The Big O
Published June 15, 2022
Where’s the place to be this weekend?
Well, luckily I was able to get an exclusive interview with a certain Hall of Fame quarterback to get his answer.
“Omaha! Omaha!”
Thanks Peyton!
Yes indeed, it is here once again! The time of year when the sports world shifts their focus to the birthplace of the Reuben sandwich. The time of year when college sports fans start pretending that they also care about their Alma Mater’s baseball team. Of course, I am talking about the College World Series. Since 1950, the College World Series (CWS) has called Omaha, Nebraska home. Prior to coming to the Cornhusker State, the CWS rotated from host city to host city but it is said that once the College World Series came to Omaha, it stayed because the incredible support the city showed the tournament was unmatched by previous hosts. That relationship between this tournament and the city continues today. Thousands have already descended upon Omaha. Beginning tomorrow, eight schools (Arkansas, Auburn, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Texas, Texas A&M, and Stanford) will compete for the chance to be crowned NCAA Division I baseball’s National Champion.
While it is always an exciting event, this year hopes to mark a “return to normal” in terms of fans and the teams themselves. Knowing that the Big O is only three hours away, and that several from this area will be jumping on I-29 either this weekend or next to go catch some games. I am sure that as you get ready to go to Omaha that everyone has told you to “Go to Runza”, “Grab a slice at Valentino’s”, and of course, “GO TO THE ZOO!” but all the same, I figured I would share some of my favorite Omaha spots with any who plan to make the trip. After all, as you’ll realize while you read, many of my Omaha favorites were once friendly recommendations.
The Main Attraction
Charles Schwab Field
1200 Mike Fahey Street, Omaha, Nebraska
In 2019, I had the opportunity to attend the College World Series. Back then, it was TD Ameritrade Park. Vanderbilt scored 2 runs in the 9th to defeat Louisville 3-2. Days later, they won the College World Series.
It is almost impossible to drive into downtown Omaha and miss Charles Schwab Field but just in case, the address is here! If you do find yourself in Omaha over the next 12 days, then the single-most important thing you have to do while you’re there is attend a College World Series game! Attending the CWS should be on the bucket list of every baseball fan, and for that matter every sports fan. Looking to attend a game but not sure who to root for? Not to worry! Since the fall of 2019, sports betting has been legal just across the river in Iowa! In fact, there are a number of casinos, complete with sports books, less than 15 minutes away from the stadium where you can quickly find yourself with something to cheer for in the game. After the games are over, be sure to venture into nearby Old Market to enjoy the bars, restaurants, and nightlife of Omaha. Over the next two weeks, there is no bigger party in the U.S. than the one happening in Omaha!
Eats & Drinks
Amsterdam Falafel & Kabob
620 N. 50th Street, Omaha, Nebraska
The Feta Fries from Amsterdam Falafel & Kabob are tasty enough to justify a trip to Omaha.
In 2019, I stayed with friends in my favorite Omaha neighborhood, Dundee, when we were in town for the College World Series. On one fateful night, my friend Jon discovered this tiny hole-in-the-wall within two blocks of our AirBnB. Amsterdam Falafel & Kabob is reminiscent of the kebab shops littered throughout central Europe. What makes AFK so special is that fusion of continental favorites with African, Asian, and Middle-Eastern flavors. The real star on the menu is the curry fries, which as the name suggests, are crispy shoestring style fries, dusted with curry powder. However, I recommend loading them up and going with the Feta Fries that are covered with feta cheese crumbles and served with garlic, herb, red, and green sauces. Sure, you can dip your fries but I found it best to dump all the sauces on and make a real mess of things. Of particular note is the red sauce which is so full of flavor and has such a nice burn to it. There’s a reason that any time one of my friend group goes to Omaha, someone immediately jokes, “Bring back some curry fries!”. It is the perfect late night snack or recovery meal the next day. Amsterdam’s fries alone are worth the three hour drive!
