As Omaha is located in the state of Nebraska, a group of us wanted to dine on authentic beef from Nebraska. We decided to dine at a restaurant called The Drover in Omaha. The last time I was in Omaha was years ago when I dined at a different steakhouse — and the experience was okay but forgettable. I was hoping not to repeat that experience this time around, as I really craved a good steak.
The Drover in Omaha: Restaurant Review
As the definition of a drover is one who drives livestock — such as cattle and sheep — to the market, wagon wheels and other remnants which are reminiscent of a ranch in the rustic Old West of the United States greet customers at the entrance of the steakhouse.
We were seated immediately after we entered the restaurant, as we had a reservation. The table at which we sat was in a cozy little corner in one of the interior rooms of the steakhouse.
The dark interior of The Drover is divided into several separate rooms — some of which have real fireplaces — plus a long full service bar for cocktails.
Paintings on the wall show drovers mounted on horses and doing their job herding the cattle.
A round loaf of fresh warm wheat bread with a knife sticking through it was brought to the table — along with a cup of chilled butter.
Appetizers which were ordered for the table included shrimp wrapped with bacon and sautéed mushrooms.
The Drover is known for its salad bar, which contains such items as sliced green bell peppers, grape tomatoes, cucumber slices, shredded carrots, sliced black olives, lettuce, slices of beets, diced red onions, sliced mushrooms, sliced hard boiled eggs, condiments such as real bacon bits, and a variety of dressings that were already in plastic cups with lids.
Patrons can help themselves to as much salad as they like, as many times as they want while chefs cook the meats on an open grill in the open kitchen in the background.
Chicken, beef, and skewered meats and vegetables were all on the grill at once when I stepped up to the salad bar.
The salad items were fresh and chilled. Along with the bread and the appetizer, the salads significantly helped while patiently waiting for the main courses, which did not take long to arrive.
One member of our party ordered a ribeye steak with a bone in it — accompanied with a side of steamed broccoli.
Known for its special marinade is a combination of secret ingredients — including whiskey, of course — another person in our party ordered eight ounces of the Whiskey Filet with a baked potato and sour cream. The steak is soaked for fifteen minutes only once the order is placed so that the marinade does not overpower the flavor of the beef.
Eight ounces of the Whiskey Filet was also my main course; but with a dish of rice. The presentation on the plate appeared to be somewhat sparse; but the steak itself looked great. The rice was very good but not outstanding.
Au Gratin Potatoes were served family style. This premium side dish did not interest me at all, as I do not like cheese.
A plate of grilled asparagus was ordered for the table. They were good and had flavor; but they were not the best spears of asparagus that I have ever had.
My steak was cooked to perfection. It was quite tender, flavorful, and succulent.
Topping off the conclusion of the dinner was a dessert of strawberries with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. I do not remember the exact name of this dessert; but it was a satisfying ending to a delicious meal.
Final Boarding Call
I highly recommend dining at The Drover. We all truly enjoyed our meals, as evidenced by the disappearance of the food. Nothing was left over. All of the plates were polished clean.
The Drover is an old style no-nonsense steakhouse. The atmosphere may seem somewhat dated — perhaps out of the 1970s, as the restaurant initially opened as Cork ‘N Cleaver in 1969 before rebranding as The Drover in 1979 — but that is perhaps part of the charm. The service was attentive and almost flawless. The prices, however, approach that of an upscale steakhouse — but they were not à la carte, as bread, soup or unlimited salad, and the entrée itself are all included in the price.
Although we were seated right away and did not need to wait for a table, The Drover is a popular steakhouse in Omaha; and the building itself is not that large. Booking a reservation is highly recommended — otherwise, expect to wait for a table.
My steak was just shy of excellent. It was not the best steak I have ever had; but I would certainly return for more.
The restaurant is conveniently located in the Westside neighborhood of Omaha slightly greater than one mile north of Exit 449 of Interstate 80.
The Drover
2121 South 73 Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68124
402-391-7440
Restaurant Hours:
- Monday through Friday:
- Lunch: 11:00 in the morning through 2:00 in the afternoon
- Lounge for cocktails only: 2:00 in the afternoon through 5:00 in the afternoon
- Dinner: 5:00 in the afternoon through 10:00 in the evening
- Saturday: 4:30 in the afternoon through 10:30 in the evening
- Sunday: 4:30 in the afternoon through 9:00 in the evening
Consider several interesting things which you can do in the greater Omaha metropolitan area either before or after dining at The Drover steakhouse.
All photographs ©2023 by Brian Cohen.
