The Rusty Nail is a nice little hometown bar that feels like it's great for the "regulars" who…read morefrequent there, and also for everyone else for an odd game or two that you want to catch in a nice sports bar style setting.
It's a little old fashioned in the ambiance and layout, with a split level design that has the bar and a few booths in the lower section and a large open area with free standing tables/chairs in the upper area.
It has a lot of wood features, a concrete style floor, and LOTS of TVs (even some that are in the booth with you), which makes it a great place for watching a big game.
It can get pretty crowded in there on a weekend or big game day, so definitely plan for that/get there early.
They also do karaoke and music bingo on certain nights of the week too, so if you like those types of activities, check out their calendar for upcoming events.
The service and food are excellent from what we've experienced. They are always checking on if you need another drink/refill or any of your plates cleared away.
The beer and drinks are served extra cold and crisp, so they're definitely doing something right behind the bar.
In terms of food, it's definitely bar fare, but it hits the spot if you've been there for a while watching a game or out with friends drinking. We've had a lot of different things:
-Spicy Fried Cheese Bites: I am a cheese lover and these were great, but they were a little TOO spicy for this wimpy girl. I still liked them, especially with the marinara sauce provided, but just be aware and believe them when they say "spicy" fried cheese.
-Fried Green Beans: I LOVE fried green beans, and if you do too you know that they're not a super easy thing to find at Omaha restaurants anymore. So if you are a fan, definitely get these. They are the standard fried green beans, served with ranch, but they hit the spot for this fried green bean lover.
-Garlic Cheese Bread: This is basically a smaller version of the cheese pizza that you can order, but with a little side of marinara sauce and cut into strips for you to share. Classic item that you will know if you like or not, based on your preferences.
-Boneless Wings: I am an adult toddler who prefers boneless wings over bone in wings, and they have a teriyaki sauce option (which is my favorite and not too many places have it on their main menu). They never come super incredibly well dressed in the sauce, but I appreciate that they offer both boneless wings and teriyaki sauce.
-Rusty Mac and Cheese: This is a pretty big bowl of Mac and Cheese so it can be an entire meal if you're not too hungry for protein. The cheese sauce is white cheddar and gouda, which work well together, and it comes with diced bacon on top. You can add a sauce as a topper for free, but any additional protein, like chicken, pulled pork, etc - will run you $2-$3. So it's a nice big bowl of Mac and Cheese with another sauce if you want to add it and it can be a little more hearty if you add another protein.
-Pizza: They have pretty good pizzas in a lot of the standard flavors - supreme, pepperoni, beef. A good option if you're a pizza lover and want a good bar pizza.
-Reuben: Reubens are a big thing here in Omaha and there are some that people love and others hate. This one was pretty in between, with a not too offensive sauerkraut flavor, well cooked corned beef, and a melty topping of 1000 Island and Swiss Cheese all on rye toast slices. You can get Reubens a lot of places in Omaha, but this one is most similar to an age old classic style Reuben.
For Desserts, we've tried their dessert pizzas, or Dessert-Zas. They are similar to a streusel dessert in a pizza shape, and come in either a cherry topping or apple topping. We've tried both toppings actually and both are pretty good. You definitely have to be a cinnamon and streusel fan, and I definitely recommend adding one of the fruit toppings!
Next time you're thinking about going out to catch the big game or just for a fun night of drinking/karaoke, I think you should give Rusty Nail a try and see if you enjoy the ambiance and food - it may become a new option for you the next-next time you're looking for a fun bar.