Benson Brewery
3501 Center Street, Omaha, Nebraska
In my opinion, one of my favorite things about traveling around the United States is how good our beer has gotten. From the scene being an international laughing stock just 25 years ago, we are now at a point where every city, regardless of size, has at least one brewery local to them. Great beer in all styles is EVERYWHERE! So for a beer lover, the best part of traveling can be finding a microbrewery or a bar and sampling the local flavors you can’t get back home. As the name suggests, Benson Brewery is located in the heart of the Benson neighborhood. The large gastropub has a large, warm space with the industrial feel that we come to expect in most breweries. They have a fantastic selection of five to six year-round taps with four to six more rotating taps. The most memorable beer for me is the Velveteen which is a lovely milk stout that is perfectly creamy with nice, subtle notes of cocoa and coffee. As a gastropub, they also serve a great menu of burgers, starters, and are known for their vegan options. The soft pretzels with smoked gouda cheese sauce and IPA mustard are the perfect accompaniment for a flight of beers. As far as more substantial meals go, in the home of the Reuben, Benson serves one of the city’s best. The use of white cheddar over Swiss makes this a special sandwich.
Dundee Dell
5007 Underwood Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska
A plaque outside of the Dundee Dell shares some of the neighborhood’s interesting history.
I previously mentioned that Dundee was my favorite Omaha neighborhood and a lot of that has to do with Dundee Dell. Years ago, my friend Connor, an Omaha native, recommended this neighborhood pub to me and ever since, I visit every time I am in Omaha. While the Dell claims to have been open since 1934, it actually goes beyond that when it opened as a deli in 1920. 1934 is actually the date that the Dell rebranded after being granted a liquor license. The dim-lit, cozy pub is decorated with primarily British and Irish memorabilia and is an ideal place to grab a perfectly poured pint of Guinness. Not to worry, if Guinness is not your thing, the Dell has an extensive bottle and tap selection. As expected, Dundee Dell does have fish ‘n chips on the menu. What is a pleasant surprise, here in the Midwest, is the quality of the battered cod pieces. Charmingly served in a newspaper pouch, the fish ‘n chips is better than any equivalent I have found here in KC. My favorite item is the Reuben Egg Rolls. All the ingredients of Omaha’s signature sandwich, stuffed in a won ton, deep fried, and served with a side of thousand island. Crunchy, chewy, savory, cheesy, tart, and with a little bit of sweetness, there is everything to love about this starter. Unfortunately, a recent glance at the online menu has me fearful that this delightful spin on the Reuben is no longer available. Fortunately, after a night of drinks, you can go around the corner and grab some curry fries from Amsterdam Falafel & Kabob!
Ika Ramen & Izakaya
6109 Maple Street, Omaha, Nebraska
At Ika Ramen, the Miso is my go-to order. Sure it’s the only ramen I’ve had there, but I’ve never found a bowl I like more anywhere!
Admittedly, ramen is something that I appreciated for a long time but never really sought out. A few years back, a trip to Ika Ramen changed all that for me. While there are a few locations around town, the only one I have visited is the original location in the Benson neighborhood (practically next door to Benson Brewery!). The ramen shop is a quaint little storefront that just feels homey from the moment you walk through the doors. The exceptional service would likely be enough to keep me going back but fortunately the food is incredible as well. Ika boasts an extensive line-up of ramen, rice bowls, kimchi bowls, and appetizers that are a fusion of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean elements. When it comes to the starters, it is hard to meet the classic steam buns. The Ika edition is almost more like a taco with your choice of pork belly, shredded pork, fried chicken, and eggplant. While there are a lot of ramen options, my go-to is the Miso. Admittedly, I have not tried any others because after having it my first time, I was so hooked that I ordered it again on my two return visits. The Miso features, crispy, standed chunks of pork shoulder, ajitama (a delightfully marinated soft boiled egg that ties the whole dish together), roasted corn, negi (green onion), spicy shoga (ginger), and fresh, creamy, avocado slices swimming in a pork broth. The collection of flavors is simply magical and turned me from an “eh I would probably like ramen” to “GIVE ME ALL THE RAMEN!”
