I stopped by here for a quick beer & bite before going to a show a the Lied Center. Â Overall it was just ok.
Drinks - I just ordered a bud light and it was exactly what I expected. Â The boy ordered a lager that he didn't enjoy because it had a musty flavor to it. Â I'm sure they just need to clean their lines out better.
Food - I got the chicken nachos which were tasty, but cold. Â I would have sent them back to be reheated, but we were in a rush and well, it was chips with cheese on them. Â I can deal. Â He ordered a chicken sandwich, but he ended up eating more of my nachos than the sandwich.
Service - We sat at the bar hoping to get faster service, but were disappointed. Â Later the server told us that it is usually pretty slow on Monday nights, but with the Daniel Tosh show downtown, they were getting a rush. Â Totally understandable.
I'll come back again and try it out when I'm not in such a hurry.
I think I prefer the dive bar version, even though it was really gross. The re-modeled place is just odd to be in if you knew of the old place. Every booth has it's own tv, which is cool. There is lots of seating and the food is good. The bar is fully stocked and features a lot of beers on tap.
The service is questionable at times. I'm not sure if it's a management thing or what. The employees seem grumpy and unenthusiastic. I have found that the food takes a long time to come out. I don't understand why this is.
Great bar that has been royalty remodeled. Â This used to be a dive bar but now it is very upscale with tv's at every booth and granite countertops in the bar area. Â They still have great wings and the peanut butter burger is great. Â The patties are frozen so I had to take a star away for that.
They have 48 beers on tap so it is a great spot to watch football while eating wings and having a beer on tap.
The wings are pretty much worth the hype. However their "mild" gets pretty hot if you eat a lot of them. That or they accidentally gave me got by accident. The ripper dogs are also great! Definitely a place to check out although I highly discourage going here on a Husker football gameday. You'll wait forever to be served and chances are they may run out of wings (not a cheap shot at the Watering Hole but that's just how popular they are).
Review Source:Great place to start or end the night DT. The cheaper $2 local empyrean ales keep me coming back. Those are probably the only things I actually get there. I've only eaten lunch there once and the food was decent. The atmosphere isn't bad either. I've been there when it was the classic old dive bar and that was okay but the leak roof and trying to get around the tables was a hassle. SO the new place definitely is an improvement in my eyes.
Review Source:Grilled wings here are absolutely fantastic. Good sized, well seasoned and straight delicious. There are a lot of nice side options as well (they have had fried corn and such in the past). Note- if you do eat here, you MUST get the wings grilled...no other option.
If you go during football season, be prepared to wait very long amounts...probably not the best time to go.
Oh Watering Hole. I really wanted love you.
The Mr and I visited the Watering Hole in late May for the very first time. There were no open tables so we added our name to the waiting list with the hostess and took a seat at the bar to order drinks and wait. Time passed and so did our drinks. After 45 minutes or so, we revisited the hostess who had forgotten we were waiting. We sat at an open table and ordered.
The menu was huge. And pricey for bar food. The Mr ordered a cheeseburger and I ordered the classic BELT. Since the Watering Hole is known for it's wings, we ordered some grilled boneless wings as well. The food took FOREVER and was unimpressive when it arrived. Our grilled boneless "wings" aka chicken tenders were ok but not great. Maybe the greatness you keep hearing about comes from the bone-in variety. The BELT was on toasted, soggy bread and the egg was overcooked.
The bar itself is nice and but it doesn't exactly feel like a bar anymore. It has a restaurant feel to it. Service was slow and it took some time before getting refills.
What had originally been a nice dinner and drinks out on a Friday night, turned into a 3 hour ordeal.
Final verdict: We don't plan on returning anytime soon.
The Venue: Situated right downtown on O Street near most bars and nightlife it's actually a pretty good spot to start an evening out at. The actual restaurant itself was remodeled some time ago and they completely ditched the "dive bar" atmosphere. It's probably five to six times larger on the inside now but the seating there is just weird. The decor is nice, and anytime I see a poster of The Duke hanging on the wall it brings a smile to my face.
The Service: Probably some of the worst I've ever experienced in my life, consistently, and to a fault. Order "Chips and Salsa" for an appetizer before your meal and have it arrive 45 minutes later. If you're ordering drinks go ahead and order two or three since it will probably be half an hour before the waiter/waitress returns.
