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
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Modern Love
Readers’ Choice: Oasis Falafel, Kitchen Table
Readers Recommend: Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant
Readers Refer: Persis Indian Grill
*Business CLOSED since voting 🙁