Dining in Lincoln can be intimate, thrifty
By Jeff Zeleny
Restaurant Critic
An intimate, quiet, romantic dinner
for two is possible in Lincoln, despite
the glowing neon skyline of chain
restaurants, overpriced bagel shops and
copycat coffee houses.
A dinner date on a student budget
also is possible. With a dash of creativ
ity and a touch of planning, a night on
the town with your steady companion
— or even a blind date — can be a
smashing success without thrashing
your credit line.
Follow this trail as we take you
through a few of the area’s well-known
hot spots and finest out-of-the-way
eateries.
Lincoln’s Haymarket is an obvious
choice for dinner — at times its popu
larity makes it almost too obvious.
Finding a table can be a challenge, but
it is consistently worth the wait.
There also is a good share of variety
in the Haymarket.
Lazio’s, one of Lincoln’s best (and
most crowded) restaurants, is a sure
thing. Washing down an open-faced
Reuben or a plate of hickory ribs with
a brewed beer is highly recommended.
If (and probably when) the wait at
Lazio’s is unbearable, a walk next
door into Jabrisco is a good second
choice. The splatter-painted ceilings
and high-back black booths make
Jabrisco a fun dining experience. And
the unique pizza, sandwiches and pas
ta will leave a good taste in your mouth
that has not been duplicated in these
parts.
Jeans, shorts, and sandals are ac
ceptable attire in both restaurants, as
are skirts, sport coats and ties.
Also in the Haymarket, Vincenzo’s
offers casual Italian fare that is sure to
please. Vincenzo’s is the only restau
rant in this historic part of town with a
lounge separated from the restaurant.
As you sip a cocktail or after-dinner
drink, the tall windows offer a neat
view of couples strolling through the
“These (chain)
restaurants— which
represent the Wal-Mart
syndrome of dining —
often serve good food,
but the atmosphere is
anything but intimate. ”
Haymarket.
A few blocks east — and only one
block south of City Campus — is
Crane River, home of the city’s best
(and probably only) beer bread. This
menu has things that will not be found
anywhere else in the city. You have to
go to Crane River at least once — if
you don ’ t have a date, eat at the bar and
strike up conversation with a bartend
er.
Tucked away in a residential neigh
borhood south of downtown is one of
Lincoln’s best secluded places for an
upscale dinner. Customers dine in small
rooms at Billy’s, 1301 H St., in an
antique setting.
Billy’s, which is a block west of the
State Capitol, also is the place to go
during the legislative session to see
many of the state’s movers and shak
ers. While the white building behind
the fence looks like a house, a step
inside reveals the perfect ambiance for
a special evening.
A stop here on a first date could give
the wrong impression, however. Ifthere
is a second date, you will have a diffi
cult search to find a place to top Bil
ly’s.
Another well-kept secret among
the younger crowd is Jax, 27th St. and
Woods Blvd. This newly remodeled
restaurant—which now has a separate
lounge, dining room and gourmet car
ry-out deli—offers one of the quietest
dinners in town.
Like Billy’s, save the Jax experi
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ence for a special occasion like an
anniversary, engagement orwhen your
parents come to visit.
In recent years, chain restaurants
that offer a little better than fast-food
fare have popped up throughout Lin
coln. These restaurants — which rep
resent the Wal-Mart syndrome of din
ing — often serve good food, but the
atmosphere is anything but intimate.
When your date and you have tried
all of the restaurants in Lincoln — and
the next chain hasn’t moved into town,
we recommend leaving the city for a
short drive.
A 46-mile drive west of Lincoln
brings you to The Chances R in York.
This restaurant has long been one of
the state’s best-kept tourism secrets,
but now many are discovering what
the folks in south-central Nebraska
have known for years.
The service is outstanding. The food
is incredible. And the prices are af
fordable. From their crowded Sunday
brunch, to a close dinner-for-two in the
comfy green dining room chairs, the
trip to York is well worth the time.
The 50-minute drive down Inter
state 80 is a good excuse to leave the
glowing neon skyline of Lincoln. And
besides, who says it has to take 50
minutes to get back to the city?