Whether you are with your family, your friends or your significant other, we all deal with the stress and anxiety of deciding where to eat. You don’t want to pick something your guests don’t like but you have only been to Panera, Chipotle and Raising Canes.
Or if you are on your own and you need a quick bite or just a place to study and munch on some stress food, where can you go? Which places have a mobile app? What places can you order your food ahead and then pick up. Let’s face it, anywhere that doesn’t require social interaction is a vital component of my college life.
Lincoln is just a smaller city in Nebraska, what do they really have to offer for the various audiences?
But Lincoln is trendier than you think.
Let’s cut down the time of figuring out to go-to places in Lincoln. For me, it took at least a couple months in order to find places that worked for me. It’s my goal to share with you the best places for every situation: first dates, studying, interviews, a girls night out or just a family dinner.
Quick Grabs and Studying
Perfect for
- On the go students
- Friend Date
- Study breaks
Panera
Order ahead? Yes
Study worthy? Yes
- Lots of space to sit by the windows
- Lots of temptations to munch on a warm cookie or any type of carb while stress cramming
- Available corners that are perfect for silence
- If you want to eat lunch and study, this is the place for you
Location(s): P Street
Starbucks
Order ahead? Yes
Study worthy? Yes
- Lots of dark wooden tables perfect for laying out all of those notes
- Natural light from lots of windows
- Quiet but not silent, perfect for a casual study sesh or meet up with an old friend
Location(s): P Street, and 33rd and O
Juice Stop
Order ahead? No
Study worthy? No
- Get in and get out strategy
- You feel healthy
Location(s): Q Street
Cookie Company
Order ahead? No
Study Worthy? No
- Get in get out strategy
- You don’t feel super healthy but your sweet tooth is happy and that is all that matters
Location(s): P Street (a couple doors down from Starbucks)
The Mill
Order ahead? No
Study Worthy? Yes
- Quiet but not silent, perfect for a casual study sesh or meet up with an old friend
- Latest and greatest locations: Innovation Campus and Capitol Parkway
Location(s): Haymarket area, Innovation Campus, and 21st and Capitol Parkway
Destinations Coffee House
Order ahead? No
Study Worthy? Yes
- Natural light from lots of windows
- Christian influence
- Occasionally plays Christian music
Location(s): 14th Street and New Hampshire
Hub Cafe
Order ahead? No
Study Worthy? Eh, yes
- Quiet but not silent, perfect for a casual study sesh or meet up with an old friend
- Breakfast, Brunch and Lunch
Location(s): N 21st Street
If You Want to “Wine and Dine” Someone Place
Perfect for
- When your parents come to town
- You and your besties treating yourself
Blue Sushi
Specialty Meal: Dinner
Whitney's Favorite: I am not much of a "raw anything" gal but anything fried there I am sure is goo
Location(s): Haymarket area
Lazlo’s Brewery and Grill
Specialty Meal: Lunch or Dinner
- Healthy options as well as overwhelmingly good unhealthy food
Whitney's Favorite: The classic cheeseburger (medium well/dead of course) with french fries OR the Chicken Caesar Salad if I need to feel healthy
Location(s): Haymarket area
The Green Gateau
Specialty Meal: Breakfast or Brunch
- A charming French vibe with THE best brunch
Whitney's Favorite: Waffles among waffles among waffles
Location(s): South 10th Street
Vincenzo’s
Specialty Meal: Dinner
- Italian food that is to DIE for
- Very elegant and classy interior
Whitney's Favorite: The Chicken Alfredo will get ya
Location(s): Haymarket area
The Aesthetically Pleasing Places
The Green Gateau
What they got? A charming French vibe with THE best brunch
Location(s): South 10th Street
Goldenrod Pastries
What they got? Cute wall art that is perfect for a pic and whimsy pastries to fill your sweet tooth
Location(s): 48th Street
High Vibe Café
What they got? Acai bowls that you would be dumb not to take a picture of and they make you feel healthy even though you just had 8 Dove chocolates.
Location(s): Haymarket area
The Mill
What they got? A warm and cozy interior with lots of windows perfect for a study date including yummy coffee with your bf/gf or your textbooks.
Location(s): Haymarket area, Innovation Campus, and 21st and Capitol Parkway
The Easy Dines
Perfect for
- When you don’t want to cook food or do dishes
- When you don’t want to spend a fortune
- When you just need a get away
- A casual meal with an acquaintance/friend
- When your mom comes shopping
Blaze Pizza
Specialty Meal: Lunch or Dinner
- Make your own pizzas
- Super quick
Location(s): P Street
Honest Abe’s
Specialty Meal: Lunch or Dinner
- If you want just a good ole burger, this is the place
- This is the place where you throw your diet out of the window
- Order a milkshake with your burger and fries
Location(s): North 70th Street
Bison Witches
Specialty Meal: Lunch or Dinner
- Great cold and toasted sandwiches
- Get the nachos as a side and you won’t forget it
- Super casual and cheap
Location(s): P Street
Panera
Specialty Meal: Breakfast, Brunch Lunch, and Dinner
- Healthy options as well as overwhelmingly good unhealthy food
Location(s): 12th and P Street
Mellow Mushroom
Specialty Meal: Lunch or Dinner
- Rich pizzas and funky foods
Location(s): Haymarket area
Fuzzy’s
Specialty Meal: Lunch or Dinner
- Chips and Queso, Quesadillas, Chicken Nachos and more will satisfy any craving
- Cheap and fast
Location(s): O Street
Pickleman’s
Specialty Meal: Lunch or Dinner
- Toasted sandwiches and soup hit the spot any time of the day
- Ability to eat there or grab it and go
Location(s): O Street (right next to Fuzzy’s)
Tips and Tricks:
- Go to picnicker.co and get anything in Lincoln (that is downtown) delivered to you! Whether you are at the library or you are at home not wanting to go somewhere or cook, get your favorites from the best places in Lincoln to eat. Get your Panera, Pickleman’s, Fuzzy’s, Juice Stop, Cookie Company, or even Noodles and Company delivered straight to you. This way you can stay in the warm or in your pajamas while they bring your cravings to you.
- Go to jimmyjohns.com to order your favorite sandwich and get it freaky fastly delivered to wherever you are. You can also get those darn Salt and Vinegar Chips that are more than addicting.
As you probably know, there are 100 more restaurants, coffee shops and cafes in Lincoln. Finding a new landing spot is always fun and quite adventurous, if you ask me.
Next time when you are stressing over where to eat, suggest trying a new place. This way you aren’t technically picking something they don’t like. Plus, if it is bad, you can form a new memory together.
I am the first one to admit to not branching out of my food comfort zone. Give me a hamburger and fries and I will be fine. But while you are in the city, or currently in college, satisfy and shock those taste buds with something new.
This is a small step to officially conquering Lincoln. @ you small town folks, it’s not that scary. Just act like you know what you are doing and no one will question you ;)
I hope this helps your anxiety next time.
Let’s stop the victims of sweating in line. It's embarrassing.