They once charged 15% gratuity on a table of three! This was after our appetizers took 50 minutes to arrive, they were the wrong appetizers, and all of our drinks had long since been dry.
Thinking of taking clients or colleagues out for a business lunch? Hope you've got AT LEAST 1 1/2 hours to spare if not more.
The Food: Fantastic bar fare. The grilled wings (the place acts like they invented them or something) truly are great, the rest of what I've had there was really good as well; again, this is for bar food though.
The Cost: A tad on the pricey side for bar food especially considering the wait staff's ineptness but ah well.
The Bottom Line: I wish this place could get it's act together I really do and I wish I could recommend it to folks but the overall experience just sucks here. If you've got hours on end to sit with empty drinks waiting on chips and salsa then it would probably get four stars from you :)
I've been reluctant to write this review, as it has serious implications. But, I'm resigned to the fact that the grilled hot wings here are the best you'll find. Anywhere. I love me some wings, and I've yet to find any better than what I've here over 5+ visits.
If you appreciate wings, you won't be disappointed.
I must have been drunk as a skunk last time I was here, cuz my last review described this place as "dece, nothing special." Definitely had a much better experience the next time I came here.
The girlfriend and I stopped in here for a bit while we waited for a movie last night. It was a Thursday night, so there weren't many patrons. The bartenders were friendly, helpful and funny. I ordered this one cider, the name of which escapes me now, but it was one they brew right there in the back. It was very heavy for a cider, but had a nice honey aftertaste. For 4 bucks a pint, I wasn't too concerned.
One of the bartenders asked my girlfriend if she wanted anything, but she was good. Eventually she changed her mind and ordered a Woodchuck (also $4). Then the other bartender came by and playfully gave her crap for it. Definitely a fun staff.
Haven't had any of their food, but I've heard they're pretty good.
On a side note, the buffalo head above the bar freaked me out.
This is the best place to eat wings in America. Â The atmosphere is just what you need, no matter when you go. Â A cold draft beer and some hot-grilled wings, maybe an order of chili-cheese fries and a few good friends makes this place better than you could imagine. Â I moved to Arizona after I attended college in Lincoln and I miss this place more every single day. Â If you live in Lincoln, Omaha or are traveling through, you are doing yourself a great disservice if you are not at the Watering Hole!
Review Source:I am updating this because I am not happy with the way the new renovations turned out. Â The Watering Hole was always a dive, and I think they could have fixed up the place without taking away that awesome dive flair it used to have. Â The first time I walked in after the update I was completely thrown off kilter. Â Where is the dive my friends and I used to love to come to? Â The place that brought all sorts of people together, young, old, business people, hipsters, college kids...
I do like the new lay out and the addition of more tables and seating areas. Â I like where they moved the bar and the fact that they hid the kitchen. Â Now you don't leave the place smelling like wings and fried food. Â I hate the booths with all the TVs. Â I don't understand why this is necessary? Â I know it's a sports bar, but having TVs mounted all over the place seems like enough to me. Â If I want to watch TV while I'm eating dinner I'd eat at home or order pizza. Â Â
Thank God, the food is the same. Â This will keep me coming here. Â Same great wings, burgers, waffle fries and veggie burgers. Â I will no longer come here to kick back and have a beer or a pitcher with friends. Â I will more than likely only be coming here for food.
Oh, and I'm sorry but that smoke breathing, moving buffalo head is just weird and not in a good way. Â Creepy. Â *Shudder*
I've been a loyal Watering Hole customer for years now, I always get the grilled wings, they're freaking awesome and in my opinion, the best wings in Lincoln. Â
I was really impressed by the new renovations, very clean, very nice, and the TVs in the booths make it really enjoyable to just hang out.
They've got several beers on tap now, more than they used to, fairly tame selections but fun nonetheless. Â
I will continue to go to this place, it's a gem.
Very torn here. Â This was our go to lunch place for several weeks, but the service only got worse and worse. Â The Watering Hole has delicious wings. Â However, the service is atrocious prompting the 3 star rating. Â Â Yes, they have great food, but I believe you pay for the experience. Â Additionally, they have a very large beer selection. Â That is good because after you get 2-3 "we are out of that," Â "we still have to change the keg", or some other excuse there are still other options. Â The inability to select a first choice drink is a recurring problem and not with the same beverage.
Review Source:First time here. Heard about it before the remodel when it was more of a dive bar. The remodel seems nice. I'm sure it's good for game days. We went late afternoon on a Sunday and it wasn't very busy.