Sinful Burger Sports Grill
4005 Twin Creek Drive #101, Bellevue, Nebraska
Years ago, I conquered “The Gluttony” on my first visit to Sinful Burger. My advice? Bib up and go for it! Just beware of the melted cheese within, it will obliterate your taste buds!
In 2020, on my way to South Dakota, I stopped in at Sinful Burger Sports Grill for one last burger, tweeting out my eulogy to the beloved burger joint. My friend Charles, who first introduced me to the sports bar years ago, had let me know that Sinful Burger was set to close its doors. So we met for dinner, to “sin” one last time. Fortunately, the rumors of Sinful Burger’s death were exaggerated and I was thrilled on my most recent trip to learn that Sinful Burger was alive and well! Crossing off all seven sins is still within reach for me! Allow me to explain. Beyond being an eclectic bar that somehow combines tile floors, retro red & chrome dining chairs, NFL flags, and pitch black walls, Sinful Burger serves a line-up of burgers that conform to a tremendous gimmick. The restaurant’s seven specialty burgers are named for the Seven Deadly Sins of Christian tradition. On what I thought was my final meal, I crossed Lust (topped with blue cheese crumbles, pesto, and garlic mayo) off my list. For me, only Pride and Sloth remain. For me, Greed ( a half pound patty topped with 2 fried mozarella sticks and covered with the house chili) is the best of the tarnatious sandwiches but the crown jewel is definitely the Gluttony. The Gluttony features two half pound Juicy Lucy (cheese filled) hamburger patties seemingly stacked with another half pound of bacon and cheese, served between two grilled cheese sandwiches as buns. This behemoth is not for the faint of heart. I conquered the Gluttony on my first visit years ago. The best advice I can give if you go for gold and decide to consume pounds of beef and American cheese is to throw on a bib (because you will be overcome with molten cheese) and just go for it. The best way to reach the summit is to approach it as the gluttonous mess that Burger Satan designed it to be. All burgers are served with a side of tots, fries, or onion rings. Also on the menu, the Reuben Egg Rolls as a starter and the deep fried Twinkie afterwards are hard to beat. But if you’re going for Gluttony gold, you really should not be thinking about starters or dessert.
Vis Major Brewing Company
3501 Center Street, Omaha, Nebraska
Located near Hanscom Park, Vis Major was the first Omaha brewery that I ever tried and it remains among my favorites. While in Omaha for a wedding years ago, and looking for a place to grab a drink, my friends Sam and Emily recommended Vis Major Brewing Company. Vis Major is the epitomy of “small but mighty”. In fact, the brewery is so small that they self-describe their miniscule basement brewing operation as a nano-brewery. Even still, Vis Major is very much a hotspot in the neighborhood and a destination for Omaha locals and visitors alike. The tiny space has a particular aesthetic that almost combines reclamation, salvage, and strategic mismatching with an elevated high-end feel. The beers themselves are unique and fantastic, and the branding for each variety is equally so. Of their flagship beers, the Kölsch, known as “The Day Tripper”, is my favorite. Bold, yet light and fruity, with the right amount of hoppy aftertaste, this beer never fails to please. In addition to Belgian and German-inspired beers and West Coast-type IPAs (India Pale Ales), there are always a number of fun, eye-opening entrants on the menu that differ from anything at other breweries. The Pecan Brown Ale, when available, is one of the most flavorful fall beers that I can recall. In addition, to excellent in-house beers, the brewery does offer artisan cocktails and house-made pizzas. The Goonie, a deconstructed crab rangoon-type topped with cream cheese, crab meat, tangy sweet & sour sauce, and crunchy wonton strips, is a must if you’re hungry!
The Best of the Rest
Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium
3701 S. 10th Street, Omaha, Nebraska
Inside the wonderful tropical rainforest exhibit, you can see beautiful tropical birds like these at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha.
