu. Bonus points for this location being next to a Crumbl cookie store.
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Phoenix Food & Spirits
Went looking for a hot dog place and this was on the todo list so figured we'd give it a shot. In short, everything was just a hair off from being great. Nacho chips were house made but cold, Chicago dog had everything but peppers, chili on the chili dog had beans. Picky? Anal? Perhaps but with a couple minor changes...
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Playa Azul
After a rugged game of putt putt it was time to analyze the results. Across the street was Playa Azul. Home made free chips and salsa are always a good start to a fine meal. Mary thought her burrito was too salty (I didn't taste it but she has the more refined palate). I went with the nachos (delicious) because that's my measuring stick for nearly all new places. Seems to me it's well worth returning if in the area.
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Pulled BBQ
Pulled pork BBQ in all it's various forms. The BBQ nachos use home made potato chips and the baked beans are their own. None of this is bad but just informative. There's no pork ribs but that's sort of in the restaurant name - it's pulled pork, y'all. Depending on the weather the outdoor seating makes the meal all the better.Update: Now a food truck found at Trucks & Taps
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Rancho Bar 7
We couldn't find any of the places we wanted to go open so we ended up at the Bar 7 restaurant. We should've kept looking. While the club sandwich looked good the nachos were drenched in queso so that the bottom levels were gooey. Mary reported the beef in her French Dip was not a taste sensation either. Maybe should've tried the salad bar. Side note - if you have to use the restrooms do yourself a favor and hold it. Or use a cactus out back.
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RibCrib BBQ
Not all restaurants are on top of their game at all times. Sometimes they falter, trip, or even stumble in front of an out of control bus. We were passing through town, saw a restaurant that said it was BBQ and that sounded just right. We got seated and then informed they had no ribs that night. Huh. So I tried the loaded baked potato and Mary tried the catfish. The potato wasn't warm enough to melt shredded cheese or butter. Mary's catfish also had an odd texture to it. Since it was unlikely we were going to be back due to the location we didn't bother with the manager. The waiter was kind enough to ring up and extra sweet (that wasn't sweet) tea. All in all... not a pleasant experience.
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Rice Bowl
It might look like a converted donut shop but it's been around for 30+ years and there's a reason for that - this is just good food. And the service is excellent too; we've had worse service in fancy restaurants than what we had here. Should've probably got the family size portion so there'd be more leftovers but that's something that can be fixed for next time we stop by. Note: the hot mustard destroyed sinuses so make sure to have more... in moderation this time.
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Roma Italian Restaurant
We'd been here before but hadn't documented it for future generations... or us in the future. The spaghetti in it's various forms is good but be aware - it's really dense and will weigh you down. Even the younguns with us couldn't finish their whole meal. The garlic dinner rolls are very tasty so load up on those to go with the rest of the leftovers you're bound to have.
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Romeo's Mexican Food and Pizza
Is it authentic mexican? No. Are there any Mexican people working there? No. Is it tasty? You bet. And the portions are a healthy size as well. We had the chips and queso and had queso left over. I had the regular nachos lunch special and the thing was huge. Mary's taco salad was also plentiful. Definitely worth a return trip.
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Rookies Bar & Grill
Another winner for the Bar & Grill scene! Mary had the Reuben and declared just from the first bite we'd be back. I had the nachos - the only true way to judge a restaurant - and found them to be worthy of ordering again in the future. Update: tried the chef salad and this thing is loaded with turkey & ham... plus they use romaine lettuce rather than the usual iceberg. That's extra bonus points.
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Round the Bend Steakhouse
Tried out a new steak place. The baked potato was good, the salad was good, the mushrooms on the steak were meh (microwaved out of a can?) but the ribeye? Oh, yeah - that was the ticket! Enough so that it's well worth it if anywhere near the area that it's good to stop in. Still need to try out the rest of the menu though...
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The RTG on Center
When you walk in you think it's just another sports bar & grill... but no. Mary had the chicken wings and was impressed. I had my usual nachos (to judge the worthiness of a second visit) and was pleasantly surprised. Yet another restaurant that's made the rotation.
Update: The loaded hot dog could only be better if the bun didn't have so much bread. But the hot dog was cooked on the grille rather than boiled - that's a win!
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The Rustic
It's nothing fancy but man - that food is sure good. Started with onion rings and those were top notch - not too greasy but just the right amount of breading. Mary went with the chicken wings (because that's her standard for a return visit). I tried the walleye and was very much not disappointed. The Rustic has certainly earned a repeat visit. Too bad it's a half hour drive. The only downside was the ranch dressing... it was like somebody forgot the ranch seasoning.
