Food & Drink in Omaha

The first time Dan Pool bit into the freshly baked bread of a Gandolfo's New York Delicatessen sandwich, he loved it. In fact, he loved it so much that he bought the small New York City eatery and immediately began expanding it into a string of shops across the country. Today, these locations stay true to Gandolfo's original spirit with a menu of Big Apple classics, including Reuben sandwiches, Nathan's Famous all-beef hot dogs, and the dense, chewy bagels New Yorkers traditionally lob at passing cabs. The staff also stacks chicken-breast sandwiches on hero rolls and assembles nine different types of roast-beef sandwiches.

The kitchen artisans at Today Café boast a menu of culinary favorites while adding splashes of originality and international influence to their casual vittles. Initiate conversation about current events, sports, or quantum-physics trivia over a large basket of zesty falafel balls, sidekicked by a posse of naan bread and vibrant veggies ($6.95). Longings for meaty sustenance can be immediately quashed with hand-pressed burger selections, such as a juicy patty melt with grilled onions nestled between crisp slices of toast ($8.95). Tempting to both old men and the sea, the café’s fish tacos highlight beer-battered tilapia in grilled corn tortillas, accented by a pile of pico de gallo, cabbage, and white sauce ($8.95). Sate breakfasty cravings by venturing in on Sundays for a brunch selection of fruit, pancakes, cooked-to-order eggs, and other hybrid meal delights ($11.95).

Legacy Gyros' kings of the kitchen sling a sizzling selection of hearty Hellenic comestibles. Diners can ease into appetite appeasement with flame-nuzzled saganaki and pita chips ($6.99) or a plate of spanakopita with creamy tzatziki sauce ($3.49). Graze on a Greek salad, a bustling agora of lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, olives, and feta cheese, or ostracize the lettuce while retaining the rest with the Athenian version (both $4.99/small, $6.49/large). The signature gyro piles succulent lamb ($5.99) or chicken ($6.99) atop a choice of rice, pita, or lavash flatbread wrap, and the Gyros Supreme magnifies munchability with a slew of grilled onions, mushrooms, cheese, and peppers ($6.99/lamb, $7.99/chicken). Achieve entree eudemonia with a chef’s specialty such as moussaka, a layered blend of eggplant, potatoes, and ground beef, or dolmades, a garden of grape leaves stuffed with ground beef, rice, and herbs ($8.99 each). Even wholly sated stomachs should leave room for honey-infused baklava, the traditional Greek dessert that sealed victory for the Spartans at the legendary Bake Sale of Thermopylae ($2.49).

The doors to Loft 610 swung open for the first time this past May, inviting curious guests to explore an interior of dimly lit urban panache and a menu of inventive American favorites. The focused lunch list is elegant yet unpretentious, like a queen on a unicycle. Commence to feed with refreshing starters such as the watermelon-and-feta salad with mint and lemon ($8). The brie-and-grape baguette sandwich with rosemary mayo offers PB&J purists a baby step to sophistication ($9), while finely crafted entrees such as penne with salmon, fresh peas, white wine cream sauce, and fresh parsley appease tongues that naturally grip in the shape of a cylinder ($13). The dinner marquee swaps hickory barbecue bites ($10–$15) for appetizers such as grilled squid with arugula, chorizo, and slow-baked cherry tomatoes ($8) and entrees fit for full-fledged foodies such as the pistachio-crusted rack of lamb, served with barley risotto, spinach, tomatoes, pecorino, and salsa verde ($36).

This locally owned, Hollywood-themed eatery boasts an all-star cast of belly fillers named after classic films such as The Godfather, Rocky, and Steven Spielberg's early all-kitten rendition of Un Chien Andalou. Star City is known for its steamed hoagies, ranging from the Little Miss Sunshine's heartwarming pairing of ham and swiss ($5.50 for a whole) to the deluxe Top Gun's action-packed layers of ham, turkey, bacon, provolone, and power balladry ($6.50 for a whole). If your stomach grumbles with Fellini-esque machismo, play the director and hand-pick the bread, meat, cheese, and veggie players in your epicurean ensemble ($5.50–$6.50 for a whole customized hoagie). Round out your repast by adding a homemade side of potato salad, coleslaw, or soup ($1.95 each) to your personal craft-services platter.

Burger Guy dishes up a mouthwatering menu of tasty grill fare from within the historic Louis Bar and Grill. Diners can enjoy all-beef bashes with one of Burger Guy’s eponymous patties, such as the half-pound, no-frills american classic cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, and pickle ($6.95) or 1-pound Louis burger ($7.95), which waltzes from the kitchen smothered in american and swiss cheeses with a dollop of mayo. Or, patrons can opt for the Home Wrecker, a 14-inch, all-beef hot dog thoroughly doused in a choice of sauerkraut, chili, onion, mustard, and relish ($6.95), whose jumbo size ensures it can be used as a sledgehammer for home-remodeling projects. Patrons can also get appetites off to running starts with orders of jalapeño poppers ($5.50) or 12 hot wings ($6.99), sourced from farm-raised hots and served with a choice of two sauces.