The wings were fantastic! Got the Homemade KC Style BBq sauce and it was really tasty. The Philly and the B.E.L.T. sandwich were also good with waffle fries. Happy hour prices on beers were nice too.
IMPORTANT: The Watering Hole has been completely remodeled. It is no longer anything close to a dive bar. So for the reviews below talking about the poor upkeep and the smell of grease, this has all changed. But the food is still great and still the same as before.
If you liked the dive bar nature of the previous establishment, you will get over yourself very quickly in this gorgeously remodeled version of "The Hole". Yes, the old bar was quaint. But, oh well. Check out the new ceiling, really.
The new place is beautifully remodeled, but the menu stayed the same. More open, airy, and no more clothes that smell like they were hanging above the fryer while you were there.
All the booths have their own TV. Plus there is a large TV behind the bar and a huge projection screen. This is now a legitimate place to watch sports, the old Hole was not.
Plenty of beer on tap. Plenty of bar food to choose from. Almost everyone comes here for the wings. You will see it especially busy during home football game weekends because so many out-staters just have to have the wings while they are in town. The recipe is great! I recommend the grilled wings, as do so many of the other reviewers. They take a little longer, but it's certainly worth the wait. The grilled wings are done just like the "hot" wings, but after they are spun in sauce they are finished on the grill. Very salty. Very yummy.
The other food is good, though I admit it has been so long since I've had anything but the wings that I don't have a current evaluation for anything else.
One of the other changes with the remodel is that you have to wait to be seated... maybe that doesn't sound like a big deal, but we had become pretty good at sniping tables as they opened up. Though I'll go ahead and admit I like it better the new way. Of course, you can just go up the bar and get a beer without having to wait to be seated. This is a good option for game day, which is still very busy.
I stopped in for a Guinness and the famous wings, but the kitchen was closed after midnight (I think), so no wings for me. Â The more packed University bars were farther down the street, but this place had some style and nice assortment of beers. Â You won't find the bar junkies here, but you will find some cool people to hang out with.
Review Source:If I was rating this place purely based on their food, they would get five stars. Â But due to their extremely poor ventilation and the location of the kitchen, you can not walk out of this place without smelling like dirty grease. Â So if you are returning to an important meeting after lunch here or coming home to an eager girlfriend after a night here, better arm yourself with a surplus of deodorizer if you have any plans for success. Â The bathrooms very disgusting, most of the seating is uncomfortable, but they have good drink specials. Â This place really needs remodeled!
Review Source:Easily the best wings in town (and I've had them all). Mucho prefer the grilled hot wings, but there are many other sweeter flavors to choose from. Waffle fries are pure gold, the blue cheese dressing/dipping sauce is godly and the service....well there are waitress employed by the bar i guess.
A great place to meet-up, down  a few beers thern head onto the next place.
Came into  the watering hole with a neighbor that spent most of her law school days in here drrinking beer and eating the wings so we had to try it. The atmosphere is way cool and the service was far above most places in Lincoln. Then came the wings and the fries and the cold beer and then we got our winging on. Wings very moist and not your typical small version of a chicken wing at all and they load them up with sauce and Damn they didn't last long at all. So if you are in the mood and want great wings and a fun place to go hit this place up and enjoy the scenery.
Review Source:I am SO glad the ownership did not go thru with a planned-for expansion of this place. Â Who wants to mess with perfection. Â This is an almost perfect bar to hang out in, wings and other food items top notch and you can hang out for one beer, cut out to O'Rourke's for a swift one, and crawl back here again. Â You can do that all afternoon, what the hey.
Environment is everything in a bar, and if you don't feel comfortable draining a few at the WH I don't want to hang out with you
If you go out for wings in Lincoln, NE, go to the 'hole.
As the other reviewed said, order them grilled. Realize though, that I've been to the watering hole more than a few times, and never been disappointed with any of the 'normal' menu.
Lunch can be a wait, and you'll be returning to the office reeking of grease. Â It is also pretty dark inside.
Lots of beer on tap. Good food.
Home of the best buffalo wings in Lincoln. Â Plus pitchers of Miller Lite are always just $5 - all the time.
Get your wings grilled. Â It takes a little longer, but it's worth the wait.
Cornhusker game days here are nuts, and it can take a long time to get your food, but it's worth the wait.
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