Readers' Choice 2020 Best Dining

Nominations & Final Voting

Based entirely on community participation, Omaha businesses are nominated as the best in their industry at TheReader.com, starting in January, running through the end of March, a month later than normal. Tens of thousands of nominations inform the top nominees in each category to appear on the final ballot, which ran from April to the end of May. Stringent procedures help insure one-person, one-vote and to minimize vote-buying. An independent accounting firm Hancock & Dana, one of Omaha’s oldest, counts final votes to tabulate the awards.

Winners

This list represents what Omaha locals and Reader readers love — businesses that are the best at what they do. With deep thanks to everyone in the community that participated, we congratulate this amazing list of awardees!

Best Dining

Best Bakery

Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Pettit’s Pastry

Readers’ Choice: Nothing Bundt Cakes, Omaha Bakery, Cake Specialist

Readers Recommend: Great Harvest Bread Co., SmallCakes, Sweet Magnolias Bake Shop, Olsen Bake Shop

Readers Refer: Uptown Bakery

Best BBQ Restaurant

Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que

Readers’ Choice: Cubby’s Convenience Stores BBQ, Tired Texan BBQ

Readers Recommend: Porky Butts BBQ, Papio Pit BBQ

Readers Refer: Hartland Bar-B-Que, Hog Wild Pit Bar-B-Q, Dickeys Barbecue Pit, Oklahoma Joe’s BBQ

Best Brewpub

Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Upstream Brewing Company

Readers’ Choice: Nebraska Brewing Company, The Benson Brewery

Readers Recommend: Infusion Brewing Company, Scriptown Brewing Company

Readers Refer: Pint Nine Brewing Company

Best Buffet

Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: HuHot Mongolian Grill

Readers’ Choice: Pizza Ranch, China Buffet, Ameristar Heritage Buffet

Readers Recommend: Valentino’s, Curri Fine Indian Cuisine

Readers Refer: Golden Corral Buffet and Grill

Best Burger

Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Dinker’s Bar and Grill

Readers’ Choice: Stella’s Bar and Grill, Block 16, Sinful Burger Sports Grill

Readers Recommend: Bronco’s, Louie M’s Burger Lust

Readers 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

Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: 11-Worth Cafe *

Readers’ Choice: Shirley’s Diner, The Sojourn Cafe, Lisa’s Radial Cafe

Readers Recommend: WheatFields Eatery & Bakery, Saddle Creek Breakfast Club, Jimbo’s Diner

Readers Refer: Le Peep Omaha, Old Fashioned Garden Cafe

Best Catering Company

Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Abraham Catering

Readers’ Choice: Catering Creations, Mangia Italiana, Attitude on Food

Readers Recommend: Amigos/Kings Classic

Readers Refer: Eddie’s Catering

Best Chinese Restaurant

Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Taste of China

Readers’ Choice: Ming’s, Hunan Palace, Three Happiness Express

Readers Recommend: Rice Bowl, Blue & Fly Asian Kitchen, New Gold Mountain Restaurant, Imperial Palace Express

Readers Refer: JC Mandarin, China Palace Restaurant, Golden Bowl Chinese Restaurant, China Bistro

Best Coffeeshop

Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Scooter’s Coffeehouse

Readers’ Choice: The Beanery

Readers Recommend: Zen Coffee Company, Archetype Coffee, Aromas Coffeehouse, Black Sheep Coffee House, Dunkin’ Donuts

Readers Refer: Karma Koffee, Muglife Coffee

Best Doughnut Shop

Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Pettit’s Pastry

Readers’ Choice: Dunkin’ Donuts, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Hurts Donut Co.

Readers Recommend: Sweet Magnolias Bake Shop, Uptown Bakery, Lamar’s Donuts and Coffee, Donut Professor

Readers Refer: Bob’s Donuts

Best Greek Restaurant

Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Greek Islands

Readers’ Choice: John’s Grecian Delight, Grecian Gyros

Readers Recommend: Feta’s Greek Restaurant, Jim & Jennie’s Greek Village

Best Ice Cream Shop

Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Ted & Wally’s Ultra-Premium Ice Cream

