Johnny's Cafe

An Omaha classic, so we had to try it while we were in town. The evening began auspiciously but quickly petered out once the main courses arrived.We kind of loved the kitschy decor and ambience--it definitely feels like you are stepping into a different world. Cocktails came out in super short mini-glasses, so that wasn't great. But the cottage cheese herb spread that they start you out with definitely feeds into the old world mystique, and we really enjoyed it because who ever serves cottage cheese?! All our apps (except for the beef and barley soup) were incredible: a tangy house dressing on a basic salad, a very nice caesar, and an absolutely incredible French onion soup. We thought we were off to the steak house races!...And then the meat and sides arrived. We ordered our daughter the Omaha strip steak medium, but when we cut into it, it came out *barely* medium rare. They decided "to throw it back on the grill," but you could tell that it was on a super high heat that got it cooked quickly, but then the steak was tough. Huge disappointment. We went with the prime rib, natch, and while the slice was ginormous and correctly cooked at medium rare, the meat was cold, which was unappetizing. Our waitress, bless her heart, asked if we also wanted that "thrown back on the grill," but we said no after seeing our daughter's fiasco. Seriously cannot believe that they managed to screw up BOTH meats, which were supposed to be what they do best. Hardly! Sides here were meh: the scalloped potatoes were greasy, and the steamed veggies did not have the cauliflower we were promised. Fries were OK, and we do admire how much horseradish they will give you with the prime rib. We opted for two desserts to lift our spirits: the ice cream pie and the chocolate salted caramel decadence, both of which were just OK. The ice cream pie was supposed to have chocolate ice cream but didn't and you could tell that they used Hershey's syrup on top. The decadence felt like it just came out of a freezer and, while not bad, not necessarily great. We do want to say that we had excellent service. Our waitress was very attentive and the manager on duty was clearly invested in her guests' evening. While we wish that we would be able to land on four stars, the fact that the kitchen screwed up two pieces of steak really rankled us, so three it is. We wish this business well, however, and hope that others will have a better experience than we did, and we're still glad we visited.

Johnny's Café is renowned as one of the oldest and most cherished restaurants in the area, steeped in a rich history that adds to its charm. The captivating tales shared by the owners and staff paint a vivid picture of the establishment's journey over the years, making each visit feel like stepping into a living storybook filled with incredible experiences.The steakhouse boasts an impressive array of culinary options, expertly crafted to satisfy a wide range of palates. During our visit, we were eager to explore the menu, and we made it a priority to try all of the top sellers and chef-recommended dishes. Each bite was a delightful revelation, ensuring that our first experience at Johnny's Café would be one we cherish and remember for years to come.

We had a dinner for about 25 people following our wedding. Setting up an event is so easy. They are very easy to communicate with. Service was excellent and everyone loved the food! I had the ribeye which was perfectly cooked and those who had the salmon raved about it. The staff were accommodating and cooked some steaks to people's temperature preferences, even though for an event they say all steaks will be cooked the same. Our guests were very happy.

Food 3.5/5.0Service 3.5/5.0Value 3.0/5.0Decor 3.0/5.0Overall 3.5/5.0Decent steakhouse. They could use a renovation if the numbers ever worked. That said, I wouldn't mind coming back.

Came to Jonny's again for lunch . Had the catfish. Was delicious! And once again the blue cheese dressing on my salad was by the best in Omaha.

We had such a nice time here. Our service was great. Ken had us laughing each time he checked on us. The place is beautiful. It is so nice to still have this piece of Omaha history still up and running wonderfully!!!!! Our prime rib was cooked perfectly. Every single dish and drink we ordered was delicious. Can't wait to come here again!!!

Ambiance takes you back back back in time to an old era of Italian steak houses in Omaha. The setting is simply awesome with rafters shaped like T bones, Food is good not great. But worth it for the experience. A good value though!!!

Horrible! Hash browns were floating in grease. Chicken fried steak looked and tasted like it was pre made and then microwaved, salmon was over cooked and dry. Very different than several years ago. Won't ever go back.

Johnny's Cafe is an old fashioned South O steakhouse that hasn't made it out of the late 70s and early 80s.It's a perfectly fine restaurant that serves a-ok food from an unimaginative menu.It's also a perfect place to meet up with old friends, tell some stories and relive better times.

An iconic steak house- the interior is unique and has a great rustic vibe. Service is great with a knowledgeable staff. Food is great although they a limited on vegetarian options - they did serve a number of vegetarian sides.