Find out what Reader readers picked for their favorite restaurants in the Omaha area for 2020
Best Bakery
Reader’s Choice Best of the Big O: Pettit’s Pastry
Reader’s Choice: Nothing Bundt Cakes, Omaha Bakery, Cake Specialist
Reader’s Recommend: Great Harvest Bread Co., SmallCakes, Sweet Magnolias Bake Shop, Olsen Bake Shop
Reader’s Refer: Uptown Bakery
Best BBQ Restaurant
Reader’s Choice Best of the Big O: Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que
Reader’s Choice: Cubby’s Convenience Stores BBQ, Tired Texan BBQ
Reader’s Recommend: Porky Butts BBQ, Papio Pit BBQ
Reader’s Refer: Hartland Bar-B-Que, Hog Wild Pit Bar-B-Q, Dickeys Barbecue Pit, Oklahoma Joe’s BBQ
Best Brewpub
Reader’s Choice Best of the Big O: Upstream Brewing Company
Reader’s Choice: Nebraska Brewing Company, The Benson Brewery
Reader’s Recommend: Infusion Brewing Company, Scriptown Brewing Company
Reader’s Refer: Pint Nine Brewing Company
Best Buffet
Reader’s Choice Best of the Big O: HuHot Mongolian Grill
Reader’s Choice: Pizza Ranch, China Buffet, Ameristar Heritage Buffet
Reader’s Recommend: Valentino’s, Curri Fine Indian Cuisine
Reader’s Refer: Golden Corral Buffet and Grill
Best Burger
Reader’s Choice Best of the Big O: Dinker’s Bar and Grill
Reader’s Choice: Stella’s Bar and Grill, Block 16, Sinful Burger Sports Grill
Reader’s Recommend: Bronco’s, Louie M’s Burger Lust
Reader’s Refer: Charred Burger + Bar, Five Guys, Angus Burgers and Shakes, Blatt Beer & Table, Catfish Lake Restaurant and Lounge, Omaha Tap House, Danny’s Bar & Grill
Best Cafe/Diner
Reader’s Choice Best of the Big O: 11-Worth Cafe
Reader’s Choice: Shirley’s Diner, The Sojourn Cafe, Lisa’s Radial Cafe
Reader’s Recommend: WheatFields Eatery & Bakery, Saddle Creek Breakfast Club, Jimbo’s Diner
Reader’s Refer: Le Peep Omaha, Old Fashioned Garden Cafe
Best Catering Company
Reader’s Choice Best of the Big O: Abraham Catering
Reader’s Choice: Catering Creations, Mangia Italiana, Attitude on Food
Reader’s Recommend: Amigos/Kings Classic
Reader’s Refer: Eddie’s Catering
Best Chinese Restaurant
Reader’s Choice Best of the Big O: Taste of China
Reader’s Choice: Ming’s, Hunan Palace, Three Happiness Express
Reader’s Recommend: Rice Bowl, Blue & Fly Asian Kitchen, New Gold Mountain Restaurant, Imperial Palace Express
Reader’s Refer: JC Mandarin, China Palace Restaurant, Golden Bowl Chinese Restaurant, China Bistro
Best Coffeeshop
Reader’s Choice Best of the Big O: Scooter’s Coffeehouse
Reader’s Choice: The Beanery
Reader’s Recommend: Zen Coffee Company, Archetype Coffee, Aromas Coffeehouse, Black Sheep Coffee House, Dunkin’ Donuts
Reader’s Refer: Karma Koffee, Muglife Coffee
Best Doughnut Shop
Reader’s Choice Best of the Big O: Pettit’s Pastry
Reader’s Choice: Dunkin’ Donuts, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Hurts Donut Co.