“You don’t always get to see the things you pay to see. Ever been to the goddamn zoo? Those things are never where they’re supposed to be! Every time I go to the zoo I’m like, ‘Hey, where’s the jaguar?’ and the zoo guy is like, ‘Uhh, he must be in the inside part.’ The inside part? The inside part?! Tell him we’re here.”
Over the years, I have been to the Henry Doorly Zoo at least a dozen times with my first time being on an elementary school field trip. It is continually ranked as a top five zoo in the nation and for good reason! Going to Omaha without going to the zoo would be like coming to Kansas City and not having any BBQ. The aquarium is breathtaking. Some of the sea mammals, fish, and aquatic life within are just so majestic. The desert dome is so incredible, and the rainforest habitat? Well, I have never seen anything quite like it. Elevated walkways allow you to walk through the rainforest canopy as tropical aviary and tree mammals freely roam. Below, a lazy river of hippopotamuses, tapirs, and other Amazon dwellers await. If only the red pandas, the greatest animal of all time, would actually come out when I visit, then the zoo would be perfect. In all seriousness, when it comes to the Henry Doorly Zoo, it may actually be underhyped. It’s that good.
Werner Park
12356 Ballpark Way, Papillion, Nebraska
It may seem weird to see a statue of a St. Louis Cardinals legend at the Royals’ minor league affiliate but Bob Gibson is an Omaha native of which the city is very proud. Gibson is not the only Nebraskan in Cooperstown. The same is true of Grover Cleveland Alexander, Richie Ashburn, Sam Crawford, Billy Southworth, and Wade Boggs.
Maybe you’re thinking about going to the 2nd weekend of the College World Series but due to the nature of the tournament, concerned there’s not going to be many games played while you’re there. Maybe the idea of baseball in Omaha sounds fun but you can’t go up the weekend of the College World Series. Not to worry, there is baseball all summer long! You can always “STIR UP THE STORM!” at Werner Park in Papillion. Werner Park is, of course, the home of the Omaha Stormchasers, the AAA minor league affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. In fact, for many years, the team was known as the Omaha Royals. So, in addition to providing great, affordable, family entertainment, it’s a chance for baseball fans to get a sneak peek at the next generation of big leaguers. The team has had a lot of success over the years, appearing in four straight championships from 2011 - 2014 and winning three of those. Among those who have spent time on Omaha’s roster include George Brett, Frank White, Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Wil Myers, Jake Odorizzi, Kelvin Herrera, Yordano Ventura, and Salvador Perez, among others. Recently, Bobby Witt, Jr. and MJ Melendez donned the blue and gold of the Stormchasers. The Stormchasers do have a homestand the second weekend of the CWS, but even if you are not in town when they are, you might be able to catch a soccer match. Werner Park is also home to Union Omaha of USL1 (United Soccer League One).
As an outsider, there are likely many Omaha favorites that I missed. Some were intentional for the sake of length. This is my own list of my favorite places to eat, drink, and go in Omaha. Others were because I am not yet aware of them! Every single time that I return to the Big O, I always find something new that I have to have upon my return. (Curry fries were a friend’s discovery the last time we attended the College World Series!) Much like Kansas City and any other city, there is always so much to discover.
In the event you are making the trip north this weekend, or next, to watch some college baseball - I hope this list gives you some great options for your time in Omaha. If you are not going to Omaha, and have never been to the College World Series, make plans in the future to go! It is only a three hour drive up I-29 and such an amazing event. The City of Omaha does a fantastic job putting it on every single year. And even if you are not a baseball fan, or just cannot travel in June, then just make plans to get to Omaha.
Given its proximity, the ease of getting there, the affordability of accommodations (outside of the College World Series in June and the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders Meeting in April) and the combination of a world-class zoo, fun nightlife, terrific microbreweries, and an excellent local dining scene, Omaha is a perfect getaway for any Kansas Citian looking for a fun three-day weekend.
But hey, by all means, if you must - get yourself some Runza! After all, you’re in Nebraska!
What’s your favorite place to go in Omaha? What did I miss? As always, tell me in the comments and thank you so much for reading!
