Lot 2 Restaurant and Wine Bar, Omaha

"Lot 2 has a lot going for it," says the Chicago Tribune. The paper cites the atmosphere—trendy yet warm—but saves most of its praise for Joel Mahr, the remarkable chef who always "...guides his menu to the unexpected."

Mahr works within the framework of French and American cuisine, but he taps nearby farmers to give Lot 2's food a bit of local flavor and a fresh, seasonal pop. The menu features hearty staples like steak and double-cut pork chops, both of which Mahr balances out with kale salads and bourbon brown-sugar apples. The wine list, curated by two certified sommeliers, showcases French, Italian, and Austrian wines that make it tough to choose between a glass and a signature cocktail. As far as those go, the Camino de Santiago is a standout with its vanilla-infused sour mash, yellow chartreuse, and Crème de Mûr.