Readers’ Choice: Coneflower Creamery, Graley’s Creamery & Confections

Readers Recommend: Dairy Queen Grill & Chill

Readers Refer: Cold Stone Creamery, eCreamery, Dairy Twist

Best Indian Restaurant

Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: The Jaipur

Readers’ Choice: Curri Fine Indian Cuisine, Himalayas

Readers Recommend: The Taj Kabob & Curry*, Tanduri Fusion Omaha*

Best Italian Restaurant

Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Roma Italian Restaurant

Readers’ Choice: Lo Sole Mio Ristorante, Mangia Italiana, Olive Garden Italian Restaurant

Readers Recommend: Spezia, Pasta Amore, Lombardo’s Bistro and Bar, Avoli Osteria

Readers Refer: Luigi’s Italian Restaurant, Malara’s Italian Restaurant, Vincenzo’s Italian Ristorante, Nicola’s Italian Wine & Faire

Best Japanese Restaurant

Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Blue Sushi Sake Grill

Readers’ Choice: Kobe Steakhouse of Japan, Hiro 88, Genji Japanese Steakhouse, Yoshitomo

Readers Refer: Sakura Bana, Ponzu Sushi & Grill, Umami, Okinawa Sushi Bar & Grill

Best Local Food-Serving Restaurant

Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Block 16

Readers’ Choice: Quick Bites Soul Food

Readers 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

Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: La Mesa Mexican Restaurant

Readers’ Choice: Mula, Nettie’s Fine Mexican Food, Abelardo’s, Rivera’s Mexican Food

Readers Recommend: Hector’s Omaha

Readers Refer: Lina’s Mexican Restaurant, MAR Cafe*, OJ’s Cafe, Cilantro’s Mexican Bar & Grill

Best New Restaurant

Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: High Peak Asian Restaurant*

Readers’ Choice: The Hunger Block, Olive & Ash Pizza, IkaSan*

Readers Recommend: Rizin Japanese Ramen

Best Nouveau Cuisine Restaurant

Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Modern Love

Readers’ Choice: Salt 88, Boiler Room Restaurant, Le Bouillon

Readers Refer: Brushi European American Cuisine

Best Pizza Parlor

Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Mama’s Pizza, Copps Pizza

Readers’ Choice: Johnny Sortino’s Pizza Parlor, Pitch Pizzeria West Omaha

Readers Recommend: Brick Oven Pizzeria, La Casa Pizzaria, Godfather’s Pizza, Mangia Italiana

Readers Refer: Noli’s Pizzeria, Lansky’s Pizza, Pasta & Philly Steaks, Dante Pizzeria Napoletana, Marco’s Pizza

Best Retail Meat Counter

Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Just Good Meat

Readers’ Choice: Stoysich House of Sausage, Fareway Grocery, Hy-Vee

Readers Recommend: Wohlner’s Neighborhood Grocery & Deli, B.I.G. Meats

Readers Refer: Baker’s

Best Retail Produce Selection

Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Hy-Vee

Readers’ Choice: Fresh Thyme, Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe’s

Readers Recommend: Baker’s

Best Retail Wine Selection

Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Spirit World, Hy-Vee

Readers’ Choice: Whole Foods Market, La Buvette Wine & Grocery

Readers Recommend: Corkscrew Wine & Cheese

Readers Refer: WineStyles of Omaha

Best Steak House

Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Brother Sebastian’s Steakhouse

Readers’ Choice: The Drover, Round the Bend Steakhouse, Anthony’s Steakhouse

Readers Recommend: Charleston’s Restaurant, Johnny’s Cafe South Omaha, Pink Poodle Restaurant

Readers Refer: Kobe Steakhouse of Japan, LongHorn Steakhouse, Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse Village Pointe, Catfish Lake Restaurant and Lounge

Best Sweets Shop

Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Old Market Candy Shop

Readers’ Choice: The Cordial Cherry, Eileen’s Colossal Cookies, Hollywood Candy

Readers Recommend: Graley’s Creamery & Confections, Uptown Bakery

Readers Refer: Candy Wrappers, Cupcake Island, Chocolat Abeille

Best Tex-Mex

Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Maria’s Mexican Restaurant, Stokes Grill & Bar

Readers’ Choice: Roja, Julio’s Restaurant, El’ Bee’s, Lil Burro Mexican Restaurant

Best Thai Restaurant

Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Thai Orchids Restaurant

Readers’ Choice: Thai Pepper, Mai Thai Restaurant, Salween Thai Restaurant

Readers Recommend: Laos Thai, Bangkok Kitchen

Readers Refer: Pan Asian Terrace

Best Vegetarian Restaurant