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Review: At west Omaha’s W.D. Cravings, homemade pasta is king
I’ve had W.D. Cravings on my radar for some time now, and I’ve kept an eye on the small pasta shop in Northwest Omaha where co-owners Piero Cotrina and Wendy Delgado make homemade pasta, Italian specialties, breakfast sandwiches and coffee. Somehow I’d only made it out once, during the pandemic, when the drive-thru was the…
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Review: Lyle’s Pizzeria, new in Midtown, stands out with sourdough crust and comfortable atmosphere
Lyle’s is one of those neighborhood spots that dot the city of Omaha: No matter how long it’s been open, it feels like it’s always been there. The locally owned New York-style joint, which opened off 52nd and Leavenworth streets in April, has all the trappings of a comfortable, worn-in pizza joint, including a long…
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Review: At Mercer & Sons, the best ingredients push simple toward special
I’ll be honest here: I knew before I ever set foot inside Mercer & Sons Delicatessen, the new deli, takeout spot and high-end grocery store from the owners of La Buvette, in the Old Market, that I was going to like it. I did not realize just how much I was actually going to love…
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Review: Primo’s version of a Mexican diner breakfast affordably hits the spot
I give a lot of recommendations for restaurants, and people often ask me where they should eat. But this week, I’m writing about a recommendation someone gave me — well, kind of. When I saw my friend Mike’l Severe tweeting photos of what looked like an amazing Mexican breakfast recently, I instantly added Primo’s Modern…
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Review: At the Mill on Leavenworth, 90s coffee nostalgia meets a modern, cozy hangout
I remember in 1996, when I first discovered the downtown Lincoln Mill Coffee shop, it felt like it belonged to me. I drank countless cold granitas — a frozen coffee slushy, basically — on its Haymarket patio on warm spring days while studying journalism at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Then, I was still a coffee…
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Review: At Omaha Bagel Co., from-scratch takes on new meaning
Around 9 a.m. on a recent weekday morning, I met a friend in the parking lot of the Dundee Theater on a secret mission: collecting a dozen bagels from the Omaha Bagel Co. The cottage bagel bakery, which has been around for almost a year, only accepts orders via text message until farmers market season…
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Review: At Isla del Mar, fun seafood comes with pops of bright flavor
There is no shortage of fun at Isla del Mar. Whimsical, colorful under-the-sea themed murals decorate the walls. The music is loud and the place always seems packed. And the food is a medley of popping pinks, reds and greens, bright with citrus, herbs, sauces and spice. During two recent visits to the South Omaha…
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Review: At Heavy Brewing, the beer and pizza names are quirky, but the food and drink are both solid
The pizza at Gretna’s Heavy Brewing, which opened last November, could be throwaway, or boring, or not that tasty. But here’s the good news, beer lovers: it’s none of those things. The super casual brewery, located in an industrial area that’s certainly off the beaten path, has already found its fan base, if the crowds…
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Review: At Kros Strain, it’s all about figuring out what’s next
When you’re already the maker of one of the most well-liked beers in the state of Nebraska, you start asking the big questions: What’s next? What else can we do? How do we stay relevant? After a recent visit to Kros Strain’s west Omaha tap room, it sure seems like that’s what the team of…
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Review: At Omaha’s Ota, find the best sushi experience between Chicago and Los Angeles
Today is all about bold pronouncements. I am now prepared to make several, starting here: two-time James Beard semifinalist David Utterback, who has just opened a new, upgraded omakase experience in Benson called Ota, is making the best sushi in the Midwest. Period. I’ve been writing about Utterback’s restaurant and his omakase since 2018, when…