Day 30: Omaha…and Johnnie’s Steakhouse
We see in Roadfood that one of the great steakhouses is in Omaha and we’re timed just right. However, we do accidently pass up the only one, in Grand Island, that declares ‘dry aged beef’ in the micro-directory. It might’ve tasted better. But Johnny’s is a multigeneration place located right on the old stockyards in town. What ambience! Dark wine leather everywhere. Swanky huge chandeliers in the 60’s vein. Tall ceilings and murals. Highback swivel chairs. Swank and beef. Oh baby! The kids were driving me nuts. The young grand-daughter owner gal was there and was friendly with us. When the owner is on the premises you are on track in my book. I forgive all. The food wasn’t the best, but it’s a great place. Some of the staff has been there awhile. Most that night had not. But! The bar side was heavenly as well. Bar-tender too young, though. Still! Yet! There was a plaque in their foyer celebrating their employees who had been there the longest, starting with 50 years or something. They still had the goods, thank God, but maybe on a different night. Stop turnover, stop turnover. Keep this ship together! I really liked seeing the huge jeroboams of cabernet displayed everywhere. That’s a proper wine bottle. We noticed that Nicholson’s last movie, “Schmit,” had several scenes filmed there and they bragged up the after-movie party held there. They do all their own butchering and age their meat on premises. It was great to see the cattle trucks pulling into the railyard next door, full of moo-ing, and see the empty ones being washed out. Smelled good around there.
