Zen's Lounge

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  I give this place 4 stars more for the ambiance than for the drinks.
  I really like the feel of this place. Classy but not snooty, chill but not divey. Last time I went they had plenty of couches, but I heard they rearranged the furniture, so I don't know what it looks like now. My favorite spot is this table up on a second floor mini balcony of sorts that looks out across the room. Good place to chill for a more private conversation or something.
  The drinks were decent. My buddy told me they had absinthe here, and I was excited to try it. Unfortunately, I don't know if it was the drops of absinthe, or the way the drink itself was mixed, but the two I had were not that great. One had a French name I think, and it was kinda bad, way too strong. The Corpse Reviver was better, but I've had the same drink mixed better at other places. There were a little pricey, but not terrible.
  All in all though, not a bad place at all. I'll definitely be going back.

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  Posted on 02.26.13 Alek Z.

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  I am in Lincoln for work and know not a soul. I walked in and no one was there (weird because in Denver everyone would be out and about on a beautiful Sunday). Lilith, the Baretender, was chatty, knowledgable and very accommodating. She talked to about the town and places to go. She experimented with making cocktials. This was a truelly great bar experience the definition of hospitality and service.
  She, Lilith, made me a lavender infused gin cocktails that was like a breathe of lavender in a glass (btw, I hate gin but loved the drink). She even made reservations for me at a restaurant close by since I didn't know the area and paid for a 'welcome salad' to accompany my meal. What a nice gesture!
  I shall return and keep returning. I was completely unpectedly sur[rised. Loved the Zen Lounge.

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  Posted on 05.24.11 R. Jonathon J.

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  After the state fair we caught a cab with a couple of nice chicks from Omaha and just rode downtown with them.  Since this was near their hotel we all decided to go in and hang out for a while and get to know our new friends better!  
  
  I like the decor - black and red are my fave colors as can be evidenced by many of my clothes and also my car, so I can dig it.  I also love martinis.  Mmmm and there's an entire menu of them - even one made with sweet tea vodka.  So we sat down and decided what to get.  Then we waited.  And waited.  
  
  Tick tock
  
  Tick tock
  
  Finally we just gave up and went to the bar to get our drink.  I saw other tables doing the same waiting, look around for someone, wait some more game as well.  I got a dirrrrrty martini, extra on the dirty (pornographic dirty as Megan M would say!!).  It was solid, no problems there, strong smooth and almost as dirty as me.  Everyone else seemed to love our drinks.  A waitress showed up AFTER we got our drinks to see if everything was ok...and it was...but no thanks to her.  Later she tried to clear the table of a glass that was not finished which is just a NO NO when you are dealing with some big drinkers!!  Leave the glass until we are done with it, or at least ASK if we are done.  Duh!  
  
  Overall if I lived here I could see being talked into coming here for a drink before going somewhere else.  But next time I am going to sit at the bar so I can have a direct lifeline to the booze.

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  Posted on 08.31.09 Nickie G.

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  I went to zen's for the first time a couple weeks ago on the suggestion of my best friend. I immediately fell in love with the decor and the drinks are good. The place is hip and trendy with bright red walls, exposed brick and multiple levels of seating. Aside from the bar, there are big, comfy black leather couches to lounge on. The bloody marys here are especially worth noting along with the moscow mule and the raspberry truffle.
  
  I haven't lived back in lincoln since I turned 21, but I plan to move back in the future and I can definitely see this place becoming one of my favorite bars. I've been to many bars on the west coast and other places, so coming back to Lincoln I've always been disappointed with the somewhat trashy bars that line O st. Zen's is a nice urban retreat that remind me of classy places in the bay area. I love this place.

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  Posted on 07.27.09 Tam-Anh N.

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  I love Zen's, it's one of the only places in Lincoln that seems trendy and can I say hip? There are couches and easy going atmosphere with art on the wall, and if you happen to come in by yourself, the staff is very friendly and chatty. I loved the music and I think it's great that they show regular tv rather than sports or news

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  Posted on 05.07.09 Kerry J.

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  This used to be one of my favorite bars in Lincoln.
  
  I went back here last weekend expecting a chill place to hang out with friends and enjoy good music over a few drinks.  Alas, I was sorely disappointed and couldn't wait to finish my crappy wine and get the H outta there and back to the Starlight.
  
  Why I don't like it anymore: The atmosphere sucks a big one.
   1. They moved all the comfy couches and replaced them with a slew of super un-comfy stand-up tables
   2.  WAY too bright!  It's midnight but felt like the afternoon inside.
   3.  They played mainstream pop-rock from the late 90s early 00s; jack johnson, coldplay, tom petty and some other poppy sing-along around a campfire at the beach crap.
   4.  My wine came in a single-serving bottle. Where am I? On an airplane?
   5.  They have these really nice HD flat screens (that thankfully are always muted), but they were showing what looked like CSI. CSI? On a Saturday night at the bar? WTF?
  
  Who knows, maybe you like that sort of thing?

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  Posted on 09.06.08 jennie p.

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