Food & Drink

If you think great food only lives on the coasts, think again — Nebraska restaurants serve up bold flavors with a big heart.

With 6.8 million cattle in Nebraska, it’s no wonder we’re known as the Beef State. Gorat’s is a favorite steakhouse of Omaha-native Warren Buffett and has become a legendary staple of the city’s culinary scene. The restaurant serves Italian and seafood dishes as well as its signature prime rib and hand-cut steaks.

But the food story doesn’t stop at steak. Nebraska claims the Reuben Sandwich (born in Omaha) and the first restaurant serving the German Runza sandwich opened in Lincoln in 1949. Craving something deliciously crispy and cheesy? Head to Don & Millie’s in Lincoln, Omaha, or Bellevue for a taste of the wildly-popular deep-fried Cheese Frenchee. Or take advantage of the many popular food trucks in Nebraska City, with options ranging from tacos to BBQ, these trucks are able to keep up with some of the best restaurants around.

Want a taste of local flavor beyond the big cities? Enjoy Italian restaurants like Luigi’s or Antonio’s Italian Bistro in North Platte. Head to the western Nebraska city of Scottsbluff and satisfy your Tex-Mex cravings at Rosita’s, or travel northeast to Black Cow Fat Pig in Norfolk for refined Nebraska dining and comfort food with a farm-to-fork twist.

Show up to any sports bar & grill during the College World Series to experience just how animated fans can get, learn about why Kool-Aid is the official soft drink of Nebraska or try our Butter Brickle Ice Cream at Coneflower Creamery, a state favorite flavor invented in the 1920s.

Corn, our state crop, finds its way into everything from sweet summer sides to the diet of our famous corn-fed beef. With more than 44,000 farms and ranches statewide, fresh is always part of the menu in The Good Life.

Nebraska breweries and wineries pour equal parts charm, craftsmanship, and community. From bold farm-brewed ales to porch-perfect vintages, there’s a drink and a destination for everyone.

Kinkaider Brewing, native to the Sandhills, serves up inventive craft beers at taphouses in Lincoln, Omaha, Kearney, and Broken Bow. Don’t feel like driving home afterwards? Why would you when the taphouse in Broken Bow offers a unique Bed & Beer, complete with an attached bungalow for the perfect weekend getaway.

In McCook, The Station Taphouse & Eatery keeps things local with 16 Nebraska brews on tap, pairing great pints with small-town hospitality. Wineries and vineyards dot Nebraska’s scenic byways, offering relaxed front-porch tastings with views of rolling hills, open skies and vine-striped fields.

And if you’re up for an adventure, the Nebraska Brewery and Winery Pass lets you experience over 160 participating locations across the state — no two stops the same, but all worth the toast.

So go ahead: sip and savor The Good Life.