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The Rusty Nail
The word on the street was this place has a good pork tenderloin so away we went. The tenderloin was tasty (the fries could've been cooked longer but that's a preference), the wings were amazingly juicy and the sauces were good, the chips & queso were good, and the onion rings (while on the salty side) were good as well. Not a perfect, must-go-to place but round two wouldn't be out of bounds
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Salted Edge
I found a picture of the french onion soup which is a trigger for having to go somewhere. Unfortunately the soup didn't impress. But they do have a pork slider starter that was stunningly delicious and could be the primary reason to return. The service was impressive (ask for Liv - she ruled) and when there was a question on how the pork sliders were made the sous chef came out to talk more about the meal. The restaurant has an outdoor seating area that I'd imagine would be great in spring or fall.
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The Salty Dog
Advertises themselves as home made bar food and I'd have to agree. For sure the foold is better than regular bar food (although the bar & grills Mary and myself have been going to are already selectively picked for being elevated). I had the nachos and they were finished in the oven rather than just glopped on ingredients; the salsa was also quite tasty and worth using excessively. Mary got the pork tenderloin which she reports was pretty good but the fries were cooked too long and ended up dried out... although the smaller fries were crunchy and good. Will need to go for a second trip (to the Omaha location) to try other menu items.
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Sauced by Alfaro
This restaurant focuses on chicken sandwiches in different flavors and while the price might seem a little high the serving size is freakin' huge. You can take the chicken on the sandwich and make a second sandwich out of it. And with the two we've had they're also very tasty. The word on the street is that next time we need to try the Crispy Dill Pickle Spears. So that means at least one more visit.
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Seven Devil's Steakhouse & Saloon
It's a bar and grill in a tourist trap sort of town... but the food is tasty and the service is good. Well worth the effort. The perfect place to go after rafting with Wild River Adventures.
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Sean O'Casey's Pub
Except for a party in a back room the place was empty... which is fine. Mary had the Reuben (that was the reason we went) and I tried the chili dog. The reuben was on the bland side and the chili dog was... okay. The fries could be cooked longer (so would have to remember to ask). A side of sauerkraut tasted much better than what was on the reuben. They have Corned Beef and Cabbage on Thursdays so that could be the saving grace.
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Sechwan Sunrise
Certainly not a fancy restaraunt but they put out some tasty food. Started with the po po platter and of everything on that we both agree that the crab rangoons are way above anything we've had anywhere else. We probably could've made a meal with just that. The pepper steak could've had some more gravy/juice but that might be a personal preference. The sweet and sour chicken was half a plate of lightly breaded chicken with a generous helping of sweet 'n sour sauce.
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Silver Moon Cafe
We were looking for somewhere to get a quick breakfast before getting back on the road. Eventually we found the Silver Moon and now, based on the breakfast, I wish we had time to try the dinner (more mexican than american) menu. I had the standard two eggs/hash browns/bacon/toast and Mary had pancakes. Nothing fancy but done well. I'd be surprised if the dinner menu wasn't just as good.
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Sickies Garage
Been driving passed it weekly since it opened as it looked like the new burger place in town. Turns out they have novelty burgers with a wide variety of toppings and will cook the burger any way you want it... as long as it's medium well or well. Mmmm, shoe leather. I decided to have the fish basket/shrimp basket and those were even worse - definitely frozen out of a bag. The onion rings weren't any better. The ranch dressing was good though. A repeat visit is many moons away (if at all).
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The Smoking Mule
We heard from two different sources that there's good food to be found here... and it was no lie. I had the half rack of ribs and, of course since we were right off the Missouri River in a land locked state, Mary had the mussles. Neither of us were disappointed as this was just plain good food. I wish we'd known about it earlier because when in Chamberlain, SD this is a go-to place to eat.
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Subway
Generic chain restaurant that makes their sandwiches in front of you. In days gone by they were consistently good, fast sandwiches for a quick meal. Somehow, recently the quality doesn't seem to be what it used to be in the past. Note: the nachos are an abomination and should be avoided at all costs.
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Talus
Talus is an upscale restaurant that serves the favorites but in a fancy way. We started with the shrimp tacos that I thought were tasty on their own but Mary upped the flavor with some lemon and hot sauce. Mary had the fish sandwich (house made tartar sauce was heavy on dill - more to my liking than her's) but the thing was the size of the whole fish. I had the chicken fried chicken with veggies and ended up eating the whole plate. No leftovers for me. Great staff as well. There will be a return trip.
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Taqueria Los Compadres
It was... fine. Not bad, mind you but also pretty run of the mill. I'm under the impression it was authentic and not an American-ized version of a mexican meal. The nachos didn't have jalapenos or onions (but they did add when asked). The soft shell tacos didn't have cheese or sour cream and were kind of dry. If we go back will have to try the fajitas and if those are found lacking, well...
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Terrible Gerald's Pizza
First time trying this pizza and probably the last. It's not bad (ours was undercooked and the crust was thin to start with) but the biggest thing is the variety. Not a whole lot in the way of veggies are available to choose from. But it's definitely fresh and hand made, there's no doubt about that.
