The only “nice” restaurant my parents would dare to actually take me and my kid brother and sister to was Italian Gardens in Little Italy. When pressed to list my favorite Omaha restaurant experiences, my mind still drifts back to the fried chicken at Dixie Kitchen, Rose Lodge and Cliff’s.” But silly kid that I was, I kept begging to go back. I loved their food, even though every time I ate there I soon got a terrible upset stomach. We always ordered out, and I can STILL taste that unique charred flavor of the burgers, fries and even in the apple pie. We also spent our share of time at Sortino’s Pizza and Jack Holmes’ Ground Cow on Pacific. Tiner’s Drive-In was also a favorite, near 44th and Dodge, as was Cliff’s Fried Chicken off 114th and Dodge….waaay out in the country in those days. When pressed to list my favorite Omaha restaurant experiences, my mind still drifts back to the fried chicken at Dixie Kitchen, Rose Lodge and Cliff’s. When Mom was in a good mood she would get us kids one extra sack of fries “for the trip home”. We would order take out (no such thing as a drive-thru lane back then) and I would sit in the back of the car, holding the bag of food, and sneaking fries along the way. Henry’s sold hamburgers for 19 cents, and then there was that upstart…the place with those golden arches out on Dodge, that had those great French fries. C’s, when it was more drive-in than maze of holiday glitter.

Some of my fondest childhood memories involve – those who know me won’t be shocked – eating! We were regulars at King’s Food Host on 72nd and Cass (home of the cheese and tuna Frenchees), and the old, old Mr. And just as you probably would not recognize me from my childhood photos, much has changed with the city’s culinary scene in those many years. Both of us have grown up…and, um…out, in the past 50 years. And as it turns out, this city and I have a lot in common. I have lived in Omaha for half a century.

Golden star open kitchen