The Quest for the Holy Grain - Best Beer Bars
Nebraska

 

 

Old Chicago
1111 Harney St.
Omaha, NE 68102
(402) 341-1616

Old Chicago is a chain. But it was Omaha and I was afraid I would find no good beer, so I went.
The wait staff is corporate, quietly efficient, reasonably helpful and no fun at all. But you are here for the beer. Look you can find and get a good selection of bottles at Old Chicago. That is no small thing especially when you are in a new city.
The real bonus was the selection of hard to get Nebraska- made beers from Empyrean and Lucky Bucket. By and large they were unimpressive. There were a good 20 taps and after several misfires, I settled on Paulaner Hefeweizen and seafood for dinner, because, well, what is Nebraska known for if not seafood?
Several of the patrons wore slit sleeve tops. That seems like a magic trick that is so obvious that no one is amused or amazed. But son-of-a-gun it worked on me and for me.
More importantly, why didn't I walk 30 feet further and turn right to find a generous array of beer joints with a real local flavor.
It is a good place to get a nice beer, but it may as well have been Old Chicago as Omaha.

Note: Old Chicago has two locations in Omaha; but it looks as if there is no longer one on Harney Street.