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The Tastee Trailer
These folks sell two sizes of what are loose meat sandwiches... which I've never found particularly appealing. But the bonus here is the cod bites and onion petals - those were tasty. Also tried the hot dog which was pretty good. They use Rotella's for the bun for sandwiches & hot dogs which is a bonus.
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Timber Wood Fire Bistro
While this place does have some pricier options for food - Mary ordered lamb chops, I order the St. Louis Ribs - perhaps eating here would be best served by sticking with pizza and such. Mary's lamb chops didn't arrive as ordered (twice) and were visually... bland. My food wasn't bad but it wasn't stunning. The meals weren't bad but for the money they weren't amazing either.
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The Tipsy Steer
First time here and wouldn't mind a return trip. The onion rings, while huge, were alot of somewhat greasy breading (but the ranch dressing was pretty good). Mary's chicken wings seemed to have come from some midget chickens but my cheeseburger was all KINDS of delicious. I'd say if/when we go back that's what I'd get again but the table next to us got a BBQ pizza and just the aroma of it had me wondering if I needed to get one to go.
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Twisted Hitch Food Truck
Pictures on an advertisement looked pretty tasty and they were relatively nearby so figured why not give them a shot. I got a Deluxe Cheeseburger, Chili Dog, and Chicago Dog. Mary got a couple of Chicago Dogs. Mary was responsible and only had one. I was a glutton and had all three. I meant to stop at just half of each and save the rest for later but dang - they were very, very good. Now will have to keep an eye out for when they're nearby and fit in to our schedule.
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Unity Seafood Cajun Grill & Bar
I've been meaning to give this place a try since it opened a couple of months ago. Started with the coconut shrimp and then went on to the main course. The catfish platter was pretty good with some healthy pieces of fish and copious amounts of fries. Mary got a seafood boil and it was mostly seafood with just a few of the standard corn/potatoes in the mix. All in all it wasn't bad but it was kind of on the bland side. Mary's seafood boil was extra salty and she mentioned this to the waitress and manager (?) but all they said was they'd check with the kitchen rather than taking a few bucks off of the bill or give a free dessert.
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Vidlak's Brookside Cafe
The first time I go to a new breakfast place it's almost always the same - Denver omelette. I know how I think one should taste so if a place doesn't pass that test then it's likely the first and last visit. The Denver omelette was fine but Mary's German potato pancakes made her happy dance in her seat. So enough said for Vidlak's. It was pretty busy at 9am on a Sunday but the wait wasn't long and the service was just right.
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Vietnamese Restaurant
This has been Mary's go-to restaurant for Pho for as long as I can remember but this was my first time. It's a casual, friendly place (but be sure to check the hours they're open before you go). Next time I'll try the Pho but this time it was beef and brocolli. The eggrolls with sweet chili sauce were very good and our meals were just as good. It looks like there will be more visits and that's fine with me.
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Wienerschnitzel
First time trying was satisfied. Mary got the corn dogs, I got the kraut dog, and we both got a Chicago dog. The kraut dog doesn't use a polish dog but a regular hot dog so might have to check on a substitution. But the corn dogs were pretty tasty. They have indoor seating but only four tables so it's the luck of the draw. Still need to try the chili dog options so more to come.
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Wild Chicken Grill
Went in expecting really good chicken due to the name... came away disappointed. The chicken 'n waffles was the biggest letdown - four frozen chicken strips and a half cooked waffle? The chicken sandwich was okay but wasn't anything you couldn't get anywhere else... including McDonalds. Chicken in both meals was straight out of the freezer. One and done.
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Yard House
Tried a new place next to the hotel we were staying at. Mary got the wings because that's her standard for judging a new place. She liked them long time and sounds like she'd get them again. I tried the fish & chips. Healthy portion of fish but it was on the greasy side. The onion rings weren't made in house but weren't bad. No hesitation with trying this place again.
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Yummy Crab (Omaha)
We didn't have much confidence going in but once we got our meals our fears were wiped away. Three big pieces of catfish, some well made fries, and the shrimp for Mary's order made me jealous I didn't order the same. Also got corn on the cob. They arrived in the bags that the seafood boil use and Mary got her's with garlic. The sauces could use some work and the catfish (to me) would've been better with some sort of remoulade but that was the only drawback. Note that with current prices order some items (like king crab, etc) will ring up a pretty hefty bill.


































































































































































































































