Omaha Driver Entertainment Guide

Located at 13615 California Street is Ted’s Nebraska Grill. A chain of restaurants founded in 2002 by media mogul, Ted Turner, Ted’s is a classic American grill serving beef, bison, chicken and seafood dishes from its extensive menu. My wife and I enjoyed the early American decor and the extensive use of wood inside the restaurant. The booths are spacious and permit private conversation, if that’s what you are seeking. I had a beef burger with jack cheese and bacon, and my wife had the grilled Caesar salad topped with cedar plank grilled salmon. The size of the burger was impressive, and the ingredients fresh. My wife also enjoyed her meal. Ted’s is open daily for lunch and dinner. Give it a try and Happy Motoring!

Located at 4150 South 144th Street (between L and Q Streets) is Charlie’s on the Lake.  Charlie’s is a restaurant well known for its extensive seafood choices, aged and trimmed cuts of Angus beef, and broad drink selections (martini’s and wines). Pick your own fresh main lobster from Charlie’s lobster tank. Or try the Prime Rib and King Crab legs. There are so many great choices on their lunch and dinner menus. Open Monday through Friday 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 4:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.  Be sure to carry extra blankets and a fully charged flashlight in your vehicle during Winter months, you never know when you may become stranded or need to offer roadside assistance to others. Happy Motoring!

Located at 1218 South 119th Street, inside Absolutely Fresh Seafood, is Shucks Fish House and Oyster Bar. Shucks also has a second location at 16901 Wright Plaza (168th & Center). If you are looking for fresh shucked oysters on the half shell, you should visit Shucks. Unique and inviting – with the freshest seafood in Omaha. The inside of Shucks feels like Pike Place Market in Seattle. Rough cut wooden planks cover the walls, with other nautical decor. The fish bar at Absolutely Fresh Seafood is impressive, with selections from all three coasts. Shucks house specialties include Jambalaya, Swordfish, Ahi Tuna Steak, and Atlantic Salmon. Have you checked your auto jack and spare tire pressure recently? Make sure the spare is inflated. Also check your tire iron. Increasingly, new cars have a standard-issue tire iron that are too short, with insufficient leverage to remove a lug nut. If you don’t have AAA or other roadside service, consider buying and carrying a better tire iron. Happy Motoring!

Located at 1108 Howard Street, in the heart of Omaha’s Old Market, is Vivace Restaurant. Voted Omaha’s Best Italian Restaurant in 2008 by the Reader’s Choice “Best of the Big O”, Vivace has always been one of my personal favorites, for its combination of great food and great atmosphere. With exposed brick interior walls, lots of heavy oak wood furnishings and elegant table linens, Vivace has a classy and inviting appeal to its guests. The Tilapia and the Lasagna Bolognese are both very good dinner choices, and their menu includes other contemporary Italian fare. Vivace has an extensive selection of Italian wines, unrivaled in Omaha. Vivace has a party room that will handle group sizes up to 30 people, and they are open 7 days a week, serving lunch and dinner. Try their Sunday Brunch. Benvenuto e felice motoring!

Located at 5305 S 138th Street in Millard, is Millard Express – Burger Detour.  A family owned burger joint, with drive-thru take out service only, Burger Detour serves breakfast and  lunch daily. In my opinion, Burger Detour’s hamburgers are pretty middle of the road, but a cut above the well known fast food chains.  The restaurant serves 1/4 lb., 1/2 lb., and 3/4 lb. burgers, your way. They also have pork tenderloins, onion rings, fries, chili, and other traditional fast food menu items. The restaurant serves french toast, ham & egg sandwiches, breakfast burritos, and eggs Benedict items on their breakfast menu. Open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. Try it when you’re in Millard, and Happy Motoring!

Located in the L Street Marketplace, at 12330 K Plaza, is Smashburger® restaurant. One evening, my wife and I visited Smashburger because several of our friends had recommended it. We both ordered the 1/3 lb. “classic smashburger” from the menu. I had the applewood smoked bacon added to mine. My wife had regular fries with her meal, and I had a chocolate shake made with Häagen-Dazs ice cream (I just couldn’t resist). The smashburgers were really juicy. However, I wish I had ordered mine without the “mayo-like” smash sauce. The pickles, lettuce, tomatoes and onions were fresh. Overall our meal was good, but pricey. I’m told that the Smashdogs are really good; perhaps we’ll try those on our next visit. The search for Omaha’s best burger continues… Happy Motoring!

Located at 106 S. Galvin Road, at the top of the hill leading into Bellevue, is Stella’s Bar and Grill. Stella’s hamburgers are well-known and popular throughout the Omaha metro, having been voted the city’s best in 2008. Uniquely, the hamburgers are served on paper napkins. The diner, having undergone recent renovations, was cozy and clean. I ordered a cheeseburger with bacon and a side of french fries. Even though it was the lunch hour, and the place was packed, the service was prompt and friendly. My meal was a delight. The cheeseburger had a high “Wow” factor. I had to contort my mouth to take a bite. The bun was thicker than I like, and there was no choice of cheeses; otherwise, terrific! The french fries were made from fresh potatoes, just the way my mother used to make them; greasy and great. Our service men and women at Offutt are lucky to have a place like Stella’s so near to the base. Stop in and enjoy… Happy Motoring!

Located at 1620 South 10th Street, Cascio’s Steak House has been one of Omaha’s  favorite steak restaurants, since 1946. In addition to great steaks and chops, Cascio’s menu includes fresh seafood and Italian fare.  The Marco Polo linguine dish is one of my personal favorites. Cascio’s is a terrific place to eat on Thanksgiving Day, if you don’t feel like cooking. They serve a traditional turkey dinner with dressing and all of the trimmings. Cascio’s also has several spacious party rooms and can accommodate party sizes from 20 to 400 people. It is always a good idea to call ahead for reservations. The phone number is: (402) 345-8313.  Have a blessed Thanksgiving and Happy Motoring from the Omaha Driver!

Zesto drive-in restaurants were started by an Evansville, Indiana entrepreneur in 1949 and franchised to local operators throughout the U.S.  Today, Omaha is blessed to have 3 Zesto locations. Zesto Ice Cream and Grill at 7130 N. 102nd, Zesto at 8608 N. 30th Street in Florence, and Zesto’s 3901 S. 13th Street. All of the Omaha locations sell the unique soft serve ice cream made with low fat cream that made Zesto famous. They will prepare a chocolate dip or twinkle coat (candy coated) cone for you. Zesto’s on S. 13th is the most famous of the Omaha locations, because it is a destination  frequented by College World Series fans visiting Rosenblatt Stadium. Zesto’s is said to have fantastic, but messy, hamburgers. They also have a full compliment of other menu items, including chili dogs, crinkle cut french fries, battered onion rings and the like. Eat at a Zesto when you are in one of these Omaha neighborhoods, and Happy Motoring!

Located at 1718 Vinton Street, in South Omaha, Louie M’s Burger Lust is a popular breakfast and lunch destination, especially when you have a craving for a good hamburger. I took a group of people to Louie M’s for a luncheon, and each person was well-satisfied with their meal. I had the bacon cheeseburger. The bun was fresh and the burger portion large. Vegetable toppings were served on the side, permitting me and other diners to “build your own” burgers, with personally desired toppings. I’m told the mozzarella and black olive burger and french fries at Louie M’s are really good. I’ll place Louie M’s high in my “Best Omaha Burger” rankings. We enjoyed the rustic charm of the restaurant. Give it a try and Happy Motoring!