Old Chicago

Bar, Eatery

425 N 78th St
Omaha, Nebraska, 68114-3638
United States

(402) 384-8355 | map
oldchicago.com

Per Omaha City Ordinance, as of October 1st 2006, this establishment is non-smoking throughout.
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.4
Reviews:
5
Ratings:
7
pDev:
7.35%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews.
Ratings by elmocoso:
Photo of elmocoso
Reviewed by elmocoso from Nebraska

3.53/5  rDev +3.8%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3
This is a decent pizza place with a more than decent selection of beer (for the area). They claim to have 101 beers available, though i didn't count them. About 20 of them were on tap, ranging from Macro to some semi-local(midwestern) and at least one very local (nebraska) beer.

The service was decent, though the place was dead. The food was good, though not great and the atmosphere was average pizza joint.

everybody at the table was happy with their beer. I ordered a SNPA and was not quite positive that is what i got. I wasn't in the complaining mood and the beer was pretty good so i didn't say anything.

anyhow, for the area, there is quite a selection here. Prices range from 3.00 -4.50 a pint and they have a red chimay if the urge hits you.
Jul 06, 2004
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.45 by Ebmahoney from Nebraska

Mar 28, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by bulldogg915 from Wyoming

Nov 09, 2014
Photo of CuriousMonk
Reviewed by CuriousMonk from District of Columbia

3.83/5  rDev +12.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
I enjoy going to this location whenever I head home to Omaha. Although this is not the same place in Tucson, Arizona where I spent the majority of my college days at this watering hole. This is your All-American bar/grill that is spacious, filled with sports memoriabla, great food (especially the wings, pizza, calzones, and burgers) full of courteous and knowledgable staff/bartenders. The Old Chicago franchise is known for its 110+ beers and its legendary "World Beer Tour" which took me about 9 months to complete. As a reward, my name and personal quote was engraved on a plaque on their "Hall of Foam" (in Tucson). An Old Chicago usually has over 20+ brews on tap and hundreds of bottles from all over the world - mostly mainstream and easily accessible however. Oftentimes, the Old Chicago establishment would serve up local beers from its state or region. Thumbs up for this place!
Feb 22, 2011
Photo of woodychandler
Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania

3.3/5  rDev -2.9%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3
I get a kick out of Bditty187’s disclaimer that neither of his visits to this location was of his choosing. Fair enough, I’ll cop to being the impetus for one of them. We were in the area, it was raining, and of the choices that I was presented with, I liked the idea of visiting another new place. Plus, as noted in the Lincoln, NE section, I was a card-carrying club member and saw it as an opportunity to rack up some points.

You cannot miss this corner location. The neon sign practically screams at you to stop in and it was especially bright in the darkness of the squalling rain that seemed to be dogging our heels. Once we got into the parking lot, the entryway was at an angle with the bar to the immediate left, once inside. The bar was a “U”-shape, shorter at the ends than in the middle and the taps ran the length of the back bar, flanked by two coolers for bottles. To the right of the entryway was a sea of restaurant tables, chairs, and booths, all of which were crowed. The kitchen was off to the extreme right, past the restaurant area, followed by the washrooms under a neon sign marked, “Restrooms.”

The selection was not great, and as always, I recommend going for the local and regional beers that might not otherwise be available to you. I have to give major props to Fugazme and Hoffman for joining us, since my time in Omaha was growing short. As we sat there, shooting the breeze, it felt like old home week and really made me not want to leave Omaha. If the selection was not great, the camaraderie was unbeatable. Thanks, fellas.

One last cryptic note: a quote – “It’ll sell in Nebraska.” I’m not sure what that referred to, but it caught my attention and was considered worthy of inclusion in my notes.
Nov 08, 2006
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Reviewed by bditty187 from Nebraska

3.2/5  rDev -5.9%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 3 | food: 3.5
Update: Within the last six months I’ve visited this OC twice. It wasn’t my choice either time. The beer selection stinks here. The only beer on-tap that interested me was Odell 90-Shilling. Wow… Big-Freaking-Deal! Like all of the OC’s in Omaha this one has gone downhill. Don’t expect to see any Stouts, Porters, IPAs or anything beer geeky. The number of seasonals has been cut back too. What a damn shame. The bottle selection is still treading water but barely, there are some good beers in the mix but not enough for me to want to go to Old Chicago.

The service is still very average here.

I have no plans on returning but crazier things have happened.


Old Review (from 11-09-2003):

Located in a strip mall, near Cost Plus World Market and diagonally across the street from Wild Oats (both are in beerfly). This Old Chicago location is the benchmark of average. I’ve visited this palace about a half dozen times over the years and about half the time the service is lousy. Same beers as the other locations served in the same frosted/chilled mugs… remember to ask for a dry glass. I’ve had problems getting a glass for bottled beer before and I’ve been served the wrong beer before. The décor is the same as the other locations, more restaurant that bar, outdoor seating. The crowd always seems to be there for the food and not beer. I don’t go to any Old Chicago all that often but if you are in the area and you need a beer, stop in.
Nov 29, 2005
Photo of hoffman
Reviewed by hoffman from Nebraska

2.98/5  rDev -12.4%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 1.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
This old chicago has the least going for it of any in Omaha. Poor service has been the norm for me at this one whether at the bar or seated in a booth. The beers seem to be fresh but it is often difficult to get served. The fact that the place is in a typical strip mall limits the amount of things that they can do here to make the experience more appealing. Overall not bad for omaha but definately the weakest in town.

I like the place, frankly because my wife likes to go there as well, I can watch a game and get a good calzone or pizza and I am not limited to SA, AB and Miller products as a strict rule. I enjoy taking part in their beer tour because it gives me a chance to chronical what beer I have tried. Typically the best brews are in a bottle not on tap and often the newest or seasonal picks are not on the beer menu. If you ask the server they will find out what is new and serve you that. If you go at noon and eat at the bar, the bartenders typically receive the orders or do the ordering and know what is new and fresh in the cooler.
Oct 11, 2005
Old Chicago in Omaha, NE
Place rating: 3.4 out of 5 with 7 ratings