Food & Drink in Chalco

LaMar's Donuts' pastry crafters tantalize taste buds with more than 75 varieties of gourmet donuts that pair well with warm and cold beverages. Regular hole-in donuts, such as Ray's original glazed and red-velvet cake (flavors vary by location), make for great coffee companions ($0.99 for one; $9.19/dozen), and specialty donuts—such as raspberry-filled bismarks or glazed knots—can double as a plush, edible pillow inside a dollhouse bedroom ($1.89 for one; $19.99/dozen). Warm, plump muffins offer an alternative to spherical comestibles ($2.09 each), pairing nicely with a refreshing bottle of milk ($1.79). Guests can also wash down their morning-time treats with a freshly roasted coffee ($1.79–$2.19) or refreshing fruit smoothie ($3.49+).

The chefs at HuHot Mongolian Grill stand around a giant, round grill, preparing sizzling heaps of stir-fry. Unlike at other restaurants, every serving is different because, instead of the kitchen staff, the customer preps each bowl. The bowls may be brimming with chopped vegetables, seafood, and noodles, or they may be composed entirely of water chestnuts. The spice level of each dish varies based on the eater's preferences; MSG-free sauces range from barbecue to sweet teriyaki to five-alarm Kung Pao Yow! Since HuHot Mongolian Grill is an all-you-can-eat affair, diners get the chance to mix and match different ingredients with each trip to the grill.

The owners of Brewsky’s Food & Spirits know that the best way to get friends and family together is to create a vibrant space filled with live music, all the best sporting events on TV, frosty brews, and a menu of comfort foods. While taking pride in being the spot to gather for Huskers games, as well as all other major sporting events, the owners also take immense satisfaction in serving a selection of juicy steaks, flame-broiled burgers, and wings that their chef concocted exclusively for the restaurant. The team also entertains patrons with trivia nights and shows such as dueling pianos or quarreling xylophones at the Haymarket location.

YoYo Berri puts the power in its customers’ hands with a wall of self-serve, soft-serve frozen yogurts and bar loaded with both hot and cold toppings. 12 yogurt flavors are featured each day, pulled from a rotating menu of more than 40 nonfat and low-fat options including Greek-style with honey, thin mint cookies, and cake batter. Each variety is made fresh without powdered mixes and contains live, active cultures that help benefit the immune system and teach it about modern art. But, while yogurt is the main event, fans of un-frozen treats need not despair: diners can also sample a frothy latte cappuccino, or caramel macchiato. The shop’s sherbet-colored pink and green restaurant inspires patrons to linger with amenities such as free WIFI and big-screen TV’s showing HD sports and cartoons.

Follow the soothing scents into Crane Coffee, sip on an array of invigorating blends, and nosh on a selection of fresh-baked pastries. Slinging palatable coffee and treats since 1991, Crane Coffee has helped patrons jump-start mornings with caffeinated concoctions like a grande (medium) brewed java ($1.70), latte ($3.20), cappuccino ($3.20), hot tea ($3.25), or caramel dream with caramel sauce, vanilla syrup, steamed milk, and foam ($3.80). Instead of relying on pocketfuls of hoarded acorns, pair sips with biscotti, filled croissants, scones, bagels, and more.

When guests walk into Sgt. Peffer’s, they're greeted by a quirky combination: checkered tablecloths in the colors of the Italian flag and Beatles-themed wall murals. But the most telling part of the ambiance can't be seen: it's the aroma of the freshly baked pizzas that helped earn the restaurant The Destination Guide's 2012 award for Omaha's Best Pizza. Made with original or whole-wheat dough, the carefully constructed crusts host lightly seasoned tomato sauce, piles of fresh mozzarella, and a sprinkling of romano. Specialties include a BLT pizza with bacon and alfredo sauce and a marinara pizza with shrimp, clams, and tuna. The chefs don't do substitutions on their specialty pies ("Let it be," the menu advises), but they'll gladly let diners create their own combinations from nearly 40 different toppings, including zucchini, sauerkraut, eggplant, and prosciutto.

Guests can continue flexing their creative powers on the pasta menu, which lets them pair their chosen noodle with one of 13 types of sauce. Baked-pasta dishes, including lasagna layered with grilled chicken and artichokes, round out the menu alongside a slew of sandwiches. Many of the restaurant's offerings can be made gluten-free, and diners can also bring in their own gluten-free pizza crusts, edible napkins, or sandwich buns.

Bear Creek Coffee ensures freshness in its brews by adhering to a small-batch micro-roasting process that captures flavor and quality better than the bulk roasting processes common at many coffee shops. Savor the caffeine craftsmanship with a to-go cup of coffee ($1.25–$1.75), or bring your own cup ($1–$1.50) and intake the energy-inducing liquid beans. Bear Creek Coffee's specialty espresso drinks ($3.25–$4.25) tantalizingly trigger taste receptors, with concoctions such as the decadent Seventh Heaven latte, made with white chocolate, caramel, and macadamia nut, or the Nutty Monkey, richly blending chocolate, banana, and macadamia nut into a brew sure to jolt the Jane Goodall dwelling within. Emulsified elixirs such as fruit and superfruit smoothies ($3.25–$4.50) are delicious treats.