Heartland Cafe, Elkhorn

The history of Heartland Café’s building reads like a whirlwind tour through the American psyche. Built in 1919, it's alternately housed a dental office, beauty salon, dance hall, soda fountain, hardware store, and pharmacy. You half expect to find a young George Bailey working behind the counter. Nearly 100 years after the final brick was laid, Heartland Café adds modern flair with a smattering of red vinyl and wooden chairs that flank square and round tables. Books tuck into shelving units, and vintage photographs hang on exposed brick walls to give the place a splash of nostalgia. It is an eclectic aesthetic that parallels its eclectic menu—diners can expect to find elk patties, pigs in a blanket, and turkey sandwiches bedecked with cranberry cream cheese sharing page space. And for cafe purists, classic omelets and chicken wraps also star on the menu. During the summer months, Heartland Café spills into the outdoors with a Summer Concert Series playing the likes of Lionel Young and Personics.