Reader’s Recommend: Sweet Magnolias Bake Shop, Uptown Bakery, Lamar’s Donuts and Coffee, Donut Professor
Reader’s Refer: Bob’s Donuts
Best Greek Restaurant
Reader’s Choice Best of the Big O: Greek Islands
Reader’s Choice: John’s Grecian Delight, Grecian Gyros
Reader’s Recommend: Feta’s Greek Restaurant, Jim & Jennie’s Greek Village
Best Ice Cream Shop
Reader’s Choice Best of the Big O: Ted & Wally’s Ultra-Premium Ice Cream
Reader’s Choice: Coneflower Creamery, Graley’s Creamery & Confections
Reader’s Recommend: Dairy Queen Grill & Chill
Reader’s Refer: Cold Stone Creamery, eCreamery, Dairy Twist
Best Indian Restaurant
Reader’s Choice Best of the Big O: The Jaipur
Reader’s Choice: Curri Fine Indian Cuisine, Himalayas
Reader’s Recommend: The Taj Kabob & Curry, Tanduri Fusion Omaha
Best Italian Restaurant
Reader’s Choice Best of the Big O: Roma Italian Restaurant
Reader’s Choice: Lo Sole Mio Ristorante, Mangia Italiana, Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
Reader’s Recommend: Spezia, Pasta Amore, Lombardo’s Bistro and Bar, Avoli Osteria
Reader’s Refer: Luigi’s Italian Restaurant, Malara’s Italian Restaurant, Vincenzo’s Italian Ristorante, Nicola’s Italian Wine & Faire
Best Japanese Restaurant
Reader’s Choice Best of the Big O: Blue Sushi Sake Grill
Reader’s Choice: Kobe Steakhouse of Japan, Hiro 88, Genji Japanese Steakhouse, Yoshitomo
Reader’s Refer: Sakura Bana, Ponzu Sushi & Grill, Umami, Okinawa Sushi Bar & Grill
Best Local Food-Serving Restaurant
Reader’s Choice Best of the Big O: Block 16
Reader’s Choice: Quick Bites Soul Food
Reader’s Recommend: Modern Love, Benson Brewery, Railcar Modern American Kitchen, Catfish Lake Restaurant and Lounge, The Grey Plume, Kitchen Table, LOCAL Beer, Patio and Kitchen
Best Mexican Restaurant
Reader’s Choice Best of the Big O: La Mesa Mexican Restaurant
Reader’s Choice: Mula, Nettie’s Fine Mexican Food, Abelardo’s, Rivera’s Mexican Food
Reader’s Recommend: Hector’s Omaha
Reader’s Refer: Lina’s Mexican Restaurant, Mar Cafe, OJ’s Cafe, Cilantro’s Mexican Bar & Grill
Best New Restaurant
Reader’s Choice Best of the Big O: High Peak Asian Restaurant
Reader’s Choice: The Hunger Block, Olive & Ash Pizza, IkaSan
Reader’s Recommend: Rizin Japanese Ramen
Best Nouveau Cuisine Restaurant
Reader’s Choice Best of the Big O: Modern Love
Reader’s Choice: Salt 88, Boiler Room Restaurant, Le Bouillon
Reader’s Refer: Brushi European American Cuisine
Best Pizza Parlor
Reader’s Choice Best of the Big O: Mama’s Pizza, Copps Pizza
Reader’s Choice: Johnny Sortino’s Pizza Parlor, Pitch Pizzeria West Omaha
Reader’s Recommend: Brick Oven Pizzeria, La Casa Pizzaria, Godfather’s Pizza, Mangia Italiana
Reader’s Refer: Noli’s Pizzeria, Lansky’s Pizza, Pasta & Philly Steaks, Dante Pizzeria Napoletana, Marco’s Pizza
Best Retail Meat Counter
Reader’s Choice Best of the Big O: Just Good Meat
Reader’s Choice: Stoysich House of Sausage, Fareway Grocery, Hy-Vee
Reader’s Recommend: Wohlner’s Neighborhood Grocery & Deli, B.I.G. Meats
Reader’s Refer: Baker’s
Best Retail Produce Selection
Reader’s Choice Best of the Big O: Hy-Vee
Reader’s Choice: Fresh Thyme, Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe’s
Reader’s Recommend: Baker’s
Best Retail Wine Selection
Reader’s Choice Best of the Big O: Spirit World, Hy-Vee
Reader’s Choice: Whole Foods Market, La Buvette Wine & Grocery
Reader’s Recommend: Corkscrew Wine & Cheese
Reader’s Refer: WineStyles of Omaha
Best Steak House
Reader’s Choice Best of the Big O: Brother Sebastian’s Steakhouse
Reader’s Choice: The Drover, Round the Bend Steakhouse, Anthony’s Steakhouse
Reader’s Recommend: Charleston’s Restaurant, Johnny’s Cafe South Omaha, Pink Poodle Restaurant
Reader’s Refer: Kobe Steakhouse of Japan, LongHorn Steakhouse, Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse Village Pointe, Catfish Lake Restaurant and Lounge
Best Sweets Shop
Reader’s Choice Best of the Big O: Old Market Candy Shop
Reader’s Choice: The Cordial Cherry, Eileen’s Colossal Cookies, Hollywood Candy
Reader’s Recommend: Graley’s Creamery & Confections, Uptown Bakery
Reader’s Refer: Candy Wrappers, Cupcake Island, Chocolat Abeille
Best Tex-Mex
Reader’s Choice Best of the Big O: Maria’s Mexican Restaurant, Stokes Grill & Bar
Reader’s Choice: Roja, Julio’s Restaurant, El’ Bee’s, Lil Burro Mexican Restaurant
Best Thai Restaurant
Reader’s Choice Best of the Big O: Thai Orchids Restaurant
Reader’s Choice: Thai Pepper, Mai Thai Restaurant, Salween Thai Restaurant
Reader’s Recommend: Laos Thai, Bangkok Kitchen
Reader’s Refer: Pan Asian Terrace
Best Vegetarian Restaurant
Reader’s Choice Best of the Big O: Modern Love
Reader’s Choice: Oasis Falafel, Kitchen Table
Reader’s Recommend: Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant
Reader’s Refer: Persis Indian Grill